February 22nd - Griffon News

C M Y K
news:
Sports:
lifestyles:
Students can receive lots of information at Western’s Career Day.
PAGE 4
Super Mario and Joseph Stalin may possibly be related.
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T U E S D AY, F E B R U A RY 2 2 , 2 0 0 5
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
Western’s spring sports are in full
swing.
PA I D
PERMIT NO. 32
St. JOSEPH, MO
PAGE 8
M I S S O U R I WE S T E R N S TATE CO L L E G E
VOL. 85 NO. 5
University status one step closer
Name change bill moves
from state Senate to House
Nick Draper
Editor-in-Chief
The path to being designated a university
has become a little shorter for Western.
Senate bill 98 passed through the state
Senate last Wednesday, Feb. 16, and has
already been assigned to the house Higher
Education Committee, Beth Wheeler, director
of external relations said. No hearing has been
scheduled for the bill in the House.
Western President James Scanlon was
pleased to see the bill voted into the House.
“This is very an exciting time for us,” Scanlon
said. “I think most of us on campus are very
pleased that it was voted out of the Senate.”
Both Wheeler and Scanlon noted that there
was no opposition in the Senate for Western
becoming a university.
Wheeler hopes that the passage of the bill
through the Senate is a sign that the bill will
also move through the House, making Western
a university by the fall semester.
“Indications are positive,” Wheeler said. “I
am optimistic that it will be approved this session. It is dangerous to predict, (but) I think it
is a good sign that it was passed (in the
Senate) in February.”
Western is not the only school that has hopes
of seeing the bill signed into law. If the bill is
passed, Southwest Missouri State University
would change its name to Missouri State
University. Harris-Stowe College, Missouri
Southern State University-Joplin and Central
Missouri State University would also be
allowed to change their names.
Most of the opposition for the bill comes from
the provision changing SMS’s name. A
Democratic filibuster was organized to try and
SLIFER RETURNS
stop the bill from moving out of the Senate, but
ended at 6:30 a.m. last Tuesday, Feb. 15 with a
23-7 vote to change the names of the schools.
The same type of resistance may also come
from the House.
“We are not aware of any overt opposition in
the House,” Scanlon said. “It remains to be
seen if there is any opposition for SMS becoming Missouri State University.”
Western sent over 20 students armed with
letters urging the legislature to pass a bill
changing Western’s name on Jan. 12. The letters and the student's’ presence influenced the
passage of the bill into the House, Scanlon
said.
The students had an effect on one representative’s position on the bill.
“One of the representatives had his mind
changed by our students,” Wheeler said. “He
was kind of undecided on which way to vote,
and he told Rep. Wildberger that he was going
to vote for the name change.”
“
This is a very
exciting time for us.
I think most of us
on campus are very
pleased that it was
voted out of the
Senate.
JAMES SCANLON
Western President
”
Perkins Loan may expire
over next several years
Lauren Epps
Asst. News Editor
Former Western women’s basketball coach Dave Slifer makes his return to
the Fieldhouse coaching the Central Missouri State Jennies. Slifer had been
Westen’s coach for nine years. See page 8 more on Western athletics.
(Photo by Rachel Euchner --Photo Editor)
President George W. Bush’s 2006
budget proposed that the Perkins
Loan program become phased out
over the next several years. The
money for the Perkins Loan will go
to fund the Pell Grant, which helps
lower income students.
Collections Specialist Hawley
Rumpf stated that Western has 187
students with Perkins Loans, totaling and estimated $182,550 in award
money. Last year, Western gave out
$469,800 in Perkins Loans.
Bush’s budget proposal would raise
the maximum Pell Grant award from
4,050 to $4,550 over five years at the
cost of $19 billion over 10 years.
Canceling the Perkins Loan program might negatively affect students who are going after certain
degrees. If a student with the Perkins
Loan enters a workforce that is high
demand and low income, they can
have their loans deferred and cancelled over the course of five years.
These high demand, low income
workforces are typically nursing, education, possibly military and social
service work. Western’s Bursar, Dan
Eckhoff, believes phasing out the federal Perkins Loan program. This
Perkins Loan will have a large impact might put middle class students in a
on students. The students that will pinch that don’t qualify for sufficient
also be effected are those who use the funding from the Pell Grant profunds for summer school.
gram. There is also a limit on how
“Sometimes the Perkins is used for much a student can borrow through
summer [school] funding,” said Eckhoff. the federal loan programs.
Eckhoff believes that the Perkins
Eckhoff said last summer, approximately, 74,500 students used the Loan was a good way for students to
borrow money because of
Perkins Loan to pay for
the access to funds.
summer school.
“The current [federal
“At times it is the only
loan] interest rates are
funding
[for
summer
lower, but the loans get
school],” Eckhoff said.
capped off; the Perkins
On the other hand, when
Loan gives the students
the Perkins Loan is finally
better access to funding,”
cancelled, the money that is
Eckhoff said. The interest
paid back from the loans
rate may be higher, but
will be used to beef up the
with the Perkins Loan
Pell Grant.
- Dan Eckhoff
offers more perks than do
Rumpf believes that the
Bursar
federal loan programs.
Perkins Loan and the Pell
“[With the Perkins Loan,
Grant together would do
interest
does
not accrue while [the
the most good.
“The Perkins Loan and the Pell student is] in school and there are no
Grant together could help more penalties for early pay,” Rumpf said.
Perkins Loans are awarded based
[than taking one away to fund the
on information from a student’s Free
other],” Rumpf said.
Pell Grant recipients would Application for Federal Student Aid
increase from 138,000 to 5.5 million application. The amount of the
nationwide in 2006. The purposed award is determined by the
budget would pull $7 billion from the Financial Aid office.
Three students vie for RC presidency
Dana Heldenbrand
Guest Writer
The race for Missouri Western Residence
Council president and vice president has the
potential of becoming a crowded competition with
a total of three candidate pairs.
Devon Kilgore and Tricia Dickson, Natalie
Bailey and Kari Snyder and Erica Neier and
Jenny Jones have all begun petitions for the candidacy of president and vice president.
While the election dates are set for April 6 and
7, the petitions must be turned into the housing
office by Feb. 25 in order to be eligible. Until that
date other groups of candidates will be able to
start petitions.
The election process begins by getting petitions
and having 50 on-campus residents sign the petition. After the petitions have been completed and
turned in, candidate names will then be placed on
a ballot. Since three pairs of candidates are running, a primary election will be held sometime in
March. After the preliminary election, the top two
teams will have their names on the final ballot
and be voted on in April by all campus residents.
Snyder, a junior elementary education major, is
running because Bailey asked her to join her on
the ballot. Snyder has served as treasurer of RC
this year and really enjoys being a member of the
executive board.
Bailey, a junior history and government major,
chose to ask Snyder to be her running mate
because of their different leadership styles.
Snyder is more of a silent leader while Bailey is an
“in-your-face” kind of leader.
“I thought we would compliment each other and
I want that kind of person beside me,” Bailey said.
Bailey believes that all the candidates could bring
something different to the job, but she knows that
she is not afraid to jump in and get things done.
“I have a lot of ideas and have great contacts with
Rikki Cason
News Editor
With the primaries fast approaching the Student Government
Association candidates began their
campaign for the presidential office.
This year three candidates will be
running. Luke Gorham, who ran for
president last year, Noah Haahr, RA
council president and Resident
Assistant Nick Thyfault.
The primary elections will be held
March 2 and 3, and the general election will be held on March 30 and 31.
Each candidate has their own
strong views on the issues dealing
SGA Presidency
• Candidates answer our
questions
Page 5
While Gorham and Haahr have
more serious outlooks, Thyfault has
his own reasons as to why he would
be a good president.
“I have more hair,” Thyfault said. “I
have more hair than the other candidates which means I have less testosterone which means I’m more sensitive in a physiological sense. Because
they have more testosterone, they
will make rash decisions.”
All three candidates have been
3,4,5,6
news
lifestyles
7
sports
8
See RC Presidency page 5
SGA presidential candidates share views
with the SGA and why they should
be the new president.
