Restricted fundraising options offer little help to subsidize limited SGA funding for Western clubs, fraternities

Western clubs and organizations seem to be getting short changed when it comes to funding. They are only allocated a limited amount of money each semester and fundraising opportunities are scarce.

The student government association allocates $30,000 to Western’s 79 clubs and organizations, which is divided among them based on request. However, that does not allow the groups to be as active as they would like. For example, over 35 organizations requested funding from SGA this year but only 13 out of the 35 received full funding, 22 received partial funding and seven were denied funding.

Clubs and organizations usually request anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.

Logan Parker, new member educator of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and SGA’s director of student relations said the Greeks are always short on budget and limited on what they can do for Western and the community. For example, Alpha Gamma Delta sorority hosts Mr. MWSU each year as a fundraiser for diabetes research. Kelsey Corzine, member of the sorority said Mr. MWSU could be a lot bigger and raise a lot more money if they could get more funds.

Cassandra Pyburn, vice president of National Residence Hall Honorary said NRHH is only allocated $1,000 per year, which also limits them to minimal activities and events.

Jerry Pickman, Western’s director of development, said that he has three or four students come by his office a week asking permission to host a fundraiser on or off campus.

Pickman said the campus development council recently started using a new, formal process for approving all fundraising requests from clubs and organizations. The goal is to avoid interference with current solicitation efforts by other Western groups requesting funds, as well as, to protect Western donors, primarily local businesses, from being over-solicited. Some businesses, such as Hy-Vee receive multiple requests throughout the year.

“Last year, we had at least 20 funding requests from Missouri Western students who were involved in clubs or organizations, said Tabby Osborn, St. Joseph’s Hy-Vee human resources manager. “We were only able to help out five or so.”

The process also allows campus development to review the lists of targeted donors and provide alternatives. For instance, if a club or organization wants to go to Hy-Vee, Pickman might suggest that they go to Green Hills or Apple Market instead to spread out the soliciting efforts so one company, such as Hy-Vee, isn’t bombarded with funding requests.

“Since we've started this process, it has really opened our eyes to the number of fundraising activities and events that our student organizations want to initiate,” Pickman said, “and it’s too bad they don’t have the funds to do so.” Nonetheless, clubs and organizations must take these steps because of budgeting issues.

Jerry Pickman

Pickman feels like the student government budget is backwards, meaning it allocates too much to certain areas and too little to others. For example, $160,000 goes towards Western Activities Council, also known as WAC, but only $30,000 to all remaining clubs and organizations. Parker said that WAC has hosted about 15 campus events this year but that is nothing compared to what all of the campus clubs and organizations combined could host if they had the funding.

Keisha Caldwell, WAC President, said she understands the lack of balance in the budget but their funding is vital since they sponsor a lot of major events such as, the yearly concert which takes up $80,000 of their budget.

“There definitely needs to be some changes made to the budget so clubs and organizations can host more events,” Josh Todd, former student body president said. “I wish I would have made those changes during my term, but hopefully Dillon and his board will.”

Dr. Esther Perález, vice president of student affairs, feels the same way. She has been at Western only for a few months now, but after working closely with administrators and students, she has noticed the lack of balance in the budget. “Students involved in clubs and organizations should be the most active students on our campus,” Perález said, “but it’s impossible when they receive next to no financial support.”

By Lindsey Jackson

They no longer wear gold coats, but they still wear a coat of Griffon Pride. The Gold Coats’ drive for membership is currently in full force. With facility improvements in progress, along with many successful seasons of Griffon sports, what better time than now to be a Griffon?

The Gold Coat Club is the athletic booster club of Missouri Western Athletics. They are among the most privileged attendees of Griffon Athletic events. According to MWSU Director of Athletics Dave Williams, funds generated by membership support the endeavors of all ten Griffon sports in the areas of academic support, team travel, recruiting, equipment and facilities.

“This season is unfolding to be one of the most exciting in Griffon history, Williams said.

Long-time member and MWSU faculty member Stena Hinkle says why she became a member. “I believe in athletics in higher education and I enjoy the social aspect of it,” Hinkle said.

Social activities for Gold Coat members include a summer ice breaker, fall barbeque, MWSU Hall of Fame Reception, post-game football and basketball socials, and a spring sports cookout. These events are just a few ways the Gold Coat Club thanks its members throughout the year.

The Gold Coat Club is currently mailing out brochures as well as sending teams to solicit membership for both old and new members. This drive takes place every April and May but new members may sign up at any time.

