The Griffon News

the
Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph
Griffon News
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St. Joseph, MO
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Volume 78, No. 11
Changes in registration process cause problems
Payment of past tuition required to pre-register
By Stephanie Howard
News Editor
The change in pre-registration
policies allowing students to register
on the computer terminals until
classes start, has brought on some
other changes.
Students who haven’t paid at least
80 percent of their tuition are not
allowed to register.
Dan Eckhoff, director of the business office said that previously, students who didn’t pay by Dec. 10 were
dropped.
“Now that student can pre-register through regular registration, in
order to reduce the number of students we have to drop for non-payment of fees, we are preventing them
from being able to pre-register until
their account is current,” Eckhoff
said.
Eckhoff said that students have
always had to pay 80 percent by preregistration, but they are simply
dealing with it differently.
If a student has made previous
arrangements with the business
office, he won’t be prevented from
registering.
“This is the first semester we have
prevented students from pre-registering if their account is not current,”
Eckhoff said. “However, we have
always prevented students who were
severely past due from pre-registering.”
Many students chose to make
deferment plans as opposed to paying for all of their tuition at once.
Eckhoff said the deferred payment
plan requires that students pay 20
percent of their tuition a month,
beginning in July
for the fall semester,
December for the
spring semester and
May for the summer
session.
“During the fall
and spring, payments are due on
the 20th of each
Dan Eckhoff
month for four consecutive months in increments of 20
percent of the total cost of attendance,” Eckhoff said. “If the payments are current, they would result
in the student having paid 80 percent by their October payment.”
Eckhoff said the summer session
has three payments. For students
who go through regular registration
in August and January, Eckhoff said
they will have to pay 40 percent
down with their three payments.
Eckhoff has been at Missouri
Western since May 1990 and said the
deferred payment plan has been in
place since he started.
Student Stephanie Linneman
thinks this plan has some benefits
and good points.
“It is a way to get us to pay,”
Linneman said. “We are in college;
we should be responsible.”
Linneman, however, said that
someone needs to tell the students
before pre-registration. She also
thinks they need to be sympathetic to
students.
“They need to make sure they set
up payments so we can have everything paid,” Linneman said.
Student Ryan Oelke said he doesn’t agree with this new rule.
“It’s a little ridiculous,” Oelke
said. “We enroll in November. That’s
a month and a half before classes are
out. Plus, some people are on deferment plans and can’t reach that percentage.”
If a student is unable to make the
80 percent, he needs to make previous arrangements with the business
office ahead of time.
Students who are still expecting
financial aide to come in need to get
it verified by Financial Aid that they
are still receiving help and will be
allowed to register.
Freshman academic
advising important
Babes of Boom Productions
By Stephanie Howard
News Editor
Eric Callow, free-lance photographer and Missouri Western graduate, is working on the finishing photographs for
the “Girls of Missouri Western” Calendar, produced by Boom Productions. The last photo shoot took place at The
Bone, a new bar located in downtown St. Joseph.
Above from left to right: Heather Martinez and Jessica Simpson are two of the calendar girls that participated in
this project and one of the pictures from this photo shoot will be selected for the cover of the calendar, which is due
out on the stands by the end of this semester.
Gay and Lesbian workshop designed to open
students’ eyes and minds about discrimination
Speaker addresses the homo sexuality lifestyle, issues of
safety and acceptance
By Hollie Miller
Assistant News Editor
On Nov. 10, Unity Services sponsored
“What’s All the Fuss About Sexual
Orientation,” a workshop designed to
educate students about issues surrounding gay, lesbian and bisexual youth.
The workshop, which was designed to
foster understanding and acceptance,
was held in the Warren E. Hearnes
Learning Resource Center, room 102, and
featured Dr. Walt Boulden as the primary
speaker.
Boulden, who was recently thrust into
the national spotlight after the hatecrime murder of his close friend Matthew
Shepard, spoke on many levels to the students about what it means to be gay, lesbian and bisexual.
“Gay youth are at risk, not because
they are gay, but because society as a
whole puts them at risk,” Boulden said.
Focusing mostly on issues of safety
and acceptance, Boulden pointed out that
reported violent crimes against gay youth
has risen 126 percent in the past six
years and that 33 percent of all suicides
are committed by gay youth.
“If the most stereotypical gay and lesbian isn’t safe in our society, none of us
are,” Boulden said. “It’s about discrimination and oppression.”
Maggie Haghirian, a
junior criminal justice
major, attended the
workshop and felt that it
was
important
for
Missouri Western to
sponsor such an event.
“I think that it’s really important now that
they just started Sigma Howard
Lambda,”
Haghirian Milton
said. “It shows that they
realize there is a problem and that it is
important to focus on campus diversity.”
According to an e-mail message from
Howard Milton, director of Unity
Services, he echoed these thoughts.
“The Missouri Western campus is
extremely diverse,” Milton wrote. “A
major function of the Office of Unity
Services is to provide an educational
environment where each student, regardless of sexual orientation, race, religion,
gender and socioeconomic background,
will feel free to pursue his or her
extracurricular interests.”
Haghirian also was proud of Missouri
Western for sponsoring the program and
said that it was informative.
“I feel very fortunate to know that
Missouri Western acknowledges that
there are problems,” Haghirian said.
“They are trying to voice things and to get
people involved. I think that’s great.”
For more
information:
http://www.
mwsc.edu/~unity/
Long weeks of meeting
with advisors, looking over
classes and waiting in midnight lines at computer terminals ended this week.
Pre-registration
is
a
process that may leave freshmen
confused,
so
the
Freshman Year Experience
Office has developed a program of over 100 advisors to
help students through preregistration.
Judy Grimes, director of
student success programs,
said a pilot program for freshmen advising was started in
the summer of 1996 before
she got to Missouri Western.
The program included 250
students and 20 academic
advisors. Now, there are over
100 volunteer advisors (three
of them full-time) for the
1,100 freshmen students.
The goal of the Freshman
Advising Program is to give
all first-time students an
advisor who can help them,
not only in classes but in long
term goals.
“There is a freshman advi sor in every department,”
Grimes said. “We pulled up
every individual schedule
and what their intended
major was. We tried to find
someone they have a class
with.”
Grimes said that by
assigning students an advisor
they have a class with, it will
be easy for the student and
advisor to get to know one
another.
“It’s hard for advisors to
find advisees and for advisees
to find their advisor.”
Students are given their
advisor
during
the
Registration/Orientation program they attend during the
summer.
Grimes said that in an
attempt to get the student to
their advisor as soon as possible, they make students who
go through the Griffon Edge
program go to their advisor
with a piece of paper that
said they were there.
“We also encourage students to go to their advisor in
the first week of classes,”
Grimes said.
Grimes said advising is
more than just helping students find classes.
“It’s more important that
the advisors have time to talk
about the big picture,”
Grimes said.
In order to make this happen, she said her office gives
students as much informa-
tion about classes and such
as
possible
during
Orientation.
Grimes said that advisors
are asked to get ahold of students as much as possible.
“The advisors are intrusive,” Grimes said. “They
check up on you. If a student
doesn’t go to classes, they call
us.”
Grimes said that one of the
most important roles of the
advisor is helping students
connect with the various support services on campus.
Kelly Lock, a full-time
advisor with 105 students,
said she tries to touch base
with each of her advisees at
least once a week. She said
she enjoys being an advisor.
