Oct. 1, 2025鈥摯笙蟠� will once again host the Western District of 大象传媒 Court of Appeals on Tuesday, Oct. 14 beginning at 9 a.m. in Leah Spratt Hall Room 101.

A three-judge panel consisting of Judge Janet Sutton, Judge Gary Witt and Judge W. Douglas Thomson will hear oral arguments in four cases. To learn more about the cases on this session鈥檚 docket, visit the 大象传媒 Courts website at . After hearing oral arguments, the judges will discuss the court system and answer general questions from the audience.

The court regularly meets in Kansas City, but holds proceedings in many other locations in the court鈥檚 jurisdiction, including 大象传媒. The court holds oral arguments outside Kansas City to give the public an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the internal workings of the judicial system.

This event is free and open to students, faculty and the public.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Walk for the homeless 2023, photo provided by GriffonNews.com.

Oct. 18, 2024–大象传媒鈥檚 Organization of Student Social Workers will host the 13th annual Walk for the Homeless on Friday, Nov. 1 in downtown St. Joseph. Check in begins at 4 p.m.聽

The walk will begin at 4:30 p.m. at 6th and Messanie, next to the Downtown Health Center. Walkers will follow the migration path the homeless take through downtown to access services designed to meet their basic needs.

The goal of this annual event is to raise awareness about the homeless population living in St. Joseph. All money collected will help the homeless in the St. Joseph area with costs for birth certificates, IDs, job searches and miscellaneous needs.

Go to for more information and to register for the event. Volunteers are also welcome and donations can be made through the website.

It is open to the public and free to walk, but participants are encouraged to purchase an event t-shirt for $20. Proceeds benefit the Downtown Health Center’s Homeless Fund.

MWSU students receive $5 off per registrant by entering coupon code GOGRIFFS.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 9, 2024–大象传媒 and the St. Joseph Human Rights Commission will be hosting Families in Focus: Empowering Children Amidst Parental聽Incarceration from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17 in Leah Spratt Hall, rooms 214 and 216.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. The event will end at 12:15 p.m., followed by a networking luncheon. There is no charge for the event, but RSVP is requested by emailing ereese@missouriwestern.edu by April 12.

The event is sponsored by 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies, Legal Studies Association, Criminal Justice Association, Law Enforcement Academy and Center for Diversity & Inclusion.

The keynote speaker, Ebony Underwood, is the CEO and founder of , a national non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to supporting the children of incarcerated parents nationwide. Students, faculty, and community members will gain insights into the challenges faced by these children and explore effective strategies for addressing the issues they face.

Dr. Asha Bajpai, Fulbright Scholar In Residence and child law expert, and Angela Mesmer, warden of the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center, are also scheduled to speak at this event.

鈥淭he event will provide students with an opportunity to learn directly from professionals in the field of children’s rights advocacy,鈥� said Petronilla Sylvester, assistant professor of legal studies. 鈥淚t is also a professional development opportunity for faculty, staff and members of the community.鈥�

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

March 19, 2024–大象传媒 welcomes a Fulbright Scholar in Residence for聽the Spring 2024 semester. Dr. Asha Bajpai, a distinguished scholar in child rights and child advocacy, will be joining the campus community from March 1 to the end of the semester.

鈥淎s part of the Fulbright Scholar Program, Dr. Bajpai will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the institution, enriching the academic experience for students, faculty, staff and community members鈥欌�� said Petronilla Sylvester, assistant professor of legal studies. 鈥淭he Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies is thrilled to welcome Dr. Bajpai and we look forward to the valuable opportunities for learning, collaboration and cultural exchange she will undoubtedly provide.鈥�

Dr. Bajpai is a professor and founder dean of the School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India. The school’s main objectives are socially-relevant legal education and the education of human rights.

During her time at 大象传媒 Western, Dr. Bajpai will engage in a variety of activities including:

• Co-teaching Advanced Legal Research, providing students with unique learning opportunities and insights
• Collaborating with faculty members on research projects, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and innovation
• Participating in community outreach initiatives, sharing expertise and engaging with local organizations and stakeholders

Members of the community will have access to educational and cultural events featuring a distinguished international scholar, opportunities for collaboration and partnership with the university on various initiatives and the enrichment of the local community through engagement with global perspectives and experiences.

Dr. Bajpai expressed excitement about joining 大象传媒 Western and looks forward to engaging with students, faculty, staff and the local community during her residency.

For more information about Dr. Bajpai’s activities and upcoming events or to book Dr. Bajpai, please contact Sylvester at psylvester@missouriwestern.edu.

News release written by Patty Lashbrook, sophomore convergent journalism and public relations major.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Oct. 13, 2023–The 大象传媒 Court of Appeals, Western District, will convene at 大象传媒 on October 18, 2023. The oral arguments will begin at 9 a.m. in the Kemper Recital Hall, Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

A three-judge panel consisting of Judge Edward Ardini, Jr., Judge Anthony Rex Gabbert, and Judge Thomas Chapman will hear oral arguments in four cases. A summary of the four cases is available on . After the oral arguments, the judges will take time to discuss the court system and take general questions from the audience.

