University of Missouri, St. Louis IRL @ UMSL Current (2000s) Student Newspapers 2-7-2005 Current, February 07, 2005 University of Missouri-St. Louis Follow this and additional works at: https://irl.umsl.edu/current2000s Recommended Citation University of Missouri-St. Louis, "Current, February 07, 2005" (2005). Current (2000s). 247. https://irl.umsl.edu/current2000s/247 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Newspapers at IRL @ UMSL. It has been accepted for inclusion in Current (2000s) by an authorized administrator of IRL @ UMSL. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VOLUME 37 February 7, 2e05 See page 12 Get Ready for Valentine's Day T HECURRENTONLlNE.COM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. UN I VERSI~OF M ISSO~RI - S~LOUIS l~ Forum focuses on The art of kissing .. .in public student retention BY BEN SWOFFORD do to make UMSL better," wrote. · ·~'_~·'"_ ' " __ _ '_ ' _ ~' _ _ _ ' __ _ ' __ _ ____ N ' _ __ __ ' "_'_." _ _ _ StaffWlriter Student Services Coordinator Joe Flees, in an email to prospective student focus, group attendees. Students had the chance to The discussion focused on student comment and complain about their experiences with academic advising Ii' experience with the University on campus, at the advising center, at academic advising system on Monday, the individual colleges and within Ian. 31. majors. _ The Office of Student Affairs at 'There are four types of advising," UM-St. Louis sponsored a series of Crockett said during . the discussion. discussions in the Millennium Student "You have got a new University-wide Center on retention and lldvismg. advising center. There are advisors in ~. David Crockett, from the the colleges out there full-time who consulting firm Noel-Levitz, also advise. There is departmental moderated the discussion. advising. Then there is informal or "I am after your perceptions and supplemental advising that teachers impressions, both personally and and other students give." anecdotally, on advising here at the Several problematic trends in the university or lack thereof," Crockett advising system became apparent as said at the beginning of the focus the discussion unfolded. Students .. discussion. complained about not knowing where The discussions were part of a to find adequate advising, not getting larger University-funded study on proper major specific advismg and the student retention conducted by the lack of communication between Arizona-based firm Noel-Levitz. The general advising and departmental study includes class surveys, small advising. focus groups and hands-on Crockett outlined students' iii observation by consultants, all in an concerns and talked about how the attempt to quantify retention problems University could address it by at the University. Noel-Levitz will "helping students clarify how the then provide UM-St. Louis with advising system works at the recommendations to improve University." retention. Danielle Proulx, senior, business, cracks up as she and Brian Rails, junior, marketing, take part in "The Art of Kissing" on ''Re:tklining students is one of our Thursday night. Bestselling author Michael Christian enlisted two actual couples and four volunteers for a frank and funny '/\~est priorities, and we need your discussion and demonstration based on his book, "The Art of Kissing." The event was sponsored by UPB. feedback. In other words, what can we see RETENTION, page 5 / Activ· t challenges me to find manhood Visiting nanotechnology " • Kevin Powell heads Kevin Powell speaks researcher partners before a discussion on "The crowd of State of Black Men" close to 300 people. On with Chancellor George Tuesday BY PATRICIA LEE ,. ... -. ·Co-:News-Ed£i-;;----···· · night at a town hall BY PAUL HACKBARTH However, before Mansoori -- -- . _." discussion, Co-News Editor continues future research, he shared Kevin Powell, activist and author, Powell talked his presentation on other research challenged African-American men to about "The involving nanotechnology in a take control of their lives and break State of G. Ali Mansoori, visiting professor chemistry colloquium called "Organic , the cycle of violence and poverty. Black Men." from the University of Illinois­ Nanostructures Derived from Approximately 250 people filled The event Chicago, not only shared his latest Petroleum." t the Century Rooms on Feb. 1 to was research with UM-St Louis, but also Mansoori spoke to chemistry discuss 'The State of Black Men." A sponsored by discussed future research in a professors and graduate students on deejay played hip-hop music to warm the partnership that includes Chancellor Monday, Jan. 31. The chemical up the room before Powell started Associated Thomas George. engineering professor took prut in the speaking shortly after 7 p.m. Black Mansoori and George will partner visiting speaker seminar series Powell told the men in his Collegians, with two other professors from other sponsored by the chemistry and audience to improve in six areas: