Presidential inauguration Sept. 19

Friday, Sept. 19 will be a historic day for Missouri Southern State University.

Inauguration ceremonies are scheduled for 2 p.m. that day in Taylor Performing Arts Center for Dr. Bruce Speck, the 4th president in Missouri Southern State University's history as a four-year institution.

State officials, presidents from other universities and dignitaries have been invited to participate.

Missouri Southern invites members of the public to reserve this date and time on their calendars and plan to join the campus community in the celebration of this event at Missouri Southern.

RSVPs are requested. To RSVP, complete the form available online at www.mssu.edu/inauguration08 or e-mail inauguration08@mssu.edu or call (417) 782-7236.

Reservations will be accepted until 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5.

Southern Sports Sunday returns 

KGCS-TV will once again feature taped replays of Missouri Southern home football games this season, with the first telecast of Southern Sports Sunday slated to air Sunday, Aug. 31.

The games will be recorded and replayed in their entirety, beginning at 7 p.m. on the Sunday following the game. Mass Communication students at MSSU serve as announcers and production crew for the games.

"This coverage provides an opportunity for people who cannot make the game to see the action or for people who were there to catch the plays a second time," says Judy Stiles, KGCS General Manager.

Southern Sports Sunday may be seen on KGCS-TV over the air on UHF Channel 57, and on area cable systems, including Cable One Channel 7, Mediacom Channel 77 and cable systems served by Southern Instructional Television in communities such as Neosho and Carthage.

KGCS-TV operates as a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University.

Take a "virtual walk" through German history

You’re invited to take a stroll through Germany’s capital city in the two-part presentation “Virtual Berlin: A Walk through German History” at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2 in W. Robert Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall.

The “tour guide” for the visit is Carsten Strathausen, associate professor of German and English and chair of German and Russian Studies at the University of Missouri.

These presentations features a Web-aided “walk” through German history that focuses on the city of Berlin and its changes over time. Using Web-based tools and PowerPoint presentations, the journey begins with the rise of Prussia in the 17th century and finishes with an in-depth look at present-day Berlin. The lecture is split into two parts, the first of which covers the time until 1989, while the second looks at the development of Berlin since German reunification.

Strathausen is the author of The Look of Things: Poetry and Vision around 1900, published in 2007 by the University of North Carolina Press, and the editor of a collection of essays on contemporary political philosophy forthcoming next spring from the University of Minnesota Press.

Partei Volks slated for Thursday night

A Partei Volks (German Dance Party) will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4 in the Taylor Performing Arts Center balcony lounge at Missouri Southern State University.

Admission is free.  The event is part of activities surrounding the “Germany Semester” at MSSU.
Sponsored by the German Club, this techno dance will feature the latest dance music from Germany and Europe.

Glow sticks will be provided, and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Busy times for Intensive English Program (IEP)

IEP Director Bill Trudeau (front right) with English Camp participants

This summer hosted two events of note involving educators and students from Taiwan and China according to Intensive English Program (IEP) Director Bill Trudeau.
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On July 7-9, MSSU hosted a delegation from Delegation from the National Taichung Agricultural Senior High School, Taiwan, investigating a possible partnering agreement for sending students to Southern for baccalaureate studies.  Yao-Chung Tsai, Director of Programs at NTASHS and Ms. Hsin-yi Su, English instructor, visited while their students attended an FFA conference at Lake of the Ozarks. 

Meeting with President Bruce Speck and Academic Vice President, John Messick, and the Deans of various schools, the delegation looked at both the appropriateness of MSSU as a destination for their students as well as a possible location for special summer programs in English and college preparation studies.  The delegation leaders also met with Joplin Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders to discuss interning and other possibilities for students.

The delegation visit was arranged by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City.  Although a partnership agreement was neither expected nor developed, discussions are continuing. This meeting is part of a larger cooperative venture of high school exchanges and agricultural trade developed, in part, by the office of Congressman Roy Blunt. 

On July 10-21, the International English Program at MSSU hosted its second on-campus English Camp with middle school students from southern China.  Five hours of daily instruction, supplemented by afternoon and evening activities and weekend travels, facilitated the English skills of 17 students and three adults.  The IEP expects this camp to continue on a bi-annual basis and already two of the students are hoping to make MSSU their university of choice upon graduation from high school in two years.

