Media Coverage highlights some of the top coverage, but does not serve as a comprehensive listing. This post will be updated with new highlights throughout the month and beyond.

Edward Bennett, associate professor of optometry, wrote the April 1 Contact Lens Spectrum article “A reporter from the 2013 GSLS meeting.”

Alumnus Aron Blanke, BM 1994 and MME 2004, was featured April 11 in the Ballwin-Ellisville (Mo.) Patch article “Which CCL teacher is Rockwood’s Elementary School Teacher of the Year?”

Amy Broadway, a student pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy, wrote the April 4 Psychology Today article “Living an ‘ordinary’ life with extraordinary abilities.”

Berit Brogaard, professor of philosophy, wrote the April 13 Psychology Today article “When the brain’s biological clock goes haywire.” Brogaard was wrote the April 22 in the Psychology Today article “Do you suffer from emotional pain or anxiety? Pop a Tylenol.” She wrote the April 20 Psychology Today article “Micro-inequities: 40 years later.” Brogaard wrote the April 23 Psychology Today article “‘I can easily beat black jack.’” She wrote the April 26 Psychology Today article “Struck by Lightning.”

Niyi Coker, the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of African/African American Studies, was quoted April 14 in the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World article “Film festival at KU to showcase reality of Africa.”

Julie Dunn-Morton, senior manuscript specialist for the St. Louis Mercantile Library, was quoted April 20 in The Edwardsville (Ill.) Intelligencer article “St. Louis Mercantile Library plans annual show, sale.”

Cynthia Dupureur, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was quoted April 4 in the Riverfront Times article “Adrenaline boost: Music is more than a soundtrack for sports.”

Tim Eby, general manager of St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU, was quoted April 19 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “KWMU, Beacon online publication merging soon?”

Thomas Eyssell, associate dean of the College of Business Administration, was quoted April 3 in the St. Louis Business Journal article “$1.3 million UMSL study tracks credit report errors.”

Chancellor Tom George was quoted April 18 in The St. Louis American article “AT&T invests in STEM at UMSL.” George was quoted April 24 in the Maryland Heights (Mo.) Patch article “Summer STARS program to draw students from across the nation to UMSL.”

Megan Green, director of new student programs, was quoted in the April 19 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “10 necessities for college students.”

Alumna Kenya Haney, BSN 2010, was featured April 18 in The St. Louis American article “Health salute: Eight excellent awardees.”

Beth Huebner, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, was interviewed on April 1 for a KMOX (1120 AM) story about St. Louis gun crimes and gangs. The story was picked up by the Associated Press, appearing in news media outlets throughout the United States.

Dan Isom, professor of policing and the community, was featured April 3 in the St. Louis Review article “Former Police Chief Dan Isom says Catholic faith has played a role in his career.”

David Kimball, professor of political science, was quoted April 6 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article “Voting change helped the GOP.”

David Klinger, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, was quoted in the April 16 KTVI (Channel 2) story “Boston bombs meant to maim and kill; easy to build.” Klinger was interviewed for the April 19 KPLR (Channel 11) story “Terrorism expert breaks down Boston bombings.” He was quoted April 23 in The Los Angeles Times article “Women shot during Dorner manhunt to receive $4.2 million from L.A.”

Martin Leifeld, vice chancellor for university advancement, was quoted April 19 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “KWMU, Beacon online publication merging soon?”

Kristian Marlow, a student pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy, wrote the April 10 Psychology Today article “OCD, Tourette’s syndrome and addition: A real distinction?” Marlow wrote the April 17 Psychology Today article “Does colorblindness discriminate?”

Stephanie Merritt, assistant professor of psychology, co-wrote the April 8 St. Louis Post-Dispatch letter to the editor “Workplace smoking: The cost of perceived fairness and performance.”

Matthew Milunski, research assistant in the College of Nursing, co-wrote the April 8 St. Louis Post-Dispatch letter to the editor “Workplace smoking: The cost of perceived fairness and performance.”

