Lion Tales . . .
Erin Patton, Bookstore Assistant Manager

Erin Patton, Missouri Southern Bookstore Assistant Manager, has come a long way to arrive at the all-new retail operation in the Billingsly Student Center.

In her position at the Bookstore, she maintains course book lists and orders books for classes. She also helps select merchandise sold in the store, work the cash register when needed, and set up displays and merchandise. She also can be found working at football and basketball games.

“We sell clothing, athletic gear, everything we can at the games,” she says, “anything with our Lion logo on it.”

Erin has a degree in History from Missouri Southern. She has worked at MSSU for about two years. She grew up in Kansas City and cities in Georgia and Tennessee but graduated from high school in Joplin.

In high school she visited Europe. After that, she took advantage of MSSU’s International Mission to go to Mexico and England.

However, her most adventurous and rewarding journey took place from April 2005 to June 2007 when she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the city of Xai-Xai, Mozambique in southeast Africa. She worked with a small community-based organization called Lado-Lado. In Mozambique, she encountered a distinctly different society than she had previously encountered. The infant mortality rate in Mozambique, although improving, hovers around 10 percent. The average life expectancy is about 40.

“That’s due to HIV/AIDS,” she explains. “About 15 percent of the population is HIV positive. In the part of the country where I worked it is about 20 percent."

Lado Lado assisted the HIV patients, transporting them for care and providing a mother-to-child transmission education program. Erin worked with record keeping on the computer, helped with grant writing and did some field work.

“In the last part of the time I was there, I taught English to pre-schoolers, 3, 4 and 5-year olds. I don’t know how much they learned but I did my best," she says with a laugh.

The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, but only about 40 percent of the Bantu people who live in the country speak it. The others speak tribal languages Swahili, Makhuwa, Sena, Ndau and Shangaan. However, the nation is surrounded on all sides by English-speaking nations, including South Africa.

One accomplishment from her Peace Corps work was learning to speak Portuguese. Although she only had a few weeks of rudimentary training, Erin says she truly began speaking the language when she found herself using it on a daily basis.

After her Peace Corps experience ended, she took the opportunity to travel to Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa, Ethiopia and Portugal and other areas in Mozambique.

“I love to travel,” she states.

Erin has a simple philosophy about her job at Missouri Southern:

“The customer always comes first," she states. “You hear it said 'the customer is always right' and that's usually true but, to me, they always come first. That's what I believe. I always try to accommodate them as much as I can.”

Story by Stephen Smith, News Bureau. Photo by Liz Ford, University Relations & Marketing.

Beimdiek Recreation Center opens

Beimdiek Center Grand Stairway

Over 100 new exercise and weight machines sprang into action as of 6 a.m. Wednesday when MSSU officially opened the doors to Beimdiek Recreation Center according to Darren Fullerton, MSSU Director of Student Life.

In spite of a 45 day delayed start due to weather and unsuitable soils, the 71,000 square foot renovation and addition project finished on schedule, according to Rodney Longenecker, Project Manager for R.E. Smith Construction Company, General Contractors for the Beimdiek project. Bill Wedeking, of RDG Planning and Design in Des Moines, Iowa, was the architect.

Included in the new addition is a triple basketball court gymnasium surrounded by a suspended indoor walking/running track, weight and exercise areas on two different levels, aerobic dance and exercise rooms, a state of the art film theatre, a new bookstore, student commons area with computer access and flat screen TVs, and the Willcoxon Student Health Center.

The Willcoxon Health Center, made possible by a grant from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Willcoxon, is located in the Beimdiek Student Center, with access to its own outside entrance.  The center opened its doors to students one week ago, and officials report that student use doubled the first week.

"Our new center is much more visible and appealing.  It is a fully furnished medical clinic," said Jan Dipley, Clinic Director and Nurse Practitioner.  "Our previous location had only two exam rooms and a single office which housed three desks and doubled as a supply closet!"

"In the Willcoxon Health Center, we have administrative areas, a comfortable waiting room, five exam rooms and a treatment room, a pharmacy, lab, private bathrooms, a workroom and ample storage. We are ecstatic!"

In addition to the new additions, renovations of existing facilities include The Lion's Den Café, which reopened in 2008, the basement office areas and original MSSU bookstore, the upstairs ballroom and administrative suites.  All renovations of the existing Billingsly Student Center will also finish on schedule this fall, according to Longenecker.