“It allows
for personal
interaction
you don’t get
in a classroom,” Lock
said.
“You
get to see
the student
grow.”
Judy Grimes
Lock also
said that an advisor is there
to help students pick a major.
“I feel successful passing a
student over to a major,” Lock
said. “They made an important decision and I helped
them through the process.”
Freshman
Jessica
Coldiron thinks that an advisor should be there for the
students as well as helping
with the scheduling.
“It is so confusing as a
freshman,” Coldiron said.
“They help direct you. I like
that.”
Grimes attributes the ten
percent increase in freshmen
retention rates greatly to the
Freshman Advising Program.
“There is a higher percentage of student taking more
classes,” Grimes said. “It
means we’re taking in more
students and more students,
are surviving in more classes.”
The at-risk students (students who have little college
prepatory classes or low ACT
scores) rate is down 30 percent and their retention rate
is up 21 percent.
Grimes said they are trying to make autonomous
learners out of the students.
She also said that they
don’t want their advisor to
become a crutch to them but
to help them learn to navigate the system.
“Advisors can help a lot,
but they’re not helping them
do everything,” Grimes said.
the
Griffon News
Page 2
November 16, 1999
Basement of old conference center being
renovated into student recreation center
By Wes Wiedmaier
News Writer
Students who have complained about
a lack of entertaining things to do on
campus may be getting just what they
have hoped for.
Plans are being finalized for a new
on-campus recreation center that will
be open to all Missouri Western students. Initial proposals for the recreation center intend
for it to be a place
where students can
go to play games,
watch TV, listen to
music, or just hang
out.
The center will be
constructed in the
renovated basement Forrest Hoff
of the old conference
center, which will be
remodeled into one large open space.
A committee of three staff members
and three students was appointed by
Dean of Student Affairs Forrest Hoff to
make a proposal suggesting things that
should be included in the new recreation center.
Catherine Hamlin, residential life
coordinator and one of the committee
members, said the committee proposed
to include the following in the new
recreation center: a large screen TV,
two air hockey tables, two pool tables,
ping pong tables, a lounge area with
sofas and tables, eight to ten arcade
games and a multi speaker sound system with a CD changer and a microphone.
Hamlin also said that other things,
such as display cases for student organizations and specialized lighting,
might be added in the future.
Hoff said that he will approve anything that is reasonable in the proposal, as long as it stays within the
$10,000 budget allowance. He said that
he could visualize putting in a TV, a
stage and various other things in the
recreation center.
“It’s going to be a place where students can go to get away from the
dorms,” Hoff said. “We will keep it open
all night if the demand is there.”
Hamlin said that the committee is
also having conversations with the art
department about putting in display
cases of student art in the center. She
said that the new center would be
staffed at all times that it is open.
“It’s going to be really nice,” Hamlin
said. “It will help
develop more of a
community
atmosphere, with students
being able to do things
together.”
Hamlin said that
the hope is that the
recreation center will
be complete sometime Catherine
at the beginning of the Hamlin
spring semester, coinciding with the opening of the new food
court.
She also said that the exact opening
date will depend on the construction
time involved.
The vending for the recreation center
will be supplied by Acme Food and
Vending Inc. through a commissioned
arrangement with the college.
Thomas Cobb, owner of Acme Food
and Vending Inc., said that the recreation center will be a great entertainment option for students of Missouri
Western.
“It will be a great addition to the college because it allows students to congregate and socialize in an entertaining
environment,” Cobb said.
Obesity among college students
increases, according to survey
By Amy Margolius
University Wire
With a plethora of fatty
fast food options only a card
swipe away, a growing number of college students are
packing on the pounds and
becoming fatter than ever.
According to a recent study
by the American Medical
Association, obesity is an
increasing problem among
Americans, and college-age
students are no exception.
The study indicates that
obesity among Americans is
up from 12 percent in 1991 to
18 percent this year. The figure for college-age students
has increased from 7 percent
to 12 percent.
For those with some college education, obesity has
grown from 11 percent in 1991
to 18 percent.
So what's wrong with a little meatiness?
The AMA says obesity is a
major public health concern,
since it is associated with several chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease,
arthritis, gall-bladder disease,
high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Each year,
280,000 Americans die from
weight-related illnesses.
Massachusetts
General
Hospital opened an obesity
clinic in March under the idea
that proportions around the
world. According to their web
site, obesity affects one-third
of all adults and one-fifth of
children and adolescents.
Boston University fits the
AMA's profile of an obesityprone environment. The study
cited an urban environment
as a key contributor to weight
gain, and BU dining plans
that allow the easy purchase
of fast food don't help.
Suzanne Strickland said
college is a very normal time
to gain weight because for
many students who have just
left home, it is the first time
no one is dictating what they
eat.
"You have a lot to choose
from," Strickland says of the
college environment.
However,
Boston
University seems to be avoiding the trend, or at least not
seeking help for eating-related problems.
Neither
the
Wellness
Center nor Student Health
Services could point to a significant number of obese students seeking help.
With students ranging
from first-years trying to ward
off the dreaded "freshman 15"
to girls just trying to lose a
few pounds, Straub has yet to
see obesity as a major problem
among them.
"I would say eating disorders are a much larger issue
on campus than obesity is,"
Straub said.
The
Griffon News
Crime Reports
City Tickets Issued
Nov. 4, 1999 Northeast College Drive
A vehicle driven by a male student was stopped for exceeding
the speed limit. Radar equipment was used. He had been
drinking and had beer in the vehicle. Tickets were issued for
Driving While Intoxicated, Speeding, Driving while Suspended
and Person under 21 Possessing Intoxicating Liquor.
Medical Assist
Nov. 4, 1999 400s Lot (Juda Hall)
An officer observed five to six males in the 400s Lot with one
male on his knees throwing up. They told the officer that he
had too much to drink. No alcohol was found on or around the
persons.
Outstanding Warrant
Nov. 5, 1999, Fine Arts Building
Director Jonathan Kelley and an officer were notified of an
outstanding warrant on a male student. He was located in the
Thompson E. Potter Fine Arts Center and arrested. The St.
Joseph Police Department transported him to the Law
Enforcement Center.
A spellbound performance
The Missouri Western Theatre Department is currently putting on the second
Fall production, entitled Deathtrap. Above: Allissa Hupp as Sydney Bruhl and
Laura Defenbaugh as Cleo Anderson talk about the “dry” spell that Bruhl is
going through.
The next show times for Deathtrap are November 19th, and 20th at 8 p.m, in
the black box theatre, located in the Thompson E. Potter Fine Arts Center.
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the
Griffon News
Page 3
November 16, 1999
The
Marchin’ to the beat of the drums
Griffon News
News Notes
Honors organization inducts new members
Missouri Western’s Alpha Chi Honors Organization
recently inducted new members. Those inducted were:
Jamel Santa Cruze Bell, Leigh Ann Feuerbacher, Bryce
Jones, Amy Miller, Angela Pasley, Summer Sander, Kelsie
Spalding and Tamara Stadter, all of St. Joseph; Catherine
Reaman, Adel, Iowa; Patricia Patterson Robbins, Amazonia,
Mo.; Melissa Halling, Atchison, Kan.; Christopher McLin
and Angela St. Clair, Bevier, Mo.; Logan Kelly, Cameron,
Mo.; Stephanie Mitchell, Clarksdale, Mo.; Scott Adler,
Clifton Hill, Mo.; Aaron Boyd, Dearborn, Mo.; Bradley
Fowler and Ketherine Miller, both of Grain Valley, Mo.;
Jaclyn Sandy, Hamilton, Mo.; Tynisa Collins, Kansas City,
Mo.; Kate Owen, Maysville, Mo.; Lisa Grimwood, Monticello,
Mo.; Christina Hazelwood, Savannah, Mo.; and Travis
Toebben, Vichy, Mo.
