Kickin` it with karaoke
Transcription
Kickin` it with karaoke
Western celebrates its victory over Northwest Tuesday at the Looney Complex. “It’s such a big deal since they’re our rivals,” freshman Libero Sarah Faubel said. NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Contributed by Jason Brown and Thomas Huitt-Johnson the MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY PERMIT NO. 32 St. JOSEPH, MO GRIFFon Vol 94 | Issue 5 Matt Hunt | Staff Writer [email protected] Dave Hon | Editor-in-Chief [email protected] After the removal of Residence Council, Student Government Association is determining how best to use the excess funding. As the 2011-2012 school year unfolds, SGA will be looking to allocate the $26,400 that was initially given to RC. Since the SGA budget doesn’t fund the new Residence Hall Association, the extra funds have been placed in special projects budget. According to SGA President Alison Norris, the obvious difference between the budgets will be the elimination of RC and the roll over. “We itemized out some things in the budget when I presented it to the council,” Norris said. “This year we have more roll over than last year and plan to work on a new special project.” SGA Finance Director Nick McCutcheon explained that the $26,400 that was used to fund RC will be placed specifically in special projects, which are the general funds for the Student Senate, and will be allowed to help fund these specific areas that deal directly with the students. “We are now able to place this money in areas which will help to fund organizations,” McCutcheon said. “Essentially all of this money went to the legislative branch, more specifically the special projects, which, in a nut shell, is the money the Senate uses to pass bills.” McCutcheon believes the Senate will create new and better legislation with the extra funding. Last week the Student See SGA page 2 Final AD candidate guarantees Chiefs camp for full 10-year term Thomas Huitt-Johnson | Sports Editor [email protected] Mark Alnutt walked into the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex on Thursday and knew right away that this is where he wants to be. Alnutt, the senior associate athletic director of administration at Missouri, was the fourth and final man to make a pitch for the Athletic Director position currently available at Missouri Western. Alnutt spoke about why he wants to be at Western during his presentation in the GISC. “This is a tremendous facility,” Alnutt said. “I’ve told many people that we would die for a facility like this in Columbia, Mo. This is something we need to take advantage of.” The facility, as well as the community, are two of the reasons Alnutt stated to make him want to be at Western. “One thing that attracted me here to this position is: This is a great community to raise a family,” Alnutt said. Alnutt is the only candidate out of the final four that has never had a director of athletics job. This doesn’t mat- Wildlife chapter garners international attention The Western chapter of The Wildlife Soviety was the first student chapter in history from Missouri to be chosen as International Student Chapter of the Year. Jason Brown | Photo Editor Jerrod Huber | Staff Writer [email protected] A talented group of hardworking students at Missouri Western have won the most prestigious award available to them. Western’s student chapter of The Wildlife Society has been chosen as the 2011 International Student Chapter of the Year. Cary Chevalier, associate professor of biology, said this is the first time in history that a student chapter from the state of Missouri has won this October 6, 2011 griffonnews.com SGA allocates money to special projects award. “This is the most prestigious award that a student chapter can receive within its discipline,” Chevalier said. “There is no greater honor within natural resource management and wildlife management than this.” This is an outstanding achievement. Western was selected from a field of 119 other student chapters across 50 states, Guam, Costa Rica and 14 Canadian provinces and territories. Sophomore Ben Olsen is secretary of Western’s chap- “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by Tee Quillin and starring Misty Ballew and Kiefer Helsel opens Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. See pages 4 and 5 news ter of TWS. Olsen said he and other members of the chapter have donated over 1,800 hours at the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, which is a Society-wide record for the most hours students have volunteered. This is just one of the many accomplishments the TWS is being recognized for. “We broke the record the previous year with over 1,000 hours, and we just broke the record again with an See Wildlife page 2 Alnutt, senior associate athletic director of administration at the University of Missouri, played football for the Tigers and is currently chairman of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Committee. Kyle Inman | Asst. News Editor ter to Alnutt; he said he has worked hard his whole life and has been put up against the odds plenty of times. He was a former walk-on for the Missouri Tigers football team. Alnutt eventually played well enough to be put on scholarship and graduated at Missouri shortly after. He stated that competitive- when I say victories I’m not just talking about games. I’m talking about victories in the classroom.” Alnutt did not shy away from questions about the Kansas City Chiefs summer camp. He has ness is all too important when dealing with college students, but not just the drive to succeed at their sport, but also the will to graduate. He said that’s what makes a student a champion. “It’s a tremendous honor to represent [Western],” Alnutt said. “There’s going to be a lot of victories, and See A.D. page 2 Kickin’ it with karaoke Eboni Lacey | Campus Life Editor [email protected] A hopeful student approaches the mike as the huge crowd stops their laughter and awaits the upcoming talent. The student is scared, yet confident that their voice will harmonize like the brilliant tones of a canary. But as the words come along the screen, the student realizes that he doesn’t know exactly how the song goes, causing him to hum what he doesn’t know and bellow out the little amount he does know like an angry black crow. This was the normal talent that graced the stage of the Western Activity Council Karaoke night, held in Blum food court Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m.. WAC president Robin Ussher felt having the karaoke show in the food court would be more beneficial for student enjoyment and would spark student attendance at WAC events. The show, which had numerous Enrollment at Western has risen for the seventh consecutive year, according to numbers released at the Board of Governors meeting Sept. 28. See page 3 people in attendance, either waiting to perform or stopping by as they were waiting for food, had the most student participation in a single event for the entire year. “It’s something different that WAC has never re- ally done before,” Ussher said. “I did some research and I found ‘Karaoke Productions’ from Kansas City, Mo., and she had a really cool package with music See Karaoke page 2 Recently appointed Director of Entertainment for Western Activities Council Sebastian Smith rocks out to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” Photo: Dave Hon | Editor-in-Chief Western volleyball traveled to Texas over the weekend to compete in the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Classic. See page 8 News NEWS NOTES Appeals court convenes at Western ßThe Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, will convene court at Missouri Western State University at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 in the Kemper Recital Hall, inside Leah Spratt Hall. A three-judge panel consisting of Karen King Mitchell, James Smart and Gary Witt will hear oral arguments in five cases. The cases are appeals from previously held trials in area circuit courts. The judges will hear attorneys argue whether the trial had errors that should cause them to be retried or the trial court’s judgment reversed. The judges will break sometime during the arguments to explain the judicial system in general and the appellate judiciary in particular. This is the fourteenth consecutive year the court has heard arguments at Western. The bands march on Missouri Western State University’s