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

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A Look Ahead

"Light Up Western" Dec. 6

Missouri Western Presents Summer Research Projects

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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.

Week of Dec. 3 - 9, 2010

A Look Ahead

Missouri Western Presents Summer Research Projects

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the College of Professional Studies and the Steven L. Craig School of Business at Missouri Western State University invite you to attend the presentation projects of the 2010 Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) and the Summer Research Institute (SRI) in conjunction with the Multi-Disciplinary Research Day Poster Session on Tuesday, December 7, 2010, noon – 2:00 p.m., in the Huff Conference Room, Blum 218-219.

URSI was designed to enrich undergraduate teaching and learning by providing talented students with meaningful investigative or creative experiences in their major discipline in partnership with a faculty member of that discipline.

SRI was designed to bring students and faculty together to engage in meaningful and significant scholarly research. Western students as well as qualified high school students are given the opportunity to work as part of a research team during an eight week program for the 2010 summer session.

The URSI teams that will report on their projects include:

·         David I. Hon and Dr. Robert Bergland, professor of journalism – Convergent Journalism Curricula at ACEJMC-Accredited Universities.

·         Matthew S. King, Hillary A. Turner and Dr. Benjamin Caldwell, associate professor and chair of chemistry  – Investigation of Allosteric Effectors on Pyruvate Kinase Structure by Fluorescence.

·         Samantha M. Hunt-Viehland, Misha D. Mazurkewycz and Dr. Cary Chevalier, associate professor of biology – Blood Serum Chemistry and Hematology of Field-Fresh Raccoons from an Urban Population in Northwest Missouri Held Under Chemical Restraint Using a Ketamine-Acepromazine-Atropine Restraint Cocktail.

·         Jennifer M. Gregory and Deb Ellis, R.N. and assistant professor of nursing – Health Literacy, Glucose Control and Medication Management in Low Income Mexican Americans.

·         Jacob T. Baber and Dr. Reza G. Hamzaee, professor of economics – Ethics and Market Economic System.

·         Samantha M. Schmuecker and Dr. Shauna Hiley, associate professor of chemistry – Comparison of Two Analytical Methods for the Determination of Metals in Soil and Alloy Samples: Portable X-Ray Fluorescence vs. Atomic Absorption.

·         Karen G. Harrelson and Dr. Pi-Ming Yeh, assistant professor of nursing – Factors Influencing Family Caregiver Burden.

·         Justin W. Spellman; Dr. Bill Russell, assistant professor of physical education; Dr. Justin Kraft, assistant professor of physical education; and Dr. Randy Bergman, assistant professor of health – Examination of Physiological, Step-Count and Mood Effects of an Interactive Video Game Across User Experience and Game-Playing Conditions.

The SRI teams that will report on their projects include:

·         Kathryn Dodge and Dr. Scott Ertekin, assistant professor of marketing – An Assessment of Consumers’ Willingness to Patronize Foreign-Based Business Format Franchises: An Investigation in the Fast Food Sector.

·         Dan DeClue; Samy Northcutt; Dr. Susan Carter, assistant professor of music; and Dr. Linda Antas, assistant professor of music and director of audio technology – To Gong or Not to Gong: Investigating Gong Resonance as it Pertains to Increased Vocal Resonance in the University Female Singer.

·         Will Vernon; Bryce Szczepanik; Clif Davis; Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor and chair of biology; and Dr. Jeff Poet, associate professor of mathematics – Building Biological Computers to Solve Satisfiability Problems.

·         Amber Gilbert and Dr. Karen Koy, assistant professor of biology – Predation Risk and Its Effects on Patch Foraging Behavior in Vertebrates.

·         Jacob Haley, Ryan Persinger, Matthew Stehly, Nicole Wallace, Colton Zirkle and Dr. Mark Mills, assistant professor of biology – Population Ecology and Metapopulation Dynamics of Turtles on Missouri Western State University Campus.

·         Jessica Roberts and Dr. John Tapia, professor of communication studies – Assessment Instrument for Speech Communication Majors.

·         Steven Brown; Dr. Tingxiu Wang, professor and chair of computer science, mathematics and physics; and Dr. Tim Miller, assistant professor of mathematics – Inequalities by Lyapunov’s Second Method.

·         Jerad Anderson, David Carr and Dr. Phil Wann, professor and chair of psychology – Political Orientation, Morality Salience and Moral Decision-Making.

·         Ricki Dale Dierenfeldt Jr. and Dr. Hyunseok Jang, assistant professor of criminal justice – Survey on Fear of Crime and Concealed Weapons.

·         Logan Larson and Dr. Shensheng Tang, assistant professor of engineering technology – Performance Modeling for an Opportunistic Spectrum Sharing Wireless Network Using Cognitive Radios.

·         Stephanie Ragan, Sarah Ragan and Dr. Greg Lindsteadt, assistant professor of criminal justice – Preventing Stress Fractures in the New Professional: What Can Be Done in the Classroom?

For more information, call 816-271-4510.