Harold Slater internship recipient
announced
Missouri Western has selected the 2000 Harold
Slater Public Service Leadership Program intern.
St. Joseph native Gretchen Jones, a senior history
major, was selected to work in the state legislature and
become involved in the legislative process.
Missouri Western Law Day
The Missouri Western Golden Griffon Marching Band boosted the spirit of the fans last Saturday, during
the last home football game. The band will resume pepping up the many students, faculty and staff that
cheer on the Griffons during the season of Basketball.
Barbara Sprong Leadership Challenge
Jobtrak open to students and alumni
Career Services posts jobs
By Stephanie Howard
News Editor
With increase popularity of the internet, Missouri Western has taken another step in helping students to find jobs
after college.
Career Services, under direction of
Linda Garlinger, has added Jobtrak to
their website. Jobtrak, found a www.jobtrak.com, is an on-line job listing service
for college students and alumni.
According to a Jobtrak pamphlet, the
site is used by over 400,000 employers to
fill entry-level and experience, full-time,
part-time, temporary and internship
opportunities.
The site is accessed by over 35,000
students and alumni daily. Jobtrak is
also partners with over 900 college and
university career centers.
The site adds over 3,000 new nationwide job openings daily. Students can
get assistance with resumes and have
them printed on-line. It offers on-line
career fairs and career forums where a
student can go and ask questions and
get answers.
Garlinger said that Jobtrak contacted
her and asked if Missouri Western
would be interested in having access to
Jobtrak. She said it was free to the college and their services are free to the
students as well.
Garlinger thinks Jobtrak will have
many benefits for the students.
“It opens career opportunities on a
national level,” Garlinger said.
She said that it will also help students
with things like figuring out what salary
to expect for specific jobs and gives job
search tips. It also helps students to
define their skills and personality to find
a job that suits them.
“It is a portable on-line career center
as opposed to coming down to our office,”
Garlinger said. “It doesn’t take the
place of our office, though. It’s just
another tool that we offer.”
Garlinger said that this is one way for
the office to keep up with the times.
“Students are computer literate and
are comfortable with accessing information of the internet,” Garlinger said.
“This is a way to get information without having to go through a search
engine.”
In a recent press release by Jobtrak,
Garlinger said she is very excited about
partnering up with Jobtrak.
“I am thrilled about partnering up
with Jobtrak.com,” she said. “Utilizing
our Jobtrak.com database will give our
students many job opportunities, access
to career resources and will make them
more marketable for the new millennium.”
Student LeAnn Twyman said she
think Jobtrak is a good resource for students.
“College students money.” Twyman
said. “This is a good place for them to
find a job.”
She also likes the idea of the nationwide job search.
“Not everyone at Missouri Western is
from Missouri,” Twyman said. “These
students can look at jobs from around
their home.”
Monica Lee, sophomore, agrees with
Twyman.
“It will help if they don’t want to stay
in the area and want to move on,” Lee
said.
Make sure to pick up The Griffon News’
next issue on December 7!
10/26/99
10/26/99
Nov. 16, Missouri Western will be sponsoring Law
Day, with guest speaker Jean Klosterman, director of
Admissions at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law
School.
Klosterman will be discussing law school requirements, scholarships, LSAT testing and answering any questions that students may have. The discussion will be held in
the Junior College Room of the Nelle Blum Student Union
from 11:30- 1:30.
Missouri Western is now accepting applications for
the 2000 Barbara Sprong Leadership Challenge, which is an
opportunity for qualified students to acquire and enhance
leadership skills and pursue leadership roles while in college.
All full-time Missouri Western students are eligible
to apply, but must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA and attend all
sessions. Applicants must fill out an application and also
submit a short essay and a letter of recommendation from
either a faculty or staff member.
Applications are due Nov. 19 and may be picked up
in the Frank Popplewell Classroom and Administration
Building, room 119. For more information, contact College
Relations at 271-4254.
Alpha Sigma Alpha Planting Project
The Zeta Mu chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority
at Missouri Western State College is participating in the
sorority’s National Narcissus Planting Project. To commemorate their centennial celebration in 2001, collegiate and
alumnae chapters across the nation are planting narcissuss
bulbs on their campuses and in their communities. The
bulbs will bloom in early spring 2000 and will be at the
height of their beauty when they bloom in spring 2001. For
more information, contact Kristi Bailey, president, at 6762721.
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the
Griffon News
Page 4
November 16, 1999
Psychology Club, Psi Chi celebrate awareness week with activities
Psych Awareness Week at Western
By Emily Praiswater
News Writer
Last week, Psi Chi and
Psychology Club celebrated
Psych Awareness Week with
speakers, a banquet and other
various activities.
Phil Wann, Professor and
Chairman of Psychology said,
“It’s an educational week as
well as a fun one.”
The purpose of Psych
Awareness Week is to better
inform students of all the
aspects of psychology, as well
as offer activities to attend.
Sarah Kesse, Psi Chi member, said, “We’re just trying to
get people aware of the field
and the various jobs you can
go into.”
Speakers were brought in
throughout the week as well
to speak about this.
Steve Moore, superinten-
dent at the Western Missouri
Correctional Center, spoke on
Nov. 8 about job opportunities
in the criminal justice field.
Chairperson of Psychology at
Central
Missouri
State
University Joseph Ryan,
spoke about graduate school
opportunities.
A banquet was held Nov. 12
to induct the new Psi Chi officers and members.
This year’s officers are:
President Calle Buckler, VicePresident
Gayle
Law,
Secretary Heather Rice and
Treasurer Brooklin Baker.
New members are Amy
Bofforff, Christina Grouse,
Trina Hall, Amy Mayfield,
Stacey Murray, Lisa O’Dell
and Angela St. Clair. One
must hold a B average in
his/her Psychology classes and
be in the top 35 percent of
his/her class to be invited to
join Psi Chi.
Speaking at the banquet
was Rebecca Stoddart, national Psi Chi president. She gave
a speech entitled “Turning
Psychology on Its Ear: Asking
Questions
from
a
180
Perspective.”
There were
approximately 75 people at
the banquet.
Club members also set up a
table for the week, offering
information about the psychology field. They also made
posters to hang up around
campus.
A new activity for this
year’s Psychology Awareness
Week was a pie-in-the-facefundraiser. There were cans
set out, one for each psychology faculty member, and students could put money in the
cans to vote. The member
with the most money was
Wann.
“It was cold,” Wann said.
“It was the first time we’d
done that particular activity.”
Psi Chi members were
glad to see the faculty take
the chance and help out with
the fund-raiser.
Rice said, “The pie toss
was worth the effort it took to
organize it. We appreciated
the willingness of all the psychology professors to participate and risk being the winner/loser.”
Wann was glad to see the
activities run so smoothly.
“I thought they went very
well,” Wann said. “The students were very active this
semester.”
