Schiavo receives Governor's Award

The winner of the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching from Missouri Southern is J. Stephen Schiavo, Associate Professor of Computer Information Science.

Schiavo has been a member of the MSSU faculty since 2001 and a member of the teaching profession since 1997.

Faculty members from colleges and universities in Missouri receive the Governor's Award for effective teaching, innovative course design and delivery, effective advising, service to the institutional community, commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement.

Recipients and guests will attend a luncheon hosted by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.

Schiavo received his Master of Science in Management Technology from the University of Texas San Antonio after working for several years in information technology and computer science, primarily in the private sector. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Trinity University in San Antonio, Tex.

"Mr. Schiavo is an inspiring teacher who is always organized and well prepared, says John Messick, Vice President for Academic Affairs at MSSU. "He demands the best from his students, but works tirelessly to help each student realize their full potential," Dr. Messick adds.

Dr. Messick says Schiavo has received consistent praise for effectively explaining complex concepts in simple and readily understood terms. As a result, students appreciate his enthusiasm, good humor, and sincere interest in their success.

Schiavo serves on numerous campus committees and has been influential in revitalizing the student Computer Information Science Club.

Today's Brown Bag

Today's Brown Bag presentation is titled "We Know How People Make History, but How do they DO it? My Trip to Franciscan Archives in Arequipa and Lima."

Eugene Berger, Social Sciences will discuss his research trip to Peru in the summer of '08, which was part of an excavation funded by the National Science Foundation. He will present a background on what the archeologists were looking for, what his role was, and how he read 16th century manuscripts. Included will be pictures of the dig, several artifacts found, and related documents.

The lecture series is free and open to all faculty and staff.

The event will be noon in room 202 of the Art Department (Enter through the main door, room is immediately to the left, opposite the Spiva Gallery). Bring your own brown bag lunch and enjoy an opportunity to witness some of the research and creative works being accomplished at Missouri Southern.

For additional information contact Frank A. Pishkur, Art, at ext. 9735.

Staff Senate committee to accept nominations

The MSSU Staff Senate formation committee will be accepting nominations between April 6 and April 24 for the initial installation of Staff Senators from all classified and professional staff employees. Staff members were recently sent a form by e-mail and were asked to return it to staffsenate@mssu.edu.

Employees may nominate themselves and/or as many staff employees as they would like as a representative to the Staff Senate. Nominating a staff employee other than oneself requires permission of the nominee. To be eligible to serve on the Staff Senate, the individual staff person must have been a current employee of MSSU for the previous 12 consecutive months

The goals of the Staff Senate are to:

• Provide an effective communication link between the staff and the administration;
• Provide an effective communication link among the staff;
• Increase awareness of the roles and focus of the Staff Senate through a Staff Senate website, a Staff Senate email address and a Staff Senate electronic brochure; and
• Develop practical, progressive recommendations and present these recommendations to the administration.

Members of the Staff Senate shall strive to ensure that their duties on the Senate do not conflict with their duties as an employee. Supervisors will be expected to permit time as needed for Staff Senate business provided it does not interfere with an employee’s regular duties or result in overtime for classified staff.

Ballots will be prepared April 28 for the election which is scheduled for May 11 through May 15 at the following campus locations.

• May 11- Security Office (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• May 12- Library Coffee Shop area circulation desk (7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.)
• May 13- Kuhn Hall- Learning Center (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• May 14- Lion’s Den (BSC) (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• May 15- Security Office (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)

Final results will be sent by e-mail no later than June 1. Those with questions are invited to e-mail staffsenate@mssu.edu.

National Issues Forum

Missouri Southern students, faculty, staff, and local community members of any nationality are invited to come together to discuss the 2009 National Issues Forum topics.

