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Week of September 4 - 10, 2006 Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. |
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Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200 |
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Click any link for these stories: Promotional Video Offers Invaluable Experience for Western Student Western Holds Banned Book Reading Student Juggles Lead Role, School and Home Life Lost & Found: If you have lost any items, please come to SU 228 to claim them. You may be required to describe the item. Click on
Guidelines for Tower Topics: Tower Topics submissions should state time, date, place, sponsor, title of event, name of speaker's and admission fees. Send complete information to the Public Relations and Marketing office (Leah Spratt Hall, Room 106). The deadline for all entries is 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, for the next week's issue. Tower Topics will be online weekly during the fall and spring semester. For more information call 271-5651. Student Editor:
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Promotional Video Offers Invaluable Experience for Western Student A pilot program for at-risk youth in St. Joseph and Kansas City, Mo., a partnership with a Los Angeles filmmaker, a documentary, and invaluable experience for a Western student were all part of a project undertaken by Western’s communication studies/theatre department this summer. Brandon Hylton, a theater/video major, worked with Deny Staggs, assistant professor of theatre, to produce a documentary that promotes a pilot program planned for at-risk girls in St. Joseph and Kansas City. “It was a great summer,” said Hylton, from Smithville, Mo. “It was a good chance for me to learn a lot about video production.” Several area high school students were involved in the project, also. The pilot program, called RISK: At-Risk-Youth – Girls Behind the Camera, is the brainchild of Tara Veneruso, a Los Angeles filmmaker. She plans to coordinate a month-long program next summer in both Kansas City and St. Joseph, where 15 middle school girls from each city will have the opportunity for hands-on learning about filmmaking from industry professionals. Veneruso plans to expand the program nationwide if it is successful in this area. Staggs and Hylton created a promotional video for Veneruso about the program, and Staggs and Western’s communication studies/department will work with her on the program next summer. The project also includes plans for producing a documentary about RISK. Hylton, who was considered co-producer of the promotional video, said he worked in all areas of the production, but he most enjoyed serving as a mentor and teacher for the high school students. “Brandon is an outstanding student and a hard worker,” said Staggs. “He’s prolific in his work and his effort.” The 15-minute promotional video includes interviews with Veneruso and area social workers, footage of St. Joseph and the high school girls who worked on the project. Staggs said the students learned a lot, including how much time it takes to put together a quality production. “They also learned how rewarding collaboration can be, and they gained an understanding that if you have the passion and desire to do something, you can do it.” He noted that the students who were involved now have a finished, high quality product that they can show their family and friends. Hylton said a real bonus to the project this summer was that he had the opportunity to work with Veneruso and a film crew when she visited St. Joseph in June. The main purpose of her trip was to work on details for the RISK program, but while here, she directed a television commercial for Western and conducted a workshop for the students. Veneruso became interested in St. Joseph while researching a location for one of her film projects. She realized she wanted similar scenes found in “Paper Moon,” which was filmed in St. Joseph and released in 1973. Her relationship with Western began when she participated in the Griffon International Film Festival three years ago. |
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Western Holds Banned Book Reading “Books become banned because people find it easier to control rather than discuss ideas.” That is according to Dr. Michael Cadden, professor of English, and one of the coordinators of the 10th annual reading of banned books at Western. Western students, faculty and members of the community will read books that have either been banned or challenged in U.S. schools in recent years and discuss what it means to be an open society. The event will take place from 7 – 8 p.m. Sept. 26 in Leah Spratt hall, Enright Room 214/216. Refreshments will be served following the readings. Books that have been challenged usually contain difficult information to grasp, or books that some might find offensive, Dr. Cadden said. He noted that since the events of Sept. 11, 2001, we have struggled with what it means to be an open society. “Books become banned because people rightly observe that words are powerful but wrongly believe that suppression is better than discussion.” The reading is in recognition of the American Library Association’s annual Banned Books Week Some of the books that have been read in the past are “The Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger; “Brave New World,” by Aldous Huxley; “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain; and “Harry Potter,” by J.K. Rowling. The event is sponsored by the department of English, foreign languages, and journalism; the department of education; the Western library; Prairie Lands Writing Project, and the student chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English. For more information contact Dr. Cadden 4576, Dr. Michael Smith at 4514, or Julia Schneider at 4369. |
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It is that time of year when evening temperatures start getting cooler and the parking lots at Western start heating up. For the first couple weeks of school, finding convenient parking becomes a hard task. Here are some tips from Parking and Security Services to assist with parking problems :
