Current Issue: Volume 16 - Number 18 - Feb.1, 2002
Poet/author's centennial celebrated with citywide observances Today, Friday, Feb 1, is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Joplin-born poet/author, Langston Hughes. The celebration of Hughes' birth began as early as 6 a.m. this morning in the city and will continue through early evening with a special birthday observance at Joplin's Memorial Hall.
A variety of events, including the dedication of a bust of Hughes by Nicole and Dewane Hughes, Art, at the Joplin Public Library and the presentation of a Hughes stamp (left) have already taken place.
An academic conference featuring the reading of papers and deliving presentations on the life and works of Langston Hughes is underway. Researchers and teachers from colleges and universities throughout the United States are taking part. The conference will last through tommorrow evening's appearance by Mike Rodgers, English, "as" Langston Hughes at 7 p.m. in Webster Hall Auditorium. A reception will follow in the Spiva Art Gallery of MSSC.
Today is "Langston Hughes Reading Day" in the city. Groups and individuals are reading The Dream Keeper in a number of locations including:
· 6 a.m., Great American Bagel, 732 Rangeline Road;
· 7 a.m., Carver Nursery School, 520 School Street;
· 8 a.m., Joplin City Hall, 303 E. 3rd Street;
· 9 a.m. ,-12 Noon Joplin Public Library, 300 Main Street;
· Noon-3 p.m., Spiva Library, MSSC, Newman & Duquesne Roads; and
· 3-6 p.m., Northpark Mall, 101 Rangeline Road.
Tonight, a "Birthday Bash" will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall Auditorium, 8th and Joplin Streets. The event will feature special guest Arnold Rampersad, the noted biographer of Langston Hughes, with entertainment by poet Quincy Troupe, music by Jeff Robinson Trio, and a student presentation. Cake and refreshments will be served. The readings and the Memorial Hall birthday bash are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dale Simpson, Bryan Vescio or Doris Walters, English, at ext. 9377.Come enjoy the java, the poetry, the fun
Please encourage your students to join the Langston Hughes Centennial Celebration. Students can drop by the coffee shop in the Spiva library from 12-3 p.m., today, Friday, Feb.1, to enjoy readings from Hughes' prose and poetry. Faculty, students and members of the Joplin community will entertain and delight the audience with their presentation of Hughes' work. Faculty are also welcome to join in the fun.
Holden appoints Brooks as newest Regent
Missouri Gov. Bob Holden has announced the appointment of Douglas A. Brooks of Joplin to Missouri Southern State College's Board of Regents. Appointments to the Board must be confirmed by the state Senate. Brooks, 58, replaces Jane B. Wyman, whose term on the board expired last year. Mrs. Wyman was appointed to a judgeship late last year by Governor Holden. Douglas Brooks currently works in private practice in psychology in Joplin. He consults for Elm Acres Youth Home, the Carthage Police Department and the Neosho Police Department. From 1979 to 1994 he was director of the Clark Community Mental Health Center (formerly the Barry-Lawrence County Counseling Center). Brooks received his bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University, his master's degree from Central Missouri State University and his doctorate from the University of Arkansas.
Kimuna awarded grant
The Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education awarded Sitawa Kimuna, Social Sciences, a grant of $200 to be used toward "Careers in Aging Week 2002" activities to be held from April 8-12. This is the first time that sociology of aging students and MSSC will participate in the program. The aim of the proposed activities during the week is to provide an opportunity for students, professionals in the field of aging and the older people to come together to discuss current activities in the field. The activities will also provide insights into the professions and skills that are required to work in the aging field as well as provide students with an understanding of the range of services that can and should be developed to meet older people's needs.
Foundation Phonathon in full swing
This year's 20th Annual Phonathon theme is "2002 in 2002". Curt Betebenner, Foundation Director, says the effort is in full swing. He says a team of 20 students making calls. The first two weeks they are getting comfortable with making calls and talking to our Alumni. Callers are making contacts with Alumni only this week and will expand to faculty, friends and business in the next two weeks. "We expect to pick up the pace next week as we start to reach some of our prior donors," Curt says. "This year's goal is to increase the number of pledges received over the phone from 1467 last year to 2002 pledges this year."Education majors expanding horizons
Five education majors at will expand their educational horizons through an International Student Teaching program in England. They will spend their first teaching session in local schools and teach their second session in Southampton, England. From April 15-May 17 the five student teachers in the International Student Teaching program will be in Southampton. Nicole Boone and Laurie Palmer will teach at the Townhill Junior School. Randolf Dunn and Linda Phipps will teach at the King Edward VI School. Katrina Randolph will teach at the Cantell School. In addition to their classroom experiences, they will be exposed to a variety of cultural aspects of England, Scotland and other parts of Europe when they plan to visit nearby Stonehenge, the cities of Paris, London, and nation of Ireland. Elaine Freeman, Teacher Education, will accompany the students. Sixty-two education majors are engaging in their student teaching "professional semester" in the teacher education program. The experience is one of the requirements for graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in education (BSE). All of the teacher candidates will be in classrooms for 10 weeks under the supervision of a certified teacher. The student teachers must have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 2.5 GPA in their majors; pass all sections of a comprehensive core curriculum exam covering areas such as social studies, math, language arts, and science; have an ACT of 20 or higher; and write an autobiography.
