Students receiving LioNet information

The future is now!

Changes are coming that will help streamline the process of paying bills, obtaining information, receiving grades and other services for students at Missouri Southern State University.

With the launch of Missouri Southern's new LioNet system, MSSU officially will end the practice of using Social Security Numbers as the student's primary ID number.

Al Stadler, Information Technology Services, says currently enrolled and new or re-admitted students will now have a computer generated student ID numbers as part of their permanent LioNet ID. All students also will receive an official University e-mail address for University-related communications.

The LioNet ID numbers will be used for transactions that require a student ID, both on campus and through LioNet web access. Online functions available through LioNet will give students access to transactions such as registration, bill payment, grades, unofficial transcripts and much more.

Students will soon receive letters informing them of their new LioNet ID number and official e-mail addresses. PIN code (log-on password) will be sent to students in a separate mailing from Information Technology Services.

Faculty members are asked to mention to students that the new LioNet system will soon be operational and that it is imperative that students read the letters they recently received from MSSU.

The Computer Center Help Desk will continue to be the first point of contact for all technology related questions.  Regardless of the system (mainframe, e-mail, LioNet, Banner) the Help Desk will remain the point of contact. Extra staffing is planned to help field calls and questions.

Students should bring IDs and PIN letters with them to registration appointments with advisors. Students will change their initial log on password but will always need the PINs to register with advisosr. They should memorize the information and keep it in a safe place

Cheryl Dobson, Interim Registrar, says the Lionet Web portal will be available April 2.

Tessman, Orchestra to feature music from Russia

Russian pianist Tatiana Tessman, Grand Prize winner of the 2006 Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, will present a concert of all Russian music at 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 3 in Taylor Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 for seniors and free to all students.

In addition to solo works by Russian composers, Tessman will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Southern Symphony Orchestra.

For more information call (417) 625-9755.|

Phone-a-thon wraps up

After two months of calling, the students manning the phones in support of Missouri Southern will complete the 25th Annual Phon-a-thon on the evening of March 28th. Congratulations are in order to the Faculty and Staff for passing last year's mark of $7275.

To date, faculty and staff members have pledged $7700 with a total of 51 pledges compared to 61 total pledges last year.

Participation is still appreciated, and there is time to respond with a one time payment by check by going to www.mssu.edu clicking on Alumni & Foundation and selecting online gift form to make a credit card payment (or using payroll deduction for gifts of $100 or more).

"We want to thank everyone for supporting the 25th Annual Phon-a-thon," says Curtis Betebenner, Foundation.

Education Job Fair April 4

Career Services at Missouri Southern is hosting the Education Job Fair from 1 p.m.- 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 4 in Billingsly Student Center.

Representatives from regional school districts will participate in the event that will take place on third floor of Billingsly Student Center.

All entry-level candidates and experienced education personnel are invited to attend. There is no advance registration necessary and no registration fee.

Those attending are encouraged to bring several copies of their resumes. Professional dress is recommended.

For a listing of school districts registered to attend, visit www.mssu.edu/career. For additional information, persons may call (417) 625-9343.

SAA, Student Senate sponsor Easter Basket project

The Student Alumni Association (SAA) and the Student Senate at Missouri Southern State University will co-sponsor an Easter Basket project to help mothers and children in need to have a brighter holiday.

Members of the SAA will put the baskets together in the Alumni Association offices on the MSSU campus beginning at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 29. The baskets will be delivered to the Lafayette House at 1809 Connor in Joplin at 3 p.m., Monday, April 2.

Lafayette House is a private, not-for-profit organization, providing quality services to families since 1978. The House is committed to providing safety, offering encouragement, and promoting recovery for the more than 1,500 people served each year.

This is one of the SAA ’s spring community service projects, according to Lee Elliff Pound, Alumni Affairs.

For more information, contact the MSSU Alumni Association at ext. 9355.

Thomas Hart Benton Essay contest

The Thomas Hart Benton Essay contest for area school students encourage student writing and an appreciation of Benton’s life and work. Sponsored by the Neosho Daily News and the Carthage Press, the contest features cash prizes totaling $1,500.

