Current Issue: Volume 17 - Number 2 - July 17, 2002
Southern posts record summer session
More students are attending the summer session at Missouri Southern than at any time in the College's history! Summer 2002 census figures indicate both the highest-ever enrollment and credit hour totals. Delores Honey, Assistant Vice President for Assessment and Institutional Research, says the jump over last year's record figures is due to increases in full-time and part-time students and more out-of-state students.
Figures released to the state show a total of 2,104 students compared to last year's 1,960. Total summer credit hours amount to 9,911 beating the previous all-time summer high of 9,431 hours, set last summer. The figures are based on the official census for the summer semester.
Regents Approve Budget for 2002-2003 The Missouri Southern State College Board of Regents approved a $48.5 million budget for 2002-2003 at its regular June meeting. While revenue from state appropriations reflects a 10 percent core reduction, revenue from student tuition reflects the increases the Board of Regents instituted last spring to make up for cuts and withholdings in appropriations from the state. President Julio León said: "This year we will witness an unprecedented situation; for the first time in history the revenues the College will receive from tuition will be greater than the appropriations from the state." Tuition revenues will account for $20.4 million while state appropriations will be $19.2 million. Included in the budget is a 2 percent salary and wage increase for College personnel. The College also had to budget an additional $300,932 for increased costs in health care. The College also decreased departmental budgets by $250,000. Also budgeted for the year is $250,000 for the construction of traffic lights on Newman and Duquesne Roads. "We just finished the worst year in the history of Missouri Southern from a fiscal standpoint," Dr. León stated. "Altogether, we lost $3.7 million in cuts and withholdings of state appropriations. Luckily, thanks to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, academically, we had a very good year. That is something we should all be very proud of. I am confident that the years to come will be excellent years for Missouri Southern."
Reservations due July 22 for Carnegie Hall trip
The grand prize winner of the 2002 Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, Robert Henry, was awarded a Carnegie Recital Hall debut in addition to a $10,000 cash prize on the stage of Taylor Performing Arts Center at Missouri Southern in April. The debut is scheduled for Oct. 7. The Competition invites area citizens to participate in the Carnegie excursion that also includes time to enjoy the theater, sightseeing and shopping in New York City. The trip is scheduled for Oct. 4-8.
The group will depart from Springfield, and stay at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in the heart of Times Square. Group activities will include a Saturday brunch, a Broadway show and dinner at one of the unique restaurants in New York City. All participants will be guests of MSIPC for the Carnegie debut and reception held at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and the Marriott Marquis respectively. Empire District Electric Company of Joplin sponsors the debut and Arvest Bank/Walton Family Foundation underwrites the reception.
For more information on Henry, visit www.roberthenry.org.
Reservations are due July 22, 2002. For further details call the MSIPC office at 417.625.9755..
ISWNE holds annual conference at Southern
The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) held its annual conference at Missouri Southern June 26-30. About 100 editors and members of their families attended from Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the U.S., according to Chad Stebbins, ISWNE Executive Secretary and Director of the Institute of International Studies. Stebbins says the week featured a number of presentations on topics which included: Joplin's Colorful History and Scientific Wonders,by Brad Belk of the Joplin Museum Complex; Ozarks Culture & Folklore, by Drury/Crowder Instructor Kim McCully; Romancing the Mother Road, presented by Michael Wallis, author of Route 66: The Mother Road; and The Human Truman, a 45-minute monologue presented by Niel Johnson, retired archivist and oral historian from the Truman Library. All the presentations were free and open to the public.
Board reorganizes, Wilson assumes PresidencyGlenn D. Wilson, Joplin, assumed the Presidency of the Board of Regents at Missouri Southern when the Board reorganized during its meeting the evening of Thursday, June 27. Wilson was appointed to the Board in 1997. He succeeds Loretta Coburn, assistant principal at Joplin High School, whose term on the Board expires this year. Mrs. Coburn will continue serving on the Board pending action on a new appointment by Gov. Bob Holden. Wilson is president of Wilson Truck Leasing and a Jasper County farmer. He is a retired Army colonel and has served a previous term on the Missouri Southern Board of Regents (1978-1983). He was appointed in 1994 to fill the unexpired term of the late Elvin Ummel. He was Board President in 1996-97. He was appointed to a successive full term in 1997. Mr. Wilson attended Joplin Junior College and received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Pittsburg (Kan.) State University. Board Officers/Members:
- Glenn D. Wilson, Joplin, President (Term expires 2003)
- Dr. Charles McGinty, Joplin, President-Elect (Term expires 2004)
- Stephen Carlton, Carthage, Vice President (Term expires 2005)
- Elizabeth Deffenbaugh, Carthage (Term expires 2006)
- Dr. Douglas Brooks, Joplin (Term expires 2007)
- Loretta Coburn, Joplin (Term expires 2002: Will serve until the Governor appoints a new Regent.)
