Week of October 31 - November 6, 2005

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

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

Click any link for these stories:

Homecoming Winners!

Western Institute Sponsors Trip to Greece

National French Week

Western Honors Distinguished Professors

Tower Sports

News Briefs

Calendar

Points of Pride

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.

Student Editor:
Katie Johnston 

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

Homecoming Winners!

"University Studios" - Homecoming 2005 - was a great success. Congratulations to the winners of the following events!

Office Decorating: 1st - Residential Life, 2nd - Serials and Acquisitions, 3rd - Institutional Advancement.

Best Window Design: 1st - Tau Kappa Epsilon, 2nd - Alpha Sigma Phi, 3rd - Alpha Gamma Delta.

Best Sign: Residence Council.

University Happy Hour: 1st - Alpha Sigma Alpha, 2nd - Sigma Sigma Sigma, 3rd - Residence Council.

Donation Creation: 1st - Phi Theta Delta, 2nd - Alpha Gamma Delta, 3rd - Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Yell Like Hell: 1st - The Ebony Collegians, 2nd - Alpha Sigma Alpha and Tau Kappa Epsilon, 3rd - Alpha Sigma Phi. Alpha Sigma Alpha and Tau Kappa Epsilon received recognition in the area of choreography. Most Valuable Player went to Alpha Sigma Phi. Best costume went to TEC, and best representation of Homecoming theme went to Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Goofy Griff: 1st - Alpha Gamma Delta, 2nd - Phi Delta Theta, 3rd - Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Most Spirited: Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Best Truck Design: 1st - Alpha Gamma Delta, 2nd - Sigma Sigma Sigma, 3rd - Campus Activities Board.

Best Car Design: 1st - Alpha Gamma Delta, 2nd - Alpha Sigma Alpha, 3rd - Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Float Competition: 1st - Phi Delta Theta, 2nd - Alpha Sigma Alpha, 3rd - Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Best Overall 1st - Alpha Sigma Alpha and Alpha Gamma Delta, 2nd - Phi Delta Theta, 3rd - Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Homecoming King and Queen: Luke Gorham and Jenny Jones.

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Western Institute Sponsors Trip to Greece

The Western Institute is sponsoring a trip to Greece March 10-18. The trip is open to Western faculty, staff, and students, and to members of the community.

Cost for the trip is $2,257 and includes roundtrip airfare between Kansas City and Athens and three nights in Athens in a well-located, first class hotel. The trip also includes a four-day excursion that features visiting classical sites, staying at first-class hotels, buffet breakfast daily, four dinners while on the four-day excursion, a fulltime guide, porterage of one suitcase, all hotel tips and all taxes and fuel surcharges.

For more information, contact Dr. Robert Shell, associate professor of Spanish, at 4321 or 279-5505, or by email at shell@missouriwestern.edu.

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National French Week

Many events are planned for National French Week Nov. 1-7. Among the activities planned is a round table discussion at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Blum Union, room 208. The discussion will cover where, how, and why French can give you an edge in the professional world. The discussion will be in English and address various sectors including government, agricultural equipment, fine arts, and translation.

Cheese tasting will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 4 in Eder Hall, room 211, and the French film A Very Long Engagement will be shown at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Hearnes Center, room 102.

"In studying French and French culture, we come to understand our own culture and the world more fully," said Dr. James Scanlon, president of Western. "The French contributed much to the development of our country, and French citizens contributed to a gift that symbolizes America - the Statue of Liberty."

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Western Honors Distinguished Professors

At its October meeting, the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors recognized 10 faculty members who received the 2005 Governors Distinguished Professor Awards. Following the meeting, a dinner was held for the Board members and the Distinguished Professor awardees from 2005, 2004 and 2003. A campus reception for all the recipients was held Oct. 24.

 “Missouri Western State University is committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship and creative activities, and professional service,” said Dr. James Scanlon, Western’s president. “To celebrate the excellence of faculty members at Western, the university presents the Governors Distinguished Professor Awards each year.” The awards, he said, recognize the outstanding performance of individual faculty members over a substantial period of time in all three areas – teaching, scholarship and service.

