Week of Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2009

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:

'Letters for Literacy' Benefits Pass the Power

Western Conference Marks Darwin Anniversaries

Western Presents "Uncle Vanya"

October Points of Pride

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 271-4124.

'Letters for Literacy' Benefits Pass the Power

Did you know in Buchanan County one in 10 adults struggles with reading and nearly one in five adults over age 25 is without a high school diploma or GED? For more than 20 years, Pass the Power Adult Literacy, an educational outreach program of the Western Institute, has sought to meet this need by providing free programs and services to adults wanting to improve their literacy skills. The program is funded exclusively through local donations and grants. 

This fall Pass the Power is asking for the community’s support to help the program continue to deliver quality one-on-one tutoring and small group instruction to adults wanting to improve their basic reading, writing, math and English-speaking skills.  Services are free and confidential.

In the last year, the demand for services has sharply increased and the program’s basic funding has not. To respond to this need, Pass the Power is asking people in the community to consider becoming part of the Letters for Literacy project. Local businesses, civic organizations and individuals have the opportunity to purchase an alphabet letter to represent a company’s name, a value their company stresses or the name of an individual they would like to salute. Each participant will receive a framed certificate and a wooden letter decorated by a Pass the Power student to display. All sponsors will be honored at the annual Literacy Luncheon in the spring. 

More details about the Letters for Literacy project are available at wi.missouriwestern.edu/outreach/passthepower. Or you may contact Deborah Ellsworth, Pass the Power program director, at 816-271-4113 or ellswo@missouriwestern.edu.

All donations are tax-deductible as allowable by law.

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Western Conference Marks Darwin Anniversaries

The 2009 Galileo’s Legacy Conference, Nov. 4 and 5 at Western, will focus on the ongoing significance of the work of Charles Darwin, 200 years after his birth and 150 years after the publication of “The Origin of Species.” Three experts will discuss the impact of Darwin’s work on psychology, religion and race. All conference presentations are free and open to the public.

The Galileo’s Legacy Conference started in 2006 as a joint project of faculty in biology and philosophy to establish a forum to discuss issues of significance in both the sciences and the humanities. Previous conferences have focused on the topics of evolution and intelligent design, climate change and what neuroscience tells us about the concept of free will.

“The bicentennial of Darwin’s birth made this a good time to explore the ongoing efforts of researchers in many fields to come to terms with the significance of his revolutionary scientific theories,” said Dr. Phillip Wann, chair of Western’s department of psychology. “Darwin has affected not only our views of biology, but our understanding of who we are as humans.”

The conference will begin with Dr. Christopher Green’s presentation, “Will the Real Darwin Please Stand Up? Psychology’s Century of Trying to Capitalize on Evolutionary Theory,” at 2 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Kemper Recital Hall inside Leah Spratt Hall. Dr. Green is a professor of psychology at York University in Toronto who has written extensively about the history of psychology.

At 7 p.m. Nov. 5, also in the Kemper Recital Hall, Dr. Gordon Burghardt will make a presentation titled “Darwin, Monkeys, Serpents, and the Origins of Religion.” Dr. Burghardt is an Alumni Distinguished Service Professor in both the department of psychology and the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee.

The conference will conclude at noon Nov. 6 in Popplewell Hall, room 304, with Dr. Jonathan Kaplan’s presentation, “The Social and Biological Realities of ‘Race’: Social Categories and Genes in the 21^st Century.” Dr. Kaplan is chair of the department of philosophy at Oregon State University.

The Galileo’s Legacy Conference is sponsored by the Missouri Western State University Foundation, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Professional Studies, the Honors Program and the departments of biology, psychology and history, philosophy and geography.

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Western Presents "Uncle Vanya"

Western’s department of communication studies and theatre presents the premiere of Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” at 8 p.m. nightly from Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 8, in the Potter Hall Theater.  

Alan Arrivée, assistant professor and director of theatre and cinema, is the director and producer for this main stage season production. Student Rita Sobbing is stage manager.

“Uncle Vanya” is a tragicomedy by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov published in 1899. The play, translated by Curt Columbus, explores the complex relationships between a retired professor, his second wife and the daughter and brother-in-law from his first marriage.

