On January 21 at 10:28 p.m., Western basketball player Ashleigh Curry, was arrested for a misdemeanor of supplying alcohol to a minor. The Western guard had apparently rented out Callison Hall for a back-to-school party, which had been advertised on and off campus via flyers.

Ashleigh Curry, Western Women's Basketball guard

In an earlier article written by the St. Joseph News-Press, reader comments alleged that Curry had given alcohol to minors. Other comments suggested that she was a victim of poor circumstances, that minors drank prior to walking into the Callison Hall. Amid these comments were those who were calling for her removal from the women’s basketball team.

Western Athletic Director Kurt McGuffin said that since Curry hasn’t appeared in court yet and that the charge is a misdemeanor, McGuffin wanted to be fair and consistent with the athletic department’s disciplinary actions. He also said that in situations like these, expulsion form the team is always considered.

“I think any time one of our student athletes makes a wrong decision we’re going to consider that part of it,” McGuffin said.

Curry has previous encounters with the law. In March of 2008, Curry was cited for a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Ten days later she was cited for identity theft.

McGuffin said that when deciding disciplinary action, these past citations were considered. With these actions, McGuffin aims for consistency and follows a three-strike policy, but feels that Curry has not struck out.

“We had to make it known that we weren’t going to put up with that kind of infraction and bad decision,” McGuffin said.

As well as being suspended, Head Coach Lynn Plett and McGuffin have applied other in-house disciplinary actions. Neither Plett nor McGuffin said they could go into detail on these actions and prefer to keep it within the team so they can protect the privacy of Curry.

Last semester, Curry had some eligibility issues with the NCAA concerning her short time with Livin’ the Dream which was believed to had compromised her amateur status. Despite the time that Plett and McGuffin spent working out these issues, neither of them regrets their decision to fight for her play-time for Western.

“[She’s] a very viable individual, I think, and she’s working very hard in her degree,” Plett said.

Curry declined to comment since the situation is not over.

Zumba instructor, Jamie Gilpin, sings along as he among other instructors lead the group through the morning Zumba session. Photo by Jason Brown

The participants work in a couple more quick stretches before Bagley screams out “Let’s shake it!”

Then the music begins.

Last Saturday, Jan. 21, 525 people (counting Max the Griffon) made an appearance at the 2nd Annual Zumba in the Room-ba, which was an increase from a total 498 at last year’s event. Unfortunately, 525 was not enough to break the existing record.

“I wish we would’ve set the Guinness, but that’s cool that we at least beat our record from last year,” student Hannah Strasser said. “We’ll just keep getting better, hopefully.”

Although St. Joseph did not break the Guinness World Record, it is still recorded as a personal best at 525, which also led to raising around $10,000 for the YWCA Choices Program (which focuses on issues facing adolescent girls and helps the girls to increase their life skills and to make good life choices) and Western Women’s Athletics.

Wendy Hickman, who works for the Choices Program, was very pleased with how the event turned out.

“I thought it was great; it was fun, it was energetic and everybody seemed to be having a good time — and it was all for a good cause,” Hickman said.

Hickman also said the donations going toward the Choices Program will help by allowing speakers to come and talk to the girls involved in it.

Not only did the Choices Program benefit from the event, however.

After dancing the Zumba for a straight hour, the instructors and contestants were undoubtedly gleaming with sweat and sporting smiles. Strasser, who couldn’t make it to Zumba in the Room-ba last year, enjoyed the event.

“It was really fun,” Strasser said. “All the instructors did really well.”

There were a lot more instructors this year, and Zumba leaders, like Jaclyn Ziesel, were really looking forward to Zumba in the Room-ba this time around.

“It was awesome, we were so excited to do it,” Ziesel said. “Coming from doing it from last year, we were for sure we wanted to do it.”

Although the event is over for this year, Hickman is already looking to the future.

“I’m looking forward to next year.”

Instead of the old padlock keys that have been installed for several years, the departments decided to get brand new key sliders for every front door of the dorms.  According to Key Access Specialist and Assistant Locksmith Clint Barnes, the student’s safety was the number one reason for installing the new key system.

“The largest part of my job is safety,” Barnes said. ““I hold that end very, very high. There is no other way around it. Students have to feel safe. Student safety is number one.”

Residential Assistant Derek Thompson, who stated that he didn’t hear about the new key systems, felt that the lock upgrade might have been a little unnecessary.

“I liked the old ones better,” Thompson said. “They were easier to use. I guess these ones are better for winter weather. We have locks that already worked and I don’t think we really needed them if they were expensive.”

According to Barnes, thousands of dollars were spent to purchase and install the new locks. Last year, the Facilities Department drew up a bid to install the new systems. Barnes also thinks that Residential Life paid for the upgrade.

“I’m pretty sure Residential life paid for it,” Barnes said.

Barnes noted that anytime a department requests for new locks or mechanisms, the department is entitled to pay for it.

“It doesn’t come out of maintenance budget because we don’t have it.”

Griffon Hall Resident Jerrica Brown also felt the new lock upgrade were a meaningless addition to the campus.

“It doesn’t seem like there is a difference,” Brown said. “I think they are really pointless. I think they are wasting money on pointless things that don’t benefit students.”

In edition to the new lock system, the key office has found more efficient ways to insure campus security.  The security is due mainly to students that need or desire access into academic buildings. To achieve access, a form must be signed by the department chair, vice president of the department and dean or director of that department. This form must be filled out every semester.

“Just because you want access into room x,y,z doesn’t mean you are going to get it,” Barnes said.

Barnes also gives a stern warning to students that have access to any academic building about the importance of being responsible of your electronic chip key and not losing it or loaning it out.

“If you loan your chip to somebody, we are going to know about it,” Barnes said. “I can run and audit and tell you exactly who came into that door.”

 According to former Senator Nick Brewer his reason for leaving was school-related, not the lack of confidence in the Senate.

“Partially, one reason I left the Senate was my schedule, and I wouldn’t be able to make most of the meetings,” Brewer said.

Other reasons for Senator’s leaving were not due to a lack of confidence in the senate, but rather for their own benefit.

According to SGA President Alison Norris, only 2 students left the senate who were studying abroad, and those graduating. As stated by Norris she believes it’s time to recruit new Senators.

“We are going to run ads, and asking the current Senators to spread word to others,” Norris said. “The Student Senate has a retreat coming up, and we will hopefully see a few people come out with interest in becoming a Senator.”

The membership rate at the moment for the Student Senate stands at 16, according to SGA Vice President Jacob Scott.

“We just need two-third vote to pass legislations, which we have been able to do.”

Although it’s a positive sign that the Senate is able to pass legislation, having a few new members wouldn’t hurt.

“We are going to recruit, even if we don’t have a full Senate, and we are still able to pass legislation for the Spring Semester,” Norris said.

However, as stated on the Student Governments website a full senate has 20 Senators, but that isn’t stopping the current one in place.

“With the 10 Senators that we have, we only need 6 at the Senate meetings to conduct our business,” Norris said.

According to current Student Senator Brian Shewell, he will wait to see what the plan for gaining membership will be at the first meeting when they return from Winter break.

“By the first meeting we should have an idea on how we plan to get students engaged, and want to participate in the Student Senate,” Shewell said. “I will be spreading word to other students, and let them know how they can bring their own ideas fourth.”

It seems that SGA executives are already getting to work to find ways to get people involved in the student senate. “Our plan is to recruit two men and two women as Senators,” Scott said. “If students are serious about becoming a Senator, then the 3-day retreat would be the best way to gain instant access to the Senate. If students attend the 2 night, 3 day retreat that would count for 3 meetings.”

According to Senate membership requirements, a student must attend 3 meetings to become a senator.

According to Norris, the decline in membership has been an issue the last couple years. “We have a lot of non-traditional students at Western, and students with schedules that don’t fit with our meetings,” Norris said. “We must now show the students how important the Senate is, and how hard we work for the student body.”

“We want to re-educate students on all the parameters on what Dr. King stood for and what social justice work he did during his life,” Keisha Caldwell, CME program assistant, said.

On Friday, Jan. 20, the CME will host a Candlelight Vigil at 5:30 at the Griffon Plaza, which is located right outside of the Blum Union.  The CME will then host a day of service on Saturday, Jan. 21, which begins at 10 a.m. For the day of service, the CME plans to meet first in Blum lobby, and then break off into groups to serve and provide assistance to community centers such as St. Joe Haven, Habitat for Humanity, the Open Door Food Kitchen and the YWCA. The service day will continue until 2 p.m.

On Sunday, the CME is partnering with local church “Word of Faith” to host a Gospel Celebration, held in Kemper Hall, beginning at 3 p.m. The last event will be the Martin Luther King awards banquet and cultural exhibition, which will be in the Fulkerson Center, beginning at 6 p.m. Though the banquet and the service day are annual events, the CME decided to hold the events over the weekend, instead of during the week, in hope to achieve more student participation.

“The banquet and service day we have done for years,” Caldwell said. “But, we decided to have our events postponed, until students came back because we had low attendance in previous years of having events on Martin Luther King Day.”

CME Intern Leah Hayes feels that all students should take this opportunity to celebrate Martin Luther King, rather then just take the day off.

“As far as a college standpoint, we are all here for a reason,” Hayes said. “We are in college to educate ourselves. We all should learn what Martin Luther King was all about. Let’s not be ignorant and think Martin Luther King day is a day off. Martin Luther King stood for social justice. It’s a day on, not a day off.”

During the banquet, the CME will be giving out a “Drum Majors for Justice” award to certain nominees that demonstrate excellent service and social justice to the St. Joseph community. The CME is also remembering Martin Luther King by co-hosting the candlelight event with the fraternity that he was a member of, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Alpha Phi Alpha member Mark Bush feels that co-sponsoring the event is a great way to remind the Alphas of what being apart of a fraternity is all about.

“Brother King was not afraid of change but rather an agent of change,” Bush said. “He is the ideal Alpha man, which is why we honor him in remembrance of what he did because if we forget where we came from, we will never make it to where we are going.”

All events are free for Missouri Western students. The Gospel Celebration is free for everybody. The banquet, however, is $10 for non-students.

According to Wheeler, Pearce has extensive experience that will benefit Western. “Her extensive experience in higher education include working with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and the General Assembly,” Wheeler said. “She is a great fit for Western.”

Ann Pearce will not take the title of Director of External Relations; she receives her own title as the Special Assistant to the University President. According to Pearce she will take on many of the same duties as Wheeler.

“The duties include governmental relations at the local, state, and federal levels,” Pearce said. “Also being a university liaison with the greater St. Joseph community and with decision makers throughout the state.”

According to President Vartabedian, Ann Pearce has the experience Western needs.

“Ms. Pearce has 25 years of impressive experience at the University of Central Missouri,” Vartabedian said. “She has a track record of effective performance in the areas of expertise that we were seeking.”

President Vartabedian states that she is responsible for all things governmental from local to federal level. “She is primarily responsible for building and sustaining strong and positive leadership with those in influential and decision making roles,” Vartabedian said.

Though she is the  Special Assistant, rumors have circulated as to whether  Ms. Pearce would  receive her own parking space. According to Pearce the rumors are true.

“I do have my own parking space, and it is justified,” Pearce said. “I will not be sitting behind my desk all day.”  The position requires Pearce to travel quite a bit on and off campus. Pearce states that she must be confident that there will be a space for her when she returns to campus for her meetings.

According to Pearce she is ready to get to work.

“I am anxious to meet as many members of the Missouri Western family as I can, and to work closely with them to hear their views,” Pearce said. “The more I researched the university the more I was impressed by it.”

President Vartabedian stated that Pearce stood out as having both extensive legislative and academic experience. “I have been very impressed with Ms. Pearce’s willingness to ‘go the extra mile’,” Vartabedian said, “and do whatever is needed to be done to further the goals of Missouri Western.”

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“We are curious as to what specific standards of the university Huey-Shi [Chew] failed to meet,” The petition says, “Based upon the information currently available to students, it would seem that Huey-Shi was very satisfactory, and that her future at Western was promising.”

Chew’s departure was one of 13 since the reorganization of Student Affairs. International students have praised her dedication to students and were baffled by her departure.

Gilbert Imbiri, Student Assistant for the International Student Services office, said that the petition was read and approved by the International Student Club, but that the petition is as far as their concerns will go.

“That’s all we can do is sponsor it,” Imbiri said. “We all live with a student visa status so we just don’t want to get in trouble.”

Before the end of the semester, petition organizers sent the signed document to administrators, who did not directly respond to the request. Missouri law protects former employees from their employers by not allowing them to release information about their former employment.

Sharon Moore, one of the students who helped write the petition, said she had mixed feelings about Peralez’s response. Esther Peralez, Vice President for Student Affairs, responded to the petition by stating that Missouri law prevented her from disclosing information about Chew’s employment, but told Moore that if she had any concerns they should discuss them with Tay Triggs, assistant dean of student development or Steve Potter, international student adviser.

“What we were asking for was something that the college could not comply with under the sunshine laws,” Moore said. “So, I understood the response in that sense, but on the other hand, she could have definitely made an effort to find a different way in her power to address our concerns.”

While Triggs respects the students’ right to ask questions, she wishes that students would focus on concerns that affect the entire student body or things that the administration can control.

“They have a right to ask questions,” Triggs said. “I just hate that we can’t answer a lot of those questions.”

While the position remains empty, Imbiri is filling in the gaps by helping new international students adjust. Last week was the start of orientation for new international students. Imbiri also said that Potter has been helping after Chew’s departure. Even with the extra help, Imbiri said that the International Student Services office is struggling.

“It feels empty,” Imbiri said. “There’s no body in charge. This semester just began and a lot of students need help.”

The search committee has yet to fill the position, but Imbiri said that several interviews have been scheduled.

“It’s a field that needs a specific someone to do it,” Imbiri said, “When she left, I’m the one kind of in charge of all the students. It’s frustrating because I’m just a student too.”

Triggs hopes to have the position filled by March at the latest. She also said that the new Director for Global Engagement should have a breadth of knowledge and be able to provide leadership.

“It’s not just about someone having an open door policy and having a great relationship with students,” Triggs said. “You’ll find that all over campus. But we also need someone who can come in a give the university some direction in regards to the international program.”

The new mosque (house of prayer) is located at 2325 Messanie St. where an open house celebration was held Saturday March 5 from noon till 5 p.m. “We are committed to this community,” President, Ramadhan Washington of the Islamic Society of Greater St. Joseph said. That commitment is also evident with the selection of the mosque site. It is literally 50 yards from the old shoe store where the mosque was last housed.

Members of the community were invited into the new mosque to see the building and educate themselves about Islam beliefs and practices. The walls of the foyer were covered with posters explaining how the Islam religion views women, Jesus, children and many other interesting topics.

Literature was available for visitors. Imam, (Spiritual Leader) Omar Hazim was there signing and promoting his new book “Islam in the Heartland of America,” which he authored to inform and educate the public about how Islam is taught in the mosque in Topeka, Kansas. The book’s editor, Kahlil Green sums up the purpose of the book in the publication’s introduction. “For anyone who ever thought about or wondered what is taught in the Friday services at a mosque, for them, this book is a must read.” (ISBN 978-1-4568-5797-4)

MWSU student, Alisher Sharipov (Ali) helped build the mosque and recently was involved in repairing the roof. “There was a problem with the dome; we had to install a slope and put roofing materials on it,” Sharipov said. He was also involved in the construction phase of the project.

“As we worked on the building a few people would drive by yelling things that were not too nice at us,” Sharipov said. “I understand where these feelings come from. Some people are confused about who we are. Islam is actually a religion of peace.”  Sharipov is a junior at Western, and is currently studying accounting on a student visa. He is from Turkmenistan in central Asia.

Not all members are from foreign lands. Self proclaimed army brat, James Rager is a member of the local Islamic group. Rager was reared a Catholic with his military family in Germany then became an atheist until six years ago when he converted to Islam.

“When we come to pray at the mosque we focus on God. That is why the women pray in a separate area. The men can pray without distraction this way,” Rager said. “Our commitment is to this neighborhood and hopefully lowering some of the violence in the area.”

A portion of the violence has been directed at the mosque as reported by St. Joseph Police Officer Roy Wedlow.  He was on hand at the open house during his lunch time. The leaders of the church asked him to stop by during the open house. “There has been one arrest of a man who was allegedly threatening the mosque and attempting to vandalize it,” Wedlow said. “I hope this mosque can educate people and lower the crime rate in the area by helping people and changing the perception of Islam.”

Starting this fall semester, Students at Missouri Western will be able to dive into the new language for three credits if they so choose. If they are able to pass the course, then they can take the advanced courses just like the other foreign languages.

“The idea is for it to be the same sequent as the other languages,” Foreign Language Coordinator and French Professor Susan Hennessy said. “In the spring semester they will be able to take the next class.”

The new class will be sponsored by the Fullbright Grant. This grant helps colleges and professors help establish programs and pay for them so a college can have the opportunity to adopt a new language to teach.

“The goal is to help schools establish programs,” Hennessy said. “They will cover all the cost.”

Hennessy also said students have been asking for this language for a few years, and with more Chinese students arriving on campus, the school decided to go ahead with the plans.

This class will be available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 p.m. until 1:50 p.m. as well as 2 p.m. until 2:50 p.m. The new language will also be available from 6 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. on Monday and Thursday.

Students have been worrying why they can only take one class of language when a student needs at least six credits of foreign language for some majors, but Hennessy said that there will definitely be more courses. She said it didn’t make much sense to add the advanced classes when no students could sign up for it right now.

Junior Aaron Smullin said while there is no guarantee he is going to take the class, he thinks it is a great idea for the new language to be on campus and that he is interested in learning Chinese.

“I never personally had the opportunity to take Chinese,” Smullin said. “It will be something different.

Smullin, a Public Relations major, said he didn’t plan on taking much of the course however. He knows it will be difficult as does Hennessy, who stressed that students have to take this course seriously and try hard because the level of difficulty is far more than the other languages offered at Western.

Also offered in this course will be the study of the culture, foods and the way of life in China and surrounding areas. Anybody interested in taking the course will be able to understand the characters and put them to use in variety of sentences.

Many schools in the midwest are starting to teach Chinese, with Kansas University even offering a major in the language. The culture is rising and now Western will be able to learn more about it.

“First and foremost it is a language course,” Hennessy said.

Perhaps after that, students will likely have a better understanding of the life in China, and that is something Western is really excited about.

In reaction to the cut from state funds, Western will be raising tuition somewhere in the 10 percent range. The Columbia Tribune reported that the schools in the University of Missouri system will be raising their tuition an average of 5.8 percent.

President Robert Vartabedian believes that Western is different from other universities because Western is a growing campus.

“Our circumstances are a little different than other universities,” Vartabedian said. “While I’m thankful that the cut’s not more than [7 percent] still, it will hurt if we cannot offset it.”

Vartabedian said that everyone at Western has suffered from cuts but believes that a raise in tuition will help Western grow even more.

“We’ve made the best of the belt tightening,” Vartabedian said. “But I think we’re at the point where we’re very, very lean and that we really need to move forward with getting more resources for the University.”

Deputy Commissioner for the Missouri Department of Higher Education, Paul Wagner, met with Western administration last month to gather information about the university’s financial situation. Wagner said that when looking at schools and their situations, he doesn’t try to compare.

“Clearly Western has some of the same challenges that other schools do,” Wagner said. “State funding has been reduced, while enrollment has gone up, and of course fixed costs always increase. It doesn’t matter to me what any other school does. I’m simply looking at that school and their circumstances.”

The 7 percent cut to is part of Gov. Nixon’s proposed budget. The governor needed to cut nearly $500 million to balance it. This budget isn’t finalized and must be approved by the Missouri Congress. In the last few years, Congress has approved Nixon’s budget, leaving cuts untouched.

Once the state budget is finalized, Western will be proposing the tuition increase to the University’s Board of Governors. Once approved by the board, Western can begin requesting a waiver from Senate bill 389. Senate bill 389 freezes tuition at 4-year state institutions in Missouri. If the wavier is not granted, Western could be penalized with another 5 percent cut from the state if they raise tuition above the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

In an article in the Springfield News-Leader, sponsor of SB 389 Gary Noddler said that the bill was never meant prevent schools from raising tuition when necessary.

Vice President for Financial Planning and Administration, Mel Klinkner also believes that SB 389 was not intended for the current economic climate coupled with increasing mandatory costs.

“If we grow from 4,000 students to 6,000, and we still have the same staffing levels, how do you cut?” Klinker said. “We’re just at a point where I don’t know where else we can cut from the budget. I mean, everybody has to cut back as much as we can. We cut back our budgets and not added staff. It’s pretty tough.”

On Feb. 2, Vartabedian will be testifying in front of the State Appropriations Committee. The committee has asked Vartabedian to address some specific areas concerning Western and its budget.

There are many intramural sports a student can participate in, varying from the always popular and competitive flag football to a more relaxed sport like bowling. Other available intramurals are powder puff football, billiards, kickball, badminton, volleyball, racquetball, and dodge ball.

To sign up to play an intramural sport all one has to do is go to the Front Service Desk in the Looney Complex and fill out an entry form, stating what sport, if they need a team or already have assembled a team to do battle with.

“A student should play intramurals because it gets them engaged in the university experience itself, it gets them out of their dorm rooms, and allows them to meet other students and extend their high school years of sports activity,” Recreational Services Facilities director Wonda Berry said.

This year the Recreational Services wants to appeal to everyone, they are going to try to have sports for students with disabilities so they too can have fun.

“We want everyone to get the most out of their college experience,” Berry said.

Anyone that has any more questions should contact the Front Desk inside Looney Complex at (816) 271-5604.

Transition about Steve Potter.

“Everyone handles what life gives them differently. Some people just need to talk it out with themselves,” Potter said. “It’ll take time to master a way that works for you. Sometimes people just need to recharge their batteries and do things that they enjoy doing.”

Anyone that has a job and goes to school knows what it is like to have to create time management for yourself to get things done. Having to be at work by 4:30, getting out of class at 3:00 and figuring out how you’re going to get a paper done by tomorrow is just one prime example of a kind of stress we face.

“For me it is not as stressful as it once was, since I now work here on campus and go to school,” Senior Shannon Ebling said. “With working here it gives me more time to get homework done, and unlike other jobs, here at Missouri Western they will work more around your school schedule.”

So who is more stressed? College-aged or middle-aged people?

“I’ve been to college once before, and honestly I think it varies on the individual,” Non-traditional student Marilyn Colboch said. “Everyone’s circumstances in their lives are different, and how they deal with them are different as well.”

On Oct. 29, free massages were given out by physical therapy majors in Eder Hall 208. For the students that were in attendance for the stress management seminar, this would be an added little treat for them.

“The massage was amazing, it felt really good. I could almost feel every negative thing in my body just melting away,” Freshman Katie O’Toole said. “Sometimes you just have to unwind and let everything go.”

If you are having problems in any part of your life, school, work, family, friends, or relationships perhaps you could consider counseling.

The counseling center here at Missouri Western is located in room 203 of Eder Hall. Counselors are there Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You can simply go into their office or call them at (816) 271-4327 to set up an appointment.

He was referring to his presentation, “The Middle East- Then and Now,” where he saw members of the Muslim mosque, United States military, veterans, Christian clergy and other guests in the audience who may have had their own opinion.

He executed his speech, keeping close to the facts. He knows those facts from serving America in Middle-Eastern U.S. Embassies for over 25 years. For a time, Armbruster was a hostage of Saddam Hussein and could not leave Baghdad.

When he was allowed to leave, it was in haste as the embassy group fled to Turkey for refuge. At the time, Armbruster was taking care of his infant daughter alone. He had to send her ahead with another diplomatic family and follow in a 19-hour car ride to Turkey.

“We [the U.S.] are in it for the long haul,” Armbruster said. He explained that peace would come eventually. “Changes result in protest in the Middle East; there will be balance between these tribes and countries but history isn’t written yet.”

He said that technology has been a great avenue of change, but not necessarily the technology that members of the audience may have expected. The introduction of the Internet, as well as social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have improved communications, but those changes started with satellite television, which brought news from other countries. The introduction of the fax machine was equally important, according to Armbruster. The cell phone also came to areas that didn’t have landline phones yet.

Audience member Rony Aboujawde asked a question about the representation of minority groups in the Middle East. He was referring to Christian populations. “Not all Muslims are radicals, the same as not all Christians are non-radical,” Aboujawde said.

Armbruster agreed and explained that Middle Eastern leadership groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, recognize the voices of minority groups and are working out a way that all voices will have some degree of power in the future. “It’s not a forgone conclusion that the majority will suppress the minority,” Armbruster said.

Armbruster told a story of spoiling thanksgiving turkeys during a time when there was no electricity at the embassy. They buried them, only to have them emerge from the ground in the hot sun, to be buried again. Western student Nicholas Brothers, who wants to be a Middle East specialist someday, referred to the story. “I learned today that I may need to bring a shovel,” Brothers said.

Brothers also mentioned the diversity of the nearly record crowd of over 160 attendees to the Eggs and Issues presentation.

Armbruster concluded saying “There are voices on all sides that seek peace. Also, there are voices who are best served by continuance of things as they are.”

“That’s right, Missouri Western knows how to act,” Duskey said.

The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship is given to encourage, recognize and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs.

They will travel to Oklahoma in January to compete in the Regional Finals. Only four to six participants from each region will be selected to move on to the National Finals that take place in Washington, D.C., early in the spring semester.

“It definitely is a very prestigious honor,” Duskey said. “To be recognized for what you’ve done on stage just feels really good. Hopefully we can continue all of this and one of us will win that scholarship.”

A $500 scholarship is awarded to the winners of the regional portion of the competition. The two winners in Washington, D.C., will each be awarded a $2,500 scholarship to pay for tuition and fees to further their education, not necessarily limited to theater full-time Scholarship winners must maintain full-time status and have a 2.5 GPA.

Director of “Romeo and Juliet” Tee Quillin says, “It is absolutely wonderful to see these Theatre majors getting some recognition for the acting that they have done. Hopefully in January we will be seeing Missouri Western move onto nationals at the Kennedy Center, and ‘bring home the hardware,’ and make our university and our Theatre department proud.”

With all of the prestige that this scholarship has swirling around it, it is not hard to imagine that one would be excited about being nominated.

“I’m ecstatic. This is really my first year getting back into acting,” Noe said. “To be recognized like this is a great, and [I] definitely didn’t expect this to happen.”

