“It’s Beautiful,” Sam Donaldson, National News Correspondent , responded when he was asked about Missouri Western and its community. “It’s the people and the students that I met, you’re all bright, here to learn and smart. From what I can tell you have a great faculty, it’s a good combination. It has been made clear to me that you’ve got something here that’s important. And its worth supporting.”

Donaldson came to Missouri Western as part of the 14th annual Convocation on Critical Issues. Donaldson spoke to students, faculty and members of the community at three different events to make sure that everyone could hear his views on leadership and politics. He spoke to members of the community and Western supporters at the Convocation dinner on Monday night. Tuesday morning he meet with 25 students for breakfast, talking about issues affecting them and finally he spoke at the convocation, Tuesday, to Western faculty and students, area high schoolers and members of the St. Joseph community.

(Full story)

As opposed to what was initially expected, Public Safety officers will not be armed on campus until the Board approves.

This motion was passed at the Board of Governors meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25 in Blum 220.

Torn between both sides, some board members could not decide if giving officers access to firearms would actually make a difference, or if it would in fact make students and faculty feel safer on campus. (Full story)

It’s a student problem, not a black problem.

That was the message given by Tay Triggs, the Multicultural Education Director, during the last SGA meeting.

Many of the students involved with the excessive noise, vandalism, vulgarity, and all around bad behavior at the Blum Student Union are African American.

“It is perceived as a black problem, but we don’t want to segregate,” Triggs said.

Triggs brought her message to the last SGA meeting asking that they address the problem because she feels the issue is a student government problem.

Student Senator Tyson Malone agrees that something needs to be done.  “We (SGA) have selected a committee to analyze the problem, and are working to address it.” (Full story)

Recently a lot of hype has been given about acts of violence, profanity, rudeness and disrespectfulness, by a group of students at Missouri Western, reportedlyall coming from one minority.

From a huge fight during one of their functions, to disrespectful behavior during the convocation, to vandalism and foul behavior in the student union, we here at the Griffon News, have to question why you are even in college.

It is not every minority student that sits in the SU that are causing problems, most students are here to learn and take the benefits they are given seriously, but the group of students that don’t have respect for this campus are causing a huge problem.

Maybe it is just a lack of maturity or lack of campus involvement. (Full story)

The Griffons made it four straight wins and kept themselves in playoff contention with an impressive conference win over the Missouri Southern Lions (5-4) at Spratt Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Against a stingy, top-ranked Missouri Southern defense, Missouri Western’s offense remained solid with a 30-point performance.  The Griffons’ improving defense did allow 20 first downs and nearly 300 yards of total offense.  However, they were able to come up with some key interceptions and stops in  holding Southern to only 14 points.

“We did enough to win, and the defense played well,” Western coach Jerry Partridge said.  “I think we’re pretty complete; that was a good football team coming in here today.”

The Griffon offense moved the ball through the air fairly well.  Quarterback Drew Newhart completed 18 of 31 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns, but he also added three interceptions.  (Full story)

Anyone with access to the internet could learn this much about Harold Callaway, the student Governor by reading Tower Topics.

“Harold Callaway III, a sophomore management and economics major from Faucett, Mo., was sworn in as student governor at the Board of Governors meeting Feb. 23.”

 But what exactly does that mean to the average Joe student? It means this is one of the guys who makes some of the final decisions on where your money goes.

 Callaway describes his duties quite simply.

 “You only have one primary responsibility and that is making the board meetings,” Callaway said.
 Missouri Western State University defines the duties of the Student Governor in four parts:

(Full story)

This week Missouri Western will be having Black Student Union Week and there are several events and activities in store.

There will be a number of recreational activities like a Bowling Night at the Belt Bowl on Wednesday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

There will also be more serious events like the Habitat for Humanity project from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and giving back to the senior citizens at Saxons Community Center from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. (Full story)