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Inauguration today for Dr. Bruce W. Speck

Dr. Bruce Speck

Today is a monumental day for Missouri Southern State University.

Inauguration ceremonies are scheduled for 2 p.m. today 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.

Those who cannot attend can listen to the live broadcast on 88.7KXMS. The station will air coronation music the hour before and the hour after the event.

Music is already posted on the station's website. For information, check the site at: http://www.mssu.edu/kxms/septembe.htm#19.

KGCS-TV will record and air the ceremony on television at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23. The station airs on digital channel 22, Cable One channel 7 or Mediacom channel 77.

Beyond Therapy continues tonight, Saturday

Beyond Therapy is Southern Theatre's first production of the season. Brandi Hoofnagle directs the comedy which continues tonight and tomorrow night.

Curtain time will be 7:30 p.m. each evening in the Bud Walton Theatre.

Bruce and Prudence are deeply into therapy. Prudence’s macho therapist is urging her to be more assertive while Bruce’s wacky female therapist wants him to meet women by placing a personal ad. Bruce doesn’t know how to handle poor nervous Prudence and Prudence doesn’t know what to make of her unpredictable and emotional new boyfriend.

John Lithgow and David Hyde Pierce have played the part of Bruce on Broadway. A reviewer in Time Magazine said the play “offers the best therapy of all - guaranteed laughter.” Rex Reed, writing in The New York Daily News, said “It’s one of the funniest plays I have seen in years.”

Beyond Therapy is rated “M” and is designed for a mature audience. MSSU Box Office hours are 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. each weekday.

Seating is limited. Call (417) 625-3190 for reservations.

Lions and Lions and Lions, Oh My!

Make plans to take part in the 2008 “Lions and Lions and Lions, Oh My …!” Homecoming slated for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3 - 4.

* Friday’s activities will begin with a Campus Picnic from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the MSSU Oval.  The picnic is free to faculty/staff and students with I.D. and is open to the public at a cost of $5.

* Friday evening will feature the Alumni Awards Reception & Lions on Parade from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Spiva Art Center on the MSSU Campus. Business attire is recommended.   The Reception is open to Alumni Association members for $8 and to non-members for $10. Those honored will be Outstanding Alumni, the Lion Hearted Recipient, Hall of Fame Inductees, Outstanding Professors, Governor’s Award Recipient and the most recent Superior Service recipients..   

* The classic movie The Wizard of Oz will be shown at 10 p.m. at the Route 66 Theatre in Webb City, Mo.  Tickets will cost $ 5 at the door.  Seating is limited.

* On Saturday, Oct. 4, The Lion Pride Brunch will take place in Phinney Hall on the MSSU campus (adjacent to Taylor Performing Arts Center). Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the brunch will start at 9:30 a.m. Parking is available behind Webster Hall. Casual football attire is recommended. The cost for the brunch is $8 for Alumni Association member/Lionbackers and $10 for non-members. 

The Homecoming Parade will be held at 11:30 a.m. on the MSSU campus. The community is invited to Pre-Game Ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. at Hughes Stadium. The kickoff for the MSSU vs. Washburn football game is slated for 2 p.m. Tickets may be ordered for a cost of $5 each no later than Thursday, Sept. 28. 

Checks should be made payable and should be returned to the MSSU Alumni Office, 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, Mo. 64801-1595.  The office may be called at (417) 625-9355.  Tickets also may be ordered by visiting the Alumni Association website at www.mssu.edu/alumni.  Tickets cost $10 at the gate.

Musical Group “17 Hippies” to perform

One of Germany’s most eclectic musical groups will perform at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin on Monday, Sept. 22.

The Berlin group "17 Hippies" will take the stage at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22 in Taylor Performing Arts Center. Admission is free and the performance is open to the public.

Berlin’s very own “orchester spezial,” the 17 Hippies, have been weaving mixtures of music from all over Europe and around the world. Imagine a mix of Eastern melodies, Balkan rhythms, French chanson, Anglo song writing, Cajun tunes, all perfectly blended together, creating their own unique Berlin style of pop music.