Although Phi Beta Sigma has over 150,000 men in over 650 chapters in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, President Arion Duncan and member Niyaa Daniels are trying to stay focused on increasing their membership on campus

Phi Beta Sigma adviser Ronald Cohen wanted to reactivate the Alpha Beta Nu chapter because he felt there was a need for students to have more opportunities on campus.

“I have a passion for student success, most specifically students of color and their advancement,” Cohen said. “I know a lot of times that students of color on this campus don’t get presented with a lot of opportunities, so they don’t take them. For me that was really important to get more people involved in Greek life.”

Phi Beta Sigma is among the few black Greek letter fraternities and sororities who are struggling on the Missouri Western campus to increase their membership. For any organization to be recognized on campus, they have to have at least five members, where as Phi Beta Sigma only has two.

Phi Beta Sigma member Daniels is staying optimistic and believes they can use what they were taught to keep their chapter alive.

 “Seeing that we just crossed, it’s only us two,” Daniels said. “It’s tough because we don’t have any experience in running an organization, and we’re basically going off what we were taught.”

Duncan said that they are getting a lot of support from different institutions such as University of Missouri-Kansas City, Northwest Missouri State University and Kansas University to help them run their organization.

Duncan and Daniels aren’t taking the opportunity they were giving lightly, because they know that they must increase in number by next fall or their chapter will be deactivated.

Phi Beta Sigma is planning new programs to get their name out on campus. They participated in Pink Week and have upcoming events such as PBS Jeopardy and a panel discussion on issues students often face the most in college.

Duncan thought a program that went really well was the Sigma trash pickup.

“We thought it would be a good idea to take out the residence trash because they get to see us, and we are also doing service, which is very important,” Duncan said.

Cohen encourages any student that is interested in any Greek fraternity to know that they’re always being observed once they show that they may be interested.

“It’s always important that you can present a strong forefront to make people interested in you,” Cohen said. “One of my favorite quotes is ‘character is doing the right thing when no one is watching you’.” 

Cohen said the most important thing is making sure that they are academically ready to become a part of an organization.

Nationally, Phi Beta Sigma requires its members to be men who attend a four year college or university on a semester system, have a minimum of 12 credit hours and a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Duncan knew Phi Beta was something he wanted to be a part of after doing his research.

“I chose Phi Beta Sigma because I did my research on the rest of the fraternities of the Divine Nine,” Duncan said. “They somehow had a stereotype, and you had to change your personality to fit theirs, and that’s not what I was all about.”

Duncan valued this aspect of Phi Beta Sigma because he knew he could be himself.

“Phi Beta Sigma is willing to accept anyone who is willing to do the work,” Duncan said. “You have to be able to bring something to Phi Beta Sigma; they’re not here to change you whatever qualities you have. They’re there to enhance them, not change them.”

According to Jacob Scott, vice president of SGA, the number of senators had risen to 16, but by the end of the semester that number will be down to ten as a result of graduation and senators participating in study abroad programs.

“We’re going to lose a lot of great people,” Scott said. “We’ve got some people studying abroad, a couple of people graduating and one person going into a law enforcement academy, so we’re losing quite a few really good senators, and I really appreciate what they’ve done.

Scott and Alison Norris, president of SGA, said they are ready for the retreat they have planned over the break to refocus on what their collective mission for this administration has been — getting students involved and getting their input.

“I’m ready to get a break,” Norris said. “We need to sit down and get back to our original goal of finding out exactly what the students want from SGA.”

Norris and Scott are extremely proud of the work that has been done this semester, especially concerning the input and legislation coming from the committees.

“We got a lot done for this semester with the improvements for Potter,” Norris said. “We got the recycling program going, so I’m glad about that.”

Scott also felt the committees played a major role in getting much of the legislation brought before the Senate this semester.

“I really think the committees provided a lot of access to students, and a lot of students took advantage of that route [getting involved],” Scott said. “We achieved several proposals, some notable ones be The Living Room for downstairs in Potter Hall for students to hang out.”

Norris said that one project she is working on is a program designed to provide assistance to students needing attire for interviews.

“Many students get a degree, but when it’s time for them to go out on interviews, they can’t afford to purchase any nice clothes,” Norris said. “This program will hopefully be able to help some of those students.”

Scott was also proud of the purchase of the tickets for all of the theatre departments’ performances and wanted to remind everyone that the first 25 in line at the box office every night get a free ticket.

Scott said the main goal for the upcoming semester is not just about retaining students academically, but also keeping them involved and engaged on campus.

“Can we improve the social retention of the campus?” Scott asked. “We need to keep students on campus at night for events.”

The question at this point is: how? According to Scott and Norris both, the answer to this will most likely come from committees and student involvement.

In the past year, 13 staff members of the Division of Student Affairs have left, retired or have had their contract terminated. Some of these dismissals have come as a surprise to students who worked with the administrators closely.

Vice President for Student Affairs Esther Peralez has made changes — not just in personnel but in practice — based upon “involvement theory,” which she says will help retention and graduation rates by involving and including students in as many activities as possible.

“There were some issues when I came in,” Peralez said. “There was a limited view point of the role of Student Affairs when I got here. They thought they had a Student Affairs unit, and they had the components of it, but there wasn’t really an understanding of student affairs or why we really do need a Student Affairs.”

Peralez’s goal has been to teach the staff members of Student Affairs professional competencies and involvement theory. Several of her theories focus on developing students as individuals outside the classroom.

Creating a climate that is welcoming to many students from different backgrounds is important to Peralez.

“It’s very critical,” she said, “because, at this point students are making an initial commitment to whether they want to come to our school or not, and if you have a bad taste in your mouth, you’re going to walk.”

Non-Traditional Learning

One of the first departures was former Non-Traditional Student Services Director Ellen Kisker, who retired in the fall of 2010. The reorganization of Student Affairs would have placed Kisker as Student Life Director.

At the time of her departure, Kisker felt the position would take too much time away from non-trad students.

“I was told that the non-trad students could take care of themselves and be interdependent,” Kisker said. “I didn’t agree with that philosophy.”

When Kisker retired, non-trads planned a protest to show their support for Kisker before the September Board of Governor’s meeting. The protest was called off in lieu of a meeting with Board Chair Kylee Strough, President Robert Vartabedian and leaders of the Non-Traditional Student Association.

“She was a pivotal resource,” non-trad Stacey Hersh said. “You knew that going to her you weren’t going to get the run around of ‘go here, go there.’”

Since Kisker left, the Missouri Western chapter of Omicron Psi, a national honor society that recognizes non-trads, hasn’t taken in any new members. According to Hersh, Kisker wasn’t the adviser, but played an instrumental role in planning the ceremonies and luncheons for Omicron Psi.

Non-trad Kimberly Wright was supposed to be inducted, but never got the opportunity.

“It was something that every year I watched friends do the ceremony,” Wright said. “It was something that excited me. I really worked hard to have my turn. Then it was gone.”

“I don’t expect any special treatment because I’m a non-trad,” Wright said. “I’m just a student like everybody else, but I want to be recognized too, just like an athlete would.”

Peralez said that there are plans to revive Omicron Psi, but that she wants non-trads to still include themselves with traditional students and their activities.

“It was so hard to convince them that I wanted them as role models, that they shouldn’t separate themselves from the traditional students,” Peralez said.

The Non-Traditional Student Lounge has been officially renamed The Non-Traditional Help/Resource Center. The couch that was donated to the room has been removed, and anyone wanting to use the center must sign a special agreement and turn over their student ID while in the room.

One of the policies for the room-use agreement form is that students must use appropriate language and behavior.

“A lot of students would complain,” Peralez said. “There was swearing and talk of sexual overtones and things like, and actually they were disrupting some of the other departments. We said, ‘you’ve got to be more academic.’”

The agreement also states that the computers in the center are for academic use only and that students should access personal Facebook and email accounts on their personal computers.

When Peralez worked at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minn., she said that nearly 80 percent of the student body was non-traditional students.

“They were kind of like the role models, and they brought in the traditional students,” Peralez said.

Unexpected Departures

Another goal of Peralez’s reorganization was to eliminate individual sections of Student Affairs that didn’t communicate and coordinate with other sections. She also said that she wants divisions of Student Affairs to realize that they aren’t here just for themselves.

“I had all of these departments, different departments that everybody was in,” Peralez said. “I had a director of non-trads, a director of this and a director of that. So everybody stayed in their silos.”

Peralez wanted to eliminate these silos so each division of Student Affairs could focus on an overarching goal and communicate about that goal—student involvement.

“It’s a concept of, if we’re talking to each other then we can help each other,” she said.

Since the reorganization, students have seen the surprising departures of several personnel.

Don Willis, former assistant dean of student services, left the university over the summer. Willis worked closely with several student organizations, including Western Activities Council.

Lauren Dillon, vice chair for WAC, said that Willis’ departure was unexpected.

“I don’t think he gave us much notice, but I don’t think the university gave him much notice either,” Dillon said.

Dillon said that Willis did a lot of work behind the scenes as far as assisting WAC in the booking of events and even helping set up the spring concert. Dillon also said that the work now can be overwhelming.

“It’s difficult,” she said, “but we’re managing.”

Along with Willis, Huey Shi Chew, former international student services coordinator, is no longer employed by the university. In the last few years, Western has seen an increase in its international population at an average of 10 students per year.

Instead of an International Student Services Coordintor, Western has opened up a Global Engagement Director position, which will not just focus on international students but would also work with the campus as a whole to “internationalize” it.

According to Peralez, the director will also work with faculty to create curriculum and work with the existing study abroad program.

International student Toni Dance said that she found Chew’s departure sudden and unexpected.

“She basically helped me find a job on campus, and if I had any issues with my visa she’d help me with that,” Dance said.

“I wish she was still here,” Dance said.

Climate of fear

Former Testing and Assessment Coordinator Debra Webb was told on Sept. 7, her birthday, that her last day of employment would be Sept. 9.

Webb was offered the position below her, which was her secretary’s position.

“I was number 11, and it didn’t stop there,” Webb said. “Many people have either left, [Peralez will] make it look like by choice, but it wasn’t directly by choice, it was from things she was doing.”

Webb was told that her position was being eliminated due to budgetary reasons. As testing and assessment coordinator, Webb administered tests to Western students with disabilities and was responsible for national testing. Now, those duties are part of Western Institute.

“I’m a graduate of Missouri Western,” Webb said. “She has done nothing but given it a black mark as far as I’m concerned, and I can’t believe that the upper level is letting her get away with this.”

Webb said that once a month she attended a mandatory meeting that all staff under student services at the time had to attend. Webb said that this meeting interfered with giving tests to students.

“It took a big chunk out of the day,” Webb said. “I tried to explain this to my supervisor, and it didn’t matter.”

Kathy Kelly, administrative coordinator for the Student Government Association, said she has never felt like her job was in jeopardy. When Peralez first arrived, Kelly said she was frustrated.

“It took me to step back and say ‘it’s not her, it’s me,’” Kelly said. “Because she told me what her expectations were, and either I could quit my job or meet those expectations. I chose to meet those expectations because the person who wins in the student.”

She said she never felt like those expectations were too high and they made her job challenging. This year, Kelly played an instrumental role in organizing homecoming, something she said Dr. Peralez pushed her on.

“I’m glad she set them,” Kelly said. “I feel like we get stagnant in our jobs, and I worked and did my same job, same week, day in and day out and never went above and beyond that.”

A former employee of Western who worked in Student Affairs, but wishes to remain anonymous, said that she retired earlier and could have worked a couple of extra years.

“I think everybody was afraid they were going to lose their jobs,” she said. “You know, if she didn’t like you, like Huey Shi [Chew].”

Both sources recounted an incident where former International Student Services Coordinator Huey Shi Chew asked for time off to visit her mother, who was terminally ill in Malaysia. Chew wanted an extra week off after the fall 2010 Thanksgiving break.

“Well, Peralez will think about it and let her know” Webb said. “[Chew] kept telling her supervisor, which is Tay Triggs. Finally she told her that she was going to go talk to the President [Robert Vartabedian] if she didn’t make a decision. Miraculously, that afternoon, ‘Oh, you get to go.’”

Webb said that the next week, Chew was told by Triggs that Chew was going to be reviewed in January 2011 because she wasn’t working up to expectations.

“I’ve been a Gold Coat member for 25 or more years,” Webb said. “I will not buy Gold Coat tickets any more, I will not donate any money to the college anymore as long as that lady is still there. She has ruined too many lives.”

Peralez declined to comment on any personnel decisions. Willis and Chew declined to comment as well.

Student Affairs will be putting on Casino Night which includes poker, Russian roulette, slot machines, black jack and bingo. Students can win several prizes from a toothpaste and toothbrush basket to an iPad. Food will also be offered as well as a photo booth with a Christmas-type background that students can take goofy pictures in front of.

Casino Night in Blum Thursday, Dec. 8 from 9 p.m. to midnight. The event is free for students who have their ID. Residential Assistant Derek Thompson encourages students to attend Casino Night.

“I would recommend people to come to this event because it is a great way to take a break from studying for finals by playing casino games with your friends, and, if you’re lucky, you can win some pretty cool prizes,” Thompson said.

Another event that may take students’ minds off their finals would be Finals Fun Night on Friday, Dec. 9 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. put on by WAC. On the second floor of Blum, students will have the opportunity to wrestle in sumo suits, play on inflatables like an inflatable Twister and play Just Dance on the Wii.

All the different rooms (besides the DJ dance room) are competition-based, so students have a chance to win various prizes including bookstore gift cards.

“We really like to give away the bookstore gift cards just because people are always complaining that it’s really expensive to buy anything from there,” WAC Vice President Lauren Dillon said. “We like to put the money right back into Missouri Western.”

Students win the prizes by accumulating raffle tickets and being drawn. Right when a student walks in the door, they will receive one raffle ticket so every student has at least one chance to win. However, to increase the chances of being drawn, the students must win the competitions to receive more raffle tickets.

If students would rather dance, another room will be set up for dancing and student Nick Niemeier will be DJ-ing. Finals Fun Night won’t be his first time DJ-ing at Western.

“I’ve DJ-ed for WAC sponsored events in the past and really enjoy doing them, so I immediately booked it,” Niemeier said.

Niemeier, who has been DJ-ing since 2007, said there will be a professional DJ set-up, a wide variety of music and music videos along with an L.E.D light show. Niemeier hopes students will come and enjoy their time in his dance room.

“My goals for the evening are to make sure the students have a great time and hopefully take part in memories they will forever have from MWSU,” Niemeier said.

Finally, Sunday Dec. 11, the last night before finals, WAC will be putting on Midnight Breakfast in Blum from 10 p.m. to midnight. Students will be able to enjoy some pancakes and other breakfast-type foods all while being able to dance and win prizes.

In order to win prizes, students will be given a raffle ticket. Drawings will be held every 15 minutes, and they can win bookstore gift cards, movies, video games, etc.

Don’t miss out on the final opportunities of the semester to win some prizes.

Elizabeth Boone practicing the first step in self defense by taking stance and yelling “back!”

Fifteen year veteran of the St. Joseph Department of Corrections Elizabeth Boone, who taught the course, explains how important self defense is, due to the growing crime rate in St. Joseph and on campus.

“I’ve seen St. Joe change so much within the last ten years,” Boone said. “I’ve seen more violence. Just in the last year, we’ve seen more shootings. We’ve seen more assaults. Even on campus, we had two rapes last year. That is two too many.”

Boone, who has been teaching self-defense for 14 years and has taught thousands of men and women defensive techniques, feels that this class should be especially beneficial for female students.

“When they’re attacked it takes a lot of control from a female,” Boone said. “Women are seen generally as the weaker sex, and for the most part we are. But I think that this empowers them. They need to be empowered because rape and assault is all about power and control. I think we need to gain power. I never want to see a female walking in fear.”

The class covered both floor fighting and breakaway techniques, which help divert an attacker.  ACA President and Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement major Clarissa Cudworth, who has worked with Boone in past events, felt that the class would help students be more aware of their surroundings and more prepared for a possible attack.

“We feel like there has been a lot of trouble on our campus with theft and not being aware of your surroundings,” Cudworth said. “We know in past few semesters it has been a lot of issues regarding crime on campus. We want students on campus to be able to defend and protect themselves in any given situation.”

Cudworth also explains the main goal for the ACA is helping and informing students. Eventually, the organization wants to be able to visit prisons to spread knowledge and gain a different perspective.

“The majority of our members at one point in time have been national members,” Cudworth said. “We put on events like this to help people be aware of things. ACA is doing their best to get campus and students involved in wanting to protect themselves and others, and if crime comes about, do something about it.”

Amber Lampe, a student who decided to take the class, felt the class would definitely make her feel more comfortable on campus.

“I know Missouri Western is a pretty safe campus, but sometimes I still feel uncomfortable walking by myself at night, ”Lampe said. “I felt this would be a good opportunity.”

Boone hopes that students will take extra caution in protecting themselves, as today’s criminals are continuing to become more dangerous.   “Since I work for the DOC I think the change and the type of inmates we get inside of the institution are just the worst,” Boone said. “They don’t care about life. They don’t care about property, except for their own.”

Missouri Western State University has decided to do business this coming year with BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas City over Aetna, Western’s current healthcare provider.

Western contracts are traditionally three years, but if they see a bid that they just can’t refuse, that would be benefit the employees and the University, then they will consider changes.

According to the Director of Human Resources Sally Sanders, Western is not obligated to a three-year contract.

“We only go out for bids every three years; we don’t get three-year agreements on rates,” Sanders said. “Medical health insurance rates are renewed annually. That’s an industry standard.”

According to Benefits Coordinator Misty Miller, the switch from Aetna to BlueCross was merely because they offered a better plan.

“We chose to go back to BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas City because they offered us a much lower percent of increase for our employees and the university,” Miller said. “They offered a rate cap until 2013, which is a very rare opportunity for a large group like Missouri Western.”

With costs of running the university rising annually, it is comforting to know at least one cost will be stable.

“The rate cap that BlueCross BlueShield offers is very rare, but going into 2013 with a safety net was comforting,” Sanders said. “We have high claims, and we know that we have issues with employees, which we felt we could not pass up.”

Mel Klinkner, vice president of financial planning and administration, agrees.

“The 13 percent cap, that Aetna didn’t offer, gives us some security,” Klinkner said. “If we had bad claims, then we won’t have to pay any more than 13 percent plus those taxes.”

According to Klinkner, there were no penalties for early contract cancellation from Aetna toward the university.

“We had 31 days to give them written notice, and they have been in the loop and know what’s going on,” Klinker said. “So just for financial reasons, that’s why we chose BlueCross.”

According to Klinker, employees will pay more than they did last year for health insurance.

“It’s going to affect employees because whatever they paid last year,” Klinker said, “it’s going to be 15.69 percent more, so every plan will cost that, except our base plan.”

Sanders states that the university still pays 100 percent of the premiums for an employee’s base plan. Adding a spouse to the plan has always been an out of pocket expense, but these rates have increased under BlueCross.

“The base plan is where the employees will see no change,” Sanders said. “But if employees want a richer plan, or buy up plan, than that’s all on the employee.”

According to Klinker there is no real benefit for Aetna losing business with Missouri Western.

“Only in the sense that they don’t have to pay the claims, and they lost money based on what they had to do,” Klinker said. “Aetna has to pay out the rest of 2011; Blue Cross doesn’t have to until 2012. There is no advantage, and I would have loved to stay with them.”

The new healthcare plan is cheaper for  Western.

“Going with BlueCross we save nearly a quarter of a million dollars, and with the 13 percent cap that Aetna didn’t offer, we couldn’t refuse,” Klinker said.

Before the switch to BlueCross, Missouri Western had a $30,000 Wellness fund. Under the new plan, according to Miller, Western will have a $20,000 Wellness fund.

“This wellness fund is for programming- and wellness-related expenses,” Miller said. “The fund will also carry over its balance year to year, so we will be able to plan and project projects and expenses better.”

Misty Ballew (center), Daniel Banks (left), and many other Western students storm the field at halftime for a surprise performance.

“What is she doing?!”

Some students in the Missouri Western crowd at the rivalry football game were yelling at the Northwest Missouri State University students who had rushed to the middle of the field during half time last Saturday. Others were left scratching their heads.

“I was really confused,” onlooker Lauren Dillon said. “All I thought was, ‘Who are these jerks interrupting half time?’ after they came out behind the band members.”

Then she realized one of the “Northwest” students dancing was her friend Robin Ussher.

Ussher and the other three dancers ripped off their green and white clothing to reveal Western gear. The confusion was over; the crowd went wild. They continued breaking it down on the field while several other Western students (46 total to be exact) randomly joined in sync.

Six months ago, student Erin Williams began to think of ideas to market Missouri Western virally for her independent study. ‘How about a flash mob?’ she wondered. Williams took the idea to her teacher, Dallas Henry, and he was on board right away. Williams, her classmate Shaun Allison and Henry did a lot of research on flash mobs at different schools, but they weren’t very popular—which made the idea even more significant. There was one during a basketball game at Kansas University, but the students only did it in the stands, not on the court. Williams planned on having the flash mob actually on the playing field, which would separate Western’s flash mob even more from others.

Williams thought it would be a good idea to do the flash mob at half time during the Northwest football game because nobody would be expecting it. They originally chose Katy Perry’s “Firework” for the song, but then they changed it to The Black Eyed Peas’ “The Time (Dirty Bit).”

“We wanted a steady beat that was good enough to pump up the crowd,” Williams said. “We also wanted a song that the band could jump in and start playing.”

Williams, who has been dancing since she was 3 years old, was deemed the choreographer. She came up with the total choreography in two days, four hours apiece.

“I wanted a dance that was cool and easy to learn for people who don’t dance,” Williams said.

The next step was recruiting students and teaching them the steps.

Everything was approved Saturday before the game, so Williams had them rehearse that night. Only 12 showed up. However, more students became involved as they rehearsed three more times.

“Everybody caught on fast,” Williams said. “Our rehearsals only lasted about two hours each.”

The final time the students rehearsed was on the field the morning before the game. They kept the event pretty quiet, considering the band didn’t know anything about it until that morning. Williams had told the drum line about the flash mob in advance, and member Daniel Cole thought it was nice change for half time.

“I wasn’t sure if it was going to work out at first, but it was a cool idea that broke away from the same old routine of half time,” Cole said.

Henry and other Theatre & Cinema students set up a total of ten cameras around the stadium before the game. By the end of the second quarter, the “flash mobbers” started getting giddy.

“We were really looking forward to the response of the crowd; we wanted to see just how confused they were,” Williams said.

The crowd was confused all right. Two minutes into half time, the “Northwest” students followed the drum line as they left the field. When the music started, that was their cue. The students, like Dan Banks danced during the whole song and enjoyed every minute of it.

“It reminded me of the old days playing football in high school,” Banks said. “It was great to be in the center of the field again. I was hyped up.”

The main goal of the flash mob was to promote Western, and it has been going pretty well considering the YouTube video (which can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNBr3Osigkk) has received 1,622 hits after only two days of being uploaded.

Banks, who was one of the two cops in the flash mob, thought the video looked very professional because of all the different camera angles. He thought the experience of the flash mob was that much better because Western had defeated Northwest.

“We also won the game, which was just icing on the cake.”

Can you sing? Dance? Maybe juggle chainsaws? Well, if you have any type of talent, or think you possess some talent that will leave people in a state of awe and wonder, and then maybe you should consider showcasing your talents.

The Western Activities Council held auditions for their annual talent show Nov. 7 and 8. WAC vice president Lauren Dillon, who helps orchestrate the talent show, says she wants to see all various types of talent for the annual talent show.

“We want to see everything we possibly can,” Dillon said. “Everything from dancing, rappers, singers, to spoken word artists. We hope to see a little of everything.”

Dillon also talks about why students should come out to the talent show.

“It is a chance for students to get involved on campus, so that they’re not just sitting in their dorm rooms playing videos games or surfing the internet,” Dillon said. “On top of that, people are awarded prizes for showing their talent.”

The talent show usually has about ten to twelve varying types of acts. Sophomore George Williams, who auditioned for the talent show, describes why it is a good opportunity to show the people what he can do.

“I haven’t done this before, but I think it will be a really good chance for people to see someone like myself showing what I can do,” Williams said. “It is great exposure. You’ll have a chance to show a lot of people your ‘hidden talents’. It’s good for everyone.”

Attendance for the talent show has always been pretty good, says WAC president Robin Ussher.

“The show usually brings a big crowd,” Ussher said. “We expect to be at full capacity. We’ll probably have about 300-350 people.”

The WAC Talent Show will be taking place Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 8:00 p.m. inside of the Potter Theater.

“Tell everyone you know; we want to see as many people as we can,” Ussher said. “We’ll have different types of acts to appeal to everybody.”

Although Swafford will be leaving his PR position, he will continue as a faculty member teaching at the Craig School of Business.

“I’ve taught on the college level for over 15 years. I will be teaching introduction to marketing and the class I’ve been teaching for the last 7 semesters, marketing and promotions,” Swafford said.

“I have always enjoyed teaching, and, at this point in my career, it’s time to give back. I’ve been a professional for 30 years and I learned a lot of things on the job, which I hope to pass on to the students. My students have an advantage that they can carry into their careers and hit the ground running, and I’m just hoping I can be helpful to them.”

Assistant Public Relations and Marketing Director Kent Heier said that Swafford has done a great job as PR Director. He understands the value of Westerns brand and has been very active in making others understand that value as well.

“He told me this opportunity for him to teach full-time is an opportunity he couldn’t pass up; now he can teach even more, and I think that was a major factor in his decision,” Heier said.

Heier said Swafford has been a part of a growing sense of pride that the campus has and the community has in Missouri Western.

“Swafford has been and will continue to be very actively involved in the community in terms of organizations, and that helped solidify the relationship that Western has with the St. Joseph community,” Heier said.

Dan Nicoson, vice president for university advancement, said Swafford has been a valuable member of the staff , bringing perspective to the department that somebody only out of corporate public relations, like Swafford, would be able to.

“He has always wanted to teach and has been teaching part-time ever since he has been here, and now he has this opportunity to move to teaching full-time, and it’s something he looks forward to,” Nicoson said.

According to Nicoson, Swafford has been a big champion of making sure that the Western brand is promoted and protected.

“Swafford’s work with the brand and his help to insert Western out in the community has helped Western be recognized as the quality that is reality here,” Nicoson said.

Nicoson said the search for a new PR Director will begin at the first of the year.

The grant will help fund and support programs at Missouri Western and the Alliance Francaise of St. Joseph that have a focus on French Canadian heritage and the musical and cultural traditions of the northwestern area of Missouri.

The MHC is the only state-wide agency in Missouri devoted solely to educating people of all ages on the subject of humanities.