Deb Moberly, adjunct associate professor of secondary and K-12 education, was featured April 22 in the Creve Coeur (Mo.) Patch article “Ask the Patch pro: Early childhood development expert to answer questions Thursday.” Moberly was featured in the article “Ask the Patch pro: Early childhood development expert to answer questions,” which appeared April 25 on several St. Louis-area Patch websites.

Charles Nowell, a junior majoring in studio art, was mentioned April 11 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Beer love goes from Soulard to Edwardsville and beyond.”

Hannah Perryman, a freshman softball player majoring in criminology and criminal justice, was featured April 6 in the Elgin (Ill.) Courier News article “College report: Hannah Perryman in top form at UMSL.”

Andrea Purnell, communications coordinator at Missouri Institute of Mental Health, was featured April 4 in the Ladue (Mo.) News article “2013 Visionary Awards.”

J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Political Science, wrote the letter to the editor “Terrorist require different treatment than garden-variety criminals,” which ran April 24 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Rick Rosenfeld, Curators’ Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, was quoted April 20 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Success of Boston surveillance photos cited in support for broader system here.”

Vicki Sauter, professor of information systems, was interviewed for the April 29 KTVI (Channel 2) story “Contact 2: Schnucks Cyber Attack.”

Staci Shelton, a junior majoring in public policy and administration, was quoted April 6 in the St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU story “At global conference, students inspired to tackle local problems.”

Helene Sherman, associate dean of the College of Education, discussed why improving math literacy in the U.S. is important at a young age on the April 9 episode of “St. Louis on the Air,” a program on St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU.

Matt Taylor, assistant professor of psychology, was interviewed for the April 29 KSDK (Channel 5) story “Professor talks about affect Collins will have on athletes.”

Kenneth Thomas, professor of political science, was quoted April 3 in the Florida Watchdog article “Not everyone agrees with Scott’s corporate tax cuts.” Thomas wrote the April 10 U.S. News & World Report column “Want jobs back? Axe business tax subsidies.” He wrote the April 11 Business Insider article “Obama could undo all progress made against senior poverty since 1965.” Thomas was quoted April 12 in the Moneynews.com article “Using chained CPI risks a senior poverty crisis.” He wrote the April 14 Business Insider article “There’s been a big global move against tax havens in the past week.” Thomas wrote the April 24 U.S. News & World Report column “The beginning of the end for austerity” He wrote the April 26 Business Insider article “Germany’s aggressive hunt for tax evaders is paying off.”

Whittney Thompson, a junior majoring in psychology, was quoted April 14 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Reality of clean-up eclipses excitement from Hazelwood tornado.”

Mark Tranel, director of the Public Policy Research Center, was quoted April 21 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Sales taxes in St. Louis relentlessly on the rise.”

Student performance group Vocal Point was featured in an Associated Press photograph while singing by a makeshift Boston Marathon bombing memorial in Boston. The photo ran in newspapers and media websites throughout the United States.

Alumnus Brant Walker, BSBA 1987, was quoted April 10 in the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat article “Write-in candidate defeats Alton mayor.”

Eamonn Wall, Smurfit-Stone Corporation Professor of Irish Studies, was featured March 27 article “Wall sees parallels in our two Wests.” Wall was quoted April 23 in The Portland (Maine) Daily Sun article “Spring poet at UNE raises timely issues of identity and place.”

Jim Widner, director of jazz studies, discussed the 10th annual Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival April 12 on “Cityscape,” a program on St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU. Widner was quoted April 17 in the St. Louis Beacon article “Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival celebrates a strong decade.” He was interviewed on April 17 by KPLR (Channel 11) about the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival.

Abigail Wood, a junior, was featured on April 15 by West Newsmagazine (St. Louis County).

Ron Yasbin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted April 5 in the University City (Mo.) Patch article “U City student receives award from UMSL.” Yasbin was quoted April 12 in the Town and Country-Manchester (Mo.) Patch article “Parkway South student honored for foreign language excellence.” He was quoted April 5 in the Sunset Hills-Crestwood (Mo.) Patch article “Student’s foreign language achievement leads to award at UMSL.”

Dan Younger, professor of art, was featured April 12 in the University City (Mo.) Patch article “U City resident, UMSL professor to appear on C-SPAN.”