This year marks the 10th
anniversary for Missouri
Stena Heinkle, psychology secretary, tosses the pie in Wann’s
Western’s Psi Chi chapter.
face
because he raised the most money.
There are approximately
30,000 active members across
the nation.
Court hears mandatory student fees case
By Matt Berger
U-Wire
The Supreme Court heard debate
Tuesday on whether mandatory student fees at state universities can
support student organizations promoting political beliefs.
The case, Board of Regents of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison
complaint that student fees are used
to promote liberal organizations; and
students who do not support these
grounds are required to pay nonetheless.
“We really felt the university
engaged in unconstitutional policy by
forcing students...to fund activities of
private student organizations not
directly associated with the university,” Scott Southworth said, one of the
three original plaintiffs.
The court is expected to reach a
decision sometime next year. The
case could impact state institutions
across the country who use mandato-
ry student fees organizations.
The University and its Board of
Regents said that mandatory student
fees help provide educational experiences for students.
“The basic mission of the university is to provide a forum for all kinds
of ideas,” Katharine Lyall, president
of the University of Wisconsin system. “We provide the resources that
enable many more viewpoints to be
expressed on campus.”
Lower courts have sided with
Southworth, saying the mandatory
fee violates students’ constitutional
rights.
The high court Tuesday challenged the university’s claim that the
school is providing both services to
student groups and promoting a
forum for ideas.
But other members of the court,
particularly Justice Stephen Breyer,
said minority opinions would not be
represented without distribution of
funds in a “viewpoint-neutral” fashion, as the school describes its proce-
dure.
“The first amendment supports
the funding of speech that is unpopular,” Breyer said.
Other justices argued that utilizing student funds for partisan means
was akin to using the auditorium for
the same purpose, which would not
be contested.
“Universities have been places
where ideas were debated,” said
Justice Anthony Kennedy. “You’re
asking us to do something against
tradition.”
Justices were concerned that
funds could be used for directly partisan activities, such as lobbying.
Susan Ullman, Assistant Attorney
General in Madison and representative for the Board of Regents, said all
requests for funding go through
administrative checks.
Student groups can receive funding through several methods at the
Madison campus. The General
Student Services Funds provides
money for organizations that provide
The
a service to the university. The
Associated Student of Madison, the
student government, provides grants
for an organization’s trips, events or
operations, said Nikhil Joglekar, an
ASM representative and member of
the Student Services Finance
Committee.
Southworth and the other plaintiffs said the university should allow
students to “opt out” of the mandatory fee program, taking their money
out of the pot if they disagreed with
the distribution. They particularly
objected to some 18 liberal student
organizations, including the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual Campus Center, UW
Greens and the International
Socialist Organization.
“Students have a first amendment
right not to speak,” Jordan Lorence
said, attorney for the defendants.
Lorence said the primary source
of income for many student groups is
through membership fees, not allotments from the mandatory fee.
Lower courts throughout the
country have taken different stances
on the role of student fees on college
campuses. Some schools now have
check-off boxes where students can
choose not to give to certain organizations. If the students win, schools
may have to reformat their process of
funding student groups.
Adam Klaus, chair of the ASM,
the organization which distributes a
portion of student fee funds, said he
hopes the court will understand the
need for students to have direct
access to funds.
“It’s important to empower students by giving them a stake in their
education,” Klaus said.
Southworth said election of the
students who distribute the funds
does not make the process legal. He
said if the U.S. Congress wanted to
fund an organization like the Klu
Klux Klan, it would be illegal,
although they are elected officials.
“No matter how much of a dialogue they create, they can’t trump
the First Amendment,” he said.
Griffon News
Calendar of Events
Tuesday, Nov. 16
•
Photographic Works Of George
Auxier, Thompson E. Potter Fine Arts
Center, gallery 206, for more information
call 271-4282.
Wednesday, Nov. 17
•
Photographic Works Of George
Auxier, Thompson E. Potter Fine Arts
Center, Gallery 206, for more information
call 271-4282.
•
NCAA Champs Lifeskills, Tennis,
6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Citadel, for more information call 383-7107.
•
Planetarium Show, 7 p.m., Evan
R. Agenstein and Mathematics Building,
Bushman Planetarium, room 205. Doors
open at 6:30 p.m. Advanced tickets costing
$3 are available by calling 271-4370.
Thursday, Nov. 18
•
Photographic Works Of George
Auxier, Thompson E. Potter Fine Arts
Center, Gallery 206, for more information
call 271-4282.
•
On-Campus Interviews with KMart, for more information contact career
services at 271-4205.
•
Eggs & Issues, Dealing with
Violence in the Community: Prevention,
Protection and Getting Help, 7 to 8:30
a.m., Holiday Inn, St. Joseph, for reservations call 2714223
•
“Coffee & Conversation,” 9 a.m. –
noon,
Fred
Eder
Student
Services/Classroom Building, room 101.
Free food for non-traditional students. For
more information call 271-4280.
Friday, Nov. 19
•
Photographic Works Of George
Auxier, Thompson E. Potter Fine Arts
Center, Gallery 206, for more information
call 271-4282.
•
Basketball vs. Lincoln At Ryland
Milner Tournament, 3 p.m., Maryville,
Mo.
•
News-Press
Invitational
Tournament, Lady Griffon basketball
games at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., MWSC fieldhouse.
•
Missouri
Western’s
Theatre
Presents “Deathtrap”, 8 p.m., Thompson
E. Potter Fine Arts Center, Black Box
Theatre, room 106, for more information
call 271-4443.
Saturday, Nov. 20
•
8-Man Missouri State Football
Championship,
1:30
p.m.,
Spratt
Stadium.
•
Basketball vs. William Jewel At
Ryland Milner Tournament, 3 p.m.,
Maryville, Mo.
•
News-Press
Invitational
Tournament, Lady Griffon basketball
games at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., Missouri
Western fieldhouse.
•
Missouri
Western’s
Theatre
Presents “Deathtrap”, 8 p.m., Thompson
E. Potter Fine Arts Center, Black Box
Theatre, room 106, for more information
call 271-4443.
Sunday, Nov. 21
•
Concert Chorale Concert, 3:30
p.m., Thompson E. Potter Fine Arts
Center, theatre. Free and open to the public. For more information contact Thomas
at 271-4428.
Tuesday, Nov. 23
•
Health Care Seminar: Cancer- A
Challenge For Wellness, 8 a.m. - 4:30
p.m.,
Leah
Spratt
Multipurpose
Classroom Building, Kemper Recital Hall,
room 101, and Enright Community Room,
rooms 214 and 216, for more information
call 271-4415.
Wednesday, Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving
Vacation
Thursday, Nov. 25 – Thanksgiving
Vacation
Friday, Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving Vacation
•
Lady Griffon Basketball at
University
Of
Omaha-Nebraska
Tournament.
•
Hillyard Tip-off Classic, Griffon
Basketball games at 6 and 8 p.m., St.
Joseph Civic Arena.
Saturday, Nov. 27
•
Lady Griffon Basketball at
University
Of
Omaha-Nebraska
Tournament.
•
Hillyard Tip-off Classic, Griffon
Basketball games at 6 and 8 p.m., St.
Joseph Civic Arena.
Monday, Nov. 29
•
Interdisciplinary Research Day,
noon,
Leah
Spratt
Multipurpose
Classroom Building, Enright Community
Room, rooms 214-216, for more information contact Dr. Eckdahl at 271-5873.