The 2005 awardees are Dr. David Ashley, professor of biology; Dr. Jason Baker, associate professor of biology; Dr. Evelyn Brooks, professor of nursing and director of the Western Institute Center for Health and Wellness; Dr. Michael Cadden, associate professor of English; Dr. Kelly Henry, associate professor of psychology and the Director of Applied Learning; Dr. Shiva Nandan, associate professor of marketing; Dr. Jeffrey Poet, assistant professor of mathematics; Carol Roever, associate professor of business; Dr. Dennis Rogers, professor of music; Dr. Ann Thorne, associate professor of journalism.

The 2004 awardees were Dr. Nancy Tanner Edwards, professor of education; James Estes, professor of art; and Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English. The 2003 awardees were Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics; Dr. Phil Mullins, professor of philosophy; Dr. Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin, professor of English; Dr. John Tapia, professor of speech; and Dr. Phil Wann, professor of psychology and chair of the psychology department.    

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Tower Sports

Western Football -

• Oct. 22 - Western 43, Southwest Baptist 17

• Oct. 29 - St. Cloud State 31, Western 28

Western Soccer -

• Oct. 14 - Central Missouri State 4, Western 0

• Oct. 21 - Western 2, Park University 1

• Oct. 27 - Southwest Baptist 1, Western 0

• Oct. 30 - Emporia State 2, Western 1

Western Volleyball -

• Oct. 14 - Central Missouri State 3, Western 1

• Oct. 19 - Northwest Missouri State 3, Western 0

• Oct. 21 - Truman 3, Western 0

• Oct. 26 - Western 3, Missouri Southern 0

• Oct. 28 - Pittsburg State 3, Western 1

• Oct. 29 - Western 3, Southwest Baptist 0

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• The office for Career Development will host a free graduate school seminar. All students, especially juniors and seniors, are encouraged to attend the event from 3-4:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in Eder Hall, room 208.

• Any students interested in car-pooling to the Ad Club Career Day on Nov. 10 contact Maurice Bush at mkb6937@missouriwestern.edu to make arrangements.

• All organizations or groups are invited to participate in the annual "Magic of Christmas" lighted Christmas parade at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 in downtown St. Joseph. Floats of walkers are welcome, but all must have lights! There is no cost. For more information or to register, call Lori Cordonnier at 816-232-3108.

• if you are taking a class this semester which you know is a repeat from another institution, you must go to the Registrar's Office in Eder Hall, room 102, and complete a "Repeat Course Notification" form. This will ensure that all of your transcript totals are accurate when you are first able to look up your final grades on Dec. 21. PLEASE NOTE: Courses taken at Western and repeated at Western need not be reported.

• Join the debate over Hurricane Katrina and gas prices 7 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Blum Union Lounge.

• Are you interested in joining Sigma Sigma Sigma? If so please contact Courtney Kent at 816-617-8784.

• Many area professionals use the French language as part of their job. Come find out where, how, and why French can give you an edge in the professional world at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Blum Union, room 208. This round table discussion in English addresses various sectors: government, agricultural equipment, fine arts, and translation. Refreshments will be served.

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Tuesday, November 1

• Spring pre-registration advisement begins

• French Week: Pause Café - 12:30 p.m. Eder Hall Foyer

• French and Career Opportunities - 7 p.m. Blum Union, room 208

Thursday, November 3

• First Thursday Noontime Concert - 12:10 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 7th and Jules

• "Aesthetic Disinterestedness" - lecture for philosophy class given by Dr. Bart Vandenabeele - 3:30 p.m. Popplewell Hall, room 101

• Surviving: The First Quarter of Teaching - Classroom strategies that beginning teachers should adopt - 5 p.m. Eder Hall, room 210

• Hurricane Katrina and Gas Prices debate - 7 p.m. Blum Union Lounge

Friday, November 4

• Last day to withdraw from individual and complete classes ("W" recorded)

• Last day to change from "credit" to "audit"

• French Week: Cheese Tasting - 11 a.m. Eder Hall, room 211

Saturday, November 5

• Western football vs. Washburn - 2 p.m.