Gold Coat membership comes with a package of perks. There are many different levels of membership. From the smallest donation of $25 to the largest level (Coaches Circle) of $130, these levels have benefits assigned to them that make them very attractive to the donor. Entry level benefits include a newsletter, Gold Coat sticker and invitations to the Family and Friends Golf Tournament, while top level donors receive tickets to games, special parking and memberships into the Missouri Western Fitness Center.

There are over 500 members of the Missouri Western Gold Coat Club today. It was originated in 1969 to support the men's and women's intercollegiate athletics teams at Missouri Western. In 2006, the Gold Coat Club was responsible for over $400,000 in funds for Western athletic teams. Without this support, the Griffon men's and women's athletic programs would not be as successful in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association or the NCAA Division II ranks.

Anyone can join the Missouri Western Gold Coat Club by contacting the MWSU Department of Athletics at (816) 271-4481 or (816) 271-5904.  

By Robin Ussher

For more information click here.

Book buyback information offered

It’s getting closer to the end of the semester and the means time to sell books back to the bookstore. Do you ever wonder why books are bought back at such lower price than was spent on them at the beginning of the semester? Or when is the best time to sell them back are?

Greg Nikes, manager of the book store on campus said “Generally speaking the best period to sell would be during finals week or slightly before if you are sure you are done using a particular book.” Selling books back earlier is better because if you wait too long the bookstore assumes there are no more books to be bought back and they start buying from other sources to meet the quota for each course.

Early part of March an email was sent out the professors asking them to start getting their text requests in. Once in the system this determines the buyback value. The buyback value for a new book is 50%; if the book is purchased as a used book it is only bought back at 50% of the used price.

Most students are not happy with the buyback value of books. “The money you get back is not even realistic. I dislike the bookstore and think it needs more competition to give better prices” said Jeffery McGann, a sophomore business management major. Lexi Moore, a junior English major feels that the prices of books are even too high so it seems like the buyback price is not worth the value of the book. “It's almost a better idea to sell them on Amazon, or sell them to a friend directly” says Moore.

Highland Community College offers a book rental there is a fee at the beginning of the semester and once the books are returned, in good condition, the student gets their money back. Why hasn’t MWSU done something similar? Vanessa O’Dell, a sophomore undecided major, feels that having a book rental would help students save money.

Nikes said “We are always looking at new ways of doing business and while the future is not yet determined the future of bookstores seems to be a mix of selling, renting, and digital books. Some of the determining factors are not only the desires of the school, but also what the publishing companies are developing in terms of new programs and technologies. Stay tuned as changes in the textbook industry seem to be right around the corner.” Vanessa O’Dell, a sophomore undecided major, feels that having a book rental would help students save money.

By Heather Heater

Musical planned for Spring 2011 theater schedule

MWSU faculty members and administrators are gathering resources to bring a musical theater production back to campus after a five year hiatus.

Dr. Marilyn Hunt

Communication studies and theatre department Chair Dr. Marilyn Hunt said faculty proposed a musical to be held during Spring 2011. The show to be produced has yet to be decided. The last musicals brought to the Potter Hall stage were “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in September 2005 and “Grease” in September 2003.

Dr. Robert Vartebedian

President Dr. Robert Vartabedian said that it takes somebody with a real passion to put a musical together, which is one reason why there has not been a musical recently.

“The foundation is there to do great things. It’s just a matter of putting it all together,” Vartabedian said. He felt that the recent theater productions have been solid educational theater. Vartabedian said musicals are of great interest to recently hired faculty and students, leading to a sudden push for the production. He said a musical would enhance the education of students by giving them a large scale theater environment to work in and can increase revenue flow into a theater program.

Hunt said that the production has come about because musicals are generally crowd-pleasers.

“I love musicals,” senior Josh Zufelt said. He is a theatre/video major and recently worked in lighting for the student one-act plays. He said the department should aim towards what people will enjoy, not just something to make the audience think, which has been the case as of late.

“What we don't want to do is bite off more than what we can chew,” Hunt said. The faculty members want to provide a good experience for campus and the St. Joseph community but also present something manageable that can be done without breaking the bank.

“It’d be nice to do something splashy,” Vartabedian said. However, he said that royalties alone can be expensive and there are other costs such as hiring an orchestra that are not necessary in “straight” theater productions.

