Current Issue: Volume 20 - Number 22 - December 16, 2005
Choral Society to present Sunday Christmas Concert
The MSSU Department of Music, in cooperation with Missouri Southern’s Division of Lifelong Learning, presented the first of two Choral Society Christmas Concert Thursday, Dec. 15 in the Edward S. Phinney Recital Hall at Missouri Southern.
Al Carnine, Music, says a second performance will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18 at the First Community Church at 15th and Murphy in Joplin. The performance is free and open to the public.
The Choral Society concerts are the final presentations in the 25th Anniversary Celebration Series. For more information, call the Music Department at ext. 9318.
Douglas to speak at 45th Commencement tomorrow
The 45th Commencement at Missouri Southern State University is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17 in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
The speaker for graduation will be Dwight Douglas, a lawyer from Neosho and member of the Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors.
Dwight Douglas has practiced law in Neosho, Missouri for 35 years. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Jurist Doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. The Jurist Doctorate degree was awarded in 1968. Mr. Douglas has a long record of service to his community and the State of Missouri.
He currently serves as a member of the Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors. He is the immediate past president of the Board. He was on the Board of Regents for Southwest Missouri State University from 1981-1986 and served two years as president of that board. Thereafter he served nine years as president of the Board of Directors of the Crowder College Foundation.
He recently completed 14 years as a member of the Missouri Safe Drinking Water Commission. This commission is responsible for adopting regulations which govern all public water supplies in the State of Missouri. He has served on the Governor’s Task Force on Dioxin and the Missouri Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority.
In July of this year Governor Blunt recognized Mr. Douglas for 18 years of volunteer service to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the citizens of Missouri. He has been awarded the EPA Partnership Award for his volunteer service at the Pools Pierre Superfund site. Both the Neosho, Mo., and Joplin, Mo., chapters of the National Exchange Club have awarded him their Book of Golden Deeds Award.
Mr. Douglas practices law in the areas of estate planning, real estate, health care and commercial transactions. He is corporate counsel for the Freeman Health System and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Society of Health Care Attorneys.
Mr. Douglas has been married to his wife Bonnie for 39 years. They have two children. He is an avid sailor and amateur photographer.
A complete list of graduates is available online at www.mssu.edu/pages/news/graduationlistdecember05.htm.
Bearcats' Tatum selected as new MSSU football coach
Bart Tatum is the new head football coach of the MSSU Lions. Tatum's selection was announced at a news conference on Tuesday of this week in the Billingsly Student Center.
Tatum has been an assistant football coach for the past 12 seasons at Northwest Missouri State University, a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. With assistance from Tatum, NWMSU has won two NCAA Division II championships and seven conference titles. The Bearcats also finished as national runner-up in 2005.
Tatum replaces John Ware, who died unexpectedly in late September of this year.
Bart holds bachelor's degrees in history and physical education from Austin College in Sherman, Tex. and a master's degree in teaching, also from Austin College.
He also holds a master's degree in kinesiology from Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, Texas) and a doctorate in education in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri.
Thirty-four to graduate with Honors
Missouri Southern State University’s 45th graduating class includes 34 students who will graduate with honors at the University’s Commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 17 in Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Eleven students earned a four-year grade point average of 3.9 or above on a 4.0 scale and will graduate Summa Cum Laude. Four had a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Eight students will graduate Magna Cum Laude with grade point averages of 3.80 to 3.89. Twelve students will graduate Cum Laude with grade point averages of 3.70 to 3.79.
Two students receiving Associate Degrees are graduating with first honors, indicating a grade point average of 3.90 or above. Both are graduating with a 4.0 grade point average. One Associate Degree Graduate will graduate with second honors, indicating a grade point average between 3.80 and 3.89.
For a complete list of those graduating with honors, visit www.mssu.edu/pages/news/honorsgradsdecember05.htm.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. observance next month
A week of activities to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will kick off with the MLK Breakfast at 7 a.m., Monday, Jan. 16 on the third floor of Billingsly Student Center. Seating is limited. Faculty and staff wanting to attend should contact Al Cade, Teacher Education, at 659-4426 or e-mail cade-a@mssu.edu. Students must RSVP with the Student Support Center at ext. 9324 or in the Student Activities Office at ext. 9346. All RSVPs must be received no later than 12 noon, Friday, Jan. 13.
Writer Daryl Davis will speak at 10 a.m.on Thursday, Jan .19 in Webster Hall Auditorium. As a race relations expert, Davis has received acclaim for his book, Klan-Destine Relationships and his work in race relations from many respected sources. These include CNN, CNBC, Good Morning America, The Learning Channel, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The Baltimore Sun, The American Ethical Union and The Washington Ethical Society.
Filled with exciting encounters and amusing anecdotes, Daryl Davis' impassioned lectures leave an audience feeling empowered to confront overcome their own prejudices and fears. Audiences leave seeking a common ground to help forge peace with unlikely adversaries. The appearance is free and open to the public.
On Thursday, Jan.19, the MLK Luncheon speaker will be Rev. Henry Midge. The luncheon, sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, is open to students only. It will be held in the Connor Ballroom on the third floor of the Billingsly Student Center. Students must RSVP no later than 3 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15 to the Student Activities Office at ext. 9346.
Southern students represent Nigeria at Model United Nations
The Missouri Southern State University the Model UN Club represented the country of Nigeria at the American Model United Nations in Chicago, Nov. 19-22. MSSU students sat in the respective committees during this year’s conference and considered a number of issues.