“I have experience with the SGA,”
Haahr said. “I have a passion for it
as well and would do a good job. SGA
is really important to me and I didn’t
want to let someone who I didn’t feel
was qualified run it.”
Experience is also the reason
Gorham feels he’s right for the job.
“I’m a people person hands down,”
Gorham said. “I am experienced, and I
have been on all three branches of the
SGA for 3 years. I know the ins and
outs of the organizations. I have also
been the president of the RA council,
so I know the internal happenings that
go on inside each branch.”
2
editorial
thinking about the different issues
they’re running for.
“When I win I want to give the school
a kick in the butt,” Thyfault said. “There
is a lot of apathy around campus with
the majority of students. I say majority
because not everyone’s involved, and
that’s my biggest problem.”
Haahr would like to give the students a chance to voice their opinions on where funding should go.
“The main thing I want to accomplish if I am elected as SGA president is, I want the SGA to be a real
voice for the students,” Haahr said.
“I feel that right now those involved
See SGA Candidates page 5
Tuesday 2/22
High: 40, Low: 24
PM Rain / Snow
Wednesday 2/23
High: 38, Low: 18
Thursday 2/24
High: 41, Low:21
Friday 2/25
High: 42, Low: 25
Saturday 2/26
High: 43, Low: 23
tuesday, february 22, 2005 • page 2
STAFF EDITORIAL
SGA elections are here
The Student Government Association
Presidential elections are just around the corner and the campaigns have begun.
This event hasn’t been the type of thing that
many have previously marked their calendars
for. But, let’s be honest it hasn’t demanded
that much of us either.
At The Griffon News, we can see that this
year is going to be different.
This year we’re going to have to work for it,
just a little more. This year we’re going to have
to be just a little more dedicated to following
the campaigns. This year we’re going to have
to do our homework and ask a few questions of
those who would represent us.
Why? Because this year it looks like we’ll
have three candidates.
So far Noah Haahr, Luke Gorham and Nick
Thyfault have all thrown their hats in the
ring.
It’s fantastic to see students getting involved
in the process.
You don’t have to reach back too far to recall
a not so long ago time when just having a candidate was something.
Now we really have options.
With any luck, their example and their
enthusiasm for this type of involvement will
spread. We need this kind of contagious.
At Western, voter turn-out has been low in
the past. It’s shown signs of remission but
never the same kind of bustle and fervor of
other campuses.
Maybe we have a higher than average nontraditional student base. We’ve all heard the
excuse that if you’re only here for a degree,
then anything outside of classtime is a waste.
Maybe we have more commuter students
who just don’t feel that they’re on campus
enough.
Maybe we’re just looking for reasons to justify the lack of involvement.
Let’s change that.
Come on people. It’s not exactly a complex
process.
They email the voting process to each of our
Western email accounts and from there you
need to allocate maybe even as much as one
WHOLE minute to participate.
It sounds simple right? Well, guess what—
that’s because it is.
Yet, each year emails are always sent out following requesting and re-requesting our votes
because so many don’t even take that minute
seriously.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again.
When you get involved, when you cast your
vote, you earn the right to complain down the
road.
If nothing else, consider that.
We always have.
Our new SGA president
should best reflect the
choices of the student body.
By casting a vote in the
spring election, you earn the
right to demand more, to
give praise or be critical.
Let’s get involved and vote.
COMMENTARY
Ladies it’s time to love our bodies
What do you think it takes
to be SGA president?
I overheard a conversation the other day
where one girl who was all of 5feet 7inches
and weighed 115 pounds soaking wet was
telling her girlfriend how her boyfriend told
her that her butt was too big and that she
should go on a diet.
The sad part is that she was actually
thinking about losing weight. Aside from
water and bone, I am not sure what she
wanted to loose.
Ladies, in conjunction with the wrapping
up of the Vagina Monologues, I would like to
plead one point with you all.
Love your bodies.
All these emaciated-looking celebrities are
not real: they are nipped, tucked and airbrushed to perfection.
Aside from starving themselves, they have
personal chefs and trainers.
Gwen Stefani, a role model of mine, has
starved herself and spoke of being hungry all
the time.
Well ladies, I will tell you this, I am an
eater and I am proud of it. Yes, I exercise and
make sure that I eat fairly healthy, but if I
am rolling down the ice cream isle and the
Ben and Jerry’s starts singing to me… we
end up singing together while watching Will
and Grace.
There is nothing wrong with that.
laurenepps
Every morning when you are washing your
face and doing your hair, try talking to yourself. “Hey there good looking, you sure are
looking’ mighty fine today.”
Who wouldn’t feel instantly happy hearing
those words from someone? Who cares if it is
just you.
Love yourself, there is no shame in selflove.
Just a reminder to those who don’t know.
the average size of American women is 14.
Curvy chicks are in!
J.Lo, along with several other stars made
the butt something to be worshiped and not
sweated off.
American women need to not focus so
much on the hungry-looking celebrities that
fill up the magazines, T.V. programs and
movie screens.
It is those people’s jobs to look like that. If
I were being paid $10 million for a couple
months of work, I might end up looking hungry too.
Funny how these multi-millionaires are
starving themselves, and we are sending
food to third world countries to people who
can’t afford a loaf of bread.
There is so much pressure on women to
look like these emaciated stars and video
chicks.
Women with beautiful bodies are the goddesses.
Who would describe a ‘womanly shape’
with a sunken in waist and thighs that are
10 inches in diameter and don’t touch?
The guys I know go for the girls with a little meat on them. How comfortable is it to
cuddle with a rack of bones?
For all the people out there on the Atkins
diet, who are just craving a huge piece of
chocolate cake, get one, eat it, drink some
milk, burp and be happy.
Life is too short to be hungry and stuffing
yourself into a mold that doesn’t fit.
Be comfortable with yourself and everyone
else will feel comfortable around you.
The best thing a woman can wear is confidence, no matter what her size.
COMMENTARY
DeAngelo Holman
Junior
“Pride, Leadership and the willingness to listen
to others”
Janessa Hovey
Senior
Come on, did they even need a trial?
Thank you American Judicial System for
finally getting one right.
I’m not always singing your praises, but
occasionally, you surprise me.
After droves of people have gotten off on
what I think of as the ‘I did it, but I feel bad
about it now’ defenses, a jury in South
Carolina finally took a sorry excuse for a
heinous crime and made someone face the
music.
That somebody is Chris Pittman, a 15year-old boy who was sentenced to 30 years
in prison for murder.
Now it might seem like I am being a little
tough considering the guilty party is only 15
years old and was only 12 years old at the
time of the crime.
I believe that age is a sad reason to overlook murder.
Whether he was 15 or 50, he still did it.
When you consider the nature of his crime
it might seem like I am actually going a lit-
rexmartin
tle easy on the kid. When you consider that
he shot his paternal grandparents with a
.410 gauge shotgun while they were sleeping, his youth gets lost in the facts.
So what was this guy’s defense, beyond his
being young in years?
It was claimed by his defense that the popular anti-depressant Zoloft drove him to kill,
clouding his judgement and disabling him
from reasoning.
“Someone who can represent the student body
with more than just a pretty face.”
Nick Draper
Editor-in-Chief
Jimmy Paden
Sophomore
“The ability to handle all the time it takes to be
president and keep up in classes.”
Opinion Editor
Andie Schmitt
News Editor
Rikki Cason
Asst. News Editor
Lauren Epps
Sports Editor
Danny Stooksbury
Lifestyles Editor
Jess Foster
Copy Editor
Jenny Olson
Photo Editor
Rachel Euchner
Asst. Photo Editor
Kelli Hovey
Business Manager
Bradley Redmond
Ken Rosenauer Acting Faculty Adviser
Web site: http://www.mwsc.edu/griffonnews
Email: griffonnews@mwsc.edu
The Griffon News is written and published by students
of Missouri Western State College on Tuesdays during the
fall and spring semesters. The first copy of each issue is
free; additional copies are 50 cents. Content of this paper
is developed independently of the faculty and administration, or other campus organizations or offices. Readers
are encouraged to submit story ideas, information and
advertising to The Griffon News office, SS/C 221, 4525
Downs Drive, St. Joseph, Mo. 64507, or by phoning (816)
271-4412 (advertising and news room). Copy and advertising must be received by noon Wednesday, the week
prior to publication.
