Campus mourns 2 deaths, 2 more hopeful for recovery
Two Missouri Southern football players, Diondre Johnson and Michael McCrimmons, were killed on I-44 near Sarcoxie at approximately 2:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash Report website, another Southern football player, Jeremy Johnson, was driving a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder with Diondre Johnson, McCrimmons and Southern golfer Patrick Holt as passengers.
Tensions have risen between the Faculty Senate and President's Council due to the October Faculty Senate meeting. University President Bruce Speck was unable to attend the meeting due to personal matters. He did, however, leave a statement for Vice President AJ Anglin to read to the senate, listing his reason for absence and the absence of the President's Council.
Two meetings were held in Corley Auditorium on Wednesday to discuss the financial report for the 2011 fiscal year. Rob Yust, vice president of business affairs, prepared several issues to present to attendees of the meeting. BKD CPA & ADVISORS conducted the annual audit this year; they have conducted the audit for the last few years after continually having the winning bid.
Members of the Shared Governance Taskforce convened on Tuesday to discuss the results of a survey given to Missouri Southern State University employees since the fall of 2010. The survey was the result of concern raised by the Higher Learning Commission in 2008 about the Shared Governance Climate at Southern.
Rumors of rape. Guns on campus. Drugs in the residence halls. A couple of high profile crimes have been reported on the Missouri Southern campus this semester, prompting some to wonder about student safety but officials say the campus is safe, and students seem to echo that sentiment.
Dr. Michael Garoutte, director of the honors program, has decided to step down from the position of honors director to return to teaching chemistry. He felt it was a necessity for his department. "I teach chemistry, and we have a really big demand in chemistry, so I really felt like my position in honors releases me from half of my teaching load in chemistry," Garoutte said.
An arson at Missouri University's library has given Missouri Southern a chance to hold some invaluable documents. "These are documents from the Committee of Indian Affairs," Lydia Welhan, technical services of Spiva Library, said. "A lot of senate hearings and documents — some dating back to 1867 — but they go all the way up to current senate committees.
Two Missouri Southern football players, Diondre Johnson and Michael McCrimmons, were killed on I-44 near Sarcoxie at approximately 2:30 a.m. today.
Memorial service held to honor volunteers, victims of May storm
Citizens of Joplin gathered in Cunningham Park Tuesday, Nov. 22 to commemorate six months since a deadly tornado devastated the town. Families and friends of tornado victims were able to witness the dedication of 161 trees planted in the park to honor the 161 citizens who lost their lives.
Missouri Southern will be offering a new scholarship for the families receiving a Habitat home, University President Bruce Speck announced on Saturday, Nov. 19. The full four-year scholarships will be available for the 24 children of the families.
For most Americans, the season of Thanksgiving is a time set aside to be spent with family and other loved ones. But for more and more Americans each year, it means dollar signs and consumerism at its, ahem, finest. Black Friday, as it has been dubbed, is the day after Thanksgiving when retail outlets, grocery stores and all sorts of shopping centers open their doors with otherwise unheard of sales and deals on an array of products.
Missouri Southern's music department has two upcoming performances, the second annual "Seasonal Choral Flourish" and the Winter Choral Concert. "The Seasonal Choral Flourish is a festive community outreach concert," Dr. David Sharlow, associate professor of music and director of the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers said.
The star of Missouri Southern's production of A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail is no stranger to the stage. Junior theatre major, Hunter Dowell has performed in many plays at Southern and is completely committed to life in the theatre. "Wanting to be in a show and everything, you've got to actually love it," Dowell said.
Missouri Southern's Small Business and Technology Development Center offer multiple small business workshops each semester to the public. "These workshops are open to anyone who wants to learn more about running a business," Sarah Vargyas, research associate with the Small Business and Technology Development Center said.
Starting spring semester, Missouri Southern will be offering foreign language night classes. "It's a chance to reach out to students who might not be able to take classes during the day and don't want to take an online class," David Jenkins, assistant professor of Spanish, said.
Missouri Southern's radio station 88.7KXMS/Fine Arts Radio International installed a new satellite downlink dish on Nov. 17. "It was installed last week and will go into service in May," Jeff Skibbe, general manager of KXMS said. "The new satellite dish replaces a 25-year old receiving dish.
Former coach resigns after 6 seasons at helm
Bart Tatum's six-year tenure as Head Coach of the football team at Missouri Southern has come to an end. Southern announced via a press release that Tatum had resigned Monday afternoon. Tuesday, Athletics Director Jared Bruggeman told members of the media that he approached Tatum about, "where we were at and where we needed to go.
JoAnn Graffam, who up to now has been the Missouri Southern Interim Vice President for Development, had the interim title removed today as she was given the permanent vice president position. Graffam had been a finalist along with Morgan Clevenger, who is currently finishing his Doctor of Education degree at the University of Missouri.
Chuck Surface was appointed to the Missouri Southern Board of Governors in August. He was appointed to the board again this month. Surface's original appointment was overlooked during a special session by the Missouri Senate, causing the original appointment to be withdrawn.