- Board Secretary: Nancy Messick, appointed by the Board
Spanish Language Village on campus this week
Villa Española, a Spanish Language Village, is being offered for the fifth year this week on campus. With more than 80 villagers, the session will continue through July 19. The Village offers a taste of Spanish-speaking cultures for 8- to 13-year-olds who spend a week on campus. Participants choose from residential or day camp. Villagers are learning basic Spanish language skills, culture, geography, history, songs, dances and crafts. "We also have an advanced level for campers who participated in previous camps," says Tatiana Karmanova, Communications, who oversees the annual project.
It's time for the summer concerts!
The Missouri Southern Choral Society will present two summer concerts this month. The Department of Music and Division of Lifelong Learning sponsor the concerts. The first concert will be at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 18 in Edward S. Phinney Recital Hall on the Missouri Southern campus. The second concert will take place at 3 p.m., Sunday, July 21 at the First Community Church, 15th and Murphy Boulevard in Joplin. The concerts, directed by Al Carnine, are free and open to the public.
The choir will perform a variety of literature, including Oh Sing a Joyful Song to God by Benedetto Marcello and 100 Years of Broadway, arranged by Mac Huff. The accompanist for the concert will be Eleanor McLemore. The concert will conclude with Proud to be an American by Louis Harris, featuring David Carnine on snare drum. Community singers from the region comprise the voice ensemble.
Fall Choral Society rehearsals begin Monday, Aug. 19 from 7-9 p.m. in Room 208 of the MSSC music building. The cost is $30. There is no audition to join but it is hoped that participants will have choir experience. An ability to read music is desirable, but not mandatory. To register, contact the Department of Lifelong Learning at (417) 625-9384.
More chances to see 'Redbirds' play
St. Louis Cardinal baseball fans in Southwest Missouri will have additional opportunities to see live telecasts of games, thanks to a special arrangement between KGCS-TV, Southern Instructional Television and the Cardinals. Cable systems in Lamar and Neosho will begin seeing Cardinal telecasts from KGCS-TV. The games will be seen on the Southern Instructional Television channels, cable channel 8 in Lamar (Cox Communications) and cable channel 12 in Neosho (Classic Cable). Games are currently seen over the air from KGCS-TV (UHF channel 57) on cable channel 7 in Joplin, Webb City and Carterville (CableOne), and on cable channel 7 in Carthage (Cox Communications). "We're glad to be able to provide these games to fans who would not otherwise see the over-the-air coverage," says Judy Stiles, KGCS-TV General Manager. KGCS-TV has served as the Joplin-area Cardinals affiliate for 15 years. Rhinehart artwork percolates despite enigmaWhere in the World Is, Paintings and Drawings by James D. Rhinehart, will be displayed at the Spiva Art Gallery at Missouri Southern through July 31. A mixture of surrealist and magic realist imagery, the works date from the early 1970s. James and Adele Thompson, current owners, say they purchased the works from an individual who obtained them at a storage auction in Houston, Texas. Other than that, they know little about the artist. Information that came with the works indicated that Rhinehart lived in New York. How and why the works came to be in Houston is a mystery. The mystery is heightened by the enigmatic imagery presented in the works. The artist juxtaposed elements of figure, geometric form, architecture, animals and landscape in an odd arrangement. Some of the subject matter is North African in its derivation. Other works make reference to the posed models and voyeur. The distorted form is complemented by discordant color. "An urban 1970s sensibility percolates throughout the works," says V.A. Christensen, Gallery Coordinator. "I wish I knew the answers to who, what, when and where in regard to the artist." The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday on the campus of MSSC. There is no admission fee and the public is welcome.
Down the Road to open theatre season
Down the Road, Lee Blessing's edgy drama about a husband-and-wife journalist team hired to interview a convicted serial killer, will open Southern Theatre's 2002-2003 theatre season. The play, directed by Kristopher Stoker, will be performed in the Bud Walton Theatre, Sept. 17-21. Four more offerings in the Bud Walton Theatre and two plays in the Taylor Performing Arts Center will be presented in 2002-2003. The season includes two children's theatre productions, a production for this fall's India Semester and student-directed one-acts.
Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party will be presented in the Bud Walton Theatre, Oct. 15-19. Amy Hollenberg will direct this drama abpit a man seeking refuge in a seaside resort.
