|
|
|
Griffon Today News -- Feb. 10, 2010 |
According to Roger Voelkel, RN, Assistant Professor the nursing department has a wide variety of HPS including an infant and even a woman “named” Noelle that gives birth. The new simulator however is far more advanced than any of the other mannequin simulators that reside in the department. According to the brochure the model has realistic skin, pupil dilation, seizes, real bodily sounds and even is able to respond to medicine it is given. The system is run by three separate computers one that is in the mannequin itself, a workstation computer and a laptop for the instructor to use. The simulator will come with 30 different patient profiles and 60 different simulated clinical experiences already programmed. With the instructor’s laptop the HPS can be put into manual mode allowing for the instructor to tweak programs in real time or even create their own. The patient room where the new HPS will live features a two way mirror where according to Voelkel students work in pairs and can be watched by an instructor who will also be able to control the HPS. This room has cameras in it so that the session can be recorded; this doubles the usefulness that the HPS will bring nursing students. Not only will they be able to learn how to react in real time to a patient’s medical needs they will also be able to learn through video debriefings. While the video breakdowns are not a new advent in the nursing department the information that can be gleaned from them will grow exponentially with the use of the new HPS. As such it Voelkel feels that the HPS is a vital and important new tool for the nursing students of MWSU. |
By Robin Gann For more information, click here. |
| Pleasant sounds coming from students | |
“The pianos sound brand new, and very clean,” music major Sam Sartorius says. Nathan Sutterheim says Steinway is the best piano he has ever played. For him the difference is the evenness of the sound. In terms of tonal quality he rates the pianos as supreme. It’s a theme that is echoed by many students and faculty within the music department. Recently the department replaced its pianos with 13 Steinways. Steinway and Sons is one of the most respected piano manufacturers internationally. According to Steinway’s website all the pianos are hand-crafted in New York and Hamburg. All the pianos also bear a legendary sound, a sound inspiring a confidence in the pianist. Beyond its respected sound, the touch of a new Steinway is just right. Sutterheim remarks about how the pianos translate every subtle nuance from the fingers into a slightly different sound. Sartorius says that the keys are “perfectly weighted,” and “feeling electric.” As Steinway is a reputable name in the music industry, and affiliation with the company boosts the prestige of Missouri Western’s Music Department. The department has earned Western the distinction of being an “All Steinway School.” This title is reserved for schools with at least 90 percent of their pianos being Steinways. Western joins two other Missouri schools, the University of Central Missouri and Lindenwood University, in giving the state of Missouri three All-Steinway schools. Internationally 111 schools have the title. “It’s like being endorsed by a company. There is a hype about how awesome Steinways are, and we’re a Steinway school,” Sartorius said. He continued to suggest the pianos add a professional image to the entire program. The pianos on their way out were around 40 years old and were in dwindling both functionality and cosmetics. |
By Jeff Meyer For more information, click here.
|
The show runs from April 7 to 11, starting at 8 p.m., on the main stage in Potter Hall. Admission is free for MWSU students that show their ID, $8 for the general public and $6 for seniors. “The Illusion” is about an aging man named Pridamant, who ventures to find his long-lost son before it's too late. Grad student Fred Weems was cast in the role. Brown said “The Illusion” has a lot of great roles that student-actors can use to exercise their talents. This is a very familiar story for Brown, as he has been involved with a successful performance of the show previously at another venue. As a director, Brown said he has an eclectic style, enjoys presenting classics in new ways and likes to incorporate video elements into stage productions, which will be seen in “The Illusion.” Student Matt Wright was recently cast in the play as Pridamant's son Calisto, the male lead. He said about Brown, “He'll leave the blocking to the actors . . . I like that.” He also described more of Brown's “hands-off” approach during rehearsals, a way of letting actors find their characters within themselves, more than purely going by the director's vision of them. Brown said, “The Illusion” plays well to all ages, is straightforward and simple enough for kids, [and] there's no offensive content.” He adds, “It works on a lot of levels . . . how we bring theatre to life as illusions . . . and fits with the [department's] prophetic play theme.” Director of Theatre and Cinema Alan Arrivee said the “prophetic play” theme was made by the professors to show the audience an idea in the past that is realized in the present. “We wanted to engage the audience into thinking about their own lives,” he said. Wright is a major contributor to the Theatre and Cinema department, being cast for a variety of roles in “Fool for Love”, “Uncle Vanya”, 816 Films' “What Will You Prove?” and bringing to life the local legend “Daddyman” in a web series made by a handful of students in the department. Arrivee directed last spring's “Marlowe” and last semester's “Uncle Vanya”. He is also the advisor of 816 Films, a recognized student organization that creates short films.