Academic Policies has recently taken on the tasks of forming committees to investigate student grading and retro credit. The decision to look at student grading came from the October Faculty Senate meeting when the communication department came to discuss the communication 100 redesign.
The continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices is just one definition of tradition. For men's cross country Head Coach, Tom Rutledge, there's been one tradition he's been doing for 35 years. Back when Rutledge used to coach at Arkansas Tech, which was an inner city school, he cooked meals for all his athletes on every team he coached.
Joplin and Tulsa area's Habitat for Humanity finished up the Ten for Joplin project today. 10 families will receive new homes just in time for the holidays, and some already have big plans. Carrie Cook, a single mom of two boys, Aiden, 7 and Zachary, 8 says that being chosen is the "silver lining" in the storm.
Students arrested last week are charged as new allegations surface about search
Students have come forward with their stories following the Oct. 23 arrests in the Missouri Southern residence halls. Broderick Hayes, freshman political science major, was arrested for possession of marijuana. He is currently fighting the charges. "A lot of what I need to say to completely clear my name is still in litigation right now," Hayes said.
At this week's Faculty Senate meeting Dr. Glenn Coltharp, Dean of the School of Education, presented a plan for changes to the 2012-2013 academic calendar. The summer schedule had a greater number of changes than the regular school year.
Every semester, it seems more and more Missouri Southern students are dropped from classes due to financial aid mishaps. In late October, the Bursar's office announced a plan intended to help ease this process for students. "The due date changed because we're trying to be more student friendly," Alicia Hughes, University bursar, said.
Seismic waves from recent Oklahoma earthquakes were felt in the Joplin area over the past week. Many citizens are alarmed by the disruption and are now looking for answers. Dr. John Knapp, professor of physical science and chemistry, believes that "there is probably a cause [for the seismic activity] that we could ultimately identify; However the research about activity in the Midwest has not been sufficient enough because it doesn't attract as much attention as say, California, which experiences earthquakes more frequently.
Missouri Southern announced two candidates for the Vice President for University Development and Executive Director of the University Foundation in a press release on Nov. 2. Morgan R. Clevenger and JoAnn Graffam, Interim Vice President for development, are the two candidates for the position.
Members of the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team [CART] spoke before city council Monday in support of the report they've compiled from suggestions and needs of the citizens of Joplin. Formed at the suggestion of the FEMA Long-Term Community Recovery Task Force, CART serves as an advisory committee for the city of Joplin.
Wednesday, Student Senate had two speakers, Kelly Larson, interim head of the communications department, and Darren Fullerton, Vice President of Student Affairs, address the concerns over the communication department restructuring. Larson said that the restructuring is a result of Gov.
Home is the place where you are supposed to feel safe. For many, that feeling of security was shaken after the May 22 tornado. Homes were destroyed, neighborhoods unrecognizable and lives turned upside down. In the days that followed, the community opened their hearts and tried to help heal their home that was so badly broken.
On Oct. 19, Joplin welcomed the Emmy-award winning show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" with wide-open arms. After hearing about the devastation caused by Joplin's histotically devastating May 22 tornado, the show contacted builder Sam Clifton, who had helped on a project for the show in 2009, began collaborating on ideas on how give back to the community, ravaged by an EF-5 storm which claimed the lives of 162 people.
Throughout the month of Oct., there have been several reports of illegal activity, mostly drug related, in the campus residence halls resulting in the arrest of some students. "When we become aware of any illegal activity, we notify campus police and they investigate the situation," Dr.
Mo. Governor Jay Nixon announced the appointment of Jim Fleischaker and student representative David Sigars to the Board of Governors Tuesday. Fleischaker said this application was his second attempt to join the board. He believed after his initial failure that he was done with trying to apply for the board, but others encouraged him to apply again.
Last semester Faculty Senate approved a document allowing Missouri Southern to have a tenure process. Now the tenure committee is working on getting the document finalized so it can be added to the faculty handbook. Nii Abrahams, chair of the tenure committee, said the work is now in its beginning stages.
A college education just got a little bit easier to finance for twelve different graduating classes of local high schools in the aftermath of Joplin's historic May tornado. Missouri Southern President Dr. Bruce Speck, along with JoAnn Graffam, Interim Vice President for Development, announced at Sunday's One State, One Spirit Classic, that the University has offered $1,000 scholarships for the classes of 2011-13 at Joplin High School, Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, College Heights Christian School and McAuley Catholic High School, all in Joplin.
Nursing department hopes course split will help students maintain higher GPA
The nursing program will be seeing some changes to two of its upper division classes in the fall semester of 2012 and spring semester of 2013. Nursing 320 and Nursing 350 will be split into what BSN Coordinator and Associate Professor Grace Ayton calls "smaller chunks" to help improve retention rates and success of the students.
Katie Bromley, senior marketing major, is helping a friend. This may not be out of the ordinary for most people. Naturally, people are inclined to help others; however the circumstances are different. "We're raising money for two MSSU students," she said.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced the appointment of two new members of the Missouri Southern Board of Governors today.
According to a news release, junior David W. Sigars will join as the student representative. Sigars is in the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, the Epsilon Mu Sigma Honors Program and is the current treasurer of the Student Senate.
His term ends Dec. 31, 2011.
