Corner Post Editorial —
Activists to change the face of agriculture by 2011
by Sami Jo Freeman, posted May 12, 2009
Following the passing of Proposition 2 in California this past fall, many agriculturalists were left with questions burning in their minds: ‘What does this mean for me? ‘What does this mean for agriculture?‘

Thompson Center uses three-part mission to make huge impact
by Sami Jo Freeman, posted May 12, 2009
The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders opened its doors in April 2005, following an $8.5 million donation from William and Nancy Thompson. The original goal was to create a state-of-the-art research and clinical facility for autistic patients, but soon included patients affected by various neurodevelopmental disorders. William and Nancy Thompson are both alumni of the University of Missouri.

Infectious traveler: Roy Robinson
by Brooklyn Shearer, posted April 1, 2009
As Roy Robinson crunched on his apple, he talked about his study abroad experiences, with a sparkle in his eye that is undeniable and a smile almost too big for his face. He describes his experiences with the food, culture and people in the places he has traveled.

Annual plant sale brought spring inside the Ag Building
by Hannah Riddle, posted May 12, 2009
The smell of freshly grown green plants and flowers filled the halls of the Agriculture Building April 28 and 29. The rainy, gloomy days outside did not put a damper on the Tiger Garden annual plant sale.

Corner Post Editorial—
Blue Fridays offer a way to show support for the troops
by Beverley Kreul, posted May 12, 2009
I have often seen the support that Americans have shown our soldiers in Iraq. Little kids write thank you cards in their kindergarten class, veterans are given a standing ovation when announced at sports games, and I have seen countless cars with bumper stickers declaring their pride for our armed forces. But as the war reaches its seventh year, it seems that support is dwindling even though we still have soldiers away from home.

Corner Post editorial —
Healthy food should be a right not a privelege for the wealthy
by Hannah Riddle, posted May 11, 2009
It seems these days’ fast food dollar menus make high-calorie foods easily available and appealing for the financially challenged. McDonalds was the first to put out a dollar menu and the idea has spread from restaurant to restaurant, making fast food chains alluring to those trying to get a cheap meal.

What is beauty? Dove campaign tries to change our view
by Kristy Tiesing, posted May 11, 2009
MU Strategic Communications professor Cynthia Frisby spoke Wednesday, April 29, to a group of students interested in the controversial “real women” Dove advertising campaign and the skewed and biased view that society has on what real beauty is. She focused on the issue of beauty in the media and how the media has constructed the image of being beautiful.

No summertime blues in Columbia; city is full of summer fun
by Constance Berneking, posted May 11, 2009
For students staying in Columbia for the summer or wanting to come back for a visit there will be lots of thing to do no matter what you are into.

Two CAFNR seniors are 'tapped'
by Jessica England, posted May 11, 2009
The secret societies at MU came out to tap their new members on April 18 on the Jesse Quandrangle. Being “tapped” is considered one of MU’s highest honors. Mystical Seven, QEBH, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, Rollins Society, and LSV are the societies members were tapped in to. All of these societies are elite and it is challenging for each individual to become a member. Members being tapped are recognized for their performance in academic and non-academic areas.

Green dot campaign seeks to change culture of violence against women
by Megan Graves, posted May 8, 2009
“The solution must be a reflection of the problem,” said Dorothy Edwards, creator of the Green Dot, in a lecture given April 21. The Green Dot is aimed at the prevention of violence against women. A green dot — a “behavior, choice, word or attitude”- is an action that counteracts a red dot — an act of violence, such as rape, physical or emotional abuse.

Conceal and carry on campus?
Opinions are mixed
by Megan Graves, posted May 8, 2009
Students and faculty legally carrying concealed weapons on a college campus — the idea first brings haunting images of tragedies at schools such as Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. But, the afterthought might be, “Could I be safer?” Missouri State Representative Brian Munzlinger thinks you would.

AgJ alums honored at April showcase of excellence
by Megan Graves, posted May 8, 2009
Two agricultural journalism alumni, Charlene Finck and Steve Barr, were honored with awards at a reception for the Celebration of Excellence on April 3, 2009 at Reynolds Alumni Center.

Poverty leads to pregnancy, but not marriage according to sociologist
by Megan Graves, posted May 6, 2009
Poor women are putting motherhood before marriage, said Maria Kefalas, associate professor of sociology and director of the Institute for Violence Research and Prevention at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Kefalas was on campus in April as part of the Chancellor's Diversity Initiative lecture series.

Students begin innovative community supported ag project at Bradford Farm
by Kristy Tiesing, posted May 5, 2009
On a warm, sunny afternoon it is easy to find MU junior Andrew Van Engelenhoven out at Bradford Research Center, along with a handful of other MU students. These students have begun a very ambitious project. What started as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) entrepreneurial project, has turned into an intensive task that all involved have committed much time to.

Strolling dancing divas
by Hannah Riddle, posted May 5, 2009
“We love to stroll. It is a great opportunity to reinforce sisterhood and tradition. Nationally, we participate in several competitions,” said Aukua Pokuuah, president of Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. MU’s first annual All Greek Stroll off was held before spring break.

What would Walter Williams do?
by Beverley Kreul, posted May 4, 2009
Journalism has changed drastically in the past century, and most of that change has occured in the past 10 years. From the weekly or daily news cycle used by local newspapers for decades, it has moved to a 24/7, never-ending stream of Internet news and blogs altering the jobs of journalists and the way readers receive their news.

