Current Issue: Volume 20 - Number 14 - October 14, 2005
Bethlehem Mayor to take part in public forum
The Mayor of Bethlehem, Victor Batarseh, is coming to MSSU for a public forum in Webster Hall Auditorium slated for 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20.
The forum will be hosted by Conrad Gubera, professor of sociology, and Caleb Gallemore, a senior international studies major. Those in the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Victor Batarseh and his wife, Marcelle, will be in Joplin Oct. 20-21 signing a “sister city” agreement between Bethlehem and Joplin. The couple will also visit Orlando, Fla., and Burlington, Vt., where Bethlehem has similar cooperative agreements.
Batarseh’s trip to Joplin has been arranged by Roger Gladden, a Joplin resident who is president and founder of Christians for World Peace. Batarseh, a Roman Catholic, was elected mayor on May 20 of this year. His stated top priority is to rebuild Bethlehem’s tourist industry.
An ear, nose and throat specialist, Batarseh once ran the otorhinolaryngology department of St. John’s Hospital in east Bethlehem, but for years has been barred by Israel from entering Jerusalem.
Batarseh will tape a Newsmakers interview with Judy Stiles, general manager of KGCS-TV, at 3 p.m. on Thursday. He will attend the Mexico Semester concert by El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Performing Arts Center and receive special recognition.
Music department faculty member dies
Jeremy Kushner, 35, assistant professor of music at Missouri Southern, died early the morning of Saturday, Oct. 8 in a Joplin hospital after suffering a heart attack.
Jeremy was born July 29, 1970, in Gainesville, Fla. He held degrees in percussion performance from the University of South Florida, Stephen F. Austin State University. He received his D.M.A. from Arizona State University where he served as a teaching assistant in the percussion department.
Jeremy was teaching applied percussion, percussion techniques and directed the MSSU drumline and supervised the basketball pep band this semester.
Prior to coming to MSSU, he served in similar capacities at the University of Florida and Laredo Community College. He was also on the percussion faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Summer Camp in Twin Lake, Mich. He attended the United Hebrew Congregation in Joplin.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Honeycutt Kushner and his daughter, Sarah Rose Kushner; his parents, David and Rebecca; two brothers, Jason Kushner, of Fayetteville, Ark., and Josh and his wife, Patricia Kushner, of Los Angeles, Calif.; and a niece and a nephew.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Forest Meadows Chapel in Gainesville, with burial in Forest Meadows Central Cemetery. Individuals are encouraged to contribute to a college fund being established for Jeremy and Donna's daughter, Sarah. Send contributions to the attention of Jim Fleischaker payable to United Hebrew Congregation, 702 S. Sergeant Ave., Joplin, MO 64801 with a note directing the funds to Sarah Rose Kushner.
Last two nights for Faena
Southern Theatre will present the final two performances of Guillermo DeLeon’s Faena tonight and tomorrow night, Oct. 14-15, at Bud Walton Theatre. 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.
For information or reservations, telephone (417) 625-3190.
Celebración slated for Monday night
Missouri Southern’s Spanish Club will present Celebración, at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17 in Taylor Performing Arts Center.
Chad Stebbins, International Studies, says Celebración is a night of Mexican, Spanish and Latin American literature, dance, art, music, and theatre. The program is in both English and Spanish.
The evening is a part of activities surrounding The Mexico Semester at Missouri Southern. The theme semester concept is the most distinctive aspect of Missouri Southern’s effort to internationalize its curriculum and the one with the most tangible effect throughout the campus community.
Each fall, a particular country or region of the world is selected to become the focus of intensive study, including a wide variety of cultural events.
Monday night's Celebración is free and open to the public.
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.
International Film Festival Presents El Crimen del Padre Amaro
The Mexico Film Festival, a selection of both the most popular and critically acclaimed contemporary films from Mexico, continues with another cinema treasure from south of the border.
The film El Crimen del Padre Amaro ( Mexico, 2002) will be shown at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Cornell Auditorium in Matthews Hall Hall on the MSSU campus.
Without any doubt, this is the most talked about and controversial movie of the last decade in Mexico. This story about religion and politics in a small Mexican town is an adaptation of the 19th century novel by the Portuguese writer Eça de Queiró.
