Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. observance next week

Missouri Southern State University has slated activities in connection with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day scheduled for Monday, Jan. 21. Activities include an invitation-only breakfast, an open-to-the-public presentation by motivational counselor Jonathon Sprinkle and a special luncheon for MSSU Students.

MLK, Jr. Day Breakfast: The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast will take place the third floor of Billingsly Student Center beginning at 7 a.m. Faculty & staff must R.S.V.P. at 659-4426 or e-mail at cade-a@mssu.edu no later than Thursday, Jan. 17.

MSSU students must RSVP with Student Activities Office (BSC) at (417) 623- 9346 no later than Thursday, Jan. 17. Seating will be limited.

For questions contact Al Cade, Teacher Education, at (417) 625-4426.

Featured Speaker: At 11 a.m., Jonathon Sprinkles will speak in Webster Hall Auditorium. This presentation is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required. Jonathan Sprinkles was named the 2006 College Speaker of the Year by members of the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities. Faculty is invited to bring classes.

The 29-year-old Sprinkles’ mission is to equip people with the resources necessary to search the inner self and effectively live out the principles of leadership, integrity, vision and excellence.

Student Luncheon: At 12 noon, a special luncheon will take place for MSSU students. Those wanting to take part must RSVP with Student Activities Office at (417) 625-9346.

For questions or to request accommodations related to a disability, contact Melanie Epperson in the Student Activities office at (417) 625-9346 at least 48 hours prior to the event.

A special program of music is planned for Monday. 88.7KXMS begins its tribute at 1 p.m. with the Dave Brubeck Trio in a performance of Brubeck's "The Gates of Justice." At 3:23 p.m."With Voices Raised" also features the words of Dr. King. Vernon Jordan, Jr. intones the words of the civil rights leader in "New Morning for the World" at 4:06 p.m.

The program "I Still Believe: A Choral Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.," will run from 7 - 9 p.m. on 88.7KXMS.. Performers come from the Choral Arts Society of Washington, D.C.

News conference this morning for announcement

A news conference is slated for 11:30 this morning (Friday) on the 2nd Floor Lounge of the Billingsly Student Center during which time Mr. Dwight Douglas, chair of the Search Committee and Chair of the MSSU Board of Governors, will make an announcement.

Dr. Bruce Speck, finalist for the position of President at MSSU, fielded questions for approximately 45 minutes Wednesday morning on campus. A second session was held that afternoon with faculty members.

A search committee has been searching for a new President to replace Dr. Julio Leon, who submitted his resignation last fall.  Since that time Dr. Terri Agee has served as Acting President at Missouri Southern.

Dr. Speck currently serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville, Tenn.

KGCS to air Board meeting

KGCS-TV will provide taped coverage of Friday's Board of Governors meeting.

The meeting will air at 6 p.m. Sunday night. It may be seen on UHF Channel 57, Cable One Channel 7, Mediacom Channel 77 and regional cable television systems served by Southern Instructional Television (SITV).

Southern Sports Sunday coverage of Saturday night's basketball games vs. Southwest Baptist will begin at 7 p.m. (or at the conclusion of the meeting if it runs past 7 p.m.).

Go green for Legacy Day

Legacies of alumni will receive the opportunity to explore what Missouri Southern is all about at this year’s annual Legacy Day.

A legacy is a child lucky enough to have one or more relatives that graduated or attended MSSU. On Saturday, Feb. 9, these legacies will have the opportunity to show their green colors while having fun with Missouri Southern’s fellow Lions.

Registration will begin at 2:30 p.m., and an assortment of interactive classes will follow at 3 p.m. The classes will be taught by MSSU Teacher Education majors in the Taylor Education Building. The classes will allow each legacy to bring home a little piece of MSSU. Activities wrap up at 5 p.m.

Legacies are invited to help cheer on the Lions at the double-header basketball game against the Fort Hays State tigers. The women will tip off at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact Elisa Bryant, Alumni Association, at (417) 625-9355.

Southern Theatre presents Praying for Rain Jan 22-26

(Left to right): Todd Manley, Zack Self and Cassie Hardie

The Theatre Department will present Robert Lewis Vaughan’s Praying for Rain, at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 22-26 in the Bud Walton Theatre.

Rachel Roberts directs this drama, the first of the 2008 MSSU season.

Marc is a high school senior who drifts into criminal behavior after an accident ends his career as an athlete. Without a clear sense of his identity, and in spite of the efforts of Miss K., the compassionate teacher in charge of his detention, Marc cannot resist the influence of toxic acquaintances.

The Denver Post calls the play, “Thought provoking and compelling” and Theatre.com states, “Vaughan’s powerful drama offers hope and possibilities.”

The production is rated "M" for mature audiences and may include explicit language and/or action.

For theatre production information or requests for accommodations related to a disability, call Terri Spencer, Theatre, at (417) 625-9393Accommodations for disabilities should be made at least 72 hours prior to the production.

For reservations, contact the MSSU Box Office at (417) 625-3190.

Contemporary Foreign Film dinner/movie

The Contemporary Foreign Film group's January dinner/movie on Friday, Jan. 25, at the Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, will feature The Boss of It All (Denmark, 2006; 96 minutes)

This comedy develops as the owner of a company invents a non-existent president as a front but runs into trouble when he has to present that "boss" to potential clients and employees. He then hires a failed actor to play the part of the boss, with unexpected results. The fillm is directed by Lars von Trier, of Dogma fame.

