Oct. 11, 2024–Missouri Western State University’s College of Liberal Arts will host a panel discussion on political polarization at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 at the East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine, in the Theater Room.

The free event, titled “Donkeys, Elephants, and All the Drama: Political Polarization in the United States,” is designed to connect the St. Joseph community to Missouri Western while providing a public service in the days before the election.

The panel will explore how the liberal arts can help people understand aspects of polarization through the following frameworks:

• History of Political Polarization: Dr. Dominic DeBrincat, Social Sciences and Humanities and School of Fine Arts Chair


• Rhetoric of Polarization: Dr. David McMahan, Department of Communication Chair


• Social Dynamics of Polarization, Dr. Kelly Henry, Department of Psychology Chair


• Contemporary Polarized Landscape, Dr. Ed Taylor, Interim Assistant Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Each panelist will briefly present on their topic with time for discussion and audience questions to follow. All members of the Saint Joseph community are invited to join the conversation exploring how individuals’ choices can help find the lost middle of the American political landscape.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.

April 23, 2024–A team of four undergraduate students from Missouri Western State University won the Trisha Yarbrough Collaborative Research Competition at the Alpha Chi National Conference in Birmingham, Alabama on April 6. The victory came with a $5,000 award.

The winning team was made up of seniors Jordon Anderson, nursing major from St. Joseph; Juniper Brown, political science major from St. Joseph; Mercedes Mareske, digital animation major from Frankford, Missouri; and Tia Vernon, education major from North Kansas City, Missouri. Their research project was titled “Artificial Intelligence and Selective Exposure: Generating a Public Perception.” 

To compete, students from diverse majors collaborated on a scholarly paper centered on the conference theme, which was “Innovative Scholarship for Tumultuous Times.” Their project was sponsored by Dr. Angela Haas, associate professor of history. 

The Missouri Western Chapter of Alpha Chi, sponsored by Dr. Haas and Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology, celebrated its 35th anniversary this year as an honors society at MWSU.

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu. 

Feb. 23, 2024–Missouri Western’s Pop Culture Club is hosting two talks on campus in March. Both events are free and open to the public.

Professor of Philosophy Dr. Jim Okapal will present “Enhancement and Alienation in ‘Flowers for Algernon’” on March 1 at noon in Popplewell 207. 

Associate Professor of Cinema Toby Lawrence will present “John Cassavetes: Independent Cinema under the Influence” on March 29 at 12:30 p.m. in Spratt 205.

Pop Culture Club is an event series sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, featuring faculty and staff from several disciplines across campus. Organizer Dr. Susan Martens said the events are valuable to everyone.

“We have literature, we have film, we have all kinds of things,” Dr. Martens said. “And it’s fun.”

Following a short lecture about pop culture, attendees have time to talk in small groups. They talk about what they are watching, listening to and playing. Then there is question-and-answer time. 

Two additional events will take place later in the semester in conjunction with a new partnership with the Rolling Hills Public Library.

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.

March 16, 2021-Missouri Western State University received the 2021-2022 designation of Voter Friendly Campus from Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and Fair Election Center’s Campus Vote Project. This designation has been awarded to 234 colleges and universities across the United States including five in Missouri. Missouri Western’s designation is valid through December 2022.

Missouri Western’s team for achieving this designation was led by student Jordan Miller; Dr. Edwin Taylor, chair and associate professor of political science; and Dr. Hannah Piechowski, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students.

“I am beyond impressed by the work of Jordan Miller, our student who served as the Campus Election Engagement Project Fellow this year,” said Dr. Piechowski. “His ability to create effective programming in the midst of the pandemic and lead our group to receive this designation is truly incredible. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”

Designated universities had to engage their campus communities and promote voter registration and voting as part of their institutional mission. Missouri Western was eligible by writing a campus plan about how we would engage student voters in 2020, facilitate voter education and engagement efforts, and submit a final analysis of efforts. The goal of the Voter Friendly Campus designation program is to bolster efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process and develop a culture of democratic engagement on campus.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.