The film is directed by Carlos Carrera. It is rated R for sexuality, language and disturbing images. The film is free and open to the public.
For more information call (417) 625-9614 or visit www.mssu.edu/film/filmhome.htm.
Southern Symphony to Present "An Evening of Classical Fun”
The Department of Music will present the inaugural concert of the Southern Symphony Orchestra, “An Evening of Classical Fun,” at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8 at Taylor Performing Arts Center. Admission is free.
Under the baton of Kexi Liu, Music, the Orchestra will perform works by Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart. The Joplin High School Orchestra, directed by Mr. Terry Dolanc, will make a special guest performance.
Southern Symphony Orchestra consists of 60 members, including university students and faculty members, local community members, and qualified high school students. The Orchestra is a welcome addition to the performing arts in Joplin and the Four-State area.
The Orchestra will have an annual season of two concerts, as well as a pops performance.
Student Nurses' Association to Sponsor Blood Drive
The Student Nurses' Association at Missouri Southern State University is sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 in the Keystone Room on the 3rd Floor of the Billingsly Student Center. Refreshments for all donors will be provided. Volunteer blood donors are the key to maintaining an adequate blood supply.
Without them, hospitals would not be able to provide the needed blood products to area patients. Each and every day, blood donors unselfishly give a small portion of their day to help those in need. Red Cross officials say a single blood donation can help four hospital patients. Physicians use blood and blood components such as red cells, platelets, plasma and plasma derivatives. Red cells are used in surgery, treatment of severe anemia and internal bleeding. Platelets are blood cells that promote clotting.
For additional information, contact Sheila Hart, Nursing, at (417) 625-9630.
Murdock to discuss Kyrgyzstan, Tulip Revolution today
Today's Brown Bag presentation and free lunch for faculty/staff will feature Gwen Murdock, Psychology. Gwen will present "Bishkek and Back: My trip to Kyrgyzstan and the Tulip Revolution." The presentation will take place in Room 310 of the Billingsly Student Center today, beginning at approximately 12:10 p.m. and concluding at about 12:50 p.m. to accommodate those with classes.
Lunch is free to those attending the session. The mini-buffet will be outside BSC 310. If you have questions contact Betsy Griffin, Academic Affairs, at ext. 9555. Free lunches are a courtesy of Academic Affairs and Sodexho Food Management Services.
Contemporary Film Series feature tonight on campus
Third feature film for the season in the Contemporary Film Series will be shown at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, Oct. 14, in Cornell Auditorium in Matthews Hall. Madame Brouette (Senegal, 2002) provides a rare opportunity to see a colorful, engaging example of contemporary African cinema.
The film tells the story of Mati, a young woman who sells produce from a wheelbarrow in her town, trying to maintain her independence and earn enough to open a restaurant. Her life grows more complicated, however, when she encounters Naago, an attractive, wheeling-dealing policeman. Particularly intriguing is the film’s use of a singer/narrator and chorus.
Director Moussa Sene Absa is an artist, writer, and musician, as well as a film director. He made his debut as an actor, then moved to directing with the production of his own stage play, La Légende de Ruba. In cinema, he wrote the screenplay for Les Enfants de Dieu which was honored at the Francophone film festival.
His directorial debut, the short film Le Prix du Mensonge, earned him the Silver Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival in 1988. His film Tableau Ferraille won the award for best photography at Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO)1997. He has also produced a popular daily comedy sketch, Gorgorlu, for Senegalese television. His talent as a painter is also well established and his work has been exhibited in Senegal, Europe and North America.
Moussa Sene Absa’s feature films: Ca Twiste a Poponguine (1993), Tableau Ferraille (1995), and Blues for a Diva (1998) are strikingly innovative, mixing styles and levels of narration. His latest film, shown at FESPACO in Ouagadougou in 2003 is Madame Brouette For further information about this film series, please contact Bill Kumbier at kumbier-w@mssu.edu or Nick Kyle at kyle-n@mssu.edu.
El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco to Perform
The group El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco will perform at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20 in Taylor Performing Arts Center.
The performance is free and open to the public.
Founded in Kansas City by Maria Chaurand in 1979, El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco has established a reputation as one of the best Mexican folk dance companies in the United States.
Boasting 85 members ranging in age from 5 to 40, El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco is the most highly requested dance group in the state of Missouri's folk arts roster.