Rakshasa's Ring, a special Southern Theatre production for the India Semester, will be presented in the Bud Walton Theatre Nov. 13-16. Directed by Lina Khoury, this intricate play is replete with political intrigue, spies, vendettas and tragedy.
Sam Claussen will direct Twas the Night Before Christmas, Southern Theatre's first children's matinee of the season, Dec.7-8 in Taylor Performing Arts Center.
The riveting Laramie Project comes to the Bud Walton Theatre, Jan. 21-25. Jay Fields will direct this new play by Moises Kaufman about the beating death of a homosexual college student.
Free to Be . . . You and Me is the second children's theatre offering of the season. It will be presented at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 22-23 in Taylor Performing Arts Center. This novel musical adaptation of Marlo Thomas' book opens children to the possibilities of who they can be in life. Gerrie-Ellen Johnston directs with music direction by Susan Smith.
The season wraps up April 16-19 in the Bud Walton Theatre with student-directed one-act plays.
For production information visit www.mssu.edu/theatre or call (417) 625-9393.
Van Fleet honored by Foundation, Regents
The Board of Regents and the Missouri Southern Foundation paid tribute to the memory of the late Herbert Van Fleet at the Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, June 27. Herbert Van Fleet was attorney for the college during its critical early years. He helped negotiate the purchase of the 230-acre Mission Hills estate where Missouri Southern is now located. He also played an instrumental role in the creation and development of the Missouri Southern Foundation, which oversees endowments and other charitable giving to the college. Foundation Director, Curt Betebenner, and John Tiede, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, asked the Board to recognize Van Fleet for his years of service to the College and to the Missouri Southern Foundation. The Board paid tribute to the late attorney by hanging his picture and a recognition plaque in the Missouri Southern Board Room. Present at the meeting were his son, Herbert Van Fleet of Tulsa and his daughter, Mrs. Sara Newman of Joplin.FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
Charles Nodler, Archivist, attended the Virtually Missouri Workshop, in Springfield, Missouri on May 23.Charles Nodler, Archivist, was recertified by the Academy of Certified Archivists until 2007.
An essay by Bill Kumbier, English, on E. T. A. Hoffmann's short story, "The Fermata," has been published in Criticism (Summer 2001 issue). A second article, on Hoffmann's "Councillor Krespel," has been accepted for publication in Studies in Romanticism.
Rod Surber, Public Information, earned APR (Accredited in Public Relations) renewal from the Public Relations Society of America. Maintenance of the accrediation designation is required every three years.
Art Saltzman, English, has had two essays accepted for publication, "The Cast of Characters" and "Some One-on-One," which will appear this fall in Black Warrior Review and Southeast Review, respectively.
CLASSIFIED
For Sale: Two-story home for sale located between Joplin and Carthage. 2000 sq. ft. on 4.5 acres in restricted sub-division. 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, formal living and dining rooms, family room, eat-in kitchen, utility room, and mud room. Paved road with private, paved drive; Joplin schools, propane, septic, and well. $150,000.Please contact Suzanne Carney at 625-3167 or 781-2946.
Rummage Sale: Huge sale at 2314 Wisconsin, Joplin, Thurs, Fri, Sat, July 25, 26, 27: Costume and vintage jewelry, cat collectibles, name brand baby, toddler and adult clothing, many baby items and toys. Contact ext. 9331 for details.
For Sale: Large good dog house $25, Also have bar set with four barstools. Contact 625-9770.
For Sale:1996 Ford Thunderbird LS. One-owner, 55,177 miles. power windows, power driver seat, climate control, V-6, excellent condition. Asking $6,900. Contact Vikki Spencer at evspencer@terraworld.net or telephone (620) 223-2022.
For Sale: 1998 Silver Creek 28' x 52' three bedroom 2 bath doublewide trailer in the Neosho area to be moved. Master bedroom has large bathroom with separate tub and shower. Stove and dishwasher go with the trailer and living area and bedrooms have ceiling fans. Blue over grey concrete siding Ready to set up and move into. Very nice house, $27,500. To see the house call extension 9315, (417) 592-0270 or (417)592-0271.
For Sale: 1997 Ford XLT 1/2 ton truck (new body sytle); one-owner; matching camper shell; 5-speed, V/6; approx. 121,000 miles; approx. 37,000 miles on Ford remanufactured engine; $6,500. Call 625-9518.
For Rent: Cute little house at 2317 Wall in Joplin. Has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, central heat & air stove, refrig, garbage disposal washer & dryer hook up $350. deposit, $475. per month rent (trash service paid). Call Pat at 649-6585.
For Sale: 1990 King 5th Wheel mobile home. Lots of space and amenities. $13,500 or best offer. Contact Suzanne Becker 782-0453.