bands, Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota present the 26th annual Tournament of Champions High School Marching Band Competition beginning at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11 at Spratt Stadium. Twenty-six high school bands will be participating in the competition. The day will conclude at 9:15 p.m. with an exhibition performance by the Golden Griffon Marching Band and an awards ceremony. Gate entrance is $7 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Children 12 and under are free. Krug amphitheater hosted concert Two instrumental music groups from Missouri Western State University presented a free concert at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2 in the Krug Park Bowl amphitheater. The performance by the Symphonic Winds and Jazz Ensemble was the inaugural concert in a series of fall and spring performances at Krug Park. The series is a collaboration between Western, the St. Joseph School District and the St. Joseph parks, recreation and civic facilities department. The Symphonic Winds is under the direction of Jeffrey Hinton, assistant professor of music and director of bands. The Griffon News October 6, 2011 Page 2 Students hit high note at WAC Karaoke Karaoke: continued from front videos and lights and stuff that would really make it fun for everybody that came out for it. We decided to give it a try.” Around 30 to 35 people showed Western their gums as they sang along to Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Journey and Lauryn Hill. Some came in groups, others came in pairs and some crooners flocked to the mike solo. Yet everyone showed what they can do; both the good and the ugly. “I like the way this works because it’s not a matter of people committing to go,” Ussher said. “Things for like the talent show and other events, people have to decide that they are going and have to go out of their way to go to it. This event is kind of hard to miss. We are catching everybody at dinner time. They can make a split decision, and boom: They are here in attendance. It’s a lot of fun. A couple of our very own WAC members have been up there [singing] with very impressive voices.” Among these “impressive voices” was WAC Director of Entertainment, Sebastian Smith, who sang numerous times on the stage to daring songs such as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” Smith, who recently received a job singing at World’s Of Fun as an entertainer, was one of the night’s highlighted singers and kept the crowd amused. “Starting in November you can see me on the Comedy City stage in downtown Kansas City doing improv,” Smith said. “[Singing] is a hobby that I would really like to explore in the future.” Smith also feels that not only students, but WAC members, should focus on showing good attendance at events. “We want to gain a lot of buzz about WAC,” Smith said. “Students are paying for these events in their tuition. As a member of WAC, you Left: Mallory Edson sings a duet with Louis Erby. When Edson didn’t know the words, she wasn’t afraid to lay down a beat. Right: After his duet with Edson, Erby sang Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk.” When he didn’t know the lyrics, his showed his improvisation skills. Dave Hon | Editor-in-Chief are planning, organizing and working these events. But you are also a student. If you want to participate in these events, chances are other students will too.” Whether karoke night may have revealed Western’s talented future celebrity sing- ers and songwriters or not, the night will definitely leave campus wanting more from WAC in their future events. Charlonda Bozeman expresses how fun the show was and believes the location was a smart idea. “Having it in the food court is common because everybody hangs out there, and it is a popular spot,” Bozeman said. “WAC events are important to attend to be social and to have something to do. It is good to get your name out there.” Wildlife takes classroom Student Affairs carries Division 2 gets a outside, wins award forward SGA allotment taste of Division 1 SGA: continued from front Wildlife: continued from front AD: continued from front additional 800 hours this past year. A full-time employee works 2,080 hours, so we almost matched a full-time employee,” Olsen said. Olsen said the chapter seriously deserved to win from all the hard work they put in. “We get up at 4 a.m. and work until 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. at night just volunteering,” Olsen said. “We are not getting paid for it; we are helping places like SCNWR [Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge] and the Missouri Department of Conservation. It’s not just about studying; we are out doing things we want to do while learning and getting certifications. We have proved that we are responsible.” The hard work and effort has paid off well; Western’s TWS has put Western above many other well-known schools. Texas A&M, Purdue and Wisconsin-Stevens Point universities are all considered to have the biggest and best wildlife programs, but now Western is the school to be recognized as a top contender. “To be able to say that little old Missouri Western beat these schools is really cool,” Olsen said. Western’s TWS won Chapter of the Year for the North Central Section in 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010, but taking the international stage was a major feat for them. TWS will be going to the National Conference for The Wildlife Society on Nov. 5 to officially accept the award. The conference will take place in Hawaii, where students will be immersed in an environment of professionals. Todd Eckdahl, chair of the biology department, said it will be really exciting for these students to be around professionals at the conference and expressed how pleased he is with them all. “Missouri Western is the applied learning university,” Eckdahl said. “That’s our state-mandated mission, and what these wildlife students have done has really taken that applied learning to heart. “They have taken what they have learned in the classroom and, through the vehicle of the student chapter of The Wildlife Society, they went out into the world and tried to apply what they have learned in the classroom conducting service projects, engaging in professional training. These are all examples of applied learning at its very finest.” Campus Crime Reports Senate passed a bill to fund a new student lounge in Potter Hall. McCutcheon assumes that this money is coming from what would have been the RC funding for this year. “This is a line item that has always been in the budget,” McCutcheon said. “But with the elimination of Residence Council it significantly increases it and has helped with the funding of this endeavor.” In the Spring 2011 changes to the SGA Constitution, SGA is required to allocate 20 percent of their budget to Student Affairs. According to the provision, Student Affairs must use this money for student programming that benefits the entire student body. “I would not say that it hasn’t,” McCutcheon said. “We just want to make sure that it always does.” In the fiscal year 2011, Student Affairs only spent $20,625.14 out of $103,107.52 from the allocated 20 percent. Thus far, a comprehensive plan for this year’s use of Student Affairs’ 20 percent has not been presented to Senate. According to the SGA constitution, the use of the previous year’s allocation must be presented at the last Senate meeting of the Spring semester. In the Fall, the vice president of student affairs • • • • • 1 negotiated with the Chiefs before, as he was one of the key partners in the MissouriKansas fall rivalry game being played at Arrowhead Stadium for the past four seasons. “My next step is to be able to stay in communication with them and make sure this camp stays here for a long time and it benefits both parties.” The Missouri alum made a bold statement before taking questions from the media and boosters at the presentation. “I guarantee we’ll make it the full 10 years,” said Alnutt, when referring to the Chiefs and Western’s partnership in the summer camp. The camp has three years left in its contract. After that point either side can separate. Alnutt said he is sure about the Chiefs because relationships are what matter, and he has a strong relationship with many of the Chiefs’ personnel. Besides handling money at Missouri, he is also the chairman of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Committee. He