The MHC awards grants to organizations all across the state of Missouri to help support programs whose objective it is to create learning programs that will remain with students for life.

During 2010, around 83,000 Missouri residents received aide from MHC programs and grants. The goal of the MHC during the next five years is to expand so that they may provide programs and support projects throughout the entire state.

Marilyn Webster-Brown, program assistant for the humanities council, said “If we see an organization, more specifically from a university that needs a little help and has the right intentions in mind, we will give them grants for their respective programs. Our organization always wants to help out the young people; after all, they are the future of not only our state, but this country.”

The music department at Missouri Western is happy to be awarded the grant.

William McMurray, a music history professor, says that the awarded grant money is a little help for the department.

“When an organization, such as the Humanities Council, gives you any amount of money, you are thankful that they are willing and able to help you out,” McMurray said. “Even if it is just a small sum, every little bit helps.”

Students in the music department will benefit from the grant. Funding from the grant will allow faculty members to provide material in the classroom that will educate their students on the French Canadian heritage and various aspects on the music and culture of northwestern Missouri.

“Because of this grant money, it won’t be about just sitting in a classroom being lectured at by professors,” junior Cindy Martin said. “It will be more entertaining to have items from that time period to help teach us students on what went on for whatever it is we’re being taught.”

On March 20 and 21, Dennis Stroughmatt will be coming to St. Joseph. Stroughmatt, a French Creole musician and speaker, will be performing two musical programs that consist of songs from story tellers and singers, traditional fiddle music and a wealth of stories on Creole French traditions of Mardi Gras.

“I am personally looking forward to Mr. Stroughmatt coming to the St. Joseph area. He provides anyone that is in attendance a program they won’t forget,” McMurray said. “For students, it’s a first-hand opportunity to learn outside of the classroom.”

Two sorority members teeter-tottering for the cause.

Something similar happened on the Missouri Western campus Oct. 27. Alpha Gamma Delta held their 15th annual 24-hour Teeter Totter-A-Thon.

Western’s Alpha Gamma Delta chapter was founded in 1995, and the sorority started the teeter-totter fundraiser in 1997 as a way to raise money for the foundation.

Western student Danielle Bryan is the sorority’s Philanthropy Coordinator.

“The fundraiser helps raise money for diabetes research and increase awareness,” Bryan said. “The fundraiser also helps provide grants that help Alpha Gamma Delta women that are in need.”

The Alpha Gamma Delta chapter hosts two fundraisers each school year, one for each semester. The annual spring fundraiser is known as Mr. MWSU.

Mr. MWSU is a pageant that allows male students to showcase their school spirit. The pageant is divided into five categories: formal, costume, swimwear, talent and school spirit. Last year the pageant raised around $1,700 for the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation.

“The pageant is silly and serious at the same time,” Bryan said. “It is a chance for guys to show their spirit and pride in Missouri Western.”

The international headquarters for the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority gives a special recognition for any chapter that raises over $2,000 throughout a full academic school year.

“We are named what is called a Jewel Chapter, which is given to chapters that donate a significant amount of money to the Foundation,” Bryan said.

Charitible work is a big part of the Alpha Gamma Delta lifestyle.

“We’re really big on philanthropy. We like helping others; that is what we’re all about,” Bryan said.

Part of Alpha Gamma Delta’s formal recruitment this fall was Philanthropy Day. The AGDs made squirrel icepacks, which were given to children that were receiving insulin shots at a local pediatric unit. The squirrel is the mascot for the sorority.

The sorority looks to recruit girls with friendly and giving attitudes, like freshman recruit Christine Ray.

“I joined Alpha Gam because they seemed so accepting of everyone: definitely a drama free group of girls,” Ray said. “It is a good opportunity for me while I’m in college, and I like the philanthropy aspect of it all.”

Primped in a tan suit and Missouri Western’s colors for the first time, McGuffin finally looked at home.

The seventh athletic director at Western was introduced to a crowd of over 100 people Monday at the weekly Griffon Athletic Luncheon at 36th Street Food and Drink Company located inside Holiday Inn.

“This is a committed [place],” McGuffin said. “I’m excited to be a part of it.”

McGuffin, who is currently staying in Scanlon Hall until he settles in to his new town, said that everybody should expect the Griffons to be everywhere in St. Joseph.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make [St. Joseph] proud of the black and gold,” said McGuffin, who has worked at Division I schools Colorado and Kansas State. “Expect a lot of hard work. It doesn’t matter where you’re at. It’s about relationships.”

McGuffin said that with a veteran staff under him, his job should be not only fun, but easier.

He pointed specifically to basketball coach Tom Smith, football coach Jerry Partridge and softball coach Jen Bagley.  All coaches have over 10 seasons of experience as a Griffon head coach. McGuffin stated that Smith’s 599 win total as a coach impressed him.

The Wichita State graduate beat out a list of over 80 candidates for Athletic Director. He made the final-four cut and gave a short, 20 minute public presentation in September to prove he was good enough for the position. From there, he was chosen as the guy to lead Western as the director of athletics. The job was vacant after Dave Williams’ (2008-2011) contract was not renewed.

“We have a unique opportunity here to have the best D2 facility,” McGuffin said. “I’m proud to be here. It’s a great time to be a Griffon.”

The current Student Governor, Peter Gregory, is responsible for submitting the names of three candidates to Jefferson City, Mo.

“We have extended the deadline, not because we don’t have quality candidates, but we want to give everyone a chance to apply for this position,” Gregory said. “I know that there are students out there who just don’t know about the position yet and would be qualified for the position.”

According to Gregory, this is the only student government position that lasts longer than a year. This may affect student interest in the position.

“If a person is set on graduating within four years, then that would eliminate both juniors and seniors,” Gregory said. “We are looking for freshmen and sophomores that we can draw from, and it will be worth it, and it’s a great experience.”

The fact is that the position takes time, and the person chosen must be ready for the commitment.

“The work varies from week to week,” Gregory said. “The biggest responsibility is to attend the monthly board meetings, the Governor’s Advisory Council meetings, and, at times, work with the Student Government on projects.”

According to SGA President Alison Norris, Gregory should chose someone ready to go to work.

“The qualities of a good Student Governor to me consist of someone who is dedicated, hardworking, and represents the  students,” she said.

Western student Amanda Curtis believes the time commitment plays a role in why students won’t apply.

“Freshmen and sophomores, to me, probably are still getting used to the college,” Curtis said. “I work 30 to 40 hours a week, which makes me not a good candidate, like most students.”

A downside for the Student Governor position is that it has no voting power in SGA. Gregory disagrees with this rule.

“Personally, I believe its okay for the Student Governor to have voting rights: if they were appointed to the position, earned their way to this position, then they are smart enough to have a vote,” said Gregory.

Gregory goes on to state that even though he doesn’t have a vote, he is never overlooked by the Student Government or administration.

“The primary responsibly of the Governor is to represent the students to the administration, and the administration to the students,” Gregory said. “That’s why we have a student governor, so the administration has someone to go to for student opinion.”

According to Norris, the Student Governor gives input and works with SGA on occasion.

“The role of the Governor is similar to mine: we both are on the EBoard, except the position doesn’t offer any sort of scholarship,” Norris said.

Student Keisha Davis believes the position needs more advantages for students to want to apply.

“I think that if there was some kind of leverage or some kind of advantage to being involved, more students would be willing to be involved,” Davis said. “I personally would not be able to apply because of my already busy schedule.”

The process of becoming the next Student Governor is time consuming, according to Gregory.

“All candidates must go to the first interview, and then once they make it past the first section, they are interviewed by Western President, Robert Vartabedian,” Gregory said. He goes on to state that  once the student pass that  process ,then they are interviewed by  Gov. Jay Nixon’s office. Once the candidate is selected, they are asked to come to Jefferson City, Mo., for appointment at a Senate hearing committee.

Gregory is committed to searching for the best candidate for the job.

“We want someone dedicated and willing to serve their university,” Gregory said.

Last week, the St. Joseph Police Department received 15 reports concerning the theft of catalytic converters. Capt. Kevin Castle said that the thefts are mostly targeted toward GM and Pontiac vehicles.

“Usually they’re hitting multiple cars in one lot,” Castle said. “Like high school lots, Heartland’s lots. Lots with large numbers of cars on them.”

A release sent out by Missouri Western Public Relations stated that both Heartland Health and American Family have reported thefts of catalytic converters on their campuses. Kim Penland, operations services tech for American Family, said she realized that her converter was missing when she left for work one afternoon.

“When I turned the car on it was very noticeable,” Penland said.

Penland said that a woman two rows in front of her had her converter stolen also.

“It’s very aggravating, and no one likes a thief,” Penland said. “It’s upsetting, and it’s expensive. I feel sorry for the girl in front of me because hers was going to be higher.”

Penland said that the cost to replace the converter on her 2005 Chevy van was roughly $100. Ken Lehna, assistant service manager at Randy Reed, said that these parts sometimes cost $300 to $900, including labor.

A catalytic converter filters harmful carbons out of a vehicle’s exhaust to prevent pollution. Since it ties directly into the exhaust system, cutting the converter out disconnects the engine exhaust system from the muffler, causing a louder exhaust.

“It’s been happening when I was working in Kansas City about a year-year and a half ago,” Lehna said, “There’s just money to be made.”

This isn’t the first time SJPD has seen an increase in these types of crimes.

“It’s not uncommon to see these,” Castle said. “You’ll see little spikes in them, especially when you see increases in prices go up.”

As far as prevention, there is no way to secure a car’s converter, especially since most of these crimes are committed with saws. Castle encouraged people to take notice of anyone tampering with a vehicle in a parking lot. He said that people have reported seeing others tampering with vehicles after the victim reported the theft.

“Try and park your car in a place where there will be a high pedestrian count,” Castle said. “It doesn’t take them a long time, it can be done in under a minute, but it’s going to make some noise and someone has to be laying under your car to do it.”

“When I came, I expected Americans to know where Kosovo is since the United States fought a war for us,” Halili said. “I was so disappointed!”

On Oct. 19 in Blum 219, as part of MWSU’s International Lecture Series, Halili spoke to approximately 40 students and community members and outlined Kosovo’s history and political issues, making an identification of its geographic location one of her first priorities.

An international migration and ethnic relations major at Sweden’s Malmo University, Halili began by saying that she and her family fled to Sweden during the tumultuous disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1992. She suggested that the widespread discrimination against Albanians, one of six ethnic groups in Kosovo and the one to which Halili belongs, played a major factor in the decision to leave as well. Although she calls Sweden her home now, Halili has a strong desire to return to Kosovo and use her degree to rectify some of its political problems.

“Even though the war is over, there is a lot of tension and conflict in Kosovo,” Halili said. “Hopefully, I will go back one day and try to solve it. There is hope.”

Western student Barry Hersh knows Halili personally and attended the presentation in support of her. He thought her devotion to Kosovo was evident in her speech.

“I’ve had a couple classes with her, and she’s very passionate about peace-building in Kosovo,” Hersh said.

Halili, who came to Western through a foreign exchange program with Malmo University, was asked about the significance of Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 . She said that the people of Kosovo are very grateful to the United States for its hand in their long-awaited liberation, sometimes even viewing Americans as heroes.

“It meant so much,” Halili said, in reference to the declaration. “That’s what they fought for. But now, they’re very skeptical because the situation isn’t improving.”

For Kosovo to endure its hardships, Halili believes there’s still a need for an international presence and a global awareness.

“Our government isn’t strong enough,” Halili said.” There are a lot of issues with corruption. Until we can solve these issues, we need the international community.”

Contrastingly, Halili doesn’t appear to have any needs. When asked about her adjustment as an international student, she said that there haven’t been any struggles, because she has friends that have made her feel very welcome.

Western counselor Steve Potter introduced Halili and spoke about the importance of the International Lecture Series,  which is sponsored by Western’s office of global engagement.

“It’s really about globalization,” Potter said. “It makes us aware of different cultures and ideas. It’s important to understand each other. I think if we do, good things will happen.”

Lafayette High School battles against Lathrop High School and numerous other bands at the Tournament of Champions on Tuesday, Oct. 11

There were 22 marching bands performing from all over, including some St. Joseph high schools that participated in the competition that lasted all afternoon.

So what point would there be for a Missouri Western student to attend a high school marching band competition?

Band Director Jeff Hinton says that, “It would be a good opportunity for a student to come out and see how we can perform outside of just a normal Saturday afternoon football halftime show. It would be a good time to really see what our band can do.”

Marching bands each were given a few minutes to showcase what it is that they have been practicing since the later part of this summer.

“We practice for about two hours every other day during a normal five-day week, and we have a morning band rehearsal just about every other day,” said percussionist Shannon Hart, a junior from Lafayette High School in Saint Joseph.

There are multiple people who help with the judging of the competition. There are two judges that were on the game field and a few that were up in the press booth.

Judges looked for specific things during each band’s performance to judge them on.  Some of the things that they are looking for are their marching fundamentals, the quality of the sound of each part of the band and also, how well each marching band stays in tune with one another.

The two field judges constantly spoke into tape recorders, giving live feedback to the marching bands.

“When we judge, we’re also commenting on things that can perhaps make them better,” said marching judge Dan Stecker. “We want these bands to continue to improve and perform at a high level. That what makes it so fun to watch them after all.”

And the bands even got creative: some integrate dance moves or even non-traditional instruments like the electric bass guitar. But through it all, the students involved say it is a difficult competition and it takes every bit of practice, determination and athleticism as most other typical sports.

“People say this isn’t a sport, but it takes a lot of dedication, and these drums get really heavy,” Hart said.

The competition ended with an awards ceremony and an exhibition performance from Missouri Western’s Golden Griffon Marching Band, which was led by Hinton.

“At the end of the competition, I want these high school marching bands to gain a feeling for what it would be like to be a part of the Missouri Western Marching Band,” Hinton said. “We want everyone to see what our band has to offer, so that everyone can see how we perform and see what we can bring to the table.”

That’s the predominant, if underlying, message of most of the occupations occurring in the U.S. and internationally; a sentiment shared by not just regular people, but also banks and corporations.

According to Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics for Missouri Western, fear is the fundamental mechanism slowing down the economic recovery here and abroad. Hamzaee said that the key problem facing our government is reversing the fear gripping our nation’s capitalist system.

“Corporate America, with huge cash that they have, but they don’t dare to spend,” Hamzaee said. “At consumers, those who have jobs and purchasing power, but they are not sure if this is the right time to purchase.”

All of this potential help is sitting there with no trust that tomorrow won’t see it all disappear.

Who can blame the haves in society for not wanting to become the have nots?

Hamzaee says that policy created by educated people, people that know finance and economics, is the fastest way out of this situation, and the key to preventing another crisis of this proportion.

“In the financial market, not knowing enough about the sophistication of these financial derivatives and how the system works, our lawmakers were totally uneducated,” Hamzaee said. “Even if they wanted to monitor the smooth operation of the markets, they didn’t have the knowledge to know what was wrong in the first place, or how these people [those accumulating wealth before the recession] were making billions of dollars before the rest of us could wake up and see what is happening to us.”

If policy makers aren’t educated about the inner workings of the financial systems and markets, surely those responsible for overseeing them must. Not according to Hamzaee.

“They [regulators] confessed themselves they didn’t know [what was causing the collapse],” Hamzaee said. “They started to know when the damage was already made.”

So, are these “Occupations” a good thing? What can be accomplished by them?

Edwin Taylor, assistant professor of political science, believes that these movements do provide a positive outlet for democracy.

“Generally speaking, I think they [the Occupations] are a great thing,” Taylor said. “Whether or not you agree with the goal as a political scientist, as one of my colleagues said: ‘We’re in this citizenship building business, protesting is one of our fundamental rights.’ I think any opportunity that engages citizens to get out and say, ‘Hey government, we are here. Pay attention to us,’ is critical for the health of democracy.”

According to Catherine Lawson, professor of economics, the occupations have probably held on longer than many would have expected.

“I think they [Occupy Wall Street] were kind of dismissed at first, but somehow, and I guess it’s social media, it’s caught on,” Lawson said.

According to Lawson many in the movements probably feel that the deck has been stacked against them, that corruption in the economic and political system has soured many Americans’ faith in our government’s ability to govern.

Lawson provided an example of how technology also played a role in job loss and changes in ways of life that kind of snuck up on us.

“Before you had voice mail, you had a receptionist or switchboard operator in every business across the country,” Lawson said. “Somebody created voice mail and made a ton of money off of that technological innovation, and that person became a zillionaire, but lots of people got put out of work because of that.”

Judy Grimes introduces the main speaker for the transportation meeting, which discussed potential plans for a new public transit system specific to campus.

The Division of Student Affairs, St. Joseph Transit, the City of St. Joseph and the Greater St. Joseph Area Metropolitan Planning Organization sponsored a transit operation study meeting Oct. 13 in Blum Union.

The study is meant to allow the community to express their needs regarding scheduled stops along bus routes and pick-up and drop-off destinations within reasonable time frames.

Concerns from students prompted officials to hold this meeting so they could hear how students are being affected in particular.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Judy Grimes said they have often heard anecdotal information from students that they have trouble getting to and from campus.

“There are critical masses of people that need to get to and from campus. We need to know their interests and concerns,” Grimes said. “I am particularly concerned with the incoming freshmen, and there are a huge number of them who do not have vehicles, so part of the reason for the meeting is to find out what the demand is.”

Mark Swope is the project manager for the St. Joseph transit study and was the main speaker at the meeting. Swope discussed the transit service specific to campus and said the system has not really been looked at closely for a few years now and specific changes in service will be aimed at getting the buses where they need to be.

“The purpose of the project is to come up with recommendations for the optimization and more efficient and effective use of transit services in St. Joe,” Swope said.

Charlotte Foster is an education instructor at Western. She expressed her concern for the education students.

“Education students need transportation to and from the schools they are teaching at, to work, to home, and a majority of them don’t have a car. They rely on public transportation,” Foster said.

It is important to do this study in hopes of getting insight from people on how to better serve the public and provide students with adequate, dependable transportation.

Transportation Planner for the City of St. Joseph, Ty Nagel, said trends change, population density shifts and employer locations shift over time.

“Studies are required every so often to get a good idea of where the residential areas are and, of those, who needs transit use,” Nagel said.

Kurt Janicek is the general manager of First Transit. She said they are the best kept secret in St. Joseph right now.

“A lot of people are not aware of what we do, where we go, how efficiently and how cheaply we can do it. [Informing the people] is one of our goals,” Janicek said. “Like any other tax funded agency, we are a part of the city of St. Joseph. We have our dedicated fund of sales tax money and so on, but sales are down and money is tight, so what we are trying to do instead of cutting service or cutting runs is looking at ways to operate more efficiently with the infrastructure we have in place.”

Additionally, snow routes are being explored trying to find ways to get the buses to come on campus in bad weather.

The transit operation study is collecting data, listening to the public and analyzing this data. After gathering all this information they will present their findings to the City Council.

Nagel said the end of the study will wrap up around the end of February, and that changes will take effect depending on how drastic they are.

These new regulations begin in the business office, with students now receiving reimbursement checks through mail or direct deposit, instead of in person like the previous years. This means a student must update both their phone numbers and addresses to receive their money. According to Business Office Bursar Dan Eckhoff, it’s the student’s responsibility to keep the business office updated with personal information.

“Whomever it is, they have to understand that it’s their responsibility to notify us. A lot of people don’t tell us that they changed their address or their phone number changes,” Eckhoff said. “If they don’t communicate that to us, there is no way we can communicate back to them. Then, naturally, they are upset when they don’t get their money timely because we mailed it to the wrong address.”

All students, however, do have the option to receive their funds through direct deposit, which is what the business office encourages, according to Eckhoff. He stated that 72 percent of students have already jumped on board with direct deposit.

In addition to business office changes, financial aid is also preparing to make changes to a student’s eligibility.

One change is that if a student has 60 credit hours or above, they must declare a major in order to receive their financial aid.

“We are requiring students to declare a degree if they have 60 hours or more — whether it’s an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree,” Marilyn Baker, director of financial aid, said. “By doing that, we think that it should provide a better retention. We are requiring students to do that before we disburse their financial aid. Money talks, so we think it’s helping to put them on a path to graduate.”

In addition to this requirement, students who accumulate over 134 hours are required to meet with their adviser to determine how many hours are needed in order to graduate. The adviser must sign-off on a form that declares the meeting has occurred, and then the form must be received by financial aid.

Both the business office and financial aid office feel the students must be consistently checking their emails and notifications on Goldlink. Echoff is also considering developing a text messaging system to keep students more financially aware.

“I don’t know how you can make [communication] better,” Eckhoff said. “I thought about and I can create a thing were you can subscribe to texting.  I thought about doing that for when we send bills. They have to subscribe to that, just like you do with Griffon Alert System.”

These emails sent by both offices must not contain too much personal information, according to federal regulations. This, however, could make it difficult for a student to decipher what financial concerns are more important then others.

Senior Robby Malone feels that communication with the students and service to the students could be a lot better.

“I think the business and financial office is lacking is customer service,” Malone said. “Its not that students don’t find them as a resource, but when it’s time to use them, it’s a headache. They could take some positive manners in customer service and communicating better with students on new policies besides email. Overall, I feel the attitude needs to be focused for the students and not on the payment of the balance. If we feel that we are cared for than the respect will be mutual.”

Four days after the citation, Pister did not play during the loss to Washburn. He also sat out two games last year, one against Mesa State and the other against Washburn, one due to injury.

Last spring, Pister was arrested on Jan. 29 for third-degree assault and second-degree burglary charges.  The arrest was related to a fight that allegedly took place between the football and baseball teams. According to a Feb. 2 article on newspressnow.com, the complainants said that a group that included Western football players assaulted them. In May, a municipal judge ordered Pister to pay a $200 fine for assault.

Head Coach Jerry Partridge declined to comment on Pister’s DWI citation.

“Anything that happens with our kids is going to be handled in house, and I’m not going to comment on it in public,” he said.

Pister is a physical education major who is a redshirted junior. He played for St. Joseph Central High School where he was two time All-state. This season, Pister has 5.5 sacks, one interception and 26 tackles.

According to the Athletics Department Drug and Alcohol Policy, the first misdemeanor or felony conviction related to alcohol would result in the notification of the head coach, athlete and the athlete’s parents or guardian. That athlete is also required to seek counseling independent of the athletic department.  The student athlete would also be subject to disciplinary actions through Student Affairs.

Associate Athletic Director Patsy Smith said that on top of the department’s policy, head coaches have their own policy.

“Each of our sports have certain rules within their sport that could differ from sport to sport and how a coach deals with things,” Smith said.

Smith said that she and former Athletic Director Dave Williams were addressing some concerns with the drug and alcohol policy — specifically the repercussions of a second incident. According to the policy, student athletes who have a second incident not only have to seek further counseling, but are also suspended for 90 days.

“Because sports vary in how long their season is, perhaps you’d look at a percentage of games rather than a number of days,” she said.

According to the Athletics Department Drug and Alcohol Policy, Western athletes must undergo drug and alcohol abuse awareness training. The policy states, “Missouri Western State University will provide an education program to inform our student-participants of the inherent hazards of abusing these substances.  It is our goal to promote the physical and psychological well-being of the MWSU student-participant.”

“The idea is that everyone will want to take part in certain events throughout the week, such as ‘The Amazing Griff Race’ for instance,” Homecoming chairperson Taylor Kram said. “Each event will have a Griffon twist to them that hopefully will appeal to Western students and they will want to come to these events.”

Many various events will be taking place during Homecoming week, and some events are being looked as the highlights of the entire week themselves. Josh Blue, the homecoming headliner and winner of Last Comic Standing, will be performing Oct. 20, 8 p.m. inside the Looney Complex.

When asked about the events during the week of homecoming, Special Events Director Cody Sander had this to say, “I think there will be a really good turnout for ‘Last Griffon Standing’,” Sander said. “I want to see as many students as possible at all the things going on during homecoming, and I this is just another one of them.”

Also on the list of things during homecoming will be a food fight. No, not throwing food at one another like you may have imagined. Oct. 10-14, there will a campus wide food drive.

“With all the cans, the various organizations will be required to build a Can Castle,” Sander said. “Whoever is the most original and creative will win the ‘Food Fight’ taking place.”

There will also be a treasure hunt that anyone on campus can participate in. The treasure hunt starts at 8 a.m. on Oct. 17. For your first clue one needs to go to missouriwestern.edu/homecoming.

“For anyone interested at all, the first place prize of the treasure hunt is a 32 inch High-Definition television,” Sander said.

So if all the events taking place during the week are meant to be as real as possible, what about the possible candidates that are going to represent the Homecoming court? What should a Missouri Western Homecoming King or Queen be like?

“Typically what we are looking for in a candidate is someone who is involved around campus and takes great pride in this university,” 2010 Homecoming Queen Laura Schneider said. “We want someone who is going to represent the school well and give a good name to Missouri Western.”

To be a homecoming candidate one needs to be a full-time student and also maintain a 2.5 GPA. Once a candidate makes it through the judging and too court, they must attend all the homecoming events during homecoming week.

“It is important for the candidates to be seen by everyone on campus,” Director of Awards and Judging Morgan Lindgren said. “The students need to get a feel for who these candidates are so they can decide who they want to vote for.”

With everything that is going on during homecoming week, the people coordinating all of it hope it all well and according to plan. And hopefully, every Griffon keeps it real.

“I’m really about accountability. I’m really about teachable moments and educational moments,” she said. “So if we say that there are no drugs or alcohol on campus, why are we turning our heads if there is?”

The release of the 2010 Annual Clery Crime Report revealed increases in arrests and referrals for several crimes. Drug law violation referrals increased by 337 percent while arrests increased by 57 percent in the residence halls. Drug arrests on campus increased by 90 percent.

“Drugs and alcohol are probably not a good choice,” Peralez said, “but for many of you, you’re probably going to try it.”

Peralez would rather call those people in and discuss the opportunities that the students are jeopardizing.

“For some it’s scary enough that they stop and you don’t see them again,” she said. “For others, they keep pushing the envelope and finally you’re suspended.”

For the first time last year, Peralez said that all of the Residence Hall Directors had their Master’s degrees. She believes that the increase is due to the maturity level of the RHDs and their willingness to work with students and discover drug problems.

Police Chief Jon Kelley also attributes the increase in referrals to the awareness and education of students by Residential Life and Student Affairs. Despite several increases, Kelley believes that the report still shows that Western’s campus is safe.

“I see no murders and no manslaughters,” Kelley said. “I’m happy about that.”

Kelley said that most of the drug related arrests are for drug paraphernalia or marijuana.