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Points of Pride

Excellence in our Faculty

• Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology, and his colleagues from the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching (GCAT) were highlighted in the monthly National Science Foundation (NSF) newsletter to the U.S. Congress.  In August 2005, Dr. Eckdahl served as laboratory coordinator for two three-day NSF-sponsored workshops held at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where 43 faculty learned to conduct and analyze DNA microarray experiments. The workshop was supported by a grant from NSF, one of four grants totaling over $280,000, which Dr. Eckdahl served as coauthor and co-principal investigator with GCAT colleagues.  The workshop instructors have also been invited to prepare an article for the prestigious publication, Science that will appear in January 2006.

• Tanza Triggs has been named director for the center for multicultural education. Tay started a new program called Expanding Our Horizons, a monthly activity that will provide an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to engage in dialogue about multicultural and diversity issues and concerns. It will be held over the lunch hour once a month. There will be live performances and educational video clips. The dates for fall semester are October 17, November 14, and December 5.

• Geo Sipp, assistant professor of art, had two prints, Firefight and Oil Fields, from his Algerian Series Wolves in the City, selected for inclusion in the 2005 Delta National Small Prints Exhibition, held at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Of the 320 prints submitted, only 59 prints were selected for exhibition.

• Dr. John Rushin, professor of biology and chair of the department, and his students completed two Missouri Department of Conservation-funded plant surveys on the Missouri River flood plain and the Missouri River bluffs.  Dr. Rushin also published an article entitled The Loess Hills: Missouri's Prairie Giants in the summer issue of the Missouri Prairie Journal.

• Dr. Steve Morris, assistant professor of philosophy, co-authored an article entitled “Surveying Freedom: Folk Intuitions about Free Will and Moral responsibility” with Eddy Nahmias, Thomas Nadelhoffer, and Jason Turner that was published in Philosophical Psychology, 2005.

• Dr. Shiva Nandan, associate professor of marketing, published an article entitled “Managing Successful Online Brands:  The Journey from Dot.com to Web Brand Franchise” in the Journal of Website Promotion.

• Dr.  Monica Nandan, associate professor of social work, presented a paper titled “Civic Engagement:  A Partnership Between College & School Students,” at the Missouri Campus Compact Annual Conference in Jefferson City.

• Dr. Dan Cox, assistant professor of government, attended the Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions conference in Kearney, Neb.

• Angela Beam, director of financial aid, conducted two workshops for parents and students on the new changes for the Federal Financial Aid application.  Beam also discussed all scholarships, as well as part-time jobs.

• Dr. Bill Eickhorst, professor of art, gave an illustrated lecture on “Religious Iconography and Symbolism” in Leonardo DaVinci's Fresco "The Last Supper," for the Society of Fellows at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art.

• Dr. Cary Chevalier, associate professor of biology, recently presented two papers: “Incorporating Geospatial Technology into Undergraduate Biology Education: Traditional and Applied Learning Approaches” at the Nebraska GIS Symposium in Lincoln; and, “Incorporating Geospatial Technology in Undergraduate Study of Mammalogy” at the Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mammalogists in Springfield, Mo.

• Dr. John Rushin, professor of biology and chair of the department, and senior biology major Lisa Miller co-authored a poster at the Natural Areas Conference in Lincoln, Neb.

• Maureen Raffensperger, associate professor of physical therapy, attended a three-day workshop of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy Item Writer's Workshop in Austin, Texas.

• Dr. Shauna Hiley, associate professor of chemistry, Victoria Sample, science storeroom/laboratory coordinator of chemistry and biology, and Wonda Berry-Howe, director of recreational services, coordinated first aid training for 10 chemistry department laboratory assistant/mentor/tutors as a requirement of their position. 

• Deborah Becker, instructor of computer science, presented a computer science, mathematics, and physics colloquium entitled “So You Want to Get a GREAT Job?”

