Stories by Ryan Heinz

Search Filters

Categories

Archives

Hip-hop violinist goes from LA streets to Touhill stage

Hip-hop violinist goes from LA streets to Touhill stage

Josh Vietti is not your typical classically trained violinist. That has less to do with his preferred laidback stage attire (usually including a baseball cap and T-shirt) than his sound. The hip-hop violinist is making a name for himself as a genre-defying artist less likely to play Tchaikovsky than Kanye or “Kashmir.”

Eye on UMSL: Studying abroad

Eye on UMSL: Studying abroad

Students from Rikkyo University in Tokyo found the large tables in the St. Louis Mercantile Library a perfect place to work on their homework. The undergraduate students, all business majors, are participants in a monthlong program at UMSL. They attend classes, visit the region’s cultural and entertainment attractions, and spend a weekend with a host family to familiarize and learn about American customs.

UMSL campaign nets more than $150 million

UMSL campaign nets more than $150 million

The University of Missouri–St. Louis was raising about $7 million a year when campus officials decided in 2005 to launch its first-ever comprehensive campaign – with a $100 million goal that made some nervous. That angst appears to be for naught.

Political scientists break down August election

Political scientists break down August election

On a national level, the November election will be the most important in four years. But for St. Louisans, the election Tuesday (Aug. 7) was also a big deal. Or as it was aptly written by University of Missouri–St. Louis political scientist Terry Jones in a St. Louis Beacon commentary last week, “If you want to decide who would best serve your views in the U.S. House of Representatives or Missouri General Assembly, don’t wait until November.

Eye on UMSL: Barnett Memorial Plaza

Eye on UMSL: Barnett Memorial Plaza

A crew makes progress on July 27 on the Chancellor Marguerite Ross Barnett Memorial Plaza. It will commemorate the lasting accomplishments of Barnett (1942-1992), who led the university from 1986 to 1990. The plaza is scheduled to open during the fall semester and is adjacent to Express Scripts Hall and the Social Sciences & Business Building Tower on the university’s North Campus.

Muny leader, former senator to speak at summer commencement

Muny leader, former senator to speak at summer commencement

Nearly 300 University of Missouri–St. Louis students will experience a summer highlight Saturday (Aug. 4) when they receive their college diplomas. Two commencement ceremonies will be held in the Mark Twain Athletic & Fitness Center on North Campus at UMSL.

FBI seminar educates about research protection

FBI seminar educates about research protection

A case of a university professor prosecuted for transferring controlled defense technology to foreign national graduate students was used as a cautionary tale during a recent FBI Academic Alliance Seminar hosted by the Center for Nanoscience at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Eye on UMSL: FBI Seminar

Eye on UMSL: FBI Seminar

FBI Special Agent Tom Barlow discusses the case of Glenn Duffie Shriver, a Michigan man serving four years in prison for attempting to spy for China.

New Natural Bridge out now

New Natural Bridge out now

Each new Natural Bridge issue has already been read many times over before the University of Missouri–St. Louis literary journal reaches the hands of its subscribers. Issue No. 27, released last week, was no exception.

Historian discusses ‘our friends, the killer robots’

Historian discusses ‘our friends, the killer robots’

With his most recent book, “Sublime Dreams of Living Machines,” Minsoo Kang tracked our love-hate relationships with robots, automata and other machines that mimic human behavior. The associate professor of history at the University of Missouri–St. Louis further discussed the topic in a feature about his work that ran in St. Louis Magazine.

Eye on UMSL: Anticipation

Eye on UMSL: Anticipation

UMSL groundskeeper Kevin Usery attaches a new Jubilee banner to a light pole on campus in anticipation of next year’s celebration of the university’s founding in 1963. Plans are in the works for a year’s worth of events that will kick off in January. The picture, by campus photographer August Jennewein, is the latest to be featured at Eye on UMSL.

Top dancers to tap at Touhill

Top dancers to tap at Touhill

As dance styles go, tap won’t be confused for contemporary. But it certainly isn’t dead yet. Need proof? Exhibit A: The St. Louis Tap Festival, now in its 21st year.

Media Coverage: July 2012

Media Coverage: July 2012

The University of Missouri–St. Louis makes a significant impact on the St. Louis area. Stories about the university, its scholars and their expertise are often covered by local and national news media.

Sidewalk tour, film screening look back at Pruitt-Igoe

Sidewalk tour, film screening look back at Pruitt-Igoe

Pruitt-Igoe was supposed to be the new model of urban housing and the answer to low-cost housing needs and overcrowding in post-World War II St. Louis. But within 20 years, several of the 33 11-story apartment buildings constituting Pruitt-Igoe would lie in rubble following their widely televised demolition. Thick, overgrown foliage and trees now blanket the vacant site where the uniform high-rises once stood.

