Week of November 17 - 23, 2003

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, 816-271- 4200

Click any link for these stories:

Eggs and Issues Speaker Transports Audience 
Back in Time

Western Students Coach Public Achievement

Haskell Dancers 
Return To Western

News Briefs

Calendar

Ads

Archives

The deadline for all entries is 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 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:
Jenny Pawlowski

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

Eggs and Issues Speaker Transports Audience Back in Time

Although Peter, one of the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, was "blind in one eye and couldn’t see very well out of the other," he was a valuable part of the group because he could play the fiddle, according to Dr. William Worley, featured speaker at Western’s Eggs and Issues last week.

Dr. Worley, a historian, writer and member of the adjunct faculty of the University of Missouri - Kansas City, transported audience members back in time to 1819 as he portrayed Captain William Clark and spoke of his experiences on the Lewis and Clark expedition.

"The fellers liked to have a dram of whiskey of an evening and listen to Peter play his fiddle," he said. "Whiskey’s real important if you’re recruiting fellers on a trip where they don’t know where they are going."

Dr. Worley, dressed in full military regalia, told the audience of over 160 about the challenges of Native Americans and Mother Nature throughout the expedition. He said  Meriwether Lewis and he were given the task of keeping notes of the entire journey, including observations of wildlife and plants. They sent several specimens to President Thomas Jefferson, he said.

"This was one of the prettiest areas that we saw," the explorer said of St. Joseph. "There were beautiful prairies, beavers and prairie wolves; and in this area, I saw the biggest rat that I had ever seen." The hunting was especially good, he said, as the area was full of deer and elk.

The Eggs and Issues speaker series is sponsored by Heartland Regional Community Foundation, Leaverton’s, UMB Bank, NA; and the Western Foundation. This presentation was also funded by the Missouri Humanities Council with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Students Coach Public Achievement

For an hour each week, social work students in Dr. Monica Nandan’s Social Work Practice class at Missouri Western State College are helping elementary school students solve community problems such as stray animals and speeding in school zones.

The college students have been serving as Public Achievement coaches for elementary school children at St. Patrick and Neely Schools in St. Joseph throughout the fall semester. 

"The values and principles of Public Achievement are completely in sync with what I teach in my class," said Dr. Nandan. "My students are teaching children the value of citizenship."

This is the second year that Western has partnered with St. Patrick and Neely Schools in the Public Achievement Program.

Senior Melody Grier, one of the coaches this year, pointed out that one of the projects completed last year was the park near the two schools. "But we don’t focus on the end result. It’s the process that is important. The children learn how to get things done, how to research; and they learn about their community," she said.

Grier’s group was trying to come up with solutions for stray dogs in the community. Junior Ashford, a sixth grader from Neely and a member of the group, said he has learned about the animal shelter, and how to get stray dogs back to their owners since he has been a part of the program. "They (animals) can bite little kids and hurt them," he said. 

"We just guide the children. Public Achievement is all about the children doing it on their own," said Grier. "When the children come up with the ideas on their own, they are more willing to do the work."

Senior Rachel Seaton was one for the coaches for a group that was determining the best way to support troops in Iraq. They wanted to show their appreciation for the troops and also find a way to support the soldiers’ families in St. Joseph. Each student had listed out three ideas that they shared with the group.

"Now they have to figure out how to accomplish what they want to do," Seaton said.

Grier said she has enjoyed working with the children, and has learned a lot about the community in the process. "I like working with people. It helps me in my major." Grier also noted that she has been able to apply a lot of concepts that she has learned in the classroom to her work with the elementary school students.

Directing more students to apply learned concepts outside the classroom is also one of the goals of the college’s five-year strategic plan.

Last year, approximately 74% of graduates participated in applied learning experiences such as independent research, practica, internships, clinicals and student teaching.

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Haskell Dancers Return to Western

In celebration of Native American Month, the Haskell Dance Performers are returning to  Western at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building Kemper Recital Hall. The Center for Multicultural Education (CME) is sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the community.

