Current Issue: Volume 20 - Number 13 - October 7, 2005
Burggraaff to Speak on U.S.-Mexican Relations
Winfield J. Burggraaff, emeritus professor of history at the University of Missouri-Columbia will present “Mexico: Our Distant Neighbor” at 9 a.m. in Webster Hall Auditorium at MSSU. At 11 a.m., he will present “Trouble on Our Border: Mexico and the U.S. at the Turn of the 21st Century” in Webster Hall.
Both presentations are free and open to the public.
From the 1940s through the 1960s, Mexico was seen by many as providing a model for Third World political and economic development. That was followed by a period of unrest in the 1970s. The defeat of the ruling PRI party in 2000 and election of the charismatic Vicente Fox seemed to signal a new era of democratic openness and neo-liberal economic reforms. Yet, on the eve of the 2006 election, Mexico stays mired in political scandal, lawlessness, bloody drug warfare on our very border, and continuing huge flows of migratory workers, legal and illegal, into the United States.
Burggraaff presents data that support the position that Mexico is a true leader of the Third World. He then turns to other data that reveal the ugly underbelly of contemporary Mexico. He will look at persisting poverty and income inequality, corrupt authoritarianism, population pressures, and environmental degradation. Finally, he addresses the seemingly unmanageable flow of illegal immigrants and drugs north across the1,800 mile border between Mexico and the U.S.
Winfield J. Burggraaff is an emeritus professor of history at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has taught classes on colonial Latin America, independent Latin America, Mexican history, social revolution in Latin America, Caribbean American history, as well as an undergraduate seminar on the Cuban revolution and graduate readings in Latin American history.
He is working on a book manuscript, Sowing the Oil: Democracy and Development in Venezuela, 1936-1948 along with Richard Millett. His chapter “More Than Failed Coups: The Crisis in Venezuelan Civil-Military Relations,” was published in Lessons of the Venezuelan Experience in 2001.
Signing for academic software package
The Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors recently approved a $3.4 million contract with Sunguard SCT Banner for a comprehensive software system for the university. The new software system will serve all facets of the university operations.
Seated next to Dr. Agee in the accompanying photo is David Denig, Account Executive for SunGuard SCT Banner. Standing behind them are Sandra Gieson, Registrar, J. Steve Earney, Information Services and Jeff Gibson, Business Office.
Vice President for Business, Dr. Terri Agee, said the implementation of the new system will take two years. She said areas served by the new system will include student services such as Admissions, Financial Aid, Institutional Research and Assessment, Lifelong Learning and the Registrar's Office.
In addition, all business operations will be a part of the new system, including financial reporting, accounts payable, human resources and payroll, fixed asset management, procurement, and budget and planning.
Other functions of the system will add strong capabilities for the activities of the Foundation and the Alumni Association and content management for the university web site.
“This system will have a huge and positive impact on Missouri Southern’s operations,” said Dr. Agee.
Generation NeXt Workshops . . .
Today’s Postmodern Student—Meeting, Teaching, and Serving
Are you puzzled by the behavior and attitudes of your students? Want to know the best approaches to help your students learn? Plan on attending one of these workshops scheduled for 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 -2:30 p.m., Thursday Oct. 13 in Billingsly Student Center Room 310.
The workshops will feature Mark Taylor of Arkansas State University-Beebe. All Missouri Southern faculty/staff may attend.
“Generation NeXt” young people are coming to our colleges with unique cohort characteristics and educational expectations that challenge the attitudes and methods of the “Traditional's,” “Baby Boomers,” and “Gen Xers” who predominate higher education faculty and staff. This workshop focuses on the characteristics of these students, the implications for retention and learning, and the pedagogy to effectively educate them. Special attention will be given to the transition to college.
To attend, you must make your reservation no later than Monday, Oct. 10. E-mail Betsy Griffin, Academic Affairs, at griffin-b@mssu.edu.