• Dr. Monica Nandan, associate professor of social work, presented a paper at the Missouri Campus Compact Annual Conference in Jefferson City entitled Civic Engagement: A Partnership Between College and School Students.

• Dr. Nannette Wolford, professor of physical education, and Dr. Bill Russell, assistant professor of physical education, participated in the “PE 4 Life” Summit at Lincoln Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, Mo.

• Dave Tushaus, associate professor of legal studies, and Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies, presented their paper, “Election Law and Poll Monitoring:  When Scholarship Meets Civic Engagement,” at the Missouri Campus Compact Statewide Conference in Jefferson City. The conference was entitled “Service-Learning as Civically Engaged Scholarship.”

• Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies, along with senior criminal justice major Samantha Morrison, and Gene Bonham, criminal justice professor at Central Missouri State University, presented the initial results of their research to the Missouri Restorative Justice Coalition in Jefferson City.  Katz has a three-year grant from the coalition’s funder, the Center for Women in Transition, to study attitudes of stakeholders in Missouri about Restorative Justice and the Criminal Justice system. 

• Jill Miller, professor of criminal justice, was a spokesperson for the committee at the press conference on the new community initiative “Enough Abuse” to stop sexual abuse of children in our community.

• Frederica Nix, criminal justice instructor, accompanied students to the Second Annual Protect Our Children Conference in Kansas City, Mo. hosted by the Regional Community Police Training Institute of Wichita, Kan.  In attendance were educators, social workers, counselors, attorneys, and law enforcers.  The conference identified the importance of partnerships between criminal justice practitioners and service providers in assisting the young victims of abuse.

• Larry Andrews, professor of criminal justice, coordinated the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals that was recently held on campus.  Five cases were heard by three appeals judges in the Kemper Recital Hall in Leah Spratt Hall.  Over 500 students and faculty from Western, along with students from area high schools and several local attorneys, listened to the oral arguments.  The judges presented information and answered questions for students and faculty prior to lunch, which was sponsored by the St. Joseph Bar Association.

• Dr. Konrad Gunderson, assistant professor of accounting, presented his paper entitled “Active Teaching in Business and Accounting:  A Survey of Techniques and an Empirical Test,” at the first annual Business and Leadership Symposium held at Fort Hays State University, Fort Hays, Kan.

• Denise Smith, associate professor of business, presented her paper entitled “Smith v. City of Jackson:  Proving Disparate Impact Under the ADEA” at the Academy of Legal Studies in Business meeting in San Francisco.

• Dr. Tim Crowley, counselor, presented “The Art of Mentoring” in Conception Junction, Mo., to community mentoring program personnel, and “How to Communicate with Confidence” at the Tina-Avalon teacher’s consortium. Dr. Crowley was also a featured speaker at the St. Joseph Women’s Expo-“The Power of Positive Thinking.” 

• Steve Potter, counselor, along with personnel from Public Safety, directed the “Drive Smart, Drive Safe” campaign focusing on the issue of distracted driving. The effort saw over 400 students sign pledge cards toward safer driving. 

• Vincenza Marash, counselor, provided a training session to the Heartland Hospital cancer support group - “Dialogic Dance of Communication.” 

• Steve Potter, counselor, discussed stress management with an upper level psychology class.

• Dave Brown, counselor, discussed career paths with the Careers in Psychology class. 

• Steve Potter, counselor, and Dave Brown, director of counseling and testing, also attended a daylong seminar on social norming at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

• Mike Ritter, coordinator of special needs, and Ellen Kisker, director of the nontraditional student center, continue to be active members of MoAHEAD, an association of disability service providers from colleges and universities throughout the state. Ritter and Kisker attended the professional training seminar at University of Missouri-Kansas City.  The presentation focused on how to provide the best accommodations for students with learning disabilities. Kisker attended the executive board meeting. Ritter served on the planning committee of MERIL’s “No More Stares” annual conference. The conference had a large attendance and Ritter coordinated two sessions. One current Western student and two former Western students were an integral part of the afternoon panel session.  Ritter continues to work closely with MERIL and Vocational Rehabilitation to coordinate services for our students.