Musicals often have multiple directors and crews that are much larger than in traditional plays. The communication studies and theatre department worked with the music department for the “Lights and Tights” Renaissance feast last December, in which ticket proceeds went directly into a musical theater fund. Hunt said the event raised about $3000.

Director of theatre and cinema Alan Arrivee said that a list of possible shows has been compiled. “Guys and Dolls” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” are two of the most well-known on the list. The musical to be chosen must fit within next year’s communications studies and theatre department theme of “Classic America: For Better or Worse”.

Dr. Alan Arrivee

“What is this thing people wish America was like?” Arrivee said. He said the theme can be interpreted in several ways. The meaning of the theme can be taken as homage to the “good old days” that people are often heard wishing America was like today. It could even be taken as the unfortunate side of America, tragic stories that citizens have remembered and learned from.

Brian Duskey, a theatre/video major, said he thinks that the musical will be a project to learn from and improve upon in coming years.

Vartabedian said that his wife Laurel is an author of musicals, with two that performed off-Broadway in New York City.

By Carlos Gomez

Duplexing printers may help campus save money, go green

Duplexing printers could soon be coming to Missouri Western's computer labs.

Earlier this month students in Dr. Jim Okapal's Environmental Ethics class presented a proposal to Beth Wheeler, Director of External Relations, and Mel Klinkner, VP, Financial Planning & Administration.

Dr. James Okapal

As of press time a final decision has not been reached.

Okapal, professor of philosphy, had the class outline a plan to outfit the campus' computer labs with duplexing printers, or printers that can print on the front and back of a page with a single pass. During the presentation students suggested that when computer printers reach the end of their life cycle the replacement should be a printer that is able to handle duplexing automatically.

The class estimates the transformation would take at least five years and would add anywhere from 75 to 150 dollars to the cost of each new printer.

Belinda Schlueter, junior and philosophy major, says philosophy rarely gets out of the textbooks. She thinks the class is great because of the applied learning it facilitates.

Emily Feger, a senior biology major and philosophy minor, agrees with Schlueter, adding that seeing philosophy's application in real life is a very good thing.

The class was broken up into teams to handle preparation, and presentation. The presentation was broken up into a couple of areas to highlight key benefits duplex-enabled printers offer. In times of financial hardship the opportunity to save money certainly appeals to school administrators, and duplexing printers could more than pay for themselves. The students lead their arguments pointing out the financial benefits of duplex printing.

Academic departments, academic labs, and the library are all areas on campus where paper usage is tracked, and the total for these three areas is over 2 million pages annually. The class estimates duplexing could save $5,500 annually if these pages were duplexed. These numbers do not include use in general labs where most student go to print their papers, and administrative offices such as financial aid and the registrar's office where data is not availible.

Other arguments used include the "deontological argument," focusing on the university's commitment to respect, and the "virtue theory," argument, focusing on character.

Okapal is happy with the class' suggestion. He believes the argument is moral, pragmatically sound, and financially logical. This is the second time Environmental Ethics has been offered on campus. Five years ago the course successfully targeted paper use in a different way, seeking to have recycling bins placed by each printer.

By Jeff Meyer

Registration for classes can be stressful

Registering for classes can be stressful. Will you get the ones you want? Will you know anyone in the class? Will your professor be a creep? Will the tests be hard? The list of puzzling questions could go on.

For Western students, this tedious process is quickly approaching. Students needed to gear up for the fall semester, with only the summer break standing in their way. Registration for the fall semester began on April 5 for incoming seniors. Juniors registered on April 8, sophomores on April 12 and incoming freshman students on April 14.

“Registration stressed me out, especially since it was my first time doing it,” freshman Dalton Liu said. “I got really annoyed when the classes I needed filled up too fast and I couldn’t get into them before they did.”

A lot of students really felt the heat when registration time rolled around, but for a different reason. Every enrolling student had to have all previous tuition and other Western-related fees paid off before they were eligible for preregistration. This requirement caused some students to feel overwhelmed and frazzled.

“I know that some of my scholarships don’t come in until almost the end of the semester,” sophomore communications major Elizabeth Elder said. “And I never know how much I am going to get or what I am going to have to pull together myself financially in order to pay off all of my debts prior to registration.”

The stresses of registration can be frustrating for some students. This frustration is that much more prevalent for freshmen as they are most likely to get the short end of the stick when it comes to enrollment in classes that they needed or wanted to take. Liu knows all about that.