“You’ve got to remember, we live on a college campus,” he said, “and when you live on a college campus those things are going to happen.”

Putting things into perspective, Kelley said that out of the roughly 1000 residential students, Western police only arrested 19 for drug law violations. From 2009 to 2010, the number of liquor law violations went from 20 to 28, or a 40 percent increase.

“I don’t think drug arrests are any more serious than alcohol arrests,” Kelley said. “If you look across the country, alcohol kills more people every year than drugs — alcohol related incidents.”

Mel Klinkner, vice president for financial planning and administration, believes that the report reflects that Western is a safe campus.

“I think we have heightened the awareness of it,” Klinkner said. “I think it’s always difficult to determine what causes the change from year to year. Sometimes you can point to it.”

The largest increase in the report was the increase in referrals, which Klinkner attributes to the education of Student Affairs and Residential Life.

“To me it’s more of students taking ownership in it,” Klinkner said.

Another staggering number is the increase in sexual offenses. In 2010 the number of forcible sexual offenses increased by two, which was zero in 2009.

“There’s a couple of sexual offenses,” Kelley said, “and of course we always want to work on those and refer those people to the areas they need to be referred to for their benefit.”

While the number of forcible sexual offenses has increased, Kelley said that neither of these were offenses by strangers to the victims. Kelley believes that the reason this number is low is because of the proactive enforcement of the other violations.

“We take the drug offenses and alcohol offenses seriously,” Kelley said. “But the majority of crimes that are committed today, those types or crimes, are committed by people who are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.”

Recently appointed Director of Entertainment Sebastian Smith rocks out to Journey's Don't Stop Believing

A hopeful student approaches the mike as the huge crowd stops their laughter and awaits the upcoming talent. The student is scared yet confident that their voice will harmonize like the brilliant tones of a canary. Yet as the words come along the screen, the student realizes that he doesn’t know exactly how the song goes, causing him to hum what he doesn’t know and below out the little amount know as that of an angry black crow. This was the normal talent that graced the stage of the WAC Karoke night, held in Blum food court on Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m..

WAC president Robin Ussher felt having the karaoke show in the food court  would be more beneficial for student enjoyment and would spark student attendance at WAC events. The show, which had numerous people in attendance either awaiting to perform or stopping by as they were waiting for food, had the most student participation in a single event for the entire year.

“It’s something different that WAC has never really done before,” Ussher said. “I did some research and I found “Karaoke Productions” from Kansas City, Missouri and she had a really cool package with music videos and lights and stuff that would really make it fun for everybody that came out for it. We decided to give it a try.”

Around 30 to 35 people showed Western their gums as they sang along to Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Journey and Lauren Hill. Some came in groups, others came in pairs and some crooners flocked to the mike solo. Yet everyone showed what they can do; both the good and the ugly.

“I like the way this works because it’s not a matter of people committing to go,” Ussher said. “Things for like the talent show and other events, people have to decide that they are going and have to go out of their way to go to it. This event is kind of hard to miss. We are catching everybody at dinner time. They can make a split decision and boom they are here in attendance. It’s a lot of fun. A couple of our very own WAC members have been up there [singing] with very impressive voices.”

videos and lights and stuff that would really make it fun for everybody that came out for it. We decided to give it a try.”

Around 30 to 35 people showed Western their gums as they sang along to Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Journey and Lauryn Hill.

Some came in groups, others came in pairs and some crooners flocked to the mike solo. Yet everyone showed what they can do; both the good and the ugly.

“I like the way this works because it’s not a matter of people committing to go,” Ussher said. “Things for like the talent show and other events, people have to decide that they are going and have to go out of their way to go to it. This event is kind of hard to miss. We are catching everybody at dinner time. They can make a split decision, and boom: They are here in attendance. It’s a lot of fun. A couple of our very own WAC members have been up there [singing] with very impressive voices.”

Among these “impressive voices” was WAC Director of Entertainment Sebastian Smith who sang numerous times on the stage to daring songs such as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” Smith however, who recently received a job singing at World’s Of Fun as an entertainer, was one of the night’s highlighted singers and kept the crowd amused.

“Starting in November you can see me on the comedy city stage in downtown Kansas City doing improve,” Smith said. “[Singing] is a hobby that I would really like to explore in the future.”

Smith also feels that not only students but WAC members should focus on showing good attendance at events.

“We want to gain a lot of buzz about WAC,” Smith said. “Students are paying for these events in their tuition. As a member of WAC, you are planning, organizing and working these events. But you are also a student. If you want to participate in these event, chances are other students will to.

Whether karoke night was just a fun event catered for student enjoyment, or a revealing of Western talent and future celebrity singers and songwriters, the night will  definitely leave campus wanting more from WAC in their future events.

Charlonda Bozeman expresses how fun the show was and believes the location was a smart idea.

“Having it in the food court is common because everybody hangs out there and it is a popular spot,” Bozeman said. “WAC events are important to attend to be social to have something to do. It is good to get your name out there.

On Oct. 29 physical therapy majors in Eder Hall 208 hosted a stress management seminar. The 14 students that were in attendance were also treated to a free massage.
For Katie O’Toole, a massage is exactly what she needed.

“The massage was amazing, it felt really good. I could almost feel every negative thing in my body just melting away,” O’Toole said. “Sometimes you just have to unwind and let everything go.”

There can be many reasons why someone is stressed out, but there are also many ways to handle stress. Counselor Steve Potter, who was the presenter at the stress management seminar, presented some of the ways students can deal with the stress in their life.

“I practice what I preach, everyone handles what life gives them differently,” Potter said. “Some people just need to talk it out with themselves. It’ll take time to master a way that works for you. Sometimes people just need to recharge their batteries and do things that they enjoy doing.”

Time management may be difficult for college students but it is important for success. Balancing work, school and everything in between is something that

“For me it is not as stressful as it once was, since I now work here on campus and go to school,” Shannon Ebling said. “With working here it gives me more time to get homework done, and unlike other jobs, here at Missouri Western, they will work more around your school schedule.”

On a campus with a large non-traditional population, older students like Marilyn Colboch, usually have more on their plate than traditional students.

“I’ve been to college once before, and honestly I think it varies on the individual,” Colboch said. “Everyone’s circumstances in their lives are different, and how they deal with them are different as well.”

Regardless of age, students who are having trouble managing their stress should consider counseling.

The counseling center at Missouri Western is located in room 203 of Eder Hall. Counselors are there Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You can simply go into their office or call them at (816) 271-4327 to set up an appointment.

As the 2011-2012 school year unfolds, SGA will be looking to allocate the $26,400 that was initially given to RC. Since the SGA budget doesn’t fund the new Residence Hall Association, the extra funds have been placed in special projects budget.

According to SGA President Alison Norris, the obvious difference between the budgets will be the elimination of RC and the roll over.

“We itemized out some things in the budget when I presented it to the council,” Norris said. “This year we have more roll over than last year and plan to work on a new special project.”

SGA Finance Director Nick McCutcheon explained that the $26,400 that was used to fund RC will be placed specifically in special projects, which are the general funds for the Student Senate, and will be allowed to help fund these specific areas that deal directly with the students.

“We are now able to place this money in areas which will help to fund organizations,” McCutcheon said. “Essentially all of this money went to the legislative branch, more specifically the special projects, which, in a nut shell, is the money the Senate uses to pass bills.”

McCutcheon believes the Senate will create new and better legislation with the extra funding.

Last week the Student Senate passed a bill to fund a new student lounge in Potter Hall. McCutcheon assumes that this money is coming from what would have been the RC funding for this year.

“This is a line item that has always been in the budget,” McCutcheon said. “But with the elimination of Residence Council it significantly increases it and has helped with the funding of this endeavor.”

In the Spring 2011 changes to the SGA Constitution, SGA is required to allocate 20 percent of their budget to Student Affairs. According to the provision, Student Affairs must use this money for student programming that benefits the entire student body.

“I would not say that it hasn’t,” McCutcheon said. “We just want to make sure that it always does.”

In the fiscal year 2011, Student Affairs only spent $20,625.14 out of $103,107.52 from the allocated 20 percent.
Thus far, a comprehensive plan for this year’s use of Student Affairs’ 20 percent has not been presented to Senate. According to the SGA constitution, the use of the previous year’s allocation must be presented at the last Senate meeting of the Spring semester. In the Fall, the vice president of student affairs (currently Esther Peralez) or her designee is required to present how that year’s money will be used.

“While the official budget has not been presented, there have been numerous conversations about what SGA wants from Student Affairs,” Peralez said.

Earlier versions of the SGA Constitution did not require that SGA allocate 20 percent of its budget to Student Affairs. While Student Affairs did not previously receive funding directly from SGA, many of its organizations—Center for Multicultural Education, Center of Student Engagement and Student Leadership Development—did receive funding from SGA.

As of Tuesday, the current SGA budget had not been posted online. Last year’s budget can be found on the SGA page on the Missouri Western website.

Norris said the updated budget should be online for the student body to view, and she will continue to work to get this released as soon as possible.

“The current operating budget was approved last spring,” McCutcheon said. “It should already be up, so I am surprised that it isn’t yet.”

Alnutt, the senior associate athletic director for administration at Missouri, was the fourth and final man to make a pitch for the Athletic Director position currently available at Missouri Western. Alnutt spoke about why he wants to be at Western during his presentation in the GISC.

“This is a tremendous facility,” Alnutt said. “I’ve told many people that we would die for a facility like this in Columbia, Mo. This is something we need to take advantage of.”

The facility, as well as the community, are two of the reasons Alnutt stated to make him want to be at Western.

“One thing that attracted me here to this position is: This is a great community to raise a family,” Alnutt said.

Alnutt is the only candidate out of the final four that has never had a director of athletics job. This doesn’t matter to Alnutt; he said he has worked hard his whole life and has been put up against the odds plenty of times.

He was a former walk-on for the Missouri Tigers football team. Alnutt eventually played well enough to be put on scholarship and graduated at Missouri shortly after. He stated that competitiveness is all too important when dealing with college students, but not just the drive to succeed at their sport, but also the will to graduate. He said that’s what makes a student a champion.

“It’s a tremendous honor to represent [Western],” Alnutt said. “There’s going to be a lot of victories, and when I say victories I’m not just talking about games. I’m talking about victories in the classroom.”

Alnutt did not shy away from questions about the Kansas City Chiefs summer camp. He has negotiated with the Chiefs before, as he was one of the key partners in the Missouri-Kansas fall rivalry game being played at Arrowhead Stadium for the past four seasons.

“My next step is to be able to stay in communication with them and make sure this camp stays here for a long time and it benefits both parties.”

The Missouri alum made a bold statement before taking questions from the media and boosters at the presentation.

“I guarantee we’ll make it the full 10 years,” said Alnutt, when referring to the Chiefs and Western’s partnership in the summer camp. The camp currently has three years left in its contract, and after that point either side can separate at any point for the following five summers.

Alnutt said he is sure about the Chiefs because relationships are what matter, and he has a strong relationship with many of the Chiefs’ personnel.

Besides handling money at Missouri, he is also the chairman of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Committee. He said he understands rivalries, and another draw to Western is that the MIAA reminds him of the Big XII, in the sense that it is a strong conference.

There are 6,296 students enrolled at Western as of the official census date of Sept. 27. Jeanne Daffron, vice president for academic affairs, announced that enrollment has risen 2.6 percent over last fall’s numbers and approximately 27 percent since fall 2003.

Daffron noted that the percentages of part-time and non-traditional students have risen.

“I expect that has a whole lot to do with the economy,” Daffron said. “Perhaps people who have lost jobs or are finding jobs may consider this to be a good time to continue their education.”

Daffron went on to point out that, within the state of Missouri, the number of unemployed people with only a high school diploma is twice that of unemployed people with a higher degree. She applauded the students who have the initiative to continue their education.

“In this part of the state, and in Missouri as a whole, we have pretty low educational levels compared to other states around the country,” Daffron said. “We do know that it’s really important for the economic future to have well-educated citizens.”

Esther Peralez, vice president of student affairs, cited Griffon Hall as a reason for the increased enrollment numbers.

She stated that the resident halls are 92 percent full, and that fall 2011 is the first semester in many without a waiting list for on-campus housing.

High school enrollment and graduation rates across the country have been rather flat, so this larger enrollment number is unexpected.

“We really didn’t anticipate, in terms of budget, that we would have an increase,” Daffron said.

Daffron added that while this larger-than-expected enrollment does mean added revenue, it also means added expenses and pressures for the university. Kylee Strough, chair of the Board of Governors, echoed this sentiment.

“We know that if this [increased enrollment] continues, it’s added stress and strain on our facilities, as well as our staff and faculty.”

Strough did not offer a direct answer when asked which part of infrastructure would be updated first due to increased enrollment numbers.

“That comes from those that are here every day during the week,” Strough said. “It’s not for the Board to look and say ‘what do we need to do?’, because we’re not on campus living and breathing it every day.”

Strough added that the Board relies very heavily on the suggestions of students, faculty and staff and encouraged students to give their input.

The Board has begun to brainstorm ways to financially handle Western’s growing student body.

“What I can tell you is that it didn’t take more enrollment to be announced this week for the Board to look at ‘how can we begin to supplement the budget?’,” Strough said. “Looking to the state for more dollars is not the answer. They’ve told us that.”

The International Lecture Series will be covering three countries this year: Afghanistan, Kosovo and India. There will be food samplings the day before the lectures, so anyone interested in experiencing the cuisine of these countries is encouraged to attend.

When asked about the concept of the lecture series, former International Student Coordinator Huey Shi Chew said “The idea of this whole series is to get people to see what life is like over in these other countries. We want students to understand the differences in people’s lives over in these countries versus our own.”

Students will be surprised how different life is in other countries.

One of the most interesting facts about the International Lecture Series is that international students are actually the ones conducting these lectures. For the Afghanistan lecture, international student Ahmad Shah Salimee talked about his home country.

“It is nice to be able to share how life is over in my home country of Afghanistan,” Salimee said. “This is a chance for people to see Afghanistan beyond the political side of things and see how we really truly live.”

International students will be presenting in the lectures for Kosovo and India. Most students are oblivious to how people reside in these other nations.

“I honestly didn’t know any of the stuff that was brought up,” freshman Evan Hill said. “It was interesting to hear what was said. I’ll be coming to the next lecture as well.”

Approximately 40 people were in attendance. Student Affairs is hoping that more people come to upcoming lectures and that the word is spread on what will be shared during the series.

“I hope more people come the next time one of these lectures is going on,” Salimee said. “It is very educational for anyone that decides to sit and take in what other countries are all about.”

The lecture on Kosovo will be held Oct. 19, and India will be discussed on Nov. 16.

For further information, contact Global Engagement at 816-271-4150 or visit Student Affairs in Blum 210.

He stated that this is what Missouri Western needs throughout his presentation Monday at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

McClain, one of four candidates for the Athletic Director job currently available at Western, said he wants to be a part of the Griffons and loves the division in which Western participates.

“Things that happen at Division II programs are a little bit different,” McClain said. “I’ve proven that programs I’ve been involved in have been successful. I think from a learning curve standpoint, I walk the walk.”

McClain was a Division II athlete at Delta State, where he is currently the AD. He said that D-II is entertaining just like Division I, but that the atmosphere is great because you can be a student athlete, as well as have the experience of being a part of the student body.

“Student-athletes have a unique opportunity to not only play high level, highly competitive, very entertaining college athletics, but to also be a better student.”

The Delta graduate said the key to recruiting as well as maintaining a great program is to have athletes that graduate. McClain stands behind his words, as the graduation rate at Delta has risen from 50 to 69 percent while he has been in charge. He says if Western can hold a steady 60 percent graduation rate, everybody will benefit.

“That’s a pretty lofty goal, but it can be done,” said McClain, who also stated it helps with recruiting when talking to parents. “[Recruitment] is the key to reaching that goal of 60 percent and reaching the goal of quality programs.”

Western is attractive to McClain because he likes the facilities, the campus and St. Joseph. McClain said Western is in great shape to move forward and build on success.

A former professional athlete, McClain was an All American baseball player at Delta. He said that if anybody asked about his legacy, Delta would be thankful for what he accomplished while there, as a student and a director.

“I would hope that people would say that we were successful,” McClain said. “That we won on the field and on the court. That our student athletes were treated fairly. That they were given resources they needed, the opportunity to be successful and that we graduated our student athletes.”

But overall, McClain said his student athletes were given an opportunity to succeed in sports and in the classroom because the budget was very well balanced.

“We are facing pretty difficult times, but it didn’t sacrifice what we provided for our student athletes, fans and our lives.”

On Friday, Kaverman stood in front of his audience in Spratt Hall and said there are five areas in which Western needs help.

After he announced the five: academic success, competitive success, program integrity, external outreach and athletic program value to the universtiy and community, Kaverman began his presentation.

“Visioning as an exercise is just the first step in a planning process,” Kaverman said.

Kaverman envisions plenty of future plans for Western. One of his plans includes Western finishing in the top half of the conference.

“[We] need to compete annually for MIAA championships,” Kaverman said. “[We should] be recognized nationally by having teams consistently advance to post-season play.”

Kaverman said in order to compete and have success, athletics has to be important to the community. He believes fundraising options are available through private parties.

“The only way we are going to be able to move forward,” Kaverman said, “is to generate additional financial support.”

There are over 21,000 alumni in the state of Missouri, and over 5,000 live in the St. Joseph region.

The Harris-Stowe athletic director is a former director at Western. He was here when Jerry Partridge was announced as the head football coach. Kaverman left Western in 1999 to go to Southeast Missouri State, where he served as Athletic Director for 10 years.

If Western appoints Kaverman to the university, it will hire an applicant who has had issues in the past.

While at Southeast, Kaverman helped produce the Women’s basketball team as a participant in the NCAA Tournament. However, Kaverman was fired at Southeast for refusing to resign after allegations spread of illegal actions taking place at Southeast.

“I don’t feel we violated the rules,” Kaverman said. “The rules are very complex.”

Southeast was accused of violating several NCAA terms, such as future prospects given benefits and coaches illegally watching practices. Kaverman believes that the allegations were more of a miscommunication than a violation.

“We didn’t consciously violate anything,” Kaverman said. “We found ourselves in violation of rules as a result of not knowing what was going on.”

Kaverman said changes have been made since he was last employed here, and that it a great thing. If Western can succeed in the five areas he mentioned, he thinks it will have a successful program. He also said the athletics program should not have to compete with St. Joseph.

“Griffon athletics definitely makes Missouri Western a better place,” Kaverman said. “It’s important to communicate that with the university and the community through the media.”

Esther George, an alumna of Western’s class of 1980, has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer for the Federal Reserve in Kansas City, Mo. She is one out of two women who are bank presidents for the Federal Reserve. George also serves on the Board of Fountain Directors at Western, and has received much attention since being announced the President of the KC Federal Reserve.

Dr. Patrick McMurry, professor of economics at Western, believes that George’s record of hard work has paid off. “George is one out of twelve bank presidents in the United States,” said McMurry. “This is huge for a Western Student to achieve.”

Students of the Craig School of Business want to know more about her accomplishments and how she influenced Western. Business major Jimmy Summers feels that the education he receives from Western will lead him to the same success as George.

“When business students find out that George went to Missouri Western, that will result in them having a great outlook on our business school and overall university,” Summers said. “Western is not just producing students, but driven ones like Esther George.”

Dean of the Craig School of Business, Philip Nitse believes that George’s accomplishments have shown that our university is stepping up in the world. “When an alumnus achieves this level of success, everyone at the institution should feel pride, especially in the sense that this is proof that the education provided here at Western is of such quality,” Nitse said. “It shows that someone can go on and accomplish something great.”

The Craig School Business will receive much attention because of George becoming the next President of the Federal Reserve. Nitse says that Esther has been a long standing supporter for the Business School.

“George has served with distinction as a member of our Advisory Board,” Nitse said. “Her picture is currently used in the pictures around the building as a successful alumna.”

Faculty and students both now wonder if George will be asked to come and speak to the Western community about her journey from student to success. When asked, Nitse believes she has a standing invitation, and the school will be working with her to nail down a date to speak.

Western has been producing well-educated students that have success and stable careers, but when you have a student like Esther who worked her way from the bottom up, it makes students wonder if they can achieve the same level of success.

Summers says that when you have students like George who soar high to reach these goals, it makes a current student think about their own future.

“Every student has their own personal goals and dream job in mind,” Summers said. “The fact is now we can soar high, and are motivated to work harder toward our goals and dreams to be like Mrs. Esther.”

Students in the Steven L. Craig School of Business at Missouri Western State University and their partnership with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc. will be opening a new store in St. Joseph. They are leasing the former Russell Stover Candies store on Frederick Avenue for the new RMCF and its subsidiary, Aspen Leaf Yogurt, offering self-serve frozen yogurt.

For the first time, RMCF will have a live video connection from the store to the classroom here at Western.

Students in the CSB will be able to watch salesmanship transactions taking place in real time while observing every day operations.

Western President Robert Vartabedian expressed what an exciting opportunity this is for Western’s business students.

“Adding this live video connection to the store in St. Joseph as a teaching tool, I think, is a role model for a successful entrepreneurship program,” Vartabedian said.

The live video connection is an opportunity to extend the classroom beyond campus and students will be able to hear and see everything going on. It will allow business students to actually work at the business and witness what happens from the opening all the way through every aspect of the operation.

Dr. Philip Nitse, dean of the Craig School of Business, knows the benefit students will have from a live video connection.

“It is something that is hands-on, tangible, not just something their reading in a text book,” Nitse said.

According to Nitse, the projected opening of the store is around the middle of November and that’s all based on any problems with construction that may arise, but at the moment the project is on target.

Not only do business students benefit from opening a RMCF store and yogurt shop here in St. Joseph, but it is good for Western as a whole.

Nitse said it will bring very valuable insight and awareness of the community about the exciting things Western is doing.

Western’s CSB alum is successfully operating six RMCF franchises in five different states.

Western alum, Seth Lyons, graduated in December 2008 with alum partner Kelsey Lyons. Kelsey majored in economics and Seth majored in finance.

The Lyons team opened the first Western and RMCF partnership in Silverthorne, Colo.

Together they have built a success story that has continued.

Seth gives credit for his success to Western and all its professors in the CSB.

“I would tell any of the students at Western, if they are not a business student to become one because they are doing some extraordinary things there. The professors and the administration are doing some pretty great things. Carol Roever does it all, but if I had to mention anyone I would say Dr. Larry Lawson had the biggest affect on my life,” Seth said.

Brittany Malone is a business student here at Western in her senior year and recognizes these amazing achievements.

“The RMCF operations have been very successful because the people involved have been successful at it; very evidently with Seth Lyons. I am currently in the entrepreneurship program and actually doing the business plan and expanding my baking skills,” Malone said.

Whether or not students will receive class credit for working in the St. Joseph store will depend.

“It depends on the nature of the student. There will be some that do, but others will be just workers at the store,” Nitse said.

Renovations and the live video connection will cost Western nothing. All the cost is being provided by RMCF and Steven Craig Nitse said.

Nitse believes it will be a worthwhile investment.
The projected opening of the store is around mid November and that’s all based on problems with construction, but at the moment the project is on target.

Nitse said this is not the same as the other stores.

“This is a totally separate operation. It is a joint effort designed to provide information for student training, but that’s about it,” Nitse said

Some of the proceeds coming back to the CSB will help fund other future programs.

“Think your congress is the best money can buy now?” Assistant professor Dr. Jonathan Euchner said.  “Well you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Western marked the observance of Constitution Day by holding a panel discussion between two of Western’s own political scientists, professor of political science David Steiniche and Assistant Professor of Political Science Jonathan Euchner. The day’s discussion was titled, “Constitutional Perversion? Money, Free Speech and American Politics.”

Students gathered in the Kemper Recital Hall on Friday, Sept. 16 to participate in the annual Constitution Day events at Missouri Western. The event was open to all students and the public.

The Constitution Day discussion opened with assistant professor of political science Dr. Edwin Taylor acting as master of ceremonies and delivering introductory remarks. Taylor provided background for the day’s discussion.

“[The Constitution] is best understood as a living document,” Taylor said.  “One of the primary challenges facing the constitutional world today is the relationship that has evolved between money in U.S. politics and free speech.”

Taylor provided a comparative perspective while outlining the context of a situation that is an increasingly hot button issue as presidential campaigning begins for the elections of 2012.

“Does the Supreme Court Ruling in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case that was recently decided pervert democracy and the political rights of citizens as provided in the U.S. Constitution?” Taylor said.

Euchner and Steiniche represented two sides of a hotly contested issue in current politics.

Euchner opened up the discussion and represented those that oppose the recognition of corporations as individuals capable of making campaign contributions. Euchner specifically took aim at last year’s Citizens United ruling, asserting that it was a constitutional perversion to recognize corporations as individuals endowed with rights.

“Our democracy is not for sale to the highest bidder,” Euchner said.

Steiniche upheld that a corporation’s right to donate money to campaigns was a right upheld by the First Amendment. He pointed out that the First Amendment protected freedom of speech while neither excluding corporations or limiting the right to individuals.

“Free speech for individuals includes groups, since groups are simply collections of individuals,” Steiniche said. “Which according to the First Amendment, have the right to assemble and thus implicitly the right of speech. For what else is the purpose of legal assembly.”

Political science major Micah Burrow attended the day’s events because of a personal interest in hearing the discussion. Burrow encourages other students to become informed as well.

“People need to realize that if they don’t do anything and they’re apathetic that nothing is going to happen to benefit them,” Burrow said. “Apathy doesn’t get you anywhere, and you can’t complain about it when you aren’t saying anything about it.”

The event concluded with a question and answer session between the panel and audience members. Taylor described it as opening it up “Oprah-style.”

“It’s your voices that are most important,” Taylor said. “Many of you sit in our classes everyday and listen to us talk for 50 minutes or an hour and 20 minutes. It’s our hope that we can hear your voices as you ask these well-learned folks some questions about this discussion.”

The Constitution Day events were sponsored by the economics, political science and sociology department.

Resident students at Western will soon have the opportunity to have their voices heard through a new organization, Residence Hall Association. On-campus students are thrilled to see the differences the new organization will offer in comparison to the old.

Many residents and students on campus are concerned about where the budget for RHA will come from. A certain percentage of the budget will come from the Department of Residential life and housing, which RHA President Bridget Janssen says will go directly to the students and organization.

Janssen said the budget for this new organization will be $20,000, which will be divided between the residence halls and their Hall Councils.

According to Mark Stier, director of residential life, the money for the new organization will come from an auxiliary budget in the Residential Living and Housing operational budget, which they use to pay bills.

Stier says that RHA will be free to utilize the money with only limited direction from Western.

“RHA will have total control over their budget,” Stier said. “They will have to discuss charges with their advisors to ensure they are keeping in line with the budgetary process set forth by the University. Other than that, they are to use the funds for the betterment of the residential community and student professional growth.”

Janssen went a little further in describing the break-down of where the money will go and how it will be used.

“The Hall Councils will be given $500 and be able to determine where that money will go,” Janssen said. “$2,000 to $3,000 will be given to each dorm and will be run directly by RHA and will be used for dorm improvements.”

National Residence Hall Honorary will be given $2,000 and have full jurisdiction on how to use the money. This will leave approximately $8,000 to $10,000 for the RHA, which they plan to use directly for programming, updates and improvements for the dorms.

As RHA aspires to increase the number of residents involved, students wonder how this organization will differ from Residence Council. Jansen has high hopes for the association and believes residents will flock toward the new group after learning of the new opportunities it will present.

“The main goal for this year is building up the new organization,” said Janssen. “In the past, we had a very active Residence Council, but I want to show what changes we have in store for the residents.”

Since RHA is not a part of Student Government Association, they have the freedom to make changes. Janssen believes this is a great way for SGA to work with the new organization.

Griffon Hall resident Jessica Liess says she is interested in the types of activities this new organization will be able to create for the students.

“Some things that I would like to see happen would be more group activities that anyone can come along and participate in,” Liess said. “It makes me feel that our school is going in a new direction by trying to make the students feel at ease while away from home.”

Residents of Western will just have to wait and see what changes will be done through the new organization. Janssen said she wants to build the Association for future residents, so they will have a governing body that works just for them.

“We must get our name known around campus, which is the only way we will recruit and get students involved in our organization,” said Janssen. “I am also confident that we will have a strong foundation for future Residential Hall Associations to build upon.”

There are many intramural sports a student can participate in, varying from the always popular and competitive flag football to a more relaxed sport like bowling. Other available intramurals are powder puff football, billiards, kickball, badminton, volleyball, racquetball and dodge ball.

Recreational Services Facilities Director Wonda Berry said, “A student should play intramurals because it gets them engaged in the university experience itself. It gets them out of their dorms, and allows them to meet other students and extend their high school years of sports activity.”

For someone to sign up to play an intramural sport all one has to do is go to the Front Service Desk in the Looney Complex and fill out an entry form, stating what they’re wanting to take part in, if they need a team or already have assembled a team to do battle with.

This year the Recreational Services Department wants to appeal to everyone.They are going to try to have sports for students with disabilities so they too can have fun.

Some of these sports have to be modified to suit certain participant’s particular needs. But the people that run the Recreational Services Department say that will not even be a problem and that they love the challenges that are presented to them to try and satisfy everyone’s wishes.

Some of the sports that could possibly be in the works for people with disabilities to play are disk golf and wheelchair basketball. Here at Missouri Western, they really strive for there to be something for everyone that wants to partake in some activity.

“We want everyone to get the most out of their college experience,” Berry said.

Like most students that go out for intramural sports, many of them are excited to play if they’ve been a part of it in the past. As for the newcomers, they are not sure of what to really expect.

“I am ready to whip up on some people, I am ready to do work son!” Freshman Justin Berry, who plans to play flag football, said.

While some appear ecstatic, pumped up and ready to go, others seem a little hesitant and don’t know what to expect with what kind of experience an intramural sport will bring them.

“I wanted to play last year, but I wasn’t sure if it was for me or not; maybe I’ll go out this year.” Sophomore Neva Kidwell, who is thinking about playing volleyball, said.

Most of the intramural sports will take place on Monday-Thursday and usually will go from 5-10 p.m. So if you have the time to play, maybe you should give it a shot. You may find it to be one of your best experiences while you are in college.

Anyone that has any more questions should contact the Front Desk inside Looney Complex at (816) 271-5604.

Several pieces of legislation were discussed and passed during the meeting including that of a newly recognized student organization, Residence Hall Association, which was presented by Bridget Janssen, president of Residence Hall Association.

The goal of the newly formed organization is to improve the on-campus experience for those living on campus, according to Janssen. Previously, Residence Council was a part of SGA and any money they spent was general budget money and had to benefit the entire student body. This new organization will not have the same restrictions, because they will get their money elsewhere.

“One of my personal goals is to get a bike room for every building, because a lot more students have started riding bikes around campus and we don’t have racks to keep them in,” Janssen said.

Dallas Henry, assistant professor of theatre and cinema, was in attendance requesting funding for “Student Rush,” which provided 25 free tickets to the first students to line up at the box office. This was done last year and Henry said it was extremely successful.

“We have four main-stage productions,” Henry said, “but we would like to top that [free tickets] this year; we want to bring pizza one of those nights. We want to pay for it out our own pockets, to pay for Aramark to bring pizza to the 25 waiting in line on a surprise night.”

Henry said that they are anticipating placing a new 42-inch television above the box office to play movies in the hallway to entertain people while they wait. Henry also assured the members of SGA that if the tickets went unused they would refund the leftover funds.

Henry’s theatrical presentation was well received and SGA allocated the $4,050 requested for purchasing the tickets for every performance. Henry was elated by the support provided by SGA.

“I won the World Series,” Henry said as his proposal passed a Senate vote.

Jacob Scott, SGA vice president, requested non-members to leave as the meeting moved into closed session, as there were three people in the gallery awaiting their opportunity to be added to the Senate.

Friedman currently holds the position of Foreign Affairs columnist for the New York Times. His five bestselling books, including his most recent, “Hot, Flat and, Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution—and How It Can Renew America,” deal with topics that the Convocation is not unfamiliar with, like “green” issues and globalization.

Dan Boulware, former president of Missouri Western’s Board of Governors, founded the convocation series 20 years ago. He had some ideas as to what Friedman’s message to students may be.

“Average is over. You can’t expect to be average anymore,” Boulware said. “We need to have the mentality of an immigrant: nothing is owed to us. We’re going to work hard; nobody is going to give us anything. We shouldn’t expect to have people to give it to us; we need to earn it.”

Friedman has been on the Convocation wish list for a several years, according to Western Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dan Nicoson. Nicoson said that scheduling conflicts have prevented Friedman from coming in the past.

Friedman is not as commonly recognized as past Convocation speakers, but Nicoson is not worried about that.

“It’s kind of different because being not a sitting politician or not a television/media figure,” Nicoson said, “he’s not as immediately recognizable to people, even though within the print media he’s as big a name as any of them.”

Nicoson seems to be right: the Convocation Dinner, which will take place Monday, Sept. 19, is nearly sold out.

Senior history major Gary Weidemann is excited to hear Friedman speak, even though he doesn’t know much about him.

“I know he’s a foreign affairs correspondent, so I hope that he talks about American relations with Libya,” Weidemann said.

Missouri Western President Dr. Robert Vartabedian is also excited to hear Friedman speak.

“I’ve not heard him speak, but I’ve been told he’s a very good speaker,” Vartabedian said. “Sometimes you get these big names come in and they just read to you, and it’s not very interesting. My understanding is that he’s a very compelling speaker.”

Students like Weidemann should take advantage of Western’s unique Convocation series, according to Boulware.

“We’ve been blessed from the standpoint that we’ve been able to get top speakers,” Boulware said. “The Washington Speakers Bureau says that we have as fine of a college speaking series as any in the country. This doesn’t happen everywhere across the country—this is different and this is exceptional.”

The Convocation will take place in the M.O. Looney Complex at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20. The event is free and open to students and the community.

James Goodrich, the father of a Central Missouri student, flips burgers on a grill during a tailgating event here Saturday. The tailgating event was part of the family day festivities hosted here this weekend.

Missouri Western State University Family Day Sept. 9 and 10.

The event included a free showing of “Thor,” a 5 and 10 km. walk/run, a free pancake brunch, viewings at the planetarium, tailgating before the football game and various other activities.

The University hosts similar events every year.

“Tailgating is always a family event, but it’s nice to know that the University cares about us,” said Andre Dean Lance, a 14 year old who attended part of the events.

Hundreds of students and their family members took advantage of the free activities despite occasionally having to brave less than ideal weather.

“When we first got here it was raining pretty hard,” said Rodney Saunders, the father of a Missouri Western student. “After that it was off and on throughout the day.”

The rain couldn’t keep the spirits of the families down as many kept doing what they were doing despite the rain.

“A little rain isn’t enough to keep us away from doing something like this,” said Saunders.

Many of the activities such as brunch, the planetarium tour and a free tour of the sports complex did not require the risk of getting wet.

“Thankfully, there was always something to do when it started raining,” said Lance. “It was a fun way to keep dry and entertained.”

Once the main activities for the day were finished, the families and other Missouri Western fans got together for a tailgating bash, which included food, drinks, Frisbee and other games.

“Tailgating might be the best part,” said Saunders. “You get to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends while knowing that there’s plenty of food and good will to go around. It doesn’t hurt that watching football afterward is always a blast.”

The Griffons delivered for the families during the game dismantling Central Missouri 23-6.

Over the next several weeks, Western will welcome those finalists to present their vision of Western Athletics, and make their claim as the right person to lead it into the future.

President Robert Vartabedian said that the search for the new AD has gone extremely well, and he has been really impressed with the quality of the candidates. Even those who didn’t make the cut received a stamp of approval.

“The first cut was twelve,” Vartabedian said. “I thought the pool was so deep that I thought any one of those twelve could be a very good AD.”

Vartabedian said that the committee just kept at trying to find the absolute best possible candidates and they have settled on the four coming to campus.

Don Kaverman, Harris-Stowe University — Kaverman is a former Atheltics Director at Missouri Western for four years [1995-1999]. After leaving Western, Kaverman took over as Athletic Director for Division I Southeast Missouri State before accepting director’s position at Harris-Stowe. Redhawks Women’s basketball made the NCAA tournament in 2005 and 2006.

He has also worked in the National Football League as a conditioning coordinator and assistant athletic trainer for the Detroit Lions.

Kaverman has a bachelor’s degree  in business administration and a master’s in physical education from Michigan State University. His presentation is Friday, Sept. 23 in Spratt Hall, Room 205.

Jeremy McClain, Delta State University — McClain has been at Delta since 2007, and while there he has increased the graduate of student-athletes close to 20 percent.

The football program placed second in the Division II National Championship in 2010. Besides running the athletics program, he also performed as an All-American pitcher for the baseball team while he attended Delta. He would eventually be drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1999.

McClain has a bachelor’s degree in business administration. His presentation is Monday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. in the KCP&L Lecture Hall in the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

Kurt McGuffin, Colorado University — McGuffin is the Asstistant Athletics Director at Colorado, which he has held for the past two years.

He has been involved in Big XII sports for the past decade, previously working with Kansas State. McGuffin has been influential on basketball, as he was the director of men’s basketball operations at Eastern Washington University, a student assistant at Kansas State and also was involved with the women’s basketball program while they steadily had a top 10 ranking.

McGuffin graduated from Wichita State with a Master of Science in education in 1999. His presentation is Thursday, Sept. 15 in the KCP&L Lecture Hall in the GISC.

Mark Alnutt, Missouri University — Currently at Missouri, Alnutt is the senior associate athletic director for administration. Alnutt has committed plenty of time to sports overall, including football and golf.

He helps plan trips that the Tigers must take during post-season play. As a Tiger, he played football at Missouri from 1992-1995 before graduating. This past year, at Missouri, Alnutt received the Barbara S. Uehling Award, an award given out to an administrator who shows leaderships and improved working conditions to the Missouri staff.

He has bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in public administration. His presentation is Thursday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. in the KCP&L Lecture Hall in the GISC.

During a speech to administrators of Missouri colleges and universities, Gov. Jay Nixon presented a new funding model for higher education.

The model will be based on performance versus what the Gov. has deemed as “crisis driven” funding. Missouri Western administrators remain skeptical since details of how the model will operate have yet to be ironed out.

Western President Dr. Robert Vartabedian hopes that the new model will allow for more fair funding, which he believes has not been the case for Western recently.

“What I’ve argued all along is that we’re all for accountability,” Vartabiedian said. “We’re all for fair funding as long as it’s not more unfair funding which is what we’ve been subjected to in the past.”

The new model will set four state wide goals for each university to meet. While these goals are still being discussed, Vartabedian believes that it is likely that they will be based on graduation and retention rates.

Alongside the four state wide goals, each university will be able to set a specific goal for themselves.

Associate Provost Cynthia Heider said that before Western administrators can make any decisions on what the university’s goal is, the four state wide goals must be set in place.

“We already work on things like encouraging students to complete their degrees,” Heider said. “So, degree attainment is important. Not just for the student but for the region.”
Vartabedian said that there are two possibilities for Western that come to his mind for specific institution goals.

“Our unique outcomes of Missouri Western would be the graduation rate of first generation college students,” Vartabedian said. “I think another one that would be interesting, if we could quantify it, would be how effective we are at workforce development, in terms of graduating students who are well prepared and find jobs quickly.”

During Nixon’s speech, he said that all the goals should be quantifiable and easy to track. As far as when the tracking will begin, the 2012-2013 fiscal year will serve as a base line for all of Missouri’s schools. From her understanding, Heider said that the baseline funding is the lowest that an institution could receive. For additional funding, intuitions would have to meet or go beyond the goals.

“We haven’t seen all those details,” Heider said. “A lot of that hasn’t been flushed out.”

Currently, Western receives that lowest state funding than any other four year school in Missouri. In comparison to other open enrollment schools, Western graduation rates are the highest. In 2009 the Missouri Department of Higher education reported that open enrollment Harris Stowe State University graduated 18.9 percent of its students. The MDHE also reported that year that Western graduated 34 percent of its students.

In a news release, Nixon announced that a task force has been assembled to work on the details of the performance based model.

“This will move us away from a system of spending money based solely on what an institution has received in the past, to a system where we invest money in those institutions that are meeting their goals and whose students are reaching their potential,” Nixon said in his news release.

While Western does not have a representative on the task force, President of Northwest State University John Jasinski, is part of the task force.

Despite a lack of details, Vartabedian is optimistic about the new model and doubts that the new model will hurt Western, but realizes that challenges lie ahead.

“We’re starting this performance funding model so far behind everyone else,” Vartabedian said. “It’s going to be a little bit of a challenge for us.”

SGA President Allison Norris talks on the phone while dealing with the day-to-day grind of running an administration.

“Missouri Western shouldn’t be singled out to lose more funding than any other school,” SGA Vice President Jacob Scott said. “Even before the cuts, we receive less per student from the state than any other university in the state.”

After taking office SGA President Alison Norris wanted Western’s disapproval of State cuts to be heard, but she had no idea that the fight was already lost.

“At the time the rally was set, we never dreamed the 8.2 percent budgets were permanent, but later discovered they were,” Norris said.

President Robert Varabedian believes that Gov. Nixon’s search for extra money was aided when he discovered the tuition increase and the extra revenue our University was getting. “The Governor felt that because of Joplin and the need for extra money, he felt he had to get the money from somewhere,” Vartabedian said.

Norris and SGA continue to urge students and community leaders to sign the petition online voicing their concerns with Gov. Nixon’s cuts toward their University.

Norris said that the petition is more “symbolic” at this time, and she went on to say that the SGA petition has over 1,000 signatures from students to community leaders.

The petition is making noise around the St. Joseph community, but has the state of Missouri heard the cries of our students?

“We don’t plan on handing the petition off to anyone,” Norris said. “We just want to show that students are upset with the budget cuts, and we plan to take action.”

Student leaders and Director of External Relations Beth Wheeler plan to make a visit to Jefferson City on September 13. Their goal is to meet with Governor Nixon’s right hand man for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mike Neitzel. SGA hopes to gain more information about this cut.

“Now that school is in session, we will probably have some type of forum once we meet with Dr. Neitzel, and have received more information on where this budget cut of 8.2 percent will go,” Norris said.

It is the worry of the students, as well as that of faculty and administrators, where these cuts may be forced to take place. When looking at what budget cuts may affect, we may be looking at a whole list of adverse circumstances.

“With the budget cut it could at some point hurt student organizations on campus,” Norris said.

If professors who advise organizations on campus lose their jobs, then who would be left to advise? Western could see organizations disappear, which is one of the main forms of entertainment and involvement for students. The fact is, Missouri Western raised their tuition for the school year, but is still below most universities regarding out-of-pocket costs.

It seems that Missouri Western took the direct hit. So the fight to gain the budget back continues, with SGA and the St. Joseph community behind the school’s effort. It has been expressed many times: “You can’t keep a Griffon down.” Scott said.

“Hypnosis” is the Greek word for “sleep,” which is what Master Hypnotist Tony Lucero specializes in. Thanks to the Western Activities Council, Lucero was able to perform his comedic hypnotist show August 30 in the Kemper Recital Hall.

Lucero, who has been a master hypnotist for nine years, decided he wanted to study hypnotism after he met Michael Johns and was hypnotized during his comedic hypnosis show in Las Vegas.

“I was standing in line for the show and a guy tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I was going to see his show,” Lucero said. “I said yes, and we started talking. After awhile, I told him that I’d love to learn how to do what he does, so he told me to come see him after the show”

“We became friends and [Johns] said ‘I’ll take you under my wing and I’ll teach you everything,’” Lucero said.

A determined Lucero practiced in the mirror, on his three kids and wife, and even on his dog. Three months later, Lucero was on the road full time performing comical hypnosis acts in places like Los Angeles, New York and even Las Vegas where he had first seen Johns.

Most recently, it was Missouri Western’s turn to get a hilarious taste of Lucero’s hypnotism. Lucero, who considers himself more as an entertainer than just a hypnotist, kicked off the show by explaining what he does and allowing volunteers to come on the stage.

“I don’t have ‘powers’ or a ‘hypnotic spell.’ What I do is I guide you to a state of relaxation,” Lucero said.

There were 10 students total on stage were hypnotized, but several members of the audience became hypnotized as well. Lucero encourages people in the crowd to participate.

“Sometimes my best people come from my audience,” Lucero said. “That person you’re sitting next to could be the rock star of the show.”

Speaking of rock stars, Lucero told the 10 students they were celebrities such as Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, The Spice Girls and DJ Kasamota. With wigs and props, the students danced to their singer’s songs appropriately (including Jackson’s unforgettable moonwalk and the “worm”) as they played randomly through the segment.

Not only did the students’ dance moves keep the crowd enticed, so was their subconscious willingness to cling to each other for warmth when Lucero painted the picture in their minds that they were on a beach with 165 degree weather to 20 degrees.

Although they may have held on to each other for warmth, they might not recollect it like student Alex Whitaker.

“I know I was on a beach, and then I remember people cheering, but that’s about it,” Whitaker said.

Lucero stated that being under hypnosis is like having a dream, waking up from it and trying to recall all of it- it’s not easy. Student Deraan Washington could only recall certain things toward the end of the show, but what she anticipates is an easy night of sleep.

“I’ve always heard that when you get hypnotized that you get the best sleep that night so I’m looking forward to that for sure,” Washington said.

Not only did Lucero give the students the power to relax deeply, he also left them with good fortune.

“I’m going to leave you with something in your mind so you have an amazing year and whatever you’re trying to accomplish this year will happen very easy for you.”

Check out Lucero on YouTube and keep an eye out for his new reality show “The Pyramid Thing” which is about six entrepreneurs who change lives.

Photos by Dave Hon

            Griffon Hall Residence Director Danny Thompson feels that Griffon Hall is almost better than an apartment in that students have more security and better attractions then the average apartment.

“Parents and students looking for a clean, secure living community will not be able to match the amenities and security found in Griffon Hall,” Thompson said. “Griffon Hall has a fitness center, fully functional conference room with audio visual equipment, two 70 inch televisions, furnished rooms, computer stations and 24 hour security camera coverage. Each room has a full size bed, dresser, desk and build in closet.”

According to Thompson, before Griffon Hall was approved, the college took time to provide what students were desiring and suggesting in a residence through out the past few semesters.

“I think Griffon Hall will be very popular for those upper-class students looking for an apartment experience but want to live close to campus,” Thompson said. “Griffon Hall is far above an off campus apartment. Utilities, cable and internet are included along with the laundry and weight room in the building. There is also a community that you just cannot get in an off-campus apartment. Residents will get to know each other and see in other in class and will hopefully build relationships that last beyond the college years.

According to Thompson, Griffon Hall is not quite full, and there are quite a full rooms still available.

“I think once students see the inside they will want to live there, and we will have little problem filling the building,” Thompson said. “At this point, we are almost at capacity and I see no issues in filling the building in the years to come.”

Griffon Hall Residental Assistant Brandon Bernhardt explains his excitement for the new hall.

“Griffon Hall with be a great addition to Missouri Western,” Bernhardt said. “It is an exciting, new opportunity.”  

Juda Residental Assistant Jessica Criss, feels that Griffon Hall will also amaze students, once students move in and see the interior.

“Griffon Hall is still under construction, but what I have seen looks amazing. I think students will be pleased. It’s very unique from the six halls.

The planetarium shows, which are given through the physics department, are put on by astronomy professor Chris Godfrey. According to Godfrey, since the new planetarium reopened in March, it has had great successes.

“The shows are doing fairly well,” Godfrey said. “The facility has been used intensively. We are very fortunate to have it. It is a wonderful facility.”

Godfrey went on to describe the content of the shows.

“Most of the showed programs are great for entertainment value,” he said. “It is akin to an IMAX movie. For students, it’s an astronomy program that integrates with the work we do in the Astronomy classes. It shows what we learn live and in motion. It brings it home a lot more.”

Department Chair and fellow professor of physics Michael Ottinger feels that the shows are doing even better then expected.

“I think the Planetarium is a huge success,” Ottinger said. “We are doing more shows than we thought. Everybody who I’ve talked to wants to see more. It is an exciting event for the university.

Ottinger also explains that if the shows continue keeping good audiences, the department will seek more funding for more shows to satisfy the audiences in the future.

“Eventually we want to get more [shows],” Ottinger said. “They are expensive but it is worth it. The biology department is considering doing some shows for the program as well.”

For tickets call 816-271-4288 or visit the website at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/planetarium.

These machines are part of Western’s new recycling program. Each building on campus has at least one machine where students can use their ID cards to recycle bottles and cans to earn recycling points. After a certain amount of points are obtained, students will win prizes like restaurant coupons.

SGA President Alison Norris feels that the new recycling program will be the best effort for Western to finally satisfy the wishes of numerous students and staff for a greener campus. According to Norris, there has never been an official recycling program at Missouri Western until now.

“I’m glad we got the recycling program here; it’s definitely time,” Norris said. “We’ve already had a lot of professors thank SGA for the work. They are ecstatic that we finally have recycling on campus.”

The new recycling program began through the Western organization Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). They wanted Western to take recycling to the next level, so they asked SGA to help fund the dream machine project. SGA decided to help gear the project by funding both the vehicle that picks up the recycling material and the promotional products that are used to advertise with students.

“When SIFE wanted to do this, SGA really wanted to help,” Norris said. “Before this project, Missouri Western only recycled paper. Now, we recycle plastic and aluminum. The majority of other schools with recycling programs recycle all three.”

Norris also feels that the new recycling program will attract more students to the university.

“It shows that we are willing to go green and provide a positive image on our university,” Norris said.

Former President of SIFE and founder of the dream machine project, Vickie Pike, explained that the idea of bringing the project to Western was developed from lots of planning and consulting with big organizations.

“I applied for a grant from Sam’s Club for their Environmental Challenge [to start the project at Western],” Pike said.

According to Pike, SIFE also presented a recycling presentation that clarifies why Missouri Western needed to jump on the project. The dream machine product was first created from established green companies.

“The idea of the Dream Machine is from three companies: Pepsi, Waste Management and Greenopolis. They created the world’s first consumer rewards-based recycling program of its kind and magnitude,” Pike said.

Junior Auroria Jackson, who resided on campus for the summer, has already begun recycling to earn points before the fall semester begins. Jackson feels that once classes get started, students will definitely use the machines.

“It’s a very good idea and they should put more on campus,” Jackson said. “I think that the new program is nice, but it might not work because the machines get full really fast and it takes awhile for them to be emptied.”

For more information regarding the dream machine project, please visit http:www.facebook.com/dreammachine.

“Missouri Western is made up of dedicated people who will not go quietly,” Varatabedian said. When speaking of the challenges facing the campus he made several references to the “You Can’t Keep a Griffon Down” campaign, which started at a student rally over the summer to protest the state’s cutting of appropriations for Western. Vartabedian outlined a three point strategy to attack Western’s financial challenges after giving a brief history of the campus’s nearly 100 years in the higher education business.

Vartabedian’s first plan of attack is to seek outside funding through searches for grants and revenue possibilities, which involve learning opportunities for students with income for the university. He named Associate Provost Brian Cronk as the spearhead for these operations.

The next strategy is to take full advantage of all of Western’s assets. One of these plans it to lease some of the 723 acres owned by Western to agricultural interests. Vartabedian said that administration is looking for opportunities to lease some of the land which could be used in an environmentally responsible and esthetically pleasing way.

The third front of the challenge is to be faced by faculty, staff and students. Vartabedian announced an all-out effort to do everything possible to see to it that Senate Bill 389 be amended in a “fair” way. He called on everyone in the room to contact senators and the governor and share our unique story. “We must rally senate alums to amend Senate Bill 389,” Vartabedian said. Handouts were provided with contact information for senators and others to contact to push for funding and the amendment of Senate Bill 389.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has proposed funding for higher education to be performance-based on things such as graduating numbers. Vartabedian is pushing for a more fair assessment of all universities and promises to push for more and fairer funding concerning the unique way in which Western fulfills the need of higher education in this community. “Our governing board must be allowed to govern to meet our needs,” Vartabedian said.

The opening act of the meeting was conducted by two Assistant Professors of Theater and Cinema, Dallas Henry and Tee Quillin. They delivered a skit that lampooned Western’s administration, Missouri State Governor, Jay Nixon and Northwest Missouri State University.

Provost and VP of Academic Affairs, Jeanne Daffron followed with introductions of six new faculty members. “We are fortunate that most faculty members have decided to stay at Western,” Daffron said.

With all figures taken into consideration, the grand total for students enrolled for the summer semester was 3,335 which results in an 8.7 percent increase.

On the surface this sounds great, but diving into the numbers gives a different dynamic to the composition of those numbers, when compared to previous years.

