Accents! Missouri Southern State College Newsletter


Current Issue: Volume 18 - Number 3 - Sept. 5, 2003
Home Page INDEX Full Calendar Weekly Calendar Faculty/Staff Classifieds	9/11 survivor, Picciotto, to speak at Southern New York Fire Department Battalion Commander, Richard Picciotto, will share his personal story of the 9/11 tragedy with the presentation, "Last Man Down," scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10 in Leggett & Platt Auditorium. The presentation, sponsored by the MSSU Campus Activities Board, is free and open to the public. The highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse and the last fireman to escape the devastation, Richard "Pitch" Picciotto was on a stairwell between the sixth and seventh floors of the North Tower when it collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. His is the harrowing true story of an American hero, a man who gave nearly everything for others. On the morning of September 11, Pitch answered the call and, within minutes, was at Ground Zero, acting to save innocent lives as the Twin Towers began to burn. Already a veteran of fighting a similar battle at the World Trade Center in 1993, he found himself inside the North Tower, focusing his concentration on rescue efforts. But it was there in the smoky stairwells where he heard and felt the South Tower collapse. He then made the call for firemen and rescue workers to evacuate, while he stayed behind with a skeleton team of men to assist a group of disabled and infirm civilians in their struggle to evacuate the inferno. And it was there in the rubble of the North Tower where Pickett found himself buried for more than four hours. Having discovered members of his team and others were also alive, he and his men used their radios to send out Mayday calls. When the light finally appeared about four stories above, he climbed upwards, reached the top and saw the "unfathomable, mind-boggling destruction." It was not until after he organized the rescue of the others that he walked across the rubble to safety. Picciotto's book, Last Man Down, is a tribute to the 343 firefighters and 2,400 civilians that lay dead in the rubble on that day. The book was an immediate New York Times Best-Seller upon its release in May 2002. Chief Picciotto is also a former New York City police officer and has served as a fire marshal, arson investigator, lieutenant and captain, prior to becoming chief in 1992. He is a 28-year veteran of the FDNY and, for the past nine years, has presided over the Department's Battalion 11, covering Manhattan's Upper West Side. Today's Brown Bag Faculty and staff are invited to today's Brown Bag, titled Three Professors in Cuba: Perspectives on Cuba Today. The presentation features Barbara Box, Nursing, Ree Wells, Social Sciences and John Lewis, Business. The presentation will take place in Room 310 of the BSC. Lunch is free to those attending. So arrive around noon, get your lunch from the mini-buffet and prepare to enjoy the discussion. Dealership to make donation to Foundation Joplin's R&S Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership is working to involve itself in efforts to benefit Missouri Southern. Having already made donations to help MSSU's Athletic Department and other areas on campus, the dealership has made an additional proposal regarding auto sales. Rob Robertson, President of R&S, says that for each vehicle purchased in September and October by any member of the student body, faculty/staff or MSSU Lionbackers, the dealership will donate $100 to the Missouri Southern Foundation. The Foundation oversees charitable giving for MSSU efforts. Literary Lions' Book Club The Literary Lions' Book Club, sponsored by the Missouri Southern Alumni Association and the Spiva Library, is forming on campus. For a $25 donation, members of the club will be entitled to a 10% discount card at the University Java Coffee Shop, snacks at reading and film sessions, a personal journal and an ink pen. The deadline to join is Sept. 12. The club will feature the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte this September through November. An individual copy of the book will be donated to Spiva Library for each individual who joins the Literary Lions' Book Club. Members will meet at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18 for an introduction to the novel by Pat Murphy, English. The meeting will be held in the University Java Coffee Shop on the bottom floor of the Spiva Library. Members will gather again in the Coffee Shop at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 to discuss the novel. Finally, the Club will meet in the Video Lounge of the Mayes Student Life Center at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6 to enjoy popcorn and the showing of the movie Jane Eyre. Those wishing to join the group and take part in the activities should contact MSSU Alumni Office at (417) 625-9355. Active Living Seminar Friday, Sept. 12 Robert Sweetgall, who has walked across America 7 times and written 17 books on walking and health, will present an "Active Living Seminar" at MSSU on Friday, Sept. 12. Individual sessions will include such topics as "Walking to Lose Weight and Reduce Heart Disease Risk" and "Using Pedometers" along with a stride across the MSSU campus. Kinesiology and the Campus Wellness Office sponsor the seminar. For information, contact Pat Lipira at ext. 9573 no later than Sept. 9. Look for information in next Friday's "Accents!" Honey joins ACE Network Executive Board Delores Honey, Assessment & Institutional Research, was recently elected to the ACE Network Executive Board. She began her term of office in July, 2003. The American Council on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for higher education institutions in the United States. The Office of Women in Higher Education is a division of ACE. The Executive Board supports a national system of state networks for women in higher education by serving as liaisons to state planning boards, mentoring state coordinators, and advises OWHE on issues relating to identifying, developing, encouraging, advancing, leading and supporting women in higher education administrative careers. The Board, consisting of women presidents and senior-level administrators from across the United States, meets monthly by conference call and prior to the annual Leadership Conference for State Coordinators which the Board leads. This meeting is in conjunction with the annual conference for the entire ACE organization. In early August each year this Executive Board has a strategic planning