Ivan Petrovitch Voynitsky (“Uncle Vanya”), the title character of the play, will be played by Chris “Bogey” Blodgett. Aleksandr Vladimirovich Serebryakov, retired university professor whose first wife was Vanya’s sister, will be played by Kellen Perry. Yelena Andreyevna Serebryakov, Professor Serebryakov’s young and beautiful second wife, will be played by Erin Williams. Sonya Alexandrovna Serebryakov, Professor Serebryakov’s daughter from his first marriage, will be played by Jenn Douglas. Maria Vasilyevna Voynitsky, widow of a privy councilor and mother of the first wife of the professor, will be played by Andy Southard. Mikhail Lvovich Astrov, country doctor and philosopher, will be played by Matt Wright. Ilya Ilych Telegin (“Waffles”), impoverished landowner, will be played by Fred Weems. Marina, Sonya’s old nurse, will be played by Mollee Westlake. Yefim, a laborer at Professor Serebryakov’s estate, will be played by Kyle Minx.

Western students, faculty and staff receive free admission with their Western ID. General admission is $8. Senior Citizens and students from other schools are $6. For more information, please call 816-271-4443.

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October Points of Pride

Excellence in our faculty/staff

• Dr. Durai Sundaramoorthi, assistant professor of business, won the best poster award at a Mayo Clinic Conference.

• Dr. Durai Sundaramoorthi, assistant professor of business, had his presentation in the interactive session of INFORMS 2009 in San Diego win the Best Presentation Award. The presentation was titled “Simulation and Optimization of Nurse-to-Patient Assignment.” Other presenters were from MIT, Harvard University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Duke, and approximately 30 other U.S. and international institutions.

• Dr. Elizabeth Hendrix, assistant professor of education, was recognized at the Phi Delta Kappan Summit in Indianapolis as an Emerging Leader for 2009-2010. There will also be a feature story about Dr. Hendrix in an upcoming issue of Kappan magazine.

• Dr. Brenda Blessing, professor of recreation management, is a recipient of the Missouri Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Robert M. Taylor Professional Service Honor Award.

• Bryan Courtney, assistant professor of criminal justice and legal studies and executive director for the Missouri Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI), received notification of a U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance Award. Courtney’s project, the RCPI Network Training Project, was awarded $450,000 over three years and will support the RCPI mission of increasing law enforcement capacity to decrease crime and disorder and improve the quality of life in our region and state.

• Dr. Scott Ertekin, instructor of business, successfully defended his dissertation to receive his Ph.D. in marketing.

• Carol Roever, interim dean of the Steven L. Craig School of Business, was elected 2010 Vice Chair of the Heartland Health System Board.

• Dr. Susan Hennessy, professor of French, was named assistant editor for “The French Review,” the official journal of the American Association of Teachers of French, with the largest circulation of any scholarly journal of French studies in the world. The French Review publishes articles and reviews in English and French on French and francophone literature, cinema, society and culture, linguistics, and technology. 

• Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English and director of Prairie Lands Writing Project, has been appointed as a member of the leadership team for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop the ‘Achievement Level Descriptors’ for the state’s English I exam, which will be administered statewide for the first time during this school year.

• Dr. Betty Sawin, professor of English, has been appointed to the Partners in the Parks Standing Committee and the Teaching & Learning Standing Committee of the National Collegiate Honors Council. 

• Bob Long, assistant professor of music, recently became president for the Missouri Association of Jazz Educators. 

• Jeff Hinton, assistant professor of band, and Bob Long, assistant professor of music; were appointed to the St. Joseph Symphony Board.

• Marsha Dolan, associate professor of health information management (HIM) and coordinator of the health information technology program, is now a Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association. The purpose of this fellowship is to recognize significant and sustained contribution to advancement of the HIM discipline through meritorious service, excellence in professional practice, excellence in HIM education, and advancement of the profession through innovation and knowledge sharing.

• Marsha Dolan, associate professor of health information management and coordinator of the health and information technology (HIT) program, was recently certified as an American Health Information Management Association Certified ICD-10/CM/PCS Trainer. This training allows the HIT program to begin making preparations for intensive training of coding professionals in northwest Missouri and the surrounding area as the United States moves from the ICD-9M coding system to the ICD-10-CM/PCS System. Coding is integral to quality healthcare data and reimbursement.