The dance company had the honor of representing the U.S. at the 1992 Worlds Fair in Seville, Spain
MSSU debaters compete in fall Tiger Classic
Missouri Southern's Debate Squad recently competed in the 1st Annual MU Fall Debate Classic Tournament Oct. 6-9 in Columbia. A total of 37 tournament debaters from ten colleges and universities representing six states took part.
At the tournament, freshmen Victor Cook, Powell, Matt Templeton, Lamar, and Michael Baca, Neosho, all finished with 3-3 records and just missed qualifying for elimination rounds.
MSSU forensics starts off this year with six new freshmen debaters. Sophomore Dylan Slagel, Aurora, is the only returning debater. Rachel Hickman, Sunrise Beach, Mo., is the sole returnee to the individual events as well. “We are a learning young team,” stated Kelly Larson, Director of Forensics at Missouri Southern.
The team is now off until Oct. 13 when debaters travel to Creighton University in Omaha for the Creighton Double-Up Tournament.
Murder mystery at Missouri Southern
The Murder Mystery Players of St Louis will visit Missouri Southern Oct. 27 to perform a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. This will be an interactive performance of "Undead Again." Join Bettlejuice and Elvirus at the Underworld National Convention as they try to control the strangest group of misfits ever assembled.
Everyone can participate and come in costume if they like," says Melanie Epperson, Student Services. "A wonderful dinner will be provided," she adds.
The Dinner Theatre will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27 in the Connor Ballroom of Billingsly Student Center. Tickets are $10 for faculty, staff and guests and $5 for actively enrolled students.
Tickets must be purchased in advance in the Student Activities Office. For information, phone Melanie at ext. 9346.
Safe Halloween at McCormick Hall
McCormick Hall, located on the MSSU campus, once again will open its doors to area children for a "Safe Halloween" event, slated for 6-8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 31.
Come and have fun trick-or-treating indoors. All area youth in grades six and under are welcome to attend. Admission is free.
The Safe Halloween event is sponsored by the Residence Hall Association, Student Activities and Sodexho Food Management Services.
FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
Cheryl Cifelli, Music, says the recent Katrina Benefit Concert featuring faculty and students from MSSU raised $1000 to benefit flood victims. Cheryl thanks everyone who helped and/or attended for their contribution.
William Huffman, School of Business Administration, attended the Missouri Association of Faculty Senates (MAFS) meeting in Jefferson City on Oct. 11-12. Speakers included Sen. Chuck Graham of Columbia, assistant Minority Floor Leader and Education Committee member, and officials from the State Department of Higher Education. At the meeting, MAFS endorsed the Council on Public Higher Education's (COPHE) recommendations toward a stronger system of higher education in Missouri.
Rusty Raymond, Music, judged the Southern Illinois University Music and Motion Festival on Oct. 8 in Carbondale. Fifteen bands from Illinois and Missouri participated in the event.
Rusty Raymond, Music, had his article "Utilize Your Drum Major", published by Palen Music Center’s QuickNotes. QuickNotes is a weekly service provided by Palen Music to support band directors across the Midwest.
For Sale: White side-by-side Kenmore refrigerator and freezer for sale. Ice and water dispenser on the door. Great condition, only 4 years old. Asking $350 or best offer. For more information, call ext. 9521.
For Sale: 1977 Chevrolet Camaro Type LT. Runs very good. 350 ci.motor with Turbo 3-speed automatic transmission. Console and bucket seats. The exterior body has a 2 1/2 year-old silver paint job with factory red interior along with such options air, tilt, cruise,electric window and door locks and an AM/FM CD player. Has factory wheels, new brakes, pads, master cylinder, duel muffler, battery and alternator. 94,000 miles miles. $3,495 or best offer. Phone after 6 p.m. (417) 673-3845.
Free: Fill dirt.We will load, you haul. Contact (417) 540-4073.
For Sale: Two large executive desks. One is walnut color great condition, $100. Another is solid oak old school teacher's desk, also in good condition, $100. Also have large entertainment center, medium oak with glass door, $55. Ask about golf clubs (full set of irons) also for sale. Call (417) 439-8256 or, after 6 p.m., 782-1424.
Tennis Lessons: Call Hartford Tunnell at (417) 358-0600.