Guidelines for letters to the editor:
• All letters to the editor must be typed and double
spaced. Letters must be no longer than 350-400 words
and guest columns no longer than 500 words. Letters and
columns will be edited for style.
• All letters must include signature and identity verification information, such as phone number. The Griffon
News reserves the right to edit all letters for length and
Associated Press style.
• The Griffon News will not withhold names under any
circumstances. Anonymously submitted letters will not be
published.
• Views expressed on the opinion pages are not necessarily those of The Griffon News staff or Missouri
Western State College.
What kind of defense is that?
Taking into account how many Americans
are on this prescription anti-depressant, I
highly doubt that the Zoloft alone drove him
to kill his grandparents.
Instead of looking for reasons to shift the
blame to anywhere except a teenager’s
hands, let’s accept the truth that some people are just plain evil.
Some people are capable of this because
that’s the type of person that they are, not
because of a pill, or any other weak excuse.
The kid admitted that he walked into his
grandparents room, pointed the shotgun
loaded with birdshot and shot four times.
That’s about as cold-blooded as it gets.
Why did they even need a trial?
The Staff
News
Sports
LaQuittaAlexander
Dorothy Charles
Danford Compton
Kathy Crawford
Ashley Hannah
Leslie Payne
Andy Christie
Lifestyles
Rex Martin
Jared Herrin
Kathy McKnight
Photo
Jayna Shirley
Matt Reid
Graphics
Sarah O’Dell
Nollee Underwood
Jamie Woolard
Maurice Bush
Cecelia Pecora
Reader’s
Advocate
Matt Lillie
email Matt with
your comments or
questions:
mel6721@mwsc.edu
tuesday, february 22, 2005 • page 3
State bill seeks to protect students
Elementary
schools learn
about Black
History Month
Missouri Western students
are helping area elementary
school students at Noyes
Elementary School learn more
about Black History Month in a
fun way.
On Feb. 24, Western students will visit the elementary
school and play Black History
Month Jeopardy with the fifth
and sixth graders.
The game is featured on
Power Point with five questions
for each category. The fun of the
program is that it is like a game
show for kids. Last year,
Western students held a similar
program, which was well
received. That is the reason they
were requested again this year
to do the program.
The main idea of the program is to increase awareness
of Black History Month and
share the lives of Black
Americans who contributed to
the country’s history.
On Feb. 17, the Western students dropped off study guides
for the students to prepare them
for Black History Month
Jeopardy. There will be no
money awarded, the older students will bring small toys, knickknacks and candy prizes.
Students
jump rope for
the American
Heart
Association
Western students and students from 15 area elementary
schools jumped rope in the
M.O. Looney Fieldhouse to
raise money for the American
Heart Association.
Western students coordinated
the event on Feb. 10 at 4 p.m.
This is a great experience for
the elementary students as well
as the Western students who
were involved in planning the
event.
The foundations of PE classes takes the Jump Rope for
Heart event on as a class project. Students in the other physical education classes are
encouraged to volunteer. Last
year, the elementary jumpers
raised over $20,000. Dr.
Nannette Wolford, associate
professor of physical education
worked with the Western students to make the event happen.
Western has been hosting
the annual fundraiser 15 years
before Wolford came to the
campus. She willingly continued the tradition because she
held the program where she
previously taught.
Police search
for college
aged suspect
A murder took place on Jan.
1 in Kansas City, Mo. The
police believe the suspects
are
college
students.
According to the Kansas City
Police Department, there are
two suspects. As of now,
there are no descriptions or
sketches of the suspects.
Fire trucks
report to
library
On Sunday Feb. 20 two fire
trucks and two other fire vehicles where disbatched to the
library in regards to a suspicious odor smelling of paper
on the second floor. It was
believed that a trash can
might have been caught on
fire.
-- STAFF REPORTS
“
Advance warning of
tuition increase favored
over tuition freeze
Basically, the quality of our educa tion will not freeze. It will melt under
this plan. Our state is in no condition
to place a tuition freeze.
A.J. Bayatpour
U-Wire
A proposed statewide college tuition freeze has
been tabled in the state Senate in favor of a bill
that would notify students of tuition increases in
advance.
The new bill, sponsored by Sen. Jason Crowell,
R-Cape Girardeau, would force schools to notify
students of tuition increases at least six months
in advance.
The bill is a modification of a previous bill, also
sponsored by Crowell, which would have forced colleges and universities to give incoming freshmen a
flat tuition rate over four years.
Crowell spokesman Andrew Green said his office
received calls from people proposing alterations to
the original bill. Green said the new proposal was a
compromise between constituents and legislators.
“This is a bill written to protect students and
those financing the students,” he said.
The first proposal captured the attention of
many higher education advocates, including the
MEGAN BLOCK
Member of Associated Students of the
University of Missouri
”
Associated Students of the University of Missouri,
the student lobbying group for the UM system.
Sophomore Megan Block, a member of Associated
Students of the University of Missouri, said the
group has traditionally opposed the idea of a
tuition freeze, citing the legislation's potential for
“front loading,” or burdening one freshman class
with tuition increases. Block also expressed concern that students would end up paying to compensate for a tuition freeze.
“If you raise tuition, that could raise student
fees,”she said.
Block also said that a tuition freeze, combined
with increased expenses for the UM system, would
cut pay for university faculty. She said a cut in faculty pay would negatively affect students' education.
“Basically, the quality of our education will not
freeze,” Block said. “It will melt under this plan.”
Given the state's current budget issues, Block
said a tuition freeze is not an appropriate topic for
debate.
“Our state is in no condition to place a tuition
freeze,” she said.
Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, chairman of the
Senate Education Committee, said it was important to discuss the revised bill.
“That's what we have hearings for,” he said.
“That's why we go through the process.”
Nodler would not estimate the likelihood of the
bill making its way to the Senate floor.
“It's too early to tell,” Nodler said. “I don't know
if we'll have several bills (to present to the
Senate).”
Nodler added that, because of the amount of floor
space given to each committee, it would be more
difficult for a non-consent bill, such as Crowell's, to
reach the floor because it would face extra competition from other non-consent bills.
“Sometimes you're not able to move bills to the
floor, even if you want them to pass,” Nodler said.
It is still yet to be determined when, or if, the
Senate Education Committee would vote on the bill.
Oregon RA’s address problems in dorms
Kara Hansen
U-Wire
Following a few administrative mix ups that led
to unwarranted write-ups for some University of
Oregon students in the residence halls’ fall term,
several resident assistants have come forward
addressing failures in a system of rules they say is
set up to be broken.
The RAs said enforcement of University
Housing's rules lacks consistency between its
five complexes, and the guidelines for documenting students for violations raise questions about
the housing department's concern for resident
safety.
University alumnus Will Carson said University
Housing has unrealistic expectations of both residents and RAs.
“It's a system set up where you have to break
the rules,” Carson said. “That's not a good system.”
RAs are required by contract to document incidents in which they smell or see alcohol or hear
excessive noise.
In the five complexes, 445 residents were docu-
mented for alcohol violations in fall 2004, and 198
residents were documented for incidents involving
marijuana.
H o w e v e r, the percent of residence hall incidents in which students were actually convicted of the documented violation is unknown,
according to University Housing.
RAs are responsible for maintaining a
healthy environment in their halls, Carson
said, and balancing rules with the long-term
safety and attitude of a hall sometimes
requires RAs to use their discretion.
Junior Michelle Rose, an RA said RAs are
supposed to write up students they believe
have been drinking alcohol and then let them
go. She said the process ignores student-safety
issues.
“It's not about their safety," Rose said. "It's
about writing them up.”
Rose and Carson said the policy could deter
students from coming home when they've been
drinking because they want to avoid a housing
violation and the $15 fee resulting from a visit
with a complex director.