The other appointment is James Fleischaker, a former circuit judge for Jasper County. Fleischaker has also held the positions of Joplin Special Road District commissioner and chairman of Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce in 2001 and 2002.
His term ends Aug. 30, 2017.
Sorority plans annual Pink Week
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and, for campus sorority Zeta Tau Alpha, the perfect time for the annual Pink Week. Zeta Tau Alpha's official philanthropy is breast cancer awareness and education. Each of the Zetas has known someone who has had breast cancer, or a family member who has had the disease.
In the early 1900s, the infrastructure of Joplin revolved around mining lead, zinc, and cadmium. After the May 22 tornado, much of the debris spread throughout the city was chat material, possibly containing hazardous levels of lead. This is partially due to the fact that houses destroyed by the tornado were built before the Environmental Protection Agency determined mining waste to be contaminated.
Just hearing the word "midterm" is enough to strike fear into the hearts of students everywhere, but actually knowing that exam is coming can break some down into full-blown anxiety attacks. Heather Bullock, clinical counselor and academic adviser with the Advising, Counseling and Testing Services office, said the symptoms are quite common among students at all levels.
Interim head of the communications department Kelly Larson and assistant professor Shanna Slavings spent the last hour of Monday's Faculty Senate meeting fielding questions from concerned faculty. Dr. Cliff Toliver, associate professor of English and philosophy, sent Slavings a list of the issues in advance to prepare for the bulk of questions and concerns, but potential student grading, as part of the department's plans for redesigning course structure, became the primary issue.
The upstairs of Billingsly Student Center was live and bustling with students Wednesday, as the Career and Major Exploration Fair welcomed those looking for employment opportunities. Representatives from several area universities, as well as businesses looking for quality employees were present.
In preparation for the upcoming Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build in Joplin, a community pep rally was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Joplin Tuesday, Oct. 4. "Traditionally in ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition', the Home Builders Association is utilized, and I'm the executive officer of the Southwest Missouri Home Builders Association," Crystal Harrington said.
Corley Auditorium, located in Webster Hall, will soon play host to Mr. International, an all- male pageant that will feature students from Missouri Southern, Crowder College and Pittsburg State University. The pageant is complete with the usual categories, including evening wear, costume, talent and interview.
In preparation for the upcoming flu season, the Willcoxon Health Center offered flu shots to faculty, students, and staff last week. The shots were given on Monday Oct. 3 and Tuesday Oct. 4 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 3 p.m. "The turnout was really good.
New format will change organization of core class
The Communications 100 redesign began as a solitary effort, but the result will change the way many things run in the department. After Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon put forth the Missouri Educational Initiative last November, colleges and universities across the state submitted their drafts of general education course redesigns.
Homecoming events will culminate tomorrow in a halftime crowning ceremony at the 2 p.m. football game. The events began Monday and have continued every day this week The theme for homecoming events was "Hollywood." Monday night from 8 to 11 p.
Students, along with anyone affiliated with Missouri Southern, will have an opportunity to prevent the spread of influenza as winter approaches, beginning next week. Monday and Tuesday, the Willcoxon Health Center will offer a walk-in flu clinic for anyone who is, or has been, connected to the University.
In continuation of the week's homecoming festivities, Missouri Southern will host a homecoming parade tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. "There are 48 entries including cars, floats, local high school bands and the alumni winners," Elisa Bryant, alumni relations coordinator, said.
Students looking for employment opportunities having trouble deciding their majors are invited to attend the Career & Major Exploration Fair Wednesday, Oct. 5. The event is designed to help Missouri Southern students make informed career choices by providing real-world information about a variety of careers.
Enrollment decline not as steep as projected
The department of student affairs, while disappointed in the decline in enrollment, has expressed a feeling of relief this week as the drop in student enrollment fell below the number they had expected. A total of 5,591 students are enrolled in classes at Missouri Southern this year, down from 5,802 last year, which means a decrease of 3.
With state funds depleting, the Missouri Southern Board of Governors met last Friday to discuss how to keep the University afloat financially, while maintaining a higher quality of education. On the docket this month were many changes to the University, including a new health care plan for faculty and staff.
Since the start of this semester, national flags have been fluttering in front of Webster Hall, representing the countries of the international students at Missouri Southern – Gambia, Nepal, Kenya, Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Egypt among others.
Students will have more chances to support the Lions during homecoming week than just at the football game on Oct. 1. Homecoming, starting next Monday this year, is a week full of ways for students to get involved, get out and have fun every fall semester.
Outdated machines replaced, students no longer required to carry quarters
Pockets may feel a little lighter for Missouri Southern's residence hall students this semester. Not because of a tuition hike or hang-ups with the Financial Aid office on campus, either. Starting this fall, the University has ditched its formerly coin-operated washers and dryers in the Mays Student Life Center.
Asbestos tiles were recently found in Hearnes Hall, but Phsyical Plant Director Bob Harrington said there's little to worry about. "Unless you break the floor tile up into real fine dust and throw it up in the air and breathe it, it's not going to hurt you," Harrington said, "But it's a federal requirement that it be properly abated and removed by a certified company.
