October 2nd - Griffon News

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PERMIT NO. 32
St. JOSEPH, MO
Student asks for signatures to bring changes to Western. pg. 5
Lifestyles
see Page 10
The Great Divide: Republican vs. Democrat. pg. 3
How students deal with their roommates. pg. 7
the
Thursday October 2, 2008
Volume 90 Issue 5
Couple commentators enlighten crowds
Annual Convocation
asks students to get
involved politically
Sold-out dinner
serves split political
perspectives
Mary Matalin
Emily Gummelt
News Editor
egummelt@missouriwestern.edu
Ryan Richardson
Multimedia Editor
rer0482@missouriwestern.edu
She was a high school­­ homecoming queen, and he starred in the
2007 flick “The Assassination of
Jesse James.” She is a Libertarian
Individualist who served as a political director for President George H.
Bush’s re-election campaign in 1992,
while he served as Clinton’s. They
were married shortly after that election.
The two political rivals known as
Mary Matalin and James Carville
spoke at Western’s 15th annual
Convocation on Critical Issues at
9:30 a.m. on Sept. 30 in the Looney
Complex.
One may think a relationship like
theirs would never make it, but former Western alumni Dan Boulware
believes otherwise.
“You might think they throw barbs
in a mean-spirited way, but they
don’t,” Boulware said. “I think after
you hear them today, you’ll know
why their relationship works.”
Matalin spoke first and told the
audience how previous convocation
speakers have praised Western.
“This [Convocation] is the favorite
speaking event they’ve ever been to,”
Matalin said.
Previous Convocation speakers
have included Sam Donaldson,
Each year’s Convocation allows
for a special dinner the night before
that allows patrons to meet the guest
speaker.
The married political pundits,
James Carville and Mary Matalin,
spoke to a capacity crowd at the
Fulkerson Center Monday night
for the 15th annual Dan Boulware
Convocation on Critical Issues dinner
that helps fund each year’s speaker.
The dinner, which was the fastest
selling in Western’s history, sold out
in a matter of days and had a nearly
200 person waiting list. According
to Dan Nicoson, vice president of
university advancement, this can be
attributed to the impact it has on the
surrounding area.
“I am convinced that this
Convocation, series in its fourteen
years, now fifteenth year, has
brought more national experts for
our community to be exposed to than
any other event,” Nicoson said. “This
just isn’t a university event, it is a
community event.”
Carville and Matalin addressed the
crowd during dinner and spoke on
several issues, including the market
panic that had occurred earlier that
day. Even though the couple takes
residence in separate political camps
See Convocation page 4
James Carville
marty ayers & Matt Fowler / Photographers
Political adversaries Mary Matalin and James Carville spoke to a packed crowd in Western’s Looney Complex Tuesday morning. The
couple spoke on the importance of history, awareness of political issues, and their questionable yet successful marriage.
See Dinner page 4
Undergraduate enrollment increases Higher numbers attributed
Emily Gummelt
News Editor
egummelt@missouriwestern.edu
The waiting list for housing was, at one point,
up to 90 students, the classrooms are crowded and
hallways are becoming almost claustrophobic…
This can only mean one thing: Western is experiencing a record number of enrollment for the fall
semester of 2008.
A total of 5,470 undergraduates are currently
enrolled at Western this semester, which sets a
record for the fourth fall term in a row.
Institutional Research Analyst Judy Fields
explained why and when enrollment is apt to
increase.
“When employment goes down, our enrollment
tends to go up,” Fields said. “We have to adjust
classes about every year to accommodate [the students].”
Jeanne Daffron, associate vice president of academic and student affairs, said that faculty and
administration had monitored enrollment all summer.
“We try to always kind of look forward to it, so it
doesn’t catch us off guard,” Daffron said. “We did
add seats and courses and sections.”
The number of full-time students is 3,825, which
is a 5.5 percent increase from last year.
A total of 63,032 credit hours – a 4% increase
from last fall as well as a record – are being taken
by the undergraduates.
The headcount for first-time full-time freshmen
is 949.
Western has 1,606 full-time males and 2,219
full-time females this semester, meaning 662
males and 983 females are enrolled as part-time
students.
The number of graduate students has grown
as well. The number has increased to 65 students from 41 since last fall, which was the
first year graduate programs were offered at
Western. This amounts to a 59% increase.
Among all the positive outcomes of a university
with high enrollment numbers, Daffron said the
money issue is one of them.
“Of course that’s one source of revenue for us,”
Daffron said.
Though, she modified the fact that Western is
not just in the money-making business; it is important, for our region, to have well-educated citizens
ready to go out in the job market.
“It’s important for the economic development for
our region,” Daffron said. “We’ve called ourselves
an emerging University.”
01 front.indd 1
Enrollment Numbers at
Missouri Western
5500
5450
5470
Fall Undergraduate Enrollment
by Year
5400
5350
5295
5300
5301
5271
5250
5200
5150
Fall 2005
Fall 2006
Fall 2007
Fall 2008
Lisa Crawford / Graphics
The graph above shows the number of undergraduate students
enrolled for the fall semester. For the last four years Western’s
enrollment has continuously increased to new record numbers.
Missouri Western Enrollment
by Classification
65
1246
Fall 2008
2500
778
Freshmen
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
Graduates
946
Lisa Crawford / Graphics
This chart shows the breakdown of all students currently enrolled
at Western. Freshmen and seniors make up the majority.
to strong recruitment plan
Gerri Tracy
Copy Editor
gtracy@missouriwestern.edu
For the fourth consecutive year
Western’s enrollment is record-breaking. With 5,470 undergraduate students and 65 graduate students, for
a total of 5,535, enrollment increased
3.3 percent this year. Undergraduate
enrollment increased 5.5 percent
from 5,319 last year while graduate enrollment increased 59 percent,
from last year’s 41.
Historically, higher education
enrollment goes up when the economy
goes down. Director of Admissions,
Howard McCauley, believes Western
is ahead of the curve when it comes
to enrollment numbers.
“We don’t have any peaks and valleys; we have a gradual increase,”
McCauley said. “That’s what we’ve
seen over many years.”
McCauley points out some of
the factors contributing to the high
enrollment numbers.
“We have a recruitment plan that
is playing a part in bringing students
to the campus,” McCauley said. “With
our recruitment plan, our faculty and
staff have all been working together
to try to attract the best students
we possibly can. It’s teamwork…It’s
working very well and there’s a great
chemistry on our campus.”
Associate director of admissions,
Tyson Schank, agrees with McCauley
about why Western has seen a steady
increase.
“Missouri Western has been the
best kept secret in the Midwest
because a lot of people had just never
heard of Missouri Western,” Schank
said.
Schank explained how the secret is
getting out.
“We’re expanding our outreach to
other areas of the Midwest in Kan;
Neb; Iowa; and Ill,” Schank said.
“We’re situated very well to be able
to sustain our enrollment.”
While record enrollment is benefi-
“
Missouri Western has been
the best kept secret in the
Midwest...
Howard McCauley
Director of Admissions
”
cial to Western, some aspects are not
so beneficial to students. Student
Michael Swanson believes that
classes are becoming too crowded to
learn.
“When you’re in a class like Biology
and there are so many students, the
instructor never talks to you individually, they can only address the
entire class at once,” Swanson said.
“It really takes away from the learning experience.”
Western administration realizes
the expanding headcount is putting
a strain on students and faculty and
are trying to cope with the effects.
“Our administration has really
made a very strong effort to make
sure that we accommodate every student that wants to attend Western,”
Schank said.
Along with enrollment, the quality
of students is exceeding the national
average. The average ACT score of
freshmen coming from high school
has risen from 20.6 last year to 21.2
this year. First time freshmen enrollment has increased almost 3 percent
to 1132. Schank hopes Western can
continue to grow.
“The quality of our entering class
was very strong, so we’re working
on making sure we can sustain this
quality,” Schank said.
10/1/08 12:38:47 AM
Opinions
02 oct 2008 | Page 2
The Griffon News
Editorial
Achieve Greatness by asking what you can do for Western
Achieving Greatness debuted this month,
initiating the public phase of the Western
Foundation’s capital campaign.
The generosity of Western benefactors will
enable the school to achieve, well… a legacy
of greatness.
The campaign goal breakdown outlines
the plans for the $15 million they hope to
procure. The plans include: $7.5 million for
construction and renovation; $5.5 million for
the Steven L. Craig School of Business; $1
million for endowment; and $1 million for
emerging needs.
The five-year campaign has already reached
the 86 percent mark, due mainly to six major
campaign donations.
The largest of the contributions was made
by Steven Craig, and amounted to $5.5 million, the largest donation in the history of the
university.
The second largest donation was made
by Western alumni Patsy Remmington and
husband Wes, in the amount of $5 million
to pay for the construction of Remmington
Hall.