“Housing is basically saying if you're going to
drink, do it somewhere else,” Carson said, “which
could include someone walking or driving somewhere else when it might not be safe.”
Rose said: “I'd rather have them come back
drunk than have to stay the night somewhere
where they don't want to. It's a decision they
shouldn't have to make.”
Complex Director Stephen Jenkins said the
problem doesn't rest in a student's decision of
whether to come home after drinking.
“The bad decision didn't come as to whether
they should come home or not,” Jenkins said.
“The poor decision was made when they chose to
get so intoxicated they weren't able to be safe
somewhere or feel safe coming back to the residence halls.”
Director of Residence Life Sandy Schoonover
said many students who come home drinking
don't get written up by their RAs.
“There are many students who come home,
who are intoxicated and go immediately to
their rooms to go to bed,” Schoonover said.
“The residents who come home, who are intoxicated and are noisy, who are belligerent or
who are creating damage in the residence halls
, those are typically the ones who end up being
documented.”
Want to see your event as part of the Calendar of Events
E-mail information to rlc6351@mwsc.edu or drop info in the Griffon News SS/C 221
calendar of events
Tuesday, February 22
• Board of Regents Meeting
at 5 p.m. in the Student
Union room 220.
Wednesday, February 23
• Men’s Basketball vs.
Northwest Missouri State at
7:30 p.m. in the Fieldhouse.
• Women’s Basketball vs.
Northwest Missouri State at
5:30 p.m. in the Fieldhouse.
• Baseball vs. NebraskaKearney at 12 p.m. at Phil
Welch Stadium.
Thursday, February 24
• Board
of
Regents
Meeting at 5 p.m. in the
Nelle Blum Student Union,
Room 220.
• Coffee and Conversation is
the SS/C room 202 at 9:00
a.m. - noon.
Friday, February 25
• The Spring Career Fair
from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the
Nelle Blum Student Union,
Forrest Hoff Room 218. This
event is free and open to the
community.
Saturday, February 26
Men’s
Basketball
1
5
Missouri Southern at 7:30
p.m. in Joplin.
• Disney World Information
Table will be held from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. in the first
floor lobby of the Student
Union.
•
campus crime report
vs.
• Women’s Basketball vs.
Missouri Southern at 5:30
p.m. in Joplin.
2
4
3
• Baseball vs. Missouri-St.
Louis at 11 p.m. in Conway,
Ark.
• Baseball vs. Central
Arkansas at 2 p.m. in
Conway, Ark.
• Softball at the Henderson
St.
Tournament
in
Arkansas.
Tuesday, March 1
• Interview Day at the KCI
Expo Center at 8 a.m.- 5
p.m.
1.
Runaway Juvenile
February 12, 2005 off campus
Officers received a call reporting a runaway juvenile. They were advised to contact the police because this incident occurred off campus.
• 2005-2006 Scholarship
Deadline
2.
• Faculty Art Exhibit, Mixed
media.
Officers spoke with a female student who reported receiving harassing phone calls. The officer completed an
incident report.
• Softball vs. South Dakota
at home at 2 p.m.
3.
Wednesday, March 2
• Baseball vs. Wayne State
at 3 p.m.
• Womens and Mens MIAA
basketball championships in
Kansas City, Mo.
Soliciting
February 11, 2005, Student Union Building
Officers observed two males passing out flyers about an after hours party off campus. The officers identified the
subjects, and they were asked to leave campus.
4.
Thursday, March 3
• Romeo and Juliet on the
main stage of the Fine Art
building at 7 p.m.
Harassing Phone Calls
February 11, 2005, Residence Halls
Medical Assist
February 11, 2005, Student Union Building
Officers were sent to the Student Union Building regarding a medical assist. A female subject had injured her
thumb, but refused medical assistance.
5.
Warrant Arrest
February 9, 2005, Residence Halls
Officers were dispatched to the residence halls and observed an argument-taking place. Officers checked information and found an outstanding warrant on one of the subjects. The subject was arrested and transported for
booking.
tuesday, february 22, 2005 • page 4
Annual Career Fair will be held this week
Friday’s event will
feature over 50 businesses
LaQuitta Alexander
News Writer
Missouri Western’s Career Development center wants students to attend Western’s annual
2005 Spring Career Fair. The fair will be held
Friday Feb. 25 in the Nelle Blum Student
Union, Room 218 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The Career Fair is designed for students
seeking employment or internships. Western is
looking to get students off to a great start with
networking options and also assisting students
in building their resumes, as well as broadening their career options. Everyone is welcome
to attend the fair especially students looking to
explore job opportunities.
Linda Garlinger, director of career develop-
ment, has coordinated many career fairs and
feels students should attend the fair especially
those interested in part or full-time employment.
“I encourage all students to attend,”
Garlinger said. “Freshmen can go in looking
for summer jobs; sophomores and juniors may
want to focus on internships and seniors have
career possibilities.”
So far the career fair has about 50 businesses scheduled.
“The career fairs have been really successful;
all students should attend,” Garlinger said.
“It’s a chance to mingle with employers and
for the employees to mingle with the students.”
With many major contenders locating to St.
Joseph, Garlinger feels students really have a
lot to gain from the career fair.
“With all the expansion going on up north,
we are inviting many of those companies to the
fair,” Garlinger said. “Companies looking to
expand, such as Target or Home Depo, can
have students come and familiarize themselves with the company and improve the public relations as well.”
Junior Summer Cleaver really enjoys the
career fairs and feels it is an entrance to a
career builder.
“Many opportunities are available at these
fairs,” Cleaver said. “I am very interested in
many of the companies that are going to be
coming to the fair, and I look forward to seeing
what benefits they have to offer, as well as
what I have to offer the company.”
Sophomore Jeffery Williams believes the
Career Fair also open doors to many job opportunities as well as networking.
“The Career Fair allows me to utilize my
inter/intrapersonal social abilities,” Williams
said. “I am presenting myself to these companies for the first time and my ability to adapt
to a professional atmosphere is some of the
things I feel these companies are taking into
consideration.”
Western has invited many companies that
have done the fair in the past as well as new
companies so students will have many options
to explore when attending the fair. The list of
businesses in attendance is posted on the
career development web site.
Although this fair is diverse as far as the
companies attending, many students majoring
in the nursing field may want to consider
attending.
“We focus on all majors,” Garlinger said.
“But we particularly push for the nursing
majors, there will be several hospitals in attendance.”
The Career Development Center is also
available to students looking to seek career
counseling, resume building, teaches job
strategies and much more. The purpose of the
Career Development Center is to “provide
assistance with assessing skills, majors and
career fields, developing a career plan and
implementing career goals.”
Interview Day presents students with job prospects
Regional career program is largest
in Greater Kansas City area
Dorothy Charles
News Writer
Missouri Western plans to attend the 17th A n n u a l
Interview Day for students interested in career positions or
internships. The Interview Day will be held March 1 at KCI
Expo Center.
Interview Day is the biggest recruiting event for the Greater
Kansas City area. Graduating seniors and juniors that are
interested in an internship with a top area employer should
participate in this event.
Students can sign-up for Interview Day online through
Missouri Western’s Web site. Students must have a resume
ready to be submitted for each company they requested.
Interviews will be scheduled for the best-qualified candidate
based on their resumes.
This day gives students the opportunity to meet with local,
regional and national recruiters from companies such as
Commerce Bank, Healthcare Service Group and Midwest
Research Institute.
The student candidate has half an hour interview sessions to
discuss employment options. Ultimately in one day a candidate
can be interviewed by one to 15 different companies at one location.
“Interview Day is an excellent way for students to begin
their job search and ultimately enter the work force,” Linda
Garlinger, director of career development, said. “There is no
other venue that has opportunities and advantages the
Interview Day offers to both the candidates and the employers.
No other consortium of colleges and universities offers an
opportunity like this. Our students are very fortunate.”
Students have to meet the qualifications listed by the
employers. Some companies have a grade point average
requirement or are looking for a specific major.
This year’s Interview Day is for all graduating seniors in the
spring/summer ’05 and graduates from December ’04. These
students will be able to apply for career positions. Juniors
attending have the chance for an internship.