Eye on UMSL: Buzz worthy

Eye on UMSL: Buzz worthy

Eleanor Balson (center, holding wooden shelf) leads the beekeeping seminar “Is your hive healthy?” on July 12 at UMSL. Balson is an apiary inspector for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. She was on campus for the Heartland Apicultural Society Annual Conference, which runs July 12-14 and offers informational sessions and hands-on instruction to beekeepers of all skill levels. The picture, by campus photographer August Jennewein, is the latest to be featured at Eye on UMSL.

Eye on UMSL: Corned beef on rye

Eye on UMSL: Corned beef on rye

UMSL alumni siblings Robert “Max” Protzel, BSBA 2004, and Erica Protzel, BFA 2008, serve up Protzel’s Delicatessen’s signature corned beef on rye with a pickle, which the family-owned establishment has been serving since 1954.

Tedeschi Trucks Band to play bluesy Touhill show

Tedeschi Trucks Band to play bluesy Touhill show

While Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi have been spouses for more than a decade, their musical marriage is just two years old. But they’ve packed in plenty of accolades in that time as leaders of the 11-piece Tedeschi Trucks Band including a Grammy Award for Best Blues Album for TTB’s debut “Revelator.”

Optometrist talks importance of treating kids

Optometrist talks importance of treating kids

Treating children isn’t always easy for optometrists. One of the most difficult aspects of the job is getting children to the office for a visit, according to the June issue of EyeCare Professional Magazine. Dr. Aaron Franzel, chief of binocular vision and pediatric services at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, told the magazine that parents tend to delay their child’s first eye exam due to confusion or misconceptions on how old the child should be.

Eye on UMSL: Computer part art

Eye on UMSL: Computer part art

Xtreme IT! participants (from left) Cameron Caves, Manyongbe Kamara, Thinh Nguyen and Amani Coleman dig through boxes of old computer parts while looking for pieces to be used in an art project. Vicki Sauter, professor of information systems at UMSL and co-founder of Xtreme IT!, said the goal of the art project was to show the reusability of the computer and its parts

Women are crucial to future of IT in US

Women are crucial to future of IT in US

Information technology is pervasive in our lives. Whether using an app on a smart phone or a program for work, we are increasingly using computers more. In addition to business applications, there are applications for helping us meet people, run our home and plan our finances and even our vacations.

Novelist’s book makes ‘great summer reading’ list

Novelist’s book makes ‘great summer reading’ list

To paraphrase KMOX (1120), you don’t have to travel far from the University of Missouri–St. Louis campus to find great summer reading. “The Inverted Forest” by John Dalton, director of the MFA in Creative Writing program at UMSL, made the radio station’s list of “Books by St. Louis authors to read this summer.”

Eye on UMSL: Big camps on campus

Eye on UMSL: Big camps on campus

Saxophonist Dave Pietro leads a Jazz Camp class in J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center at UMSL. Held June 10-15, it’s one of several precollegiate camps on campus each summer. Others include Girls Leadership Camp, STARS, UMSL Bridge Program Summer Academy, Xtreme IT! Summer Academy and UMSL Boys Basketball Camps. The picture, by campus photographer August Jennewein, is the latest to be featured at Eye on UMSL.

Media Coverage: July 2012

Media Coverage: June 2012

The University of Missouri–St. Louis makes a significant impact on the St. Louis area. Stories about the university, its scholars and their expertise are often covered by local and national news media.

Big Muddy Dance Company to jazz up Touhill stage

Big Muddy Dance Company to jazz up Touhill stage

The art form of jazz has roots that run deep in many American cities, including St. Louis. The Big Muddy Dance Company taps into the city’s jazz heritage for its performances. The downtown St. Louis-based company will next present its eclectic repertoire of new and classic dance works at the University of Missouri–St. Louis

Golfer earns Midwest All-Region, team honors

Golfer earns Midwest All-Region, team honors

Sophomore Joe Atkisson led the University of Missouri–St. Louis men’s golf team with a scoring average of 75.88 this season, while earning a bid to the NCAA Midwest/South Central Regional. His excellent season has led to him being named to the NCAA Division II PING Midwest All-Region team.

Celebrated choral groups to converge at Touhill

Celebrated choral groups to converge at Touhill

Many of the world’s best a cappella voices will fill the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall during a pair of performance June 23 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Media Coverage: July 2012

Media Coverage: May 2012

The University of Missouri–St. Louis makes a significant impact on the St. Louis area. Stories about the university, its scholars and their expertise are often covered by local and national news media.

Eye on UMSL: Opportunity Scholars

Eye on UMSL: Opportunity Scholars

UMSL sophomore Elle Fitzpatrick (left) was on hand June 6 at the Provincial House to welcome new students (from left) Ashley O’Neal, Ellen Vehige, Eric’el Johnson and Mihaela Stoyanova.