The university has currently raised 86 percent of their $15 million goal. The campaign
goal was set on a five year time line. The fact
that so much has been accomplished in such
a short amount of time is a testament to our
community’s philanthropy.
Not only should the students of Missouri
Western be appreciative, they should be
reminded of the virtue of giving back to the
community.
Remember that the generosity of benefactors offers real, tangible benefits to the
students of today. Everything that has been
outlined in the Western Foundation’s plans
for the money is designed to directly enrich
your college experience through endowments
for scholarships and improvement of the uni-
versity as a whole.
Perhaps students currently enrolled at
Missouri Western are not in a position to
make such a generous contribution, but
consider the future. One day when you’ve
graduated, and you’re off in the “real world”
hopefully making “real world” money, you
may find yourself better able to make donations.
Future generations of incoming Missouri
Western students cannot rely on the donations of the past.
Someone must step forward to replace the
person before them in order to regenerate
the cycle of giving back to the community.
In the end, ask not what Western does for
you (you should already know, you’re degreebound), but what you can do for Western
(and if you don’t get it, read this again).
Dwayne Bell/ Graphics
A global perspective on superiority: can France do it better?
In the year 2001, my son was two years old
and his favorite movie was The Rugrats in
Paris. In that movie, the terrible toddlers had
a great adventure in a pseudo Euro Disney
World where they had to foil the plot of the
melodramatic villain, Coco Le Bush, a hideously French corporate overlord. I began to
notice that many kids movies were running
French villains that year. It seemed that the
mass media of America was threatened by
the descendants of the Napoleonic empire.
America was sending a clear message, it is
okay to despise the French.
I think we are just very frustrated due to
the fact that even though we had more money,
nuclear weapons, and pop stars, the average
French citizen seemed to be able to make
any American look like a silly twit with a
simple conversation. The French men could
out seduce any American man with a few well
placed words. Their ladies could
this in a few American cities
dandonan
turn the attentions of us, the
and found out that we have
men of America, with a look,
too many dirty thieves in
despite the presence of their
our society of everything is
casual grooming of body hair.
an opportunity.
Hairy armpits mean very little
Uncool America, very cool
when faced with the pure pasFrance.
sions that so much romanticism
Today, the fat bug has
has been weaved around.
even found its way to their
No matter how big, innovaforeign shores, but they still
tive, shocking, and in-your-face
have less fatties than we
Americans became, they could
do.
never come close to the casual
The education system in
coolness that is the French.
France makes any French
In Paris there is a system of
national swell with visible
public bicycles, free for the use
pride when they go into a
of the people. Organized by JCDecaux in Paris. discourse on the mockery our public schools
The Vélib is a wonderful alternative to fossil have become. Their people still remember how
fuel based transportation and a great tool for to be angry enough to take it to the streets,
promoting fitness amid the citizenry. We tried unlike us, we have a couch and an X-Box.
Readers complain
about complaining,
and dishonest
co-workers
Dear Dan,
I’ve come to the conclusion that complaining is the national past time for Americans,
no matter where they are or what they are
learning. I say this because I’ve been hearing
English students-- especially journalism students complain about not having a radio station on campus.
I think that it would be nice to have one on
campus that students can sign up for, like they
do the newspaper. However, I wonder why no one has yet to do
a pirated radio station on campus?
If you like to complain so much about it, just
do it yourself. I see too many people complaining, but not doing.
Annoyed Anarchist
Dear Annoyed,
The question of Missouri Western State
University having a radio station is a question
I intend to ask this semester with The Griffon
News.
As far as a pirate station goes, hey, I loved
“Pump Up the Volume” as much as the next
guy, but you cannot expect me in an official
capacity of Editor-In-Chief of the Griffon
News to condone breaking the Federal
Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules.
Besides, the university clearly could not put
it’s name on a pirated station and a pirate station, even if it is student run, is not likely to
name themselves after their university. Still,
having a campus radio station is a great idea.
Maybe it is time for me to show you that there
are Americans who can stop complaining and
start doing something.
Dear Dan,
I work on Barry Road with a friend of mine
who went to the Kansas City Art Institute for
a year but did not return after the summer.
However, she has been telling all our co-workers she is still attending classes there and has
even made up b.s. homework projects she is
“working on”. People at work suspect she is
lying and have started bringing their suspicions to me. I have no interest in embarrassing my friend or looking like a fool and a liar
to my co-workers by perpetuating her story.
What should I do?
Concerned Co-worker
Dear Concerned,
In 1993 I first enrolled at this fine school.
Back then it was just a lowly college. On a
whim, dare, and a bet, I decided to spend
an entire semester speaking with a fake
British accent just to see how it would pull
off. Surprisingly I was rarely questioned and
might have been able to pull it off if I hadn’t
gotten bored mid-semester and decided to drop
it. Rather than fessing up to the lie, I chose to
phase out my dialect. I am certain I sounded
like an inbred moron.
My point is that you do not need to worry
about embarrassing your friend. She is doing
it to herself. The truth always comes out, and
then there is the embarrassing period that follows which can only be countered with a walk
of shame, tomato on the face, or just accepting
the fact that they are not laughing with you,
but at you.
By letting her weave you into her fiction, you
also stand to look foolish yourself when the
truth is unleashed. It would be best to bust
her.
Discovering universal desire for
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
mass media and political rhetolindsaymoyer
After attending the 15th
ric would lead you to believe.
Annual Convocation on
Everyone wants the same
Critical Issues, I have found
things. Our most basic needs
myself applauding the
of food, shelter and safety are
University Advancement
universal.
office for bringing great
The
Declaration
of
speakers to our campus.
Independence reaffirms this
Mary Matalin and James
in its outline of American’s
Carville brought forth some
inalienable rights for “Life,
great points to my attenliberty and the pursuit of haption.
piness.”
Why can’t we all get
Acknowledging our similarialong? If complete opposites
ties is empowering. Suddenly
such as these two speakers
it becomes very clear that our
from the convocation can
only great difference is our
put their political differences aside to main- opinion on how to reach our goals.
tain a relationship, our society should try to
Carville told a story about a person asking
do the same.
how to make a marriage work despite being
This task isn’t going to be easy, but we on opposite sides of the political spectrum.
should at least try it.
Carville responded by telling the individual
At the beginning of the convocation, Dan that he would rather be with someone who
Boulware noted that in spite of our differ- passionately opposed him, than a person who
ences, we are all Americans and this trumps had no passion at all.
the differences of our political party affiliaIn the end, getting along has a lot to do
tion, age, gender and so on.
with respecting differences. If we were to try
Regardless of the nature of a relationship this simple task of respecting other people’s
it can be hard to reconcile the differences opinions rather than judging them, we would
between two people.
be able to get along better and learn from
Everyone has convictions and justifications each other that their values help us evaluate
for why they’re on the right side of an argu- and stand by our own more.
ment. An important fact that transcends all
The world would be a better place if we
topics is that just because it’s not your view- learned to surround ourselves with individupoint, doesn’t make it wrong.
als with different views in life and looked for
People have motivations for the things they more commonalities than differences between
do or believe which stem from life experi- each other.
ences. Different perspectives are vital to the
success of our country and our democracy.
Americans have more in common than
News Room Staff
Dan Donan
Editor-in-Chief
Lisa Crawford
Managing Editor
Emily Gummelt
Anna Flin
Gregor Avey
Charlene Divino
Marty Ayers
Gerri Tracy
Margaret Slayton
Lori Duff
Jenna Haecker
Lindsay Moyer
Ryan Richardson
Bob Bergland
02 opinions.indd 1
News Editor
Lifestyles Editor
Sports Editor
Opinions Editor
Photos Editor
Copy Editor
Asst. News Editor
Graphics Editor
Ad Manager
Business Manager
Web Liaison
Faculty Advisor
News Writers
Ellis Cross
Shaun Botts
Amanda Gee
Gerri Tracy
Jesse West
Alison Norris
Sports Writers
Emmanuel Akitunde
Travis Hartman
Ryan Heldenbrand
More cool points for France.
For some stupid reason, humanity has this
viscous, ignorant streak of envy that runs
through our veins. We hate people who do
things better than us. It makes us crazy that
there might be some other way to get by, that
we didn’t think of ourselves. We are so prideful in the notion that we cannot be wrong that
we would rather attack the things we wish we
could be.
It is not getting us anywhere and it seems
that we rarely learn from history.
In America, we should be wise enough by
now to accept that we have many lessons to
learn.
We could start by learning from the French.
We could start by just admitting that we
don’t know everything.
It takes a wise man to admit he is a fool.
Lifestyles Writers
Katy Hammontree
Jerrod Huber
Graphic Atrists
Dwayne Bell
Brandon Edwards
Mandie Nocita
Multimedia Designer
William Harrah
Web site: http://www.thegriffonnews.com
Email: stories@thegriffonnews.com
The Griffon News is written and published by students of Missouri
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• 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 University.
10/1/08 1:02:35 AM
The Griffon News
Opinions
02 oct 2008 | Page 3
Failing economy concerns both parties
Democratic
Perspective
Republican
Perspective
Luke Herrington
Special Contributor
My good friend Kenney would have you
believe that capitalism is the answer to all of
our problems. Though he has yet to support
the GOP presidential candidate, John McCain
in any of his editorials, he suffers from the
same misguided opinion. The free market
cannot solve all of our problems. The current
situation with our faltering economy proves
this point.
Unchecked, the free market is moving
towards a collapse. That’s why policy-makers
are struggling with the question of a $700 billion bailout. Without action, our economy may
collapse. That is not a situation we want to
be in, considering the fact that we’re already
in one of the most severe economic situations
since the Great Depression.
Under President Bush, the value of the
dollar has dropped. Wages have stagnated,
though prices are growing. Bush’s misguided
war in Iraq has cost us human life and billions
of dollars. Keep in mind the fact that this
has not helped anyone who is suffering at the
gas pump (by the way, the free market has
allowed for energy speculation, another problem that is driving fuel costs through the roof).
Now our credit card companies are increasing
costs, the housing market is faltering, and the
country’s largest businesses are in trouble.
President Bush’s failed economic policies have
not worked.
John McCain and Barack Obama will
both support a bailout (sorry Kenney, this
BIPARTISAN plan isn’t pure capitalism).
However, Barack Obama will not just support
a plan that will give a blank check to the fiscally irresponsible companies on Wall Street.
Obama wants accountability and oversight—
something that the GOP is calling partisan
politics. I call it good judgment and responsibility.
Kenney Newville
Special Contributor
Nevertheless, it may take
time for lawmakers to arrive at
an agreement.
Barack Obama has a complex economic program that he’s been advocating for months (not just ten lines on his
website, John McCain). Obama will
give tax relief to 95% of all Americans.
He’ll reverse the Bush tax-cuts, which
will only affect people making more
than $250,000 each year. John McCain
will give billions to Big Oil, leaving the
middle class with no relief.
Barack Obama will push for energy
independence, and free us from the hold
of foreign oil. This policy will create 5
million green collar jobs. John McCain
has supported a number of irresponsible
gimmicks.
Barack Obama supports fair trade.
He’ll end tax breaks for companies that
ship American jobs overseas. John
McCain fully supports the North
American Free Trade Agreement, which
will continue to outsource many valuable
jobs to places like China and India.
Barack Obama will cut taxes and
spending. He’ll support a responsible
budget. John McCain’s economic policies will add $3.4 trillion to our national
debt. With an economic collapse on our
country’s doorstep, we cannot afford to
continue these failed policies.
Capitalism does work, but the free
market cannot solve all of our problems.
Are you better off now than you were
eight years ago?
Vote for Change we Can Believe In!
Vote Obama-Biden, 2008!
As the shadow of a possible
stock market crash looms over
our great nation, most people have
taken several moments to ponder
just what course of precautionary action our federal government
should take. I have been pondering
this: why should the government
take action?
A great man once said, “The government is not the solution to our
problems; the government is the
problem.” That man was Ronald
Reagan and I believe that he had
a point.
Investing in the Stock Market
is as much of a gamble as taking
a trip down to our local Terrible’s
Casino. You put a quarter in the
slot and you either win or lose. For
the most part, let’s face it: you lose.
When you lose, however, is it the
role of the federal government to
bail you out when you can no longer
afford to buy food for your family
because of your gambling problem?
Now, I’m not saying that people
who buy stock have gambling problems, but I am saying that in both
instances (gambling and investing)
you are putting your money and
financial situation at risk. It’s all
fun and profitable, until you lose.
The banking (and loaning) industries are risky business. Obviously
in the past few years people have
made bad decisions when they take
out mortgages that they knew they
couldn’t pay back. The bad decision was furthered when a bank loaned the money to someone who they also knew couldn’t pay it back.
Now it’s our job as taxpayers to bail out these
companies who made poor decisions. What’s
that? We aren’t paying to bail these businesses out? Where do you think that the $700 million is going to come from? China, our biggest
lender (sadly, we need lenders…) has already
said that they were no longer going to loan
us money. The China Banking Regulatory
Commission (CBRC) issued a decree banning
Chinese banks from loaning U.S. banks any
more money as a precautionary measure to
insulate China from the deepening U.S. debt.
So, when we talk about bailing out the
banks, we need to ask ourselves: is this constitutional? If yes, then should we not also bail
out the airlines and automotive industries?
They too are falling on hard times….
Since the government has seen fit, however, to propose a bail out, I will discuss the
smaller politics surrounding that. When the
first presidential-hopeful debate was to occur
(last Friday), Senator McCain announced that
he would not be attending until a proposal
was passed. Senator Obama responded to
McCain’s announcement with,”I think it is
going to be part of the president’s job to be
able to deal with more than one thing at once.”
While I agree with Obama’s statement, at
least McCain realizes that his obligation now
is to us in the Senate. Obama may be looking
to the future, but when doing so he is looking
past the present. I believe that this is the
same type of shirking of responsibilities that
we are guaranteed under the Obama administration.
Presidential debate plays out like story line on television show
Even before the first presidential debate of
2008 began, it already had so much momentum
built up around it, that it could have dwarfed
any current television show story line.
It began with McCain “suspending” his campaign before the event saying he wanted to
give the economic crisis his full attention.
Then he told the public that he wasn’t going to
participate at all in the debate and asked his
rival, Barack Obama to do the same.
It looked like McCain gave Obama an ultimatum he couldn’t refuse. But he did. Probably
a decision that McCain didn’t expect; and it
wasn’t until the day of the event that he told
the American people that he would show up
and deliberate with his rival, and by doing so,
this gave Obama more momentum going into
the debate.
The debate began with the financial crisis.
Obama was swift to relay
With Obama pointing out that
chazhoskins
the fact that the current
his plan will serve more Americans
crisis is due to the failed
than his rival, he clearly won the
Bush economic policies
first half of the debate.
that McCain supports.
The debate then turned to its
McCain then accused
main focus, foreign policy. McCain
Obama of trying to raise
was quick to state that he had
the taxes on the middle
more foreign policy experience
class. Obama was quick to
than Obama because he had been
counter that his tax plan
in the senate a lot longer, a punch
provides far more relief
that hit hard on Obama.
for taxpayers making less
The debate talked about the bigthan $250,000 a year than
gest foreign policy issue; the Iraq
McCain’s proposal.
war. A war that has left Obama
Obama put a little more
heavily critized for by McCain,
hurt on his rival when he
because he had not supported the
spoke about how McCain is supporting $300 troop surge. But Obama countered again saybillion in tax breaks for corporations and ing that the war in Iraq was a distraction from
wealthy individuals.
the real threat in Afghanistan.
As the debate wore on, McCain took jabs at
Obama constantly saying that he just didn’t
understand. A constant saying like that is a
risky thing to say as you can come off looking
as either very knowledgeable or someone that
just appears to be very arrogant.
Whenever an opponent was able to get to
the other hand and find fault with their rivals
logic or proposal, the other was quick to correct
them. Obama was quicker than McCain to
point out what was true and what wasn’t in his
plans. McCain was quicker to insult his rival’s
intelligence and didn’t say too much about his
actual plan, or even how he planned to help the
middle class that is currently struggling. So I
would have to say that both candidates throw
out a fair amount of punches. But Obama
came out a little bit quicker than McCain for
the win.
What is your political affiliation and why?
03 opinions.indd 1
Jeff Powers
Junior
Kayla Vice
Freshman
Emily Oliver
Freshman
Jay Claywell
Senior
Dustin Austell
Freshman
“I don’t have one. The two
party system just doesn’t
work. Until we fix it I don’t
see why I should be affiliated
with either.”
“I am democratic because I
believe they are more for the
middle class. I’m going to
vote for Obama because he’ll
take care of our nation.”
“I’m more liberal because I
was always taught and raised
to choose what I think is best
for the country, and I think
Obama is best.”
“I’m a democrat, I was raised
democrat, my parents have
always voted democratic, and
it’s just always worked for
me.”
“I’m a democrat and I didn’t
want Bush to win, but they
cheated. All I can do is vote
and hope Obama wins.”
10/1/08 1:03:12 AM
News
02 OCT 2008 | Page 4
News
Notes
Pianist Pandolfi
to Perform Oct. 3
Pianist Thomas Pandolfi
will perform at Western on
Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Potter
Hall Theater.
Pandolfi has a bachelor’s
and master’s degree from The
Juilliard School. He has performed with European and
American orchestras and
during the 2007-2008 season, he released two compact
discs titled “Into the Night
with Gershwin” and “Polish
Masters.”