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 that we and/or our government might take. There is no fee to participate, but group size is limited so you must reserve a place. Select from one of the following times and places:

Democracy’s Challenge: Reclaiming the Public’s Roll
Thurs., April 9   3:30 - 5:30 p.m., MSSU Spiva Library
Mon., April 20    6 - 8 p.m., Joplin Globe, 4th and Virginia Streets

Breaking the Habit of Deficit Spending
Mon., April 13  - 6 - 8 p.m., Joplin Globe, 4th and Virginia Streets

The Energy Problem
Tues., April 14 - 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., MSSU Spiva Library                                                    

To reserve a place, contact: Ann Wyman, Social Sciences, by e-mailing  wyman-a@mssu.edu or calling 625-9697 or John Knapp, Physical Science, at   knapp-j@mssu.edu or 625-9720.

Taking a look at higher education

On the mornings of March 24 and March 26, a total of 70 Joplin High School students saw and experienced the positive aspects of higher education as part of the Joplin Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Outreach Workforce Partnership and the Jobs for Missouri Graduates (JMG) program

Ryan Rogers, Service Learning Coordinator at Southern, and Cary Beasley, Workforce Development Manager of the Joplin Chamber, coordinated this event in conjunction with Carolyn White, Resident Director, and Karen Bryant, Admissions.

The visit was designed to expose the students to a real college campus, dismiss any negative stigmas about college, and put higher education into the forefront of their minds. The students began their mornings with a Q & A student panel made up of six volunteer students from the Campus Activities Board. The students also toured the campus.

To bring service learning into this event, the six MSSU student volunteer panelists were given a reflection survey made up of questions to attain what they learned through their experience, This was the Service Learning Office’s first documented service learning event done with a student organization rather than an academic department or course.

The JMG program falls under the national program Jobs for America’s Graduates which targets at-risk youth unable to access adequate skill resources and who are in need of vocational direction to adapt to today’s ever-changing job market.

Lion Alert now available on LioNet

Academic Affairs is pleased to announce that Lion Alert is now available on LioNet.   The Lion Alert tab is located on the Lionet home page.

Lion Alert is an Early Warning software that allows faculty, staff, and students to refer students that may be struggling academically, personally or behaviorally  and connect them to the many support services available to them. Video training and “How to” training sheets are provided on the Lion Alert site and are being sent out by campus email.

The goal is to make sure these students have access to the appropriate support service.  Lion Alert is compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Kelly Wilson, ACTS, has provided an informational and training video to introduce you to Lion Alert and to demonstrate how convenient and efficient it is to refer a student: It is available at http://204.185.19.21/wilson-k/lionet/LAtraining1.html. 

MSSU Dance Marathon 2009

Faculty/staff as well as students are encouraged to enter Missouri Southern's Dance Marathon 2009.

The marathon will be held Friday, April 3 beginning at 8 p.m. and last until Saturday, April 4 at 8 a.m. in Young Gymnasium.

Those interested should register ASAP by visiting http://danceforkids.kintera.org/mssu.

For more information, contact Hillary Fogerty, English, by calling 625-3050 or contact student Ruth Eichinger at eichingerr001@mymail.mssu.edu.

Money raised will go to fund AIDS research.

Student Nursing Association Blood Drive Monday, April 13 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Look for Bloodmobile in parking lot nearf Hearnes Hall. Thanks for Giving Back to the Community!

"Mr. International 2009" slated for tomorrow night

Mr. International 2009 is an all male beauty pageant in which International Students from Missouri Southern will compete to win this year's title.

The competition will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall. The event is free and open to the public

The competition consists of a talent section, followed by a swimsuit section, concluding with an evening wear section and a round of questions. The event is sponsored by the Institute of International Studies at MSSU. The Missouri Southern International Club has taken the lead in planning the Mr. International competition.

Missouri Southern students participating are Matthew Hickman (U.S.A), Xi Kun (China), Antoine Tagliaferri (France), Tsung-Ying Lee (Taiwan), Shehan Angelo Fernando (Sri Lanka).

Northwestern Arkansas Community College (NWACC) will bring students to participate as Mr. Bolivia and Mr. Russia.

International students are expected to attend include contingents from Johnson County Community College (JCC), Crowder College, Ozark Christian College (OCC), and NWACC.

"The students are happy to be in the U.S. studying and getting to know the culture and customs of the Midwest," says Chad Stebbins, International Studies. "They are looking forward to providing an evening of entertainment which we invite classmates and the community to attend and enjoy," he adds.