•
Minority Council, 3:30 p.m., Nelle
Blum Student Union, Private Dining
Room. For more information call 3837107.
Tuesday, Nov. 30
•
NCAA Champs Lifeskills: How to
Prepare for Finals, location and time to be
announced, for more information call 3837107.
Friday, Dec. 3
•
The Right to Consumer Privacy , 7
to 8:30 a.m., Holiday Inn, St. Joseph, for
reservations call 271-4223.
Saturday, Dec. 4 – Last Day of Regular
Classes
Monday, Dec. 6 – Final Exams
the
Griffon Opinion
November 16, 1999
Page 5
Editorial
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Education is key to understanding
One of the best things about
the college experience is the
opportunity to participate in
intelligent conversations with
people who have open minds
and educated perspectives.
While many of Missouri
Western’s students commute
from and/or grew up in small,
overly-conservative
small
towns where bigotry is too
often the norm, the college
experience is geared towards
the freedom to express oneself
and his/her beliefs.
College students are known
for their diversity, intelligence,
and ability and desire to
change things for the better.
No group in society is in a better position to effect positive
change, and to support diversity, regardless of difference of
opinions.
That is why there is no room
for prejudices in relation to the
gay/lesbian individuals and
organizations which exist on
this campus.
A world without Leonardo
da Vinci, Elton John, Plato,
Herman
Melville,
Walt
Whitman, Virginia Woolf,
Alice Walker and Florence
Nightingale would be much
worse off for the loss of such
intelligent and creative persons, and Missouri Western
would suffer the same.
No one should have to live in
fear or be forced to lie to keep
others comfortable because of
their sexual orientation, religion, gender, race, political
organization, age, weight, etc.
Bigotry comes from ignorance, and if there is anywhere
You are different. We don’t
understand
you. Go away.
Hate
crimes
have
occurred in
Rushville,
Mo.,
Wyoming
and Texas:
They could
happen
here.
“...Isolation breeds insecurity; insecurity breeds suspicion and fear; suspicion and fear breed violence.”
-Zbigniew K. Brzezinski
that ignorance does not
belong, it is an institution for
higher learning.
The homosexual community
is the only minority group
which is still socially acceptable to discriminate against.
With other minority groups,
there is support from the family, and the law more fully supports them in their quest for
equality.
Gays and lesbians are often
cut off from their families, and
the law often leaves them
unprotected.
There are several things
which can be done to stop the
hate. As Missouri Western
students, faculty and administrators, we have a responsibility to provide a campus that is
free from physical violence and
verbal abuse towards minorities.
We need to provide an
atmosphere of open discussion
where sexuality can be talked
about in a non-threatening
way, and guarantee that the
general student population
has access to important information.
We also need to make sure
that gays and lesbians are
given equal opportunity to
express themselves, and that
the educational images and
role models presented are positive in nature.
There are plenty of other
causes for people to spend
their time on besides the
exclusion of homosexuals.
Most people believe that we
should love one another
regardless of differences, and
that the ultimate judgment
will not, and should not, be
made by humans. Isolating an
individual or group because
they are different than societal
norms is dangerous, detrimental to society and too often
leads to violence.
There are too many sources
of hatred and prejudices now,
and if you don’t agree with
this, just talk to the victims of
the cross burning in nearby
Rushville, Mo., friends of
Matthew Shepard or read the
writing on many of the bathroom stalls on campus.
People who have been
deemed different should not
live in fear on a college campus, or anywhere else.
A gay/lesbian forum was
attended by many students on
campus on Nov. 10. The event,
sponsored by Unity Services,
was one of the most worthwhile events held at Missouri
Western.
Walt Boulden, a friend of
Matthew Shepard, presented
an excellent program which
taught diversity. Let’s hope
the lesson will be learned, and
Missouri Western will continue to be a place where everyone can truly be who they are
and who they want to be.
New law may keep innocents from accidents
son weaves down the
lane, completely oblivious to everything
around him. Other drivers look at him or her
Jeanette Browning
with disgust and shoot
Design Editor
by the slow driver with
nary a thought.
Anyone familiar with old
Young drivers are often
cartoons has seen Mr.
seen as careless and are
Magoo drive. It’s comical to
burdened with the highest
see him driving down the
car insurance rates. The
middle of the road, squintrecent controversy in drivering above his steering
eligibility age is proof of the
wheel, with the traffic zoom- skepticism officials hold for
ing by and honking at him.
young drivers.
If you take Mr. Magoo
One young driver ’s very
into reality though, he's not
responsible actions and
so funny. Many times dritragic story have led to safer
vers see someone, usually
roads for drivers of all ages.
an older person, timidly putTwenty-one-year-old St.
tering along the road.
Louis resident Jason Suroff
He or she may not be
probably never gave a secable to see over the wheel,
ond thought to drivers like
or seemingly sit an inch
this as he drove to see Van
from it. Sometimes the perHalen in Kansas City, Kan.,
Mostly
Harmless
The
Griffon News
Editor in Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brooke Rogers
Copy Editor. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela Pasley
News Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie Howard
Assistant News Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hollie Miller
Design Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeanette Browning
Photo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aaron Steiner
Features Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jerry Keuhn
Sports Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Brown
Opinion Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Walsh
Business Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Anderson
Assistant Business Manager. . . . . . . . .Heather Cox
Faculty Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Bergland
with four of his friends in
July, 1993.
Unfortunately, he met
one of these drivers and didn’t survive the encounter. As
he drove westbound on I-70,
he faced a wrong-way driver.
Suroff swerved to avoid the
eastbound car and on the
gravel shoulder of the interstate he lost control of his
car. The vehicle rolled three
times down a hill by U.S.
Highway 65.
The roof of his car caved
in, killing him instantly. His
friends were able to walk
away from the accident.
The wrong-way car didn’t
stop and the 91-year-old driver was unaware he had
done anything wrong. The
driver was later identified
as suffering from dementia
and had no auto insurance
for the past six years.
Staff Members
News: Wes Wiedmaier, Emily
Praiswater Sports: Andy House
Features: Jolene Lyons,
Design:
Keri Keuhn, Shontai Fowler Photo:
Warren Ingram III, Tiffany Gleason
75
th
Anniversary
1924 - 1999
The parents and friends
of Suroff were devastated by
the loss and could not
understand how the old man
could still have a driver’s
license. But under the thencurrent Missouri law, once a
driver obtained a license it
was not taken away until
drivers could no longer pass
a vision test.
Suroff ’s family, friends
and fraternity brothers
began a lobby to change the
laws governing driving privileges.
They formed CARD,
Concerned Americans for
Responsible Driving, a
group dedicated to changing
the driving laws in Missouri.
The group received the support of the American
Association of Retired
Persons, the Alzheimer’s
Association and AAA.
In 1998, CARD won the
battle with the passage of
the Impaired Driver Bill.
Under the new law, concerned family members or
health professionals now
have the ability to report
unfit drivers to the authorities. If the driver is unable
to prove he or she is a safe
driver, the license will be
revoked.
Some may see this as
cruel: to take away a person’s ability to drive is like
removing that person’s independence. It is really an act
of love, though.