Judge Ardini will preside over the proceedings at 大象传媒 Western. Judge Ardini was appointed to the Western District in 2016. He previously served as counsel to the 大象传媒 Attorney General and then as counsel to the Governor. Judge Gabbert joined the Western District in 2013. Prior to that, he served as a municipal judge, associate circuit judge, and a circuit judge in Clay County. Judge Chapman was appointed to the Western District in 2018. Before his appointment to the court of appeals, he served as a circuit judge for the 43rd Judicial Circuit of 大象传媒 (Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb and Livingston counties) for over seven years.

The court regularly convenes in Kansas City. For more than 25 years, however, the court has held dockets in several of the 45 counties in the court鈥檚 jurisdiction, which includes all of northwest 大象传媒 and most of central 大象传媒. The court convenes oral arguments outside of Kansas City to give individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see and to familiarize those attending with the court鈥檚 role in the judicial system.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

June 5, 2023–The 大象传媒

A total of 23 recruits will graduate. They will soon be joining law enforcement agencies across 大象传媒, with at least four joining the St. Joseph Police Department.

The keynote speaker will be Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett, a 1993 graduate of 大象传媒 Western with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice. Sheriff Puett also serves as an instructor in the Law Enforcement Academy.

The next full-time academy will begin on Monday, July 10. The priority deadline for applications is Monday, June 26. The next part-time class will begin in August. For more information, visit missouriwestern.edu/academy, or call 816-271-5843.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Lonnie Bishop

May 23, 2023鈥揂 veteran of the Buchanan County Sheriff鈥檚 Department will lead 大象传媒鈥檚 Law Enforcement Academy. Lonnie Bishop will begin his duties as commander of the LEA on June 16.

鈥淭he Law Enforcement Academy is an important way that we serve the region, training the people who keep our communities safe, so finding the right person to serve as commander is vital,鈥� said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 president. 鈥淟onnie Bishop鈥檚 extensive experience in law enforcement and training as well as his demonstrated leadership abilities will serve our cadets and our community well.鈥�

“My goal is to implement three core values at the Academy: compassion, integrity and knowledge,” Bishop said. “I am most excited about working with the cadets and using my prior experiences to continue to grow the Academy.”聽

Bishop has been an investigator with the Buchanan County Sheriff鈥檚 Department since 2014, and has served as a part-time instructor in the Law Enforcement Academy since 2021. He retired as a captain in the U.S. Air Force after a combined 20 years of service in the Air Force and U.S. Navy. He has Bachelor of Information Science and Master of Information Science Management degrees from the University of Phoenix.

大象传媒 Western鈥檚 Law Enforcement Academy prepares cadets to become commissioned law enforcement officers. The academy is certified by the 大象传媒 Department of Public Safety Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission and graduates are eligible for a POST certificate. Degree-seeking 大象传媒 Western students can also earn college credit toward an associate鈥檚 or bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice.

The next class starts Monday, July 10. Applications are currently being accepted. For more information, visit missouriwestern.edu/academy.聽

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Petronilla Sylvester in the St. Joseph City Council chambers.

March 3, 2023鈥揂 大象传媒 Western professor was recently named to the .

Petronilla Sylvester, assistant professor of legal studies, was nominated to the commission by Mayor John Josendale and confirmed by the City Council. Her term expires Jan. 9, 2026.

鈥淭he St. Joseph Human Rights Commission works tirelessly to arrest discrimination in our community, to facilitate educational workshops, and to make recommendations that address human rights issues,鈥� Professor Sylvester said. 鈥淢y appointment to serve on the commission as a representative of the educational community affords me the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the work of the HRC while continuing to promote access to justice.鈥�

The St. Joseph Human Rights Commission was established in 2018 to address discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Students will be divided into groups based on interest and have 45-minute sessions in the department鈥檚 crime scene lab, simulator lab and interview room. Students will also hear about applied learning opportunities offered in the CJLS and social work programs. The career exploration event will end with a brief campus tour and lunch in the Blum Student Union.

The day鈥檚 agenda includes:

• 8:30 a.m. Welcome, Wilson Hall (WH) room 205
• 9 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Breakout sessions, WH 140, 150, 200a
• 10:30 a.m. Admissions presentation, WH 205
• 11 a.m. Breakout Session, WH 205 and 150
• 11:45 a.m. Applied learning opportunities presentation, WH 205
• 12:15 p.m. Campus tour ending in lunch at Blum Student Union

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

A social work student discusses his poster during the Human Rights Fair in 2017.

Nov. 29, 2022–The social work program at 大象传媒 will host its annual Human Rights Fair on Thursday, Dec. 1. The event includes a poster session and a keynote speech by social work alum Alex Peters 鈥�15. The Human Rights Fair is free and open to the public.

The poster session will be presented by social work students in the Blum Union lobby from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The juried posters highlight and explore human rights issues.

The keynote speech by Peters will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Enright Community Room, Spratt Hall room 214. Peters completed her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in juvenile delinquency and a minor in childhood studies at 大象传媒 Western, and received her Master of Social Work from the University of Arizona. Peters runs her own private practice where she sees a variety of patients, with a special interest in aiding transgender individuals with access to transitioning services.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .