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UMSL Tritons weekly rewind

Logan Mayo and the 22nd-ranked men’s golf team tied for the lead at the Doc Spragg Invitational but fell to host Findlay in a two-hole playoff. Mayo tied for fifth individually.

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Center injects culture into mundane Mondays

Center injects culture into mundane Mondays

Got a case of the Mondays? Suffer no more. A look at the Middle East art scene, poetry of social protest and shared stories of resourceful Ozark families are some of the many cultural events that make Monday Noon Series a cure for the blues.

UMSL business dean to return to classroom in July

UMSL business dean to return to classroom in July

“We shall not cease from exploration, and at the end of all our exploring, will be to arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time.” Those words by poet T.S. Eliot ring true for Keith Womer, dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Where he started is just where he wants to be. Womer will step down as dean and return to the classroom as a professor of logistics and supply chain management beginning July 1.

Political scientist discusses Missouri legislature topics for 2013

Political scientist discusses Missouri legislature topics for 2013

The Missouri legislature reconvened Wednesday after its holiday break. St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU assembled its political roundtable, including Terry Jones, chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, to discuss the issues that will be at the forefront of the first 2013 session.

German American Heritage Society honors UMSL history professor

German American Heritage Society honors UMSL history professor

Steven Rowan, professor of history at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, has written, edited and translated extensively on the history of Germans in America. The German American Heritage Society of St. Louis recently recognized Rowan’s efforts by naming him this year’s Carl Schurz Heritage Award recipient.

Historian receives trio of honors for ‘Braceros’ book

Historian receives trio of honors for ‘Braceros’ book

Current United States-Mexico relations and immigration reform are hot topics in the news now. But it’s a book about the mid-20th-century relationship between the neighboring nations that’s earning praise for Deborah Cohen, associate professor of history at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The historian has received a trio of honors this year for her 2011 book “Braceros: Migrant Citizens and Transnational Subjects.”

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, six students will read their original works. The semiannual MFA Graduate Reading will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Dec. 14) in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL. The reading is free and open to the public.

Men’s basketball player opens season with GLVC honors

Men’s basketball player opens season with GLVC honors

Charlie Woods, a forward on the University of Missouri–St. Louis men’s basketball team, helped the UMSL Tritons to a pair of regional victories to open the 2012-13 season. In doing so, he was recognized by the Great Lakes Valley Conference as its Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

Gender Studies program celebrates new location

Gender Studies program celebrates new location

The Gender Studies program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis has moved up in the world, figuratively and literally. The program recently moved from a space in the partially submerged second floor of Clark Hall to the more spacious 494 Lucas Hall.

Criminologists, crime analyst to discuss Public Safety Partnership

Criminologists, crime analyst to discuss Public Safety Partnership

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, city of St. Louis and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are now in their eighth month of working together to address public safety issues in the city. So how’s it going? That’s what will be discussed in an Applied Research Seminar presented by the Public Policy Research Center at UMSL.

‘House’ director looks to adapt UMSL scholar’s novel for film

‘House’ director looks to adapt UMSL scholar’s novel for film

Los Angeles-based director and writer Julian Higgins has emerged as a young talent within the film industry. He’s received wide acclaim for his short film “Thief” and his turn directing an episode of the popular television show “House” in its final season. He’s next looking to make his feature-film directorial debut with a possible adaptation of the novel “The Inverted Forest” by John Dalton, director of the MFA in Creative Writing Program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Historian to discuss St. Louis’ start

Historian to discuss St. Louis’ start

St. Louis is approaching its 250th birthday. But how much do St. Louisans know about the founding of their city? Do they know about its importance as a cosmopolitan French hub of commerce and culture or how Osage Indians protected and enriched the tiny village?

4 certificate programs enhance educational offerings at UMSL

4 certificate programs enhance educational offerings at UMSL

Adding interdisciplinary learning opportunities and fulfilling career-driven educational needs are what spurred the University of Missouri–St. Louis to create four new academic certificate programs, according to university officials.

Writer Seth Fried to read at Hinge Gallery

Writer Seth Fried to read at Hinge Gallery

Each year, the Graduate Writers Association at the University of Missouri–St. Louis works to help grow the St. Louis literary scene through readings by emerging poets and writers. The next GWA reading will feature Seth Fried, author of the acclaimed short story collection “The Great Frustration.”

UMSL sets up ‘one stop shop’ for veteran students

UMSL sets up ‘one stop shop’ for veteran students

As U.S. military presence winds down in Iraq and Afghanistan a whole generation of veterans is returning home and enrolling in universities. Recognizing this trend, the University of Missouri-St. Louis has established a new Veterans Center dedicated to making the transition from military to student life as smooth as possible for veterans coming into the classroom.