The movie plus dinner w/dessert (wine and beverages provided by Ron Forgey) will cost $17 each. That includes tax and tip. Please make reservations by next Tuesday, Jan. 22, at rforgey@jscomm.net. An accurate head count is needed, so please respond quickly.

* 6 p.m. Social Hour
* 6:30 p.m. Dinner
* 7 p.m. Movie

Danish cuisine will accompany this Danish movie. The regular campus series will resume on Feb. 8 with a showing of Copying Beethoven in Cornell Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Children’s Haven featured on program

The Children’s Haven in Joplin will be the subject of an upcoming edition of the KGCS-TV program Newsmakers.

Children's Haven provides a solution for families in crisis who otherwise have no other means of support or resources to adequately care for their children in a critical time of need.

Program host, Judy Stiles, will interview Children’s Haven Director, Stephanie Theis.

Stephanie Theis describes the services provided for families in crisis, and how they provide a safe place for children to stay. She shares background about the facility which is celebrating its 5th anniversary.

Theis also will talk about the ways community support and volunteerism help the organization.

The station, day, date, and airtimes are:

• KGCS: Mon. Jan. 28 & Wed. Jan. 30 -5:30 p.m.
• KOAM: Sat. Feb. 2 - 5:30 a.m.
• KOZJ: Sun. Feb. 3 - 12:30 p.m.

Cheer & Dance Clinic scheduled

The 2008 Cheer and Dance Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Feb.  9 at MSSU’S Young Gymnasium. Hours are 1 - 3 p.m. Registration will begin at 12:45 p.m.

The clinic is designed for children in grades Grades K-8. The cost. Cost is $15 includes a t-shirt & basketball half-time performance at MSSU that day against Ft. Hays. Game begins at  5:30 pm.  Participants will receive free admission to the game. Parents will be admitted for $5.

Pre-register before Feb. 1 to guarantee receiving a t-shirt. Instruction includes cheers, chants, jumps, stunts, dance, & lots of fun! For more information or to print off a form, visit http://www.mssu.edu/news/2008/cheerclinic08.html .

Firearms Safety class tomorrow

Missouri Southern State University's Law Enforcement Academy has scheduled a firearms safety training course to satisfy the training requirement for the Concealed Carry statute in Missouri.

The basic eight-hour Concealed Carry class will begin at 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 19 in Room 125 of the Mills Anderson Criminal Justice Center at MSSU.

All of those attempting to qualify for the Concealed Carry permit must complete the class.

The class has been approved for Barton, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald and Newton County residents. Participants will receive training in the areas of legal requirements of use of force, care and cleaning of firearms, handgun safety, and legal aspects of firearms.

For more information or details on registering for the course, visit the Missouri Southern news release site at http://www.mssu.edu/news/2008/firearmssafety_jan08.html.

The Vagina Monologues *****

Open Auditions for STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF * 12 noon, Friday, Jan 18 Bud Walton "Black Box" Theatre Come with a 1-minute monologue of your choice. Be prepared to read from script. Contact Natalie Trent, ext. 9529

FACULTY/STAFF

Nanette Philibert, Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration, recently earned certification as a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR). The certification, awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), signifies that Philibert possesses the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in international human resource management necessary to pass a rigorous examination demonstrating a mastery of the body of knowledge in the field.

June Roys, Art, will be exhibiting her sculpture and photographs in the MSSU Spiva Art Gallery Jan. 21 through Feb. 8. Ms. Roys came to MSSU last fall and this exhibit is meant as an introduction to the community of this talented faculty member. There will be a reception in the gallery for the artist on from 4 - 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 21. The campus community and public are invited. There is no admission charge. The regular gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Joaquin Rodriguez Suro, Foreign Languages, published an article in Mexico at the "Revista de Literatura Mexicana Contemporanea." The article studies Carlos Fuentes' novel Aura in the light of Immanuel Kant´s Critique of Pure Reason. The article is entitled: "La Razon Pura y la Seduccion de la Historia en Aura de Carlos Fuentes" ("Pure Reason and the seduction of history in Carlos Fuentes' Aura.")

CLASSIFIED

For Sale: Students are selling MSSU sweat pants to help raise funds for a trip to Brazil and Argentina. Pants are $16 and the profit will go to the students for the trip. Contact Becky Gallemore at (417) 659-5425 or Taylor Hall 229B.

Feel Like Traveling? A May 19-28 trip is planned for Brazil and Argentina and bookings are taking place. A second trip will leave for Egypt on July 2. For details and pricing on either trip, please email/call Becky Gallemore at gallemore-r@mssu.edu or call (417) 659-5425.

Beginning Round Dance Lessons: Still open to new students. Sunday afternoons, 1-3 p.m., at the Joplin Square Dance Center, 1801 W. 2nd. We are doing choreographed two-step and will move on to waltz and cha cha. Participants are encouraged to bring a partner, but we do need "solo" men. For info call Mary Castleberry, ext. 3133 in the mornings, or 782-0158.

For Sale: 2003 Buell Blast, 500 cc, black. The motorbike only has 5,000 miles, great gas mileage. $2,000 firm. Call (417) 396-1341 to see or ext. 3167 for additional information.