|
By Carlos Gomez For more information, click here. |
Griffon Edge leaders sought |
|
The month of March starts the hunt for Griffon Edge leaders, students that are chosen to show incoming freshman everything that Western has to offer. In order to receive an application to be a Griffon Edge leader, students must come to an informational meeting. These meetings are scheduled for March 29 or 30 and April 1. To be eligible, the students must have attended and passed the Griffon Edge course themselves, maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, maintain full-time enrollment status, attend training on Saturday, Aug. 20, prep day on Sunday, Aug. 21 and Griffon Edge on Aug. 26-28. “I get attached to students,” New Student Experience Coordinator and Griffon Edge director Kristen Neeley said. “I love forming mentorships and friendships with every student I meet. Griffon Edge allows me to do that.” Admissions counselor Jill Johnson is just as student-focused as Neeley. “We are constantly growing,” Johnson said. “Every new student is just another example of how we are changing.”
Griffon Edge, Western’s means of cramming loads of fun, information, food and camaraderie into a three-day span of time for incoming freshman is getting an overhaul this year, with updated programs, a cleaner itinerary and more hands-on leader to freshman student involvement. “I enjoy ‘keeping it fresh’ because each year we can invite new speakers, have bigger and better night events or giveaways and more off campus community service projects,” Neeley said. Griffon Edge, over the last 5 years, has gone from an attendance rate of roughly 500 students to nearly 1,000. In other words, the amount of prospective Western students per year has doubled. The hardest part, then, is finding the balance between fun and information, trying to keep a room full of freshman entertained for 4 straight days. “I stay passionate because I had an excellent experience while going through Griffon Edge and I want the 950 new students to feel the same why I did at that moment,” Neeley said. “I met my best friends, favorite professors, and future boss at Griffon Edge.” The success of Griffon Edge, though, has had nothing to do with its numbers. It’s all about the people. “My favorite thing is the students themselves. I love watching them develop from a scared freshman into a strong leader that can hopefully do something that changes the world,” Neeley said. Johnson could not agree more. “I get to interact with students. I love that,” Johnson said. When it comes down to it, Griffon Edge this year is going to keep building on the beneficial predecessors that have come before it. Every year gets closer to Neeley’s goal, to create a program that she can be proud of, one that students will remember. “I create a program that I would want to attend and have an unforgettable experience at,” Neeley said.
|
By Jourdan Huffman |
Griffon Alert available to students, staff |
|
The Griffon Alert is a messaging system that allows Missouri Western to communicate with members of the campus community quickly in the event of an emergency. The Griffon Alert is made up of text messaging, e-mailing, voice messaging, alert beacons, outdoor public address systems and light strobes and Missouri Western Television Interrupt. Because the number of cell phones has drastically increased at Western the past few years, text messages have become the most frequently used communicator for the Griffon Alert. Enrollment for this program is free and the only charge for a text message sent is that made by your mobile provider. More information on this can be found on Missouri Western’s web site.
“I would like to see everyone sign up for text messaging. At last count we had 1587. In an emergency situation the more people you can reach the better the dissemination of accurate information,” Chief of Police Jon Kelley said. According to Western’s web site e-mail is another way of communication. The alert system allows students and staff to use up to two different e-mail addresses per person. You decide which method to use or both. “In case of a blackout on campus there is a good deal of redundancy built into the Griffon Alert system. The text messaging and phone system works regardless of a power outage and the alert beacons have battery back-up,” remarked Kelley. Alert beacons are located throughout Western in most hallways that will light up with flashing lights and produce an emergency sound to alert students and staff inside the buildings. Outdoor public address systems will produce a voice warning and strobes will emit flashing lights to warn anyone outside the building. Kelley stated, “At last count we have used the emergency system four times, all weather related issues.” Located on Western’s web page is more information on what the alert system will not cover. Signing up for the Griffon Alert is simple. Log on to the Missouri Western web page click on the Emergency Notification and then click on “Sign Up Now.” |
By Erin Ellsworth For more information, click here. |
NAXOS is music to Western's ears |
|
