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Game-show dream comes true for alumnus

Game-show dream comes true for alumnus

University of Missouri–St. Louis alumnus Jim Virtel tested his trivia knowledge during a recent “Jeopardy!” appearance. And while he didn’t walk away a champ, he was happy with his third-place performance.

Film with UMSL ties scores coveted Cannes showing

Film with UMSL ties scores coveted Cannes showing

A movie with ties to the University of Missouri–St. Louis has scored a major coup. The thriller “Fatal Call,” was recently screened at the Marché du Film, a film market that is part of the Cannes Film Festival in France. Jack Snyder, a lecturer in media studies at UMSL wrote, produced, directed and edited the film. He also makes a cameo in it.

Economist discusses local housing crash

Economist discusses local housing crash

The continuous decline of the housing market is spurring the increase of bargain prices for potential buyers and investors, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

STARS places students with scientists in lab, field

STARS places students with scientists in lab, field

Academically talented high school juniors and seniors will get a chance this summer to research everything from plant responses to environmental stress, to a protein important for nervous system differentiation and cancer, during the 2012 STARS program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Instructor sheds light on Pentecostalism, tongue-speaking

Instructor sheds light on Pentecostalism, tongue-speaking

While it might sound like gibberish to the untrained ear, there are actually two varieties of tongue-speaking among Pentecostals, according to Peter Marina, a visiting assistant professor of sociology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Crime mapping can lead to more effective law enforcement

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.

ROTC grads honor history, take next big step

ROTC grads honor history, take next big step

In unison, the 16 young men and women recited the Cadet Creed. A standing-room- only crowd filled the sanctuary of a former church on the St. Louis University campus May 10 for the military ceremony.

Accounting alumna wins 2011 Elijah Watt Sells Award

Accounting alumna wins 2011 Elijah Watt Sells Award

When Nguyen Ngo received word she was a recipient of the 2011 Elijah Watt Sells Award, the University of Missouri–St. Louis alumna was excited to share the news with the faculty who helped make the honor possible.

Thinking out loud with the intellectually curious

Thinking out loud with the intellectually curious

Why do we think about certain things? Why do we do certain things? A three-day conference for the thinking person gets under way May 20 at the Moonrise Hotel in St. Louis. The St. Louis Annual Conference on Reasons and Rationality or SLACRR is sponsored by the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Washington University in St. Louis. It runs through May 22. The conference provides a forum for new work on practical and theoretical reason.

Baseball, women’s basketball players named Athletes of Year

Baseball, women’s basketball players named Athletes of Year

The University of Missouri–St. Louis recently honored 45 graduating seniors, led by baseball player Jeremy Butler and women’s basketball player Caitlyn Moody who were named Senior Student-Athletes of the Year. The seniors were recognized May 3 at the Third Annual Senior Student-Athlete Banquet at the Hilton St. Louis Airport hotel in Woodson Terrace, Mo.

Eye on UMSL: Piano man

Eye on UMSL: Piano man

Accomplished pianist Tom Sullivan basks in applause May 10 following a performance in the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center at UMSL.

Student graduates with more than degree

Student graduates with more than degree

Travis Abbott graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis Saturday with more than just a degree; he also took with him the title of published author. Abbott, a double major in computer science and mathematics, has co-authored three papers along with Uday Chakraborty, professor of computer science at UMSL. The most recent paper was published in the prestigious journal Energy, an international, multi-disciplinary journal in energy engineering and research.

3 honorary degree recipients devote lives to service

3 honorary degree recipients devote lives to service

Dr. Patricia Wolff, a St. Louis pediatrician who left her private practice last year to devote her time to providing food and medicine to malnourished children in Haiti, is one of three individuals receiving honorary degrees at five commencement ceremonies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis May 12 and 13.

Remembering a legend: Chancellor Marguerite Ross Barnett Memorial Plaza

Remembering a legend: Chancellor Marguerite Ross Barnett Memorial Plaza

“Good. Better. Best. We just met the best.” Those were the words of Ruth Bryant in 1986. Bryant was president of the Chancellor’s Council at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and the council had just completed interviews of three finalists for the position of UMSL chancellor. The council members agreed: The final candidate, Marguerite Ross Barnett, was number one.

Teacher of music teachers enters hall of fame

Teacher of music teachers enters hall of fame

Fred Willman, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Music and Education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, has influenced music education and music educators for almost half a century. His contributions were recognized in January with his induction into the Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

Getting through college on the fast track: 20-year-olds graduate from UMSL

Getting through college on the fast track: 20-year-olds graduate from UMSL

Among the more than 1,500 students graduating from the University of Missouri–St. Louis Saturday, four of them stand out for what they have in common. They’ve all earned high honors, entered college at the sophomore level and are 20 years old. (Since 1974, only 217 of more than 60,000 UMSL graduates were 20 years old or younger.) Not surprisingly, they’re highly focused individuals with grand plans.

Creative writers to give one last reading as students

Creative writers to give one last reading as students

A day before they graduate from the University of Missouri–St. Louis with an MFA in creative writing, eight students will read their original works. The semiannual MFA Graduate Reading will begin at 7 p.m. Friday (May 11) in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. The reading is free and open to the public.

