The University News » Archive
Provost discusses University College, downtown arts campus
What goals do you have in mind for the University College? Is there a timeline associated with these goals? University College will enroll its first students in the fall semester of 2012. It is designed to help incoming undeclared/exploratory students, and continuing students in transition between majors, make purposeful decisions regarding their academic plans. Its physical location in the Student Success Center will facilitate student interaction with key support services. Cross-college advising and participation of faculty from across the university will facilitate students’ exploration and ultimate connection to the academic unit of their major. The University College mission is to offer every exploratory student the opportunity for success through engagement with faculty and staff, the development of educational plans and the clarification of career and life goals. The University College will facilitate a UMKC … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
Dr. Robert Evanson
Political science professor’s three decades at UMKC will be fondly remembered After 32 years at UMKC, political science professor Robert Evanson retired at the end of the spring semester. Evanson, whose emphasis is International relations and comparative politics, began his academic career at the University of Florida before transferring to the University of Illinois. Majoring in political science with a minor in history, Evanson decided to continue his academic career by attending the University of Wisconsin’s political science graduate program. It was during his graduate work there that he discovered an acute interest that would capture his attention for the rest of his academic career: the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. “I took two classes on Soviet politics and Soviet foreign policy. After I took those two classes I was hooked,” Evanson said. “I … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
Facebook’s investors don’t ‘like’ its status on Wall Street
On Friday, May 18, Facebook debuted with its IPO (Initial Public Offering) on the New York stock exchange. The most visited social networking website in the world traded stocks at $38 per share, totaling a whopping $104 billion. The rest of the story may not be as great for the social networking giant: At the end of its first day, Facebook’s stock rose a mere 0.6 percent to $38.23. High expectations for the world’s biggest social network may have been one reason why it did not do so well. When the first day “pop” did not happen, this started a sellout with Facebook underwriters like Morgan Stanley. As lead underwriter, Morgan Stanley’s job was to ensure that the stock was being sold at or above the IPO. As the price of shares was nearing the … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
Campus Construction Update
Cherry Street Parking Structure The new $26 million Cherry Street Parking Structure, which replaced the former Oak Street garage, will debut in August, Parking Operations manager Michelle Cone said. The garage, in addition to the Miller Nichols Library expansion and Student Success Center renovations, is part of a $45 million bond package approved by the UM Board of Curators in December 2010. Cone said the garage will be paid for through parking permits, meters and tickets. Cone recognized the … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
Organic food for thought
A new possibility that has been part of a multi-year discussion may join the ranks of the other recent Oak Street developments. Rumors of an organic grocery store, specifically Whole Foods, have been abuzz, potentially replacing a metered parking lot and two buildings on the southwest corner of 51st and Oak streets. Whole Foods was mentioned specifically in a 2009 post on Blog KC, stating that Whole Foods is considering expanding its smaller Midtown Wild Oats location, which reopened as a locally-owned organic grocery in 2010. It was also said that associations in surrounding neighborhoods were being consulted. The rumors circulated more recently on www.kcrag.com, a local development forum. At the moment, there are no official plans set for this location, but many options have been proposed and considered over the past few years. “We … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
Criminal Justice Department receives $30,000 through newly-created KC No Violence Alliance
Mayor Sly James, Police Chief Darryl Forte and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced KC NoVA to the public on Tuesday, May 15. As part of the program, UMKC’s Criminal Justice Department will receive a $30,000 grant. An abbreviation for the KC No Violence Alliance, the new initiative is modeled after programs in other cities, including Minneapolis and Boston. It focuses on removing repeat offenders form the streets and preventing recidivism by giving them a chance to opt out of the dangerous lifestyle through services that focus on education, job training, and health care. “It’s kind of like cutting a tumor,” James said. A high violent crime rate has plagued the city for years. Forte noted that since 1970, there have only been nine years with fewer than 100 homicides. Funding for the project, … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
SIFE team wins regional competition fifth year in a row
Free enterprising students find business-oriented solutions to community problems For the fifth year in a row, UMKC’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) have won their regional competition. Students unfamiliar with SIFE may be surprised to learn it is one of the largest student organizations around the globe. It is recognized at more than 1,600 colleges in the U.S., with teams in more than 40 countries worldwide. UMKC SIFE’s motto, “A head for business; A heart for the world,” reflects its engagement in developing projects geared toward the advancement of community in seven essential areas: market economics, success skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, team sustainability, environmental sustainability and business ethics. In April of each year, SIFE teams create a portfolio of these projects with an emphasis on quantifiable results and present them at regional competitions. The regional … Read entire article »
Filed under: News
It runs in the family
Basketball and faith unite the Korvers Some families are known for a family trade. The Rockefellers were known for wealth and business, the Ming Dynasty for its rule in China and the Jacksons for their music. UMKC red shirt junior Kirk Korver and his family have basketball. “My parents played Division III basketball,” 6-foot-7-inch, 225-pound UMKC men’s basketball team captain Kirk recalls. His dad Kevin and his mother Laine played at Central College in Pella, Iowa, as shooting … Read entire article »
Filed under: Sports
What’s the Difference?
Sports in movies gloss over a less exciting reality Everyone’s seen it: the ending scene in a sports movie with five seconds left on the clock. The protagonist’s team is only down by two points. This crucial five seconds gives the main character the opportunity to win the game, but suspiciously, the time on the clock seems to last nearly five minutes. The differences between sports movies and reality are vast. Most notably: 1) The protagonist’s team almost always wins. 2) The game almost always lasts longer than the time left on the clock. 3) The sport often represents or incorporates a character’s personal conflicts. So how do sports movies get away with these unrealistic scenes? When viewers are invested in the movie’s characters, it seems easier to set aside any disbelief. However, some diehard sports … Read entire article »
Filed under: Sports
What’s the Big Idea?
Feasibility Study considers logistics of new Downtown Arts Campus A separate campus for various arts programs at UMKC could be Kansas City’s next step to urban core revitalization. The idea of a downtown campus for the Conservatory of Music and Dance became news one year ago, and the University began a feasibility study process last fall that will culminate at the end of this month. In an interview with U-News last August, Conservatory dean Peter Witte said facilities on the Volker campus are inadequate for the school’s programs, citing a lack of practice rooms, recital venues and adequate soundproofing and handicap accessibility features. Several other programs, including the Theatre Department, Art and Art History Department, Kansas City Repertoire Theatre, KCUR and Film Studies program, have also expressed interest in a downtown location. The push for … Read entire article »
Filed under: Feature
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