Naxos Music Library, an online collection of classical and jazz music provides students with 24/7 streaming music. Students can access anything from Bach to Basie. Terry Weaver, superviser for technical services in the Western Library, said the Naxos database, purchased by the school in December has over 4,000 mostly classical and jazz recordings available. The exciting feature about NAXOS, said Weaver, is the ability for students to access the database anywhere they have internet access. Weaver said the Missouri Western Music Department had a need for a resource like NAXOS for quite some time. The library was able to work with the music department to plan out a budget, and the database was purchased. This is the first time Missouri Western has ever had streaming music, Weaver said. While the library subscribed to both a classical collection and a jazz collection the technology is so new, many students are unaware of the resource right under their noses. Sophomore vocal music major Kyle Minx was enthusiastic upon hearing about NAXOS and is one of the few students who actually know about the resource. In a meeting with Minx’s fellow students, Dr. Matt Gilmour, music department chair, encouraged music students to take advantage of the technology so readily available to them. Minx said NAXOS is a relatively simple tool and is similar to many other search engines. A user can simply type in the song he or she wants to listen to. He cautions, however, that NAXOS is not for those who don’t enjoy classical or jazz. While Minx enjoys the jazz database, he has notices some issues that make it difficult to use. “Right now, there can only be two users on the jazz database at a time. People are waiting for hours and hours to get on the jazz database,” he said. “We only have two users for the jazz collection. Kids were logging in and leaving it logged on so others couldn’t access it.” If the music department notices the jazz database is receiving more use after this semester, they will increase the number of users to satisfy student’s needs. Despite the minor glitch, both Minx and Weaver agree the positives of NAXOS outweigh the negatives. Minx said it is much easier, as a music student, to search for and obtain materials for various classes. Before NAXOS, he said, a student’s best bet when searching for music was YouTube. “Now we can basically find anything we need,” he said. Weaver said she enjoys using NAXOS, especially since the database offers a free iPhone application that allows iPhone users to stream music via cell phone. Weaver is happy the library could bring NAXOS to Western. “We have lots of other databases that support the other disciplines on campus, but we’ve never really done something for music, so this was a major step for us,” Weaver said. |
By Morgan Breckenridge To access NAXOS jazz, click here. All that is required for login is your email username and password. |
Local swine flu not serious yet |
|
Swine Flu, also known as the H1N1, seems to have become a thing of the past as jokes start to file in. But has it really become a thing of the past? Several news stations claim another wave of the flu will hit the states hard. While most people have put the epidemic out of mind, it looks like MWSU should be concerned once again with its presence, according to Wonkette daily gossip in Washington DC. Last semester when the H1N1 hit campus, a lot of cases were reported in the Health Center, but most students ignored their symptoms. Ann Thorne, English professor and head of yearbook, said her students last semester took advantage of the situation saying they had swine flu 5 and 6 times just to get out of class. Yet the Health Center can not treat you. The RN can look and even test for the swine flu but only refer you to a doctor. “We test for A and B types of H1N1, but most students choose not to run the test because of the expense,” said Angie Beck, the health center administrative assistant. “We do offer the seasonal flu vaccine but it doesn’t protect you against the H1N1,” Marti Burri, RN said. Burri, one of the RN’s in the health center, stressed the fact that if you have a fever or any other symptoms, you need to stay home for at least 24 hours until you are fever free. The #1 reason a virus like H1N1 spreads as rapidly as it does is lack of cleanliness. Washing your hands is the best thing you can do to prevent spreading or contracting a virus. “We are prepared for the flu to hit again I feel that the normal flu is going to be our concern this semester, but we are ready,” said Burri. February and March are the months when the regular flu normally hits, and the health center doesn’t feel threatened by the H1N1’s come back. There is still a health warning out amongst the campus to notify students of the signs and symptoms of H1N1, and a flyer is available in the health center to take home. |
By Heather Heater For more information, click here. |
Student governor applications again closed |
|
The student governor has the unique privilege of being the only student representative sitting on the board of governors for two years. He or she will be appointed by the current Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. The student governor cannot vote but serves as a voice of the student body. Two students, junior Peter Gregory and sophomore Colin Hoffman, who are both affiliated with the Republican Party, submitted their applications by the original deadline. However, the application deadline was extended by over two months due to lack of diversity in the pool of applicants, Gregory was told by current Student Governor Dillon Harp. The announcement of the extension was made by Harp at the first Student Senate meeting Jan. 25. Harp asked the senators to pass the news along to other students who may want to apply. Freshman Jacob Scott took advantage of the extension and recently applied. Scott says he did not hear about the application until Harp told him about the reopening application for the position. Scott preferred not to disclose his party affiliation, but says he believes in the egalitarian philosophy: belief that everyone should have equal social, political, and economic rights. Both applicants, Hoffman and Gregory