Center injects culture into mundane Mondays

Center injects culture into mundane Mondays

Got a case of the Mondays? Suffer no more. Violin and piano duets, narratives of Mound Bayou, Miss., and chess discourse are some of the many cultural events that make Monday Noon Series a cure for the blues.

Eye on UMSL: Academic Center for Mathematics and Writing

Eye on UMSL: Academic Center for Mathematics and Writing

University of Missouri–St. Louis engineering students Dan Denton (left) and Jason Arnold study outside the university’s Academic Center for Mathematics and Writing (222 Social Sciences & Business Building) on Aug. 30.

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.

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.

Political scientist to report on neighborhood conditions in St. Louis area

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.”

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Raising awareness of domestic homicide in Missouri

Two people meet, fall in love and then live happily ever after. The ideal ending, right? Or wrong? Since the beginning of 2012, at least five Missouri women have had their happily-ever-afters cut tragically short by violence. These women have been killed, not by strangers, but allegedly by men they once loved. The deaths of Jamie L. Fields-Arrington, 33; Sarah Billingsley-Walker, 18; Kristie Steed, 43; Gwendolyn E. Pahmeyer, 51; and Alyshia Alexander, 24 are startling reminders of the seriousness of domestic homicide in our own community.

Political scientist discusses Missouri legislature topics for 2013

Irish poet talks Yeats

Native Irish poet Eamonn Wall holds a special place in his heart for William Butler Yeats. “I think in some ways, W.B. Yeats’ poetry is kind of the soundtrack of childhood and adolescence in Ireland,” Wall said on a recent episode of “Cityscape” on St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU.

Computer scientist to explore battlefield for future wars: cyberspace

Computer scientist to explore battlefield for future wars: cyberspace

As the 21st century progresses, world powers have begun to acknowledge a new battlefield for future wars: cyberspace. The New York Times, for example, revealed that the U.S. debated using cyber warfare in its initial strikes against Libya, before giving way to conventional military means.

Eye on UMSL: Philosophy under the shade tree

Eye on UMSL: Philosophy under the shade tree

UMSL Adjunct Instructor in Philosophy Isaac Wiegman (center, facing camera) lectures his class of 16 students on April 9. The course is Philosophy 2280: Minds, Brains and Machines, and the Millennium Student Center is in the background. “I love teaching outside,” Wiegman said. “It’s so fun.” The picture, by campus photographer August Jennewein, is the latest to be featured at Eye on UMSL.

Historian talks ‘Coming War with Robots’

Historian talks ‘Coming War with Robots’

Humanity has had a fascination with robots for years. But humans have also grown anxious about our robotic counterparts playing an increasingly greater role in future day-to-day life (“Terminator 2,” anyone?).

Passover at UMSL

Passover at UMSL

UMSL students, faculty, staff and alumni celebrated Passover with a lunch on April 9 in the university’s Millennium Student Center. Attendees included (from left): Deborah Medintz, an electrical engineering major; Ron Yasbin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Andy Kastner, the Silk Foundation rabbi at the St. Louis Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis; Peggy Cohen, associate provost and academic director of the Center for Teaching and Learning; and Jess Rosner (BS public policy administration 2009), a graduate student in the Master of Public Policy Administration program. The Jewish Student Association hosted the lunch. The photograph was taken by UMSL photographer August Jennewein.

Marketing team’s work earns national recognition

Marketing team’s work earns national recognition

The hits just keep on coming for the University of Missouri–St. Louis. On the heels of UMSL’s recording-setting 10 awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education in January comes news that University Marketing and Communications has garnered additional honors. Competing against the likes of DePaul University in Chicago, Syracuse University in New York, Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., and other major institutions, UMSL received five awards for its creative work in the 27th annual Educational Advertising Awards competition.

Political scientist talks peace, turmoil in West Africa

Political scientist talks peace, turmoil in West Africa

People celebrated in streets throughout Senegal last week after Macky Sall was announced as the clear winner of a presidential run-off election pitting him against incumbent Abdoulaye Wade. The peaceful and quick election that ended Wade’s 12-year reign is rare in Western Africa, a region accustomed to turmoil.

Historian to discuss barrier-breaking civil rights attorney

Historian to discuss barrier-breaking civil rights attorney

Civil rights attorney Margaret Bush Wilson (1919-2009) was a complex individual who broke many barriers throughout her life and professional career. She was part of the legal team that fought housing covenants in the 1940s. She went on to work for the National NAACP, U.S. Department of Agriculture and state of Missouri.

Mathematicians to gather for MAA event

Mathematicians to gather for MAA event

Mathematicians from throughout the region will gather April 12-14 at the University of Missouri–St. Louis for a pair of major math events. The Deparment of Mathematics and Computer Science at UMSL will host the spring meeting of the Missouri Section of the Mathematical Association of America on April 13 and 14. MAA Vice President Francis Su and David Wright, chairman of the Department of Mathematics at Washington University in St. Louis, will be the keynote speakers at the meeting.