He has been critically
acclaimed by The Washington
Post and other publications.
Contact Dr. T. Matthew
Edards at 816-271-4431 or
email him at tedards7@missouriwestern.edu for more
information. To learn more
about Pandolfi visit his website at www.thomaspandolfi.
com.
Constitution Day
Presented Energy
Policy Ideas
The annual commemoration
of the U.S. Constitution at
Western was on Sept. 30 from
4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in Spratt
Hall 205.
The commemoration discussed the “Energy Policy
in the United States” and
included presentations from
Democratic and Republican
students on energy ideas.
The Clean Energy Works for
Missouri ballot initiative ideas
were presented as well as a
plan publicized by T. Boone
Pickens who is an oilman.
Dr. Jon Euchner of Missouri
Western also commented.
For more information contact Dr. Euchner at 816-2714358 or email him at euchner@missouriwestern.edu.
Conference On
Teaching in an
Online World
Offered Oct. 4
Western will host a conference for professors and
teachers titled “Content Area
Learning: Teaching in an
Online Word.”
The conference will be on
Oct. 4 at 8 a.m. in the Blum
Union.
Kevin Hodgson will be the
keynote speaker of the conference. He is a National Writing
Project Technology Leadership
Team member who teaches
sixth grade in Southampton,
MA.
Hodgson will show teachers how using web 2.0 tools
including blogs, wikis, podcast,
web comics and other digital
compositions can increase students’ literacy learning.
There will be 18 area
National Writing Project
Teacher Consultants presenting at the conference. They
will discuss how they use particular technology in their
daily teaching.
The event is being sponsored by the Prairie Lands
Writing Project (PLWP) and
Northwest Missouri’s National
Writing Project Site (NWP).
The conference has a registration fee of $25 that is
due by Oct. 1 or the cost will
increase to $40. The conference cost will include certificates documenting five hours
of literacy in-service development, presentation handouts
and lunch.
For
more
information
contact the PLWP office at
816-271-4315 or visit www.
missouriwestern.edu/plwp/
08saturdayseminar/index.
html for online registration.
The Griffon News
Students experience latin culture at CME’s annual fiesta
Margaret Slayton
Assistant News Editor
mslayton@missouriwestern.edu
Latino community I wanted to expose and some of the
booths have done that as well.”
Zumba Fitness, Spanish Club and the Association
of Latin American Students had displays where they
handed out information on Latino culture, history and
issues.
Author and Western professor, Zulima Lugo-Knapp,
read poetry from her book Espigas at the Fiesta.
Lugo-Knapp addressed immigration concerns that are
currently in the media.
“People came from Mexico because there were jobs
open and there was a need for workers in the United
States,” Lugo-Knapp said. “But people continued to
come here and now it’s a problem. I think if people
work together they can make a better life for Mexico
and have less of a problem for the United States.”
Monica Boeh, Junior at Western, said the Fiesta
offers a unique way to learn about another culture.
“I really enjoyed the Fiesta,” Boeh said. “The dancing
and all the people who were involved were extraordinary.
Not only was this Fiesta a great opportunity to have fun,
but also it was an opportunity to learn about another
culture and their way of life.”
Western’s annual Fiesta was on Sept. 22 in the Fulkerson
Center. September 15 marked the beginning of Latin
American Heritage Month.
The professional dancing team, Brasil Cultura, performed
for the second year to traditional music in extravagant
dresses. They perform dances such as Lambada, Maculele
and Samba de Roda. A group from St. Patrick’s Church
performed Mexican folklore dances. Food served included
popcorn, three colored cookies and a pastry roll with icing
called pan dulce.
Mark Gomez, student intern at the center for multicultural
education, planned much of the event. He said he was happy
with the turnout even though the location has changed this
year.
“Last year it was in the Blum Union where people could
see it and stop by,” Gomez said. “This is more of a challenge
because it’s more secluded.”
Gomez wanted everyone to experience the Latino culture.
“I really wanted this to be a celebration of the Latin culture,”
Gomez said. “There were certain issues and topics within the
Continued from front:
Convocation
Bill Bradley, Steve Forbes, David
McCullough, Dr. Joseph Nye and Dr.
Colin Powell.
She proceeded to share her opinions on
the present election.
“The big picture is that the candidates
have been three points apart throughout
this whole race,” Matalin said.
The former host of CNN’s debate show,
Crossfire, stressed that no matter which
views one follows, they should always
keep an open mind.
She believes there are four things
everyone should study, no matter what
their major is.
The first one was history.
The next was our Constitution.
“It is used worldwide as a prototype,”
Matalin said. “It is a document that holds
for the ages.”
The third subject was journalism and
the fourth was communications.
“It is imperative that you learn how to
have clarity of thought,” Matalin said. “If
you can learn to communicate, you will be
our future.”
After Matalin shared a few closing
thoughts, she introduced her husband
and political rival, James Carville.
“He is my dearly beloved,” Matalin
said. “Just because he thinks wrongly
doesn’t mean he’s not smart.”
Carville began by stressing that college
was an important part of his life.
“The best four years of my life were
spent as a sophomore,” Carville said.
He believes history is taking place right
in front of us, considering the ethnicities
and genders of our current political candidates.
“Do you want to watch history, or do
you want to help make history?” Carville
asked. “Do you want to lead our nation
eating chips and wiping salsa off your
mouth?”
Matt Fowler / Photographer
Mary Matalin and James Carville speak to
faculty, students and the community.
This author, actor, producer, talk-show
host, speaker and restaurateur believes
people need to get involved and be aware
of what is going on around them in order
for change to actually happen.
When it comes to Carville’s marriage
with Matalin, Carville has no problem
getting along with someone who does not
share his political views.
“It’s not so important that you be
around people that think like you, but
that you be around people that think,”
Carville said.
Though they do have these opposing
views, they were still able to co-write a
book entitled All’s Fair: Love, War, and
Running for President, which was on The
New York Times bestseller list for eight
weeks.
Both speakers answered questions that
were pre-submitted by Western students
and faculty.
When asked about the importance of
voting, Carville shared a voting statistic.
“Normally, 12 out of 100 people vote
[who] are 18-29,” Carville said.
Matalin believes parents should encourage their children at a young age to vote
when the time comes.
“I take my kids to the voting booth,”
Matalin said. “I get choked up; I don’t
take voting for granted.”
One submitted question asked how
each of them would react to someone who
believes one should vote for the lesser of
two evils.
“That’s why you have to participate,”
Matalin said.
She said people do not trust the system.
“You can’t bring trust back to the system overnight,” Matalin said.
Though they do not see eye-to-eye politically, neither Matalin nor Carville has
influenced the other’s views.
“I made a pretty good choice when I
was 16 years old and I’m gonna stick with
the same one,” Carville said.
Freshman Rachel Jackson enjoyed this
year’s convocation.
“I thought that the speakers were strong
and lively, and I think that they focused
well on their audience,” Jackson said.
Boulware believes Matalin and Carville
bring a well-informed perspective from
both sides of the political spectrum.
“They are passionate in their beliefs,”
Boulware said. “They both want what is
best for our country.”
Continued
from front:
Dinner
their message was the
same.
“We are American,” Carville
said. “Married, young, old,
Republican,
Democrat.
We are all Americans and
we can work through our
differences.”
Matalin also reiterated
that it was our duty to
be involved politically, to
understand the events that
are happening now, and to
believe in the country.
“There’s so much that
we [the public] don’t know
what’s happening,” Matalin
said. “We didn’t know about
Georgia coming, we didn’t
know about people flipping on
energy with the moratorium
on offshore drilling being
lifted last week. That
sometimes we think that
people are going to go into a
panic. I don’t think we will. I
have faith in our country.”
The dinner also helped
spotlight the community
businesses
and
donors
who
helped
fund
the
Convocation.
“The foundation is very
proud of this event,” Nicoson
said. “Having said that, it
still would not be possible
without
our
thirty-one
corporate sponsors. This
dinner also is a way to thank
them.”
Campus Information
Calendar of events
Thursday, Oct. 2
Saturday, Oct. 4
• Soccer vs. Truman State
University at 7:00 p.m.
• Family Day Football
vs. Fort Hayes at Spratt
Stadium at 1:30 p.m.
• Downtown Noontime
Concert Series at the First
Presbyterian Church at
12:10 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 2-3
• Golf vs. Northwest
Missouri State University
Fall Classic at Maryville,
Mo.
Friday, Oct. 3
• Western Talent Show
at the Looney Arena from
7 p.m.
• Volleyball vs. University
of Central Oklahoma
in Washburn Regional
Crossover Tournament at
2 p.m.
• Volleyball vs. East
Central University in
Washburn
Regional
Crossover Tournament at
7 p.m.
campus crime report
2
• Soccer vs. Central
Missouri at Spratt Stadium
at 7:00 p.m.
vs.