say they feel as though they are being punished and penalized for “being on top of their game” and getting the applications in on time. Now, any other student who may have procrastinated has the chance to apply. Gregory said he thinks the real reason the deadline was extended is because of lack of political diversity, not just diversity. Hoffman supports Gregory’s belief and thinks the application was reopened because all the applicants were republican and the governor is a democrat. An announcement regarding the opening of the position was sent out by the President’s Office on Nov. 24. The e-mail stated: “Deadline is noon on Friday, December 4. Application materials (application form, resume, essay and memo) must be completed and turned in to the Student Governor's office, located in Blum 204.” Student governor applications have gone out in late November and were returned in January for as long as the position has been around, said Kathy Kelly, dean of student affairs administrative assistant. When asked if the application extension had anything to do with the applicant’s party affiliation Harp said, “It would be all speculation on my part. In a perfect world the Governor just wanted more students to be active in the process so Missouri Western could get the best qualified student for the job. However, we don’t live in a perfect world.” The previous student governors are Harold C. Callaway III 2006-2008, Robert Hughs 2004-2006, Kevin Callaway 2002-2004, Taylor Crouse 2000-2002, Kerri Clark 1998-2000, Kwanza Humphrey1996-1998, Micky Mayes 1994-1996, Kevin Hayes 1992-1994, Anita Chancey 1990-1992, Melanie Johnson1988-1990, Rodney Hill 1986-1998, and Robert “R.J” Claassen 1985-1986. |
By Lindsey Jackson To contact current Student Governor Dillon Harp, click here. |
Counseling services available to students |
|
The Partners In Prevention outreach across the state of Missouri for all schools, elementary through college, takes place in the fall and focuses attention on the importance of students’ awareness of the potential problems associated with these. The staff of the Counseling and Testing Center are Steve Potter, Dave Brown, Vincenza Marsh, Debbie Webb and Mike Ritter. Debbie is test coordinator and Mike is coordinator of disability services. Altogether they provide help for students of Missouri Western State University and this service is at no cost to students. The Counseling and Testing Center is in the Eder Building, Room 203 and the office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The personal problems addressed range from problems at home, with parents, with divorce, with depression, with eating disorders, with legal issues or with test anxiety issues for example. The staff is there to alleviate the fears of counseling. Just being able to discuss problems with an unbiased person can be helpful and is treated with confidentiality.
Potter stated, “About 99 percent of the students who visit the center are simply struggling with everyday issues.” When asked if more students are seen now than during the past, Potter answered, “I would guess about the same each semester with more possibly seen in the fall.” |
By Linda Chavez For more information, click here. |
Y's Kids World offers day care for students, staff |
|
Well do I have something for you? Missouri Western will not only make sure that you can further your education but they provide you with daycare, so there should be nothing holding you back. Y kids World is a program put together for individuals and families that could not afford the full price of the YMCA program. Missouri Western has joined Y kids to help there student and staff have on campus child care. Y kids World is located in Wilson Hall. For full time students there is a fee of $110.00 a week and for part time student the fee is $75.00 a week. Also for both students and staff there is a 20% discount and a 10% discount for anyone with an additional child. There are also benefits for enrolling your child in Y kids World, you could receive a Complimentary Family Membership to the St. Joseph Family YMCA or the Parents will get a night out without worry about a babysitter which will be provided. There is a maximum of thirty kids and there at least one adult for every 10 children. The kids are from the ages two through six potty trained and they must be up to date on all of their shots. The kids will get both breakfast lunch and a snack; they’ll be well taking care of. There will also be nap time which the kids are allowed to bring a small blanket and a travel pillow for their own comfort. Y kids World are open Monday through Friday from 6:30a.m. -6:00p.m. just as class. Also Missouri Western’s Y kids World has a very strict policy no one can pick your child up if there name is not on their enrollment form, and if there name is not on the form.
So if your needed somewhere to drop your child off while you’re in class Y kids World would be perfect for you. |
By Kierra Temple For additional information, click here. |
Drivers education course to be offered |
|
Plus there are additional requirements that must be met. The teenager has to be a current high school student and also possess a permit. The course includes 30 hours of classroom work, 12 hours of observation time in the vehicle, and 6 hours behind the wheel. The actual program takes place in the summer.
A registration date and time has not been set yet. Spratt Hall is the location of it.
IF you have any further questions please contact Patty Kuechler at 816-271-4115. |
By KriShondra Parker For additional information, click here. |
| Griffon Today News Archive | |
|
|
Submit your campus news
|
|
