Briefly Mentioned

By: Joshua Seiden

Posted: 11/26/07

Administrator bolts for Sprint

The university has another administrative vacancy to fill. Sarah Lubischer resigned her post as director of Student Life, effective Nov. 21.

"My decision to leave was of a personal nature between my family and I and not one I prefer to comment on for a news story," Lubischer said. "I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities I've had while working at UMKC and will miss being a part of this great community of students, faculty and staff."

Lubischer notified the Student Government Association executive council in a Nov. 19 e-mail and elaborated on her post-UMKC plans.

"I apologize for not letting you all know sooner but I was hoping to be able to give you some additional information in terms of who will be taking over in my absence," she said. "I have accepted a [m]arketing position at Sprint and will start there on [Nov. 26] … I'm very excited about the opportunities and new challenges that this will provide for me professionally."

Lubischer's first day at UMKC was March 19, following a stint at Rockhurst University.

- Joshua Seiden

KCMO Internships

Internship jobs are currently available through the KCMO City Internship Program. The program is an exclusive partnership between Kansas City government and UMKC, according to the City Internship Program Web site, http://www.kcmo.org/manager.nsf/web/cityinterns.

The site says the program is designed to expose UMKC students to "career opportunities in local government while allowing them to develop and strengthen professional skills in a work environment conducive to their education."

There are currently positions available for upper class, graduate and professional students in management, engineering, communications, technology, auditing, video, event management, sales, Spanish, health, law, education, public health, biology and human resources.

"The City Internship allows students to make important contributions to the city while participating in a challenging and rewarding work environment," said City Manager Wayne Cauthen, on the Web site. "We welcome students of every academic major to City Hall. Your contributions to the very communities you live in help us to further enhance our processes and initiatives to deliver quality services to citizens."

- Megan Henderson

Superior Court appointed

The Student Government Association (SGA) finally named justices to the 2007-08 UMKC Superior Court during its Nov. 14 meeting.

All seven appointees are current students in the School of Law. Nathaniel McGraw Jones, third-year, will serve as chief justice. The associate justices are Jonathan Soper, third-year; Brad Boffeli, Michael Miller, Torie M. Orton and Scott A. Woods, second-year; and Audrey McCormick, first-year.

According to Article VII, Section D of the SGA Constitution, "All justices shall be appointed and approved by the Student Senate at the first regularly scheduled meeting in April. All Justices shall serve a one-year term beginning on May 1 and concluding on April 30 of the following year."

As the judicial arm of SGA, the Superior Court handles issues such as election disputes and SGA and council constitutional questions.

- Joshua Seiden

Bloch news on Facebook

One school at UMKC began the month with a foray into pop culture.

The latest news from the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration is now available on a social networking site, www.facebook.com.

"The content on Facebook for Bloch is information about our Study Abroad program," said Victoria Prater, director of communications.

The Center for International Business at the Bloch School offers four exciting trips to Europe and Asia. The trips will be planned by accompanying professors. Students earn course credit upon successful completion. Students will also be eligible for two trips for a maximum of six credit hours. There will be complementary lectures on international business and Asian and European culture provided before and after the trips.

For those interested in the study abroad programs, applications are available in Bloch 115. Priority deadline for application and deposit is Nov. 30. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 15. Scholarships and financial aid are available.

The information on Facebook can be found in the following groups: Vietnam Study Abroad: Summer '08; Bremen & Berlin, Germany Study Abroad: Summer '08; London, England Study Abroad: Summer '08; and Shanghai, China Study Abroad: Summer '08.

- Mwai Malindi

Law grad up for judgeship

Melissa Taylor Standridge, a 1993 graduate of the UMKC School of Law, was recently submitted by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission as a nominee for the new 13th position on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

A resident of Overland Park, Kan., Standridge began practicing law 13 years ago. She also served as editor-in-chief of the UMKC Law Review. Currently, she is chambers council to U.S. Magistrate Judge David J. Waxse in Kansas City, Kan.

Standridge was nominated for the judgeship along with two other attorneys in private practice. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, D-Kan., will make the appointment by mid-January.

- Joshua Seiden

Free HPV vaccine

Area females now have free access to protection against cervical cancer. Gardasil, a vaccine used to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), is offered free of charge to females ages 9-26 due to a $2.5 million grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (HCF) and the REACH Healthcare Foundation.

To find the nearest of 32 locations offering the vaccine, those interested can call the United Way 211 Information line by dialing 211 or (816) 474-5112.

"HCF and REACH are very pleased to be partnering with United Way 211 to spread the word about this initiative, which helps to ensure uninsured and underinsured females in Missouri and Kansas reduce their risk of cervical cancer," said Steve Roling, president and CEO of HCF, in a recent HCF press release.

Gardasil, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006, generally costs $360 for the recommended three-dose regimen. Roughly 20 million people are infected with HPV, according to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) fact sheet. At least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection by age 50, according to the CDC.

For more information, visit www.mohpv.com.

- Joshua Seiden