The Northwest
Missourian thursday
NWMissourinews.com
Oct. 1, 2009 | V85 | N5
This week CAMPUS
Wind Symphony The Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony under the direction of Carl A. Kling, director of bands, will perform a concert with David Vining, trombone guest soloist, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, in the Mary Linn Auditorium of the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. The show will include a number of performances to highlight the metal-themed program.
state budget
Officials prepare for state finances to get worse By Greg Miller News Editor Missouri higher education institutions have more financial obstacles to face as the state of Missouri is facing structural budget problems. “The natural growth in our expenditures are not covered by the natural growth in our tax base,” Paul Wagner, deputy com-
missioner for the Missouri department of higher education, said. “I think the weakness in Missouri revenue collections is going to continue for awhile.” Wagner cautioned that institutions, along with state government, have to prepare for a long road out of the economic recession. Over the last several years several steps have helped the state get by, and
Fashion Show The Northwest Missouri State University Chapter of Students in Free Enterprise is sponsoring a fashion show on the Northwest campus, with all proceeds benefiting the United Way of Nodaway County at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom. Tickets, available at the door the evening of the show, are $5 for students and $7 for adults.
other cuts to the budget including Medicaid, helped the state continue fiscally secure. Under Wagner’s potential scenario, in 2011 the Missouri department of higher education would face a $51.8 million shortfall from the 2010 budget. Stabilization money, which is free money for states to preserve programs and services, would not be as available as previ-
ously expected. Wagner said Northwest’s increase in enrollment has helped in the overall financial future of the institution. “It’s the institution’s mission to serve the community and serve as many people as possible,” he said. “The more students that come make it a stronger university.” Wagner also said regular tuition doesn’t cover the total
preventing
Cultural diversity emphasized By Greg Miller News Editor
MHS Golf
photo illustration by lori frankenfield | chief photographer
Maryville budget The city of Maryville’s budget remained flat from this time last year. Approved Monday night, spending this year fluctuated slightly. There were no cuts to major programs in the city budget.
Bearcats Thursday -Soccer, 4 p.m. at home -Golf, Mozingo Lake Golf Course, Bearcat Fall Classic Friday -Golf, Mozingo Lake Golf Course, Bearcat Fall Classic -Volleyball, Washburn Invitational, Topeka, Kan. Saturday -Football, 1:30 p.m. at Missouri Western, St. Joseph, Mo. -Volleyball, Washburn Invitational, Topeka, Kan. -Cross Country, Emporia State Invitational, Emporia, Kan. -Soccer, 1 p.m. at Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, Neb.
spoofhounds Thursday -Boys Soccer, 4 p.m. vs. St. Joseph LeBlond at Donaldson-Westside Park -Volleyball, 5 p.m. at Savannah -Softball, 5:00 p.m. vs. North Platte at home Friday -Girls Golf, 9 a.m. at St. Joseph Benton, Benton Tournament -Football, 7 p.m. at Chillicothe Monday -Volleyball, 5:30 p.m. vs, Rock Port at home
See BUDGET on A5
academy
suicide prevention WEEK
Community
Maryville finished third overall with a team score of 399 at the MEC tournament on Monday at Mozingo. Junior Amy Van de Ven led the way for the ’Hounds by shooting a 95 to finish fifth overall and earning allconference honors. Freshman Jessica Pfost and junior Shannon McClellan both shot 100 to finish in a tie for tenth and the final slots on the all-conference list.
cost of educating students, which still creates a problem for the state’s finances, but “more people pursuing higher education ultimately is a good thing for the state and state’s economy.” While the department usually recommends colleges and universities take steps to reduce costs, like using alternative fuels or
the worst
New effort underway to help students with stress By Philip Gruenwald Missourian Reporter Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in Missouri and it is the second leading cause of death among college students. “College exposes so many new stressors,” warns Ben Stricklin, graduate assistant with the Suicide Prevention Grant at the Wellness Center. “And students have to deal with them without the blanket of their parents.” Stricklin is just one of many committed staff at the Wellness Center focused on curbing the effects of stress, anxiety and depression at Northwest. He and fellow staff member Leslie Bowman, Project
Assistant for the Suicide Prevention Grant are going to great lengths to promote open communication between staff counselors and students about issues such as suicide, alcohol abuse, sexual identity and everything in between. “There’s this idea that you need to be crazy to talk to a counselor, and that idea is totally false,” said Stricklin. “Our main focus is to let students know that we’re here to talk.” “Our counselors are here to listen, free of charge, at any time of the day,” Bowman added. Extensive counseling is a product of the Suicide Prevention Grant, Northwest’s multifaceted response to teen angst on
campus blood drive FRESHMAN HEATHER SHUMAKE donates blood on Tuesday at the fall blood drive put on by Student Senate with help from Community Blood Center. The blood drive took place Monday through Wednesday. They gathered 63 units on the first day of the drive.
photo by lori frankenfield | chief photographer
campus. The grant, now in its fourth year, had expired in 2008. In order to gain the second grant, Northwest had to re-apply and compete with over one hundred other schools for the funding. Beau Dooley, director of wellness/assistant director of health services, authored the winning grant re-application proposal for the second round. This year marks the third academic year of Dooley’s crusade against suicide, although his efforts go far beyond suicide alone. “We’re trying to promote an environment of overall positive mental health. Tangentially,” Dooley continued, “we’re doing anything we can
to reach students with resources that contribute to their well-being.” Dooley’s means of outreach consist mainly of Residential Life seminars and counseling sessions. “In a one month period, Beau alone has reached over 655 students,” said Bowman. Dooley explains that he could not ask for a better environment. In a recent poll, 25 percent of Northwest students admit to feeling “so depressed that it’s difficult to function” at least once in the last 12 months. When asked if they had felt overwhelming anxiety at least once over a
See PREVENTION on A5
A new recruitment office in China will help the Missouri Academy expand its intercultural mission. “Inviting international students, is a way of achieving a certain level of intercultural diversity,” said Dr. Cleo Samudzi, dean of Missouri Academy at Northwest Missouri State University. This is the third agent the Academy has brought in over the last three years; the first two were from Panama and Korea. When the academy was first initiated, officials discussed how to internationalize the program, but wanted to focus on making the Academy a success before expanding to a bigger goal. Three years ago, they started pushing for more, in an effort to create a bigger experience for students Samudzi said the Academy is interested in “social and intercultural confidence of our students,” the ability of residents to work with people who are different, and acceptably. Samudzi said it can be achieved by creating a diverse community and intentionally introduce programs in the environment. These partnerships with international recruiters happened by chance, he said. “You put yourself out there, so that a chance happens,” Samudzi said. He also stressed it is harder to recruit students for the Academy because they are younger than the traditional international student on this campus. Samudzi said there are 25 students from other countries attending the Academy. He doesn’t expect the total number of students overseas to reach higher than 25 percent of the Academy’s total population. “We don’t want to get to a point where a Missouri resident is competing for a spot here,” Samudzi said. “This is a Missouri program, so we must benefit Missouri residents first.” The benefits can be tremendous for the Missouri Academy students because social interculturalism is important. “You develop critical thinking skills from working with people who are different from you,” Samudzi said. “This is becoming a global society.”