• Volleybal
Midwestern
State
University in Washburn
Regional
Crossover
Tournament at 11 a.m.
1
3
• Volleyball vs. University
of Texas Permian Basin
in Washburn Regional
Crosover Tournament at 3
p.m.
4
Scanlon Hall
Wednesday, Oct. 8
• Fall Career Fair at
Fulkerson Center from 13:30 p.m. Dress professionally.
• Court of Appeals from
9:30-12:00 p.m. in the
Kemper Recital Hall,
Spratt Hall 101.
• Vote or Shut-Up in
front of Blum Union
– Staff Reports
If your organization would like to announce an
event, e-mail the information to
stories@thegriffonnews.com
1. Traffic Accident
September 25, 2008 4525 Downs Drive, Lot E
Officer received information regarding a non injury accident in Lot E. The officer completed a Missouri
Uniform Accident report.
2. Burglary
September 24, 2008 4525 Downs Drive, Looney Complex
Officer received information regarding a theft in the Looney Complex. The officer completed an Offense/Incident
report.
3. Safety Hazard
September 24, 2008 4525 Downs Drive, Popplewell Hall
Officer received a call from the custodial staff regarding a water leak in Popplewell Hall. The officer completed
an Offense/Incident report.
4. Harassment/Intimidation
September 22, 2008 4525 Downs Drive, Scanlon Hall
Officer responded to report of harassment in Scanlon Hall. The officer completed an Offense/Incident report.
04 news.indd 1
10/1/08 1:03:47 AM
News
The Griffon News
2 oct 2008 | Page 5
Student starts petitions for change at Western
Jesse West
News Writer
Here at Missouri Western,
it is the mission of Student
Services to help students,
faculty, staff and the local
communities feel comfortable
in a friendly, accessible
environment. One of those
students is going out of their
way to make that dream
come true for the university
patrons.
Two petitions have recently
been delivered to offices
around the university; the
second petition deals with
converting current general
parking spaces on campus
into handicap accessible
parking spaces. The first
one, however, is to add
baby
changing
stations
to the campus bathrooms
throughout the university
grounds.
Solomon West, a junior
studying sports management,
shared his opinion as to why
this would be helpful.
“I would say that it would
be essential for mothers and
dads with children who have
to come here to class [with
their children],” West said.
Michael
Ritter,
the
coordinator
of
disability
services in Eder Hall,
explained that a student of
his, Stephanie Nold, came to
him to discuss the issue after
a bad experience with her
child.
“She said, ‘you know, I’ve
had to change my baby on
a table where people eat
- Michael Ritter
Disability Services
Coordinator
before,’” Ritter said. “I have
witnessed people in our
restroom…actually changing
a child on the floor. Bathroom
floors are not the most…
bacteria-free places on the
planet and that’s probably
the last option…but people
have to do what they have to
do.”
Ritter currently estimates
spending anywhere from
$150 to $200 each on baby
changing stations, based on
Nold’s research. Regardless
of the minimal cost, Ritter
is quick to point out how
essential these stations are
becoming.
“It’s becoming more and
more necessary for us to be a
place where people can come
and stay all day,” Ritter said.
“That’s a convenience for
them. That also lets them
know that we’re not only here
to support the student, but
also the student’s extended
family. It’s also the morally
and ethically right thing to do
to provide something that’s
being asked for.”
Ellen Kisker, the director
of the non-traditional student
services center, hopes to see
one baby changing station
per building, she views this
opportunity as a win-win
situation.
“When
you
become
accommodating
and
friendly…it sets up a really
positive atmosphere,” Kisker
said. “people leave the campus
feeling ‘wow, they really do
care about everybody.’ This
campus is for everybody and
I think it’s real important
that we make it accessible for
everybody.”
Nold
also
sees
the
importance of these stations
and wants parents to come to
Missouri Western comfortable
in the knowledge that they
can change their babies.
“There is no way of getting
around this. There needs to
be a safe and sanitary place
for this,” Nold said. “…This
is not me wanting something
for my convenience; this is me
telling the campus officials
that we need these for the
community, current students,
and visiting families [so that]
they [know campus officials]
care.”
These petitions can be found
in the following locations:
the Non-Traditional Student
Lounge; Student Services
Office; the office door of the
Psychology
Department;
the Education Department
Office; Disabilities Services
Office; and the office door of
the Biology Department.
COLLEGE STUDENT DISCOUNT!
TWO WEEKS
UNLIMITED
TANNING
Additional accessible parking
requested for disabled students
Jesse West
News Writer
Current disabled
parking on campus:
While Missouri Western students are driven
crazy by the seemingly endless sight of filled
parking spaces at 8:00 a.m. There is someone
within their own ranks who has decided to do
• Potter Hall
something about it.
• Looney Complex
Stephanie Nold, a student at Missouri
Western, has delivered two petitions to offices
• Wilson Hall
around campus within the last two weeks, the
• Popplewell Hall
first one deals with baby changing stations
• Eder Hall
in campus bathrooms. The second of these
petitions is to convert current general parking
• Hearnes Center
spaces on campus into accessible parking
• Baker Family Fitness Center
spaces, more commonly known as handicap
• Vaselakos Hall
parking spots, in front of Eder Hall. The
concept was spawned within the last couple
of weeks by Nold, who is convinced that the
She likes to share the story of Ester, a
additional accessible parking is vital to the physically disabled student who uses an
university.
oxygen tank to breathe.
“Everyone deserves an education. Parking
“She couldn’t find parking, so she was
shouldn’t stop someone,” Nold said. “Most of coming here two hours early to find a parking
the responses I get when I tell people about spot,” Kisker said. “Then she ran into the
this is that ‘I don’t want to walk that far fear of her oxygen running out before she
either,’ [but] it’s not about not wanting to could drive back to Atchison…you don’t mess
walk that far for people with disabilities; it’s around without having oxygen; that’s life and
about [not being able to walk] that far.”
death.”
Michael Ritter, the coordinator of disability
But it’s not just the disabled that find the
services in Eder Hall, knows all too well just parking situation horrendous; Kisker has
how difficult parking has become.
heard similar complaints from a number of
“We probably have just barely met the legal students.
requirements of having enough [accessible]
“I’ve heard…people in the hall [and people] in
parking,” Ritter said. “If we look at it very my office saying, ‘there’s not enough parking;
closely, we would find that there are some I don’t have a place to park,’” Kisker said. “We
parking lots that don’t have the van accessible have to worry about our students being able
isles…we’re trying to get
to get to their classes in a
folks to look at it with
timely fashion…[students]
an eye toward providing
working
[their]
way
access for everyone rather
through college…may not
than just meeting the
have two or three hours
minimum
standards,
Everyone deserves an edu- to just sit and look for a
because
obviously
we
parking spot.”
cation. Parking shouldn’t
don’t have enough parking
Ritter couldn’t agree
or I wouldn’t be getting
more, he wants to make
stop
someone.
complaints on a regular
the
university
more
basis that there aren’t
accommodating
and
S
tephanie Nold
enough places to park.”
welcoming
to
students,
Western student
Martin Lane, a senior
faculty, staff, and visitors
studying communications,
regardless of their physical
is one of those students
abilities or disabilities.
fed up with the current
“We are going to do
situation.
everything in our power to
“It’s really hard to find
remove all the barriers that
a spot [in the morning],”
keep you from accessing
Lane said.
our
university
and
Ritter
currently
pursuing your education,”
estimates that the cost
Ritter said.
for additional accessible parking signs and
These petitions can be found in the
posts would be $30 each. Along with the re- following locations: the Non-Traditional
coloring of the parking space lines, the overall Student Lounge; Student Services Office; the
conversion would also be relatively minimal office door of the Psychology Department; the
in price; a price that Ellen Kisker, the director Education Department Office; Disabilities
of the non-traditional student services center, Services Office; and the office door of the
believes is well worth the effort.
Biology Department.
“
“
Baby changing stations requested
in bathrooms on Western’s campus
St. Joseph Salon
1815 N. Belt HWY.
*Must present valid student I.D. card. Not valid with any other offer. See store for details. Expires 10/31/08. T-0836
No Appointment Tanning • Open 7 Days a Week
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05 news.indd 1
10/1/08 1:04:16 AM
Page 6 | 02 oct 2008
Advertisement
The Griffon News
-Josie K.
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06 ad.indd 1
10/1/08 12:43:34 AM
The Griffon News
2 oct 2008 | Page 7
Alison Norris
Lifestyles Writer
Libertarias (Spain, 1996)
Moliere (France, 2007)
Time (Korea, 2006)
You’re daydreaming about being somewhere
else: a café in Vienna, a ski resort in the Alps
or maybe the pyramids of Egypt.