• Dr. George Yang, professor of engineering technology and department chair, had his paper, “A Conceptual Study of Negative Impact of Wind Farms to the Environment,” published in the Technology Interface Journal.

• Teresa Harris, assistant professor of art, exhibited two mixed media pieces titled “By Hand” and “Amiot” accepted into the sixth annual AAC National Show Exhibition at the Atlanta Artist Center and Gallery in Atlanta. The juror, Annette Cone-Skeleton, president and co-founder of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, selected 62 pieces out of 590 works submitted.

• Dr. Kristen Walton, assistant professor of biology, had her article, “Teaching the Role of Secretin in the Regulation of Gastric Acid Secretion Using a Classic Paper by Johnson and Grossman,” published in the national professional journal Advances in Physiology Education. 

• Dr. John Tapia, professor of speech, had his book, “Rhetoric and Centers of Power in the Greco-Roman World,” published by the University Press of America. Dr. Tapia’s book has been included on the Princeton University read list and will be adopted by Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge. The book is also being carried through Barnes & Noble, Hastings and a multitude of bookstores and distributors on the internet.

• Dr. Kaye Adkins, associate professor of English; and Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English and director of Prairie Lands Writing Program; have a program showcase article, “The Master of Applied Arts in Written Communication at Missouri Western State University,” in the September issue of Programmatic Perspectives, the journal of the Council of Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication.  The article was written at the invitation of the journal editors, in response to the organization’s interest in the applied master’s programs at Western.

• Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies; and Gene Bonham from the University of Central Missouri, co-authored the article, “Effective Alternatives to Incarcerations: Police Collaborations with Corrections and Communities,” that was published in the U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

• Faculty and undergraduates from Western and Davidson College had their research paper, “Solving a Hamiltonian Path Problem with a Bacterial Computer,” published in the Journal of Biological Engineering and has been evaluated by Faculty of 1000 Biology. Faculty of 1000 Biology is a new online research service that comprehensively and systematically highlights and evaluates the most interesting papers published in the biological sciences, based on the recommendations of a group of faculty consisting of over 2,300 of the world’s leading scientists.  The paper received a F1000 Factor of 3, indicating that it is recommended reading and of interest to specialists.

• Shawna Harris, instructor of computer science, mathematics, and physics; conducted a workshop for Leadership St. Joseph, “Tips and Skills for Effective Presentations,” at Heartland Health.

• Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English and director of Prairie Lands Writing Project (PLWP), conducted a daylong scoring session for the communication arts teachers at Excelsior Springs Middle School. Under Dr. Frick’s direction, the teachers scored more than 600 students’ beginning-of-the-school year writings as a part of the multi-year partnership that PLWP has with the school.

• Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English and director of Prairie Lands Writing Project, was a presenter at the “Pitfalls and Promises: Scoring Missouri’s End of Course Exam Essays” Conference at the University of Missouri – Columbia. The Missouri Writing Projects Network and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education sponsored the conference. Sixteen teams of secondary teachers from throughout the state participated.

• Dr. Matthew Edwards, associate professor of music, performed solo recitals at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kan.; University of St. Mary, Leavenworth, Kan.; and Western. 

• Dr. Matthew Edwards, associate professor of music, traveled to Seoul, South Korea and performed at the Seoul Arts High School. Dr. Edwards gave lessons and master classes at the Seoul Arts High School and he conducted a two-hour master class at Yonsei University.

• Dr. Nathanael May, assistant professor of music, presented a paper, “Pictures of the Eastern Mediterranean: Landscape and Culture in Anis Fuleihan’s Three Arabian Preludes and Cypriana for Solo Piano” at the 2009 Biennial Euro-Mediterranean Music Conference at the University of Nicosia in Lefkosia, Cyprus.

• Dr. Nathanael May, assistant professor of music, performed a solo piano recital at First Presbyterian’s First Thursday Downtown Noon Concert Series.

• Bob Long, assistant professor of music, performed with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at the Folly Theater. Their season opening concert was titled “Big Band Meets Hollywood,” featuring music of the 1940s through today that gained fame through TV and the movies.

• Dr. Ben Caldwell, professor of chemistry and department chair, attended the Clinical Laboratory Science Advisors meeting at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.