FREE TRIAL FOR FACULTY/STAFF: Faculty/Staff are being offered a trial period for the rest of September. They can use the facilities at no charge during that period. Those interested in signing up for payroll deduction should do that at the Campus Recreation Office, BSC Room 241, by Sept. 21.

Make sure you take your Faculty/Staff ID each time you go to the Beimdiek Recreation Center. For additional information, contact Leslie Willis, Campus Recreation, ext. 9693.

Longtime faculty member passes

Blake Wolf

C. Blake Wolf, 53, passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, from complications during heart surgery.

Wolf was a lawyer, educator, advisor, administrator and law enforcement professional. His complete obituary is available at http://www.parkermortuary.com .

For the past 19 years, Blake served as professor of criminal justice at MSSU. Blake served as head of the Criminal Justice Department and the Law Enforcement Academy for several years.

A funeral mass was held Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Joplin. Interment followed at Weaver Cemetery, Oronogo.

Presentations on flags, cod today

Craig T. Palmer is an associate professor of cultural anthropology and director of graduate studies in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Missouri-Columbia will  make two presentations today.

• “Why are There So Many Newfoundland Flags in Alberta? -- Newfoundland Identity and Supportive Social Networks” will be presented at 9 a.m., Friday, Sept. 4 in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall.

The past 30 years have seen thousands of Newfoundlanders migrate to Alberta to work in the oil industry. This continuing pattern of migration provides an opportunity to explore both the nature of the Newfoundland identity and the reasons for why it is given such emphasis among Newfoundlanders living in Alberta. It is suggested that the frequent displays of Newfoundland identity through such mediums as T-shirts, hats, tattoos, flags, bumper stickers and music are instrumental in the creation of mutually beneficial social networks.

• “In Cod They Trusted: Ecological Knowledge, Social Context and the Overexploitation of Marine Resources in Eastern Canada” will be presented at 11 a.m.in the same location.

Eastern Canada, like many parts of the world, has seen the dramatic overexploitation of natural resources. The local ecological knowledge of the people directly dependent on a resource is obviously a valuable tool to be used in avoiding similar future ecological disasters. However, local ecological knowledge is far more complex than what people say about the environment and the causes of environmental problems.

Palmer earned his Ph.D. in anthropology from Arizona State University in 1988. His research focuses on kinship, religion, ritual, cooperation, migration, sports and the ecological adaptations of fishing communities to their environment. His experience working in the commercial lobster fishery of Maine for five years during the 1980s led to his anthropological fieldwork in fishing communities on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada.

Flu preparations in place

Missouri Southern State University administrators and the Willcoxon Health Center staff continue to monitor the evolving situation regarding H1N1 virus (Swine Influenza).

As of earlier this week, no suspicious cases have been reported to the MSSU Health Services staff.

A student at Pittsburg (Kan.) State University has a confirmed case of H1N1. A story in today's Joplin Globe says the Health Department in the county where the student is from informed the university on Thursday that the student had the virus.

Symptoms of seasonal flu and novel H1N1 flu include: fever (greater than 100°F / 38°C) cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Some people also may have vomiting and diarrhea. Influenza usually starts suddenly.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

For more information and other details visit www.mssu.edu/emergencyinformation/flu-H1N1.htm.

Project Stay newsletter

Shavonne McCoy, Project Stay, says the group's newsletter is out for the month of September. Check the publication out to find out information on the 6th Annual Adult Student Leadership Conference, computer coaching, a free opportunity for grad students and academic news from Project Stay students.

To learn more simply click on this link: ProjectStayNewsletter.

Lawn Party planned

The 2nd Annual Lawn Party: Acoustic Jam Session is slated for 8:30 p.m. - midnight , Wednesday, Sept. 16 on the Oval. The event is part of Wellapalooza (formerly known as Natural High Week).

Come listen to students and fellow faculty/staff perform their acoustical talents while you sip on coffee or hot cocoa!

Last year we enjoyed the talents of Joy Dworkin, English, and Stephen Smith, News Bureau, along with several students.

If you are interested in showing off your talent this year, contact Natalie Bruce, ACTS, at 625-9529.