They sing in German, English and French. The musicians’ musical backgrounds reveal influences from rock-pop to classical and jazz, and are reflected in the instruments they play: accordion, trombone, trumpet, violin, cello, woodwinds, mandolin, ukulele, banjo, Irish bouzouki, guitar, double bass, Indian harmonium and more.

To see a story in The Joplin Globe visit http://www.joplinglobe.com/enjoy/local_story_262190448.html

German band to perform tomorrow

The Deutschmeister Brass Band will perform from 4 - 6 p.m. and from 9 - 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at Hughes Stadium.

The Brass Band from St. Louis will provide entertainment at a mini-Oktoberfest before and after MSSU’s football game against the University of Nebraska - Omaha.

Both performances are free and open to the public.

Since its founding in 1963, the band has performed at various functions around St. Louis and across the U.S. The band is a part of the German Cultural Society of St. Louis, and is dedicated to preserving the musical tradition of the German and Middle European cultures, while bringing a modern flavor to the traditional German brass band style.

By blending styles, the band attracts a broader, non-German audience, furthering its goal of spreading German culture through music.

The band is structured after the European military bands of the late 1800s and performs a wide variety of music. The band’s library contains marches, polkas, waltzes and tangos with over 300 compositions ranging in styles from classical to military and American to German brass band.

Mexican film to show tonight

The Continuing Education “Foreign Film” class continues a tradition of bringing important and intriguing recent foreign and independent films to Missouri Southern.

The film Under the Same Moon (Mexico, 2007; 110 minutes) will be shown at 7 p.m. tonight in Cornell Auditorium, Plaster Hall.

Directed by the award-winning young filmmaker, Patricia Riggen, the film follows the journey to America of a nine-year-old boy, Carlitos, in search of his mother, Rosario, who has gone to America to build a better life for both of them. Claudia Puig in USA Today called it “a moving tale of courage, determination and unquenchable hope.”

Those who want to attend the films will be asked to register and pay a $10 course fee to offset the cost of purchasing the films on DVD. A brief discussion will follow the screening of each film. For more information on the films and the class, please contact Bill Kumbier, English, by e-mailing kumbier-w@mssu.edu.

TV station upgrades mean larger audience, new channel

Big changes are on the horizon for KGCS-TV. Work has been completed on the installation of a new transmitter and antenna, allowing KGCS to reach out to more viewers and move to a new channel.

The changes extend the reach of the broadcast area to towns not previously able to see KGCS programming over-the-air. Those towns include Neosho, Carthage and Pittsburg.

The number of households reached by the KGCS signal increases dramatically, from around 20,000 to more than 167,000 households.

“For years we’ve been asked by people who couldn’t see KGCS if we could boost our signal,” says Judy Stiles, KGCS General Manager. “We’ve especially heard a lot of requests from St. Louis Cardinals baseball fans who wanted to see Cardinals telecasts. This upgrade will allow many more people to watch KGCS-TV.”

In addition to a larger coverage area, KGCS will be seen on a new channel, broadcasting a digital signal on channel 22. The digital change will require viewers who watch with an antenna to have either a digital receiver or to use a digital converter box.

“We’re ahead of the curve on the digital TV transition with this change,” adds Stiles. “Full-power television stations are required to make the full switch to digital broadcasts in February, and they are already sending out digital signals.”

The KGCS upgrade is made possible by a contribution from the Ruth I. Kolpin Foundation.

“We appreciate this generous support from Mrs. Kolpin-Rubison and her foundation,” adds Stiles. “This type of community support of the television station and Missouri Southern State University is invaluable during these challenging economic times.”

KGCS-TV operates as a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University. It has provided broadcast programming over-the-air since 1988. Viewers who watch KGCS through local cable television outlets will not need to make any changes.