The Missouri Department of Insurance will welcome Joplin residents affected by the May 22 tornado to attend a Recovery Roundup workshop on campus this weekend. The Public Works Department, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Federal Emergency and Management Agency and the Division of Finance will be present to work with victims who have not received the whole of insurance settlements from claims filled after the storm.
Memorial honors 9/11, 5/22 victims
University President Bruce Speck summed up the feelings of everyone in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center as he opened the 9/11 memorial service on Sunday. "For those who do not understand the power of freedom and the goodness of this country, let them come to Joplin," he said.
Joplin city officials have been under fire regarding the controversy surrounding Travis Tritt's withdrawal from a concert to remember 9/11. Tritt decided not to perform at the show after public backlash, releasing a statement to the city saying that he had just learned where the money was coming from, and that he, "will not have any part of any memorial service or remembrance that is not based in the truth or could hurt other victims.
In 1997, the alumni center at Missouri Southern implemented a program to introduce children of former students to the Southern experience. Scott Meeker, an intern at the time, played a big role in the development of Legacy Days. "The goal was to give potential students an idea of what Southern has to offer," he said.
Construction at Hearnes Hall has caused traffic congestion and inconvenience for students and faculty alike. According to those in the financial aid office, the hassle is well worth it. "We are very, very excited about the renovations on the first floor," Becca Diskin, financial aid director, said.
Blood drive coming to campus next week
Giving a pint of blood and about an hour of one's time is all it takes to save three lives. The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will sponsor a blood drive to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday on the third floor of Billingsly Student Center.
Governor Jay Nixon discusses plan to switch college funding to merit-based
The way colleges and universities receive money from the state will change in the next couple of years, but it isn't clear what the effect will be on Missouri Southern. A state committee is working on a performance-based funding system, according to Gov.
Friday and Saturday, the stars will be out in Joplin. Even in daylight. Stars of Hope will be in town spreading a message of healing, beauty and community through crafts. "We're encouraging families, children, all community members to come out and paint a star," Sandy Lovett, MSSU Resource Center director said.
The city of Joplin will mourn with citizens of New York on Sunday at a memorial service in honor of those lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The day will be filled with remembrance and celebration as we remember one tragedy while still recovering from our own.
Graduate students from the department of radiology at Missouri Southern received scores back from their certification tests, showing outstanding results. This year was the 10th consecutive year with 100 percent of students passing on the first attempt.
Less than an hour. That short time represents the space between the last of about 460 Joplin High School seniors crossing the stage at the 2011 graduation ceremonies and an EF-5 tornado touching down in Joplin. This graduating class will have their special day marked as one of tragedy.
Missouri Southern's state appropriations were recently reduced by nearly $2 million. "It was widely known early in fiscal year 2011 that higher education would likely suffer an appropriation decrease in the state budget for fiscal year 2012," said Jeff Gibson, director of budgeting and operations, said.
Missouri Southern students weren't exempt from being affected by the May 22 tornado. As such, the Advising, Counseling and Testing Services office on campus has been deeply involved in helping students recover. Heather Bullock, a clinical counselor with ACTS, has been at the forefront of that service.
May 22, a normal, lazy Sunday, no more remarkable than any other. I was reading a magazine and watching TV, thoroughly enjoying myself until my phone started going crazy. I sighed and reached for it. I hadn't even reached the phone when the lights flashed.
Missouri Southern's tornado memorial Aug. 28 concluded with an announcement from University President Bruce Speck that a scholarship fund will be created in the names of those who lost their lives in the tornado. "Carmen [Speck, wife] and I determined that we would help support a scholarship in the name of our three heroes [Dr.
Students, employees rally to support dismissed instructor
Solidarity with T.R. Hanrahan. That was the message May 6 as students, faculty and staff gathered at the flagpole.
Next year's executive committee also elected
In the Senate's May meeting, Faculty Senators adopted a resolution that commended Chart Adviser T.R. Hanrahan on his five years at Southern.
Long-time learner, folk singer gets his degree next week
It was the summer of 1969 when Forest Bridges took his first class at MSSU.
Next week, he's finally going to graduate.
Missouri Southern has recognized retiring employees with a combined total of 779 years of service to the school.
Those being honored include...
Today students on Missouri Southern's campus have been reaping the benefits of the CBORD one-card system in the form of their Lion Cards this year.
Service projects are nothing new for Kappa Sigma members at Missouri Southern.
This semester they pulled out one of their older tricks, the 48-hour Swing-A-Thon.
Chart adviser and journalism instructor T.R. Hanrahan has been notified by University officials that he will not be retained for the 2011-2012 school year after five years on the job.
When drafting a new Student Senate Constitution this past year, the idea was to have document that surpassed the old in terms of clarity.
Next week, the student body will get its chance to vote whether they approve.
Since his second week at Missouri Southern in fall 2008, Johnathan Saunders has always been a part of Student Senate. In next week's elections, students can choose whether to vote him in as the next academic year's Senate President.
The Outstanding Leader Award was presented to Darrell Sour, senior marketing major, at the 20th annual Dolence Leadership/Service Recognition Assembly.