said he understands rivalries, and another draw to Western is that the MIAA reminds him of the Big XII, in the sense that it is a strong conference. Calendar of Events 3 2 (currently Esther Peralez) or her designee is required to present how that year’s money will be used. “While the official budget has not been presented, there have been numerous conversations about what SGA wants from Student Affairs,” Peralez said. Earlier versions of the SGA Constitution did not require that SGA allocate 20 percent of its budget to Student Affairs. While Student Affairs did not previously receive funding directly from SGA, many of its organizations—Center for Multicultural Education, Center of Student Engagement and Student Leadership Development—did receive funding from SGA. As of Tuesday, the current SGA budget had not been posted online. Last year’s budget can be found on the SGA page on the Missouri Western website. Norris said the updated budget should be online for the student body to view, and she will continue to work to get this released as soon as possible. “The current operating budget was approved last spring,” McCutcheon said. “It should already be up, so I am surprised that it isn’t yet.” • Thursday, September 29 Griffon Yearbook Portraits, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. “Forces of Nature” Planetarium Show, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 1 “Cardboard Rocket” Planetarium Show, 11 a.m. “Black Holes” Planetarium Show, 12 p.m. Griffon Soccer vs. University of Central Missouri, 7 p.m. • • • • Monday, October 3 Griffon Luncheon, 12 p.m. Tuesday, October 4 Foreign Films Movie Showing, 6:30 p.m. Griffon Volleyball vs. Northwest Missouri State University, 7 p.m. “Fractals” Planetarium Show, 7 p.m. Sunday, October 2 Krug Park Concert, 2 p.m. 4 1. 2. 3. 4. STEALING LIQUOR OFFENSE TRAFFIC OFFENSE ASSAULT 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 21, Blum 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, Logan Hall 10:10 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, Spring Sports Complex 10:50 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, Scanlon Hall If your organization would like to announce an event, e-mail the information to [email protected] The Griffon News October 6, 2011 News Page 3 Enrollment increases for 7th year Caitlin Cress | Managing Editor [email protected] Enrollment at Missouri Western has increased for the seventh consecutive year according to numbers released at the Board of Governors meeting Sept. 28. There are 6,296 students enrolled at Western as of the official census date of Sept. 27. Jeanne Daffron, vice president for academic affairs, announced that enrollment has risen 2.6 percent over last fall’s numbers and approximately 27 percent since fall 2003. Daffron noted that the percentages of part-time and non-traditional students have risen. “I expect that has a whole lot to do with the economy,” Daffron said. “Perhaps people who have lost jobs or are finding jobs may consider this to be a good time to continue their education.” Daffron went on to point out that, within the state of Missouri, the number of unemployed people with only a high school diploma is twice that of unemployed people with a higher degree. She applauded the students who have the initiative to continue their education. “In this part of the state, and in Missouri as a whole, we have pretty low educational levels compared to other states around the country,” Daffron said. “We do know that it’s really important for the economic future to have well-educated citizens.” Esther Peralez, vice president of student affairs, cited Griffon Hall as a reason for the increased enrollment numbers. She stated that the resident halls are 92 percent full, and that fall 2011 is the first semester in many without a waiting list for on-campus housing. High school enrollment and graduation rates across the country have been rather flat, so this larger enrollment number is unexpected. “We really didn’t anticipate, in terms of budget, that we would have an increase,” Daffron said. Daffron added that while this larger-than-expected enrollment does mean added revenue, it also means added expenses and pressures for the university. Kylee Strough, chair of the Board of Governors, echoed this sentiment. “We know that if this [increased enrollment] continues, it’s added stress and strain on our facilities, as well as our staff and faculty.” Strough did not offer a direct answer when asked which part of infrastructure would be updated first due to increased enrollment numbers. “That comes from those that are here every day during the week,” Strough said. “It’s not for the Board to look and say ‘what do we need to do?’, because we’re not on campus living and breathing it every day.” Strough added that the Board relies very heavily on the suggestions of students, faculty and staff and encouraged students to give their input. The Board has begun to brainstorm ways to financially handle Western’s growing student body. “What I can tell you is that it didn’t take more enrollment to be announced this week for the Board to look at ‘how can we begin to supplement the budget?’” Strough said. “Looking to the state for more dollars is not the answer. They’ve told us that.” HEAD COUNT BY CLASS LEVEL FALL 11 Graduate Students FALL 10 Seniors FALL 09 Juniors FALL 08 Sophomores FALL 07 Freshmen FALL 06 FALL 05 FALL 04 FALL 03 FALL: Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors Grad Students TOTAL 2003 1,941 957 816 1,248 2004 2,134 886 863 1,222 2005 2,406 803 817 1,245 2006 2,414 867 758 1,256 4,962 5,105 5,271 5,295 2007 2,398 898 807 1,216 41 5,360 2008 2,494 947 779 1,250 65 5,535 2009 2,576 1,010 878 1,201 70 5,735 2010 2,653 1,087 953 1,317 124 6,134 2011 2,579 1,155 993 1,408 161 6,296 Intramural athletics give students new outlet for fun Caleb Jones | Staff Writer [email protected] Students play intramural flag football. Intramural sports gives students the option of playing competitive sports without the commitment of a varsity sport. Jason Brown | Photo Editor The intramural sports program at Missouri Western provides an opportunity for all students to enjoy satisfying experiences according to their particular needs, which vary from highly competitive to recreational. There are many intramural sports a student can participate in, varying from the always popular and competitive flag football to a more relaxed sport like bowling. Other available intramurals are powder puff football, billiards, kickball, badminton, volleyball, racquetball and dodgeball. Wonda Berry, recreational services facilities director said, “A student should play intramurals because it gets them engaged in the university experience itself. It gets them out of their dorms and allows them to meet other students and extend their high school years of sports activity.” For someone to sign up to play an intramural sport, all they have to do is go to the front service desk in the Looney Complex and fill out an entry form, stating what they’re wanting to take part in, if they need a team or already have assembled a team to do battle with. This year the Recreational Services Department wants to appeal to everyone.They are going to try to have sports for students with disabilities so they too can have fun. Some of these sports have to be modified to suit certain participant’s particular needs. The people that run the Recreational Services Department say that will not even be a problem and that they love the challenges that are presented to them to try and satisfy everyone’s wishes. Some of the sports that could possibly be in the works for people with disabilities to play are disk golf and wheelchair basketball. “We want everyone to get the most out of their college experience,” Berry said. Like most students that go out for intramural sports, many of them are excited to play if they’ve been a part of it in the past. As for the newcomers, they are not sure of what to really expect. “I am ready to whip up on some people. I am ready to do work son!” freshman Justin Berry, who plans to play flag football, said. While some appear ecstatic, pumped up and ready to go, others seem a little hesitant and don’t know what to expect with what kind of experience an intramural sport will bring them. “I wanted to play last year, but I wasn’t sure if it was for me or not; maybe I’ll go out this year,” sophomore Neva Kidwell, who is thinking about playing volleyball, said. Most of the intramural sports will take place on Monday-Thursday and usually will go from 5-10 p.m. Anyone that has any more questions should contact the front desk inside Looney Complex at 816-271-5604. 