All of the sessions (full term, first four, second four, and intersession) saw decreases according to the information provided by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeanne Daffron; however, the online and off-schedule enrollments were up 47.29 percent. The second four-weeks and the intersession saw the biggest decreases at 48.6 percent and 35.79 percent, respectively. The total for that category doesn’t completely figure into the headcount number, but the total enrolled for those categories rose to 1,467, up by nearly 500 students.

As Western continues to face financial issues in the wake of raising its tuition, it seems that these increases will be short lived. Daffron seems confident that college education will still be seen as a benefit and may help counteract the increase.

“I know that any increase in cost has an impact on students who want to attend college; however, it is still true that higher education is a very good investment,” Daffron said.

According to Daffron, Western’s tuition is the third lowest in the state of Missouri, and Western commits about 12 percent of its budget to student scholarships.

Besides tuition increase, students will also have to keep an eye on their financial aid for this school year, as there have been changes to some grants.

Marilyn Baker, director of financial aid, said that the “Two Pell Grants in a Year Program” has been eliminated, but the maximum amount has remained the same.

“If a Pell Grant recipient does not attend full time in the fall and spring, the student would be eligible for a Pell in the summer,” Baker said. “They would not have used their entire scheduled award for the academic year.

Jennifer Griffin, a junior communications major, said that she feels the bigger impact will be financial aid.

“If there is a cut in financial aid and an increase in tuition, it will definitely make an impact on the enrollment at Missouri Western,” Griffin said.

Griffin also offered a potential solution to the financial problems facing Western.

“I also think that Missouri Western should look at their business degree students and see if they can come up with some new, out-of-the-box ideas tuition problems,” Griffin said.

At this point it’s somewhat of a wait-and-see game as to how this will affect enrollment for Western in the short term, but financial aid awards will need to go up to keep pace with increasing tuition. If not, some students may take fewer classes and some may take a semester off to pay for classes.

Fortunately, Western has seen amazing growth in enrollment and facilities the past few years and that may continue to help keep enrollment near current numbers.

After negotiations over an increase in tuition, the state has lowered the amount of funding it gives Missouri Western by 8.2 percent, the highest cut out of all the Missouri universities. While other universities were cut 7 percent, Western and the University of Missouri system saw higher cuts because of an increase in their tuition.

According to Vartabedian, Governor Nixon wanted Western to raise tuition by only a total of 5.5 percent. While Western’s increase this year was 5.5 percent, students will also have to pay an additional 2.98 percent from an increase last year. That increase went on the books but was never collected.

“I was very honest from the get-go that that would be very difficult given our funding circumstances,” Vartabedian said.

Currently, Western receives the lowest state appropriations per student, about $4,300. Harris-Stowe, Lincoln and Truman Universities, along with the University of Missouri schools, receive roughly $7,000 per student in state appropriations.

While Vartabedian doesn’t want to cut funding from other schools and give it to Western, he believes that the current system is flawed.

“The two things we need to deal with this is the repeal of Senate Bill 389 which forces us to jump through a lot of hoops to get a tuition increase with no guarantees,” Vartabedian said. “The other thing would be trying to get the legislature to do something with our appropriation.”

Vartabedian believes that a system that ties a university’s enrollment to their appropriations would be fair for all of Missouri’s universities.

As far as tuition, this year’s increase including required fees still makes Western the third cheapest in the state. The two schools with lower tuition than Western are Missouri Southern and Harris-Stowe.

Last year, Missouri Western’s student senate voted unanimously for an increase in tuition, a sign to Vartabeidan that students want a quality education.

“A Harris-Stowe for example can abide by the Governor’s wishes and not ask for a significant tuition increase,” Vartabedian said. “Our financial circumstances are that with all these increasing costs and cuts from the state and so forth that for us to sustain a quality education we need to ask what the student will tolerate, and they seem to be willing to tolerate a certain level.”

The Student Government Association also held a rally over the summer to vocalize their displeasure with the state’s cuts. Several days after the 8.2 percent cut was announced, Western’s student leaders gathered in Blum Union to rally against the cut. The “You Can’t Keep a Griffon Down” campaign aims to alert community leaders and state representatives that Western students want more funding for a quality education.

A symbolic petition has also been started online. Community members, students, staff and faculty can sign to show their support for more state funding for Western.

SGA president Alison Norris said that the “You Can’t Keep a Griffon Down” was originally a slogan started at the rally over the summer but has transformed into a campaign.

“We feel that students deserve the highest education possible at Missouri Western,” Norris said. “We deserve the same amount of state funding as any other student.”

Roughly 150 students and four state representatives attended the rally that was held over the summer.

“After the rally, several members of SGA wrote letters to the governor to show how we felt about the situation,” Norris said. “We thought the 8.2% wasn’t permanent, but we just found out that it was.”

Norris and other key members of SGA plan to meet with the governor in September to persuade him to rework the state’s formula for funding universities.

Currently, Western is looking at other possibilities of revenues other than tuition and state funding. One idea that Western administration is currently talking about is leasing the large amount of farm land that Western has.

“It will help out a little bit, but not substantially,” Dr. Vartabedian said.
While the leasing will only bring in $50,000 to $100,000 in revenue, that translate to nearly one full-time professor position.

Dean of Graduate Studies Brian Cronk is also making efforts to bring in more money to Western’s budget via grants. A new initiative aims to give professors time to apply for grants for research that students can participate in to further their education outside the classroom.

“Part of what universities do is look for grants,” Cronk said. “Now there may be more pressure on us because of the budget cuts, but we’d still be doing it but maybe not emphasizing them quite as much. But we’re looking for anything and everything we can do.”

While Cronk said that there are larger grants in Science and technology, grants for the humanities subjects do exist.
“We’ve focused on the spending side,” Cronk said. “Now we need to focus on the revenue side.”

“Noah was a passionate senator,” Norris said. “He showed that he would be dedicated to the position.” Green originally applied for the student relations position, but Norris felt he was better qualified for communications and convinced him to take the position.

Vice President for Student Affairs, Esther Peralez reported to the SGA the expenses of her budget which totals 20 percent of the total SGA budget. These monies are set aside each year to operate the office of student affairs. Each year the Vice President for Student Affairs is committed to bring a report showing how the money has been spent. Not all of last year’s money has been spent but Peralez has pledged that it will go for the causes that assist students most.

The SGA members voted to approve the purchase of paint for Downs Drive. This summer it will begin to show a little more school spirit with the addition of paw prints and the school mascot painted on its surface. “We approved it because it will show school spirit and get students excited,” Norris said.

Norris’ resolution requiring campus organizations to attend the presidential leadership council’s monthly meetings failed in a seven-to-three vote after some of the senators left the meeting to meet other obligations. “We are going to bring it back up after some more research and planning,” Norris said. “I still feel that organizations need instructions about what we expect before we finance their plans. The resolution is designed to keep organizations more active and involved in the process.”

“I was very surprised that the notice of action failed,” Vice President of Financial Planning, Nick McCutcheon said. He explained that the proposed legislation required that one designated member from each club and organization attend a monthly president’s leadership council meeting. If a club or organization failed to meet the requirement their status as a recognized organization could have been suspended or revoked. “All that means is that that they would not have been eligible for SGA funding or other resources we provide,” McCutcheon said.

SGA provides clubs and organizations with up to $7,500 each per year. “I don’t think it was too much to ask to require one member from each to attend not more than nine meetings a year in return for that,” McCutcheon said.

Part of the training given to students at the president’s leadership council is for Orgsync a software program students paid for to assist organizations in working together.  “We are trying to show the importance of leadership,” SGA Vice President Jacob Scott said. “I’m not upset that it didn’t pass and I’m looking forward to making it clearer and better understood throughout SGA so I will pass next time. Students should be excited about going to the leadership council it is an honor to be chosen to represent your organization and get this training.”

“We feel assured by the Senators and Representatives we have visited that the cuts will not exceed 7 percent,” MWSU President Robert Vartabedian said in a recent interview with Griffon Today (A new student broadcast news program).  Vartabedian and a team of Western’s administrators visited Jefferson City earlier this year to speak with state politicians. During those meetings they became assured that the cuts would not exceed the governor’s proposed 7 percent.

Western’s administration has petitioned the Council on Public Higher Education in Missouri for approval of Western’s proposed tuition increase without penalties provided for by Senate Bill 389. If approved the total tuition increase this fall will be 9.5 percent to help offset last year’s cuts and the proposed cuts for this year.

Members of Missouri’s House of Representatives have kept the 7 percent budget cut to universities as proposed by the governor in their proposed budget. The senate and house have until May 6 to reach an agreement and take a proposed budget to the governor for final approval.

“That 4.8 percent is only proposed by the Senate Appropriations Committee, it has a long way to go,” Vice President of Financial Planning and Administration Mel Klinkner said. He also said he is focused on the approval of the tuition increase. “If the cuts are lower than expected, then it’s all the better.”

The Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, Kurt Schaefer approached a group representing public two-year colleges and four-year universities last week with the offer to reduce the budget cut providing that some of the additional money would be used to lower student’s out-of–pocket expenses. Those savings were not spelled out, but they could come in the form of student scholarships, lower tuition, or lower cost for housing and meals.

“I think this is a good first step for this year to show our commitment to education,” Schaefer said.

For fiscal year 2013 Missouri will be approaching the expiration of a federal economic stimulus program funds. This will result in a $200 million to $700 million shortfall in the 2013 budget. Schaefer is taking a wait and see position when considering the 2013 budget. He said that he believes it is better to get more accurate information later than trying to propose this year’s budget while considering next year’s potential shortfalls.

With Pickman leaving, the Director of Development job is now vacant and could be for some time. Vice President for University Advancement Dan Nicoson said in a message to employees that he sends his best with Pickman and his family.

“This is not only a wonderful professional opportunity for him, but also one that he considers a spiritual calling,” Nicoson said. “He and I will be working on a transition plan and the exact date of his move to his new challenge.”

As for the date for the replacement, that has yet to be determined. Nicoson said it is difficult to predict how long the process will take.

“The search committee will begin reviewing applications after May first,” Nicoson said. “In the best of worlds, it would be great to have the new Director of Development arrive in early June, but this may not be an attainable goal.”

Nicoson said advertisement of the position has started and that the Director of Development must be able to establish a positive relationship with constituents of the University. The person must also plan the development strategies and have a good command of the principles of effectiveness. He said Pickman was effective in all of these ways.

“The opportunity at the University of St. Mary is a good match for Jerry and his family,” Nicoson said. “It will allow him to serve both his church and his profession, while allowing him to advance professionally. We will miss him here but are happy for him.”

The director is expected to bring experience, vision and leadership to building the financial resources at Western.

Shelley Scott, HR recruiting specialist, sent out a message to the administration in charge of employing the vacant spot. She wrote the candidates will have to have a bachelor’s degree and five years higher education experience. Also, the person must have strong leadership ability, energy and commitment to working. Excellent written and oral communication is wanted as well.

“The Director will serve as the primary liaison of the University with the Missouri Western University Foundation’s Development Committee and the University Development Council,” Scott said.

The award was developed by Senator Blunt in 1991 to promote literacy volunteer work throughout communities in Northwest Missouri. Anyone can become eligible for the award as long as they complete volunteer literacy activities in a unique way and with a huge impact.

Many Missouri Western faculty and literacy volunteers were in attendance for the event. Guest speakers from Western and the St. Joseph community were on hand to speak at the luncheon.

While attendees were enjoying their lunch they were able to watch a couple videos put together by nominees for the Literacy Citation Award. The videos featured many people that were impacted by the generosity of those who volunteer their time to help promote the importance of reading.

Sen. Roy Blunt presents Ernestine Blakley with a Literary Citation award at Missouri Western's Literacy Luncheon.

“We started Hope Outreach on June 13th, 1994,” said Blakley. “We started taking books to several locations and reading to children.”

Senator Blunt had some very choice things to say about his award, those who work so hard to be eligible for it and those who are impacted by the volunteers. Blunt also talked about reaching out to people in a new ways that make the comfortable like using Twitter and Facebook.

“If you do not have basic literary skills the you can’t communicate,” said Blunt. “We want make sure that everyone has access to literary skills.

“Congratulations for all the hard work the people here today have done,” said Blunt.

Western President Dr. Vartabedian has some very strong words about Senator Blunt and the importance of this award.

“Senator Blunt is a modified renaissance man,” said Vartabedian. “He has been a champion of literacy.”

Pastor Ernestine Blakley was selected to receive the Roy Blunt Literary Citation Award for all of her hard work she has done throughout Northwest Missouri. Blakley was very appreciative of the award and happy to receive it.

“I truly share this award with everyone here today,” said Blakley. “Literacy is a life skill and when we promote it we are giving life skills.”

Students in Free Enterprise held the Earthstock function, as way to get the community involved with recycling and sustainability April 18. The Western Activities Council and the Student Government Association also provided funding for Earthstock.

The students in SIFE decided this year they wanted to start recycling on campus.  

“We wanted to do something that would make an impact with college students and music we thought would that,” Vicky Pike said.

Earthstock had five bands playing: Marcus Words, Operation fear, Antennas Up, Dsodean and Tommy and the High Pilots. The bands played for an hour with speakers in between sets.

“This is a great idea to raise awareness,” Jennifer Kepner said. Marcus Word opened the event.

Two of the speakers at the event where Shelly Cox from the Department of Conservation, and Andrea George with the Remington Nature Center. “The Missouri Department of Transportation spent over $5 million in your tax dollars cleaning up litter last year, when you litter it cost you money,” Cox said.

Earthstock provided free food and water bottles for those who attending while supplies lasted. Students and faculty were present for the event, which was open to the general public also.

There were also different booths set up. The Remington Nature Center had a booth really took to the theme displaying bird feeders out of recycled plastic jugs.

Riverside Church was handing out seeds for their part of Earthstock. Riverside church and SIFE are partnering on a community garden.  

Bright Disposal was also there. SIFE is hoping to partner with Bright Disposal to get recycling on campus. Bright disposal offers recycling to its current customers.

There were people of all ages in attendance for Earthstock enjoying the available festivities.

“This is fun,” 10-year-old Chris Kepner said.

“The best part is the bands,” 11-year-old William Kepner said.

The event tried to do the least amount of environmental damage, while attempting to recycle or reuse most of what was used for the event.  The event only printed 40 flyers and all of which are scheduled to be recycled after the event.

SIFE was awarded two grants to help sustainability on campus and in the community. One grant was from Lowes and the other was from Sam’s Club.

 The city of St. Joseph offers recycling. The Recycling Center is located at 3405 S. Belt. The hours of operation are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information you can contact the center at 232-4401.

Fuel is costing the St. Joseph area around $3.65 a gallon. Oil prices are the highest they have been since 2008 according to the U.S. Energy Information Association.

Fuel doesn’t just affect people at the pump. Dr. Patrick H. McMurry, a Professor at Missouri Western Sate University explained the effects of fuel prices on the economy.  “The first place you feel higher gas prices is of course at the pump right in your pocket book, then the trucks that transport goods are also paying a higher price for fuel causing the price of goods to go up,” McMurry said. “The price of fuel affects the whole economy and keeps hitting your pocket book,” McMurry a former economist said.

There is no end in sight for this ever growing problem with oil prices on the rise. The cause of the rise in oil prices are attributed to several factors. McMurry listed several factors uncertainty and speculations about the Middle East; the rise of other industrial nations such as China and India causing more consumption of fossil fuel and that fossil fuel is still the cheapest energy source available.

 Mccmurry also made suggestions that would help solve the problem of higher fuel prices. Alternative sources for energy need to be made more efficient, and cheaper than fossil fuel. One way to do this McMurry suggested was threw Government funding into energy research.  Temporarily use the resources here in the United States to reduce the dependents on forging oil.

 Students at Missouri western weighed in on prices at the pump. “I don’t understand why gas has gone up as much as it has when the price of oil has actually dropped near $10.00 a barrel,” Angela Rowlett, said. Another student Josh Gofourth  Maxon who drives a 94 accord with an 11 gallon gas tank that cost him $44.00 to fill up at the pump. “I don’t understand why just a couple of weeks ago it was three something a gallon and know it’s almost four, I’m a college student I can’t afford that and it’s ridicules,”  Maxon said. “I used to be able to fill up for under $40.00 and know it’s over $50.00,” Curran Delong said.

There are also flex fuel and more fuel efficient cars on the market to save money at the pump. McMurry offersProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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warning about those cars. “You are going to pay a premium price for more fuel efficient cars right know and you would have to own it a long time to make it save you money”, McMurry said. Ethanol which is cheaper at the pump does not burn as efficiently as gasoline. Ethanol equals less miles to the gallon causing the consumer to fill up more.

After a few speeches and introductions of senate members Scott presented a power point laying out his vision of the new session. It stated some of his views and proposed changes that will be covered in future senate meetings and how those meetings will proceed. The presentation concluded with an instruction to the senate to pass the budget.  

“It’s important to pass the budget now to get programs funded and going today,” Scott said. But, the budget wasn’t passed without some questions from the senate floor.   The money for the SGA budget comes directly from student fees. Fulltime students pay $50 per semester and part time students pay $30 each semester. Senators asked about the fourth largest budget item, which is the $50,000 budget allocation for the administrative assistant position. Vice President Scott began to answer questions and justify the expense and the need for the position.

He explained that the administrative assistance position is responsible for senate travel arrangements and SGA project coordination. SGA Advisor and Vice President for Student Affairs Ester Peralez said, “The position keeps the office open when none of the executive officers are in the office.”  Norris added that the administrative position also checks the senator’s office hours and records them to increase accountability of senators and helps SGA keep an open door policy. “She is also the best resource for all senators with any question concerning Missouri Western and SGA policies,” Scott said.

The senators also questioned the amount of money allocated for organizations on campus and the usual budget problem of more money requested than allocated most semesters. The finance oversight committee regulates these funds and the newly appointed Director of Finance Nick McCutcheon will chair that position. To help keep the fund available for the entire budget period he plans to spend less with each request.

“People may not like the message going in (to this session) but, we will have more money at the end,” McCutcheon said.  Vice President Scott expressed his feelings that the requirements to get money should be more stringent. “We need to make sure that groups on campus are financing their own projects and have a financial plan that we can support so we aren’t just funding trips for them,” Scott said.

As the first steps in her new presidency Norris appointed McCutcheon as the Director of Finance and Jordan Carney aswhich now includes the duties formally held by the Election Commissioner. The Election Commissioner position has not been budgeted since fiscal year 2010.

“I haven’t appointed the director of communication position yet,” Norris said. “I really want someone with a passion for the position. I don’t want the position just filled, I want it done well.” She is considering applicants still and had contacted some for a second interview. “I may select one of them or wait for new applicants,” Norris said.

Last Monday night was the last meeting of the 38^th session of SGA senate. History will record the members of the 38^th session as the first to put the campus-wide smoking ban on a ballot to get student’s input. Key members of the group going out of power and coming in agree that the issue is dead.

“I’m not going to do anything with the smoking ban,” SGA President-elect Alison Norris said. “I feel we already have the student’s answer.” She does support enforcing the present rules imposed on those who smoke on campus in order to address non-smoker’s complaints. The goal of SGA now seems to be to facilitate cooperation between those who smoke and those that do not want to be around the second hand smoke by enforcing the current rules.

Those rules include smoke free zones encompassing a 30-foot radius of all doorways and building ventilation intake vents. Smoking students readily point out that one of the problems with this policy is the location of the outdoor ashtrays. Most are located within the 30-foot boundary. Using the ashtrays places smokers within the 30-foot boundary and create complaints from non-smoking students who need to walk through those doorways.

On the other hand, the areas close to doorways are the ones that are littered with cigarette butts. Campus maintenance employees have placed ashtrays and butt cans next to the doorways to save money on labor to pick up the mess left by inconsiderate smokers. SGA President, Dillon Harp agrees that the future is better served with enforcement of current regulations concerning smoking on campus.

“We need better signage on campus explaining the rules and helping smokers understand where the areas are that permit smoking,” Harp said. “We have heard the student’s voice.” He also agreed with some of the issues mentioned in recent opinion articles printed in The Griffon News. He stated that he knows of no efforts to bring the issue back to the ballot box.

The SGA Director of Student Relations, Kelsey Corzine has a slightly different opinion. “I think the smoking ban would have been a good policy for Western’s students, but I’m glad the student’s voices were heard,” Corzine said. She feels that complaints will subside if smokers would just follow the rules.

But those rules don’t address the littering problem of those unsightly butts around campus at nearly every doorway. The litter issue alone could encourage administration to ban smoking on campus. Maintaining the appearance of campus grounds under the current budget constraints could force the issue. It may come down to a mandatory smoking ban if smokers don’t clean up their act.

Donnell Turner held off 33 candidates by becoming Western’s choice to lead the students. He was chosen based off his hard work and excellent resume, but also what he proved when he made his pitch last March.

“He was really impressive,” Matthew Gregg, student employment coordinator said. “He’s got a good grasp of what we’re looking for.”

Turner will take over for Linda Garlinger, the previous director, who retired last October after 20 years at Western. Western believes Turner is the right guy to take over for somebody who was the director for so long.

“His energy is contagious,” Gregg said. “He really wanted to know where the students are and really wanted to serve the students. The students will notice the difference.”

Turner spoke to many students and faculty in attendance when he presented his case for employment on March 3. He spoke about how the students are going to have to help themselves, help each other and he will guide them along the way.

Student Affairs sent out a press release two weeks ago to announce the new hire, stating Turner provided career-related counseling and guidance to students as well as mentioning his past history.

“I enjoy new challenges,” Turner said. “I would do what I do for free because I love what I do so much. Having your own passion or own calling is very important.”

Turner has a BA in Education-Theological Studies and a Masters Degree in Education Ministries. He graduated from Wheaton College of Illinois and previously worked for Loyola University of Illinois. He will start May 16, a date Gregg and others are looking forward to.

Western's new director for career service Donnell Turner will start May 16.

“Students get students out,” Turner said, when asked how he would help a student from the street start attending class. He also spoke about how he would handle non-traditional students. “(I would) help lead them with skills they’ve had in the past, researching them. The reality is, we never really stop learning.”

Taye Trigg, assistant dean for student development, said Turner would start right away when he arrives here. He will be the supervisor on certain special projects, one including the Sophomore Jump. This project will focus on sophomores who, nationwide, tend to lose focus in school and start struggling. When a student can get past this point, statistics show they will likely graduate.

“[Students] are confused about career choices and they come in and have no clue what they want to major in,” Triggs said. “He’ll catch them before they think about dropping out.”

Triggs also said that when Turner begins his job, he is going to be working hard because the summer is when they do their planning.

“Donnell’s strong professional background and commitment to community services is something our students can look to as a model,” the release read. “Donnell does ministerial outreach and provides support to men within drug/alcohol treatment facilities and is a full responder for the American Red Cross.”

That, as well as his leadership skills and 12 years of experience in personal development and coaching helped Turner land this new opportunity over the others.

The class was selected to create a music video for the song “Four Seconds”

by Grammy nominated musicians the Barenaked Ladies.

Pierce Karguth edits video for one of the projects vying to win glory in the Com 470 project. Jason Brown | Staff photographer

The 12 students enrolled in the class were each asked to submit a proposal outlining their idea for the music video. Out of the 12 ideas, five were then selected to start filming. The videos will then be posted on the Barenaked Ladies website for fans to vote on the one they like the best.

The students in Com 470 are getting this prospect because their professor, Dallas Henry, has worked with the Barenaked Ladies in the past.
Henry directed the highly successful YouTube video “Wind It Up”

for the Barenaked Ladies in 2006. Henry also runs a Los Angeles based production company called Wheatfield Productions.

In addition to working with the Barenaked Ladies, Henry directed country singer Craig Morgan’s music video for the popular top 20 song “International Harvester.”
Mike Nielson is one of the students that created a video for the class. Nielson said the name of the video he worked on is called “The Thing from the Drain.”
“I really enjoyed this experience,” Nielson said. “This is the first time I have gotten to work with a nationally recognized band. I did some filming for bands at the Gaya festival in Kan., but have never had a opportunity of this magnitude.”

Neilson said that the students did most of their filming over spring break. He also said that it was the first time that he got to work with HD cameras.

Pierce Karguth was another student that got to work on the music videos. Karguth is not in the Com 470 class, but in a secondary class that did the editing for all five of the videos. Karguth says this experience has been awesome and is glad he is a part of it.

“I think this whole project for all of the classes involved was just to get some real world experience and be a part of something new that theatre and cinema majors may not have had a chance to do before,”

Karguth said.

“It will all look great in a portfolio; but the winners will get bragging rights over the rest of the class,”

Karguth said.

The student’s videos are due on April 6. It is not yet clear when they will be up on the Barenaked Ladies website for fans to vote on. Western students will have the chance to see them before hand at a showing on May 2 in a campus venue.

Presenter Kay Madden talking to couples and defining their rights.

The Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, the Legal Studies Association and Missouri Western State University Pride Alliance tried to answer several of these questions Tuesday, March 29 in a seminar for couples rights, held in Agenstein room 124.

Kay Madden, J.D., a partner in the firm Slough, Connealy, Irwin, and Madden gave the presentation.

Madden was introduced by Dr. Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies. The legal seminar provided couple with information about how to protect their partners when they interact with the world, how to protect the partners assets upon death, the relationship itself, what happens when children are involved and dissolving the relationship.

“This topic is so important because there is no legal recognition for same sex relationships or people in opposite sex relationships that are unmarried in Kansas or Missouri,” Madden said.

Katz and Dr. David Tushaus, the department chair for criminal justice and legal studies, came up with the idea for this seminar after attending a different seminar. “This was brought to us by Dave Tushaus and we were glad to help,” Tamara Jackson, vice president of the legal studies association, said.

Madden did a question and answer period after every section of her presentation. The outline to the presentation and links to some of the cases she discussed will be posted on the O: drive. Some of what she discussed can be done without a lawyer.   

“I wish there had been more people here, but it was perfect for the size of the room,” Katz said.

There where over 25 people in attendance. “The turnout was amazing better than we thought it would be for the middle of the week,” Jackson said.

Madden suggested that all couples fill out a written durable power of attorney for health care, HIPAA authorization, living will, do not resuscitate order, right of sepulchre and a will. These documents are used to protect the rights and wishes of the partners and the couple.

“I should include in my written power of attorney that my partner can visit me,” Madden said. “You really have to think about those elemental types of things.”  Madden also explained how assets should be titled to protect the assets for the surviving partner in the case of death. The written power of attorney is available at Wilson hall room 204 they are also available at the Missouri Bar web site.