The Missouri Southern Speech and Debate squad finished 4th nationally out of 94 schools in the team sweepstakes at the 40th National Forensics Association (NFA) National Championships held April 14-18 in Normal, Ill. 26 states were represented at the championships.
The Alliance of Southwest Missouri has expanded its efforts for this year's first Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet drug take-back.
Stiles interviews Hall of Fame honorees
The upcoming edition of the Newsmakers interview program on KGCS-TV features a couple of milestones and well-recognized local journalists, the recent Southern Regional Media Hall of Fame award winners.
For the second year in a row, Missouri Southern has had the honor of educating a student chosen for a Missouri League for Nursing scholarship.
Southern Symphony Orchestra director Dr. Kexi Liu has announced recently that an internationally renowned violinist, Chuanyun Li, will perform with the orchestra on May 5. On the program is Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D, one of the greatest violin concertos ever written, as well as Sarasate's popular virtuoso piece Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs).
The Percussion Ensemble Concert will be one of many various end-of-year concerts for the Missouri Southern music department.
Up for a vote next week
Student Senate's new constitution is up for a vote May 3-5. Check it out here before you head to the polls.
Southern standout headed for german team, Red Kangaroos
Skyler Bowlin had better invest in some German lessons. Actually, he won't have to pay a dime, ahem, a euro for them.
Board members say $20 tuition increase will keep Missouri Southern out of the red
Tuition and student fees are increasing at Missouri Southern.
The University's Board of Governors on April 15 approved increasing tuition to $163 per credit hour, a $20 hike. The Board also approved increasing out-of-state tuition to $326 per credit hour, a distance education fee increase from $50 to $60 per credit hour, an increase in application fees from $15 to $25 and a distance learning library fee of $4 per credit hour.
Missouri Southern will be hosting an art show titled "Dedication" featuring the creative works of three senior art major students. The show will run from May 2 - 6 at the Spiva Art Gallery.
Groups join to promote sexual assault awareness
For sexual assault awareness month, two local organizations are partnering to help victims of sexual assault.
Missouri Southern Director of Athletics Jared Bruggeman has announced that former Texas Tech and Missouri State-West Plains head coach Trish Knight has been selected to be the sixth head coach in the history of Missouri Southern volleyball. "Trish rose from an extremely talented pool of coaching candidates and her previous record speaks for itself," Bruggeman said.
"If I speak for the dead, I must leave / this animal of my body, / I must write the same poem over and over, / for the empty page is a white flag of their surrender." These words come from the poem "Author's Prayer" by Ilya Kaminsky.
Kaminsky, an award-winning poet, will be reading from his work on Thursday, April 28, in Spiva Library, room 214, at 7 p.m. Kaminsky will be reading his work for the annual Saltzman Series for Visiting Writers at Missouri Southern.
Next Tuesday Missouri Southern is expecting bids for a roofing project involving Webster Hall and Hughes Stadium.
Students share their experiences with sixth graders
When South Middle School teacher Lisa Bock wanted to give her sixth graders a more memorable experience in her geography and cultures class, she called on Missouri Southern's own international students to pay her class a visit.
Couple juggles a baby, school
Husband and father Joseph Hobbs sits bouncing the baby in his arms and burping him as drool soaks into his shirt. He doesn't seem to mind. His wife, Amanda Hobbs, has her eye on the baby the whole time.
On Feb. 20 this year, Amanda, senior general studies major with an emphasis in linguistics, gave birth to Gabriel Hobbs.
Simpson: proud of accomplishments, eager for full-time teaching
A desire to return to full-time teaching has led Dr. Dale Simpson to announce his resignation as head of the English Department at Missouri Southern.
Plays written, directed by students to hit Walton Theatre stage next week
Every other year, the theater department holds the One-Act Play Festival to showcase the talents of the department's students.
Survey says faculty feel unsupported by Board, President
Though most faculty still say they are proud members of Missouri Southern, a recent faculty satisfaction survey points to issues with the school's leadership.
April 5 marked the 25th anniversary of Missouri Southern's KXMS Radio station, which has been known to play classical music.
Senates discuss smoke-free campus
If a campus-wide smoking ban is in Missouri Southern's future, the seeds for it were planted at this week's Faculty Senate meeting.
During the Student Senate representative's report, the Faculty Senators discussed the logistics of a smoking ban on campus, or even expanding it to a tobacco ban which would prohibit chewing tobacco as well.
Work continues on three construction and renovation projects at Missouri Southern.
Governors set next year's tuition in April
It's still another month until the Missouri Southern Board of Governors sets next year's tuition, but the governors weighed some possibilities in their retreat on March 18-19.
Plan now includes six goals and 21 objectives; will guide MSSU for 5 years
Vice President for Academic Affairs AJ Anglin presented Missouri Southern's Board of Governors with a completed strategic plan document during the Board's annual retreat on March 18.
Governance plan 90% done
Work continues on a shared governance plan at Missouri Southern, even as a team from the Higher Learning Commission prepares for a focus visit next week to measure progress made by the University.
Two distinguished speakers will address graduates, their families and guests at Missouri Southern's 56th Commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 21 at Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Talent show sees 19 competitors
Singing, drumming, dancing, piano playing and guitar jamming. Those talents were all represented at the 2011 MSSU Talent Show on March 15 in Taylor Auditorium.