The students also had opportunities to do volunteer work at area service agencies and tour some popular local businesses like the Candy House and the KOAM studios in Pittsburg, Kan.

German prints on display at Spiva Gallery of MSSU

A selection of German prints from the Springfield Art Museum will be on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday through Sept. 19 at the Spiva Art Gallery on the Southern campus.

The exhibit is one of the cultural offerings during the “Germany Semester” this fall on the MSSU campus. An opening reception was held from 4 -6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25.

The reception and the gallery are free and open to the public.

Frank Pishkur, Art, says the exhibition is a selection of prints by German artists ranging from the 16th to 20th centuries. Traditional handmade printmaking is the original means of mass-producing images, utilizing different techniques all allowing for the creation of multiple originals. The prints in this exhibition include a variety of these traditional processes including the woodcut, the etching, and lithography.

The exhibition was developed by Val Christensen, Art. Through a close relationship developed over many years with the Springfield Museum of Art, Val was able to curate this exhibition by procuring the loans of these valuable artworks to Missouri Southern. Artists include such well known historical figures such as Albrecht Durer, Goerge Grosz, Joseph Albers and Kathe Kollwitz and other artists.

The artist most represented in the exhibit is the pioneer expressionist Kollwitz, the first woman to be elected to the Prussian Academy of Art. She is noted for her relief prints from the early 20th century.

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is a non-profit organization that helps conserve our wetlands and wildlife. Ceason Nance, Robert Plaster Free Enterprise Center, says the group's annual banquet will be held Saturday, Sept. 13 at Joplin's Memorial Hall. Doors open at 5 p.m. There will be a live auction, a silent auction, and games. Dinner is included. Tickets are available. Pricing is as follows:

$25 - Single Dinner
$40 - Double
$15 - Greenwing (17 and under)

Sponsorships are also available if you are interested. For information contact Ceason at 625-9617 or e-mail nance-c@mssu.edu.

Early Intervention Program takes off

In moving forward with more of the Foundations of Excellence recommendations, MSSU has initiated an early intervention program which helps us to reach first year students early in the semester and provide resources to address any identified challenges.  

The College Student Inventory (CSI) assessment is being administered this week in the MIDS 100 University Experience Classes.  Both students and advisors receive reports reporting student strengths and challenges. Advisors then meet with the students to review the reports and provide advice and/or refer students to appropriate student support services.   All advisors advising first year students will be involved in this program.

Training is being provided for all advisors advising first year students. Please note that if advisors hold the Master Advisor certificate this training will count towards the required CEU’s to maintain Master Advisor Status. This training will equip faculty to effectively reach their advisees as well as improve their advising skills. See training schedule below.

For more information, comments, or to RSVP for a session (indicate which training session you will be attending) contact Faustina Abrahams, Advising Counseling & Testing Services at 625-9324 or email Abrahams-f@mssu.edu

College Student Inventory (CSI) Advisor Training Schedule:

Wednesday, 9/3/08	Thursday, 9/4/08	Monday, 9/808	Tuesday, 9/9/08
10-10:50 a.m., Webster Hall Room 106 2-2:50 p.m., Webster Hall Room 105	9:30- 10:30, Cornell Auditorium	9 - 9:50 a.m. Cornell Auditorium 1-1:50 p.m., Cornell Auditorium	11-11:50 a.m., Webster Hall Room 105 2:30-3:20 p.m., Webster Hall Room 105

Siouan and Caddoan languages conference held

The Social Science Department hosted the 2008 international Siouan and Caddoan Languages Conference on June 20-21. Jill Greer, Social Science, says 30 linguists and representatives of tribal language programs participated in the meeting, with papers about the Crow, Hidatsa, Omaha, Ponca, Kaw [Kansa], Iowa, Osage, Otoe-Missouria, and Hochunk [formerly called Winnebago] languages.

Visit planned

The Teacher Education Department Accreditation visit by Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) is scheduled for Oct. 4-8.

Sharing in the fun

A special tailgate party will be held for the MSSU Football Lion home opener on Saturday, Aug. 30. The tailgate will be held at the Hempen House (immediately south of Hughes Stadium).

Reservations were required by 12 noon yesterday, Thursday, Aug. 28.