If a person is unable to
drive safely, he or she is a
danger to himself and others
around him. Reporting that
driver may save the life of
someone you love; like a
grandparent, or a fraternity
brother
In response to: “Gay and
Lesbian organization now
officially recognized”
Letter to the Editor:
As a concerned parent and
member of the MWSC Parents
Association, I cannot understand
how the student Senate could be
allowed to vote on the recent
acceptance of the gay/lesbian fraternity. The article also told of
the wonderful gay/lesbian movement by sponsoring ‘coming out’
activities and educating us poor
straight people on their sexual
activity.
I feel this will and does harm
the moral code that characterizes
most colleges. I thought that you
encouraged a dry campus, honesty and accountability. This promotes sexual practices that have
and does result in many illnesses, including AIDS. No matter
how familiar we are with factsthe gay community always comes
in with the facts that say they
have special rights and privileges.
Mr. Hoff congratulated the
group and thinks that it would
be good for the campus? Next
they will assign prostitutes to
have a place on campus and take
pride in the fact that as long as
they accept any lifestyle, then
they are doing a service for their
students so that everyone will be
happy.
This is not what the campus
needed or ever will need. I am
ashamed of the Senate voting
this in when it is the parents
who are usually paying for the
education. No matter how common this is (which it is not), it
does not make it right.
I hope the other parents who
are concerned have written to
tell you how they feel on this
matter. The ones I have spoken
to hate it. The majority is
against it and that is why it
doesn’t need to promote a
lifestyle that will kill you slowly
and painfully. STD speaks the
truth.
I hope you will reconsider this
promotion on campus, or anywhere near young people. The
fact that they say they are “coming out” is evidence that they
have no guilt in what they do.
Dragging students into this
lifestyle is anything but gay. The
highest suicide group of people
are those in the homosexual
activities. Guilt and denying that
sodomy is still against the law
also tells us that the law is made
to be broken.
Who will this harm and cost?
Everyone-straight or gay-the cost
is too high-too dangerous-and
has no good consequences. Please
reconsider.
Sincerely,
Joyce Worrell
The Griffon News is written and published by students of Missouri Western State College on Tuesdays during the fall and spring
semesters. Content of this paper is developed independently of the Student Government Association, faculty and administration. Readers
are encouraged to submit story ideas, information and advertising to The Griffon News office, SS/C 204, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, Mo.
64507, or by phoning (816)271-4460 (news room) or (816) 271-4412 (advertising). Copy, classified submissions and advertising must be
received by noon Wednesday, the week prior to publication. Readers may take up to three free copies of the newspaper. Additional copies cost
50 cents. Taking more than three copies is considered stealing.
Guidelines for letters to the editor:
• All letters to the editor must be typed and double spaced. Letters must be no longer than 200 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.
Web site: http://www.mwsc.edu/~griffy
E-mail: griffy@griffon.mwsc.edu
the
Griffon Features
Page 6
November 16, 1999
in the back
By Sandra Walsh
Features Editor
Student Alicia Jacobs finds that a backpack on wheels is the cure for her
back-pain woes.
“Oh, my back!” is a phrase
that can be heard often among
college students. Back pain
among students is linked to a
variety of activities, like long
nights typing at a computer terminal, sleepless nights on
strange mattresses and carrying
around 10-pound backpacks on
one shoulder.
Not any more. Many
Missouri Western students have
eliminated heavy backpacks
from their list of back injury
related causes. There is a new
craze on campus called “In 2 It.”
“In 2 It” backpacks and other
similar brands of backpacks are
basically backpacks on wheels.
These new backpacks on
wheels are very similar to airline attendant luggage that can
be carried and opened like a regular backpack.
Jan Hawman, a Missouri
Western senior, and psychology
major, recently purchased a
backpack on wheels.
“I have so many books to
carry this semester, this is the
only way I can manage,”
Hawman said.
Hawman said that this is the
first semester she has used a
backpack on wheels. Last year,
Hawman used a briefcase-like
bag to carry her books around,
which she prefers.
“If I had a choice I would
prefer carrying my books like
before (with briefcase)...but it is
physically impossible for me to
this semester because all my
classes are back to back,”
Hawman said.
Hawman, like many students, does not have time to go
to her car, like she used to, in
order to get books between classes. As a result, she would either
have to carry a 10-pound backpack and risk ruining her back
or use a pack on wheels or a
similar type of mobile luggage.
However, lugging around a 10 to
20 pound backpack everyday
should not be an option for students.
According to the American
Chiropractic Assosiation, 80 percent of all Americans will suffer
from back pain at some point in
their lives, and 50 percent of us
will suffer from low-back pain
this year alone.
“Much of this suffering is
brought on by bad habits initiated during our younger yearssuch as carrying overweight
backpacks to school,” the ACA
said. The ACA also pointed out
that the improper use of backpacks can lead to muscle imbalance that could turn into back
and neck problems later in life.
According to Dr. Allyn Smith,
a local chiropractor at Smith
Chiropractic and Rehabilitation
Center, backpack injury can be
avoided by carrying packs safely.
“Keep them light,” Smith
said. “Students always carry
more than they actually need.”
Smith went on to say that
students can avoid carrying
heavy backpacks simply by planning their day better and only
packing essentials. Smith said
that with a little careful planning, students will be surprised
at how much less they will end
up carrying around.
Smith also stressed the
importance of good posture
when carrying a backpack.
Smith said it is important to
carry a pack with both straps so
that your ears are over your
shoulders, your shoulders are
over your hips and your hips are
over your knees and ankles. In
other words, it is important not
to slouch.
“You shouldn’t have to lean
forward,” Smith said.
He said that if you have to
lean forward, then you are carrying the weight of your pack
with your back and not your
shoulders.
Smith is also a firm believer
in exercise. He believes that
many back-related injuries can
be avoided through strength
training and routine exercising
at the gym. He encourages students, especially those carrying
heavy objects regularly, to go to
the gym and ask trainers for
specific back strengthening exer-
cises or to see a chiropractor for
advice.
Smith pointed out that most
backpack-related injuries occur
in the upper back (trapezius)
and the lower back (erectors), as
this is the area most of the
weight rests when using a pack.
Smith also pointed out that
lifting a 20-pound object once is
probably not going to cause back
problems. However, carrying a
lot of weight regularly can cause
cumulative trauma to the back
and neck. The amount of weight
a person should carry varies
according to the size of a person’s frame. According to Smith,
a person should let pain be their
guide. If it hurts to carry it or if
it is a struggle to carry a backpack without slouching, then
you probably should not be carrying so much weight.
Alicia Jacobs, a Missouri
Western sophomore with a
major in biology with a health
science emphasis, likes using
the new backpacks.
“I was having major back
pain in my lower back because
of a pinched nerve,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs decided to turn to a
backpack on wheels because of
her back pain and the fact that
her book bag weighed in at 50
pounds last semester, a large
load for her small frame and
back injury history.
“I saw that someone during
my summer classes had one (a
backpack on wheels), so I decided to get one,” Jacobs said.
Currently, both Jacobs and
Hawman have said that it is
sometimes difficult to get the
packs up and down stairs unless
they have access to an elevator.
In addition, they are both anxious to see how the backpack’s
wheels do during the winter
months.
One thing is certain, the
packs are easier on the back.
“My back used to hurt when
I went to bed at night, but now
it doesn’t (since the use of an “In
2 It” backpack,” Jacobs said.
“In 2 It” backpacks, like the
one pictured, can be purchased
at Wal-Mart for approximately
$30.