Women are crucial to future of IT in US

In defense of the F-word in K-16 education

Recently I received an email from a student unlike any message I have received in 40 years as a college professor. It is worth noting for what it says not so much about this student as about the culture we have now created within K-16 education in America. Commenting on the failing grade the student received in one of my courses, the individual wrote that s/he had “complied” with the paper and tests and that it was I, the instructor, who had failed insofar as I had not done what it took to enable a passing grade and had not given adequate warning of failure. The student concluded that “you should be embarrassed to give a student an F and demanded a refund of the money charged for the course.

Alumna earns Optometrist of Year honor

Alumna earns Optometrist of Year honor

Dr. Karen Aldridge recently earned the highest award an optometrist can receive from the Kansas Optometric Association. The University of Missouri–St. Louis alumna (OD 1992) was recognized as the 2012 Optometrist of the Year for personal sacrifices to advance the profession and the welfare of the public.

Eye on UMSL: Sweet and sour

Eye on UMSL: Sweet and sour

Hey, what’s up with the 29 lemons? The answer: UMSL photographer August Jennewein stopped Sodexo staff members (from left) Tina McClendon, Ossie Townsel, Tyrell Walker, Robin Greene, Kiara Logan and Christiana Gerdine on their way to catering a conference June 1 in the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center. Apparently, lemons were in high demand.

Louis Armstrong music to highlight UMSL Night at the Symphony

Louis Armstrong music to highlight UMSL Night at the Symphony

The University of Missouri–St. Louis Alumni Association has invited the UMSL community to hear a musical showcase of the Big Easy through a tribute to Louis Armstrong. “Sounds of New Orleans: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong” will begin at 7:30 p.m. June 9 at Powell Hall in St. Louis. The concert is UMSL Night at the Symphony.

Media Coverage: July 2012

Media Coverage: April 2012

The University of Missouri–St. Louis makes a significant impact on the St. Louis area. Stories about the university, its scholars and their expertise are often covered by local and national news media.

Baseball player racks up all-region honors

Baseball player racks up all-region honors

Charlie Mohr, a junior utility player on the University of Missouri–St. Louis baseball team, spent his season posting high numbers in most offensive categories. He’s spending the off-season collecting accolades for his work on the field.

Women are crucial to future of IT in US

Higher education linked to longer, healthier lives

Since becoming University of Missouri System president, I have been travelling the state far and wide touting the advantages of higher education, offering examples like a more informed citizenry, higher income and more engagement in society.

Media Coverage: July 2012

Media Coverage: March 2012

The University of Missouri–St. Louis makes a significant impact on the St. Louis area. Stories about the university, its scholars and their expertise are often covered by local and national news media.

Eye on UMSL: Habitat for Humanity

Eye on UMSL: Habitat for Humanity

Patricia Zahn, director of the Des Lee Collaborative Vision at UMSL, moves a ladder May 23 at a house construction site on Bates Street in south St. Louis. Through the university’s Employee Volunteer Program and the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis, Zahn and nine other volunteers from the university spent the day framing the upstairs walls and installing insulation on two houses.

Women are crucial to future of IT in US

Crime mapping can lead to more effective law enforcement

The fragmentation of police services is a problem inherent in the organization of many communities across the county. St. Louis is no different, as there are a multitude of jurisdictions—many of which have their own police departments. This fragmentation has the potential to reduce the ability of law enforcement agencies to collectively combat crime and disorder and provide effective community services.

Eye on UMSL: Grand progress

Eye on UMSL: Grand progress

UMSL at Grand Center is taking shape. Designed by St. Louis architects Heather Woofter and Sung Ho Kim of Axi:Ome, the $12 million, 27,000-square-foot building is expected to be complete in June.

Dance festival to spring up again at Touhill

Dance festival to spring up again at Touhill

Dance lovers, name a place you can see the world-renowned shape-shifters Pilobolus for only $10. And what if that $10 also got you access to live performances by nine other renowned dance companies? That’s exactly what you get for the first night of the 5th Annual Emerson Spring to Dance Festival at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

GLVC honors men’s golfer

GLVC honors men’s golfer

Sophomore Joe Atkisson of the University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s golf team was one of only five players selected by vote to the 2012 All-Great Lakes Valley Conference team. The players were voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches.

Ritenour teens create photographic autobiographies

Ritenour teens create photographic autobiographies

A new University of Missouri–St. Louis exhibit will provide an outlet for the distinctive voices of a group of St. Louis-area teenagers. The teens, all students at Ritenour High School in Breckenridge Hills, Mo., will tell their story through photographs. The exhibit is the latest in the Public Policy Research Center Photography Project series.