A full schedule is planned for the year so there will be more fun with Lion football this fall! See story (below) about ticket sales.

Calling acoustical musicians

Advising, Counseling & Testing Services is hosting a Lawn Party/Acoustic Jam Session on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 8 p.m.-Midnight. Students, faculty & staff are invited to showcase some of their acoustical music. If you are interested, please contact Natalie Bruce, ACTS, at 625-9529 or e-mail bruce-n@mssu.edu.

Census workshops scheduled

Free census workshops will be presented from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1 in Room 303 of Plaster Hall. Wendy McGrane, Library, says the workshops will cover: 2000 Census of Population and Housing, 2007 American Community Survey, and 2002 Economic Census

This 3-hour workshop will teach you how to access data from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing from the Census Bureau's American Factfinder webpage, the new 2007 data from the American Community Survey webpage, Population Estimates and Populations Projection data, the Economic Census, and other Census Bureau data. We will focus on data and maps that feature Joplin.

Both workshops are alike in content. Registration is not required. Participants will learn how to:

* Gather 100% of the Census data and maps for the area around home or business street addresses
* Gather economic data for your zip code or county or metropolitan area
* Locate current data for the major Leading Economic Indicators
* Access 2007 data for all cities and counties in Missouri with a population of 65,000 or more
* Find Missouri Employer and Non-Employer data
* Find online press releases about newly-available Census data
* Find the number of school-age children living in families in poverty in Missouri
* Find the number of Missourians without health insurance and the number of school-age children without insurance

Those with questions should contact Steve Beleu, Director, Oklahoma State Data Center Coordinating Agency by e-mailing sbeleu@oltn.odl.state.ok.us or calling (405) 521-2502.

Firearms Training Scheduled

Missouri Southern's Law Enforcement Academy has scheduled a Citizen Concealed Carry Firearms training course to satisfy the training requirement in the State of Missouri.

The basic eight-hour class will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, Saturday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 15. All classes will run from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Room 125 of the Mills Anderson Criminal Justice Center at MSSU.

An Advanced Concealed Carry Firearms class will be held from 8 a.m. - 12 noon on Saturday, Nov. 22.

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

The class has been approved for Barton, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald and Newton County residents.The Law Enforcement Academy will utilize the state-of-the-art live firing range and two state-of-the-art computerized electronic firing ranges. The course includes live fire and simulated fire exercises. Participants must pass a live fire qualification exercise.

The cost of the basic course is $95. Participants are required to bring their firearm, eye protection, ear protection and fifty (50) rounds of ammunition. Participants who do not supply their own firearm and ammunition must pay an additional $25 charge. The fee must be prepaid.

To register and prepay for the course, contact Brenda Spurlin, Law Enforcement, at (417) 625-9511 or e-mail spurlin-b@mssu.edu.

Penny-a-Vote winners announced

The Alumni Association had such a great turnout this year that four winners were declared in the "Penny-a-Vote" contest. . These four winners are Maryann Mitts, Athletics, Beverly Block, Business, Nii Abrahams, Business, and T.R. Hanrahan, Communication, in the favorite Professor/Coach Contest. Following the coronation at tomorrow’s picnic, the winners will lead the crowd in a Wizard of Oz-themed song and dance.

The Missouri Southern Alumni Association would like to thank, in addition to the above, all participants including Ree Wells, Social Science, James Lile, Theatre, Rebecca Gallemore, Teacher Education, Mike Kennedy, Biology, Wayne Thomason, Criminal Justice and Maribeth Linder, Nursing.

Just over $598 was raised for the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, according to Lee Pound, Alumni Association.

Ticket information

May Doll, Ticket Office, reminds sports fans that the ticket offide is located in the MSSU Bookstore in the Mansion Annex (the former site of the Learning Center).

May says faculty, staff and students can obtain football tickets to home games at the gate by presenting I.D. Faculty/staff get two tickets. Students get one ticket. Tickets must be purchased for away games.

MSSU has a total of 300 tickets to sell for the Sept. 13 MSSU-PSU game at PSU. They are reported to be "going fast." Tickets may be purchased over the telephone or bought in person for $11 each.

May Doll's hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Telephone the Ticket Office at (417) 625-9366.