UPB, Student universities to research intermolecular biochemistry departments. -Ii politics, economics, spirituality, LifO, and interactions of organic nanoslructures. "I've collaborated with George, culture, physical fitness and mental First "We're in the process of doing a lot and we have meetings. During one of wellness. Civilizations. more collaborative work with other our meetings, he asked me to take part Powell felt that ''blacks aren't collaborators at other laboratories and in the seminar to tell the professors being represented [in society],"but he One thing that Powell noticed was Powell pointed out that there were The Brooklyn resident also talked universiti~ s ," George said. what I learned," he said. said that it wa~ important to be a that many people would spend money many problems within the African­ about his own experience and the Mansoori stressed the importance Lawrence Barton, chemistry registered voter so that there would be beyond their means, particularly on American community, particularly problems he encountered throughout of researching nanostructures. professor at UM-St. Louis, invited .., more African-Americans onjuries. He name brands. He said that' the desire with males. Some of the problems he his life. He said that the problems he "Organic nanostructures derived from Mansoori after George suggested he also said that they needed to change for status was a result of another cited were high unemployment, the had were a result of his upbringing petroleum have applications in be a speaker. their values about money, saying, problem: a lack of self-esteem. lack of education, violence, alcohol and the society he grew up in. nanotechnology," he said. "If we "Most of us don't know anything ''If yQU don't have self-esteem, you and drug abuse, sexual irresponsibility understand the structure, we can see RESEARCHER, page 5 about money; it's a trap." do name brands," he said. and depression. see KEVIN POWELL, page 3 understand the interactions." " Ribbon-cutting officially unveils newest computer lab BY BEN SWOFFORD since then we haven't had an empty without all the hard work of the that ITS and the library got together ... ... -·---· Si;;j[Wrii;,.----·_- -_· seat. Today we are opening the people in the libraries. It's a tangible and wanted to do the same thing [at research commons here at the Barnes symbol of cooperation between Bames]." ,~ The research commons at the Library," Amy Arnett, Dean of library and ITS." The research commons is the Ward E. Bames library has been Libraries, said at the beginning of the The research commons features result of more than a year's work of open in various states of official opening ceremony. 57 individual computer work stations cooperation between the Ward E. preparedness since the beginning of Arnett, along with Jim Tom, Vice­ with monotone and color printers, Bames Library and ITS . the fall semester, but its grand Chancellor for Information wireless internet accessibility, "As far as the library research unveiling was on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Technology Services, and UM-St. scanning stations and several commons goes we had been toying A small crowd of librarians, staff, Louis Chancellor Thomas George couches. with the idea for a number of years," .. faculty and students showed up on gave public remarks at the event. Chris Scheetz, supervisor of Cheryle Cann, director of the Ward the UM-St. Louis South Campus to "I think it is a very exciting and Instructional Computing Services; E. Barnes Library, said. 'We saw a celebrate the unveiling and partake.in also important day for the libraries," explained the evolution of the new need for it and the students wanted Kevin OttIeyl Tbe Current door prizes and sugar-free cookies. Tom said during his speech, "I research commons. more access to the computers In ceremony, Chancellor Thomas George cuts the ribbon and 'We opened the library reo ~ 1I"ch couldn't be more pleased that we are "We have the library research \vithout having to wait to get on." commons at Thomas Jefiersolt · heFe to dedicate the research . commons in the Thomas Jefferson ------------- officially opens the Barnes Library new research commons. The Library with 70 workstations, aJild commons. It would not be possible Library. Students liked that so much see NEW COMPUTER LAB, page 5 event, held last Wednesday, was relatively well-attended. Sports: A&E: On the INDEX Hotel web: Bulletin Board 2 After court --- - -_. Rwanda is Gallery of ~inions 4 8: 5: battle, Coach is powerful "The Art of Features 6&7 Brady back to film Kissing" 10 ~rts work ~Ji:_E_ ..._. 8 &, 9' ~ Classifieds 11 See page 10 See page 9 www.thecurrentonline.com .- Page 2 <lire Current February 7,2005 I I <flw. Current Kate Drolet· EditoT·in-Cbief Becky Rosner Managing Editor MIchael Pelikan • Business Manager .Judi UnviHe· Faculty Advisor Put it on the Board! Call 516-5174 for details or email [email protected] Paul Hackbarth· Co-News Editor will discuss "The Hot Side of Cool Mon.