• Dr. Christopher Bond, assistant professor of communications studies and theatre, assisted with 2010 conference planning in Albuquerque, N.M. as part of the conference planning committee of the International Listening Association.

• Pete Hriso, assistant professor of art, has been working on a collaborative animation project titled “Crocs, Pots and Wildebeests” that has been accepted into three film festivals:

  • International Festival of Animated Films “TOFUZI,” 2009 (Invitation) Georgia, Autonomous Republic of Adjara, City of Batumi.

  • KidsFilm Fest, 2009 (Juried) in Santa Fe, N.M. Any film accepted for the Festival must meet the KIDS FIRST! criteria of no gratuitous violence or abuse; no bias in terms of race, gender, culture, or religion; no inappropriate sexual behavior; no replicable unsafe behavior; no condescension towards children.

  • Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival, 2009 (Juried) in Los Angeles. The festival highlights films from around the world made for children, including animation, live-action, and documentary films.

• Dr. Tingxiu Wang, professor of computer science, mathematics, and physics and department chair; reviewed a research paper, “On the Boundedness of Solutions of Delay Differential Equations of Third Order” for Mathematics Review.

• Dr. Russ Phillips, instructor of psychology; and Mary Stone Dockery, a recent Western graduate, had their article, “Integrating the Spirit Within Psychosis: Alternative Conceptualizations of Psychotic Disorders,” published in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology.

• Marsha Dolan, associate professor of health information management, presented “Health Literacy” and “Social Media in the Promotion of the Public Health Record” at the American Health Information Management Association 81^st National Convention in Dallas.

• Dr. Bill Russell, assistant professor of physical education, presented research titled “Comparison of Short-Term Psychological Effects from Exergames to Traditional Exercise” at the 2009 annual conference for the Association of Applied Sport Psychology in Salt Lake City.

• Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies, presented “Effective Alternatives to Incarceration: Police Collaborations with Corrections and Communities” at the International Community Corrections Conference in Orlando, Fla.

• Dr. Nannette Wolford, professor of physical education, presented a workshop for the physical education and health teachers and coaches for the KCI Conference in Lawson, Mo. Dr. Wolford updated them on Physical Best/Fitnessgram and the use of technology in physical education as well as an update on physical education assessment.

• Dr. Evelyn Brooks, professor of nursing, along with nursing students Mary Reid and Jennifer Lindberg, presented “Senior Nursing Students Initiate Smoke-Free Campus Policy With Evidence Based Data” at the Excellence Through Evidence and Empathy: A Science Symposium for Greater Kansas City Nursing Professionals Focusing on Evidence Based Practice and Communication Skills, held at the University of Kansas hospital.

• Dr. Nannette Wolford, professor of physical education, and students from her Elementary School Physical Education course evaluated and scored fourth- through eighth-grade girls and boys basketball skills at St. Francis Xavier School. Western students gained insight on maturational levels and the different skill levels of children of different ages and the differences between skill levels of girls and boys. They were assisted by Britt Johnson, instructor of health, physical education, and recreation.

• Kathy Kelly, administrative coordinator of student development, was the chairperson for the second annual Autism Awareness Walk Oct. 10. She recruited 72 Western Greeks to volunteer for the walk. Approximately 360 volunteer hours were recorded on Saturday alone.

• Dave Brown, counseling center director, presented the “Considering College” evening seminar for prospective adult learners. Information was shared about enrollment procedures, financial aid information, and how to use the tutoring center and library services. A daylong seminar will be presented later in October and there will be two seminars in November.

• Matthew Gregg, student employment coordinator, provided a workshop at the Human Resources Management Association meeting on “Motivating the Multi-Generational Workforce.” 

• Martha Greer, community arts director, helped facilitate and organize a visit with six artists from Azerbaijan to St. Joseph, Mo. The guests, accompanied by Greer, observed and interacted with art and music classes at Central High School, toured the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, and had lunch with several arts education leaders in the community.

Excellence in our students

• Katherine King, a junior medical technology major, has been accepted into the Clinical Lab Science Training Program at North Kansas City Hospital for the 2010-2011 academic year.