2011 Fall Intramural Activities ACTIVITY ENTRY PLAY BEGINS BOWLING SEPT. 12 OCT. 19 BILLIARDS SEPT. 23 TBA KICKBALL OCT. 8 OCT. 17 BADMINTON OCT. 18 OCT. 20 MEN VBALL OCT. 25 NOV. 1 WOMEN VBALL OCT. 25 NOV. 1 COED VBALL OCT. 25 NOV. 1 RACQUETBALL NOV. 18 NOV. 28 DODGEBALL NOV. 18 NOV. 29 Stress: how to juggle it all Caleb Jones | Staff Writer [email protected] Whether it’s making grades, keeping scholarships, maintaining work and school or building relationships, college students are always stressing out about something. On Oct. 29 physical therapy majors in Eder Hall 208 hosted a stress management seminar. The 14 students that were in attendance were also treated to a free massage. For Katie O’Toole, a massage is exactly what she needed. “The massage was amazing. It felt really good. I could almost feel every negative thing in my body just melting away,” O’Toole said. “Sometimes you just have to unwind and let everything go.” There can be many reasons why someone is stressed out, but there are also many ways to handle stress. Counselor Steve Potter, who was the presenter at the stress management seminar, presented some of the ways students can deal with the stress in their life. “I practice what I preach. Everyone handles what life gives them differently,” Potter said. “Some people just need to talk it out with themselves. It’ll take time to master a way that works for you. Sometimes people just need to recharge their batteries and do things that they enjoy doing.” Time management may be difficult for college students, but it is important for success. “For me it is not as stressful as it once was, since I now work here on campus and go to school,” Shannon Ebling said. “With working here it gives me more time to get homework done, and unlike other jobs, here at Missouri Western, they will work more around your school schedule.” On a campus with a large non-traditional population, older students like Marilyn Colboch, usually have more on their plate than traditional students. “I’ve been to college once before, and honestly I think it varies on the individual,” Colboch said. “Everyone’s circumstances in their lives are different, and how they deal with them are different as well.” Regardless of age, students who are having trouble managing their stress should consider counseling. The counseling center at Western is located in Room 203 of Eder Hall. Counselors are there Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. You can simply go to their office or call them at 816-271-4327 to set up an appointment. Features The Griffon News October 6, 2011 Page 4 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ comes to the main stage Christian Mengel | Staff Writer [email protected] The Theatre & Cinema department is showing no signs of slowing down the roll they have been on since summer. Not only are they moving forward in the renovations and advancements going on in Potter Hall, but their creativity is moving them right into a spotlight Missouri Western has never seen on stage before. “Romeo and Juliet” will now be closer to us than ever before, as its setting is moved from Europe to right here in 1861 Missouri. An idea since last semester in the mind of Tee Quillin, director of “Romeo and Juliet,” became a reality. “This is an outreach to the city of St. Joseph,” Quillin said. “There will be things put into the setting of this play that really existed here, while being relatable to what people still live with everyday.” The living history of St. Joseph will come alive on Oct. 6 on the Potter Hall mainstage. “Romeo and Juliet” will be put into a new perspective for us all. People that have never seen “Romeo and Juliet” before, or Shakespeare at all, will have a great opportunity to really see a performance of one of the greatest pieces of li teratu re ever written. “We fail if the audience doesn’t understand what’s going on,” Jeremy E d w a rd s, senior play- ing Romeo’s cousin Benvolio, said. “If we do our job, people will walk away with a new appreciation for Shakespeare.” P e o p l e involved in this production want the audience to see and understand the connection they have with “Romeo a n d Juliet” a n d how it relates to their own lives. “ T h e themes in this play are universal,” Sarah Noe, the actress playing Lady Capulet, said. “There are great life c o m p a r i s o n s, and I want the audience to feel the roller coaster of emotions that are happening.” The cast of “Romeo and Juliet” know about things that can really get to your emotions. With only weeks to prepare, Shakespeare’s advanced dialogue sure wasn’t the easiest thing to pick up, along with rehearsing blocking without the use of the theater stage. Everyone’s hard work and time consuming efforts put into this play will be shown from Oct. 6-8 at 7:30 p.m. and October 9 at 3:00 p.m. in the Potter Hall Theater. The first 25 students with student ID will get in free. Tickets can be purchased for $6 online at mwsutix.com, where you can also see a YouTube preview of the play. Andy Tyhurst and Brian Dusky, playing Tybalt and Mercutio respectively, duel it out on stage. The play features Civil War-style sword fights and gun shots. Jason Brown Photo Editor Kiefer Helsel’s heart beats quickly as he waits for his name to be called in to audition for a spot in Western’s first production of the year. Others are waiting with him, just as nervous, but he keeps to himself. Kiefer Helsel? He takes a deep breath and steps on his mark on the stage; this is where he comes to life. Sophomore Helsel acted in several productions throughout high school, but he has never been a part of a Missouri Western pro- duction—until now. After showing up for auditions for “Romeo and Juliet,” Helsel unexpectedly took away the lead role as Romeo. Director Tee Quillin said it never even crossed his mind that Helsel hadn’t been in a Western play before. “I’m just glad Tee gave me the opportunity,” Helsel said. “Going into it, I knew there were a lot of townspeople and servants, so I said ‘all right, hopefully I can nail one of those down.’ I would just take what I get because it was my first audition, so I went in thinking I just hope I get in.” Helsel got in, all right. “I was checking for errors; I reread it like three different times like ‘Are you sure?’” Helsel jokes. “I had a good mixture of shock and disbelief at first, then the elation and gratitude for being chosen to be a part of the production.” Helsel hates the auditions the most because he gets nervous, but once they are over, he is ready to roll. Helsel has been working hard to get in the mindset of Romeo. “I’ll make sure I listen to music I wouldn’t normally Keifer Helsel, in his first production at Western, stars as Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.” According to various cast members, Helsel shines in this role. Jason Brown | Photo Editor listen to, like folk and bluegrass,” Helsel said. “Those kinds of things help me get into it.” Helsel also went home and downloaded a southern speech coach on his computer in order to learn the accent for the play. Not only has the accent has been challenging for him, but learning the Shakespearean language in general has been tough. However others, like Misty Ballew, who is playing Juliet, see it differently. “He’s been doing fantastic because this has been kicking my butt in lines, and I’ve been doing this for three years already,” Ballew said. Helsel has been doing well with his lines according to fellow cast members. He hasn’t played a role as prestigious as Romeo before, so he has been working on bringing out a new version of Romeo. “It’s been interesting because I haven’t ever had a part that’s so well known, so everyone is going to know what this part is supposed to be,” Helsel said. “In that same sense, I don’t want my character to be the Romeo that Leonardo DiCaprio played.” Quillin is also helping Helsel find his own version of Romeo. “I’m not having Kiefer play it the same way that you normally think of S h a k e s p e a re being played: that he’s falling all over himself in love and sighs; it’s not your traditional play.” All in all, Helsel wants to display his character as a typical teenage boy that experiences atypical situations. “I would say he’s young, he doesn’t