Yurika Hori (International Student from Japan and MSSU cheerleader) says, "I am so excited that I have been able to learn about American culture and other world cultures at MSSU. This event is the perfect example of international diversity in the local area."

Italian film next in International Film Festival

The film Christ Stopped at Eboli (Cristo si e fermato a Eboli), an Italian movie from 1979, will be the next offering from the 47th Annual International Film Festival at Missouri Southern State University.

The film will be shown at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7 in Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall. No admission is charged.

This award-winning drama, directed by Francesco Rosi, is based on a memoir by the writer, painter and physician Carlo Levi of his experience in a remote village in southern Italy, to which he was exiled by Mussolini in 1935 for his anti-Fascist political activities.

Gian Maria Volonte portrays Levi, who discovers the ignorance, oppressed state and indifference of the peasant settlers to social issues and to the unjustified invasion of Ethiopia.

Carlo Levi (1902-1975) was a physician, writer and intellectual. In 1936 he was arrested for his antifascist activities and was condemned to exile in a remote Italian village known as Aliano. During World War II, Levi wrote his splendid novel Christ Stopped at Eboli based on his years in Aliano.

This film version was made four years after Levi’s death. It turned out to be exceptionally touching, faithful to the book, realistic and beautifully restrained in its depiction of characters and situations.

Rosi offers an authentic but moving story against a historical backdrop, stunningly photographed in rich detail.

Out and Allied Symposium April 16 - 17

"Out and Allied: An Academic Symposium on Sexual Orientation, Representation and Civil Rights" will take place on Thursday and Friday, April 16 - 17 on the MSSU campus.

Hillary Fogerty, English-Philosophy, says the symposium will feature a wide variety of panel discussions, roundtables, films, student events, and other activities designed to highlight the subject of sexual orientation and related issues.

On Thursday, April 16, the Symposium will feature keynote speaker Midge Potts who will speak from 6 - 7:15 p.m. in Cornell Hall in the Robert Plaster School of Business Administration. Potts' topic will be "Transcending Traditional Politics."

Potts is a transgender peace activist and United States Navy veteran who has been associated with the group Code Pink. Potts was exposed to evaporated mercury aboard a U.S.Navy ship during the Gulf War.

In 2006, Potts unsuccessfully ran in Missouri's primary for the 7th District Congressional seat as a Republican 2006 against incumbent Roy Blunt, receiving 7 percent of the vote in the Republican primary in the southwest Missouri district. This spring Potts officially became a member the Progressive Party of Missouri.

Hillary says the three events Wednesday evening have been slated for the convenience of those attending. "After the speaker concludes, people can just walk down the hill for dinner, and then walk back up for the showing of the film Milk."

The Symposium will also include an outdoor barbecue and a "Day of Silence."

To see a complete list of activities, visit http://www.mssu.edu/news/2009/out_and_allied.html.

Newsmakers focuses on Joplin JROTC anniversary

Next week's edition of the Newsmakers interview program features a look at the 90th anniversary of Joplin High School's JROTC program on April 10 -11, and upcoming celebrations planned to mark the milestone. The JROTC program is the longest continually running program in the country, established in 1919.

During the program, First Sergeants Richard Banks and Richard Polley share information about the history and development of JROTC. They also discuss how the program benefits students through citizenship skills, leadership, and life skills. A current JROTC cadet and senior at JHS, Jeff Clyde, reflects on how the program has helped him. Four cadets from the exhibition rifle team demonstrate their skills on the program.

Newsmakers may be seen on KGCS-TV, digital broadcast channel 22, Cable One channel 7 and Mediacom channel 77. It will air at the following times:

Sun. April 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Mon. April 6 - 5:30 p.m.
Tue. April 7 - 6:p.m.
Wed. April 8 - 5:30 p.m.

The program will also air on KOAM-TV at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, April 11.

McCaskill to Visit U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill is scheduled to visit campus at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, April 7 in the Mills Anderson Justice Center Auditorium. Her Table Talk program will feature a question and answer format open to students, the campus community, and the general public.