• Lisa Endsley received one of two $1,000 national Omicron Psi Honor Society scholarships. Endsley completed her AAS in Health Information Technology degree from Western in December 2008, graduating cum laude. Marsha Dolan, associate professor of health information management, was her academic advisor. She immediately started working toward a bachelor’s degree in sociology and Dr. Joachim Kibirige, associate professor of sociology, is her current academic advisor. Omicron Psi noted it was impressed with the academic advising Endsley had received and convinced that the personal interest Western takes in its students played an integral role in Endsley’s success. This is the second year in a row that a Western nontraditional student has received this national honor.

• Angela Clay received a $1,500 scholarship from the Non-Traditional Student Center with PEO Chapter ED.

• Undergraduates and faculty from Western and Davidson College had their research paper, “Solving a Hamiltonian Path Problem with a Bacterial Computer,” published in the Journal of Biological Engineering and has been evaluated by Faculty of 1000 Biology. The research paper describes the research of the 2007 Davidson/Missouri Western iGEM team. Faculty of 1000 Biology is a new online research service that comprehensively and systematically highlights and evaluates the most interesting papers published in the biological sciences, based on the recommendations of a group of faculty consisting of over 2,300 of the world’s leading scientists.  The paper received a F1000 Factor of 3, indicating that it is recommended reading and of interest to specialists.

• Several public relations students from the department of communication studies & theatre are working with community organizations to assist them with launching public relations campaigns. Community agencies include Community Action Partnership, Living Hope Church, and March of Dimes.

• Nursing students, Mary Reid and Jennifer Lindberg, along with Dr. Evelyn Brooks, professor of nursing; presented “Senior Nursing Students Initiate Smoke-Free Campus Policy With Evidence Based Data” at the Excellence Through Evidence and Empathy: A Science Symposium for Greater Kansas City Nursing Professionals Focusing on Evidence Based Practice and Communication Skills, held at the University of Kansas hospital.

• Collegiate Music Educators National Conference (CMENC) students from the department of music assisted in the District Choir auditions.  Missouri choral director representative, alumna Mary Ann Haenni, expressed her appreciation and noted that the CMENC students were excellent ambassadors for Western. This was a large district event that included 400 students from 49 high schools. Bob Long, assistant professor of music, organized the student volunteers for the event.  Dr. David Benz, assistant professor of music, and Dr. Roger Hale, assistant professor of music, served as hosts for the auditions.

• Kayla Bazer, Jacki Bell, Jessica Criss, Jamie Cunningham, Matthew Hunt, Kathryn Karjala, Brent Lockmiller, Danielle Longworth, Robby Malone, Samy Northcutt, Bryce Shoemaker and Steve Wicher helped in the ceremony of the portrait unveiling of Dr. James Scanlon, former president, in Scanlon Hall.

Excellence in our programs

• The legal studies program was recently selected as one of 13 (out of 71 applications) to receive funding for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s 2009 Help America Vote Act College Poll Worker Program. The grant amount is $74,807.

• The department of chemistry hosted Dr. Bill Carroll, vice president Occidental Chemical and 2005 President of the American Chemical Society, to visit with approximately 40 students and faculty about some of the challenges and opportunities facing the chemical industry and education system.

• Seventeen area teachers have successfully completed the Prairie Lands Writing Project (PLWP) 2009 Invitational Institute, the selective national writing and research project funded by the National Writing Project (NWP). The group met to receive their NWP Teacher Consultant Certification. The schools represented included Savannah High School, Platte County R-III Elementary and Middle Schools, Maryville High School, Spring Garden Middle School, Lake Contrary Elementary School, St. Joseph Central High School, Cameron Middle School, Winnetonka High School, Savannah Minnie Cline Elementary School, John Glenn Elementary School, St. Joseph Benton High School, Smithville Middle School and Western. Tom Pankiewicz, assistant professor of English, directed the Invitational Institute. Assisting Pankiewicz were Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English and director of PLWP; Christie Leigan, St. Joseph School District elementary literacy coach; and Mary Lee Meyer, PLWP technology liaison.

• The Golden Griffon Marching Band marched and performed in the South Side Fall Festival parade.

• Western Admissions hosted the St. Joseph College Fair in the Fulkerson Center, with 75 colleges and universities in attendance. It was an excellent opportunity to showcase Western to more than 450 students and parents from Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. 