really know a lot about life and by the end, he probably finds out a little more than he would’ve been looking for in the beginning.” Page 5 Features Ballew to play a ‘beautiful disaster’ Blair Stalder | Features Editor [email protected] Cast members rehearse in full costume, preparing for the Thursday opening of “Romeo and Juliet” on the Potter Hall mainstage. Jason Brown | Photo Editor & ROMEO JULIET SHOW TIMES Potter Hall Theatre Thursday, Oct. 6 Friday, Oct. 7 Saturday, Oct. 8 Sunday, Oct. 9 7:30 7:30 7:30 3:00 p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. Lead role snatched by newcomer Blair Stalder | Features Editor [email protected] The Griffon News October 6, 2011 “Romeo and Juliet” director Tee Quillin pushes his way through eager students to get to the bulletin board where he posts the cast list. Four girls look for their name by “Juliet,” but only one leaves with a smile: Misty Ballew. Ballew has been involved in many plays at Missouri Western, such as “Night of the Living Dead,” “The Illusion” and “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.” Now, as a junior Theatre & Cinema major with a concentration in performing and directing, Ballew is the leading lady in Western’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Although she wouldn’t have minded playing the male roles of Benvolio or Mercutio, her main goal was to play Juliet. She was not worried about getting the callback, but she was a little wary about not being cast in the play at all. “It was the final decision that was stressing me out,” Ballew said. “Only four girls were called back for the role of Juliet, which was the only part I was called back for. So if I didn’t get that part, then it was either get the lead or nothing at all.” Ballew’s audition impressed Quillin when she rubbed off on other people at her tryout. “During the auditions, Left: It’s love at first sight for Romeo and Juliet, portrayed by Misty Ballew and Kiefer Helsel. Right: Erin Williams plays the Nurse, Juliet’s constant companion. Jason Brown | Photo Editor when they read with a group of people, the energy that [Ballew] was giving to the other actors in the scene was energy that they could take and use in their own performances, which, in turn, fed her energy in the scene,” Quillin said. “She created an energy cycle, which is what a scene has to be, and she was doing that almost instinctively.” Quillin said it was a tough decision casting each of the roles, especially for Juliet, but he felt Ballew had a command of the language and that she just looked right next to Romeo, played by Kiefer Helsel. Ballew knows Quillin has confidence in her. “After Tee said that, I felt so much better about being casted,” Ballew said. After getting the part, Ballew focused on getting in the mindset for Juliet. “I just try to sympathize with her,” Ballew said. “I mean, how horrible would it be to get married to the love of your life and then find out you have to marry someone else, someone who is way older than you, ugly, and you are only thirteen and you wonder what is going to happen. I just think of how I would feel if I had to be taken away from my boyfriend and marry some old Chemistry flies between co-stars Misty Ballew and Kiefer Helsel,who portray the titular star-crossed lovers in director Tee Quillin’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Jason Brown | Photo Editor guy that I didn’t like.” Ballew not only had to work on her character as Juliet, she also had to practice her chemistry with her Romeo, Helsel. Helsel and Ballew met for the first time at the audition. “The first few times we didn’t really have any communication, but once we had to buckle down and just deal with it, we got it down,” Helsel said. “It’s not that I had a problem with her, I just didn’t know her. I didn’t really know how to go about saying ‘Let’s go practice this love scene.’” The attraction between the two is the main idea of the play, and now that they know each other a little better, it will come more naturally. Overall, Ballew is ready to be Juliet. “My favorite part about Juliet is she is so tragically GRIFFONNEWS.com Jesse Bilderback | Staff Writer [email protected] Set in the midst of the bloodiest war in American history, Missouri Western’s Theatre & Cinema troupe brings to life the everlasting tale of true love and tragedy in William Shakespeare’s classic play “Romeo and Juliet.” 2011 is the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, and St. Joseph has a rich history during the period. Director Tee Quillin felt it essential to set the traditionally 16th century play in 1861. Quillin’s plan is to create a great performance and honor St. Joseph’s past. “I wanted this to be an outreach to St. Joseph,” Quillin said. “I wanted to get as many people from the community involved in this as possible.” One thing Quillin has done to get the community involved is asking the Missouri State Guard Civil War re-enactors to entertain audience members. The Guard will be setting up replica camps for the Thursday and Saturday performances. The camps are designed to give people a glimpse of what it was like during the time, complete with tents, campfires and horses. The re-enactors will be doing some simulation drills as well. Quillin is confident that Shakespeare’s play will fit perfectly in the St. Joseph area and 19th century timeframe. “The story is timeless,” Quillin said. “The moment you have your first crush on a girl you can relate to Romeo’s balcony speech.” There is only one Union soldier in the play, but there will be plenty of action. The play isn’t about the American Civil War, but about a man and a woman in love with each other who are hindered by their quarrelling families. Separated by a war and a river, Romeo and Juliet are destined to fall in love. Andy Tyhurst, who is playing the part of Tybalt, feels that the story fits well with St. Joseph and the American Civil War era. Tyhurst explains how ecstatic Quillin was when he came up with the setting for the play. “He became fascinated with the history of St. Joseph,” Tyhurst said. “It’s such a bold vision and, I’m telling you: It works.” Setting a play in the Civil War brings up some potentially uncomfortable issues dealing with race. Quillin dealt with the issue sensitively and with humor, according to Jeff Jones, one of the black actors in the cast. “We made a joke about ‘Oh wait, he wants to make me a slave,’” Jones said. According to Quillin, he cast the play with colorblind eyes. “Several African Americans were set on lead roles,” Quillin said. “I came close, very close, to casting an African-American Juliet with Caucasian parents—I’m all about colorblind casting, and I would’ve never given it a second thought.” Jones is playing Friar John in several of the matinees and at the Saturday night performance and is playing a Capulet servant the other nights. Jones said that the latter role did not make him uncomfortable. “The way that they do productions around here, it’s very dignified. They’re respectful,” Jones said. “Some people in this production have to go places they don’t like to go, but they go there for the sake of the production.” Quillin agreed that the black actors have faced the issue with professionalism. “All them [AfricanAmerican cast members] said ‘No, no, this is history; our grandparents and great grandparents had to go through this, and that’s what we’re doing,’” he said. “They jumped in and said ‘Don’t hold back, we want it to be like it was.’” MULTIMEDIA TAB For video coverage on campus events NEXT TO PANARA BREAD AND EAST HILLS Bring in this ad and Buy 1 Burrito Get 1 FREE Expires 10/22/2011 Not valid with other offers. Limit 1 offer per guest per visit. Mon - Sat 10:30 AM - 9 PM Sun 11 AM - 8 PM Phone: 816-749-4280 Fax: 816-749-4281 need lunch in a pinch? call jimmy, it’s a cinch! Deandra N. - Washington, IL jimmyjohns.com 1040 S. BELT HWY. 816.232.0707 AMERICA’S FAVorite sandwich delivery guys! ©2011 jimmy john’s franchise, llc all rights reserved. ™ Opinions The Griffon News October 6, 2011 Page 6 Editorial: Western, the other black and gold Seven years of growth is a huge accomplishment for an organization with diminishing funds. Then again, Missouri Western has never been an average institution. In the past seven years, Western has increased its enrollment by 27 percent. We are a growing and diverse university. Most Western administrators would attribute this to the harsh economy. Layoffs give people