Southern Theatre to Present Emily Carr

Southern Theatre will present the play Emily Carr at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, Sept. 15 - 19, 2009 in the Bud Walton Theatre on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.

Admission is free to students, faculty and staff of Missouri Southern. Admission is $3 per person for other adults and $1 for senior citizens and high school students.

Emily Carr, written by Herman Voaden is directed by James Lile, Theatre. This is a United States premiere that coincides with Missouri Southern's "Canada Semester."

Herman Voaden was a playwright who dedicated his career to the quest for a dramatic voice that was distinctly Canadian. He was also deeply passionate about the power of theatre.

He wrote, "In a world fraught with dissatisfaction and haunted with a sense of spiritual inadequacy the theatre remains a repository for great hope, vision and belief." In famed Canadian author and painter Emily Carr, Voaden found a subject as passionate about art as he was. His play allows us to share her journey through the trials and triumphs, the sacrifices and successes, of a life lived in the service of art.

Twitter page now available

MSSU now has a Twitter page to keep its community updated. It is free to join. Check it out at http://twitter.com/liontales.

Twitter is a free social networking/micro blogging service allowing users to send and read messages known as "tweets".

Tweets may include 140 characters of text displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers.

Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website. For information, contact University Relations & Marketing at 625-9399.

Eight faculty members to speak Sept. 11

In the year 2000, a small group of scholars, civic and political leaders, and artists from a dozen nations met to design a program that might help raise consciousness around the realities and possibilities of interdependence. According to the group, both liberty and security require cooperation among peoples and nations and can no longer be secured by sovereign nations working unilaterally.

In keeping with the spirit of Interdependence Day, now celebrated worldwide on Sept. 12, eight MSSU faculty members will share insights into what Canada has in common with the United States and how it is also uniquely different on Friday, Sept. 11 in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall.

Moderator: Dorothy Bay, Biology

9:05 a.m.: “Minding P’s and Q’s ─ U.S. and Canadian Ideas About Government,” by Ann Wyman, Political Science.

9:20 a.m.: “The Mouse That Roars: Canada and U.S. Economic Relations” by Chris Moos, International Business.

 9:35 a.m.: “The Rowdy Upstairs Neighbors: The Canadian Geographic Mosaic” by Steve Smith, Geography.

10:05 a.m.: “Benign Opposites: The Juxtaposition of Canadian-American Demographics” by Conrad Gubera, Sociology.

10:25 a.m.: “Hot It’s Not But It Rocks a Lot” by John Knapp, Geophysics.

11:05 a.m.: “The Megafauna of the United States and Canada, Past and Present” by Kip Heth, Biology.

11:20 a.m.: “From Maple Leaves to Monkey Flowers ─ the Flora of Canada” by Dorothy Bay, Biology.

11:35 a.m.: “Bringing Home the Bacon: Michael Moore’s Take on Americans’ Take on Canada” by William Kumbier, English.

The final presentation will suggest a number of things to watch for when Michael Moore’s film Canadian Bacon is shown in the Residence Hall Courtyard on the evening of Sept. 14.

Learn a foreign language with your child! The International Language Resource Center at Missouri Southern State University announces FREE Foreign Language Classes for children and adults. No previous foreign language experience is necessary. Classes to be offered include: Ages 8-11 – French or Spanish Ages 12-15 – German or Spanish Age 16 or older – Russian or Spanish ◊ Classes will be held on MSSU’s campus in Webster Hall from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from Oct. 6-Dec. 8.  No classes will be held on Oct. 20. ◊ The ILRC has been teaching foreign language community outreach classes for over 10 years.  Foreign language teachers are native speakers and/or advanced foreign language students at MSSU.  ◊ The curriculum includes basic vocabulary including introductions, family, clothing, colors, food, animals, places, days of the week, months of the year, telling time, geography, basic phrases, simple verbs and cultural information such as songs, games, holidays, traditions and much more!  Call (417) 625-3140 to reserve a spot in the class for you and/or your children. *There must be a minimum of 10 students enrolled per class.

Festival kicks off with Nanook of the North

The Canadian Film Festival will present  Nanook of the North (1922; 79 minutes) at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall.

The film is free and open to the public.

Directed by Robert Flaherty, the film is one of the earliest attempts to use cinema to take audiences into the life of what is for most viewers and unfamiliar culture.