Grad Expo

Grad Expo for this spring is on Wednesday, April 8 in the lobby of Taylor Performing Arts Center.

The event will last from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Greg Needham, Bookstore, says those planning to graduate can pick up their caps and gown and order announcements, rings and diploma frames.

Exit interviews

All graduates with student loans are required to complete exit counseling/interviews prior to May 16, 2009.

Sheila Saba, Financial Aid, says the interviews can be completed in person or they can be completed online. Those not completing the interviews will not be able to obtain records, which are vital as students enter the next phase of their education or careers.

Information can be obtained by contacting Financial Aid at (417) 625-9325

One-Acts April 13 -18 in Bud Walton Theatre

Front Row: Chelsea Prettyman, Kayla Curran, Ashley Trotnic, Melissa Mullen, Kelsey Amann, Kent Phillips. Back Row: Kyle Maloney, Alycia Allen, Devon Seaman, Zack Self, Lara Hicks & Todd Manley

What happens when you ask a class full of beginning directors to write a play? What happens when you ask those novice playwrights to direct their own work?

The answer - three evenings of brand new, exciting, student-directed, student-written one act plays.

Southern Theatre will present Upward Reflections: A Festival of Student-Directed One Act Plays April 13 - 18 in the Bud Walton Theatre on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.

This eclectic assortment of original dramas will be performed according to the following schedule:

* Four plays performed on April 13 will repeat on April 16.
* Four plays performed on April 14 will repeat on April 17.
* Four plays performed on April 15 will repeat on April 18.

Each evening, the first two plays will be presented at 6 p.m. The next two plays will begin at 8 p.m., following a 30-minute break.

The casts consist of actors from MSSU faculty/ staff and students, as well as several members of the Joplin community.

The plays are rated “M” for mature audiences only. There may be explicit language and adult situations.

Admission is free. Reservations are required for the Festival due to the limited seating capacity. The Theatre Box Office will open Monday, April 6. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For reservations, call the Box Office at (417) 625-3190. For theatre production information, contact Terri Spencer at (417) 625-9393.

MSSU alumnus Jarod Roll will deliver the 15th annual Jeans Lecture at 7 p.m. on April 7 in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall on the MSSU campus. The title of his lecture is: "Prophetic Religion and Agrarian Rebellion in the Missouri Bootheel."

A 2000 graduate of Missouri Southern with a B.A. in History, Roll earned his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 2006. His family lives in Mt. Vernon.

His dissertation won two prestigious prizes: Best Dissertation in Labor and Working-Class History, awarded in 2006 by Labor History, the pre-eminent journal for historical scholarship on labor and The Herbert Gutman Outstanding Dissertation in U.S. Labor and Working Class History, awarded in 2008 by the Labor and Working Class History Association. He was also a finalist for the C. Vann Woodward Prize for Best Dissertation in Southern History, an award of the Southern Historical Association, in 2006.

His first book, Spirit of Rebellion: Labor and Religion in the New Cotton South, scheduled for publication by the University of Illinois Press in 2010, explores how African American and white farmers created a grassroots radicalism to defend agrarian traditions against the rise of capital-intensive agriculture in the lowlands of southeast Missouri.

He is co-author (with Erik S. Gellman, Roosevelt University, Chicago) of the forthcoming volume, The Gospel of the Working Class: Labor's New Deal Prophets.

He is also under contract with the Johns Hopkins University Press for Between Race and Nation: Black Politics in the Age of Jim Crow with Steven Hahn of the University of Pennsylvania and Patricia Sullivan of the University of South Carolina.

Roll is also Director of the Marcus Cunliffe Centre for the Study of the American South at the University of Sussex, Brighton, England http://www.sussex.ac.uk/cunliffe/.

UPWARD BOUND SCHOLARSHIP Pizza Hut cards cost $10 Use them up to 12 times. Card is good for 1 free medium pizza with purchase of a large pizza at regular price. The cards support scholarships for MSSU Upward Bound students. For Purchase: Please Contact Megan (ext. 9886) or Kevin (ext. 9890) in the Mansion Annex or call ext. 9880.