But you don’t have to fly or travel to experience something new; in fact you don’t even have
to leave campus.The Department of English,
Foreign Languages, and Journalism (EFLJ) is
making it easy for you to have a cultural experience. They are presenting a Foreign Film Series consisting of seven movies from countries
all around the world from Sep. 19, to Nov. 20.
Professor of Spain’s Literature Culture Eduardo Castilla-Ortiz noted that the Foreign
Film Series is open to anyone and everyone in
the community, not just students.
“We are trying to educate on social, cultural
issues that are affecting us internationally and
contribute different perspectives,” Castilla-Ortiz said.
Two of the movies have already been shown;
“Cinema Paradiso”, a movie from Italy about a
Sicilian boy who becomes a famous movie producer and “Libertarias”, a movie from France
about a nun who must take refuge in a brothel
during Spain’s civil war in 1936. There are
still five more films that will be shown.
“Moliere”, a movie made in France will be
playing Oct. 8, in Spratt 203. The film directed
by Laurent Tirard is about a French actorplaywright who tries to help a wealthy talentless man seduce a young widow with a play.
The movie is set in the 17th centuary and is
a comedy starring Romain Duris and Frabrice
Luchini.
The Foreign Film Series then takes you to
Korea with the Korean movie, “Time”, a psychological thriller. Time, directed by Kim Ki-Duk,
is playing Wednesday Oct. 22, in Hearnes 102
It is a movie about a girl named Seh-hee who
undergoes plastic surgery in hopes of making
her boyfriend fall in love with her again while
posing as a new woman. Starring in the film is
Jung-woo Ha and Park Ji-yeon.
The mood of the series is switched with the
movie “The Namesake,” a drama from India
directed by Mira Nair. “The Namesake” is
playing in Kemper Recital Hall Friday Oct. 31,
starring Kal Penn and Jacinda Barrett. The
film is about a first generation American torn
between Indian tradition and an American lifestyle. The movie explores culture and identity.
The Film Series then takes you to Argentina with the film, “Bolivia,” directed by Adrian
Caetano. “Bolivia,” starring Freddy Flores and
Rosa Sanchez is showing Friday Nov. 4, in the
Kemper Recital Hall. The film is about a Bolivian exile, who takes a job in an Argentina,
Buenos Aires restaurant where he gains a surrogate family from a curious group of people
that include: a traveling salesman; a pair of
taxi drivers and a waitress.
This film was actually made in three-day intervals over a period of three years because of
budget constraints.
The last stop for the Foreign Film Series is
“Persepolis,” a film directed by Marjane Satrapi, made in France/USA. “Persepolis” starring
Catherine Deneuve and Danielle Darrieux is
showing Thursday Nov. 20, in Hearnes 102.
The Movie is based on an autobiographical
book and follows the life of Marjane, a girl in
1978 Iran. This is not the first year a Foreign
Film Series has been shown. There has been
one for the past twelve years.
The Foreign Film Series used to only show
French, Spanish and German films, but the
films have been broadened to movies from all
over the world. Instructor of English Dana Andrews has especially high expectations for this
year.
“We’ve had them in the past, but our new
(assistant) professor, Karina Vazquez, is very
enthusiastic about it. It’s a wonderful thing
when a new professor takes hold and shows
there’s more to cinema than just American
films” Vazquez wants to give everyone in the
community a chance to view the Foreign Film
Series.
“In organizing the Foreign Film Series I
wanted to involve different faculty from different areas not only the foreign language, but
the entire university and community,” Vazquez
said.
Some classes are even offering extra credit
for watching the featured films. Brianna Philips, Missouri Western student says she can
get extra credit in her Psychology 101 class for
watching and doing a paper over the films.
“I think the movies are a great way to get extra credit and learn about different cultures,”
Phillips said. Whatever reason you want to
see the Foreign Film Series it is open to both
the community and students here at Missouri
Western to give them a glimpse of different
cultures without leaving the campus.
The Namesake (India, 2007)
Bolivia (Argentina, 2001)
Persepolis (France/USA, 2007)
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07 lifestyles.indd 1
10/1/08 12:45:14 AM
2 oct 2008 | Page 8
Scoop Reviews
Lifestyles
The Griffon News
Kansas City’s Melting Pot
great place to impress date
Scoop
Lifestyles Writer
Hi, my name is Scoop. I am not your ordinary cartoon griffon.
I like to have a good time, if ya know what I mean. You will
be seeing me around campus and in some off campus hot spots
where I like to try out my new pick up lines on the ladies. Like
this one; “Hello, I’m going to have a fantasy with you later, care
to make it a reality?” And like that.
So, I will do a little, and write a little, make a few videos for
the Griffon News web site maybe, so check it out.
Now, let me tell you about the latest hot spot I’ve explored for
you. Let’s face it, sometimes the best way to a man’s heart is
through his stomach and sometimes the best way to a woman’s
heart is through the man’s wallet. The Melting Pot, a fondue
restaurant at 450 Ward Parkway in Kansas City, is the place
for both.
If you really want to show that special lady that you have
great taste and loads of cash, then you will need to plan a night
at The Melting Pot in the famous Country Club Plaza of Kansas
City.
Before you go though, check out what is happening on the
Plaza. The night I went, there was an art show and sale all over
the streets, and parking was hell.
The parking garages were full for blocks around the event
and my party was late getting to our reservations. The staff at
The Melting Pot said everyone was arriving late so the whole
thing worked out. The place is in a basement with low, romantic
lighting and a killer wine cellar. The wine list is as long as the
menu. The staff will help you with your selection if you describe
what wine suits your pallet best. The waiting staff members
have a great knowledge of all of the wines and several stories
to tell about how they have managed to taste them all. (That is
my kind of job.)
Our waiter was Matt. Remember that name. If you go, ask for
him; he knows his stuff and really helps you decide everything
Survive your first
Katy Hammontree
Lifestyles Writer
It’s the week before classes
begin, and it’s the big move-in
day, the first day of the next
few months of your life.
Mom and Dad have crammed
the mini-van full of all your
belongings with barely enough
room left for your favorite argyle sweater vest. Your heart
swells with pride as you pull
up to the college. You can almost hear the fight song play
as you step out of the van. You
step carefully, of course, to
avoid scuffing your new Doc
Martens. You take off ahead
of your parents, eager to meet
your new roommate.
“Hemlock,” you say to yourself. “That’s an interesting
name. I wonder if he’s foreign.”
As you approach your door,
your excitement halts as you
are almost certain you just
heard screams. You slowly
open your door and peer inside. The keys drop to the
ground as your hands start to
tremble with an overwhelming fear and panic. You’ve
been roomed with a goth kid!
Whether students are best
friends with their college roommates or complete strangers,
the relationship built with
that person will have a great
impact on both students’ college experiences. At Missouri
Western, freshmen and returning students have been
adjusting to residential life.
Michael Speros, director of
residential life and housing on
campus, describes Western’s
role in the adjustment process.
“It’s obviously a challenge
to move from living at home,
probably in a bedroom by
yourself, to living in a double
room with someone you don’t
know,” Speros said. Speros
also discussed the period of
adjustment necessary when
moving in with a first roommate.
“It takes at least 4-6 weeks
just to settle in and get used to
your roommate’s habits,” Speros said. “Resident Assistants
meet with every roommate
pair and have them fill out a
roommate agreement, which
is a document that helps roommates talk about how they will
live and communicate in their
new relationship. RAs also
have monthly floor meetings
to discuss any floor concerns,
as well as hold programs on
the floor addressing a variety
08 lifestyles.indd 1
about your dining experience.
There are many options and
decisions you will need to
make after you are seated.
The options include wine;
cheese combinations; cooking
styles; types of meat and vegetables; and dessert combinations. I also picked up a great
wine tip from Matt.“I have
never had a lady that didn’t
like the Mascato Di Asti.” He
said. Wing to God, that is what
the man said. I didn’t ask for
clarification I just ordered it.
It was such a sweet wine
that I double-checked the bottle to see if it said Welch’s.
At $31 a bottle you could get
two but not if your date is diabetic.
The best way to order your
meal is by selecting “The Big
Night Out.” It includes all
three courses of your meal,
ELLIS CROSS/ Photographer
such as cheese, meet, and des- Scoop poses in front of his new favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot, located in Kansas City, Mo.
ert.
Desert is possibly the best part. This fondue pot has melted
It comes portioned for two and will run $95. The first course is
brought to your table in a fondue pot with skewers for dipping chocolate in it. You select from an assortment of fruits to skewer
and dip into the pot.
bread into the hot melted cheese.
Yes, it will make her toes curl. I promise you will be full and
The salad is quick to follow and comes with its own menagerie
satisfied with the food and service.
of choices.
This place receives two wings straight up! Until next time,
Meat is brought to the table raw with a fondue pot of tableremember
to party sober, your partner will love you for it. Trust
prepared broth to cook it in. The waiters tell you the recomme
on
this
one.
mended cooking time for each of the meats.