Robert Flaherty’s classic film tells the story of an Inuit hunter’s struggle to survive in Canada’s Hudson Bay region.

It was, upon its release, a tremendous critical and commercial success.

Don't miss this chance to watch a film classic set in the frozen north country.

Blood Drive

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will have a blood drive in front of Hearnes Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The building's lobby will be used as the registration site and canteen.

The campus community is invited to attend and help give life to the Ozarks.

Optional plans available

Missouri Southern and Human Resources are happy to announce two new optional portable benefits available to all full and part-time (at least .50) benefit eligible employees (Note: Adjunct Faculty, Seminar Instructors, Interns and Seasonal Employees are not eligible for this benefit).

Through a State of Missouri partnership with Allstate Insurance Company, State organizations are being allowed to offer their employees and their designated family members the opportunity to enroll in optional whole life (also known as universal life) insurance with no underwriting required (guaranteed issue).   Also available to MSSU employees is an optional Cancer policy. During this limited guaranteed issue enrollment period, even if you or your family members have had health issues in the past, you are eligible to participate in both the Cancer Policy and the Whole Life enrollment. If employees wish to decline this opportunity, only the employee and their dependents will be offered an open enrollment opportunity, subject to underwriting, in the future.

There will be two informational seminars at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10 in and at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Both seminars will be held in Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall. Allstate representatives will give an overview of the plan and will distribute information regarding rates and options available under this offering.
Please mark your calendar to plan to attend one of these meetings.

During MSSU’s annual open enrollment period in October, Allstate representatives will be on campus conducting confidential employee enrollment for these benefits. Those dates and times will be determined and announced in early October.

An important note to remember: If you do not wish to enroll in this optional benefit, you will be required make your option to decline the coverage, in writing. More information concerning that task will be provided during our open enrollment packet of information to be distributed in early October.

Contemporary Film Series resumes next Friday

The first feature film in the Contemporary Film Series for the season will be shown at approximately 7 p.m. next Friday, Sept. 11 in Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall. The film is Seducing Dr. Lewis (Canada, 2004; 109 minutes).

The film is a comedy about an impoverished French-speaking fishing community in eastern Canada. The community must lure a doctor from Montréal who, in turn, must convince an industry to open a factory there.

Directed by Jean-Francois Pouliot, Seducing Dr. Lewis won an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. It has been called "very, very funny."

This film will be shown as part of a Missouri Southern Continuing Education class. The cost of the class is $10 per person per semester and those interested may register before the film Friday evening. Subsequent films will be shown this semester on Sept. 25, Oct. 9, Oct. 23, Nov.13, and Dec. 4.

For further information about this film or the series, contact Bill Kumbier, English, at kumbier-w@mssu.edu or Nick Kyle at kyle-n@mssu.edu.

FACULTY/STAFF

Membership selection is underway for the Golden Crest Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the premiere national leadership honor society which recognizes upper division students for exemplary leadership, scholarship and character. Junior and senior students may be nominated for membership in this prestigious organization. Note the following requirements:

1.  Demonstrate achievement in three areas of leadership recognized by Omicron Delta Kappa, with major distinction in one. These areas are:
       A.  Scholarship
       B.  Athletics
       C.  Social Service, Religious Activities, Campus Government
       D.  Journalism, Speech and the Mass Media
       E.  Creative and Performing Arts
   2.  Possess a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
   3.  Junior or Senior student standing   (60 or more credit hours
        completed in baccalaureate degree program)
   4.  Prior completion of at least one semester as a full-time student at Missouri Southern.

Qualifications for membership in the Society shall be exemplary character, scholarship and intelligence, service and leadership in campus life, and good citizenship within the academic and larger community.

Please e-mail your nominations to Elaine Freeman, Education, at freeman-e@mssu.edu no later than Wednesday, Sept. 9. Include the nominee's name, major, class standing (jr. or sr.), student number and local address.

CLASSIFIED

Looking For: Homemade cola maker needs pop bottles, old style without screw-on tops. Need 4 cases. Coke preferred but any brand will do. Dust or dirty condition O.K. Contact (417) 388-2128 or (417) 625-9506.

For Sale: 92 red Chevy pickup, 164,000 miles, automatic, 350, sharp!  $2500.  Also 5-year-old female Golden Retriever, spayed, free to good home.  (417) 396-0080.