Join Upward Bound at Sonic (1030 East 7th Street) Saturday, April 4 12 noon to 4 pm. Enjoy the $1 menu & Happy Hour Specials from 2-4 p.m. MSSU Upward Bound students will be assisting the carhops and running a car wash. Kids can take pictures with the MSSU lion and get their face painted. Donate to local area students.

Jazz Between Friends

A jazz concert titled "Jazz Between Friends" will be performed by The Phil Wise Septet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16 in the Elsie Plaster Community Center on the campus of Crowder College. The concert is free and open to the public.

The performance will feature a number of outstanding professional musicians from the area. Phil Wise, Music, will be joined by Robert Ensor, piano; Scott Harris, trumpet; Wes Smith, saxophone; Robert Terry, bass; Joe Leiter, guitar; and Damon Graue, drums.

Selections include jazz standards "Bernie's Tune", "A Child is Born", "Days of Wine & Roses", and "Beautiful Love" along with three original bossa novas written by Phil Wise.

Come enjoy an evening of jazz.

Foreign Language Field Day Tuesday, April 21

Approximately 1,500 students from schools in the four states will explore the world of foreign languages at the 35th Annual Modern Foreign Language Field Day, Tuesday, April 21.

The theme for this year's event and poster contest will be "Exploring the Corners of the World.”

Leslie Parker, Director of the International Language Resource Center, says tests will be administered throughout the day at various locations on campus.

Students of French, German and Spanish will compete in Culture Bowls, geography, reading comprehension, vocabulary recognition, poetry reading, a poster contest and skits in their respective foreign languages.

Non-competitive events include foreign language lessons in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish throughout the morning. This year's event will also feature an International Idol competition in the afternoon where students will sing in their respective foreign languages.

Those wanting more information should contact Leslie Parker at (417) 625-3109.

Blixt Art Journal extends deadline

Mark Thomas, Art, says the new deadline for submission to the Blixt Art Journal is Thursday, April 9.

Submissions are being taken for all types of visual arts, as well as short stories and poetry. Both students and faculty members may make submissions.

Artwork should be submitted on a CD/DVD in a digital format [300 DPI]. Photos can be taken of artwork between 3:30 and 5 p.m. on any Thursday in Room 334 of the Art Building before April 9.

Poetry and short stories must be in the MS WORD format. They may be taken to the Art department office or e-mailed to thomas-m@mssu.edu or mark@fishjoydesign.com. Those with questions may call Mark at (417) 625-9095 or (814) 572-7126 [cell].

Be sure to include Include the author's name, medium, brief statement about the work, phone number and e-mail with all submissions.

SNA Fundraiser

Sheila Hart, Nursing, and several students will be serving pizza at an upcoming Student Nursing Association Fundraiser.

The group will be at the Pizza Inn on Range Line from 4:30 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7

Funds raised will assist the group in a planned trip to Europe.

Come help support these Nursing students.

FACULTY/STAFF

Anita Miller, Mailroom, appreciates all donations made at the music event in downtown Joplin to Angela Webb, who is fighting serious illness

CLASSIFIED

Wanted: Used 28- inch color television with gaming capability. Call Cheryl at 624-0439.

For Sale: T1860G Kubota lawn tractor, 18 HP liquid cooled gas engine, 60" mower deck, power steering, hydrostat transmission, 343 hours, $2,350. Call (417) 540-3424 or (417) 659-5425.

For Sale: '07 Zero-turn DIXON lawn mower, 20HP 44" cut, used very little; a Yard machine mower, 18.5HP, 42" cut. For more info call Jan at ext. 9558.

For Sale: Red 5' x 16' stock trailer. Asking $600. Also, 18' Cajun Bass Boat with 2 fish finders, 115 Mariner motor, motor guide gatormount trolling motor, boat 83 motor 84. Asking $2,900. If interested please call (620) 762-1010 or (620) 856-4356.

Situation Wanted: Student looking for work thru May 15. Available afternoons for yardwork (use your equipment), raking, mowing, lifting, etc. References upon request. Call (417) 529-8107.