If you have any questions or concerns stop by the Public Safety office in Blum 100 (next to the bookstore). You may also call 5666 or email at parkingservices@missouriwestern.edu. |
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Student Juggles Lead Role, School and Home Life Western junior Jennifer George is used to approaching life with an uncommon zeal. The theater video production major is a nontraditional student in her second year at Western and will play the role of Inez in the play “No Exit,” which opens Sept. 11. “It’s getting down to the last grueling moments before opening night,” said George. She said she doesn’t get nervous about being in plays until opening night; that’s what rehearsals are for. George got her start in acting in 1993 at the former Ice House Dinner Theatre, now Cobblestone Theatre Company Comedy Club in St. Joseph. Last year she had the opportunity to work with “No Exit” Director Aaron Westlake in the play Rocky IV and is enjoying the chance to work with him again. “She’s been very active, and that’s awesome,” said Ellen Kisker, director of nontraditional student services. George began attending Western in the fall of 2005. In addition to attending classes full-time, she has a full-time job at home as a wife and mother of two children, ages two and 10. Her older daughter is in school during the day, and her schedule allows her to spend the mornings with her toddler son. However, she and her husband are the proverbial ships in the night for now. “There’s absolutely no time left in my day,” she said. “Right now my husband and I are just passing each other.” Still, George said she would not have it any other way. She said that all the extra effort at school and extra-curricular activities is worth the sacrifices. “It’s important to show my children how important school is,” she said. “I want them to respect me and themselves.” Beside it in box: “No Exit” September 11-17 Black Box Theater, Potter Hall 8 p.m. Sept. 11-16 2 p.m. Sept. 17 $8 for general admission $4 for senior citizens and Western students, faculty and staff. |
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Uncle D's Sports Show returns on Thursday, Sept. 7 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to come listen to head football coach Jerry Partridge talk about players, coaches, and the week's upcoming opponent. Uncle D's Sports Bar is located on the corner of 36th St. and Messanie. The Griffon Luncheons at LaDolce Vita at 36th Street Restaurant have been scheduled for every Monday at noon. Head volleyball coach Kyp Harasymowycz, head soccer coach Jeff Hansen, and head football coach Jerry Partridge will be speaking about their specific teams every Monday afternoon. Cost of the lunch is $7.50 (drinks and tax included). Everyone is invited to attend. Football
Volleyball
Golf
Soccer
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CONVOCATION DINNER TICKETS Employees may purchase Convocation Dinner tickets at a discounted price of $20. The dinner is at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Fulkerson Center and features Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine. Employees may purchase the discounted ticket for themselves and one guest. PIG SKIN PICKS Intramural Pig Skin Picks start Sept. 8 and Sept. 9. Information for it is on the Recreational Services Web site. Submit your forms over the web or come by the office for a hard copy. For more information contact Wonda Berry at 4247. PORTES OUVERTES/OPEN HOUSE Join us at our open house for a taste of the Alliance Française de Saint Joseph. The event is from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in Eder Hall room 210. There, everyone can visit with fellow fellow French-goers while enjoying drinks and desserts. ATTENTION STUDENT ORGANIZATION LEADERS!!!! It's time for Student Organization Registration again. All organizations must have a representative at one of the five sessions to remain recognized by the University. All sessions will be held in the Center for Student Engagement, Blum Union room 207. Dates and times are as follows: Sept. 5, 3-5 p.m.; Sept. 6, 4-6 p.m.; Sept. 7, 3-5 p.m.; Sept. 8, 4-6 p.m.; Sept. 12, 3-5 p.m. It is vital for each organization to attend one session. There will be a training session on the new clubs and organizations database. This is a new online registraiton system, and if an organization does not attend, it will not be registered. For questions or comments please contact Hannah Coy in the Center for Student Engagement at 4159 or email her at hjc3854@missouriwestern.edu. ATTENTION ORGANIZATION ADVISORS!!!! The Center for Student Engagement will be holding a series of orientation sessions to train organization advisors on the new clubs and organization database and to update them on the policy and procedures for student organizations. All sessions will be held in the Center for Student Engagement, Blum Union Room 207. Dates and times are as follows: Tuesday Sept. 12 5-7 pm Wednesday 13, 5-7 pm Thursday 14, 5-7 pm. Advisors need only to attend one of the three scheduled sessions. If you have any questions you can call Hannah Coy in the Center for Student Engagement at 4159 or email her at hjc3854@missouriwestern.edu.2006-2007 SAINT JOSEPH SYMPHONY AUDITIONS The Saint Joseph Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Deborah Freedman, professor of music, announces auditions for openings in the orchestra for the upcoming 2006-2007 season. The auditions are being held Saturday, Sep. 9 at 1:00p.m. in Potter Hall. Openings in the orchestra are as follows: Section II Violin, Section Bass. The Saint Joseph Symphony is a professional orchestra of 60 musicians who rehearse and perform at the historic Missouri Theater, 717 Edmond. Those interested in auditioning may contact the Symphony office at 816-833-7701 by Wednesday, Sept. 6, to arrange for an appointment or obtain more information. Audition excerpts are available on the Symphony Web site at www.saintjosephsymphony.org. |
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Tuesday, September 5
Wednesday, September 6
Thursday, September 7
Friday, September 8
Saturday, September 9
Sunday, September 10
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