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News Briefs

ADOPT A FAMILY – Will you and your family need assistance in order to have a joyful Christmas? The Adopt-A-Family can help. Applications will be taken from families and individuals needing help for Christmas at the AFL-CIO Community Services office, 1203 North 6th Street. Sign up begins Monday, November 8, 2010 and end Friday, December 17, 2010. Applications are accepted Monday-Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Documents needed are attached on back. Applications can be picked up in the Non-Traditional Student Center, Eder 200, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

SORORITY HELPS ALUMNA - Alpha Gamma Delta will be collecting clothing and monetary donations to help a victim of an apartment fire that occurred on Monday. Early Monday morning, on Nov. 29, 2010, a Missouri Western alumna lost nearly everything when her apartment was destroyed by a fire. Now, the ladies of Alpha Gamma Delta are requesting your help in collecting both clothing and monetary donations to help put her back on her feet. The ladies of Alpha Gamma Delta will also be selling Candy Canes to help raise money to assist the victim affected by this tragedy. Anyone willing to make a donation can contact a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, including President Courtney Hall at chall4@missouriwestern.edu or 816-244-2409; or take your donations to the Center for Student Engagement on the second floor of the Blum Student Union. Requested Donations Include: -Size Large Women’s shirts -New Kitchen Utensils and small appliances -Winter clothing- hats, scarfs, gloves, etc.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION ADVISER NEEDED - A group of students are trying to establish a U.S. armed forces veteran's fraternity here on campus known as Omega Delta Sigma (ODS). Colony and school application requirements include a MWSU faculty/staff advisor upon registration. A military veteran is ideal but NOT required. If there is anyone interested in being said advisor, please contact Jeremy Filbert at jfilbert@missouriwestern.edu or call him at 816-352-7874.

THE SEASON FOR GIVING – The Legal Studies Association will be collecting donations for the annual Lay-A-Way Santa program. Proceeds go to qualifying families who need help purchasing presents for their children this holiday season. Last year, over $425 was raised and we hope to exceed that amount to help more local families this year. If every student at Missouri Western donated just one dollar, we could collect almost $6000 and help many needy families in the St. Joseph community. To make a donation, please see the collection tables in Popplewell, Murphy, and Wilson on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Noon-2pm or Hearnes and Remington Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-1pm. Donations will be collected November 29th to December 10th. Or you can contact MWSULSA@live.com for more information or to make a donation outside of those hours. Every dollar helps, so please help make a child's Christmas brighter this year. 

GISC SPORTS CAMP - The Griffon Indoor Sports Complex will be hosting a youth activity/sport camp during the holiday break. On December 27-30, the GISC will be hosting CAMP GISC which is day camp for children in grades 3-8. Registration will take place from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex on November 30, December 2, 3, 7, 9 & 10. Space is limited and registration will be taken on a
“first-come, first-serve” basis. If camp spots remain after December 10, late registration will be taken on December 14 & 16. The registration for each child is $75, which includes lunch daily and a camp shirt. Late registration (December 14/16) will be $90 per camper. Activities including flag football, kickball, soccer, team building exercises, relays, movies, swimming and much more will be scheduled throughout the week. For more information you can visit www.gogriffons.com or call 816-271-4556. 

Put a Sock on Poverty – Help MWSU Democrats keep families warm this winter. December 8 & 9 we will be in Blum Union 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. collecting donations of NEW AND UNUSED items. Important items include: •Socks* •Underwear* •Gloves •Scarves •Hats •Coats •Blankets. Please come see us and donate. We will also have hand-made clothing items to bid on. Raffle tickets will be $2 a piece for a chance to win. All proceeds and donations will go to the Don Bosco Family Center that assists families in need. If you want to volunteer to help us at the table contact President Matthew Hunt at mhunt8@missouriwestern.edu or VP Amanda Johnson at ajohnson44@missouriwestern.edu.  

PUBLIC SPEAKING, PARKING SURVEYS – Graduate student Nikhil Lattupally is conducting a survey regarding the most important qualities in public speaking and requests your help. The survey should take less than five minutes to complete. It’s available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/powerpointpresentation. Another group of students is surveying students, faculty and staff regarding parking on campus. That survey is available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B9W5MZL.

HOLIDAY POTTERY SALE – The art department’s annual Holiday Pottery Sale will be 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 9 and 10, and 9 a.m. – noon on Saturday, Dec. 11 in the Potter Hall Gallery. A portion of the proceeds go to the Amy Singleton Scholarship Fund. Contact the art department for more information, 271-4282.

WINTER SESSION – Accelerate your academic career! With Winter Session classes you can use your winter break to earn 3 or 5 credits. Take a course to apply to your major, or explore an area of interest. Online and on-campus options are available. Classes run December 18, 2010 - January 14, 2011. See http://www.wi.missouriwestern.edu/wintersession.asp for more information!

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PLYOMETRIC BOX FOR SALE: One 20" plyometric box for sale. It is made of 3/4" plywood. Nailed, screwed & glued together. 3/8" solid, non-slip, rubber top. Excellent condition. Rarely used. I bought this at BiggerFasterStronger.com for $129 plus s/h. Asking $75 or best offer. 816-390-5443

QUEEN SOFA BED FOR SALE: Navy plaid, great condition! Call 816-294-8178.

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