Registration and Entry Process: Registration will take place at the Thomas Hart Benton Symposium to be held at The Bridge in Joplin, Missouri April 13. Symposium attendance is a prerequisite for entry and registration in the essay contest. Information available at www.bentonfestival.com

Entries may be no more than two double spaced pages. The entrant's printed name, signature, address, telephone number (cell and home), school attending and grade must be provided on the back of the last page of the essay. A writing prompt will be provided during the symposium and publicly announced at that time.

Entry Categories include: grades 9 and under, grades 10-12 and above high school (open to all students and non-students). Teachers may elect to collect entries and submit them on behalf of students. However, the entry deadline will not be extended if this is done.

Cash prizes will be awarded in each entry category for first, first runner-up and second runner-up. Prize awards will be $300, $150 and $50 within each category. Winning entries, to be recognized during a May news conference, will be provided to print media in this region.

The entry deadline is Friday, April 27. Entries must be delivered by mail to:

Neosho Daily News
Attn: Mr. Rick Rogers
P.O. Box 848
Neosho Mo. 64850

Japanese film Tuesday night

For more information call (417) 625-9614 or visit http://www.mssu.edu/film/filmhome.htm.

Contemporary Film Series continues

The next Contemporary Film Series offering is a feature from eastern Europe.

In this widely acclaimed dark comedy—the first Romanian film screened in several years—Dante Lazarescu embarks on a night-long journey in search of proper medical care for his headaches. The film won prizes at many film festivals, including Cannes and the Chicago International Film Festival and was called by the New York Times “a thorny masterpiece, a sustained triumph.”

Nick Kyle, Art, says the film for Friday, April 6, is The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Romania, 2005 - 153 min).

In what has been called a “gloriously irreverent” family comedy, a young woman introduces her fiancée to her Jewish family, revealing only belatedly that he is a Palestinian. From there, one catastrophe leads to another.

To enroll, simply come to the film and pay the tuition of $10 per person. The films are presented on DVD format at Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall.

Ragweed to perform April 18

The popular country rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed will play in an outdoor concert at Missouri Southern State University Wednesday, April 18.

The concert is a presentation of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) at MSSU. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m.

The rain or shine concert will take place just north of Fred Hughes Stadium, adjacent to the MSSU campus. Lawn chairs and blankets will be permitted but no ice chests or beverages may be brought into the concert. Concessions will be available. The John D. Hale Band will open the evening of music.

General admission tickets can be purchased by cash or credit at the MSSU ticket office on the first floor of Billingsly Student Center or by calling (417) 625-9366. Tickets cost $20 per person in advance and $25 the day of the show. No refunds or exchanges will be given.Tickets are also available by cash only from the Zimmer Radio Group and JR’s Western Stores in Diamond and Springfield.

For more information, contact the CAB office at ext. 9346.

International Student research presentation

An International Student Research Presentation, "An Analysis of the Functionality of Foreign Language Instructional Software" sponsored by the Institute of International Studies and the CIS Department will take place from 12 noon - 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 10 in Cornell Auditorium

Hartford Tunnell, CIS, and Study Abroad Students Joachim Obeto and Ryan Goodwyn will take part.

The program will feature everything you ever wanted to know about off the shelf instructional software but were afraid to ask. An increasing number of companies have international business activities. That makes foreign language acuity increasingly important. Although the general functionality of the software will be presented the presenters will focus on the French, German, Chinese and Spanish languages.

Hartford says the presentation will be especially useful for CIS students, Business students, Language teachers,
area business professionals International Studies students, local area travelers, faculty travel sponsors, local church ministers and missionaries and others.

Special thanks goes to Richard La Near, Finance/Economics/International Business, and the student research committee for funding this project.

Phi Eta Sigma induction March 31

Over 80 students will be inducted into the MSSU chapter of Phi Eta Sigma freshman honor society during ceremonies slated for 7 p.m., Saturday, March 31 in the Connor Ballroom on the 3rd Floor of Billingsly Student Center on the campus of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO (USA).