Fundraiser attracts 30 to get heads shaved
On Thursday, March 17, the Missouri Southern State University Student Senate teamed with the St. Baldrick's Foundation to fight and conquer cancer in children.
Counseling staff members at Missouri Southern are pushing for success through the use of student services and the hope of high retention.
Over the past 10 to 12 years, Southern's retention rate has been bouncing back and forth, usually nearing around 60 percent, often approaching 80 percent.
Board to discuss HLC focused visit, graduate programs, distance learning
It's the time of year again for the annual Board of Governors retreat, a time for the governors to take a more in-depth look at Missouri Southern's issues.
Access policy gets modification to allow more access
Following outcry from fine arts students over Missouri Southern's newly enforced access policy, the school may have a solution that will allow the fine arts students to work late while ensuring their safety.
Enrollment dips by 78 students to 5,353, freshmen, out-of-state numbers increase
Missouri Southern's enrollment numbers have decreased this semester, but those numbers are expected to fluctuate every so often.
It was a long and arduous process, but Missouri Southern's new website has gone live.
Faculty Senate voted to approve a faculty satisfaction survey during the March 7 meeting. The goal is to conduct the survey and post its results before the Higher Learning Commission's focused visit on April 4-5.
Career expo brings opportunities
Area employers and students gathered March 9 in the Billingsley Student Center on the Missouri Southern campus for the Spring Job Expo.
St. Patrick's Day is rapidly approaching, and it has been decided that it's a great day to go bald.
Southern student runs pizza business
For Michael Horton, making pizza has always been a part of life.
Document details progress for Higher Learning Commission
They came. They saw. They accredited.
Three years later, the Higher Learning Commission is coming to see Missouri Southern again.
The past idea of constructing an electric sign on campus is looking possible in Missouri Southern's future.
Students make the calls
Missouri Southern alumni's and friends' phone lines were a-ringing Feb. 20 through March 3 during the MSSU phonathon, put on to raise money for urgent or strategic needs on campus.
Fair might have the job for you
It's that time of year again; time for students to put on their business attire, fine tune the résumé and prepare to network.
The implementation of a new access policy that prohibits students from working in buildings unsupervised after hours and on weekends continues to draw their ire.
Athletics: Baseball stadium will be constructed during first phase
The Robert W. Plaster Foundation continues to give back to Missouri Southern.
At last week's Board of Governors meeting, it was announced that the University would be receiving "two seven-figure gifts," primarily to begin construction of an on-campus baseball field, a multi-purpose athletic facility near Fred G. Hughes Stadium and renovations to the stadium.
Forum on pseudoephedrine sees representatives from community
The over-the-counter drug pseudoephedrine could become a prescription drug if the Joplin City Council decides to take action.
With this semester's career fair just around the corner, the Career Services department has an event planned next week to prepare students for the event.
Loose change can really add up, or at least that's the hope of members of Missouri Southern's Kappa Sigma. The fraternity is holding a Penny War next week in the Lion's Den, and it's a battle of the sexes.
Show set for March 15, $300 first prize
Anybody wanting to sign up for this semester's MSSU Talent Show needs to apply by Monday, Feb. 28. The show won't be until March 15, but students need to apply now so they can audition in time.
Feb. 15 started the second semester of the Wellness Series.
Students draft letter to Speck
More than 80 individuals have joined a group on the popular social networking website Facebook urging University officials to lift a new policy limiting access to campus buildings.
Nearly a year after Darren Fullerton took over as interim vice president for student affairs, the search is on for someone to fill the post permanently.
Whether the University will increase tuition again remains to be seen.
Hearnes Hall renovation continues to make ‘one-stop shop’
Anyone walking into Hearnes Hall's second floor during the past few weeks probably noticed that the ceiling wasn't entirely there. The third floor's renovation included some asbestos removal, but Bob Harrington, director of the physical plant, said there is really nothing to worry about.
A video created by Kisa Clark and Michael "Woody" Woodruff has been selected as a finalist in a national competition.
The video, depicting activities during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service at Missouri Southern, is one of four finalists in the North Carolina Campus Compact MLK Technology Challenge & Photo Contest.
Printing fees have students printing less, from different locations
Since Missouri Southern's introduction of printing costs in the fall of 2010, most faculty find it has been a positive change, whereas students have found it to be quite an adjustment.
A document detailing Missouri Southern's progress in shared governance and strategic planning was finished and submitted to the Higher Learning Commission. The HLC, an accrediting body, is visiting Southern in April to evaluate those two areas.
February is known for Valentine's Day, the day for couples to celebrate their love. MOSO Week Squad, however, decided that February could hold a lot more love than that. They arranged three weeks into "Love Yourself," "Love Your Partner" and "Love Your Body."
Most students probably do not know anything other than University Java and a computer lab occupy the bottom floor of George A. Spiva Library. But, if a student were to walk in the main entrance of the bottom floor and venture to the very back, this is where they will find the University Archives and the man who manages them.