• Tim Crowley, counselor, of Western’s Counseling Center, and Peggy Ellis, director of noncredit programs and business and industry training, were guest speakers for Breadeaux Pizza’s annual meeting for franchisees and managers.

• Dr. Judy Grimes, dean of student services, read at the Banned and Challenged Book Reading Event.  She also provided an informational session on advisement for a COL 101: Freshman Seminar class and workshops for faculty on the Noel Levitz College Student Inventory.

Excellence in our Students

• Junior nursing major Ghazala Saleem was chosen to receive the National Omicron Psi Honor Society Scholarship.  She is one of three recipients nationwide and will receive $1,000.  Saleem is from Mound City, Mo.

• Senior biology major Lisa Miller, and Dr. John Rushin, professor of  biology and chair of the department, co-authored a poster at the Natural Areas Conference in Lincoln, Neb.  Miller is from Osborn, Mo.

• The Center for Community Arts Suzuki violin students, under the direction of alumna Amanda-Fay Moore; junior Sarah Cool, a music major; and alumna Terry Brock, performed at the annual St. Joseph Public School Youth Concert held at the Missouri Theater. The Suzuki students performed, along with the St. Joseph Symphony, to a crowd of 3,000 students.

Excellence in our Programs

• Dr. Diane Gorcyca’s public relations class held a benefit performance during the final dress rehearsal for Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show.”  Ninety-one cans of food and $142 were collected for Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater St. Joseph.

• Admissions hosted 140 counselors from the Northwest Missouri School Counselor’s Association. Guest speaker Mark Van Zandt, an attorney with the Department of Elementary Secondary Education, in Jefferson City, Mo., gave a presentation entitled “School Law, Ethics and Counselors.” 

• The Kansas City, Mo. and Kansas City, Kan. high school and community college counselor luncheon was hosted at the Kansas City Royals Stadium Club. There were over 82 counselors in attendance.  Dr. Paul Shang, director of student development, discussed student affairs and the Destination Western Orientation program.

• The Big Event was a great success this semester. Two-hundred-fifty students, faculty and staff provided a day of service to the St. Joseph community through a variety of organizations.

• Career Development hosted the Federal Reserve Bank on-campus interviews.  Other events hosted include the Disney World College Program, an Etiquette-Networking Dinner at Embassy Suites, a professional wardrobe event, mock interviews, and a resumé and cover letter writing workshop for psychology majors. The Career and Graduate School Fair took place on October 28 in the Fulkerson Center; Walgreen’s will host interviews on November 8. 

• The Center for Arts Culture and Literacy Suzuki violin students performed at the annual Pumpkinfest youth arts festival.  The students performed on the main stage to a crowd of over 60 parents and children; Rhonda Rund, Director of the Center for Community Arts, emceed the performance.

• At the Early Care & Education Quality Awards ceremony, held by United Way’s Success by 6 Program, Y’s Kids World on campus was honored for receivng national accreditation in 2004. Jennifer Jaques, director of Y’s Kids World, received recognition for the completion of her Bachelors of Science degree in 2004.

• The Nontraditional Student Association participated in Family Day. The group raised almost $100 to donate to hurricane relief funds. The club also voted to give the funds to one of Western’s nontraditional students who has 20 family members from Mississippi living here.

• Western Ambassadors held a successful first membership luncheon/meeting with 60 in attendance.  The board met on Oct. 13 and continues planning for the spring Night at the Ritz fundraiser.  Thanksgiving Tributes will be held in November and the membership directory will be assembled. 

• The Counseling Center staff provided advising and counseling throughout the month along with hearing individual financial aid appeals. The center continues to sponsor the SOS (Sharing Our Stories) peer education group, which has provided several presentations. Tim Crowley, counselor, facilitates the group. 

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• Remember to send us your ads! Send your submissions to publicrelations@missouriwestern.edu 

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