This year’s featured Haskell Dancers are Daryl and Willow Jack who are national powwow champions. The Jacks will include an overview of their dance style and regalia, an exhibition dance, a question and answer session and a friendship dance where the audience can actively participate. Daryl Jack, a Navajo from White Cone, Ariz., is a men’s fancy dancer and Willow Jack, a Shoshone/Bannock from Ft. Hall, Idaho, is a jingle dress dancer.

"They (Haskell Dancers) have performed here in the past and have always given a program that’s educational as well as entertaining," said Emily Kempf, CME special events intern. "They have always been well received by the community."

The Haskell Dancers are students at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. who are chosen from a select group of college students and considered professionals in their chosen dance styles. The Haskell Dancers travel extensively throughout the United States and compete with other dancers at various powwows.

For more information on this upcoming event, call the CME at 4150.

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• The art department is hosting the Senior Art Exhibi2 until Dec. 4 in Gallery 206 and the Foyer Gallery of the Thompson E. Potter Fine Arts Building. The shows are mixed media. 

• The French Conversation Table will be held in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, room 208, from noon - 12:45 p.m. Dec. 4.  All are welcome to bring their lunch and come for conversation en francais. Contact Dr. Susan Hennessy at 5813 or hennessy@missouriwestern.edu for more information.  

• Mark your calendar: The fall 2003 Commencement Ceremony for Western graduates is 4 p.m. Dec. 20 in the Fieldhouse of the M. O. Looney Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building. Honored guest is Kansas City Mayor and St. Joseph native Kay Barnes, who will deliver the commencement address. Barnes will also be presented with a Western honorary doctorate for her example as an outstanding leader. A reception for graduates and their families will precede the ceremony from 1:30 – 3 p.m. in the Nelle Blum Student Union, room 218. 

• Interfaith Care Teams is currently looking for Western students, faculty, or staff to assist elderly and chronically ill individuals in the Saint Joseph community.  Interfaith volunteers provide visitation, respite care, and transportation to those in need.  Also, volunteers can help with special one-time projects such as raking leaves, moving assistance, and home maintenance.  This is a tremendous opportunity for you to gain volunteer experience and to get involved with the Saint Joseph community.  If you would like more information or are interested in becoming a volunteer, you may call Interfaith Care Teams at (816) 271-7363.  Do not miss out on this exciting volunteer opportunity!

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Monday, November 17

• Using FrontPage with WebCT, 3 - 4:30 p.m., LRC 107E

• "More than Meets the Eye" planetarium show, 7:30 p.m., SM 105

• Men's basketball vs. Central Bible, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, November 18

• Introduction to WebCt workshop, 10 a.m. - noon, LRC 107E

• Mock interviews, 8:15 a.m. - 4 p.m., LRC 150

Wednesday, November 19

• "Navigating with Lewis and Clark" planetarium show, 7:30 p.m., SM 105

• Coffee and Conversation, 9 a.m. - noon, SS/C 202

• Mock interviews, 8:15 a.m. - 4 p.m., LRC 150

• Haskell Dancers Performance, 7 p.m., MC Kemper Recital Hall

Thursday, November 20

• The French Conversation Table will be held noon - 12:45 p.m., MC 208

• "The Lion in Winter" theatre production, 8 p.m., Black Box Theater 

• Men's basketball at Park, 7 p.m.

Friday, November 21

• "The Lion in Winter" theatre production, 8 p.m., Black Box Theater

• Women's basketball vs. Ferris State, 5 p.m. (Pepsi Classic, Quincy, Ill.)

Saturday, November 22

• "The Lion in Winter" theatre production, 8 p.m., Black Box Theater

• Women's basketball vs. TBA, TBA (Pepsi Classic, Quincy, Ill.)

Sunday, November 23

• "The Lion in Winter" theatre production, 2 p.m. matinee and 8 p.m., Black Box Theater

• Western Orchestra Concert, 3 p.m., FA Theater

• Jazz Ensemble Concert, 7:30 p.m., FA Theater

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