“The classes really do fill up fast and sometimes you have to wait a couple semesters for the class that you needed to show up on the course schedule again,” Liu said. “I dread registration because it means I might not get to take the classes that I really want or need to take.”

Students whose majors required them to follow a predetermined sequence of classes were sometimes left in the dust when it came to gaining access to those classes in a timely manner. The classes can only take a certain number of students, roughly 25 for most of the major specific ones.

“I was so scared to choose a major because I wasn’t ready to be stuck with a professional sequence that could make some classes impossible to get into when I needed to get into them. Right now, I am just taking my general education courses mostly and throwing a few communication specific ones in here and there,” Elder said. “The financial element of college has always intimidated me. College is supposed to be fun. It just sucks that you have to stress about it.”

By Jourdan Huffman

New rule helps students who receive financial aid

Momma needs a brand new text book, come on doubles last week’s paycheck isn’t going to pay for this semester’s books.

Missouri Western has something called award money and this deals with scholarships. At the Residence Council meeting, this issue was discussed.

“Rules regarding award money have no effect on federal grants and scholarships,” said SGA vice-president Robin Ussher.

The rule used to be that no student receiving scholarships could get a scholarship that exceeded the amount of tuition per semester. If a student receives 2500 dollars for financial aid at Missouri Western, then they may not receive any more than that number of their scholarships.

This rule is being changed to the “exact amount rule”, so that now students who have more than 2500 dollars in tuition costs can now receive more money in scholarships, if eligible for scholarships.

Every semester students apply for federal aid to help pay for their school expenses, and sometimes they use that money to help pay for living expenses.

“Student loans are how I live every semester. I can’t afford my apartment and bills on a part time job,” said junior Emily Jackson.

At Missouri Western there is something called the Western Cost of Attendance Budgets. What this means is, students receiving aid from Federal, State and most Institutional sources may not exceed the calculated cost of attendance at Western. Grant money is not a factor in this.

Students who have never applied for financial aid before, should read “Funding Education Beyond High School” The Guide to Federal Student Aid. This is a comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans and work-study are the three major forms of aid available through the Department's Federal Student Aid office. Funding Education Beyond High School tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.

This book can be found in the Financial Aid office.

By Erin Ellsworth

Twitter, Facebook now on library home page

Twitter and Facebook have become the younger generation’s life line. Visit any computer lab on campus and most of the time the computer screens will be filled with Facebook post and tweets on Twitter.

Missouri Western State University’s information service librarian, Rick Dyson, said “Most everyone that works in the library is older and out of date when it comes to all the new hype like Facebook and Twitter.”

The library has been working hard to keep things updated and working with what students know, live and breathe. Twitter and Facebook access is located on the MWSU library homepage at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Students do not need an account to see what is being posted on Twitter, because the homepage has a live Twitter feed. This feed currently consists of post and links that the library staff has found interesting and University appropriate.

Dyson said that they are hoping to merge the Twitter post into a more campus active feed,

“We want students to become very interactive with this, we currently are only having 1 to 2 people click on links and view post at this time.”

The main goal is for MWSU students to become a small community on the web. Dyson’s example was if someone in the library happens to be reading a good book that they would tweat the title and author. This would be so students across campus who enjoy reading would want to check out this book.

Also the library would like to start sharing more campus activities on the Twitter feed, not just interesting sites and library news. All the information that is up on Twitter is only on there for a week and then removed so it keeps current content.

Dyson is in charge of watching the Twitter feeds and keeping old post updated. Anyone who works in the library, including students who work in there, have the account name and password and are encouraged to post tweats on Twitter and FaceBook.

Facebook is the same as Twitter the library tries to put different post on this site, but most of the time is has the same post as Twitter. Students do have to become a fan of MWSU library to follow anything being posted here. There are only 18 fans following the library on Facebook at this time. Being a fan allows the student another option that Twitter does not have and that is a student can message a question on the page and have it answered. It runs hand and hand with the reference chat option.

“We figure this would just be much handier for the students since all of them seem to be on Facebook every chance they get” said Dyson. Any faculty of the library can post on Facebook or reply to questions students may have. The supervisor for this site is Jim Mulder.

By Heather Heater

To check out the library
home page, click here.

For stories from April 26 Griffon Today, click here.

For stories from April 19 Griffon Today, click here.

For stories from April 7 Griffon Today, click here.

For stories from March 22 Griffon Today, click here.

For stories from March 6 Griffon Today, click here.

For stories from Feb. 17 Griffon Today, click here.

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