DEAR KATE
"Dear Kate" is a student-run advice column. If you need some advice, submit your question or comment anonymously to Kate at inmank002@my-mail.mssu.edu.
One fellow communications major offered me this question.
"I need help getting laid, any advice?"
Representatives from a wide variety of businesses, graduate schools, law enforcement agencies, military services and others all showed up for Career Day Wednesday at Missouri Southern.
It is a great opportunity for MSSU students and alumni to get "real world" information about a variety of career fields from representatives of various organizations and many students took advantage of this opportunity.
ON THE CALENDAR
Pink is for more than 5-year-old princesses in the month of October. Pink is also the color of support in October during the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month for those who have been affected by breast cancer.
The goals of the NBCAM organization are awareness, education and empowerment. Reaching out for 26 years, the NBCAM strives to be a year-round resource of support and encouragement for cancer patients, survivors, families and the general public. The disease affects more than just the currently diagnosed.
LOCAL THEATRE
Stone's Throw Dinner Theatre's performance of Same Time, Next Year, will not be the first time for director Bill Welsh.
Same Time, Next Year made its first Broadway appearance in 1975. In 1978, it was adapted into a film starring Alan Alda (M*A*S*H) and Ellen Burstyn. Even with big shoes to fill and expectations to live up to, Welsh has performed as George, which influenced his decision to direct the play, but it isn't easier.
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The fifth selection in the Brasil Film Festival, Bye Bye Brazil, directed by Carlos Diegues, has received several recommendations from outside sources.
Bill Kumbier, professor of English, is not familiar with the film, but chose to allow it to be viewed for the Brazil semester.
‘Government’ enforces censorship against violent writings with violence
A play of worldwide fame is coming soon to Missouri Southern.
Martin McDonagh, known for various black comedies, wrote The Pillowman, which has gained international acclaim for looking at censorship.
"It's a play is really one of the most popular plays in the world right now," said Tim Klein, assistant professor of theatre. "It started at the National Theatre of England in 2003 starring some pretty big-name actors. It was on Broadway in 2005 with Jeff Goldblum and Billy Crudup, and since then it's been everywhere."
Our Opinion
The administration keeps tinkering, and it was on display during Monday's Faculty Senate meeting.
Student representative Lauren Alumbaugh told the Senate that student senators want to be more involved in faculty committees.
Our Opinion
Teenagers and students across the country are killing themselves — why?
Because they are harrassed and ridiculed for their sexual orientation.
Our opinion
On the surface, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's call for program review makes sense.
The state is locked in a fiscal crisis and higher education institutions are preparing for cuts in appropriations.
The belt has to be tightened, but academic program review isn't the right way.
Graduation is normally a fun and exciting time for most people.
It's a celebration of a completion of hard work, time, and dedication. I'm not in this boat.
As my education journey is nearing its completion I feel more of a puzzled feeling than a sense of jubilation.
Last week, a reader addressed some concerns with my column about the tea parties.
I wish to address those claims.
I was informed that the Heritage Foundation was the official website of the tea party from tea party members, one of which was my father who argued with me about the publication of the piece for a week and believed that sending me to the site would change my stance. It strengthened it. Either way, I do recall mentioning the disorganization of the party.
The biology club gathered on Missouri Southern's 40 acres of native prairie to raise awareness on the significance of the area.
Students and the community were able to join an informational walk through the property at the Northeast corner at the intersection of Newman and Duquesne roads. With four conservationists from the Missouri Department of Conservation, walkers were able to learn more about the importance of prairies.
In 300 words...
He fights because he likes the competition.
He fights to test himself.
He fights because it's something he's good at.
And he fights because it's, well, fun.
Marketing majors in Dr. Scott Cragin's Marketing Strategies course are getting a rare opportunity this fall. The students are partnering with Andy Williams' Moon River Theater and Moon River Grill of Branson, Mo., to create a marketing plan for the business.
Last weekend, the Missouri Southern forensics squad brought home some hardware.
The team took first place in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the "74 Swing" tournament Oct. 1-3 in Normal, Ill.
STUDENT SENATE
In Wednesday afternoon's Student Senate meeting, the Senate voted to send a resolution it had drafted to the Board of Governors.
This resolution was regarding the University's new policy of charging students to print on campus. Most senators said the issue taken with the policy was not paying to print, but the fact that in order to print, students must put a minimum of $25 on their account.
Missouri Southern became the only university or college in Missouri to receive a U.S. Department of Education Emergency Management for Higher Education (EMHE) grant this year.
Friday, Oct. 1 Sandra Lovett, Southern Grant Writer, announced MSSU's receipt of an EMHE grant in the amount of $401,981.
The EMHE grant program was created to provide resources to higher education institutions to prepare for many different disasters and threats. The grant helps for development, improvement and integration of campus-based emergency management planning.
FACULTY SENATE
Monday's Faculty Senate meeting saw a group come together with one cause: resurrect the Spanish Village.
In the last half hour of the meeting, Dr. Chad Stebbins, director of the institute of international studies, made an appeal to the Faculty Senate to support Missouri Southern's state-mandated international mission in the next few years of dwindling state appropriations.