Bob Bidding serves students, not tickets
By Jolene Lyons
Features Writer
For Bob Bidding, being an
officer of the law always
seemed natural.
“I got into law enforcement
in about 1985; I got on the
Buchanan County Sheriff ’s
Department,” Bidding said.
“Probably one of the things
that motivated me to get on
the sheriff ’s department at
that time was that I had a
brother who was a St. Joseph
police officer. I also had a
great uncle who was captain
of the St. Joseph police
department back in the ’40s
and ’50s.”
Bidding is the department
training officer, as well as a
security officer, at Missouri
Western.
“I usually work the day
shift, Monday through Friday,
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Bidding
said. “What I generally do is I
take reports that come up in
the daytime and if reports are
taken by the night officers, a
lot of times I’ll follow up on
those.”
Bidding started his career
in the U.S. Marine Corps
Reserves, from 1982-1988.
“There are a lot of law
enforcement officers that
come from the Marine Corps,”
Bidding said.
Bidding has been at
Missouri Western for 10 years
now.
“I actually applied for the
job here twice but did not get
hired,” Bidding said. “I had
taken another job with the
Clay County Sheriff ’s
Department down in Liberty,
where I stayed for two years.
The position came open here
and the director of security at
that time Harvey McGaugh
called me up and asked me if
I was still interested in the
job, so that’s when I made my
move back up here.”
Before, Bidding had
worked on the Missouri
Western campus handling
parking during the first part
of the semesters. He also
worked off-duty as a
deputy sheriff for the campus during sporting events,
such as football and basketball games.
Bidding is especially
proud of many of the transactions that have happened since he has been at
Missouri Western.
“When I came in, in
1989, I was the first officer
that had any law enforcement experience; now I am
a senior officer and have
been on the department
longer than anybody here,”
Bidding said.
Bidding also credits
Director John Kelly for the Bob Bidding surveys campus.
n’t any ongoing training for
improvements.
the officers. That has changed
“He seeks to make this a
with constant work over the
really professional departyears.”
ment,” Bidding said.
Now all the security offi“Although a lot of people may
cers on campus are post-certinot notice the difference, in
fied law enforcement officers,
1989, we had poor equipment
who are commissioned
and poor quality uniforms.
through the St. Joseph police
There were no standards in
the way reports were taken or department and are certified
through the state of Missouri.
documented, there also wasBidding said, “We continu-
ously seek training
and law enforcement
and we generally
receive double or
triple the amount of
hours required by
law for us to maintain our police commissions, so we don’t
just look for the
minimum; we want
to go beyond what is
required.”
Bidding’s wife,
Kathy, is a caseworker for the
Missouri
Department of
Corrections. They
met while Bidding
was working at Missouri
Western.
“I actually met her here on
the campus,” Bidding said.
“She was attending college
here. She graduated in 1995
with a criminal justice
degree.”
Bidding has experienced
some interesting times in his
10 years here.
“Missouri Western is a typical campus, and anything
that you see that happens in
society today, that’s something that could happen here
and has every opportunity to
happen here,” Bidding said.
Bidding has worked a
shooting at the Thompson E.
Potter Fine Arts Center,
where no one was hurt, a 15car accident in parking lots E
and F and a disturbance in
one of the parking lots involving 150 people.
Bidding was also made an
honorary member of the Tau
Kappa Epsilon fraternity and
traveled to Las Vegas with
the football team.
“The thing that I would
like to emphasize, the reason
I like this job, is not to be
here to write tickets, or to do
anything of that nature; my
interest in this job is helping
people out,” Bidding said.
“That’s really why I like this
job; I get to work with people.”
the
Griffon Sports
Page 7
November 16, 1999
Sports
f e a t u r e
Griffon sets for a win
Sarah Ekdahl: up close and personal
By Andy House
Sports Writer
If only Sarah Ekdahl’s parents had
played basketball, we might be seeing
her on the court this winter instead of
getting ready to leave it.
“I was choosing to play between volleyball and basketball in college, and I think
the deciding factor was because I played
volleyball longer and was
interested in volleyball longer,” Ekdahl
said. “ My whole family loves volleyball.
My little sister plays now and my older
sister played college volleyball. So, it’s
kind of like a family thing. My mom and
dad play couples. We all play. Maybe
someday when I have kids, I’ll coach their
team.”
Ekdahl has been one of the Griffons top
and consistent volleyball players ever
since her arrival at Missouri Western
three years ago. The arrival of Head
Coach Cindy Brauck and the Division II
status of Missouri Western were two
important factors in Ekdahl’s decision to
become a Griffon.
“Coach Brauck was
recruiting me to go to
the University
of
Wisconsin Green Bay
because that’s where
she was coaching previously,” Ekdahl said. “It
ended up she took all
my stuff from Green
bay down here. I was Cindy Brauck
looking
at
mainly
Division II schools and
decided to go to MoWest because it was a
smaller setting. I came here and met all
the girls and really loved them. They
were awesome. It made me feel like my
old team setting, the close teams. A lot of
teams don’t have such a good friendship
between them, and this team did. That’s
what drew me into going to Mo West.”
Ekdahl’s passion for the game was conceived during the sixth grade. In what
seemed more like a chance to be a part of
the ‘in crowd,’ Ekdahl found volleyball.
“My dad was helping coach one of the
summer teams, and I was only a sixth
grader and they were having a tryout for
a 14 year-old-level team,” Ekdahl said. I
was 12-years-old and I went to the tryout
with him and he wasn’t pressuring me, I
just went along for fun. At that time, the
head volleyball coach for the team asked
me to warm up with them in practice, and
that was the first time I really ever
played. When she asked me to be on the
team, I thought that was going to be the
coolest thing in my life: hanging out with
all the seventh and eighth graders as a
sixth grader.”
From there, her passion and talent for
the game would grow. Through the
junior olympics, Ekdahl had the opportunity to play against some of the best
girls in the nation.
“I played Junior Olympic volleyball
since the 6th grade,” Ekdahl said. “We’ve
gone to nationals all over the nation.
That itself gives you more experience
than in one year of playing. That’s where
I learned the most, playing summer ball.
I’ve played against a lot of the best girls
in the nation through the Junior
Olympics. I’ve always looked up to the
older girls that I played with.
Throughout my junior high years, I
always looked up to the girls that were
one year older than me because that’s
what I was striving to be.”
Next year will be Ekdahl’s final year as
a member of the Griffon volleyball team.
She’ll have one year left to accomplish
her final goals and a lot of moments to
look back on, but her life in volleyball
won’t be completely over.
“I would like to have the best season
yet as a team,” Ekdahl said. “We have a
lot of talent returning, and I would love
to go into regional tournaments. As soon
as my four years are done I’m probably
going to take some time off. Eventually,
I’d like to get back into coaching. I
coached in the summer time, and I really do enjoy that. I love to see the girls
learning and watching and just being in
kind of awe sometimes. Just explaining
something to them and them trying it
and they’re like ‘oh yeah, it really is better this way’, that kind of thing is pretty
cool.”
As for leaving Missouri Western volleyball, Ekdahl said, “Volleyball is something that I love doing. I love being competitive and getting excited. I love the
whole team atmosphere. That’s going to
be the best thing. Everyone working
together to achieve a common goal. I don’t
think there is one moment that stands
out. I think that is one of the most important things. I did have the chance to play
a college sport but it’s not really going to
matter down the road. It’s going to be the
friends I made and the relationships
that’s going to mean the most to me.”
