Words Hurled About Foster's

"New Lit Out Loud" celebrated Halloween early with a fantastic reading at Foster's Martini Bar on October 28. Nearly twenty readers and performers offered a range of original works from spoken word to dramatic interpretation for a packed house.

Readers included a blend of current and future students, alumni, and community members. Four writers, two of them area high school students, joined the writing community by reading publicly for the first time.

Spoken word artists Phil Smith and Grant Williams recited their works entirely from memory, as did community regular, octogenerian Don Sollars. Faculty sponsors Meg Thompson, Dana Andrews, and Bill Church shared new works as well. The final "New Lit Out Loud" of the semester is planned for Wednesday, December 2.

Open Mic Tonight at Foster's

See Bill and Meg enjoying themselves at Foster's? They are listening to poesy and prose, fiction and non-fiction, by students, faculty, and community members. This could be you.

Open Mic at Foster's Martini Bar (726 Felix; 364-4400) Tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 28, Fosters, 7-9.

Read or be read to. It's a win-win situation.

Norma Bagnall Celebrates 80th Birthday

Dr. Norma Bagnall, Professor Emerita of English, celebrates her 80th birthday today, October 27.

This past weekend Norma celebrated with former colleagues and students as well as family and friends at an open house at the Pony Express Museum in downtown St. Joseph.

Norma taught children's and adolescent literature at Missouri Western for fifteen years. Norma was also President of the International Children's Literature Association from 1989-1991, a Fulbright Scholar, and President of the MWSC faculty senate. Norma retired from MWSC in 1996. In her retirement, Norma has been active with the Literacy Coalition, the Friends of the Library, and other service.

Happy Birthday, Norma!

When Writing Teachers Write

The Prairie Lands Writing Project National Day on Writing Celebrations on October 20 included the annual "When Writing Teachers Write" forum at Western showcasing teachers reading their original works.

Caption: Missouri’s poet laureate Walter Bargen (center, wearing tie) and our 2009 When Writing Teachers Write Readers: Jill Emerson, Maryville High School; Tom Pankiewicz, MWSU; Amanda Moyers, Central High School; Joyce Stohr, Robidoux Middle School; Vickey Meyer, Central High School; Brandon Haskey, Central High School; Tina Janc, Robidoux Middle School; and Bill Church, Missouri Western. Not pictured: Dawn Terrick, Missouri Western.

Next Open Mic Reading Set

Please come to our next open mic reading at Foster's Martini Bar (726 Felix; 364-4400)

Wednesday, Oct. 28, Fosters, 7-9.

See and hear you there!

EFLJ Wins Big at Homecoming

We're vaguely aware that the Griffs played a game this Saturday; we're just giddy about royalty. Luke Akers, a BA major, was elected Homecoming King. Kayla Kelder, the 2009 Homecoming Queen, works the EFLJ reception desk. Kayla has promised to work this week in her tiara (sash optional).

We suspect Luke might wear his crown to class. "Oh, this? I hadn't realized I still had it on. I'm Homecoming King, you know, Dr. Fulton. Is there extra credit for such an honor? No? Okay."

Congratulations, Luke and Kayla! EFLJ is, quite simply, the home of MWSU royalty.

Youngkeit Family Now Set for Mixed Doubles Match

Jason and Andrea Youngkeit announce the birth of daughter Kayla Lee.

Miss Youngkeit made her debut on Saturday, October 5. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces.

Congratulations, Jason and Andrea!

Banned Books Reading Avoids Bust

Some otherwise upstanding citizens met Thursday, October 1 in the Student Union to read books previously challenged or banned in U.S. schools and libraries.

Readers and Texts:

Dr. James Okapal, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, MWSU
• The Glass Bead Game. Hermann Hesse
Mr. Frank Tracy, MWSU Student
• Waco: The Davidian Massacre. Carol Moore
Mr. Brandon Haskey, Fellow of the Prairie Lands Writing Project and English teacher, Central High School
• Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. David Sedaris
Dr. Robert Bergland, Professor of Journalism & The Griffon News Advisor
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Hunter S. Thompson
Dr. Gordon Mapley, Dean of Western Institute, MWSU
• The Holy Bible
Ms. Carline St. Victor, MWSU Student
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya Angelou
Ms. Jennifer Wildhagen, Children’s Librarian, St. Joseph Public Library
• The Devil’s Storybook. Natalie Babbitt
Ms. Josie Clark, President of the Student Chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English (SNCTE)
• Speak. Laurie Halse Anderson

This was our thirtheenth straight year of celebrating American Library Association's National Banned Books Week. If we don't gather for the fourteenth, you'll know that we finally caught someone's attention. We'll keep you posted.