Criminal Justice Open House

The Missouri Southern Criminal Justice Administration Department will sponsor an Open House at the Mills Anderson Justice Center from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Trina Scott, Criminal Justice, says prospective students, their parents and school counselors are invited to take part.

The Open House will feature:

• A Career Fair featuring local, state, and federal employers.
• Tours of the facility including the Crime Scene Investigation demonstration room, Firing Range, Computerized Shooting Systems and other innovative technology.
• An opportunity to meet the faculty and ask questions about the Criminal Justice, Crime Scene Investigation, Justice Studies, Juvenile Justice and other programs.
• Lunch and drawings for other great prizes for those who attend.

Those wanting to attend should RSVP by email to: Roughton-angela@mssu.edu, by phone (417) 625-9302 or by FAX (417) 625-9796.

Homecoming departmental display contest

The Departmental Displays Competition was originated so that the celebration of Homecoming would be visible to those working and visiting campus. The Homecoming theme this year is “Lions and Lions and Lions, Oh My!”. Your department may register by calling the Student Activities Office at ext. 9346 or e-mail Melanie Epperson, Student Activities, at epperson-me@mssu.edu.

The deadline for registration will be 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24. Display building may begin at 8 a.m. on Sept. 24. Display building must be complete by 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30.

JUDGING
Judging will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 1. A panel of judges will be selected by the Student Activities Office.

PRIZES
Prizes will be 1st place – Office pizza party, 2nd place – Office donut party.

CONTEST RULES
Displays will be judged on the basis of creativity and originality, observance of theme and appearance. Winners will be announced at the picnic on Friday, Oct.3.        

Stir up your chili Monday, Sept. 29

The 2008 Homecoming chili cook-off will be held on the oval beginning at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29. All proceeds will be donated to the United Way of Southwest Missouri. In case of inclement weather, the cook-off will be held in the Spiva Library. Participants must adhere to the following guidelines to take part:

• Participants may enter as an individual or a department with up to four members per team
• Cooking areas must be completely set up by 11 a.m. the day of the event.
• Chili must be prepared in advance.
• Chili is to consist of any kind of meat, beans, vegetables and spices -- or no meat or beans.
• Contestants should bring a minimum of 5 quarts of chili.
• A complete list of ingredients must be available for each entry.
• Contestants must be willing to eat their own chili.
• All contestants must provide their own heating apparatus- crock pots, or slow cooker, extension cords, and cooking utensils, and ingredients.
• Each entrant will be provided with one 6’ table and one chair.
• Participants must make sure all garbage is picked up from their area.
  

A $1 donation, taken at the door, will be assessed to allow for chili-tasting. All proceeds will benefit the United Way of Joplin.

Awards will be given to participants for: Best Overall Taste, Best Name of Chili and Best Presentation of Chili. Registration must be made no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25. For registration information, call Elisa Bryant, Alumni Association, at ext. 3068 or e-mail: bryant-e@mssu.edu.

German Film Festival features Metropolis

The German Film Festival at Missouri Southern State University will present the film Metropolis at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23 in Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall. Admission is free.

Directed by Fritz Lang in 1923, the film to be shown is a new restoration of one of the most famous of all silent films and all science fiction films.

Set in a futuristic city whose populace is segregated between the idle ruling class and the dehumanized workers, it is still unsurpassed in special effects and pictorial composition.

The Film Festival is part of activities and events included in MSSU's "Germany Semester."

Homecoming activities planned for students

A wide variety of student activities are planned for the campus community during Homecoming week, Monday, Sept. 29 - Saturday, Oct. 4 at Missouri Southern. The Campus Activities Board has scheduled student activities among those listed below:

Sept. 29, 2008      
9 a.m.– 4 p.m. - Royalty Voting, Student Activities Office, Kuhn Hall, Room105
11:30 a.m. - Chili Cook-Off, on the Oval

Sept. 30, 2008                 
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Royalty Voting, Student Activities Office, Kuhn Hall, Room 105
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. - Make Your Own Music Video, on the Oval
7 p.m.- ZTA Open Mic Night, Mayes Dining Hall