This George Caleb Bingham 1854 print, titled “The County Election,” represents the type of art buyers will discover at the seventh annual St. Louis Mercantile Library Fine Print, Rare Book and Paper Arts Fair at UMSL. The fair will be held May 3, 4 and 5 at the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center on UMSL’s north campus.

Organizers are expecting up to 1,000 art and rare-book collectors to pack this year’s St. Louis Mercantile Library Fine Print, Rare Book and Paper Arts Fair at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The number of dealers has increased to 25 this year and includes a fine-art gallery in Chesterfield, Mo.

“We’ve added two new dealers to the fair, in addition to welcoming back the dealers who’ve helped us build the fair these past seven years,” said Julie Dunn-Morton, curator of fine art collections at the Mercantile Library. “And we’re excited to add contemporary photography to the list of artwork being offered.”

Twenty-five local and national print and rare book dealers will display their art, books and ephemera from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 4 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 5 in the J.C. Penney Building and Conference Center at UMSL. Admission is $5 for members and $7 for nonmembers per day and $2 for students and UMSL Alumni Association members with an ID.

An opening night benefit preview of the print fair will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., May 3. Preview tickets are $40 each or two for $70 for members; $50 each or two for $90 for nonmembers and $25 for young collectors 35 years of age and younger. The preview will offer a first look at the dealers’ booths and a benefit silent auction. The ticket price includes wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres at the party and admission all weekend.

One of the Mercantile’s returning dealers, Stevens Fine Art from Phoenix handles American and European art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries (1850-1950) and includes Depression-era art; New York urban and city subjects as well as Works Progress Administration and California impressionists. New this year are Stephen Ryan Fine Arts featuring rare art books and fine prints, and Photography Past & Present with works by contemporary American photographers.

Also returning this year will be Kiechel Fine Art, specialists in the work of Thomas Hart Benton; Anthony Garnett with his antiquarian, first-edition and international book titles; New York’s Susan Teller Gallery featuring American art of the 1930s and 40s, especially industrial realism and modernism; and Judith Haudrich Antique Prints specializing in 17th–19th century botanical and historical subjects.

Three local artists will be on hand on May 5 to offer lively demonstrations: The Firecracker Press, a graphic design and letterpress print shop; water colorist Daven Anderson; and Joanne Kluba from Paper Birds, book design, binding and artwork.

Proceeds from the preview and fair will benefit the Mercantile Library collections acquisition and conservation funds. Visit the print fair website or call 314-516-6740 for more information.

The St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri–St. Louis is the oldest cultural institution in Missouri and the oldest library in continuous existence west of the Mississippi River. Founded by philanthropic businessmen in the 1840s as a subscription library, the Mercantile is a library of American history and culture whose collections include manuscripts, books, maps and art. It contains the largest research collection in North America on railroad history and inland waterways heritage, as well as one of the largest collections of rare and documentary photographs, historic newspapers and archives in the state of Missouri. 

Read more about the print fair in The Edwardsville (Ill.) Intelligencer.

Café TJ in the Thomas Jefferson Library at UMSL is celebrating its grand opening this week. (Photo by August Jennewein)

In case you missed a chance last month to try out the newest campus coffee bar at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, here’s a good reason to check it out now.

Café TJ, located in the Thomas Jefferson Library, is holding its grand opening through Jan. 25. Sodexo, UMSL’s food service, is offering 50 cents off any Starbucks drink during grand opening week.

The new Café TJ, carved from unused office space adjacent to the library’s main entrance, offers a full range of Starbucks coffees, snacks, sandwiches, salads and wraps. Café hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Café hours will be abbreviated during breaks and the summer session.

Christopher Dames, dean of libraries and a former UMSL student, is excited about the project.

“I really think the students will enjoy it,” he said. “It’s a place you can meet your friends, relax, eat a meal, watch television and work on your laptop (there’s Wi-Fi). And when the weather warms up, there are new tables and chairs just outside the café. Those were a gift from student affairs.”

Dames credits library staff for the café’s ambiance. They chose colors, fabrics and furniture.