SIFE teaching young students money management
Money management: It's one of life's most important skills but one often passed over for young students. The MSSC chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) will begin an effort next week to help a group of area sixth graders invest their money wisely. James Gray, Dean of the School of Business Administration and SIFE adviser will speak to the students involved in the project from Thursday, Feb. 7 at Webb City Middle School. Initial sessions will focus on such basics as managing money, setting up a checking or savings account and making responsible financial choices. Later in the semester, the students will be divided into groups and allotted $1000 each," he says. They will 'buy' stock shares of their choice from ten corporations. Over the next few weeks the students will buy, sell and track the movement of their stocks. To evaluate our teaching and their learning progress students are given a pre-test at the beginning of the session and a post-test at the end." SIFE is an international organization that is dedicated to helping students of all ages become aware of the concepts of free enterprise, whether it be by teaching, learning or practicing. This non-profit organization has teams on over 750 college and university campuses in the United States and more than 1000 campuses in 23 countries around the world.
Respiratory Therapy program awarded grant
The MSSC Respiratory Therapy Program has been awarded a grant worth over $20,000 in technology, training and support from Advanced Respiratory (the makers of the Vest Airway Clearance System). Each grant included one "Vest" system, an airway clearance curriculum package and a professional development seminar for one instructor from the program. The cost for transportation, lodging and meals during the March seminar in Reno, Nev., will be covered by Advanced Respiratory. "We feel very fortunate to have been one of the respiratory therapy schools awarded such a generous grant package" says Glenda Pippin, R.T.
FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
Larry Cebula, Social Sciences, published an essay, "A Counterfeit Identity: The Notorious Life of Stephen Burroughs" in the current issue of the journal, The Historian. He also presented a paper, “ ‘They Do Not Have Much Occasion for Our Supplies:’ Plateau Indians and the Fur Trade, 1812-1850” at the Western History Conference in San Diego in October.
Dewane Hughes, Art, had his sculpture work Tracheotomy Gut selected by Juror Janice Driesbach, Director of the Sheldon Museum of Art in Omaha Neb.,. to be part of the Fred Wells 25th Annual International Juried Exhibition at Nebraska Wesleyan University. The show runs from March 27-April 28 with an opening reception from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, April 7.
Dewane Hughes, Art, had had three sculptures, (Hydra, Meter/Measure, and Fan Piece) accepted into the Sioux City Art Center's "58th Annual Juried Exhibition", judged by Kevin Sharp from the Norton Museum of Art. The exhibit runs from April 13-June 9 with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m., Saturday, April13.
Bud Clark, Pete Havely, Rusty Raymond, Susan Smith and Chuck Thelen, Music, attended the recent Missouri Music Educators' Convention at the Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
Pat Lipira, Jean Hobbs, Sheri Beeler, and Donna O'Keefe, Dept. of Kinesiology, attended the Polar/HealthFirst Teaching and Learning Institute at Central Missouri State University, Jan. 25-26. The "Trainer of Trainers" format was designed to train individuals in using the new HealthFirst MAP TriFIT software for physical fitness assessment. The software is designed to assist teachers in recording student fitness results and providing meaningful communication with students and parents in accordance with the Missouri Assessment Program guidelines.
The Missouri Southern Forensics team just competed at the National Pi Kappa Delta Championships in St. Louis, Jan 25-28. Kelly Larson, Forensics, says we finished the tournament 1st through 4th in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Additionally, MSSC placed 5th as a team overall. The team continues to work toward the national championships won last year at Western Kentucky.
Robert McDermid, Psychology, recently led a session entitled "Retirement: A New Stage of Life" at a pre-retirement workshop for regional employees of Empire Electric Company.
Senior Assessment Day will be held Feb.20 with a session for evening students Feb. 28, according to Jennifer Weeks, Institutional Research & Assessment. Students need to take the Assessment Test in order to graduate.
CLASSIFIED
For Sale: HP 656C Inkjet Printer. Got at Xmas. Used twice. Has new color and black cartridges. $40. Contact Mike Yates at ext. 9333.
For Sale: Beautiful Dean acoustic guitar with built-in electronic pickup and case, $298. Also, Charles Banks Wilson's signed, dated, framed lithograph, "Boy Fishing" for a mere $220. Call ext. 9506 or 359-5980.
For Sale: 2000 Cougar Black with V6, 5 speed and CD Player 35,000 miles. Nice car for only $13,500. Call Linda at ext. 9381 or 782-5847 or Joy at 348-8177
For Sale: 1993 Ford Areostar LXT, V-6, 4-wheel drive minivan, loaded, rear air, new tires. Runs and drives great. $2995. Also have a1993 Pontiac Grand Am SE 4-cylinder, twin-cam, new motor, two new tires, sporty bucket seats. Runs and drives great. $2299.00 Contact ext. 9668 or (417)-548-7217.