• Western hosted a regional Residence Hall Conference and numerous student affairs staff were involved. The Residence Life professional staff, led by Bobbie Delaney, acting assistant director of residential life and residential hall director, coordinated the event which brought professionals from around the midwest to Western. In addition, Dave Brown, counseling center director, presented “The Bystander Effect.” Ellen Kisker, director of non-traditional student services, served as a judge for one of the RA case study competitions at the conference.

• A total of $132,500 was approved through the FY ’10 Missouri Customized Training Program to offset corporate training for six area companies. The Center for Professional Development serves as the local education administrator for the program.

• Resident Hall Activities in September:

  • Resident Assistants (RAs), Lindsey Jackson, Paula Elsner, LaKeitra Brown, Shaheed Hayes, Ryan Linnick and Levi McClure presented programs to encourage new residents to meet one another and build community. Some of the programs included volleyball, makeovers, Uno, and stargazing.

  • RAs, Jessica Roemmelt, Steve Wichern and Kathryn Karjala hosted Community Involvement Week where they presented programs supporting community involvement including “Human Clue” where residents had facts to solve the task related to community organizations, “Back to Kindergarten” where residents participated in kindergarten activities, discussed challenges America’s youth are facing and placed YWCA volunteer options handouts in residence hall mail boxes.

  • RAs, Robby Malone, Danielle Wagner and Tara Dugger hosted Alcohol Awareness Week where they presented programs regarding alcohol awareness with assistance from Nick Shepard, university police officer. Handouts on alcohol awareness were also placed in residence hall mailboxes.

  • RAs, Bryce Shoemaker, Gary Weidemann and Jessica Criss hosted Dare to Diversify where they presented “Dare to Diversify” programs. In addition, the RAs accompanied students to a campus program on diversity.

  • RAs Amber Adams and Jamie Cunningham hosted Safety and Security where they educated residents on how to be safe on campus. Nick Shepard, university police officer, presented the program, “Protecting Yourself.”

• Residence Council Activities in September:

  • “September 11th Memorial” - A candlelight vigil and walk to the Clock Tower was organized to remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

  • “Break the Fall” - RC sponsored a student concert inviting Western students to showcase their talents.

  • “Hall-ywood Squares” - A version of the game show “Hollywood Squares” was played, allowing residents to face off and answer questions about campus and residence hall policies.

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Tower Sports

Griffon Football Western lost for just the second time in 2009, as Missouri Southern scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for a 35-34 win over the Griffons on Oct. 24 at Spratt Stadium. In the loss, Drew Newhart (383 yards passing), Ferrell McGhee (158 yards receiving) and Michael Hill (143 yards rushing) all recorded career-highs. The Griffons (7-2, 5-2 MIAA) fell to No. 23 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 17 in the D2football.com media poll. But they remain No. 3 in the NCAA Super Region 4 rankings. The top six teams in the regional poll qualify for the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Griffons travel to Emporia, Kan., on Saturday, Oct. 31 for a Halloween Homecoming matchup with the Hornets of Emporia State. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. The Griffons will wrap up the regular season with a home game against Nebraska-Omaha at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 7.

Griffon Soccer Western won its second consecutive match, blanking Emporia State on the road by a score of 3-0 on Oct. 29. The Griffons got goals from Jessica Martin, Ashley Juravich and Audrey Henderson. The soccer team travels to Bolivar, Mo., on Oct. 31 to take on Southwest Baptist at noon, then are scheduled to play a make-up game at Truman State at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, a match that has been rescheduled four times due to wet field conditions in Kirksville, Mo. The Griffons (7-9-1, 5-7-1 MIAA) wrap up the regular season at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, against Washburn in Topeka, Kan.

Griffon Volleyball The Griffons lost three straight home matches against nationally ranked opponents. Western lost in three sets to No. 7 Emporia State on Oct. 23, in three sets to No. 9 Washburn on Oct. 24, and in four sets to No. 24 Pittsburg State on Oct. 28. The Griffons (8-19, 1-13 MIAA) hit the road for matches at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo., at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 and at Missouri Southern in Joplin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. They return to the M.O. Looney complex for a four-match home stand starting with Nebraska-Omaha at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6.