the opportunity to retrain or finish their education. If the economy were the only cause, then why has Western seen a sustained increase? Western’s success has little to do with the economy and more to do with its unspoken mission: the success of the individual student. The largest classes at Western are never over 200 students. Professors constantly make themselves available to students and are always willing to help. If a student needs personalized attention, there are literally a dozen places they can go. Western is the students’ university. Sure, many of Western’s students are looking for a second chance. They may be retraining for a new job market or are attempting to get their education despite a rough first try, and Western is a right fit for these students. Coupled with a low tuition, personalized attention is what “second-chance” students need. Western mimics an American philosophy. For nearly 200 years, America has been a second-chance country. Immigrants from abroad would look for jobs and opportunities in America and, to this day, still do. While the Clock Tower is no Statue of Liberty, and students probably don’t look at it as some sign of independence or freedom, the pride is still there. Western isn’t a Division 1, big school. You won’t find Western athletic merchandise outside of St. Joseph. As a matter of fact, most people outside of Missouri have probably never heard of Western. It is, by definition, a small school. Nonetheless, the education its students get is all the same as a big school, if not better. That extra 27 percent of students chose the other black and gold because they wanted a hands-on education. They knew that at the Steven L. Craig School of Business wasn’t just about tests and textbooks; it is about experience in the field. Students who graduate from Western leave with more than degrees. They leave with lines on their resumes. Sure, the majority of students attend Western because it’s cheap. Western is the one of the cheapest universities in the state, but these penny-saving students didn’t have to go to college at all. They chose Western because someone told them the facts. Western has small, personalized classes. The professors are here to teach you, not to dole out work to teaching assistants. If you want more out of your education, the opportunities are at Western. So, why are you at Western? Is it because your high school counselor told you that if you have a college degree that you’d make more money or it would be easier to get a job? While that is true, that doesn’t explain why in the last seven years Western’s enrollment has increased substantially. Western students choose Western for one reason: to take control of their education. CAMPUS If Western had the cash, what would you like to see improved? Dionne Thomas sophomore “What I would like to see improved are the dormitories. They suck. They’re very trashy.” Lavonte James senior Brooke Carter | Graphics Editor Respect your campus and peers EDITOR’S SOAP BOX BY DAVE HON When I was in high school I had a column called the “The Editor’s Soap Box.” Three years later, here in the Griffon Newsroom seems like a good time to bring it back. Before you begin reading, you should know one thing—do not take this column to heart. If you do, it will most likely ruin your life. The Editor’s Soap Box is not supposed to make you feel peppy or happy. It’s more like that 8 a.m. Bio 101 class that is probably kicking your GPA to the curb right now. Zing! So, like, love it, hate it or appreciate, this is my soap box—I really don’t care what you think. Things freshman should know No one cares how excited about college you are. You are a freshman. Sure, it’s awesome that you’re out of high school and you, like, used to do really neat stuff there. Still, no one cares. You don’t even know what college is really. You are a first semester freshman who is taking 15 credit hours (including Griffon Edge!) that aren’t really classes. Until you get started on your major classes, your “college experi- WITH ELLIS CROSS On Friday, Sept. 30 students received an important message from the Vice President of Student Affairs, Esther Peralez, which did not include many details but was clearly about cyberbullying. By the tone and content of the email, Western students are (evidently) involved as the perpetrators, victims or both. What used to be the behavior of children on the playground has now entered the high-tech world. Cyberbullying is well defined in our Student Handbook as harassing, teasing, intimidating or threatening another person by sending or posting inap- propriate and hurtful email messages, digital pictures, images or web site postings, including blogs and social network systems. The Wired Safety Group at wiredsafety.org defines it further by stating it is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child. The website also reports that children have killed each other and have committed suicide after having been involved in a cyberbullying incident. By getting involved as a cyberbully, you can lose your ence” hasn’t started yet. As far as the other part of your college experience—the one involving red cups and copious amounts of illicit drugs—no one cares about it either. If you want to experiment with drugs and your GPA, don’t tell me about it. Unless you get busted… then it’s kinda funny. Loud and proud Four days a week I lug myself up to the third floor of Popplewell to fill my brain with Bio 101 goodness. Contrary to popular belief, general education classes can be quite entercating (entertaining and educating). Unfortunately, the class after my class has decided to have a pre-class pow-wow. At 11:30 the other class begins to congregate and chat about meaningless things (at least I assume they are meaningless because they don’t involved biology). Either way, they are being loud and disruptive. The Griffon News Staff Caitlin Cress Andy Inman Eboni Lacey Jordan Jenkins Brooke Carter Jason Brown Todd Fuller Thomas Huitt-Johnson Kyle Inman Matt Gleaves Ellis Cross Blair Stalder Ryan Scroggins Kyler Penland Bob Bergland Dave Hon Editor-in-Chief Someone told me what class these rude students are from, but frankly I don’t care. I care so little, I’m considering running into their class and yelling at the top of my lungs, “I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION EITHER!” Seriously though, have some consideration for your peers. I know that getting an A in whatever you’re taking is important, but that doesn’t mean you have to walk all over my learning process, man. Popsicles and poop I’ve taken up a new habit of a morning walk around campus, and while the sun is just peeking over the horizon, I’m saddened when I step in poop. I can’t really say that this is dog poop (it’s definitely too small for human poop). I think that maybe small-tomedium sized rodents may be taking over our campus. Step one in the rodent blitzkrieg plan: Drop poop on the sidewalks of America’s esteemed universities. Step two: Alternate the rodent’s base DNA to make their own population more intelligent. Step three: Take over the world. Alright, that’s never going to happen. I know that Missouri Western is very low-staffed maintenance wise, but I feel that the cleanliness of our sidewalks should take priority. Yes, students, this means us too. During my morning walks, I tend to notice large amounts of trash on campus as well. I don’t care how inconvenient that Popsicle stick would be in your car trash can; don’t throw it out the window. I had hoped that the Native American from the ‘80s (you know, the one with the big tears) would have cleaned this up long ago. Maybe we need a refresher. has moved from the : Bullying playground to the computer ISP or instant messaging accounts because cyberbullying is a term of service violation or breach of contract with the software provider. Parents are the best defense to correct this behavior and are in the position to make the most difference if their child is the perpetrator or victim. Schools that try to get involved are often sued and lose the case on the basis that they are trying to exceed their legal authority for actions taken off campus. Students also have the constitutional freedom of speech to help defend their actions, even if their freedom upsets Managing Editor Design Editor Online & Campus Life Editor Web Developer Graphics Editor Photo Editor News Editor Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Multimedia Editor Opinions