“Many students have found career positions or internships
through the interview process,” Garlinger said. “Employers all
say that this is the best event they attend each year because so
many of the candidates do become employees with their companies.”
This event is free of cost to all juniors and seniors and will be
held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The employers who participate support the event entirely.
This event is time susceptible, the sooner a student signs up
online the chances are better for the student to be selected for
interviews with the companies they desire.
For a complete list of the companies participating in
Interview Day go to www.mwsc.edu/careerdevelopment/cosmckc/.
Garlinger started Interview Day with a group of other colleges and then continued it when she came to Missouri Western
16 years ago.
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tuesday, february 15, 2005 • page 5
Continued from front:
RC Presidency
Q&A with the SGA Candidates
Three questions for our three SGA Presidential Candidates:
1. What are the biggest challenges facing SGA right now?
2. What do you wish to change / accomplish?
3. Simply, why should we vote for you?
Noah Haahr
Luke Gorham
1. Finding a good
balance on where
and how to distribute the funds that
they have. SGA has
a large amount of
money and needs
to be wise with the way they spend it.
1. Internally, accountability is a problem.
Externally, there was
no vision set forth for
the association to
achieve. If there are
no goals to achieve,
then how can SGA possibly be productive throughout the association? You
have to have a vision and carry it out
through questioning and researching for
those students that don’t have access to
the resources that SGA does.
2. My main goal as SGA president is to
be the voice of the students. I want
students to be heard by faculty and to
be given the kinds of things that STUDENTS want. These are student fees
paid by all - the events sponsored by
SGA and its branches should be a representation of that.
Nick
Thyfault
As of press-time, Thyfault had not
responded.
2. I’m taking SGA back to the students.
Students will be heard, and we will take
care of student problems to the best of
our ability. Being on the Senate is not a
3. Simply, why should we vote for you? I resume booster. WE WILL WORK FOR THE
feel that my experience in student gov- STUDENTS!
ernment as well as my passion for this
school makes me the best candidate. I 3. I’m genuine. I’m for the students. I
want what the students want; I want to have no hidden agendas. I’m very pasrepresent the student body, and that is sionate about Missouri Western State
College and adding to its successes.
why they should vote for me.
• All three candidates were
contacted Thursday with the
listed questions.
• All responses were proofread
for grammatical errors, but
capitalizations were left for the
intended effect.
Continued from front:
SGA Candidates
with SGA pretty much run
everything, and the students
don’t have a voice in it. That’s
kind of my thing because
everyone’s paying this fee to
the SGA so everyone should
have a say on how it’s spent.”
Making organizations and
the SGA constitution more
accountable is in Gorham’s
plans.
“I just feel like that this
year has been stagnate, and I
believe that I can get things
done,” Gorham said. “I have
many ideas on how I can
make the constitution more
accountable and make the
organizations more accountable for the funds they ask for
and things of that nature.”
Gorham also believes that
problems need to be fixed
internally before they can be
effective externally.
The candidates chose running mates that they felt
would aid in their terms if
they were elected.
“I choose Jesse Holcomb
mainly because of his experience in SGA, plus I liked that
he’s really strait forward,”
Haahr said. “I mostly felt like
he was the best for the position.”
Brandon Todd was chosen
as Thyfault’s running mate.
Todd was picked because he is
one of Thyfault’s best friends
at Western.
Gorham’s choice was Jeff
Knapp. The two have very
similar views, which Gorham
felt was important.
“I chose Jeff because he and I
are very opened-minded. We
have a wholelistic view of
things,” Gorham said. “Were not
narrowed on one subject. We
take a step back and look at
things as a whole and try and do
what (is) best for the everyone.”
While focusing on the future,
the three candidates feel that
past incidents will not affect
the outlook on the SGA.
“Personally,
I
believe
Elijah’s problems were very
visible,” Haahr said. “But this
year compared to last year
there are more senators, eight
times as many people are
involved and want to be
involved. I think that Elijah’s
“blunders” made SGA more
visible, but I don’t think it
necessarily hurt it. I don’t
think that SGA or myself has
to do anything to gain trust
with the students.”
Thyfault has a similar view,
but guarantees similar acts in
the future.
“The media likes to concentrate on the bad rather than
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the good,” Thyfault said.
“They’re not giving him the
recognition he deserves for the
things that he has done. I
guarantee falling asleep during
convocation
because
Missouri Western insists on
brining in speakers that students don’t even care about or
know. I had no idea who this
guy was, some guy trying to
pimp his book. I don’t care
what anyone says about that.
That’s my opinion. They can
complain about it and try and
prove me wrong, but I’m not
going to believe them.”
In Gorham’s campaign he
wants students to know that
his will reach out to everyone.
“As far as the general population goes my hand is out to
everyone, and I want students
to know that they can come to
me,” Gorham said. “I know
that everyone says that, but
it’s really the fact that students need to come to me to
take care of issues they’re concerned about.”
Gorham also feels he is very
genuine for the position and is
the best for the job.
“Everyone knows I don’t
have an agenda, and I think
that the student body knows I
have a passion for it and a
general care for the student
body,” Gorham said. “I think
that they realize that, and I
am going to keep doing what I
do and help students with
problems. It will just be on a
grander scale.”
Thyfault wants to make
sure, if elected, he appoints
the best candidates to run the
specific departments of SGA.
“Even though there is an
application
process
I’m
biased. I am going to pick people that are right for my cabinet,” Thyfault said. “I have
already been trying to figure
that stuff out and figure out
the budget. I’m not going to
get specific because it may
hurt the campaign and people
many not like what I am going
to do. But, I am going to try
and give the school a good
swift kick in the butt.”
Haahr would like to see two
debates, one before the primaries and one after.
“I think the more students
who hear us talk and hear the
ideas would be good,” Haahr
said. “Especially because many
people associate me with
Elijah. I love Elijah because
we’re brothers, but I want to
show I am an individual, and
it’s going to be a lot different
than it was last year. Not that
last year was bad, but there
will be a couple of changes.”
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other schools and that will tion since her freshman year
allow me to turn Missouri in 2001 and going through
Western residential life into a four different presidents of
better program,” she said of the organization.
the benefits she would bring
“I think right now some of
to the office.
the issues with RC have gotDickson,
a
sophomore ten off task and I think I can
majoring in computer infor- redirect it,” Jones said.
mation systems, had her reaSnyder and Dickson both
sons for running for vice pres- agree that they will bring
ident. She thought she was a needed organization to RC.
good candidate.
Snyder also believes she can
“The job of president and bring more ideas to the organvice president can be demand- ization for the residents and
ing, but I feel as if there are other students of Missouri
issues that involve RC that Western.
have not been addressed as
“I want to take it away from
much as they
our
opinions
should
be,”
and get the resDickson said.
ident’s ideas.
“As vice presiThat way we
dent I feel I can
not wasting
help address
I think right now are
their
money
these issues,
and
our
time,”
some of the issues
and I am availNeier
said.
able to devote
Kilgore,
a
the time and with RC have gotten
sophomore
effort that is
off task, and I think business major,
needed.”
was
unavailNeier,
a
I can redirect it.
able for comsophomore
ment due to an
business manJENNY JONES u n f o r e s e e n
agement major,
Western Senior family emerbelieves that
gency.
she has the
However, her
experience and
the drive and
running mate
passion
to
Dickson
said
make RC all that it can be.
this on her behalf: “Devon
The choice of Jones as her would be a good president
running mate was made because she is a very devoted
because Jones has experience and hardworking person. She
in leadership and has lots of
ideas and is willing to give all has been involved in RC for
two years where she has
she can.
learned
the ropes. I think she
“I felt it was time I ran. I am
one of the few with past expe- would be a great asset to RC
rience of how it should be run in the year to come. Devon
and how everything should and I work together to get
go,” Jones, a senior majoring things accomplished which
in graphic design, said.
is why I think we would
She has plenty of experience make a good team.”
due to being in the organiza-
“
”
Student
Government News
tuesday, february 22, 2004 • page 6
SNCTE provides education services
Campus organization hosts job
search for first-year teachers
Kathy Crawford
News Writer
The MWSC Student Affiliate of the National Council of
Teachers of English will host a First-Year Teacher Job Search
Panel Presentation on Feb. 24.