Crime mapping can lead to more effective law enforcement

Character education: You got a case

I was recently asked how to convince people that character education actually works. The cynicism, skepticism, and conservatism out there often astound me. Amy Johnston, the award-winning principal of 2008 National School of Character Francis Howell Middle School in St. Charles, M0., expresses the same frustration.

Eye on UMSL: Hybrid teaching

Eye on UMSL: Hybrid teaching

Mimi Duncan, lecturer in information systems at UMSL, helps Lucas Matecki, a junior business major, on May 3 during Duncan’s course Computers and Information Systems 1800. The hybrid class combines online lessons and weekly in-person teaching at Express Scripts Hall. CIS 1800 is a pilot course funded by a grant from Next Generation Learning Challenges, a nonprofit initiative that’s working to improve college readiness and completion with technology.

Chancellor announces Monsanto gift, redesign of Natural Bridge

Chancellor announces Monsanto gift, redesign of Natural Bridge

With a $1 million gift to the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Chancellor Tom George announced the Monsanto Company will fund a community education center in the university’s new building in Grand Center. George also announced funding of the “transformative” redesign of a portion of Natural Bridge Road from Hanley to Lucas and Hunt roads that runs through the campus in North County.

Students Greece-bound for summer excavation project

Students Greece-bound for summer excavation project

A lack of experience turned out to be a boon for two University of Missouri–St. Louis anthropology students. Seniors Amanda Anderson and Timothy Meyer will take part in a Greek excavation project this summer courtesy of a grant from the National Science Foundation program called “Research Experience for Undergraduates.” The grant is specifically targeted at undergrads who’ve never done archaeological field work. They’ll head to Greece in mid-June, and be there for several weeks.

National entertainer envisions change

National entertainer envisions change

Tom Sullivan has been blind since shortly after birth. But that hasn’t stopped him from gaining national recognition as an award-winning actor, singer, author, producer, humanitarian and inspirational speaker.

Arianna String Quartet mentors high school chamber groups

Arianna String Quartet mentors high school chamber groups

The Arianna String Quartet is taking a hands-on approach to fostering music education in the area. The Arianna, composed of four associate professors of music at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, is the university’s resident quartet.

Health care focus of outsourcing professionals meeting  at UMSL

Health care focus of outsourcing professionals meeting at UMSL

Health care is a growing global concern. Insurance costs, doctor bills and prescription fees continue to increase. The recent meeting of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’ Midwest Chapter meeting held at the University of Missouri–St. Louis focused on outsourcing of health care services.

Mercantile to host Civil War series

Mercantile to host Civil War series

Missouri’s pivotal role in the Civil War will be explored at 7 p.m. every Thursday in May at the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Schools collaborate for new Gallery 210 exhibit

Schools collaborate for new Gallery 210 exhibit

Students from three St. Louis-area high schools have collaborated on a new exhibit of their artwork that will be on display in Gallery 210 at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. “Collaborative II: The Things That Bring Us Together” can be viewed through May 19.

Eye on UMSL: Education Mural

Eye on UMSL: Education Mural

Pat Duffey (left) and Dan Fahy of GROUP360 Worldwide, a St. Louis-based marketing company, install a six-panel wall mural on April 26 in Marillac Hall on UMSL’s South Campus. Joan Barnidge, graphic designer at UMSL, designed the mural for the College of Education. The picture, by campus photographer August Jennewein, is the latest to be featured at Eye on UMSL.

UMSL’s first poet laureate: Jennifer Tappenden

UMSL’s first poet laureate: Jennifer Tappenden

Jennifer Tappenden works by day making small databases for researchers to track study data. By night, the 42-year-old New York native hones her poetry skills while in pursuit of her master’s of fine arts in creative writing at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. She’s scheduled to graduate in December, but before then she’s spending her final year at UMSL as the university’s first poet laureate.

Crime mapping can lead to more effective law enforcement

The Challenge

“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people … They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” “Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.” –Thomas Jefferson

Southside Cafe opens to steady stream of customers

Southside Cafe opens to steady stream of customers

How about a French vanilla cappuccino with your muffin? A fresh salad? Enchiladas with Southwestern corn? Welcome to the Southside Café. Right on schedule, a new eatery at the University of Missouri–St. Louis opened for business April 25. And at least one customer is positively ecstatic about the change from vending machine fare to fresh food.

Alumna leads team to undefeated season, tournament play

Alumna leads team to undefeated season, tournament play

Winning is no new feat for University of Missouri–St. Louis alumna Deena Applebury. As head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., she led her team through a historical 2011-12 season of 30 straight wins and into NCAA Division III tournament play.

Symposium to explore Japanese female cartoon icons

Symposium to explore Japanese female cartoon icons

Since her introduction to Japanese consumers nearly 40 years ago, Hello Kitty has exploded into a global pop culture phenomenon. Her cute cartoon cat face is adored by throngs of teens and adults.

Express Scripts founder to discuss new book

Express Scripts founder to discuss new book

Harlan Steinbaum knows a thing or two about tough calls. A businessman for more than 20 years, he has made thousands of hard decisions, but one call became his career-defining moment.