![\"the](\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2019\/06\/Finished-mace-March-2019-12-200x300.jpg\")
A negative was turned into an amazing positive when the local St. Joseph Woodworkers Guild agreed to create a new ceremonial mace for 大象传媒 Western this spring.<\/p>\nA negative was turned into an amazing positive when the local St. Joseph Woodworkers Guild agreed to create a new ceremonial mace for 大象传媒 Western this spring.<\/p>\n
The original mace, which was carried in and placed on the stage at Commencement ceremonies, was stolen in May 2018. When University personnel tried to find a replacement, they realized that very few companies made them, so Dr. Robert Vartabedian, 大象传媒 Western\u2019s president, asked Dave Takes, owner of Expressions Engraved, if he knew of any companies.<\/p>\n
But Takes had a better idea. He asked the St. Joseph Woodworkers Guild if they would create a new one for the University, and they were more than happy to help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always like to help people out, and do different things that challenge us,\u201d said Ed Roberts, president of the guild. \u201cIt was something we had never done before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really exciting. When they said they wanted a mace, I was all over it. It was something I wanted to do,\u201d guild member John Cox said.<\/p>\n
The guild designed the new mace, and Roberts and Cox spent many hours on the project with Ken Gerber \u201965, Ralph Alvarez \u201971 and Richard Tolbert. The mace, made with local walnut, is approximately 3\u2032 tall and is decorated with brass and ebony rings. Four gold medallions, provided by Takes, are on each side at the top.<\/p>\n