All you have to do is skewer the flesh, place it in the pot and
keep your eye on your watch.
roommate
of issues and
concerns.”
Freshman
Mallory Edson
from Camden
Point, Mo., describes her tactics in getting to
know her roommates
before
meeting
faceto-face. “I met
two of my roommates through
facebook.com
once we learned
we would be living with each
other,”
Edson
said. “That was
pretty cool because we were
able to figure
out things we
had in common
before we’d even
met, like the fact
that we are all
obsessed with
“The Office.”
Edson, a resident of Vaselakos Hall, hasn’t
experienced many issues with
her three other suitemates.
“The only conflicts we’ve had
as roommates have been noise
issues late at night, but since
we have our own bedrooms it
isn’t too much of a problem,”
Edson said. “We are really
good about talking about problems before they get worse.”
Edson, who is the only girl
in her family, has loved living in the residential hall so
far. “The best thing about my
roommates is always having
someone to chill with, and it’s
a kind of sisterly feeling that
I have never had before,” she
said. “My roommate talks in
her sleep. I’ve gotten used to
it now. But I’m a light sleeper
and for awhile it would wake
me up, and I couldn’t help but
laugh at some of the things
she said.”
Freshman Jacob Kroesen,
went to school with his roommate since 5th grade.
“We get along really well
and respect each other,” Kroesen said. “The only conflict
we have is me making too
much noise while he is sleeping, but I am learning how to
successfully practice the snare
drum without annoying too
many people.”
Kroesen has enjoyed living
in the residential halls so far.
“I enjoy the freedom I have
and meeting new people,” he
said. “But there was that one
night where it smelled like
advice for freshmen
SENIORS LOOK BACK
Jerrod Huber
Lifestyles Writer
LORI DUFF/Graphics
sewage in the air vents. Other
than that, it’s been pretty normal.”
Kroesen also said he’s
learned a lot about responsibility.
“I’ve learned not to stay
up as late, although I still do
sometimes,” Kroesen said.
“Oh yeah, and always make
sure there is toilet paper in
the bathroom before you go!”
It might seem like problems
between roommates would occur frequently, Speros says it’s
not the case.
“We had approximately 30
or so room changes during
our fall room change process
which just ended” Speros said.
“Many of these room changes
were not because of problems,
but rather students making
friends during Griffon Edge
and wanting to room together.”
Living on campus can be
somewhat challenging, Speros
believes the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
“National studies show that
students living on campus are
more likely to persist and graduate, and are more satisfied
with their college experience.
Students are more connected
to the campus and make more
friends,” Speros said. “One
of the 21st century outcomes
is the ability of graduates to
work together in teams and
communicate cross culturally.
And having a roommate is a
great training ground to gain
these skills.”
Western’s incoming freshmen can take some
advice from seniors. These upperclassmen
have been through trials and errors and have
a better understanding of how to deal with the
issues that may come up. They have found that
knowledge comes with experience, and experience brings about wisdom. Listening to these
seasoned students could save many people from
making the same mistakes and show them how
to correct the ones already made.
David Pipkin is a non traditional student
here at Western and a senior who will graduate in Dec. 2008.
“Being a non traditional student puts me in
a different category as I have kids and family
responsibilities which make it even harder,”
Pipkin said. “My advice to first time students
would be to work hard and make higher education their first priority.”
Pipkin also stressed the importance of loans
and how they should be taken out at a minimum to avoid graduating with phenomenal
debt. Those loans must be paid back. They
are getting harder to get and with the current
economy crisis they may become a thing of the
past.
Many first time students, as well as return-
ing students, will change gears and direction
one or more times before they graduate. Sometimes these changes will drastically change
their anticipated graduation date because they
may have possibly taken classes that they
didn’t need or have to take on other classes
that they do.
Much thought needs to be taken when declaring a major. Almost every student changes their major at least once. Knowing exactly
what you’re going for could save a lot of heart
ache and time.
Eric Boner plans to graduate in May of 2009
and knows that having a plan is very important.
“If I had it all to do over again I probably
would have had a better plan,” Boner said. “Be
wise and plan ahead if possible.”
Feng Xiang is a senior and just transferred
from North Central Missouri College. He looks
back on his experience as a student.“Most
importantly, work hard and take good notes,
and apply yourself,” Xiang said. Sometimes
it’s hard to stay focused and students can feel
overwhelmed with assignments.
Developing a support group and having a
network of friends with similar educational
goals can prove to be essential for college survival. Xiang understands how important this
idea can be.
Dea r Fre shmen,
• Wor k ha rd .
• Pl an ah ead.
• Ta ke ou t
m in im al
loa ns .
MATTHEW FOWLER/Graphics
10/1/08 12:45:43 AM
Sports
Soccer to host highly touted foes
Page 9 02 oct 2008
The Griffon News
Gregor Avey
Sports Editor
gavey@missouriwestern.edu
Marty Ayers / Photo Editor
Jenna Weis seen clearing the ball has been solid as goalie all year for
the Griffons.
The Missouri Western soccer team has
caught a case of the goose egg, not scoring
a goal in their last four contests.
The Griffons won their first contest
by a score of 4-2 and since then they
have scored two goals in their last nine
contests. In order to become a competitive team head coach Jeff Hansen knows
they have to get better offensively and
are working on it in practice, for that to
happen.
“We are going to work on some things
formation wise to try and free up our
offense,” Hansen said.
The Griffons have a tough slate lined
up as they face two tough MIAA opponents this upcoming week. On Oct. 2 they
face Truman State Bulldogs 8-1 (4-1) at
Spratt Stadium. The Bulldogs are ranked
fourth in the country and are stacked with
talented players. Junior Katie Reuck and
junior Jessica Wiegert, who have five and
four goals this season, lead the Bulldogs.
They also have a talented goalie in junior
Denise Childress, who has four shutouts
and 35 saves.
The Griffons will then welcome the
Central Missouri Jennies 7-1-1 (5-0) to
Spratt Stadium on Oct. 4. Junior Melanie
Hall, who has six goals on the season,
leads the Jennies. The Jennies also have
an outstanding goalkeeper in sophomore
Lauren Bamvakais, who has five shutouts and 26 saves. Lewis Theobald, who
led the Jennies to the NCAA tournament
in his first season, coaches the Jennies.
The team speed of the Jennies will be a
big factor in the contest.
“The Jennies have good athletes and
they have great team speed, that will be
something to deal with,” Hansen said.
The offense woes have over shadowed
the great defensively play lately by the
Griffons. Sophomore goalie Jenna Weis
was named MIAA defensive player of the
week. In both games last week against
the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats
and the Missouri Southern Lions, she
gave up only one goal. She recorded a
career high 17 saves in the game against
the Bearcats, which ended in 0-0 tie.
Senior Lindsay Wiese knows they need to
get the offense back on the right track.
“We need to work on our transitioning,” Wiese said. “We have girls that can
shoot, we just have to get the ball to them
quicker.”
The Griffons currently place last in the
MIAA, but they our only two points away
from being in sixth place. If they can get
a couple of wins they will be right back
in the conference race. The Griffons have
conference games the rest of the season,
including a five game road trip.
gregoravey
Bad luck
strikes again
If you’re a member of the Missouri
Western football team, you probably
should avoid Terrible’s Casino for at
least a couple of weeks. Because right
now they would hit zero on roulette,
the blackjack dealer would keep hitting 21 and their pocket aces would
get busted by seven-two off suit. Luck
hasn’t been on their side.
They have lost their three conference games by a combined 16 points.
They are setting at 1-4 on the season,
but could just as easily be 4-1. The
Griffons have also faced three quality
teams in conference, but they have
been in every contest.
They went into rival Northwest’s
home field and held a lead throughout. That lead disappeared and the
Griffons fell by the score of 42-35.
The Griffons fell to Pittsburg State
in a cloud of controversy. Let’s just say
that many Griffon fans wonder if Ed
Hochuli was the head official for the
game. It’s a hard pill to swallow when
a win feels like it was taken to you.
Their most recent game against
Washburn, the Griffons won in every
aspect of the game except for the one
that counts; the scoreboard. They out
gained Washburn 470 total yards to
228. The Griffons had 38 first downs to
Washburn’s eight. The defense forced
eight three and outs, while the offense
never went three and out. Even with
all that they lost the game 21-17.
I have never seen a football team
have three heart breaking losses in a
row. The Griffons were less than five
yards away from scoring in two different games and couldn’t get in for victory. We could easily be talking about
winning the MIAA, instead of a four
game losing streak.
The Griffons need to clear themselves from the funk they are in. They
can start this weekend against a good
defensive team in Fort Hays State.
They are the number one defense in the
MIAA. The Griffons will then be back
out on the road the following week to
face a ranked opponent in NebraskaOmaha. UNO lost to Northwest 42-0
last week.