“I think the committee did a terrific job,” he said.

And if you’ve forgotten the rules for eating and drinking in the library, here they are. Inside the café, you can eat and drink all you want. The bright, sunny space has lots of tables and chairs, some with electrical outlets to plug in your laptop. Inside the library, the old rules apply. No food is allowed and drinks have to be covered in spill-proof containers.

Media Coverage highlights some of the top coverage, but does not serve as a comprehensive listing. This post will be updated with new highlights throughout the month and beyond.

Kara Cissell, junior in nursing, was quoted Oct. 28 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Camp Rainbow celebrates 25 years of helping sick kids.”

Tim Eby, general manager of St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU, was quoted Oct. 24 in the Quincy (Ill.) Herald-Whig article “St. Louis, Quincy public radio stations raise $478,000.”

Susan Feigenbaum, professor of economics, was quoted Oct. 1 in the St. Louis Beacon article “At issue: Two years after ACA becomes law, debate over costs and responsibility continues.”

William Fischetti, associate director of University Archives, was interviewed for the Oct. 11 KSDK (Channel 5) story “Hey Heidi: Who is John O’Fallon and why is he important to our area.”

Chancellor Tom George was mentioned Oct. 5 in the Florissant (Mo.) Patch article “St. Louis Police Chief to join UMSL, Gateway for Greatness Campaign boosts access, excellence.”

John Hoover, director of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, was quoted Oct. 14 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Explosion of printed books outpaced Internet age.”

Beth Huebner, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, was quoted Oct. 1 in the St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU story “Youth violence in East St. Louis, Mayor Parks: We cannot tolerate it.”

Alumnus Daniel Isom, BS 1994, MA 2003 and PhD 2008 criminology and criminal justice, was mentioned Oct. 5 in the Florissant (Mo.) Patch article “St. Louis Police Chief to join UMSL, Gateway for Greatness Campaign boosts access, excellence.” Isom was mentioned Oct. 3 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “UMSL may play role in selection of next St. Louis police chief.” He was featured in the KSDK (Channel 5) story “Chief Daniel Isom to become UMSL professor.” Isom was mentioned Oct. 11 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “UMSL defines role it wants to play in selection of next St. Louis police chief.”

Terry Jones, professor of political science, was quoted Oct. 1 in the McClatchy Tribune News Service article “Stalwart Missouri conservatives stick with Todd Akin for Senate.”

David Kimball, associate professor of political science, was quoted Oct. 4 in the St. Louis Beacon article “In debate over style, assertive Romney may have outflanked Obama.”

Noah Kirby, adjunct assistant professor of art, was quoted Oct. 2 in the Suburban Journals (Collinsville, Ill.) article “Industrial art conference returns to Granite City.”

David Klinger, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, was mentioned Oct. 5 in the Associated Press article “FBI official: ‘Strong’ indications shooting of 2 border agents in Arizona was friendly fire.” The article ran in USA Today, The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News and on websites for about 250 media outlets in 42 states and Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Klinger was quoted Oct. 11 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “UMSL defines role it wants to play in selection of next St. Louis police chief.” He was quoted Oct. 23 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article “Brown Deer police failed to protect the public, officials say.” Klinger was quoted Oct. 24 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article “Brown Deer police need to provide answers.” He was quoted Oct. 31 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution article “Murky details mean tough call in MARTA shooting.”

Haim Mano, associate professor of marketing, was quoted Oct. 5 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Layaway not perfect, but an increasingly good option.” The article also appeared in numerous newspapers throughout the United States.

Alumnus Doug Mertzlufft, BSBA 1984, was featured Oct. 12 in the St. Louis Construction News and Review article “Mertzlufft named Guarantee president.”

Richard Middleton, associate professor of political science, was quoted Oct. 1 in the St. Louis Beacon article “No place like home: Annually, thousands of immigrants naturalize here, but do they vote?” Middleton was quoted Oct. 2 in the St. Louis Beacon article “No place like home: New Americans don’t vote for many reasons, but life here might fix that.”