Griffon Women’s Basketball The winter sports season begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1 as the Griffon women play an exhibition game against Division I opponent Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. Western was picked 10^th in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ and Media Polls released on Oct. 27.

Griffon Men’s Basketball The Griffon men open their 2009-2010 season with an exhibition game against Division I Creighton on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. Western was picked 5^th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, and 8^th in the Media Poll.

For Employees

MOSERS Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar If you are either eligible to retire from the State of Missouri, or within 5 years of retirement eligibility, now is a great time to find out more and begin your retirement planning. A Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar is scheduled from 1:30-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 in Spratt Hall room 216. Deciding when to retire is as individual as your benefit elections at retirement. Some retire as soon as they are eligible - others decide to continue working for a variety of reasons. Retirement may once have been a "yes or no" choice, but now people often discover that retirement requires planning to pull together all the pieces (health insurance, social security, or deferred compensation, for example). The more you know before you actually file the forms-the better! When you are ready to consider retirement, MOSERS is ready to help. Topics that will be discussed in this seminar include eligibility requirements, payment options, the application process, BackDROP, plan basics and credit for prior service. If you have any questions, please contact Misty Miller at 271-4259 or mmiller42@missouriwestern.edu.

For Students

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Friday, October 30

• Non-Trad Costume Ball, 7 p.m., Blum Union 218-219

• Griffon Volleyball at Southwest Baptist University, 7 p.m., Bolivar, Mo.

Saturday, October 31

• Griffon Soccer at Southwest Baptist University, 12 p.m., Bolivar, Mo.

• Griffon Football at Emporia State, 1 p.m., Emporia, Kan.

• Griffon Volleyball at Missouri Southern State University, 2 p.m., Joplin, Mo.

Sunday, November 1

• Spring 2010 graduation application deadline

• Griffon Women's Basketball, exhibition at Missouri State University, 2 p.m., Springfield, Mo.

Monday, November 2

• Spring registration begins for Seniors, 7 a.m.

• Cabinet Forum with students, 4 p.m., Blum Union Lobby

• Trick or Treat Off the Street, 5-8 p.m., Residence Halls/Commons

Tuesday, November 3

• MOSERS Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar, 1:30 p.m., Spratt Hall 216

• Griffon Soccer at Truman State University, 2 p.m., Kirksville, Mo.

Wednesday, November 4

• Foreign Film Series Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran, 6:30 p.m., Hearnes Center 102

• Griffon Men's Basketball, exhibition at Creighton University, 7 p.m., Omaha, Neb.

• SGA Blast from the Past Dance hosted by RC, 8-10 p.m., Blum Union 218-219

• Anton Chekhov's “Uncle Vanya,” directed by Alan Arrivée, 8 p.m., Potter Hall Theater

Thursday, November 5

• Spring registration begins for Juniors, 7 a.m.

• First Thursday Downtown Noon Concert Series with Rico McNeela and Dr. Brendan Kinsella, 12:10 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 7th & Jules

• Anton Chekhov's “Uncle Vanya,” directed by Alan Arrivée, 8 p.m., Potter Hall Theater

Friday, November 6

• Griffon Volleyball, vs. University of Nebraska-Omaha, 7 p.m., Looney Arena

• Anton Chekhov's “Uncle Vanya,” directed by Alan Arrivée, 8 p.m., Potter Hall Theater

Saturday, November 7

• Griffon Football, vs. the University of Nebraska-Omaha, 1:30 p.m., Spratt Stadium, Senior Day

• Griffon Women's Basketball Exhibition at University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2 p.m., Kansas City, Mo.

• Griffon Soccer at Washburn University, 6 p.m., Topeka, Kan.

• Griffon Volleyball, vs. the University of Central Missouri, 7 p.m., Looney Arena

• SGA comedy magician Justin Kredible hosted by WAC, 7 p.m., Kemper Recital Hall inside Spratt Hall

• Anton Chekhov's “Uncle Vanya,” directed by Alan Arrivée, 8 p.m., Potter Hall Theater

Sunday, November 8

• Anton Chekhov's “Uncle Vanya,” directed by Alan Arrivée, 8 p.m., Potter Hall Theater

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