Oct. 1, 2008                                              
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Quarterback Challenge on the Oval
7 p.m., Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction, W. Robert Corley Auditorium, Webster Hall

Oct. 2, 2008                         
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.- Laser Pursuit, on the Oval
11 am.- 1 p.m., Punt, Pass, & Kick on the Oval
7 p.m. - CAB Comedy Night , W.Robert Corley Auditorium, Webster Hall

Oct. 3, 2008
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.- All Campus Picnic
12 noon - Homecoming Coronation, on the Oval
6 p.m. - Alumni Reception, Spiva Art Center
8 p.m.- Block Party, Gravel lot north of Hughes Stadium     
10 p.m. - Film Wizard of Oz, 10 p.m., Rt. 66 Movie Theater, Main St, Webb City

Oct. 4, 2008                   
9 a.m.- Hall Of Fame Brunch, Phinney Hall
11:30 a.m.- Homecoming Parade, MSSU University Parkway
2 p.m. - Homecoming Game, Hughes Stadium

For more information contact Tori Christiansen, CAB, at (417) 625-9320.

FACULTY/STAFF

Becky Gallemore, Teacher Education, will take part in a 100-mile bicycle ride Oct. 6 to help find the cure for diabetes. Her father-in-law is in the hospital again for the fifth time in just over 4 months. Last year he almost lost his leg due to infection. Many other diabetic patients have similar stories. Please send your donation, in any amount, to Becky Gallemore c/o Taylor Hall 229B. All checks need to be made out to the American Diabetes Association and all donations are tax deductible.

Sheila Hart, Nursing, thanks everyone who made the blood drive a success." It was a monster blood drive and we exceeded our numbers with a result of 151%. Who knows whose life you have touched!"

Patricia Murphy, English, is contributing an essay on issues of empire in The Danvers Jewels to a book on Victorian novelist Mary Cholmondeley.

CLASSIFIED

For Sale: The following study guides are like new – no marks. Willing to sell at half of the purchase price. Barron’s AP Statistics, 2008 4th edition, eight full-length model exams, with a CD-Rom, $15. Kaplan’s AP U. S. History, 2008 edition, 2 full-length practice tests, $9. Kaplan’s SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level Two, 2007-2008 edition, 4 full-length practice tests, $9.50. Kaplan’s PSAT 2007 edition, 3 full-length practice tests, $7. REA’s AP Spanish Language, 6th edition (2007), 3 full-length practice exams, with 2 audio CDs, $14. The Princeton Review’s Cracking the AP Chemistry Exam, 2006-2007 edition, 2 full-length practice tests, $8.50. The Princeton Review’s Cracking the ACT, 2005 edition, 6 full-length practice exams, with a CD-Rom, $16. $70 takes all. Call ext. 9681

Free: Stray dog needs a good home! He's probably 6-8 months old, mostly black Lab, friendly and playful. Temporary owner can't keep him. Spoiled terrier is ferociously jealous and will not accept another dog. Call Jan Holmes at ext. 9558 if interested.

Free: Upright piano in fair condition. Needs a little work, few keys stick, but very playable. Few dents and dings, but it adds 'character'! All you need to do is pick it up and it is yours! Perfect for someone who wants to learn! Call Ruth Garner in the Communication Department at ext. 9654 or e-mail garner-R@mssu.edu.

For Sale: ATEC Casey Pro pitching machine - $1150. Call. 626-8155.

For Sale: Toshiba 65 inch flat screen home theater. $1,000 o.b.o. 4 years old. Works great. Had to replace with smaller TV due to move to smaller space. Cost over $4,000 new. Call Dave at 529-0463.

For Sale: 2008 Dodge Nitro SxT - 4 x 4 Black Crystal Pearl. Only 8,000 miles. $19,900. Please contact Wanda for more information at (417) 623-3631 or Shavonne at ext. 9830.

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