Michael Murray, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Media Studies, was mentioned Oct. 5 in the Florissant (Mo.) Patch article “St. Louis Police Chief to join UMSL, Gateway for Greatness Campaign boosts access, excellence.”

Alumnus Clark Porter, BSW 2009, was featured Oct. 4 in the St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU story “Unlikely secret weapon: Former felon becomes probation worker.”

Dave Robertson, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Political Science, was quoted in the October St. Louis Magazine article “Missouri political races to watch.” Robertson was quoted Oct. 1 in the KMOX (1120) story “UMSL professor: On Wednesday’s presidential debate.” He was quoted Oct. 4 in The Kansas City (Mo.) Star article “McCaskill surges in polls as Akin’s abortion comments draw fire.” He was quoted Oct. 1 in the McClatchy Tribune News Service article “Stalwart Missouri conservatives stick with Todd Akin for Senate.”

J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Political Science, was featured Oct. 25 in the St. Louis Jewish Light article “The Jewish vote: What does it mean? Does it matter?”

Richard Rosenfeld, Curators’ Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, was quoted Oct. 11 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “UMSL defines role it wants to play in selection of next St. Louis police chief.” Rosenfeld was quoted Oct. 24 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “St. Charles County deputy’s unusual conviction fuels inter-agency feud.” He was quoted Oct. 2 in the St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU story “Department calls ‘hotspot policing’ a success.” Rosenfeld was interviewed for the Oct. 2 KSDK (Channel 5) story “Results of ‘hot spot’ policing released.” He was quoted Oct. 2 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “St. Louis police initiative reports drop in violent crimes.” Rosenfeld was quoted Oct. 13 in The Washington Post article “As D.C. homicides decline, murder still a stubborn crime to solve and prosecute.”

Uma Segal, professor of social work, was quoted Oct. 1 in the St. Louis Beacon article “No place like home: Annually, thousands of immigrants naturalize here, but do they vote?” Segal was quoted Oct. 2 in the St. Louis Beacon article “No place like home: New Americans don’t vote for many reasons, but life here might fix that.”

Wally Siewert, director for the Center for Ethics in Public Life, was quoted Oct. 7 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Missouri term limits debated.”

Kenneth Thomas, professor of political science, was quoted Oct. 6 in the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News article “State handing millions to businesses who threaten to move.” Thomas wrote the Oct. 4 Business Insider article “Romney’s tax plan is as budget-busting as ever.” He was quoted Oct. 4 in the MSNBC story “Debate wrap: Substance.”

Alumnus Grayling Tobias, BSEd 1980, was quoted Oct. 13 in the Florissant (Mo.) Patch article “Hazelwood interim superintendent commits to schools, community excellence.”

Chancellor Emeritus Blanche Touhill was quoted Oct. 25 in the St. Louis Beacon article “UMSL plaza will remember Marguerite Ross Barnett.”

The photograph was taken by UMSL photographer August Jennewein and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL.

Jamie Zurliene, academic adviser in the Office of International Studies and Programs, discusses “You Can’t Teach Through a Rat and Other Epiphanies for Educators” with author Marvin Berkowitz, the Sanford N. “McDonnell Endowed Professor of Character Education at UMSL, during the Dec. 7 Faculty Author Reception. (Photo by August Jennewein)

The location might have changed, but the premise of the annual Faculty Author Reception at the University of Missouri–St. Louis was the same.

The reception was created four years ago by Ron Yasbin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, to highlight scholarly excellence at UMSL. Formerly held in the Millennium Student Center, this year the St. Louis Mercantile Library and Chris Dames, dean of libraries at UMSL, took on hosting duties. The reception on Dec. 7 attracted a steady stream of visitors who chatted with authors, editors and composers.

“It’s wonderful that we can hold such an important event like this for the faculty, in this amazing space within the St. Louis Mercantile Library,” Dames said.

Among the more than 40 UMSL faculty books and CDs featured was the cleverly titled “You Can’t Teach Through a Rat and Other Epiphanies for Educators” by Marvin Berkowitz, the Sanford N. McDonnell Endowed Professor of Character Education, the insightful “Financial Forensics: The Science of Derivatives” by D’Anne Weise, associate professor of finance, and the historical “Founding St. Louis: First City of the New West” by Fred Fausz, associate professor of history.

