Week of  September 15 - 21, 2008

Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. 

Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200

Click any link for these stories:

Western Presents Scholarship with Bill Cosby in Attendance

Premiere Night

Convocation: Questions Wanted

Alpha Sigma Alpha Holds Float-a-Thon

Tower Sports

News Briefs

Calendar

Ads

Archives

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.

Western Presents Scholarship with Bill Cosby in Attendance

With legendary comedian Bill Cosby standing by, Western today gave a full scholarship to Alferd Williams, a 70-year old St. Joseph man who has inspired millions by going back to elementary school to learn to read. Dr. Cosby (he received his doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts in 1976) led Williams’ Edison Elementary School classmates in singing the praises of Williams, literally.

“In recognition of your hard work and determination, Missouri Western is pleased to offer you this scholarship,” Dr. Joseph Bragin, Western’s provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, told Williams during a brief stop by Dr. Cosby at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. Dr. Bragin also gave Williams a Missouri Western sweatshirt, “so you don’t forget where you are going.” After the presentation, Dr. Cosby cued the other students, who sang a brief verse about Alferd’s reading skills.

“This scholarship is something every one of you can get if you work hard,” Dr. Cosby told Williams’ schoolmates.

Williams learned to read in the first-grade classroom of Alesia Hamilton and continues to work daily alongside his six- and seven-year old classmates. His story has been featured in several national media outlets, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and People magazine. He has said his favorite book is Dr. Cosby’s children’s book “The Worst Day of My Life.” Each of his schoolmates was given a copy of the book.

Dr. Cosby presented Edison School with a copy of his book “Friends of a Feather” and an audio version specially recorded by actress Raven-Symone, who played his granddaughter on the long-running television hit “The Cosby Show.” Dr. Cosby told Williams to practice reading the book along with the CD so that he could read it to the class before the end of the semester. He also gave Williams a sweatshirt emblazoned with “Hello, Friend.” Dr. Cosby said that was a favorite phrase of his late son Ennis.

Williams, in turn, presented Dr. Cosby with some gifts of his own: a coffee cup and an “Edison Eagles” T-shirt.

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Premiere Night

Faculty and staff are invited to "Premiere Night at the Missouri Theater" on September 16, as the MWSU Foundation’s way of saying “thank you” for their participation in the Achieving Greatness Capital Campaign.

Western employees and other invited guests will enjoy free refreshments and entertainment by recording artist Deana Carter. This award-winning country singer/songwriter’s debut album “Did I Shave My Legs for This?” in 1996 produced three No. 1 hits, including “Strawberry Wine” and “We Danced Anyway.” She also performed the Golden Globe-nominated "Once Upon a December" in the movie Anastasia.

The evening will also feature the premiere of a video about Achieving Greatness, featuring Western students and employees. The capital campaign is the private fundraising component of the Beyond Excellence Initiative, a $53 million investment in resources and facilities for Western. More than $37 million in public funds have been secured for science, technology and athletic projects. The five-year capital campaign will raise additional money for facility construction and renovations, mission endowment, the school of business and emerging needs.

The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and the doors to the theater will open at about 6:25 p.m. If you have not done so already, make your reservations to Jenny Sherlock at jsherlock@missouriwestern.edu or 5670.

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Convocation: Questions Wanted

Western students, faculty and staff can have their questions answered by  Washington’s best-loved couple – James Carville and Mary Matalin — during the 15th annual Convocation on Critical Issues at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30 in the M.O. Looney Complex. The Convocation is free and open to the public.

Carville and Matalin’s presentation, “All’s Fair: Love, War and Politics,” will feature remarks by both of these key players on the national political stage, followed by an opportunity for questions and answers.

“This is a unique opportunity to ask questions of prominent insiders from both major political parties just five weeks in advance of the presidential election,” said Dan Nicoson, vice president for university advancement. “We hope the campus community takes advantage of it.”

Because of the size of the audience, questions must be submitted in advance to be read by a moderator during the Convocation. To submit a question, please email the public relations and marketing department (), by Friday, Sept. 26, or send it by campus mail to Spratt 207. You must include your name. If you are a student, please include your year in school and your major. If a member of the faculty or staff, please include your title. Your name and identifying information will be read with your question during the Convocation. Because of the greater than usual turnout and large number of questions anticipated for this event, we cannot guarantee that every submission will be used.

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Alpha Sigma Alpha Holds Float-a-Thon

The Zeta Mu Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority at Western is hosting the first ever Float-a-Thon Sept. 18 at the central fountain in front of Fred Eder Hall. The ladies will float on inner tubes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to raise money for Special Olympics, the organization’s national philanthropy. There will also be a barbeque from 12-2 p.m. for campus and community members. Hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks and light desserts will be served. Cost is $5.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with mental disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Ashton Hogan, philanthropy chair of Alpha Sigma Alpha, is one of the members that made the event possible. “I’m so excited for the Float-a-Thon,” Hogan said. “As philanthropy chair I hold a special place in my heart for Special Olympics, and I really hope we can raise a significant amount of money for this great organization.”

For more information, contact Hogan at 816-383-0675 or Jennifer Kohler, vice president of programming and ritual, at 816-752-2229.

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Tower Sports

Football

• Loss vs. Northwest Missouri State, 35-42, Sept. 13

• Sept. 20 vs. Pittsburgh State at 6 p.m. - United Way Day and Black Out Saturday

Soccer

• Loss vs. University of Nebraska-Omaha, 0-1, Sept. 11

• Loss vs. Northwest Missouri State, 1-3, Sept. 13

• Sept. 18 at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan., at 4 p.m.

• Sept. 20 at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., at 7 p.m.