Gallery talk
Val Christensen, Art, says Frank A. Pishkur and Pam Harris, also of the MSSU Art Department, will give gallery talks on their respective works in the New Art Faculty Exhibit which is currently on view in the campus gallery. They will be speaking on Tuesday, October 11, beginning at 12:30.
This is Pishkur's first year at MSSU. This semester he is teaching ceramics, sculpture, and three-dimensional design. Harris is beginning her second year at MSSU. This semester she is teaching graphic communications, computer graphics, watercolor, and art appreciation.
Val invites all faculty, staff and others to attend the talk and to meet these two faculty members. Pishkur is exhibiting soda-fired porcelain pieces and Harris is exhibiting digital photographs. Soft drinks will be available.
Southern Theatre to Present Faena October 11-15
Southern Theatre will present Guillermo DeLeon’s Faena Oct. 11-15 at Bud Walton Theatre at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m.
Directed by James Lile, Theatre, this obra de teatro is deeply rooted in Hispanic tradition. A young girl’s awakening sense of duty compels her to follow in the footsteps of her matador father.
Reality is interlaced with mysticism as Faena and her family, poised between the natural and the supernatural, seek to discover whether their destiny is revenge or redemption.
Southern Theatre is pleased to celebrate the Mexico Semester with the premiere production of this exciting new play, which is rated “G” for general audiences.
Reservations are required. Those requiring arrangements to accommodate a disability should contact the Theatre Department at least 72 hours in advance of the production. For information, telephone (417) 625-3190.
Pictured: Bethany Lansaw, senior secondary education speech and theater major (left) is consoled by Devon Seaman, sophomore theater major. Lansaw plays the title role of Faena.
Playwright to Speak on Mexican-American Dream
What is the historical significance of eating tacos? You’ll be able to find that and much more out at an upcoming presentation.
Playwright Guillermo DeLeon will speak at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11 in Webster Hall Auditorium at Missouri Southern. DeLeon’s presentation is a part of “Mexican Semester” activities at MSSU. The presentation is free and open to the public.
DeLeon will look at the various aspects of the Mexican/American Dream, cultural differences, religion, success, history, education, and family, and its affect on the Obra Mitologica. The history of Mexican theatre, “La Llorona,” and tacos also will be discussed.
Guillermo DeLeon is originally from San Benito, Texas. He has written and produced over 30 plays for the stage including Leyendas de Mis Abuelos, Sex Starved Monkeys, and most recently, Spic.
From Oct. 11-15, the MSSU Theatre Department will present his play Faena in the University's Bud Walton Theatre. In 1999, as part of a cultural exchange program, his play Bruja was selected for a short tour of Mexico by Texas A&M University. As well as being a playwright, DeLeon is also an accomplished actor, director, and improviser.
He is represented by the Peggy Taylor Talent agency in Dallas, Tex. Currently, he lives in Lakeway, Tex.
Zaffis and Snedeker slated to appear in CJ Auditorium
John Zaffis, the ghost hunter, will lecture on campus during the Halloween season. Zaffis will speak at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11 in the Criminal Justice Auditorium. There is no charge to attend. The appearance is sponsored by the Campus Activities Board.
Zaffis will be joined by Carmen Snedeker, who is the mother from A Haunting in Connecticut. Haunting, a Discovery Channel docu-drama, will be shown at 8 p.m., Oct. 5 in the Student Life Center movie lounge. Snedeker has just signed a multi-million dollar deal with the producers to make the TV program into a feature film.
Zaffis has been ghost hunting for nearly 30 years. He is working on a pilot for the Discovery Channel and has investigated hauntings for many shows including A Haunting in Connecticut. He trained under his aunt and uncle who were the investigators of the Amityville House.
His research has taken him throughout the United States, Canada, England and Scotland covering several thousand cases. Through hands- on investigating with other investigators and clergy, he has obtained a great deal of knowledge and understanding of the paranormal and is considered one of the foremost authorities in the field today. For details on the ghost hunter, visit Zaffis' web site at www.johnzaffis.com.
Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness training
The Division of Lifelong Learning will offer via Interactive Video Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness Training from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8. in Webster Hall Room 112.
The instructor will be Robb Pilkington of the Hazmat and Terrorism Program of the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute. Robb Pilkington can be contacted at 240 Heinkel Building Columbia, Missouri 65211 or phone (573) 882-4735.
There will be no charge for the program, but there will be a $10.50 charge for the catered lunch and snacks. Due to time restraints, only 30 minutes will be allotted for lunch. Attendees should call (417) 625-9384 to reserve a seat. The Instruction will be in Webster Hall room 112 and 114.
A Pre-Test and Post Test will be administered by MFRTI. Also an online pre-test is offered. A person that receives an 80% on the examination is exempted from the course. The Fire and Rescue Training Institute will offer four hours of POST credits or 4 EMS units at no charge. Pre-registration is required to allow for each person to secure course material. The course was developed by the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), the WMD Awareness-Level Training Course as a six-hour training program that provides emergency responders with awareness-level instruction.
The target audience and disciplines for the training are: Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management Agency, Fire Service, Hazardous Material (HazMat), Public Works, Governmental Administrative, Public Safety Communications, Health Care, Public Health Certificate, and ODP Certificate of Completion.
For more information, contact Robin Douglas, Lifelong Learning, at (417) 625-9887 or e-mail douglas-r@mssu.edu.
Retirement talk from MOSERS, Social Security, TIAA-CREF
Representatives from MOSERS, the Social Security Administration, and TIAA-CREF will be on campus October 18. Judy Wilmoth, Human Resources, says the Representatives will conduct informational overviews of the retirement programs and other retirement planning tools available to faculty and staff. Please mark your calendar to attend either a 9 a.m. session or a 1 p.m. session in Room 314 of BSC.
Depending on your schedule, you can attend part or all of each session. TIAA-CREF will have only one meeting at 3 p.m. regarding CURP and changes affecting your investment choices. Look for additional information via e-mail later in October.
Final Southern Cooks question
Thanks to everyone who has participated in the Southern Cooks contests in Accents! this fall. KGCS-TV is offering one final chance for someone to win a prize. Send the answer to the following question to Judy Stiles, Communication, (stiles-j@mssu.edu) by 3 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 7. A winner will be selected from the correct answers.
QUESTION:
Proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will benefit the restoration of a campus building. What building is it?
FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
Larry Cebula, Social Science, served on an National Endowment for the Humanities panel in Washington D.C. on September 28. The panel read and ranked grant proposals sent to the NEH.
Tom Simpson, Social Science, has been appointed to serve on the 15-member Economic Development Council of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. The Council formulates legislative initiatives for the Chamber. He recently was named Director of the MSSU Regional Economic Development Center.
Chad Stebbins, International Studies, spoke to the Neosho Rotary Club about MSSU's International Mission on Oct. 5.
Jerry Williams, Director of Lifelong Learning was elected by the states of Region 5 ( Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Lousiana), to serve on the Executive Board of the National Instructional Television Association.
For Sale: Honda Odyssey, 2000 model, silver color. Great shape, only one owner. 59,000 miles. $14,500 dollars. Call (417) 623-2320 or ext. 9667.
Tennis Lessons: Call Hartford Tunnell at (417) 358-0600.
Carthage Maple Leaf Bike Ride
Proceeds to Benefit Ruby Jack Trail (Carthage to Kansas)
Saturday,Oct. 8
All types of bikes welcome, including recumbents
8:30 a.m., Kellogg Lake Pavilion, east of Carthage
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.
15 mile ride $20
30 mile ride: $30
50 mile ride $30
70 mile ride $30
Family rate $65 (parents and their children under 16)
50 & 70-mile riders can enjoy a snack at Cooky’s Cafe in Golden City.
HELMETS REQUIRED!!! Participants receive T-Shirts & Goodie Bags
For more information contact: Paul Teverow, ext. 3114 or Chip Curtis, ext. 9714.