Barbara Harbach, professor of music, had several CDs featured during the reception including “Music of Barbara Harbach – Music for Strings with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vol. 7″ and “Emily! For Soprano, Trumpet and Piano.”

“This is a great way to highlight the outstanding research of UMSL scholars,” said Keith Womer, dean of the College of Business Administration. “Research is a critical part of academia, and it’s important that we celebrate these achievements.”

The new Café TJ in the Thomas Jefferson Library offers a wide range of Starbucks coffees, salads, sandwiches, snacks and more. (Photo by August Jennewein)

Cramming just got a lot more enjoyable. Just in time for finals week at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, a new café has opened inside the Thomas Jefferson Library.

The new Café TJ, carved from unused office space adjacent to the main door, opened for business Dec. 3. Featuring a full range of Starbucks coffees, the café also serves snacks, sandwiches, salads and wraps prepared by Sodexo, the campus’ food service provider. Café hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Café hours will be abbreviated during breaks and the summer session.

Just in case you’ve forgotten the rules for eating and drinking in the library, here they are. Inside the café, you can eat and drink all you want. The bright, sunny space has lots of tables and chairs, some with electrical outlets to plug in your laptop. Inside the library, the old rules apply. No food allowed and drinks have to be covered in spill-proof containers.

Library hours have been extended the weeks of Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 to accommodate increased library activity for finals.

The weather forecast this week includes record-breaking high temperatures. That should entice students, faculty and staff to grab an iced latte and head for the new outdoor seating in front of the library.

The Herman T.Pott National Inland Waterways Library at UMSL will honor university alumnus and author Earl Swift and marine photographer Gregory Thorp for their writing and photography, respectively, on the nation's rivers, lakes and ports. A dinner and award ceremony will be held Dec. 1.

Earl Swift travels the world and writes about what he sees and hears. For his powerful narratives and meticulous reporting he’s been named a PEN finalist, a five-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and earned a Fulbright fellowship.

Gregory Thorp travels America’s inland waterways taking photographs of the machines that ply the water and mariners who work on them. He has produced two books, “Rivers Run Past” and a “Year of Corn” which won special recognition by the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

Both men will travel to the University of Missouri–St. Louis Dec. 1 to be honored for their work by the Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library. The dinner and award ceremony will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. in the St. Louis Mercantile Library, which is located in the Thomas Jefferson Library at UMSL. Cost for the event is $37.50 per person.

Swift, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at UMSL in 1993, will receive the Captain Donald T. Wright Award for his book, “Journey on the James: Three Weeks Through the Heart of Virginia.” Swift traveled the 435-mile journey with a photographer in a plastic canoe and chronicled the river’s history as home to the continent’s first English settlement, a highway for Native Americans and early colonists and a battleground in the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

Thorp will receive the James V. Swift Medal, named for the longtime columnist, business manager, advertising manager and vice president of the Waterways Journal, known as the “Riverman’s Bible.” Thorp’s large format photographs were recently installed in the Seamen’s Church Institute in their centers in Paducah, Ky.; Houston, Tex.; Oakland, Cal.; and Port Newark, N.J.

The Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library is a special library within the St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL. It is one of America’s great historical research libraries since 1846. The Mercantile Library greatly expanded its waterways-related holdings in 1985 by establishing the Pott Library.

Herman T. Pott, who died in 1982, was one of the 20th century’s best known river transportation executives and pioneer river industry entrepreneurs. During World War II his company constructed ships for the United States and Russia, and by the 1950s, was the world’s largest designer and builder of inland river towboats.

For more information, download an Adobe PDF invitation. To make a reservation, call Sean Visintainer at 314-516-7244.

The history of presidential elections in the U.S. is captured with buttons, cartoons, ribbons and assorted political ephemera in the current exhibit "Presidents and Politics" at the St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL. The exhibit is free and open to the public through Jan. 27. (Photo by August Jennewein)

If the current presidential election campaign leaves you yearning for the good old days when civil discourse reigned in American politics, stop by “Presidents and Politics,” the current exhibit at the St. Louis Mercantile Library located in the Thomas Jefferson Library at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. You may be surprised.