Number 6, Missouri Western’s Jodi Weatherly sets the
team up for a victory against Northwest Missouri
State University last Wednesday, November 10. The
Lady Griffons defeated the Bearcats in all three out of
four matches.
Check out Missouri Western’s
sports page online at
www.mwsc.edu/~athletic
Griffon
Griffon of
of the
the Week
Week
FF
O
O
O
O
TT
B
B
A
LL
LL
Kasey
Kasey Waterman
Waterman
Number 12, Kasey Waterman made 4 touchdowns, completed
11 passes that totaled 171 yards and helped win against
Emporia State. Waterman has also helped earn the first winning season since 1996.
appearing
Tuesday
November 23rd
9pm
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the
Griffon Sports
Page 8
November 16, 1999
Griffons win,
lose seniors
By Andy Brown
Sports Editor
The Griffon both won and lost
last Saturday as they played
Southwest Baptist, winning 55-7
but also lost 11 key seniors.
Head Coach Jerry Partridge was
proud to be associated with the
players, and it will be hard to move
on without them.
“They are 11 great people; it will
be hard to move on without them,
and I was proud to be associated
with those kids,” Partridge said.
Senior Rick Moeckel said that
playing for Western was fun and he
enjoyed being a part of the team.
“It felt great to be a part of this
team,” Moeckel said.
It was an emotional game for a
lot of the seniors, but especially for
Brandon Burnside.
“It was an emotional game for
me,” Burnside said. “I shed a few
tears, but after awhile, I just got
back into my regular routine.”
The Griffs lost a couple close
games that could have put them in
the playoffs, but things just didn’t
go that way.
Very few Western teams have
won six games in the conference,
and that is something the team is
proud of.
“We had a 7-4 record and won six
games in the conference; not many
Western teams have done that,”
Brent Burnside said. “At the start of
the year, we set high
goals, and we wanted to
make the playoffs; in that
you have to be disappointed. If you look at the
whole season, you can’t
look down on that.”
Griffon quarterback
Kasey Waterman ended
the season on a high note,
as he tied the Missouri
Western single season
touchdown passing record
with 24 touchdown passes
this season.
Waterman had a great
game as he was 9-12
passing for 196 yards and
four touchdown passes.
Mike Connaker led the
Griffon Darwin Pitts, No. 23, runs with the football last Saturday as Southwest Baptist tries to tackle him.
Griffs in rushing as he
carried the ball 22 times
for 92 yards, giving over
in the first, Waterman threw his
lead to 31 points.
score a touchdown, but that was all
a 1,000 yards rushing this season.
second touchdown pass of the game
Then after a fumbled punt by
she wrote.
The defense also played well,
on a 4-yard touchdown pass to
Baptist, Western increased their
“It was a good game for us,”
allowing only seven first downs and
Jerris Evans.
lead even more as Robert Dirks
Moeckel said. “We came into the
only 5 yards passing. Jared Curl
In the second quarter, the Griffs
scored from 4 yards out and then
game confident, but we didn’t want
also left the season on a high note,
struck early and often as they
scored again on a 1-yard touchdown
to get too over confident. We did
grabbing his first interception of the scored five times in the second quar- run, giving the Griffs a 45-0 at halfwhat we wanted to do, and both
year.
ter alone. Early in the quarter,
time.
sides played great today.”
“It would have been the first year Kevin Toms kicked a 43-yard field
The Griffs didn’t waste any time;
The Griffs finished the season
I wouldn’t have gotten an intercepgoal to give Western a 17-0 lead.
with 14 minutes left in the third
with a record of 7-4 and a record of
tion, but I finally got one,” Curl
Then about two minutes later,
quarter, Waterman threw his last
6-3 in the MIAA. The Griffs had a
said.
Waterman hooked up with Cliff
touchdown pass of the season to
couple close games but couldn’t pull
In the first quarter, the Griffs
Branch on a 60-yard touchdown
Evans for a 64-yard touchdown
it off.
struck first as Waterman hooked up
pass to give the Griffs a 24-0 lead.
strike. Later in the quarter, Toms
“We had a record of 7-4; it was a
with Brandon Burnside for a 13After a bad punt by Baptist, the
kicked his second field goal of the
good record, plus we had a winning
yard touchdown pass, giving the
Griffs scored a minute later, as
game from 22 yards out, giving
season, but it probably could have
Griffs an early seven point lead.
Mike Connaker scored on a 9-yard
Western a 55-0 lead.
been better,” Partridge said.
Then with a minute left to play
touchdown run, increasing their
Southwest Baptist would later
We need
YOU!
Moeckel scores $10,000 scholarship
By Andy Brown
Sports Editor
School, football practice, volunteer work
and studying are things that a lot of people on
campus can’t handle, but these are everyday
occurrences for senior football player Rick
Moeckel.
He recently received a $10,000 scholarship
from Burger King in his name that was presented to Missouri Western.
Burger King awards scholarships based on
academic achievement, dedication to community service and athletic ability. Moeckel does
all of those things well.
“I was awe struck,” Moeckel said. “It was
something that came out of nowhere.”
Moeckel works hard on the football field
and is a team leader, who is given a lot of
respect on and off the field.
“He shows what a student athlete is really
like,” fellow football teammate Josh Oyler
said.
He was a member of the 1998-99 StudentAthlete Advisory Committee, and he is vice
president of the Missouri Western chapter of
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He currently has a cumulative GPA of 3.50
and is majoring in construction and engineering, a major that will work well for him in the
future if he cannot make it in the NFL.
“I have had the dream to play in the NFL,
but if that doesn’t work out, I have a good
major to fall back on,” Moeckel said. “I just
have to leave it in God’s hands.”
He holds a lot of respect on the football
team as well. Players and coaches consider
him a friend and a leader.
“He is the biggest leader on the team, and
everyone looks up to him,” Oyler said. “He is
involved in a lot of things, like church, FCA
and the community.”
Head Coach Jerry Partridge says that Rick
is playing the best football of his life right now.
“Rick is an outstanding person and a great
student; he is playing the best football of his
life right now,” Partridge said.
Volunteer work is also an important part in
Rick’s life as well. He volunteers 140 hours a
year to help kids at Parkway Elementary
School in their reading program. This experience reminds him of where he came from and
gives him a different look on life.
“It reminds me where I came from, and
those kids are so eager to learn, it just gives
me a different perspective on life,” Moeckel
said.
Working with kids is a lot of work sometimes but, for Rick, it is a lot of fun and is a
very rewarding expereince.
“It is neat to go and give those kids good
advice,” Moeckel said. “It is a very rewarding
experience because I am such a big fan of
kids.”
As a senior this year, he will miss a lot of
things after the season is over, but what he
will miss the most are his friends.
“The things that I am going to miss the
most are the friends that I have made since I
have been here, and being a part of the football
team,” Moeckel said.
While tutoring the kids, it helps him to get
away from the stress of school and it reminds
him of how to have fun.
A Family Circle cartoon reminds Rick that
fun is very important. The cartoon shows the
parents watching television on learning how to
have fun. While in the background, the kids are outside
playing tag, having fun.
“Working with the kids
keeps me going and takes
away a lot of stress,” Moeckel
said. “ It reminds me how to
have fun.”
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