The faculty adviser for the organization is Michael Rodgers, English & Philosophy.

Phi Eta Sigma is a national scholastic honor society for college freshmen. To be eligible a student must be enrolled full time and have a grade point average of 3.5 or better during the first semester of the student's freshman year. One of the oldest largest freshman honor societies, Phi Eta Sigma was founded at the University of Illinois in 1923, and now has more than 300 chapters and more than 600,000 members.

Membership in Phi Eta Sigma identifies its members to employers, professional and graduate schools as persons of superior academic ability and performance.

For more information see http://www.mssu.edu/news/phietasigma07.htm.

Today's Brown Bag

Betsy Griffin, Academic Affairs, reminds faculty/staff about the Brown Bag lunch for today, Friday, March 23. William Edwards, Teacher Education, will talk about Pakistan.

The Brown Bag will be held from 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. in the Keystone Room on the 3rd floor of the BSC. Pick up your free lunch at the mini-buffet outside the room. Lunch is provided courtesy of Academic Affairs and Sodexho.

All faculty/staff are welcome to attend.

National Issues Forum 2007

Early in our democracy, citizens gathered to talk and learn together about their common problems before deciding how to solve them. Today’s citizens still gather and deliberate to create a reasoned public voice. Since 1981, National Issues Forums (NIF) has supported a nonpartisan, nationwide network of locally-sponsored public forums for that purpose.

Missouri Southern is pleased to be a part of this act of self-government and welcomes students, faculty, staff, and local community members to come together to discuss this year’s topic: “Democracy’s Challenge: Reclaiming the Public Role.”

Groups of 10-12 citizens will read a brief brochure on background facts (prepared by the non-partisan Kettering Foundation), and then meet to talk informally about various approaches to the problem. There is no fee to participate, but reservations must be made.

*Select one of the dates

• Tues, Mar 27, 7-9 p.m. (Full)
• Wed, Mar 28, 11a.m-1:00pm
• Tues, Apr 3, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
• Wed, Apr 4, 11a.m.-1 p.m.
• Wed, Apr 4, 6:30-8:30.p.m.
• Mon, Apr 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Tues., Apr. 10, 7-9 p.m.

Additional sessions will be scheduled. Sessions can be arranged for community organizations, church groups, etc. at their request. Meeting will be held at the fireplace area on the main floor of Spiva Library. To sign up, contact: Ann Wyman, Social Sciences, at wyman-a@mssu.edu or call ext. 9697 or Bill Trudeau, IEP, at trudeau-b@mssu.edu or call ext. 9821

Green and Gold football game

The Missouri Southern football team invites you to the Green & Gold Spring Football Game at 12:30 p.m., Saturday March 31 at Hughes Stadium. Admission and parking are free.

The Green & Gold game is the first chance to get a glimpse of the 2007 Lions. The Lions will return 11 starters from last year’s team and are gearing up for a great 2007 season.

Lion fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs to sit in around the field. Come get close to the action & spend your Saturday with "The Pride!"

Blood Drive April 11

"Hey all you Pirates of the Caribbean. AAARRRRGGGGG. Come give blood on April 11 in the Connor Ballroom from 9 am to 2 pm or I'll have to make ye walk the plank. The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks and the MSSU nursing students will reward you with treasure of the best kind - snacks and a t-shirt with my face on it. And as you can tell I need all the blood I can get. AAARRRRGGGGG!"

Students to vie for scholarships, iPod at Business Contest

The Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration's 29th Annual Business Contest will kick off at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 4 in Matthews Hall.

Over 700 students from 30 high schools will compete for scholarships and an iPod in categories including Accounting, Business Communication, Business Law, Business Math, Computer Concepts, Economics, Free Enterprise, General Business, Keyboarding, Management, and Marketing.

New areas this year include International Business, Multimedia, and Web Site Development. Multimedia and Web site presentations will be on display in the Edward Jones Investment Center from 9 - 11:00 a.m. The contest will conclude with an awards ceremony at 1 p.m. in Taylor Auditorium. For more information, call (417) 625-9603.