Madden discussed the use of domestic partnership agreements, and prenuptial agreements for couples.  These agreements are used to protect the partner’s assets in case of a break up.  If there is not an agreement then the couples have to go into arbitration, mediation or partition suits to settle the breakup. Madden stated that if anything is not jointly held the other partner is not entitled to it no matter how long the couple has been together. 

“I have to take these interpersonal relationships and translate them into this legalese the court will understand,” Madden said.

Madden discussed second parent adoptions, which are not allowed in Missouri. A second parent adoption is that there are two parents of the same gender on the birth certificate, but they do honor the second parent adoptions from other states. In the absence of a written agreement or contract, only the parent listed on the birth certificate has a legal right to see the child.

Griffon Hall, the name of the new housing department, is just now getting the metal roof tops on, putting the schedule right on track for the process to be finished by the last week of July.

"If everything goes right with the weather, it will be ready by the end of July," Vice President of Financial Planning and Administration Mel Klinkner said. Rain could be the real issue because the windows are just starting to be put in Klinkner added. If it were to rain much the next few weeks, water could get inside the construction and cause delay.

"Let's just hope for no rain," Klinkner said.

Griffon Hall will cost students wishing to live there $3,100 a semester. All of the rooms on campus will see a three percent increase in room and board rates, as the recommendations proposed were passed two weeks ago by the Board of Governors. Juniors and Seniors will be the students living there, with the rest of Western students living in the one of the other residence halls.

Logan, Juda and Beshears will be available to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors while Leaverton and Vaselakos will be available for Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors. Scanlon Hall will continue to be for first year students.

The new rooms were proposed as an idea in late 2008, hoping to give upperclassmen a chance at better living conditions. The new rooms have advantages over apartment buildings on and off campus many believe.

To start, it is on campus. Students have access to computers, labs, tutoring and food. Also, students won't have to pay for electricity, cable or internet, making this a great opportunity for them.

Esther Peralez, vice president for student affairs, added more reasons for students to live in the new additions.

"It will be a safe and secure environment," Peralez said. "Students may also choose different meal plans. Aramark has promised to keep the lowest rate possible."

Aside from security and lounging, Griffon Hall was built to add more rooms available at Western. Throughout the increase in students, Western began to have a waiting list. By adding Griffon Hall Western will be able to accommodate more students and incoming freshman will choose Western over other campuses because of the availability and space.

"The intent was it gives (students) the opportunity to stay here, live on campus," Klinkner said. "But in the past we began to have a waiting list so we're exciting for it to be complete because we're growing."

Students have already told Peralez and Sean O'Reilly, assistant director of Residential Life, that they express interest in living there. The main reason: a single room apartment. Peralez said that rooms of such are not always offered on other campuses, so by Western able to have this, students are thrilled. Klinkner also mentioned the rooms as a plus.

"(Griffon Hall) is a single room; very much like an apartment feel," Klinkner said.

Griffon Hall will house close to 250 students, helping Western house the most students on campus of all time next semester, where they will be able to have roughly 1,340 students living on campus.

Murals for Minds is a program where volunteers paint murals on walls of schools throughout the St. Joseph community.

“We are helping train future leaders of St. Joseph and showing them the importance of giving back,” SGA Director of Communication Alison Norris said.

The selection process was done differently this year.  Humboldt Elementary School was chosen by the SGA because of its need, the school’s enthusiasm and its rich history. Ex Officio of Student Development Kathy Kelly told Humboldt Elementary School the news.

“I have never felt more welcome,” Kelly said. “I felt like we were walking in to hand them a check for the lottery because they were so excited that we had chosen their school.”

 SGA is working with Humboldt’s student council, which is actively involved in the project. Joanna Miranda is one of the 24 student council members at Humboldt, and she is excited about helping with Murals for Minds.

“I think is a really good opportunity, and it’s really good for us to communicate with students from other schools and college students,” Miranda said.

Norris has been a part of Murals for Minds since it started last year.

“We are turning it into a tradition not only because it is giving back, but a lot of people are enjoying getting involved,” Norris said. “The community and Missouri Western are working together on a project.

When principal of Humboldt Jeremy Burright was approached about the idea of Murals for Minds, he sent the idea to the student council and let them decide if they wanted the opportunity.

“They are excited. It’s going to be so cool. They are totally pumped about it,” Burright said.

The nine murals will be painted in the stairway landings, the main entrance and around the kindergarten class rooms.

 “The murals are colorful and are something for them to look at. It makes their school environment so much better,” Norris said.

 Five of the murals will be the school’s slogans, which are to: have respect, act responsible, work together, keep safe and soar to success.

Humboldt Student Council Sponsor Robin Rother has been communicating the student council’s ideas to SGA.

“The kids came up with some sayings they thought would be cool to have painted in the school,” Rother said.

Humboldt is not inviting the whole student body to participate because waivers have to be signed and students need adult supervision. To take part in this event you must send a waiver, and if you are a child you must be accompanied by an adult. Waivers will be available the morning of April 2nd. All participants must be registered by 10 a.m. SGA is providing free t-shirts to the first 200 volunteers. There will also be a morning snacks and pizza for lunch. Any of the snacks left over will be donated to Humboldt’s Backpack Buddy program.

The new and current SGA executive vice president for WAC Brittany Taylor hit the ground running, dealing with scheduling a replacement for Keri Hilson when the performer backed out of her scheduled performance at Civic Arena here in St. Joseph.

According to Don Willis, assistant dean of student services, when Hilson backed out, offers were made to several artists, which were not accepted for a variety of reasons.

WAC Spring Concert headliner J. Cole. Submitted photo

When Hilson backed out, Taylor said the major concern WAC had was keeping the commitment to the students of providing them with a spring concert, so they went back to the drawing board. Using the list of available artists within Western’s price range several offers were made according to Taylor including J. Cole and Jeremih.

Taylor said that she and the members of her eboard went through so many artists she couldn’t remember the names, but was really glad J. Cole and Jeremih were both available.
With regard to having to reschedule a concert that had already been planned Taylor praised her eboard for the help they gave in finding a replacement.

“I have a fantastic eboard, they helped out, and they helped me to get ideas of who a different artist could be,” Taylor said. “Kathy Kelly helped us out a great deal, I really wasn’t too stressed about it, because I had such great help from Kathy and my eboard.

After J. Cole and Jeremih were announced as the replacements Taylor said the reaction has been great.

“A lot of students even said that they pretty happy he was coming over Keri Hilson,” Taylor said.
J. Cole and Jeremih were named as the replacement act for the spring concert within a week of Hilson cancelling showing exactly how quick WAC acted to schedule a replacement.

The eight board members and President Vartabedian commenced the session last week to hear the request made by Mel Klinkner and Esther Peralez. The board was not completely sold at first for the tuition increase, as they had a few questions about revenue.

One board member asked “Why can’t the increase in revenue from the new Spring Sports Complex as well as higher increase (20 percent) in students bring in more money?” Klinkner, vice president of financial planning and administration, delivered his answer in complete confidence with Vartabedian backing him up.

“It helps,” Klinkner said. “The part that it doesn’t help is the state appropriation. The 18 percent growth didn’t get us any money.”

Based off of state appropriation, many other states give universities more money for having more students. Missouri is not one of those states. Only two universities get less money than Missouri Western, yet Western has increased students almost every year since 1999. The total since then has grown over 1,000 students.

“The last six states I worked with, it does that,” Vartabedian said. “We’re certainly hoping that will be reconsidered and acted upon, but there is no guarantee that will change. We can’t just sit back and wait for that to happen.”

Klinkner mentioned the last two years there has not been an increase when there should have been. Now they have to do something as the cut made by Gov. Nixon was just too much to handle.

So what does this mean for the students?,

They will pay $17.61 per credit hour more if you live on campus, which is roughly $203 more starting in the 2011-12 school year. If you live out-of-state, look to pay $32.21 per credit hour, which is $370 more. This is all based off a 15 credit hour semester.

The way that the university calculates this tuition increase is by using the formula provided by the Missouri Department of Higher Education. It has to be calculated this way because that is what the state recognizes as Western’s average tuition. The MDHE recognizes Western as having a total cost of $5,560.40 based on 30 credit hours, for a total cost of $185.35 per credit hour, which is how they arrived at the increase. The commissioner’s office views the request as a 6.33 percent increase, because they recognize Western’s tuition as including the uncollected consumer price increase the Board approved last year.

Dan Danford, one of the members, said he and the rest of the members are all in agreement that this has to be done in order to keep this university as best as possible.

“We have gone out on a limb tonight,” Danford said. “People in the state will be upset with us. But understand the time we needed to increase tuition (state dollars) were frozen.”

With the approval, the tuition increase allowed by the governors is more than what the state law allows, therefore, a fine can be handed out which could be $2 million dollars. If that happens, Western will be able to appeal that decision.

Mandatory costs are growing as well as cuts by the governor, but that is not the only reason for raising the tuition. The members wanted to make sure that everybody remembered the students in this situation. Vartabedian said he has spoken to student leaders, and they have agreed paying a little extra for a quality product is the right decision. Chairman Kylee Strough agreed.

“The quality of product is still intact,” Strough said. “I don’t think that can remain true if we don’t take action.”

Gov. Nixon has suggested cuts of seven percent for 2011-12 class year. Dan Nicoson, vice president for advancement, wrote in a guest column to the St. Joseph News-Press the reasoning behind the tuition increase of such magnitude.

“One key reason Western is especially hurt by a state budget cut is growth,” Nicoson wrote. “Our enrollment has risen 18 percent over the last three years, the state’s highest growth rate among public universities. But in Missouri, the appropriation process does not consider enrollment, leaving Western the lowest per-student appropriation in the state.”

With all the members agreeing, the decision will now move on to the commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education to approve.

The other item on the agenda for the meeting was the increase in cost of living. Three percent increase will mean $59 more dollars to live in a double room in Scanlon, $79 more dollars to live in a single room in Scanlon and $67 more to live in the apartments. With the motion pass, Peralez, vice president of student affairs, said April 1st students will be asked if they want to live in Griffon Hall, the new dorm room addition. She said students have already expressed interest in living there.

The Griffon Hall will cost $3,100 a semester.

Current SGA President Dillon Harp said that the most significant change to the constitution is the addition of a Student Bill of Rights.

“Essentially what the Bill of Rights is going to do is hopefully illustrate to the students that student government will be there to help with any problems they might have here on campus, be it in the academic realm or if they are having problems with their meal plans,” Harp said. “If they feel their services are being unjustly done to them, they can come to us.”

The Student Bill of Right lists 10 rights that Harp hopes student’s takes into consideration.

SGA President-Elect Alison Norris believes that the Student Bill of Rights is a good way for students to see what SGA stands for and what rights the students have.

“It’s good to have that on there because they know that this is what we represent and how we represent them,” Norris said.

Norris also said that during her term, SGA will have a grievance form for students to fill out if they feel any of these rights are being violated.

“Whether or not it can be changed or not, we can go back to the student and say, ‘this is why this is like this,’ or ‘this is how we can change it,’” Norris said.

Another change made to the constitution is the separation of Residence Council from SGA. Residence Council will now be a separate organization called Residence Hall Association. On April 18 , RHA will have to seek recognition from SGA as a current student organization. This also means SGA will no longer be funding RC or the new RHA.

Acting Director of Residential Life Sean O’Reilly said RHA will receive its funding from students living in the halls.

“Based upon the number of students who live in the hall, part of everybody’s housing cost will be provided for RA programming, hall improvements and now RHA funding,” O’Reilly said.

Currently RC receives $31,408 from SGA, most of which goes towards activity funding. Residence Hall Director Marqita Jones, who will advise RHA along with RHD Dany Thompson, said that RHA will take on a governance body more than it has before.

“Any polices [in the residence halls] that students disagree with, they can get together and write a proposal and give it to RHA and try and get some of those polices changed,” Jones said.

O’Reilly also added that RHA will give residential life more opportunities to foster leadership and give students more opportunities to become leaders.

As for SGA’s previously appropriated funds for RC, Norris and Executive Vice President-Elect Jacob Scott are currently looking into special projects that the money might be used for.

“We’re considering the prospect of University’s President Dr. Vartabedian to put forth a vision to the student government of possibly helping fund the construction of an amphitheater,” Scott said.

Scott said that an amphitheater would help community outreach as well as strengthening the community on campus.
Norris said that as president, she would like to find out what the students want the money to be used for before deciding on what the extra funds will go towards.

The first day of Norris’s administration, she plans to address the 2011-2012 budget at the April 18 meeting. Norris said that all students are invited to give their input.

“I’d love for lots of feedback,” Norris said. “I think we’ve come up with a good plan for the budget but different perspectives on it are always great.”

Harp believes that with these recent changes to the constitution have solved a lot of issues with “one final swing of the bat.”

Norris said that all the changes made were well though out and that it will be a few years before SGA proposes changes again, but there’s no guarantee.

“It all depends on who is in the position,” Norris said. “There’s a big possibility that it might not be changed for a while, but you know our track record. So, we’ll see.”

A press release from issued on March 8 said that commitments to her record label are cause for Hilson’s cancellation.

Photo courtesy of Universal Music Group

“We’re disappointed Keri Hilson will be unable to make it to St. Joseph and we apologize to those who were looking forward to her performance,” said Don Willis, assistant dean of student services. “WAC will be working hard over the next few days to schedule another performer for the same date and location.”

Refunds will be made available for those who have already bought tickets.

The ten students will be involved in a semester long competition with one another. Three of the ten that prepare the best business plan will then be selected for internships at one of the previously awarded franchises. A panel will then select one of the students to receive the franchise.

This idea of awarding an RMCF franchise to a student came to fruition by Missouri Western Alumni Steven Craig, of whom the business school is named after. Craig is the founder of Craig Reality, which manages several outlet malls all over the United States. Craig believes that small businesses are the strength of our economy.

Craig approached RMCF about giving students the opportunity to compete for a franchise that would be located within one of his outlet malls. The company agreed to join together with Craig to make this prospect possible for the students.

Carol Roever, former Dean of CSB, says that since this program was started it has been a great success and she hopes it can continue to grow. Roever stated that Western’s CSB is the only school she knows of that offers this type of award for hard working students that want to become entrepreneurs

“The three previous winners are doing well with their franchises,” Roever said. “They have really embraced the opportunity and are working hard to be successful.”

The prior winners are Seth Lyons, Brady Ellis and Robert Schimming. Lyons was given a franchise in Silverthorne, Colo. Ellis received a franchise in Vicksburg, Miss. Schimming opened a third one in Lake Elsinore, Calif. The forth store will open in Manteca, Calif. once the winner is chosen this summer.

The stores are not completely free however. A franchise would normally cost roughly $350,000 to buy, but CSB students pay around $150,000 for one. In addition to the huge discount, Craig offers the students the loan with minimal interest and up to five years to pay it back.

The winners of the RMCF must also make a financial donation to the CSB and return to Western to speak to business students. The financial donation is based off a percentage of their profits.

Greg Pope, senior vice president of franchise development for RMCF, says that the franchise winners have been doing a great job running their businesses. Pope stated that he heard Ellis plans to pay his loan off in two years and is on track to do so.

“I am very pleased with what I am hearing about their profitability and pay back schedule,” Pope said.

Pope says he is not worried about turning the RMCF brand over to students that have little or no hands on business experience.

“When you consider the education background and the curriculum that’s in front of them, I feel they have a great chance for success,” Pope said.

The students enrolled in the management 499 class are eager to make their bid at becoming an RMCF owner. The students have been working hard all semester in preparation for the competition.

Leslie Oberg, Western senior, is one of the students competing for the franchise. Leslie says she understands the magnitude of what is at stake in the contest.

“I would have never been given this opportunity if it wasn’t for the Craig School Business and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory,” Oberg said.

Darby Meehan, Western senior, is another student that is competing for the store. Darby feels his experience will give him an edge in the running.

“I work full-time, attend classes full-time and have a family,” Darby said. “I see this opportunity as a journey or adventure; it’s a win-win situation.”

The students competing now and the previous winners all agree that everyone involved with the CSB has been of great help. Several staff members are at their disposal if they need help with anything.

The students are very grateful to Steven Craig and the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for giving them what they feel is the opportunity of a lifetime.

The career director candidates for Missouri Western presented their case to for employment last week in front of the search committee and those in attendance.

On Monday, Feb. 28, Wester invited Kim Caponi to campus and gave her an opportunity present some ideas and state her case, as to why she’s the best person for the director of Career Services.
The position has remained vacant since last October, when previous Director Linda Garlinger decided to retire.

Caponi started off by introducing her presentation with some visual aids, she brought Playdough and talked about how the moldable substance represented students and their potential.

“When you’re starting out in your education–and even before you reach the university level–this is you,” Caponi said holding the Playdough. Caponi said that it’s easier to work with the dough when it’s soft and that’s where she said that Career Services fits in by trying to work with students, directing them to an educational path that fits them.

On Wednesday, March 2, it was his chance to persuade the search committee his way.

Donnell Turner makes his case in front of the Missouri Western search committee for the new career services director. Jason Brown | Staff photographer

Kim Caponi speaks her piece to those attending Monday's presentation. Dave Hon | Editor-in-chief

Turner’s presentation was focused mainly on how he would handle the job as career director, focusing on students and how their future is going to be impacted from college.

“Helping students tap into both their strengths and their passion will make them successful,” Turner said.

Turner spoke about the challenge it takes for students to not only make it through college, but to find a job afterwards and be able to do that job at their best. He believes he is the right man for the job because of his past experiences as well as his passion for this opportunity, passion that is undoubtedly needed in the real world.

“I would do what I do for free because I love what I do so much,” Turner said. “Having your own passion or own calling is very important.”

Strategies are very important for students, Turner said. He also stated that they need to approach these by talking to an advisor and he would help a student out by telling them his own strategies for being successful out of college.

Student involvement and mentoring were major components of Turner’s personal guide to success in college.

Turner’s third strategy he spoke about was to have students get internships and externships. “Be able to network,” Turner said. “These are essential. Students can gain a competitive advantage by having resumes.”

Caponi said that while networking in the traditional sense is still very important, social networking is becoming important as well.

“It doesn’t replace the personal networking,” Caponi said. “But, it can be a place to start.” Caponi then recounted a story of how she helped a student using LinkedIn to secure a job in the town he wanted to live, after he had been offered a six-figure salary in another market.

Both candidates said globalization is changing the way that students need to approach education, and that study abroad learning will only make them more marketable.

Turner ended his presentation by taking a few questions from the crowd. Taye Triggs, assistant dean of student development, asked him what he how he would approach a non-traditional student.

“(I would) help lead them with skills they’ve had in the past, researching them,” Turner said. “The reality is, we never really stop learning.

Student Coordinator Matthew Gregg weighed in on the candidates for the position.

“I think both of the candidates we have coming to campus are very strong candidates,” Gregg said. “We wouldn’t have brought them to campus if they weren’t.”

Gregg said that they really tried to select candidates that reflect what the students want, and believes that both candidates have those qualities.

Bill Ouseley, a retired FBI agent, spoke at Missouri Western about the Kansas City mob, or La Cosa Nostra. This is Ouseley’s second time at Missouri Western’s Eggs and Issues. He also spoke the day before at an event hosted by the criminal justice department.

Public Relations, Marketing & Alumni Services Coordinator Diane Holtz organized the event with the help of the criminal justice department. Holtz said that the first Eggs and Issues was held in 1988 and only had 15 attendees.

Bill Ouseley worked for the FBI for 25 years before retiring.

Experience is one thing Ouseley has. His speech touched on various topics relating to the mafia in Kansas City but Ouseley’s speech was more about his specific unit and some of their operations.

“I retired after 25 years of service,” Ouseley said. “I spent the better part of that, 22 plus years, working in the organized crime program in Kansas City.”

For anyone that is wondering, Kansas City did have a mafia, and Ouseley wrote a book on them. “Open City” was published in 2008 and historically documents how organized crime evolved in Kansas City. “Open City” only highlights organized crime from 1900 to 1950. Ouseley has another book, soon to be released, which will show the latter half of the twentieth century.

Ouseley said that during the 1970’s, the River Quay in Kansas City played an integral role in how organized crime operated in Kansas City

“My second book is built as if the spine is the River Quay,” Ouseley said.

Ouseley said that during his time with the FBI, different members of the Kansas City mob fought over the River Quay.

Early on in Ouseley’s career, he helped arrest Nick Civella. Civella, who was already losing power among other members of the Kansas City mob, was charged and later found guilty on counts of illegal gambling. In particular, Civella was running rackets on the 1975 Super Bowl.

After arresting him, Ouseley said that he asked Civella to sign a receipt for the belongings that the jail have confiscated. Civella refused and Ouseley said this gave him an insight into the minds of most mobsters.

“He was telling me in so many words how his world works,” Ouseley said. “He said, ‘We do things differently. We see things differently and I’m not trying to impress you and I would never try to impress you.’ And I didn’t understand that either, in his world, he looked up to no one.”

Melanie White, a St. joseph resident who owns Ouseley’s first book, has attended Eggs and Issues before, but hasn’t been in quite some time.

“I enjoyed hearing him in person,” White said. “I found it interesting because some of the details he told us were not in his book.”

Ouseley’s new book is slated to appear on shelves this summer.

The new constitution, which was discussed in closed session during the Feb. 28 senate meeting, passed on a vote of 11-1. SGA refused to release a copy of the revised constitution by press time March 2. However, multiple sources have confirmed that the new constitution does not include Residence Council as a branch of SGA, but could not provide details of what will be done with their current $25,000-$30,000 budget.

SGA President Dillon Harp declined to comment on the details of the revised constitution until it was officially released.
Harp said that Senate and members of the executive board agreed to hold the discussion on the constitution in closed session.

“It was involving personnel matters, so they felt it was the best move,” Harp said.

Parliamentarian Jacob Scott said that students could have spoken about changes to the constitution before the meeting became a closed session. Scott also said that the Senators were acting as the voice of the students during the closed session.

“It says specifically in our constitution that we are the association and the association is defined as the students of Missouri Western,” Scott said.

Senator Nick McCutcheon, the single dissenting vote, believes that SGA hurried through the process of revising the constitution, but believes that closed session was necessary to discuss the specific changes to the constitution.

“I felt it was a bit rushed,” McCutcheon said. “Revisions were suggested a long time ago but I know for a fact that going into the meeting that not every Senator had looked at the most revised copy and I know for a fact that some senators probably voting without fully understanding some of the revisions or why they were made or what they really meant.”

McCutcheon also disagrees with certain sections of the revised constitution. In particular, McCutcheon feels that the 20 percent allocation to Student Affairs is taking the money out of SGA’s hands.

“To kind of use an analogy I see it as a parent telling their child ‘you earn a $100 allowance, I’m going to give you $80 and keep $20. Maybe I’ll spend it to help you with things like groceries or doctor’s visits,’” McCutcheon said, “the money will be used to benefit you, but I’m not going to allow you to choose how to spend that $20.”

McCutcheon said that he hopes students read the constitution carefully before voting on it.

“If students vote yes on that constitution then that tells me that they don’t mind the university using students’ money to fund things that should be funded through the university budget,” McCutcheon said. “If the constitution is approved then I’ll quit fighting it, but I’m positive there are other people out there feel the same way I do about it, maybe they just don’t understand it.”

The Community Blood Center has held three blood drives at Western this fiscal school year and has had great success with getting people to donate blood.

Nurse Mary Jane was one of the several nurses on hand Friday taking blood from donors.

“I have been involved in blood drives quite a few times here at Missouri Western,” Jane said.

Jane was animated about the importance of giving blood and the lives that are saved by donating. She was hoping for a good turnout of donors during the drive Friday.

Kirby Hoerrmann, a Western junior, participated in the drive Friday. Hoerrmann said that she has donated blood many times while attending classes at Western.

Collection Supervisor Jan Rogers draws blood from Ben Olsen.

Western freshman Emilee Silvey was another student donating for the cause Friday. Silvey stated that she has donated blood three times during her short time here at Western.

Silvey shares the same view of many donators’ in the hope that their blood will save someone’s life.

“If someone is dying and needs blood then they can use mine,” Silvey said.

Silvey stated that her personal experience with a friend’s sister who was sick with leukemia and needed blood often is another contributing factor in why she continues to donate.

Silvey’s hometown of Lawson, MO did a lot of activities to help her friend’s ill sister in her time of need. Silvey said the town came together and participated in things like blood drives and dodge-ball tournaments to raise money for her friend’s family.

“It really brought our town a lot closer,” Silvey said.

The goal of 52 units was not reached Friday, as the Blood Center ended very short of their goal with only 23 units collected.

The Community Blood Center would like to thank those who can out to donate and they want to encourage people to keep making donations. The Blood Center in St. Joseph is open 7 days a week so finding time to give blood should fit anyone’s schedule.

The conference started on Thursday at 2:15 p.m. with Anne Dhu McLucas. Mark Rollins was to follow Thursday night at 7:15 p.m. but due to the snow, Mr. Rollins was rescheduled for Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. Joseph Anderson directly followed Mr. Rollins after a short 10-minute break. Mark Mikkelsen, professor of Philosophy, writes the grants and does the scheduling that made The Galileo Legacy Conference possible.

Each event for the conference had between 20 and 40 people in the audience depending on the speaker, the low numbers were attributed to the weather. “These have always been this good, we just want more people here,” Mikkelsen said.

The conference was a joint event between the Biology, history, philosophy and geography departments. This year’s speakers talked about music, visual art and film combining their study and research on the brain with focus on the cognitive processing of aural and visual phenomena.

Each presentation was followed by a short question-and-answer period where the other keynote speakers where prompted to ask questions first, followed by audience members.

“We do this because we want academic programs at Missouri Western to develop further,” Mikkelsen said. “We hope this has positive impact on the further development of courses. We want to see this contribute to that,” Mikkelsen said, “this is all for everybody.”

Anne Dhu McLucas gave a presentation titled The Musical Ear Memory, the Brain and Oral Tradition.

McLucas’s presentation gave a brief history Galileo’s father Vincenzo Galilei, and then she proceeded into her presentation.

She spoke about the wisdoms she would challenge within her presentation and the concepts she would introduce to those in attendance.

“It was really interesting to think how the mind perceives different types of songs, like she gave the example: Happy Birthday versus a popular song, how your mind remembers that differently based on the context you heard it in,” student Jamie Haffner said. “I never considered that.”

“On that Happy Birthday, she said to slow it down and you would stay in the same key, but when I went faster in my head I changed keys I went higher I was like, ‘whoa that is really cool and weird,’” student Matt Musselman said.

Mark Rollins spoke on the Riddle of Style How to understand the fact that world has been represented in so many ways. Rollins showed a picture of a mask that was concave in reality but in the picture looked convex and spoke on the illusion in the mind.