Editor Features Editor Ad Manager Assistant Ad Manager Faculty Advisor VOICE another person. WSG recommends that a provision be added to the school’s acceptable use policy reserving the right to discipline the student for actions taken off-campus if they are intended to have an effect on a student or they adversely affect the safety and well being of a student while in school. This makes it a contractual, not a constitutional, issue. If it feels like this column is talking about children and not college students it’s because most of the time cyberbullying activities involve children. What needs to be said is that these actions are childish. It is actually a shame that our student handbook even needs to cover this topic. Using electronic devices to anonymously harass people is cowardly. The best advice to follow if you are a victim according to the Wired Safety Group is to “stop, block and tell.” First, stop. Take a few minutes to calm down. Next, block the cyber bully or limit all communications to those on your buddy list. Then tell a trusted adult; you do not have to face this alone. You can also report cyberbullying experience to wiredsafety.org if you are a victim. “Better food in the cafeteria. That’s it.” Valerie Porlier-Smith freshman “I would love for the art department to be remodeled with bigger classrooms so we could have more space to work.” Patrick Larsen freshman “I would like to see a completely new art center with bigger facilities and make use of the old building too.” Dereck Dew senior “Serious research into neurosomatic areas dealing with ideas esoteric and/or energetic.” The Griffon News is written and published by students of Missouri Western State University during the fall and spring semesters. The first copy of each issue is free; additional copies are 50 cents. Content of this paper is developed independently of the faculty and administration, or other campus organizations or offices. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas, information and advertising to The Griffon News office, Eder 221, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, Mo. 64507, or by phoning (816) 271-4412 (advertising and news room). You may also e-mail thegriffonnews@gmail. com. Copy and advertising must be received by noon Friday, the week prior to publication. Guidelines for letters to the editor: • All letters to the editor must be typed and double spaced. Letters must be no longer than 350-400 words and guest columns no longer than 500 words. Letters and columns will be edited for style. • All letters must include signature and identity verification information, such as phone number. The Griffon News reserves the right to edit all letters for length and Associated Press style. • The Griffon News will not withhold names under any circumstances. Anonymously submitted letters will not be published. • Views expressed on the opinion pages are not necessarily those of The Griffon News staff or Missouri Western State University. The Griffon News October 6, 2011 Sports Page 7 Jennies’ got a gun: Central outshoots Western by 36 attempts in 1st conference match Five games in, one game out team, but they knew what they had in Zac Dickey and caught lightning in a bottle with transfer Jon Brown. Western, on the other hand, saw Travis Partridge start his first game and its defense go up against an offense that is averaging over 37 points-per-game, as well as a Pistol Gun set that drew attention away from Western’s defensive line and standout players Ben Pister Thomas Huitt-Johnson | Sports Editor and David Bass. [email protected] The next three Saturdays, Western has a date set up Five games in, the with teams that have a comGriffons have played two bined record of 4-11; two ranked opponents, two road of the games are at Spratt games and two undefeated Stadium. These games are teams. Baffling? Well, sit- definitely not chalked up ting at 3-2 at this point, as wins just yet, especially Missouri Western is right since they are all conferwhere it supposed to be. ence games, but winning Factor in two season-end- the games would set the ing injuries - T.J. Fannin Griffons up with a 6-2 and Marcus Thompson - record. Last year’s 8-3 how should Western fare record sent Western up to in the second half of the Maryville, Mo. for post-seaseason? son play. Will the commitAlthough Jerry Partridge tee be so kind this year? said he would much rather Highly unlikely, considbe 5-0 at this point, three ering the MIAA doesn’t wins out of the “more chal- receive that sort of supelenging” part of the season rior credit — Pittsburg, isn’t too bad. The Pittsburg Washburn and Northwest State loss is all of a sud- are all in front of Western, den looking less devastat- and don’t forget about the ing after it handed No. 1 Mules: they’re still around. Northwest Missouri State Three of those teams will its first conference loss in probably receive a bid. Four, six years. well, maybe; all five — no. Not to say that Western So how about this: On Nov. would beat Pittsburg if 5, when Northwest comes the two squared off this to town to play Western, Saturday instead of open- the meeting between the ing weekend, but maybe Bearcats and Griffons could the first game should be actually have a playoff conoverlooked. Yes, Pittsburg tention scenario, and so was playing its first game that game might actually of the season as well, and mean something. Wait. It the Gorillas were the road always means something. Griffon Soccer took a hard loss to Central this weekend, losing 3-1. The loss was the first in the MIAA and put them at 3-4. Jason Brown | Photo Editor Kyle Inman | Asst. Sports Editor [email protected] Missouri Western soccer played tough, but was unable to pull off the upset against the No. 12 Central Missouri Jennies Saturday night at Spratt Stadium, as they fell 3-1. The Griffons fall to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in MIAA conference play while the Jennies improved to 9-1 and 2-0 in conference play. “We battled and fought with them,” coach Chad Edwards said. “They were undefeated last year and made the NCAA tournament, so for us to battle and be tied at half is great. Now we have to finish the game and play that second half.” Central wasted little time scoring the first goal. Becky Lackey knocked in her fifth goal of the season on a rebound from one-yard-out in the fourth minute. The Griffons tied the score at 1-1 when they connected on their only shot attempt of the first half. Teddie Serna scored on an assist from K.C. Ramsell at the 20-yard-line on a shot that landed in the bottom left corner of the net. “We made the run up the field and K.C. ran into some pressure,” said Serna. “I was open behind her so she just dropped it back, and I had the opportunity to shoot so I took it.” The game was tied 1-1 at halftime despite the Jennies controlling field position and attempting 22 shots to the Griffons one. The Jennies made the score 2-1 on a goal from Carly Stanley in minute 57 from 15-yards-out. The assist was from Kristin Bright. Kayla Shain assisted on a goal from Alyssa Rhodes in the 71st minute to make the score 3-1. Western only attempted three shots on the day and attempted no corner kicks, while the Jennies shot 39 times and had eight corner kicks. Ashlyn Castillo and Brooke English both missed on their only shot attempts. Ramsell is the Griffons leading scorer on the season with five goals; however she was unable to get off a shot attempt against the Jennies. Ramsell is only two goals shy from the all-time record of goals made at Western. Despite allowing three goals, Western goalkeeper Kelly Voigts saved 14 shots, including some athletic diving saves on several occasions when the Jennies had a chance to extend the lead. golf results “She is a stud, and I am so thrilled she is on our side,” said Edwards. “She is an allconference player for sure.” The Griffons have held the lead or been tied at halftime in all four of their losses this season. They defeated Washburn 2-1 on Thursday. “I’m proud of the girls for figuring out a way to keep in the games for a half, but now we just have to finish our games like we did on Thursday,” Edwards said. Both teams committed five fouls in a very physical contest. “That’s what you are going to get playing top teams in the country,” Edwards said. “I don’t think we looked less physical than them, they just possessed the ball a little better. That’s a very good team.” Erin Widrig, who also plays softball, is expected to return to the soccer team this week. TEAM STANDINGS | MIAA | OVERALL from september Men’s Golf Missouri Intercollegiate - 18 teams Western places 7th overall — t13. Tyler Gast with a score of 232. Pittsburg State - 11 teams Western places 8th overall — No. 20 Logan Gilliland with a score of 151. 