“The Interview Process: a Panel Discussion” will be held from
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Fred Eder Student
Services/Classroom Building, Room 210. It is open to the public, and one and a half-hours of professional development certificates will be available for pre-service teachers in attendance.
“Representatives from North Kansas City, St. Joseph and
Savannah R-III school districts will sit on a panel and discuss
exactly how a teacher is hired and what criteria is used in the
selection process,” Adrienne Chleborad, liaison between the
SNCTE and NCTE, said.
The members of the panel include Melody Smith, director of
secondary education for the St. Joseph School District, Debbie
Murphy, director of human resources for the NKC School
District and tentatively, Donald Lawrence, superintendent of
the Savannah R-III School District.
SNCTE President Jackie Clark encourages participation and
said this presentation will provide an overview of what all education majors can expect during the interview process.
“The new board noticed that most of its members were secondary education majors,” Clark said. “One of SNCTE’s goals
this year is to encourage participation of middle and elementary school majors and provide support for them as well.”
In addition, Chleborad explained that because the word
“English” is in the title of the organization, it might not be clear
that it is an education organization.
According to www.ncte.org, the parent organization’s membership and subscribers of over 60,000 is made up of elementary, middle and secondary teachers and supervisors of English
programs, as well as professionals in related fields.
“The SNCTE helps to set the educational standards for the
country,” Chleborad said. “They are devoted to promoting literacy and teacher excellence. They hold an annual convention
that is packed full of workshops for educators to attend.”
Clark and Chleborad went to Indianapolis last semester for
the conference.
“Top authors and presenters were there, including the U.S.
Poet Laureate,” Chleborad said.
Another goal of the SNCTE this year is to help education
majors make a smooth transition from student to professional
through workshops such as the upcoming panel discussion,
according to Chleborad. Last year’s workshop involved students who had been through the interview process, sharing
their experiences with their peers. Every year the governing
board decides what workshops to present.
Center for Academic Support looking for help
Math and English tutors
are needed to make
up for shortage
Britt Clark
Guest Writer
The Center for Academic Support is in a bit
of a bind. While the center usually helps students, it needs a little help from them right
now.
The center is in serious need of both math
and English tutors.
The CAS, located by the Learning Resource
Center, is a free tutoring service which provides
students with assistance in writing, math, reading and study skills. Students can also request
help with a particular subject or find study aids
such as flashcards and handouts. The center is
open from 8 a.m. to 9
p.m. Monday through
Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3
p.m. on Fridays and 4
p.m. to 9 p.m. on
Sundays.
“Alot of students feel as though they can’t be
tutors because they don’t have a lot of time to
spare or the grades, and that is not the case,”
Cathy Gann, the writing and study tips coordinator, said. “We are very flexible; if you have a
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Do you have
concerns
about The
?
I’m your reader’s advocate. If you
have questions or concerns
about stories or photos featured in this edition, feel
free to email me at
mel6721@mwsc.edu.
GN
few hours per week to spare that’s okay. If you
have an A or a B in a particular subject, you
can be a tutor for that subject.”
She also said that many students are wary of
being a tutor because most students don’t
know about the perks. Being a tutor in the
CAS is a paid activity.
There is also a base fee
with a chance for raises
and two days per semester the center has “Treat
Day,” for which the coordinators provide a variety of candy and other
delicacies for the tutors to enjoy while they
help others.
In order to become a tutor, one must first
submit an application and undergo an inter-
view with Acting Director Corla Dawson. After
being hired, there is a two-week training program which allows the tutor to become College
Reading and Learning Association certified.
The center is also certified by the College
Reading and Learning Association. Students
spend another two-week period in which they
shadow another tutor before they start working with students on their own.
For more information about being a tutor or
for an application, stop by the center or call
Corla Dawson at 16-271-4524.
“It really is great working in the center,”
Gann said, “We understand that there is a
time to work, but we also know that there is
a time to play and we try to live by that
here.”
tuesday, february 22, 2005 • page 7
Games for every player, system type
Rex Martin
Lifestyles Writer
In Hollywood, the summer is the big time of
the year, the time when all the big budget
blockbusters come out. In the gaming world,
the polar opposite holds true. Most of the big
names for the year are released in the few
months before Christmas.
Some prime examples of this from last year
are: “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” “Halo
2,” “Need for Speed Underground 2,” “Mortal
Kombat: Deception,” “Fable” and “Tony Hawk’s
Underground 2” were some of 2004’s most critically acclaimed games and all came out in
either October, November or December.
How big exactly is the holiday season for
Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft? According to
Game Informer magazine, 37 percent of
Americans said they expected to either give or
receive a video game as a gift for the holidays
in ‘04. But, just because this year’s holiday
season is over, and you might be finishing up
the games you got for Christmas, doesn’t mean
you should throw your controller and console
in the closet and wait until this holiday season
to drag it back out.
As those people who have their hand on the
pulse of the gaming industry can tell you, some
great titles have already been released in
January and February and some even better
titles may be coming down the pipe soon.
Another exciting thing for gamers is the fact
that the next generation of consoles is visible
on the horizon and some beautiful looking
games are already being developed for them.
But, sense the Xbox 2 (or Xenon as it also
known) is likely to be the first release of the
next round of consoles and it’s release may not
be until late this year, we might
as well consider what we have
available to us at this time: the
games that should keep you
heading back to your local dealer throughout 2005.
‘Shadow of Rome’
If you missed this one, it is
definitely worth picking up at
least a used copy. “Shadow of
Rome” was released on
February 8 for the Playstation
2 and has received some good
reviews from critics. This game
really cashes in on the most
under used setting in the
industry: Ancient Rome. Just
that name makes you think of
shady dealings, back stabbing
and gladiatorial combat; this
game delivers it all. Set immediately after the assassination
of Julius Caesar, the game puts
you in the role of two main
characters: Octavianus and
Agrippa.
Agrippa is the son of the man
accused of murdering Caesar
and his mother was killed
because of the scandal, so
New games this season: (clockwise) “Resident Evil,”
Agrippa becomes a gladiator to
try and save his father and “High Heat Baseball,” “GT4” and “Shadow of Rome.”
avenge his mother. Octavianus,
Caesar’s nephew, plays as the
But, “Resident Evil” hasn’t forweaker of the two characters and handles the got that it got its start on the
stealth side of the game; he’s also the main original
Sony
Playstation.
character that advances the story (while beat- Capcom is releasing “Resident
ing your opponent with his own limbs is fun Evil Outbreak File #2” for the
and the crowd loves it, it doesn’t make for Playstation 2 on March 15; this
much of a story).
title should be able to hold fans
This game does as good a job as any on the over until the port of RE 4 comes
market at combining two different kinds of to the PS2, which seems to be
gaming, and you might even learn something inevitable according to “the
from this game or be able to do a project on it, experts.”
since Octavianus and Agrippa are both real
historically noteworthy Roman’s.
‘Resident Evil’ Series
One of the truly marquee, if not that name
that has defined the survival horror genre, is
back in a big way in 2005. “Resident Evil 4”
was released on Jan. 11 as an exclusive title to
the Nintendo GameCube.
Receiving ringing endorsements from everyone that has reviewed it, this is definitely a
game to get. Those familiar with the “Resident
Evil” series will get everything they expect and
someone that hasn’t played any of the previous
titles in the series will have no trouble getting
into it.
In fact, this game redefines the series in
such a way that the only thing familiar to fans
of the series may be the protagonist, Leon S.
Kennedy who helped handle the zombie outbreak in “Resident Evil.” Those same fans
might be thinking, ‘What about the zombies?
We’ll recognize them too!’ Guess again,
Capcom has cashed out on the zombies and
cashed in on crazed villagers instead. As scary
as zombies are, your new enemy presents new
challenges.
Zombies tend to be dumb, clumsy and not
really team players, but villagers will run after
you in groups, dodge your attacks and call for
backup from others nearby. The game that
defined the genre as we know it, has added a
new definition to survival horror.