Prior to the conference, the 11 participating students researched important global issues and prepared positions reflective of the foreign policy of Nigeria. During the conference, they worked with approximately 1400 students, representing 140 other UN member states, from colleges and universities throughout the nation and the world to find solutions to the topics on the conference agenda. For more information about the conference, see http://www.amun.org/.
Co-sponsors William Kumbier, English & Philosophy, and Paul Teverow, History, worked with the ten participating students as they prepared position papers and resolutions reflective of Nigeria’s foreign policy.
For a list of delegates and issues addressed, visit www.mssu.edu/pages/news/modelunfall05.htm
Begin your musical holiday with 88.7KXMS
Jeff Skibbe, 88.7KXMS/Fine Arts Radio International, says tomorrow morning, Saturday, Dec. 17, Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa season programming starts at 8 a.m. Information on this programming is available at http://www.mssu.edu/pages/kxms/december.htm#17
Tomorrow afternoon, the Metropolitan Opera begins with Verdi's "Rigoletto" at 12:30 p.m. Learn more at
http://www.mssu.edu/pages/kxms/opera.htm.
Ring in the season with KGCS-TV
Joplin-area television viewers looking for holiday specials will find plenty to choose from on KGCS-TV. In addition to network specials on America One, KGCS will feature local programming.
The station will broadcast a recording of this year’s presentation at MSSU of Handel’s Messiah. The first airing will be at 7 p.m, Sunday, Dec.18. Additional presentations will be at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20, 4 and 9 p.m., Saturday Dec. 24, and 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 25.
KGCS will also present a special Country Music Videos program featuring country artists performing holiday songs. Performers include Leland Martin, Monty Lane Allen, and She Daisy. The country music holiday program will be shown at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 24, and 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 25.
Network special programming is also planned on America One. Programs include the 1935 version of Scrooge, airing at 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 24. Christmas Day specials include The Story of the First Noel, airing at midnight. Daytime programming includes Christmas with the Stars, airing at 11:30 a.m., and Santa’s Wild and Wacky Christmas, airing at 11 p.m.
KGCS-TV is operated as a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University. Programming may be seen on UHF channel 57, Cable One channel 7 and Mediacom channel 77.
Coming to a treadmill near you: The battle of the bulge
After the holidays, as a new semester and a new year begin, the Wellness Program will be staffing the Mayes Student Life Center for early morning workouts. Darren Fullerton, Recreation & Wellness, says the Student Life Center will open at 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Jan. 16, to accommodate the faculty/staff requests for early morning workout times.
"We hope everyone will take advantage of this exercise to improve personal fitness," Darren says.
English Field Day results announced
Approximately 500 students from twelve high schools (grades 9-12) in the region participated in the 24th annual English Field Day sponsored by the English & Philosophy Department at Missouri Southern State University on Friday, Dec. 2.
More than 1,200 tests were administered to determine both individual winners of competitions and sweepstakes winners from among the schools. Tests covered all areas of language arts, from mechanics and usage to spelling, vocabulary, reading comprehension and mythology. The tests are modeled after those students will encounter later in the SAT and ACT for college entrance.
The students also competed in college bowls of mythology and overall knowledge. The English Field Day included a creative division for writers of poetry and fiction. According to George Greenlee, English & Philosophy, who coordinates the event, preparations begin in January of each year and involve the entire English Department faculty and more than 50 students who help monitor and evaluate the tests.
For a complete list of winners, visit www.mssu.edu/pages/news/englishfielddayresultsfall05.htm.
Flowers for graduates, families
The MSSU bookstore will sell roses by the dozen and half dozen at Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 17.
A dozen roses costs only $20, a half dozen is $15.
Those who would like to pre-book flowers and pick them up Friday should contact Liz Scheurich, Bookstore, at ext. 3035.
Art Saltzman, English, has had an essay, "What All the Fuss Is For," accepted for publication in Center: A Journal of the Literary Arts. It will appear in the 2006 annual edition.
Dale Simpson, English & Philosophy, has had three poems published in the 2006 issue of Missouri Teachers Write, the journal of the Missouri Association of Teachers of English.
Wanted: Am looking for a good used washing machine for a young couple in need. Call (417) 673-3791 or campus ext. 9598.
Free for Christmas: Adorable kittens. Interested people may call (417) 358-5773.
For Sale: Open House from 1-4 p.m., Sunday Dec. 18, 508 N. Liberty in Webb City. Newly remodeled 2 bdrm, 1 bath home in quiet neighborhood. Brand new everything including roof, central H/A, plumbing, cabinets, flooring, paint, all new appliances including washer & dryer. Great starter home! Why rent when you can buy? Priced to sell! For information, call Melanie at ext. 9346.
Wanted: Kapstone House is looking for a few good cribs to be donated to their organization. The house, located in Joplin, helps grieving children and their families. If you have a crib that you would like to donate please call Robin at ext. 9887.
For Sale: 1998 14 x 70 Mobile Home. Two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shed, appliances, in great condition. Only a 5-minute drive to campus! $18,500. Contact (417) 529-8916 for information.
For Sale: Like new Pro Player NFL Experience All-Weather Reversible Jacket with detachable hood. Chiefs logo on left chest and back of jacket. Men's size medium $75. Contact (417) 625-9544.