“It’s really interesting especially for the philosophy department to be able to bring in outside philosophers to talk about interesting things like this,” student Josh said.

Joseph Anderson was the last speaker his presentation entitled ‘Steps toward Ecological of the arts.’ Anderson used different movies to depict his theory along with animal behavior.

“He opened up a discussion that doesn’t get opened up much at Missouri Western or anywhere for that matter,” student Ashley Rose said.

Despite the weather, this year’s Galileo’s Legacy Conference concluded with students and faculty having new ideas to ponder.
“These where first rate presentations. These where as good as you would get anywhere and it happened here at Missouri Western,” Mikkelsen said. “Anybody who missed this year’s conference, look for the next one.”

This topic has been a sore spot for many students, particularly smokers, and now everyone will have the opportunity to read the new policy and determine whether or not to adopt it.

It is important to note before going any further that this cannot pass by a simple majority, two/thirds of those voting must be in favor to pass it. Once passed by the students, the policy will go before faculty and administration for approval–if approved the policy would go into effect Aug. 1, 2012.

Dillon Harp, SGA president, is excited about the tobacco policy and its placement on the ballot for a student vote.

“What I hope students get out of the process, is they get to vote,” Harp said. “This has been a topic that has been around campus for the last couple of years and now is the opportunity, they get a chance to say yes, we want to go tobacco free or no, we want to keep the status quo.”

Student Governor Peter Gregory said that the policy is being created to promote a safe and healthy environment here at Missouri Western.

The policy also includes electronic cigarettes, and Gregory gave his reason on why the decision was made to include a tobacco-less product within the policy.

“Electronic cigarettes have the same addictive characteristics as traditional cigarettes,” Gregory said.
The enforcement within the document is left vague as it states that employees and students are encouraged to communicate this policy.

The policy alludes to the student code of conduct, which if handled as Gregory said, is intended to be in line with the current alcohol policy and could eventually spell expulsion for repeat offenders.

Another major issue at hand with this policy is the enforcement for faculty and staff. Western obviously has a student handbook to guide us in disciplinary issues for students, but the same is not available for tenured contract employees of the university, at least not for student perusal.

Many students like Kirk Gries, a senior studying sociology, feel that the logical changes for the policy would be to add smoking shelters.
“If they want me away from the buildings, give me a shelter to get out of the rain,” Gries said.

Gries was strongly opposed to the idea of the university implementing a policy banning tobacco and related products. Like Gries, many students also question whether this would include smoking inside their personal vehicles while on campus.

“I can’t smoke in restaurants, I just about can’t smoke in any bars, and now the college is trying to tell me I can’t smoke outside while I’m at school,” Gries said. “I’m going out to have a smoke.”

Student Senator Nick McCutcheon said that his personal views were irrelevant because the policy was going to be voted on by the students. McCutcheon did say that one of the best aspects of the policy was the cessation, which would help those seeking to quit the help they need.

“I’m interested to see if the students understand the scope of this and how big it is,” McCutcheon said. “I’m also interested to see if they’re going to fight because I know there are a lot of students that have very strong opinions on this.

The meeting was hardly debatable, with more of reports coming from the administration than anything. Reports were included from Jeanne Daffron, Mel Klinkner, Jerry Pickman and Esther Peralez.

Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs, spoke about the students attending Western. She said that college students between the ages of 23 and 29 are up 11 percent and students over 29 are up 10 percent.

“Students are up 5.4 percent in overall credit hours,” Daffron said.

Klinkner, vice president of financial planning and administration, gave his financial report. He also stated that the new Spring Sports Complex is ready for use and talked about Agenstein/Remington addition.

“All the income looks great at this point,” Klinkner said. “(Now) they should have most of (the planetarium) complete.”

There will be some drops from non-payment things, however. Due to the amount of construction, Western has dropped some amount of money. The gross will drop from $18 million to $15 million as of right now.

“Cash will be a little bit less even though we’re up in enrollment,” Klinkner said.

Student Governor Peter Gregory talked for a little while about the trip to the Great Northwest Day in Jefferson City. He said that the trip was very productive and that it was a lot of fun. He couldn’t have had as much fun when addressing the board about his next topic: the highly debatable tobacco free policy.

“We are still working on the tobacco-free policies,” Gregory said. “We’ve been working with all the groups on campus and organizations so hopefully the students will decide.”

The policy will be submitted on Feb. 28 and from there on will move to the student body to vote. Once they approve it then it will move on to the final vote.

The last part of the meeting President Vartabedian addressed the members and the people to talk about not only the budget but also what the University is bringing to campus the upcoming months.

Vartabedian said that he appeared in front of the committee to talk about budget cutting and that it could be worse.

“We’re feeling really encouraged of a less encouraged feeling,” Vartabedian said.

Upcoming events scheduled that are coming to Western will be Galileo’s Leagacy, date TBD, new faculty luncheons and also on the calender for early March will be the MIAA Basketball Tournament and the musical theatre performance “Phantom” which opens Thursday, Mar. 3.

Among the first items the meeting brought was an advertisement for the play “Phantom” by Tee Quillin, director of the play, who says it will be a great show.

“It is quite possibly the largest production I’ve been involved with,” Quillin said.”A lot of departments have been involved in helping make this happen.”

Some departments Quillin mentioned were chemistry, math, choir and athletics.

“They jumped in with both feet kicking,” Quillin said. Vartabedian believes everybody should watch it as well.

“We’re hoping for a successful outcome,” Vartabedian said.

Gov. Nixon requested a program review of all public institutions of higher educations two and four-year degree programs. The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) was responsible for conducting the review. The review took place from Sep. 2010 to Jan. 2011

The MDHE, through a process of program review, decided what programs should be eliminated. The Western academic affairs department did a degree audit for degree programs that had less than 10 students graduating on average per year over three years. Programs that fell into the above listed criteria were evaluated. The academic affairs department then sent their findings and suggestions to MDHE and they will have the final decision on what actions should be taken. Western had 19 programs up for review and was able to save all, but one.

The Bachelor of Art in Art degree was terminated. Dr. Allison Sauls the Chairperson of the Art department said, “We had about three graduates in the last five years. The Bachelor of Arts was targeted for our low graduation rate,”  Sauls said. “The Bachelor of Arts degree does not affect any other program in the department.”

Students who are currently enrolled in the program will be able to finish their degree. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs said, “Any student that is in the program now will definitely be able to finish the program.” Sauls also wanted to make sure that students understood this point.  “We haven’t really lost the bachelor of arts degree because it can be carried out to graduation. We no longer will be offering it in the future,” Sauls said.

The Art department offers several other degree programs.   “We have doubled in size in the last 7 years we are one of the strongest departments on campus and we are excited about the future; we are excited about everything going on in the department.” Sauls also said, “Last semester we had the largest freshman class we have ever had, we had 101 freshman students.”

When program review started it was to save money in higher education “In going in to it, people thought that it would save a lot of money, a reallocation of funds in higher education. That is not really what you get when you delete programs,” Daffron said.  “Art is growing in demand so any money saved would be reallocated back into the art department,” Daffron said. “We lost no courses what so ever we lost no faculty,” Sauls said.

Western was not the only institution to cut programs. According to the MDHE report in public institutions of higher education, they reviewed 587 and deleted 119. For the full report from MDHE go to http://www.dhe.mo.gov/documents/ProgramReviewSummaryReport1.pdf. Western has seven programs that are slated for follow-up reviews.

The American Heart Association and Brent Jensen hosted this event. Jensen is the headman in charge of the AHA and is the company’s Youth Market director. The event was new to Jenson because this was his first year as the director, and he likes what he saw.

“This is my first year being a part of this and it’s very exciting and rewarding,” Jensen said.
Jenson said the main focus of the event was for the children to start out young with this knowledge, so they will be better off growing up.

“We are having the kids start off young and getting them active right now,” Jenson said.

Now the man who helped put this event together here at Western is the assistant program director of health and physical education, Randy Bergman. Bergman said the event has been going on for over 20 years, and it’s a way for the children to express themselves.

“We do it as a fun activity for the kids,” Bergman said. “It gives our kids experience by doing jump rope exercises.”

The student’s got involved in the action along with the children, by volunteering to help out in the event. One of the volunteers was Western student Todd Durfee. Durfee, a physical education major, got enjoyment out of being able to help out and interacting with the kids.

“It’s a good cause for the kids and it’s good for them to know about it, and it’s for a good cause to raise money,” Durfee said.
Durfee also said that the children starting out at a young age is the best option for them to succeed against fighting the diseases.

“I think they know more about the diseases now because of obesity, and the awareness of these diseases is increasing and getting talked about,” Durfee said.

The SGA discussed in their weekly meeting whether the decision in granting the Fellowship of Christian Athletes $750 for the streamers thrown in Western’s loss to Northwest last Saturday was appropriate.

The SGA was under the assumption that the FCA was to hold the streamers until the end of the game and throw them only if the Griffons won. The streamers were thrown after the Griffons first basket and a technical foul was called.

The SGA expressed their desire to help organizations around campus become involved and start traditions, but this may have been a waste of $750 and an unnecessary technical foul.
Some members of Alpha Sigma Alpha were present at the meeting to appeal the FOC decision to only grant them $1,225 which is $630 short of them being able to send the 31 of its members wishing to attend their district days in Kansas City, Mo. All organizations are allowed a maximum of $2,500 per year for activities, conferences and events. No one from the
FOC was present to object the appeal of ASA.

Steve Wichern, an SGA senator, gave a speech in affirmation to allocate the extra funds to ASA.

“We need to help organizations trying to better themselves,” Wichern said. “Because no one is here to speak on FOC behalf; their silence is compliance.”

The SGA approved the ASA appeal and granted them the additional funds needed.

Nick McCutcheon, SGA senator, is glad the SGA sided with Alpha Sigma Alpha and granted them the additional funds they needed.

“It is the organizations money anyways and if they don’t use it it’s just going to sit there,” McCutcheon said.

In the absence of SGA President Dillon Harp and recently resigned SGA Executive Vice President Robin Ussher, Senator and Parliamentarian Jacob Scott has run the last two SGA meetings.
Scott states that he has enjoyed the experience of being the presiding officer over the SGA meetings and has learned a lot from it.

“The experience of the last two meetings is wonderful and only affirms my confidence in my ability to be a great choice for Vice President,” Scott said.

A new regulation, proposed by the Health and Human Services, ensures students the right to have insurance if they are enrolled in college, even if they become sick or are in an accident. Under the new rule, insurance companies cannot deny coverage for students under the age of 19 because of a pre-existing condition and they cannot drop coverage because a student gets sick.

Director of Center for Consumer Information Steve Larsen suggests this rule is needed because students stress over many things already. By taking away the panic of losing insurance, students now have less to worry about.

“Too many college students weren’t worried about finding a job, they were also worrying about finding health insurance,” Larsen said.
This rule can also save money. Larsen believes families making $65,000 a year will save close to $6,000. Students can also stay on their parent’s plans until they are 26 years old.

Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Young Invincible Aaron Smith agrees with Larsen.”Profits on these plans can be 20 percent or higher,” Smith said. He also said that the old regulation was an unfair practice because students could be released without getting any help. Under the new regulations, students will no longer have to worry about being released without some type of aid in finding replacement insurance.

“In a random survey of nine colleges and universities around the country, we found that eight currently have some exclusion clause where students suffering from a pre-existing condition,” Smith said. “These exclusions put the binding on those who need insurance the most.”
Steven Bloom, of the American council on education, says that they are the umbrella organizing the insurances and education together, though he knows that finding the solution is not over.

“I am a little concerned that insurers may use these regulations as a pretext to inappropriately raise premiums,” Bloom said. “Increases to some schools for insurance plans.”
Nonetheless, now students should be able to get the insurance they need to help them throughout college. Larson said this is their time now that they can finally afford to buy it all.

“For many students, this is their only opportunity,” Larson said.

Administration originally only wanted to use Griffon Alert for true emergency situations.

“Their real concern was that people would think that if they got the Griffon Alert they would get things like we do with email and they would get personal messages and advertisements and people wouldn’t pay attention so they just wanted to focus on true emergencies,”Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, Dr. Judith Grimes said.

The Griffon Alert System added snow days for several reasons.
“Any time you close campus it is a safety issue,” Associate Director of Public Relations and Marketing Kent Heier said. “We think it’s an important thing for students, faculty and staff to be a part of the Griffon Alert System, and it’s hard to convince people we might have an emergency like Virginia Tech, but if you can tell people that if you sign up for Griffon Alert you’re going to find out quickly when classes are cancelled, that’s a little more tangible. That’s a little more real.”

The Griffon Alert system currently has 2,599 subscribers. The Griffon Alert System gained 1,054 new subscribers between January and February. The reason for this increase in subscribers was in part due to adding school cancelations to the system.

“When the text went out last week, they would all get so excited, and then it became evident who the cool kids were that had this ‘Griffon Alert thing,’ that used to be not cool,” Residence Hall Director Bradley Dixon said. “So then they were going to the computer lab and signing up for it.”

The Griffon Alert system cost around $250,000 for the all the current hardware and software. Missouri Western pays $7,300 annually to the vendor to provide text message, email and voice alerts.

The Griffon Alert System contains beacons in the hallways, a P.A. system, VIOP phones in the class rooms, voice messages, mass text messaging and email. They are getting ready to add exterior lights that will signal in case of an emergency in a building.

The Griffon Alert System was put in place after the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, when campuses across the U.S. were looking for ways to communicate campus emergencies to students.

“We have always had safety systems on campus, but certainly there has been an increase because of activity on, whether it be Virginia Tech or something else, to upgrade the ability we have to get information to students and staff right away,” Grimes said.

The Alert System has been advertised lately with the help of SGA.

SGA President Dillon Harp said, “We were contacted earlier in the year to at least try and get the word out there about it a little bit, where they were wanting help with it because they had contributed a lot of money toward the program, and felt like it was being underutilized,” Harp said. “With the recent snow storms we had, seemed like a good time to put it out on the marquee.”

SGA also added Griffon Alert information on their Facebook page.

Only 1,987 students are subscribed, and there are 6,134 students on campus.

“It’s not an information source; it’s just for emergencies, and I think that’s why students don’t want it. If it’s not a constant feed of information, students just aren’t interested,”  Dixon said. “I need them to sign up, but how do I get them to do that?”

Students can sign up for Griffon Alert through Goldlink or at www.missouriwestern.edu/griffonalert/

According to SGA President, Dillon Harp, students were informed on Jan. 28 that candidate applications were due Feb. 4 via Campus Announcement on Goldlink. Because of the snow days last week, the deadline was pushed back to Feb. 11. Posters announcing the original deadline were put up around campus.

“As far as I know, they were up before we got the snow last week,” Harp said.

Students are constantly bombarded with email from Student Affairs, concerning events put on by SGA, WAC, RC, the CSE and the CME. Bulletin boards are overstuffed with too much information. So much information is going out that little of it is absorbed. Kathy Kelly of Student Affairs acknowledges that communication from SGA to the students is an ongoing problem.

“We’re trying to find a good way to get the information out to the students,” she said.

Students receive so much email from Student Affairs that most of it is deleted without ever being opened.

“Most of the time I ignore it,” junior Steven Brown said.

Alison Norris, SGA’s communication director, addressed the lack of publicity surrounding the election process.

“I’m not sure why it’s not publicized more,” Norris said. “That’s just the way it’s been the past couple years.” Norris is currently in the running for the SGA presidential election.

Harp offered an explanation as to why so little notification surrounded the candidacy process.

“Trying to get the word out there is very important,” Harp said. “We just get caught up sometimes in the work that we do, and sometimes we just need to focus a little more attention on that. The reason Alison,  I think, said that ‘that’s the way it’s always been,’ is just because we always get working on projects and this seems like we come into this semester, and we’re already five weeks in, and we’re talking about an election. I mean, this is only our second full term. So I guess it kind of just got caught up.”

The SGA budget this semester exceeds $500,000. This budget is largely sourced from fees paid by Western students.

“Hopefully, if people were to realize that, they would be more involved,” Harp said. “We do allocate 20 percent of our budget, almost $130,000, to Student Affairs.”

The Student Affairs portion of the budget includes, for example, the CME, the CSE and WAC.

“They’ve got plenty of money in [Western] Activities Council to use if they want to get involved in that, maybe do a battle of the bands or something,” Harp said. “You know, become a member of WAC and make something like that happen here on campus. I don’t know why more students aren’t involved in WAC, because that’s the one that I think people would have the most fun with, and see the direct benefits of.”

If students get involved in campus government, they will have more say concerning the allocation of funds.

“I think it’s just people don’t understand the potential that SGA has,” Harp said. “I think if students knew the possibilities that were out there, the resume builders, things like that, I think that more would get involved with it. Because it doesn’t cost anything to be a part of, it’s just a little bit of time.”

Harp is interested in recruiting more students for SGA.

“I’m hoping that, over the course of this semester that we can do a little bit more outreach,” he said.

Senior Robby Malone, currently an RA in the Suites, wants to become more involved on campus. He is in the process of completing his application to run for SGA President.

“I felt like if you weren’t in the organization, it’s like secretive,” Malone said concerning the announcement that SGA was accepting candidate applications. “They should have advertised it better.”

According to Harp, hiding the candidacy process from the student body was never the intention of SGA.

“I don’t think it’s a secret, and if that perception’s there, then I don’t want it to be,” Harp said. “It shouldn’t be like that. If anyone wants to be in SGA, it’s there for them. We’re just the voice of the students. We want everyone to become a part of it. I think just my response to that is: ‘We’ve got to do a better job of advertising.’ Because it’s not a secret.”

Both Caldwell and Ussher said that they were informed by SGA President Dillon Harp and SGA Administrative Assistant Kathy Kelly that they did not meet the academic requirements, specifically GPA.

Harp said that clauses in the constitution outline that students in both of these positions must meet a minimum GPA requirement.

Currently, both positions remain empty. Britney Taylor, current vice chair for WAC, has unofficially taken over Caldwell’s duties. Since some of the senators have been recently appointed and aren’t familiar with Taylor, Senate tabled a vote to promote her to Vice President of WAC in closed session on Feb. 14.

Ussher was previously responsible for presiding over Student Senate. Parliamentarian Jacob Scott now operates as presiding officer, as the constitution outlines.

Former executive Vice President Robin Ussher (left) and former Vice President for WAC Keisha Caldwell vacated their positions three weeks ago.

Caldwell is coming to terms with what has happened and is trying to put it behind her as she pursues other interests. Caldwell has served on WAC for nearly 2 and a half years, serving as Vice President for the last year and a half.

“I’m happy where I am now and I think it’s time for me to take some time off of WAC,” Caldwell said. “I worked my way from being a member of WAC to a Director, Vice President and President. I worked hard to get where I was with WAC. I still have a heart for student activities, but it is time for someone else to take the reins.”

Ussher said that she saw the writing on the wall and chose to relinquish the position rather than wait to be removed.

“I resigned,” Ussher said. “I didn’t want to resign, but it was something that needed to be done. I chose to step down because if I didn’t, I would have, probably, been removed from my position because of academic requirements.”

Ussher and Caldwell were receiving scholarships for their positions in SGA. According to Ussher, scholarships are relinquished once the person resigns from their position. The scholarships remain in the SGA budget, but have not been dispersed to any students. Once the positions are filled, the scholarships will be dispersed to those students.

Caldwell has taken a position as a program assistant in the Center for Multicultural Education. She works under the leadership of Tay Triggs with another program assistant Leah Hayes.

“Keisha is doing great,” Hayes said. “She has been involved in CME for a long time. We have the same responsibilities but each of us has different tasks.”

Ussher recently performed in “The Vagina Monologues,” which was directed by Mallory Edson.

“Robin did an amazing job in the show,” Edson said. “Her monologue was one of the most racy in the show and she took it on with full force, and was never scared to give everything she had in her to the show.”

“The union is the heart beat of the campus,” Dillon Harp, SGA president said. “This event is to raise awareness of what the union has to offer.”

The event will include many activities. Students will be able to enjoy video games like Dance Central and Guitar Hero. A station will be set up for students to personalize their own cookies. Fun Services from Kansas City is sponsoring a Boogie Heads booth.  

According to the Fun Services website, Boogie Heads uses green screen technology to place the participant’s head on the body of a professional dancer. Boogie Heads will allow the students to pick from a selection of 40 songs and over 100 video possibilities.

“Heart Your Union” will be a large event, with a variety of activities.

“There will be so many things going on at this event,” Kathy Kelly, SGA administrative coordinator said. “Barnes and Noble will be having Student Appreciation Day, and the PT students will be giving free massages. There will be lots of fun as well as educational things for students to do.”

As part of the Valentine’s Day celebration, the ESRY Health Center will be giving free AIDS test to students. Students have reacted positively to this service’s availability. 

“I think that it’s a great way for students to get tested without being embarrassed by going to a clinic. That way it’s more of a social event and less of a doctor’s appointment,” sophomore Morgan Breckenridge said.

Various student organizations and services will have booths at the event.

“The “Heart Your Union” event will showcase the union and make students aware of the resources that are available for them, like the Center for Student Engagement and Center for Multicultural Education,” Harp said.

Gov. Jay Nixon said, “My Budget in 2012 also includes millions of dollars for Missouri’s most successful college scholarship programs.”

Gov. Nixon did not specify how much would go to what program and if the -scholarships are going to be worth more if they are just going to have the funds to grant more scholarships.

“We have got no information on the governor’s statement yet,” Marilyn Baker, director of financial aid, said.

The Scholarship programs the governor was referring to are Bright Flight, Access Missouri and the A+ Scholarship. These programs are all offered here at Missouri Western.  Western students also get state aid from Marguerite Ross Barnett Memorial Scholarship and Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act Scholarship. Director of Admissions Howard McCauley said,“We feel very strongly about our scholarship program we feel we have a scholarship program we can compete with.”

Governor Nixon took $50 million out of the Access Missouri scholarship budget for the 2010-2011 school years. The Missouri Higher education Authority or MOHELA put $30 million back into Access Missouri so students were not hit as hard.

In 2008-2009 4,746 Missouri western Students received $4,489,371 in state scholarships and grants in 210-2011. 5,197 Missouri Western students received $3,068,769 in state scholarships and grants. In 2008-2009 school years the students received $355 more dollars in State aid. The Financial Aid department is waiting to find out if MOHELA is going to donate the same funds as they did last year.

“We will not have a dollar figure for state aid until maybe the middle of the summer.” Baker explained that the process to determine state aid,”  Baker said. “April 1 the state gets all the FASFA information and they house all the data then they determine the amount the student is going to get based on the number of applicants.”  

The A+ program only affects people getting a two-year degree. “For the two-year programs we are still eligible for the A+ program,” McCauley said.  

The A+ program is currently in legislation. “The A+ is really hard to predict for next year the changes are still in the legislative process so we don’t know the effect that will have on Missouri Western students,” Baker said.

The petition, which has been approved by the Student Affairs office, took almost a week to approve due to snow days. Director of Student Life Don Willis has asked that Hayes not gather signatures until Willis sees a physical copy of the petition.

In Willis’s 30 years working with students, he said he has never recalled a petition.

“Mostly, we just want to gather information,” Willis said.

Vice President for Student Affairs Esther Peralez commended Hayes for proceeding through the proper channels before gathering signatures from students, but believes that this process does not interfere with student’s first amendment rights.

Black Student Union President Leah Hayes

Hayes met with Chief of Police Jonathan Kelly before attempting to get her petition approved. Hayes told The Griffon News that she was not pleased with his reaction to her concerns.

Kelley could not be reached for comment by press time.

“I gave him a scenario, but he stopped me in the middle of my story and said that that didn’t happen because that didn’t happen on paper,” Hayes said.

According to Hayes, an African American student who works with her was stopped on Downs Drive for a traffic violation. Since this student was driving with out her license, she was instructed to call her roommate, who owned the car, to operate the vehicle for her. Hayes then said that the roommate cursed out the police officer and sped off without reprimand from the officer.

“She has gotten out her car for a routine traffic stop, but the roommate can curse you out and speed off even though she was just speeding now sitting out on the curb,” Hayes said. “That doesn’t seem right. “

A study conducted by the Loaned Executive Management Assistance Program found several areas of concern when the Department of Public Safety was requesting to carry firearms on campus in 2007. One area was of the mindset and attitude of the officers in 2007, which the study found many negative comments on.

The study summarized that officers appeared to be authoritarian and unapproachable to students and that a need for cultural and diversity training existed.

Currently, Campus Police Officers attend diversity training every summer. Due to the Kansas City Chief’s summer training camp, officers attended different diversity training at the police academy.

‘They do go through that diversity training, but I don’t feel they fully understand the students that they are serving,” Hayes said.

Vice President for Financial Planning and Administration Mel Kilnkner said that if students they are being mistreated by campus police, he would take it seriously. But, he hasn’t heard any specifics.

“Every semester I talk to the police officers about how it’s a little bit different on a campus than it is in a community,” Klinkner said. “We have a relationship that we want to build with the faculty and staff and the students. So it’s not just that we want to be looked at as the enforcers, we want to be a part of the community.”

The priority deadline for FAFSA is March 1. To submit their FAFSA, students must fill out tax forms for 2010, and possibly their parents’ taxes for 2010 if they live in their household.

Director of Financial Aid, Marilyn Baker, strongly considers submitting your FAFSA before the deadline.

“You need to do it prior to March first for priority financial aid purposes,” Baker said. “(We) highly encourage them to complete the 2011-12 FAFSA, which is available now, online. It’s there. It’s ready.”

If students need help filling out their FAFSA, Western will hold the annual “FAFSA Frenzy” this weekend.

On Sunday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m., Western will give free help to students who need it. This includes students who attend Western, as well as high school students; incoming freshman and their parents are welcomed to come. Financial aid professionals will be on hand to assist those who need it. You may also have a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship just by attending. That is just one scholarship among many that will be handed out.

“We have financial aid like SUG (Student University Grant) which is a grant, work study, purposes loans, those type of aid scholarships,” Baker said. All of these will be available if students submit their FAFSA before March 1.

Students should bring their W-2 forms and 2010 tax returns. If forms are not ready, students should still bring their W-2 forms, but bring 2010 statements of interest earned and their 2009 forms.

According to the FAFSA Frenzy pamphlet, available at numerous locations around campus, if “inclement weather” occurs, the event will be held just one week later, on Sunday, Feb. 20. The FAFSA Frenzy will be located in Spratt Hall.

If students are unable to attend, they will still have two weeks before the priority deadline to get the information needed so they are able to get grant money that is available.