At least 15 programs face elimination and must justify continuing. No final decisions have been made
The process of statewide program evaluation has accelerated, and 15 programs at Missouri Southern now face uncertain futures.
AJ Anglin, Southern's vice president for academic affairs, held a meeting with department heads Wednesday morning and informed them of the programs not meeting state evaluation criteria. The topic was the main draw during a question and answer session with faculty Anglin hosted Wednesday afternoon.
A group of Joplin community members has created a nonprofit group aimed at bringing a medical school to the area.
Less than a year ago remarks made by a member of Missouri Southern's Board of Governors served as a catalyst for the University's Equality Alliance.
Still whining about how far you have to drive to school? Talk to Skylit Grady-Weaver. She makes a one hour and 40 minute drive from Arkansas every day to be a part of Missouri Southern's dental hygiene program.
"I'm determined," said Grady-Weaver, junior dental hygiene major, who chose Southern for the newly constructed Health Sciences building.
"You just like (the classes), so you just (drive) it," she said.
And Grady-Weaver isn't the only student who appreciates the program, a two-year "intense" hands-on training with one year of pre-requisites.
Calling on colleges and universities to adopt a higher education agenda focusing on "ambitious goals" that serves the needs of both the state's workforce and economic development opportunities, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon outlined his priorities during a speech last month at the Higher Education Summit.
After one failed search, Anglin becomes new VPAA, promises transparency
When it comes to higher education, AJ Anglin just can't stay away.
Over the summer months, Anglin was named Missouri Southern's Vice President for Academic Affairs, a position without a permanent replacement since John Messick left the post in summer 2009. Anglin has previously worked for six other universities, but considers Southern his "last hurrah."
"This would be my last show … my capstone experience," Anglin told a room of faculty last May when interviewing for the VPAA position.
Brenda Barger-Saunders is a second-year respiratory therapy student at Missouri Southern.
At first glance, she's just another non-traditional student. But in reality, she is a woman anybody could look up to.
This fall, Bargar-Saunders will receive the first installment of her Pearson Prize for High Education. The Pearson Prize is a $10,000 grant given to students who have completed at least one year of college, demonstrate leadership in community service and have attended a two or four-year school.
The flu season is upon us, and it is important to be aware of what our campus offers to keep us healthy. According to information provided by Pam Hosp, office manager of Willcoxon Health Center, the flu causes thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year. The health center has prepared to fight this flu season off by providing flu vaccines for students and faculty. Hosp doesn't think H1N1 will be as big of a scare this year, but encourages people to get vaccinated to keep safe.
A chunk of concrete from the ceiling of the rental bookstore fell last week. No one was hurt, but workers are donning hard hats for now.
Students and members of PASS gathered Tuesday morning outside of the Beimdiek Recreation Center to mark the boundaries of the smoke-free zones on Missouri Southern's campus. The group drew a 50-foot arc around every major door on campus.
Students interested in earning a graduate degree from Missouri Southern could soon have more options.
The University is moving forward with the creation of its own graduate program, an idea that could reach fruition in as little as two years.
That's the word from Dr. Jo Kroll, Southern's new dean of graduate studies and lifelong learning, who began last month.
The Missouri Southern Faculty Senate decided Monday to create an ad hoc committee tasked with determining the procedures for creating a survey of faculty satisfaction.
The new Health Sciences Building boasts 85,000 square feet, making it the largest structure on Southern's campus. It houses training facilities for dental hygiene, kinesiology, radiology, nursing, respiratory care and psychology. It's also by far Southern's most technologically advanced building, with Interactive Television classrooms, numerous mannequins for student practice and an atmosphere as real as walking through an actual hospital or dentist‘s office.
Missouri Southern's unrestricted cash continues to grow and exceed expectations, treasurer Linda Eis reported to the Board of Governors on Aug. 20.
The preliminary unaudited June 2010 unrestricted cash is currently at $12.3 million, a number Eis called "amazing."
Missouri Southern has reached a three-year agreement with adidas USA, making the company Southern's sole provider for apparel in the athletics department.
"It's a really good thing, certainly for Missouri Southern athletics and for our student athletes and our boosters and fans," Athletics Director Jared Bruggeman said.
As service learning becomes more of a staple on the Missouri Southern campus, the career services department has organized a few volunteer events for the early fall 2010 semester.
The 2010 Serve-A-Thon will be held Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Career Development Day is Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to Southern's service learning coordinator Tara Clark.
Judy Stiles, general manager of KGCS-TV, was selected last month as one of the 15 Most Influential Women of 2010 by Joplin Tri-State Business, a journal focusing on the local business community.
Candidates will visit campus next week
After a month of build-up, a search committee narrowed 24 candidates down to three finalists for the vice president of academic affairs position.
Class sizes have been the hot topic with faculty over the past few weeks, and they were debated with administration during the April 29 annual all-faculty meeting.
The flyers around campus and Styrofoam cups stuck in the fence in front of the criminal justice building told students the time for Student Senate elections was here again.
University President Bruce Speck and a top administrator scoffed at faculty efforts to evaluate their performance, according to e-mails obtained by The Chart as part of an open-records request.
The architectural firm hired to design a medical school building at Missouri Southern has been put on hold "indefinitely."
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