The Griffons need a victory. There
would be no better day to get one
than on family day at Spratt Stadium.
That’s why we play any game, for the
thrill of victory. That’s why you keep
hitting the table or the field because
you never know when your luck will
turn around.
Marty Ayers / Photo Editor
Sophmore Meghan Voelz spikes the ball in a recent home match. Voelz has become a team leader for the young Griffons and will try to help turn the season around.
Leader of the pack
Voelz is becoming team leader for
the youthful Griffons
Emmanuel Akitunde
Sports Writer
The volleyball team at Missouri Western is, to say the least, a young
team. The team currently only has three upperclassman out of 17 players.
This year the baby Griffons have won three of their 18 games, so far in the
2008 campaign. The season is far from over, but volleyball fans can hang
their hat on the fact that the young Griffon team will be led from this year
forward and beyond by sophomore Meghan Voelz.
Voelz the explosive outside hitter from Elk Grove, Illinois was destined to
play volleyball. She has been around the game of volleyball her whole life.
“All my family plays: my grandparents still play volleyball, my dad plays,
my mom still plays and my brother plays at a different college,” Voelz said.
“So it’s been in my life, I’ve played club since I was in 8th grade, I’ve just
been around it for a long time.”
With that much volleyball in her bloodline it should be no surprise to any
one that last year Voelz showed her array of talent by having 242 kills her
first year playing for the Griffons. Although Voelz is one of the faces of the
young Griffons she isn’t just satisfied with being at the skill level she is
now.
“I need to get faster and bigger,” Voelz said. “I can’t grow, so I got to keep
blocking well, keep hitting well and keep passing well.”
With the way that Voelz plays and leads you sometimes forget that she is
only in her second year playing for the Griffons. Transfer and team leader
Allison Smith, who is one of the three upperclassman on the team, understands how having a player like Voelz can impact a team.
“Meghan has been a great person to look to just in her work ethic, she is a
great person to learn from just because she never stops going ,she’s always
pushing and she’s always pushing the rest of the team,” said Smith
Halfway through the year the team is going to need a little more than a
push from Voelz to help turn the ship around. With the youth and talent
the team has it’s feasible that a turn around can happen before the end of
the season.
“We have a lot of potential were just not using it now. I don’t think this
year is over personally,” said Voelz. “I think that we can turn it around,
were halfway through conference, so it’s not over yet.”
The fire and passion for volleyball that Voelz shows on and off the court
is a reason why one should not bet against a mid-season turn around for
the team. Head volleyball coach Tiffany Mastin sees all the tools for Voelz
to help lead the team to a turn around.
“She will do anything she can as far working hard for her teammates,”
Mastin said. “Fundamentally (Voelz) is a great player, a very good leader
and a great athlete obviously if you watch her play. She is probably one of
the hardest workers I’ve had in a long time.”
Although the young Griffons have had a hard year so far the future looks
very bright with Voelz at the helm.
Volleyball trying to get on track
Gregor Avey
Sports Editor
gavey@missouriwestern.edu
The Missouri Western volleyball will take a much needed
break from MIAA conference play, as they are winless in conference thus far this season.
The volleyball team will travel to Topeka, Kan. to compete
in the Washburn Regional Crossover Tournament. They will
play Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 in the tournament. The Griffons are off
to a rough start, but head coach Tiffany Mastin has seen bright
points this season.
“We have had some great moments, but then we have had
moments were we have needed to slow down,” Mastin said.
The Griffons will face tough competition at the Crossover
Tournament. The teams they will face will be: Central Oklahoma,
East Central University, Midwestern State University and
Texas Permian Basin.
The Griffons have already defeated the Central Oklahoma
09 sports.indd 1
Bronchos (8-10). The Bronchos are coached by Jeff Boyland
and are led in kills by Kristen Wilson, with 263. The Bronchos
compete in the Lone Star conference.
The East Central Tigers (5-10) also compete in the Lone Star
conference. The Midwestern State Mustangs (18-0) are ranked
number 20 in the country. The Texas Premian Basin Falcons
are currently have nine wins on the season. Mastin believes it
will be nice to step out of conference.
“It will be nice to get a break from the MIAA,” Mastin said.
“The teams at the tournament will be good, but not at the same
level as the teams in conference.”
The Griffons have fallen on hard times, they are currently
riding a six game losing streak. All six of those losses have come
at the hands of conference opponents.
After the Washburn Regional Crossover Tournament wraps
up the Griffons will return to conference play. The Griffons will
have a five game home stand following the tournament. They
will face two ranked opponents on the home stand, as they will
face number 11 Emporia State and number 15 Truman State.
Marty Ayers / Photo Editor
Kelli Sicner and Brooke Carter block a would be spike.
10/1/08 12:46:10 AM
Sports
Page 10 | 02 oct 2008
The Griffon News
Griffons look for win on Family Day
(1-4)
(2-3)
Missouri Western will look to tame the
Tigers for first conference win
Travis Hartman
Sports Writer
There is no “I” in team, but there is an “I” in
win and that is what the Griffons will try to do
on Family Day at Spratt Stadium in their next
game on Oct. 4 against the Fort Hays State
Tigers.
The Griffons are currently riding a three
game losing streak after a devastating loss
to the Ichabods of Washburn in their last
game. However, sophomore quarterback Drew
Newhart did throw for a career high 349 yards
to go along with a staggering 470 yards of total
offense by the Griffons and still see the team
come up short in a 21-17 defeat. The one stat
that matters at the end of the game is the stat
in the points column. A stat that has eluded
Coach Partridge’s team the last few weeks.
“Stats are for losers,” Partridge said. “The
mind set of the team is determined and our
team will be coming into Saturday’s game
against Fort Hays with a positive attitude
after last weekend,” Partridge said.
The Western defense did hold the Ichabods
on eight straight third downs and only let the
Ichabods have 21:15 time of total possession on
only 46 offensive plays. The Griffons were giving up a little over 40 points per game on the
defensive side and held the Ichabods to a mere
21 points. With Newhart putting up a career
high in yards and wide receiver Zach Sharp
coming off of his career high in receptions with
12 catches for 120 yards. Those stats alone
could be enough of
a positive note for
the Partridge to
say they are very
E. Czerniewski UCM 14
and
Drew Newhart MW 11 determined
ready to take on
Joel Osborn NWMS 10
the Tigers of Fort
Mark Smith PSU
9
Hays in their next
Jake Iverson WU
8
game.
“I would like to
see this team win
out on the season and I am really looking
forward to playing Fort Hays on family day
because coach is promising a win,” senior Zach
Sharp said.
The Tigers are led by talented junior running
back Jacob Irvin. He has 438 rushing yards to
go along with two touchdowns on the season.
The defense is led by junior C.J. Lovett, who
is second in the MIAA conference with three
interceptions. The Tigers are coached by Kevin
Verdugo, who is in his fourth season at Fort
Hays. The Tigers were 4-7 last season and 2-7
in the MIAA.
With the Griffons coming off of one of their
best games statistically it should give them the
boost of confidence they need to get back on
the winning track on Family Day at home. The
Griffons come back to Spratt Stadium when
they host the Tigers of Fort Hays Saturday,
October 4 on Family Day at Missouri Western.
The Griffons are currently 1-4 this season
and 0-3 in the MIAA conference heading into
Saturday.
Passing TD Leaders
Matther fowler/ Freelance Photographer
Sophomore running back Thomas Hodges was hit by a Washburn defender and his helmet flew off on to the
field. The crowd held its breath as Hodges ran down the field without his helmet. Hodges gained 10 yards before being taken down, still helmetless.
MIAA Football Standings
TEAM
Pittsburg State (6)
Northwest (7)
Central Missouri (22)
Nebraska-Omaha (16)
Emporia State
Missouri Southern
Washburn
Truman State
Fort Hays
Missouri Western
MIAA
3-0
3-0
2-1
2-1
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
0-3
ALL
5-0
4-1
4-1
3-1
3-2
3-2
3-2
2-2
2-3
1-4
Applications
Applications now
now available
available for
for the
the following
following
SGA
SGA Executive
Executive Positions:
Positions:
SGA President
SGA Vice president
WAC President
RC President
Applications
Applications and
and Petitions
Petitions Due
Due by
by Noon
Noon Oct.
Oct. 10th
10th
For
For more
more information
information and
and to
to pick
pick up
up an
an application,
application,
stop
stop by
by the
the Student
Student Government
Government Association
Association office,
office,
Blum
Blum Union,
Union, Room
Room 220
220 or
or the
the
Student
Development
office,
Blum
Union,
Student Development office, Blum Union, Room
Room 228
228
SGA_Fall_Elec_Pub.indd 1
10 sports.indd 1
9/18/08 1:55:48 PM
10/1/08 12:46:35 AM