13th Annual Northeastern State Classic - 19 teams Western places 15th overall — t14. Tyler Gast with a score of 217. women’s Golf PITTSBURG 4-0 5-0 WASHBURN 4-0 5-0 CENTRAL 3-1 4-1 NORTHWEST 3-1 4-1 WESTERN 2-2 3-2 FORT HAYS 2-2 2-3 TRUMAN 1-3 2-3 SOUTHERN 1-3 1-3 EMPORIA 0-4 1-4 LINCOLN 0-4 1-4 Grand Opening Join us in celebrating the hottest new bar in town Wed - Sat 6 - Close Find us on 2700 St. Joseph Ave. (816) 748 - 4000 Drury Fall Shootout - 18 teams Western places 9th overall — t24. Shelby Stone with a score of 161. Concordia St. Paul Wildwood Lodge Invitational -12 teams Western places 6th overall — t8. Natalie Bird with a score of 161. Fort Hays State Invitational - 4 teams Western places 2nd overall — No. 6 Kristen Cooley with a score of 170. Top: Freshman athlete James O’Brien practices a chip-in at St. Joseph Country Club as the Griffons prepare for the Park University Tournament held in Parkville on Oct. 10. Jason Brown | Photo Editor Above: Junior golfer Casi Webb attempts to knock in the ball from the side of a hill. The Griffons next match will also be in Parkville along with men’s golf. submitted photo WUDIDO Ask about free drinks Ladies drink for $1 Every Wednesday and Thursday LIVE MUSIC CALENDER Wednesday- Ladies Night Thursday - Jamnesia Open Jam with host Steve Fuller Friday - DJ Todd (no cover) Saturday - DJ Todd (no cover) Sports Griffon Volleyball wins 3 games at Holiday Inn Express and Suites Classic Kyle Inman | Asst. Sports Editor [email protected] Griffon Volleyball came home a winner after going 3-1 on the weekend at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Classic in Denton, Texas. The team improved to 8-7 on the season. “We are happy to walk away with three wins, but honestly we didn’t play our best volleyball,” coach Cory Frederick said. “I think we could have had four wins if we would have had better focus on our ball control.” Western defeated Texas A&M-International in the first match of the tournament 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 2523). The Griffons finished with 39 kills. Tahler Johnston had 14, Meredith McCormick added nine and Shelby Corkill had seven. Stephanie Hattey finished with 34 assists on the match. The second match was a five set battle against Southeastern Oklahoma. The first game ended on an Alexandra Behnke kill on an assist from Sarah Faubel, Western won 25-18. The second and third games belonged to Southeastern as it took the 2-1 lead over the Griffons, winning 25-21 and 25-16. The Griffons were able to push the match to five sets after bouncing back to win the fourth game 25-18. “We got ourselves in some holes but we fought back and came out of it, and we weren’t able to do that last year,” Johnston said. “We are slowly working towards that, and it’s a good goal to accomplish.” The fifth and final set went back and forth as both teams exchanged leads, but in the end Western prevailed 15-13. Behnke tallied a career high 19 kills, while Hattey finished with 52 assists and 20 digs on the match. “That was one of the more exhausting matches we have coached this year. It was back and forth the whole way,” Frederick said. “We got down 2-1, and it was good to see us not quit and come back and do what we knew we could do the whole time.” The Griffons’ only loss of the tournament came in the third match against Arkansas-Fort Smith (25-15, 20-25, 25-21). Fort Smith finished out on a 15-9 run to take the first game 25-22. The second set was more of the same as Fort Smith scored 17 of the final 22 points to go up 2-0. Western fought back taking the third set as it outscored Fort Smith 20-7 to finish at 25-20. In the fourth set, Fort Smith finished the Griffons off as they were able to hang on and defeat them 25-21. Johnston had 22 kills while Behnke had 17 in the match. “We played pretty good, but there was a couple times we could have played better,” said Hattey. “We got down and we couldn’t pick ourselves up, but overall I think we did good.” Western bounced back in the final match of the tournament, defeating ArkansasMonticello 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-21). The Griffons recorded 43 kills in the match with Johnston leading the way with 12. Corkill added eight and Hannah Zimmerman had seven. Johnston was named to her second all-tournament team of the season for her outstanding play. The senior finished the classic with 68 kills The Griffon News October 6, 2011 Page 8 in the tournament, including going for over 20 kills in two of the four matches. She was also named to the UNK Fall Classic all-tournament team earlier in the season. “It is exciting, and I was happy to get it,” Johnston said. “I thought overall we played well as a team, and I obviously couldn’t get my kills without the setters and the passers. They were playing good so with that I play good.” Frederick credits both Johnston and her teammates for her high level of play during the tournament. “Tahler was having a great weekend,” Frederick said. “It shows that our middles were really well involved in our offense and that Stephanie Hattey did a great job moving the ball around.” Hattey finished the weekend with 133 assists. Northwest: Beat it Tahler Johnston kills the ball in the third set of Western’s second conference home game. The Griffons defeated the Bearcats in split games Tuesday night. Jason Brown | Photo Editor Thomas Huitt-Johnson | Sports Editor [email protected] Before the fifth game ended, Missouri Western looked flustered. Down by four, the Griffons needed a spark in order to defeat their MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State. But instead of one player ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Sport: Football Year: Senior Position: Kicker Stats this week: Field goals attempted - 5 Field goals made - 5 GREG ZUERLEIN Zuerlein connected on all five of his field goal attempts Saturday against Missouri Southern State. Not only did the five kicks tie a school record, but his long of the day was a 57-yarder, which broke a Western record. in particular garnering the change, a team effort for Western was all it needed. Western defeated Northwest in a five-game set Tuesday in the Looney Complex. With the victory, the Griffons improved to .500 in the conference and 9-7 overall. “The energy that we brought here was better [than last week’s],” coach Frederick said. “The carry over from Texas was we still had a little bit of ball control issues. That’s something we’ve got to get under control.” Although the Griffons won the first game, the following game didn’t look like the same team. Western showed little energy, in contrast to its opponent. “It’s really common to see, where you get up 1-0, and you kind of relax a little bit,” said Frederick, who is in his third season as the coach. “I’m happy to see towards the end of the game they’ll stick with it and finish out the match.” Western finished Northwest in the final game, though it had trouble early. With his team down 8-5, Frederick called a timeout and the team rallied around each other to finish out the game on a 10-4 run and win 15-12. Western won each of its other two games 25-19. It lost the second game 25-18 and the fourth 25-14. In each game, Northwest had more energy knowing it needed the win to stay alive. The Bearcats affected the Griffons by hitting the balls in the corners, and not allow Western to set anything up. Torey Lyman led the team in digs with 14. Steadily behind her with 12 was freshman Sarah Faublel. “It’s such a big deal since they’re our rivals, and we’re glad that we got it accomplished,” Faubel said. She also gave credit to senior Tahler Johnston, who tied Shelby Corkill with 14 kills, which led the game. “She’s such a star player and she brings so much energy and team leadership to our team.” Johnston was one of four players who had double-digit digs. Besides the aforementioned Faubel, Lyman and Johnston, Stephanie Hattey had 10 digs herself. The 2010 MIAA Freshman of the Year had 48 assists to help Western win and secure its third straight home win over the Bearcats. Fast Track Your Graduate Degree! 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