‘Gran Turismo 4’
If you want to see the PS 2’s
ability in graphics be pushed to
the limits, you might look into GT
4. The game that has looked
insanely gorgeous since the original debuted on Playstation is
back with even more cars and
even more polished graphics than
before.
Although it doesn’t feature
much innovation from GT 3,
which came out four years ago, car buffs will
love this game and some people may become a
car buff from playing. GT 4 is easily the best
racing simulator on the market and as close to
real life looks and physics we might get until
Xbox 2 or Playstation 3.
Sports Games
A bevy of sports games are slated to be
released soon, and some are already on the
market.
Baseball season is right around the corner,
or at least it seams like it the way the media is
covering the banter going back and forth
between the Red Sox and Yankees. You might
have to wait until April to catch real MLB
action, but on March 1, “MVP Baseball 2005”
(for PS2, Xbox, and GC) and “Major League
Baseball 2K5” (PS2 and Xbox) will let you kick
off the season early. MVP seems to have a leg
up on 2K5, but baseball fans should have at
least on of these games in their collection.
Boxing is finally getting a good representative in “Fight Night: Round 2” (PS2, Xbox, and
GC). A more realistic and more importantly a
better boxing game for fans, this title is scheduled for release on March 1.
Even the sport of Soccer is getting a game
worth buying in “Winning Eleven 8” (PS2 and
Xbox). Clearly the best series in Soccer, even
without the FIFA license, this game will definitely be worth picking up for fans of the sport.
2005 will definitely be a good year for
gamers as companies squeeze out the last bit
of magic left in the machines we have right
now, and 2005 will also be a preview of how
much we can expect from the next generation
of consoles.
Super Mario and J oseph Stalin: Are we being deceived?
Rex Martin
Lifestyles Writer
Mario: happy go lucky Italian plumber from Brooklyn or
communist pawn in a grand scheme to brain wash America’s
youth?
That question might sound crazy, but sometimes you sound a little crazy when you are
searching for the truth. The government
doesn’t want you to know this, but there
are very subtle hints in the original “Super
Mario Bros.” Nintendo game that makes for a
compelling case of international espionage.
The following may change the way you look at
Mario forever, so only read on if you dare.
The first piece of evidence I present to you is the
color scheme used in this game. Now either Mario
has a sense of style that includes an extreme
affinity for red or we have found our first clue.
Red overalls, red hat and even his super
mushrooms are red (the super mushrooms may
be another conspiracy alone). But, that might just be a
coincidence, his hair, shirt and boots aren’t red.
Or are they? I seem to remember that if Mario gets a ‘fire
f l o w e r’ his hair, shirt and boots do become red. Perhaps this
could just be a random occurrence, until we dig deeper.
In “Super Mario Bros.,” our hero is questing to rescue the
kidnapped princess, but a by product of this is
the fact that a popular monarchy is being
overthrown.
While King Koopa may or may not have
actually kidnapped the Princess, the fact
remains that he is the legitimate king.
If Mario was really a hero of the
people, why was he alone in his
task off overthrowing the current government? Did anyone beside Luigi, the
Princess, and Toad support Mario?
No, everyone supported King Koopa; he had the
kind of public approval rating politicians
dream about. Besides, Toad might have
even been a spy working for Koopa it always
seemed weird to me that he got “captured” in every single
world.
King Koopa’s dethroning echoes the Russian Revolution
where communists executed every member of the royal family
(but not even the communists threw them into a lake of fire).
Now onto the flag raising ritual that takes place at the end
of each level. A seemingly harmless part of the game, until
you take a closer look; the flag that flies above the castle
as Mario approaches looks as if it has a simple peace
symbol on it. But that just won’t do for Mario’s new
militaristic regime will it?
So, he replaces it with a white
flag featuring nothing other
than a simple red star, perhaps
the same red star that symbolized
communism.
My final piece of evidence lies
in Mario’s resemblance to a powerful communist leader. Mario looks
like a long lost relative of one Joseph
Stalin. Hell, he might as well be Stalin’s
brother. Mario’s last name, which is suspiciously left out, might even be Stalin.
I can’t make you believe me, all I can do is present you with the facts. If there is any dispute, go
play the game, it’s all true. Maybe we were all
blinded from the truth in our adolescence, but what was
really going on in that game seems obvious to me.
Write a letter to the editor, sign it and send it to
The Griffon News
Missouri Western State College
SS/C Room 221
griffonnews@mwsc.edu
St. Joseph, MO 64507
tuesday, february 22, 2005 •page 8
NUMBERS
GAME
BACK IN BUSINESS
Danny Stooksbury
Sports Editor
BASKETBALL
MIAA Men’s Standings
MIAA
Overall
W L
Pct.
W
L
x-Washburn 13
3
.813
22
5
x-Central
13
3
.813
20
5
x-Pittsburg
12
4
.750
21
4
x-Emporia
8 8
.500
16
9
x-Northwest
7 9
.438
17 10
x-Western
7 9
.438
13 12
x-SW Baptist 7 9
.438
13 12
Southern
6 10
.375
10 17
Rolla
4 12
.250
10 15
Truman
3 13
.188
7 18
x-clinched berth to MIAA Tournament
Saturday’s Games
Southern 78, Northwest 73
Emporia 64, Truman 63
Washburn 79, Rolla 69
Western 70, Central 68
Pittsburg 94, SW Baptist 70
Wednesday’s Games
Northwest at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburg at Southern, 7:30 p.m.
SW Baptist at Central, 7:30 p.m.
Truman at Rolla, 7:30 p.m.
Emporia at Washburn, 7:30 p.m.
Pct.
.815
.800
.840
.640
.630
.520
.520
.370
.400
.280
MIAA Women ‘s Standings
MIAA
Overall
W L
Pct.
W
L
x-Washburn 14 2
.875
24
2
x-Emporia
13 3
.813
22
3
x-Central
12 4
.750
21
5
x-Western 10 6
.625
18
7
x-Pittsburg
9
7
.563
16
9
x-Southern
8
8
.500
16
9
x-Northwest 5 11
.313
12 15
x-SW Baptist 5 11
.313
11 14
Truman
2 14
.125
9 16
Rolla
2 14
.125
8 16
x-clinched berth to MIAA Tournament
Saturday’s Games
Southern 64, Northwest 62
Emporia 75, Truman 57
Washburn 63, Rolla 5
Western 85, Central 53
SW Baptist 81, Pittsburg 71
Wednesday’s Games
Northwest at Western, 5:30 p.m.
Pittsburg at Southern, 5:30 p.m.
SW Baptist at Central, 5:30 p.m.
Truman at Rolla, 5:30 p.m.
Emporia at Washburn, 5:30 p.m.
Pct.
.923
.880
.808
.720
.640
.640
.444
.440
.360
.333
TENNIS
Western 7, South Dakota 2
Singles
1. Maya Ristic (SD) def. Mary Pankiewicz 6-4, 6-0
2. Alison Wilkinson (W) def. Michelle Hogan 6-0, 6-1
3. Tammy Liebersbach (W) def. Rachel Kludt 6-1, 6-1
4. Catherine Stoos (SD) def. Amber Clutter 6-1, 7-5
5. Mind Bushman (W) def. Brittany Johnson 6-2, 6-2
6. Audra Scopen (W) def. Betsy Kasuske 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Pankiewicz/Wilkerson (W) def. Ristic/Hogan 6-0, 6-1
2. Bushman/Scopen (W) def. Kludt/Stoos 8-1
3. Liebersbach/Clutter (W) def. Johnson/Kasuske 8-1.
Western 5, Nebraska Wesleyan 4
Singles
1. Kylie Fisher (NW) def. Mary Pankiewicz 4-6, 0-6
2. Alison Wilkinson (W) def. Amy Schmidt 6-4, 6-2
3. Tammy Liebersbach (W) def. Lauren Pfister 6-4, 6-2
4. Abbey Peterson (NW) def. Amber Clutter 6-1, 6-0
5. Mindy Buschbom (W) def. Amy Stickney 6-2, 6-2
6. Alex Yeagley (NW) def. Audra Scopen 7-5, 6-3
Doubles
1. Pankiewicz/Wilkinson (W) def. Fisher/Schmidt 8-4
2. Pfister/Yeagley (NW) def. Buschbom/Scopen 8-5
3. Liebersbach/Peterson (W) def. Peterson/Stickney 8-5
Western’s Record: Western 4-1
Upcoming Matches
March 4-5
at Northeastern State Classic Tallequah, Okla.