FACULTY/STAFF

Amber Carr, Bethany Davis, Wendy McGrane, Anna Beth Morgan, Gayle O'Neal and Penny Richeson, Library, Holly Huddleston, Library student worker, and Debbie Woodmansee, ITS, attended the 2008 MOBIUS Annual Conference June 3-5 in Osage Beach. Amber, Anna Beth, and Wendy presented a session entitled "Library Improvement: gathering data, making proposals, implementing change." Wendy and Debbie presented a session entitled, "Campus Partnerships: Improving Service through Collaboration." Holly introduced a session and worked at the registration desk.

Mark Comstock, Accounting, has been asked to chair an accreditation team for an on-site visit to the business school at Texas A&M University in Kingsville, Tex. The visit will take place Oct. 13-15 of this year.

A farewell party for Kathy Feith, Financial Aid, is planned for 2- 4 p.m. today, Friday, Aug. 29, in the Financial Aid Office. Kathy is leaving MSSU to accept a position at Missouri Western in St. Joseph. Please stop by and help the department say good-bye and best wishes.

Patricia Murphy, English, has had an article accepted by Victorian Review, which will appear in the spring 2009 issue. The article explores a little-known novel, Mr. Meeson's Will, in terms of gender, empire, and cultural inscription.

Tim Wilson and Blake Wolf, Criminal Justice Administration, attended a Crime Scene Photography school that was held in Miami, Fla. on Aug. 5-8. Topics addressed included equipment selection, basic and advanced lighting techniques (including electronic flash, photography of luminescent Luminol, Infrared and Reflected Ultra-Violet Photography, and the painting-with-light technique), close-up photography, photography of three-dimensional evidence, alternate light source photography. The course also included “hands on” exercises that reinforced the lecture material.

Judy Wilmoth, Human Resources, graduated in May from P.S.U. with a Master of Science degree in Human Resources Development. Judy was also awarded the "Excellence In Research" award given by the Graduate School of Technology, Department of Human Resources Development.

CLASSIFIED

For Sale: 2002 Subaru Forester. Owned by Gwen Murdock, who is now in Kyrgyzstan. Subaru needs to find new home. All-wheel drive, averages 28-30 miles per gallon. Has 148,000 miles and has been well-maintained and trouble free. $5,950. Call (417) 291-8023 for more information.

For Sale: Maple coffee table, excellent shape $50. Also have Futon with blue cover; very clean, like new, $50. Contact Becky Gallemore 659-5425 or 540-3423.

For Sale: Brand new, unused Windows Vista Ultimate w/Service Pack 1 for sale. This is the most complete version available. Lowest price anywhere is $279. Will sell for $260. If interested, call Al Carnine at ext. 9633.

Lost: A small car remote was lost at the Biology Pond Sunday, Aug. 24 during the Freshman/Transfer Athletics event. If you have found this remote please contact Karesa Burr, Athletics, 625-9317 as soon as possible.

For Rent: Room, $350 per month, all utilities & cable included. Quiet and clean. 44th & Connecticut. Call Trish at (417) 346-2828 or (571) 647-1108.

For Sale: Black and silver registered German shepherd puppy. Beautiful markings. Well socialized. $175. Call ext. 9662.

For Sale: The Singing Machine karaoke machine with top load CD, dual cassettes, two microphones, built-in lyrics screen, connecting cables to make your TV into a screen, and some karaoke CD's. Will take best offer. Contact Sarah Johnson, SBDC, at ext. 3128 or 417-626-2010, or e-mail johnson-s@mssu.edu.

For Sale: A Honda Harmony Tiller model #FG400. Cost $640 new. Asking $300 or best offer. Also have a Stihl gas powered weed eater Model #F5-46C with PolyCut mowing head auto cut attachment. Cost $247 new. Asking $100 o.b.o. If interested, call (417) 770-0719.

For Sale: Three peach colored David's Bridal Bridesmaid Dresses with beautiful trains. Original price was $120 each, will sell all three for $100 or $40 each. Sizes are 8, 12, & 16. They have only been worn once and can be altered. They have all been dry cleaned. Call (417) 434-0002 or ext. 9598.

Free to Good Home: Two male Great Pyrenees dogs. 1½ years old. Kind and lovable. Call Alan at 624-0439.