Oct. 11, 2024–Missouri Western State University’s College of Liberal Arts will host a panel discussion on political polarization at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 at the East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine, in the Theater Room.

The free event, titled “Donkeys, Elephants, and All the Drama: Political Polarization in the United States,” is designed to connect the St. Joseph community to Missouri Western while providing a public service in the days before the election.

The panel will explore how the liberal arts can help people understand aspects of polarization through the following frameworks:

• History of Political Polarization: Dr. Dominic DeBrincat, Social Sciences and Humanities and School of Fine Arts Chair


• Rhetoric of Polarization: Dr. David McMahan, Department of Communication Chair


• Social Dynamics of Polarization, Dr. Kelly Henry, Department of Psychology Chair


• Contemporary Polarized Landscape, Dr. Ed Taylor, Interim Assistant Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Each panelist will briefly present on their topic with time for discussion and audience questions to follow. All members of the Saint Joseph community are invited to join the conversation exploring how individuals’ choices can help find the lost middle of the American political landscape.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.

April 23, 2024–A team of four undergraduate students from Missouri Western State University won the Trisha Yarbrough Collaborative Research Competition at the Alpha Chi National Conference in Birmingham, Alabama on April 6. The victory came with a $5,000 award.

The winning team was made up of seniors Jordon Anderson, nursing major from St. Joseph; Juniper Brown, political science major from St. Joseph; Mercedes Mareske, digital animation major from Frankford, Missouri; and Tia Vernon, education major from North Kansas City, Missouri. Their research project was titled “Artificial Intelligence and Selective Exposure: Generating a Public Perception.” 

To compete, students from diverse majors collaborated on a scholarly paper centered on the conference theme, which was “Innovative Scholarship for Tumultuous Times.” Their project was sponsored by Dr. Angela Haas, associate professor of history. 

The Missouri Western Chapter of Alpha Chi, sponsored by Dr. Haas and Dr. Teddi Deka, professor of psychology, celebrated its 35th anniversary this year as an honors society at MWSU.

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu. 

Feb. 23, 2024–Missouri Western’s Pop Culture Club is hosting two talks on campus in March. Both events are free and open to the public.

Professor of Philosophy Dr. Jim Okapal will present “Enhancement and Alienation in ‘Flowers for Algernon’” on March 1 at noon in Popplewell 207. 

Associate Professor of Cinema Toby Lawrence will present “John Cassavetes: Independent Cinema under the Influence” on March 29 at 12:30 p.m. in Spratt 205.

Pop Culture Club is an event series sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, featuring faculty and staff from several disciplines across campus. Organizer Dr. Susan Martens said the events are valuable to everyone.

“We have literature, we have film, we have all kinds of things,” Dr. Martens said. “And it’s fun.”

Following a short lecture about pop culture, attendees have time to talk in small groups. They talk about what they are watching, listening to and playing. Then there is question-and-answer time. 

Two additional events will take place later in the semester in conjunction with a new partnership with the Rolling Hills Public Library.

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.

March 16, 2021-Missouri Western State University received the 2021-2022 designation of Voter Friendly Campus from Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and Fair Election Center’s Campus Vote Project. This designation has been awarded to 234 colleges and universities across the United States including five in Missouri. Missouri Western’s designation is valid through December 2022.

Missouri Western’s team for achieving this designation was led by student Jordan Miller; Dr. Edwin Taylor, chair and associate professor of political science; and Dr. Hannah Piechowski, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students.

“I am beyond impressed by the work of Jordan Miller, our student who served as the Campus Election Engagement Project Fellow this year,” said Dr. Piechowski. “His ability to create effective programming in the midst of the pandemic and lead our group to receive this designation is truly incredible. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”

Designated universities had to engage their campus communities and promote voter registration and voting as part of their institutional mission. Missouri Western was eligible by writing a campus plan about how we would engage student voters in 2020, facilitate voter education and engagement efforts, and submit a final analysis of efforts. The goal of the Voter Friendly Campus designation program is to bolster efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process and develop a culture of democratic engagement on campus.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.