retreat. Delores became a member of the Missouri Planning Committee in 1984. She became State Treasurer in 1996 and State Coordinator in 1999. Dr. León on Newsmakers MSSU President, Dr. Julio León, will discuss the new academic year in an upcoming Newsmakers interview program. Dr. León will reflect upon Southern's achieving University status. He also will talk about the changes and opportunities involved, including the statewide mission for international education and development of graduate programs. Newsmakers may be seen at 5:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 6 on KOAM-TV and at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12 on KOZJ-TV. Passion for the Ivories to air in coming days, weeks "Passion for the Ivories," a 30 minute documentary of the 2002 Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, will be broadcast on the following stations in the near future: Monday, Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m., KGCS Wednesday, Sept. 10, 5:30 p.m., KGCS Friday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m., KOZJ Sunday, Sept. 21, 2:30 p.m., Ozark Public Television (OPT) Vivian León, MSIPC, says the documentary reviews the activities of the 2002 competition, including concerts, Master Class and lecture-demonstration for area schools and competition rounds by pianists from around the world. Intense competition in both the Junior and Senior Divisions resulted in outstanding winners. Cash prizes of over $30,000 were awarded and the grand prizewinner Robert Henry presented a debut concert in Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City. The Competition is a nonprofit organization supported by contributions. Java, drinks, sandwiches and more! University Java Coffee Shop Bottom Floor, Spiva Library 7:30 a.m.- 9:30 p.m., Monday-Friday Jamail to speak on Cuban baseball this morning Dr. Milton Jamail will deliver the second of two presentations on baseball in Cuba today at MSSU. The presentations are sponsored by Missouri Southern's Institute of International Studies as part of the "Cuba Semester." The presentation is free and open to the public. Jamail will speak on "Cuban Baseball: From Rebel Game to Revolutionary Baseball" at 10 a.m. today in Webster Hall Auditorium. This talk traces the evolution of baseball in Cuba from 1866 to the present. When baseball was first brought to the island by Cuban students returning from their studies at universities in the United States, it was seen as a "rebel game." Jamail has published more than 200 articles or columns on baseball since 1989. Most are concerned with the increasing international nature of the game. He wrote Full Count: Inside Cuban Baseball, published by Southern Illinois University Press in 2000. Dr. Jamail is currently a lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of Texas. SBDC workshops feature faculty/staff discount All MSSU employees can receive a 30% discount off the regular workshop price of Small Business Development Center computer workshops. The next class scheduled is "Introduction to Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Word." This workshop is designed to introduce individuals to the features of the Windows XP computer operating system. The workshop will be held from 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27 in Matthews Hall, Room 323 Cost: Payment in advance: $75, at the door: $85. To register or receive a complete list of SBDC workshops, call ext. 3128. Wake up to Career Services Next week, Sept. 8-11, the Career Services staff will be featuring their "Coffee & Careers" outreach program. Students and faculty are encouraged to stop by for a free cup of coffee and morning snack. Find out about Fall 2003 Career Services events, talk with a career counselor about career interests and pick up free, helpful materials about career choices, resumes/cover letters, interviewing, and more. Coffee & Careers will take place from 8:30 - 11 a.m. at the following locations: Sept. 8, Webster Hall (south entrance). Sept. 9, Art/Music building (south hallway entrance). Sept. 10, Reynolds Hall (N. main entrance). Sept. 11, Matthews Hall (east entrance). For more information, contact Lynsey Schwabrow, Career Services, at ext. 9343. FACULTY/STAFF Ron Cooksey, Sodexho, prevailed in the creative cuisine category at the firm's "Copper Chef" competition this spring. Ron competed against nine chefs from colleges and universities in Tennessee and Arkansas. William Huffman, Accounting, had his article, "An Accounting Sense of Humor," published in the August 2003 issue of The CPA Journal. Jeremy Kushner, Music, recently performed a work for percussion and voice on the Musicology Lecture Series at the University of Florida School of Music. Lee Pound, Alumni Association, asks all people not recycling printer cartridges to donate them to the Carthage Mark Twain Elementary School fundraiser. To have cartridges picked up, contact Lee at ext. 9355. Judy Stiles, KGCS-TV General Manager, would like to say "thank you" to everyone who entered the St. Louis Cardinal ticket give-away contest last Friday. Congratulations to the two winners, Mike Fox, Physical Plant, and Star Sweet, Project Stay. CLASSIFIED For Sale: 1993 Honda Civic DX, 4 door. 83K miles. Very good condition, one owner. Runs great and gets excellent mileage. $4,000 or best offer. Call ext. 3061 or 626-9328. For Sale: 3-bedroom, 2-bath house at 505 Oak Drive, Carl Junction. Hardwood and vinyl flooring, one-car garage, fenced backyard. Asking price: $67,500. Shown by appointment. Call (417) 782-5225 for information. For Sale: Large collection of Texaco, Inc.die-cast trucks and airplanes. The collection will be sold in one lot or can be purchased separately. If anyone is interested or knows of anyone who might be interested, please call ext. 9377. For Sale: Microwave oven, $15. Call 624-5471 or 626-0701 and ask for John. Want to Buy: A bicycle for a 7-year-old girl for a reasonable price. Contact ext. 9547. For Lease: Climate control warehouse, 2,200 square feet--open span, two 10' x 12' overhead doors, one 3' man door, water closet and wash-up area, no windows, utilities paid, $950 per month. Contact 673-8300.

Accents! is published during the fall and spring and summer semesters. Visit Accents! archives for other past issues. E-Mail: SMITH-SE@mssu.edu FAX: 417-625-3142 · Voice: 417-625-9506 Accents! is published by the staff of the Public Information Office at Missouri Southern State University-Joplin, 3950 E. Newman Rd., Joplin, MO 64801-1595. Stephen Smith, Editor, News Bureau Manager; Rod Surber, Public Information Director