March 9
vs. Northwest Mo. State, at Noyes Tennis Courts in St.
Joseph, Mo. 3 p.m.
Put your hands in the air, the
Western women’s basketball
team’s roller-coaster season is
about to hit a climax.
The Griffons dominating 85-63
home win over Central Missouri
State and former coach Dave
Slifer has given the team a major
boost as it heads into the final
week of the regular season, but
the question on everyone’s mind
is — can the Griffons get back to
the NCAA tournament?
And the answer is an emphatic
— maybe.
It all breaks down like this: the
top eight teams in each of the
eight NCAA regions are invited to
the national tournament every
year. Currently Western has a
streak of nine consecutive
appearances. However, prior to
Saturday’s victory, the Griffons
were on the outside looking in,
sitting in the 10 spot of the South
Central region.
But such an impressive win
should have a two-tier affect for
Western.
First it should help improve the
Griffons strength of schedule.
Currently Central Missouri State
(21-5) has a .808 winning percentage. If the Jennies win their final
two games against Southwest
Baptist and Washburn, Western
would be credited with beating a
team that has won over 75 percent
of its games, and is ranked among
the top 20 teams in the country.
Probably even more importantly, it gave the Griffons (18-7) a
two-game advantage overall
against Pittsburg State (16-9), a
team which has beaten Western
twice this season.
Currently the Gorillas are ranked
seventh in the South Central
region, but after losing 81-71 to
Southwest Baptist, they should be
coming back a couple of spots.
If the selection committee
chooses to place more value on
Pittsburg’s head-to-head wins
than Western’s overall record, the
Griffons could still get in by leaping over the current eight and
nine teams in the region.
West Texas A&M (18-7), the No.
8 team in the South Central, won
their most recent game 73-61
over Texas A&M-Commerce, and
will face Texas A&M-Kingsville
on Thursday.
Ironically, Kingsville is coming
off a 79-78 overtime win against
Abilene Christian (17-8), No. 9 in
the region.
Western coach Josh Keister
thinks it will take three more
wins for the Griffons to assure
themselves an NCAAappearance.
"I think we’ve got to win both of
our games this week and our first
round game in the MIAA
RACHEL EUCHNER/Staff Photographer
Western sophomore forward Tera Petersen looks back for an outlet pass during the Griffons 85-63
route of Central Missouri State Saturday. Western stands at 18-7 in the South Central region.
Tournament," Keister said. "If we
do that we feel like we’ll be
alright. If not, we could need
some help."
Unless there is a major shake
up, Western’s first-round matchup
will likely be against Pittsburg
State as the fourth and fifth
seeds. A win in that game would
almost certainly assure Western
an NCAA berth. However, Keister
said his team has mixed feelings
about the probable pairing.
"I don’t know if its good to hope
to play a team that’s already beat
you twice," Keister said. "But I
think our girls feel like they didn’t play their best game against
Pittsburg in the first two games
and I think they’d like to get
another shot at them."
But fist they need to take care
of business in the final two games
of the regular season. Western
will host Northwest Missouri
State on Wednesday at 5:30 and
travel to take on Missouri
Southern at 5:30 p.m. on
Saturday.
The close of the MIAA’s regular
season will be followed up by the
conference championship tournament beginning Friday, March 4
at the Municipal Auditorium in
downtown Kansas City, Mo.
If you get motion sick, you
might want to sit this one out.
The next week promises to be a
wild ride.
SOUTH CENTRAL
Regional rankings through Feb. 16
New rankings are released each
Wednesday through March 2.
Region
All
1
Drury
18-1 25-1
2
Wa s h b u r n
16-2 24-2
3
Angelo State
20-2 22-2
4
Emporia State
18-3 22-3
5
Central Missouri
16-5 21-5
6
Northeastern State
15-7 17-8
7
8
9
10
Pittsburg State
West Texas A&M
Abilene Christian
Missouri We s t e r n
12-8
15-7
16-8
10-7
16-9
18-7
17-8
16-7
Western’s busy weekend wrapped up
SOFTBALL
St. Cloud Dome Tournament
Friday’s Games
Western 2, Upper Iowa 0
Concordia-St. Paul 6, Western 5
Saturday’s Games
Minnesota State-Mankato 9, Western 8
St. Cloud State 7, Western 6
South Dakota State 3, Western 2
Friday’s Game
Western 5, Lewis 2
--Western finishes tournament 2-4-Upcoming Games
Feb. 26-27
at Henderson State Tournament Arkadelphia, Ark. TBA
March 5-6
Western Tournament in St. Joseph, TBA
BASEBALL
Upcoming Games
Wednesday
Nebraska-Omaha (2-7) at Phil Welch in St. Joseph, Mo.
noon
Feb. 26
at Central Arkansas Tournament Conway, Ark.
vs. Missouri-St. Louis (1-7), 11 a.m.
vs. Central Arkansas (1-7), 2 p.m.
Feb. 27
at Central Arkansas Tournament Conway, Ark.
vs. Missouri-St. Louis (1-7), 11 a.m.
vs. Central Arkansas (1-7), 2 p.m.
— Submitted photo of Tammy Liebersbach
— Submitted photo of Amy Beverly
— Submitted photo of DeVonte King
The Missouri Western women’s tennis team
stormed into its spring season, blowing away
South Dakota 7-2 on Saturday in Red Oak,
Iowa. and misting past Nebraska Wesleyan 54 in Lincoln, Neb. on Sunday.
The Griffons had no trouble finding their
mark against South Dakota. Western swatted
its way to 98 game points and allowed only
26.
However, Sunday proved to be a lot different. The Griffons needed every point, but still
came away with the win.
Western coach Matt Micheel knows how
important these road wins were.
"We’re on a roll now," Micheel said.
"Hopefully now the girls will stay fired up
during morning practices now that they’ve
seen some results."
Micheel said that he watched his team
closely over the weekend matches and that he
could see each girl improve on their weaknesses. But he said that he expects to see the
team get a lot better over the next couple of
months.
A softball season is a marathon not a sprit.
But any marathon runner will tell you it’s
important to set a good pace, which the No. 16
Western women were unable to do in their
season opening games at the St. Cloud Dome
Tournament, in St. Paul, Minn.
The women won their first game of the year
2-0 over Upper Iowa on Friday, but lost the
second half of their double header 6-5 to
Concordia-St. Paul.
The next day they played three games, losing each by just one run. Minnesota StateMankato scored too many in a 9-8 win, tournament-host St. Cloud State slipped by 7-6
and South Dakota State took the edge in a 32 duel.
On the last day of the tournament the
Griffons picked up a final 5-2 win over
Lewis to finish the tournament a disappointing 2-4
The women will hope to see better results
when they travel to take part in the
Henderson State tournament in Arkadelphia,
Ark. this weekend.
The Missouri Western men are riding into
Wednesday’s home matchup with Northwest
Missouri State on the heels of a 70-68 win
over No. 6 Central Missouri State
The win helped in assuring the Griffons a
place in the upcoming MIAA Tournament and
improved the team to 13-12 overall and 7-9 in
the conference.
Although their record doesn’t seem too
impressive, this is the third ranked team the
Griffons have beat this season. Entering the
tournament as middle seed, Western coach
Tom Smith said the first obstacle for the
Griffons has been accomplished — getting in.
“This does put us in a position into being
fourth or fifth, so from that standpoint, this is
a good win,” Smith said. “And when we’ve
pulled together, we’ve been know to beat anybody.”
Western can help its self greatly with a win
over Northwest on Wednesday. The two
teams are currently tied in the conference,
but Northwest beat Western earlier this season.