“We Don’t Want Eleanor Either,” said a button from 1940, a reference to the wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was seeking an unprecedented third term. A 1964 button implored: “Keep America Beautiful, Get Rid of the ‘Birds,’” referring to President Lyndon Johnson’s wife and daughter, known as Lady Bird and Linda Bird Johnson.

This exhibit is selected from the more than 3,000 items of political ephemera in the Dr. Allen B. and Helen S. Shopmaker collection. It tells the story of American politics from President Washington to President Obama and how candidates use images, slogans and symbols to woo the public. And when the public had a chance, it expressed itself in political cartoons, posters and music.

One cartoon from the 1912 election shows a very tall Uncle Sam poking a diminutive Teddy Roosevelt in the nose. TR is dressed as a baseball player. Standing behind Uncle Sam is a roly-poly ballplayer depicting William Howard Taft. The caption reads, “Back up; you’ve batted twice,” a reference to Roosevelt’s attempt to run for a third term. Taft won the election.

A handwritten ledger from the 1824 election in St. Louis lists voters with names familiar to most residents: Benton, Clayton, Forsythe, Lindell, McKnight. John Quincy Adams won that election against Andrew Jackson. And a voting booth from Lee County, Fla., reminds visitors of the highly contested election in 2000 when “hanging chads” and the U.S. Supreme Court decided the results in favor George W. Bush.

The exhibit, which runs through Jan. 27, is free and open to the public. Visit the St. Louis Mercantile Library for hours and more information. Tours are available Saturday and Sunday. Group tours can be arranged at other times. Call 314-516-7248.

The Shopmaker collection was a gift to the Mercantile Library. Allen B. Shopmaker was a longtime Clayton, Mo., veterinarian. For more than 25 years, he and his wife, Helen, taught English to new immigrants and foreign students at the International Institute in St. Louis. In 2002 they endowed a professorship in their name at UMSL in collaboration with Springboard to Learning.

This photo from the 1960s of UMSL's cafeteria in the old Administration Building might trigger the memories of former students, faculty and staff. If it does, contact Raleigh Muns at the Thomas Jefferson Library. He will be gathering oral histories for "Echoes of UMSL," one of many Jubilee projects slated for 2013.

If you like telling your kids how you met their mother in biology class in 1979, or impressing your co-workers about record keeping before computers, then Raleigh Muns wants to hear from you.

Muns, a librarian at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, is looking for people with a story to tell about their experiences at the university. He will use those stories to create “Echoes of UMSL – An Oral History Project,” one of the many Jubilee programs being scheduled for the university’s upcoming 50th anniversary.

“We are looking for UMSL constituents, people who have a connection with the university and a story to tell,” Muns said. “Alumni, friends, retirees, current employees, students, even their parents or kids. We think the strength of this project will be the rank and file.”

The project has received $1,000 for equipment, one of many Jubilee programs funded from the university’s $50,000 Jubilee Awards budget. The oral history project is sponsored by University Archives and the Chancellor’s Cultural Diversity Initiative committee. The oral histories will be posted on those two websites.

Muns explained that unlike lengthy, more formal types of oral history projects, “Echoes of UMSL” will be a short, 10-minute conversation captured on a small digital recorder. His questions will be scripted, but the answers will belong to the storyteller.

“I’m cutting down on the technology, keeping it simple,” he said. “The stories are what’s most important.”

The setup will be simple and portable, which will allow Muns to record stories around campus.

“We’ll be doing many of them on the spot, and we’re not adverse to going to people’s homes if necessary,” he said. “Ideally, we can get at least one person with a UMSL connection to each of UMSL’s 50 years.”

Muns anticipates there will be many opportunities around campus and social media for the stories to be shared.

“It would be nice to have them for the next big anniversary,” he said.

Muns hopes to start collecting stories next month, and they will run throughout 2013. If you or someone you know has a UMSL story to tell, contact Raleigh Muns at muns@umsl.edu.