Volleyball

• Loss vs. Midwestern State University, 3-0, Sept. 12

• Win vs. University of Central Oklahoma, 3-2, Sept. 12

• Loss vs. Tarleton State University, 0-3, Sept. 13

• Win vs. Texas Women's University, 3-2, Sept. 13

• Sept. 17 at Fort Hays State University in Fort Hays, Kan., at 7 p.m.

• Sept. 19 vs. Emporia State University at 7 p.m.

• Sept. 20 vs. Washburn University at 7 p.m.

Picture Time! If you would like to be in the 2008-2009 Griffon, then this is your chance. Thornton Studios will be on campus Sept. 17 through Sept. 19. Picture times are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no sitting fee. Seniors who are graduating in December 08' or May 09' will need to sign up. This can be done outside of the Griffon yearbook office located in Eder 220. If you have any questions, please visit the Griffon yearbook office, call 4540 or e-mail Amy Chastain, the (co) editor-in-chief at amy.chastain@yahoo.com.

A.L.A.S. Salsa Night The Association of Latin American Students invites everyone to come to Salsa Night at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 in Blum 218. Come early for a free salsa lesson! There will also be a Sexy Dress Competition, dollar dances and mock magaritas and mojitos. For more info, contact Mark Gomez at mgomez@missouriwestern.edu or 816-390-4448.

Convocation This year’s Convocation on Critical Issues at Western may be the most popular yet in the 15-year history of the speaker series. The Convocation at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30 in Looney Complex will feature husband-and-wife political analysts James Carville and Mary Matalin. It is free and open to the public. The Convocation Dinner on Sept. 29, a reservation-only event held the night before the Convocation, is already sold out, two weeks before the reservation deadline. The university advancement office has established a waiting list for dinner reservations. The good news is that those who are unable to attend the dinner can attend Carville and Matalin’s main presentation at the Convocation Sept. 30. For more information on the Convocation on Critical Issues, please call the university advancement office at 5646.

Light the Night Walk The eighth annual Light The Night Walk in St. Joseph will be held Sept. 27 at Hyde Park. More than 850 participants are expected to raise $75,000. The two-mile evening stroll is designed to be a community-wide event for people of all ages and athletic abilities. Participants raising $25 or more carry illuminated red balloons during the walk. Cancer survivors carry illuminated white balloons, and those walking in memory of a loved one lost to cancer carry gold illuminated balloons. All attendees will be treated to a fun, carnival-like atmosphere complete with food and entertainment. Last year Western raised $2,653.86 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Right now 65 freshman are signed up to walk with Western, as well as several student organizations. If you would like to join the students of Western for this event, please contact Natalie Bailey at Natalie.Bailey@lls.org or 816-279-5704. To learn more about Light The Night, please visit www.LightTheNight.org/mid.

Vote or Shut-Up The Center for Multicultural Education has created “Vote or Shut-Up” for students and others who would like to participate, regarding election issues. Our purpose is three fold:

• to get students registered to vote

• to make them aware of issues that should concern them

• to get them to cast a vote in November

The following events are free and open to the public:

Vote or Shut-Up Rally from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 23 in Lot G of Blum Union, which will have political and motivational speeches, voting rights information for African Americans, women and Latinos, poetry, food, music and information tables T-shirts will also be available to those who will wear them on this day in support of the rally and voter education. There will be other Vote or Shut-Up events as the weeks get closer to the election.

Pool Party All nontraditional students are welcome to join in the fun for the first annual Nontraditional (Family Night) Pool Party Sept. 26 from 4:30-6 p.m. There will be swimming, games, music, snacks and lots of fun. Contact Ellen Smithers in the Nontraditional Student Lounge or call 4247 by Sept. 23 to RSVP.

Gem Society The Gem Society will host a lunch for Western women noon Sept. 24 in the Enright Room, Spratt 214-216. Cost is $10 per person. Call 4481 to make a reservation. The Gem Society is an organization whose mission is to get women of influence more involved with our women's athletic programs. The main focus is women inspiring women.

Gold Coat Club With the anticipation of another exciting season, Western Athletics reminds you there is still time to join the Gold Coat Club. All packages include at least two season tickets to all sports with various other packages including preferred parking, Stadium Club membership and banquet invites. All Gold Coat packages are half-off for faculty & staff making our base package only $150 which may be payroll deducted. For a brochure, please visit our website at www.gogriffons.com and click on the Gold Coat Club link at the top of the page or stop by Looney Complex Room 224 for a brochure.

Student Organization Orientation The annual Student Organization Orientation and Registration process will be held in September this semester. Please plan to attend one of the following events: Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m.; Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.; Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.; Sept. 23 at 9 a.m.; Sept. 23 at 5 p.m.;  Sept. 24 at 9 a.m.; Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.; Sept. 25 at 11 a.m.; or Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. A student representative of every organization must also attend. All events are held in the center for student engagement. For questions, contact the CSE at 4159.

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Monday, September 15

• Senate meeting at 5 p.m. in Blum 220

• Fall Library Book Sale begins

• Orchestra Rehearsal from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Griffon Luncheon from 12-1 p.m. in the upstairs banquet room at La Dolce Vita at 36th Street Restaurant

Tuesday, September 16

• Residence Council meeting at 7 p.m. in Commons Building

• "Premiere Night at the Missouri Theatre" - reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Theatre doors open at 6:25 p.m.

Wednesday, September 17

• WAC meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Junior College Room

• Griffon Yearbook pictures from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Thursday, September 18

• Alpha Sigma Alpha Float-a-Thon from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. at the fountain in front of Eder Hall

• Student Organization Orientation at 4:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. in the CSE

• Griffon Yearbook pictures from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Friday, September 19

• Griffon Yearbook pictures from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• A.L.A.S. Salsa Night at 7 p.m. in Blum 218

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