An appetite for food writing
Restaurant critic advises students to 'Educate their palates'
by Brooklyn Shearer, posted May 4, 2009
Writing about food can stir people’s emotions easily. Patricia Corrigan found out after she reviewed a restaurant. The owners apparently did not like what she had to say and were waiting for her outside the radio station where she had just been interviewed. She joked about it as she told many stories the afternoon of April 27 in the Bond Life Sciences Center.

Ice storms in Southeast Missouri seem like distant history
by Alex Johnson, posted May 1, 2009
In mid-Febuary, southeast Missouri experienced an ice storm that took out power in 36,000 homes, business and schools. People of the area are grateful now to have warmer weather, powered homes and the ability to work and attend school.

Editorial: Photos of fun could have negative consequences
by Alex Johnson, posted April 27, 2009
The MU student-run spirit group, the Antlers, gained online buzz for displaying a picture of a drag queen at this past season's basketball game where the Tigers battled the Oklahoma Sooners. The picture was actually of Oklahoma's starting basketball player, sophomore Blake Griffin, in a wig and a dress. The photos of Griffin were taken from a freshman orientation video Griffin participated in during his sophomore year in high school.

Belly Dancing: Beautiful, not burlesque
by Brooklyn Shearer, posted April 24, 2009
The dimly lit room inside Elm Street Yoga sets the mood for the 6 o’clock belly dancing class taught by Asha Diana. The women put their jackets on the coat rack, listening intently to one woman talk about her great find of a coin belt in Denver. Diana nods as she understands the thrill of finding a one-of-a-kind coin belt.

Profile: Bryan Garton
Farm boy to college professor
by Jessica England, posted April 24, 2009
“If you gave him a highlighter I’m sure he would color code everything. He has certain color coding for his filing and lesson plans,” said Amy Smith, an agricultural education instructor.

Facebook — Connecting students and faculty
by Sami Jo Freeman, posted April 17, 2009
It seems like every time college students launch their Web browser, they go straight to one of two things: Facebook or Mizzou Webmail. Facebook has become a staple in many students’ daily activities, but the surprising trend is that a large number of university faculty and staff are now joining the popular social networking site.

Self-defense class builds confidence
story and photo by Brooklyn Shearer, posted April 7, 2009
Every semester certain classes fill up quickly as word-of-mouth "advertising" spreads through the student population. Without fail, the Women's Self-Defense class taught by Health Education Instructor Renata Maiorino, is one of those classes.

Give a cheer for the cheerleaders
by Alex Johnson, posted April 7, 2009
The MU spirit squad is currently preparing to compete against colleges around the nation in the National Cheerleading Association competition in Daytona Beach, Fla. Due to their increase in skill level, the squad is hoping to place higher this year than last year. The competition takes place April 9-10, but the team has already began working on their routine composed of gymnastic, cheerleading and dance skills that will be performed while competing for a national title.

Striving for a healthier tomorrow:
the MU smoking ban
by Eva Dunlap, posted April 3, 2009
It is estimated that one-third of college students are regular smokers and with MU’s numbers, that’s about 10,000 students. On Jan. 20, 2009, a new policy regarding smokers was put into effect on the University of Missouri’s campus.

Get into the swing of things at third annual CAFNR Spring Swing April 4
by Brooklyn Shearer, posted April 1, 2009
CAFNR Student Council will be hosting the Spring Swing slow-pitch softball tournament event from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Hinkson Field complex, located southwest of the Mizzou Arena.

The digital television transition
by Scarlett Miller, posted March 31, 2009
The transition to digital television from analog has been highly publicized and discussed since it was first introduced. The original date for transition was set for Feb. 17, 2009, but as the date neared, rural communities were not yet ready for the change so congress passed the DTV Delay Act, pushing the date back to June, 12, 2009.

Corner Post Editorial: Small family farms:
Moving into the future or a thing of the past?
by Scarlett Miller, posted March 31, 2009
When I think of a family farm, I picture red barns, small farmhouses and a lone farmer bringing in the cattle. But I also think of these farms as a dying breed. But are small farms really disappearing? Yes. To an extent. But according to Georganne Artz, professor of agricultural economics at MU, disappearing farms are not as prevalent as the media and lawmakers have made them out to be.

Smiles and tears punctuate dedication of new Vaughn Conference Room
by Constance Berneking, posted March 27, 2009
More than 40 of the late Paul Vaughn’s friends, family, and colleagues gathered in rooms 113 and 115 of Gentry Hall on the MU campus to watch the dedication ceremony of the Paul R. Vaughn Conference Room.

Gossip sites turn game of 'Telephone' into high-speed stereotyping
by Kristy Tiesing, posted March 19, 2009
Telephone is a child’s first introduction to the practice of gossip. One person begins by whispering a secret to the person next to them and that person then passes the secret along. This sequence repeats through however many people wish to play. Finally the game is ended when the last participant announces the secret. The catch is that by the last person, the secret has been mangled into something different from the original.
Gossip traveling at this rate takes quite a bit of time to reach a broad network. Imagine how many people it could reach if broadcast over high-speed Internet.

A 'First Garden'
by Beverley Kreul, posted March 18, 2009
President Barack Obama has many ambitions for his first 100 days in office. One thing that may not have been on the top of his list, however, is to plant a garden in his front yard. The Kitchen Gardeners International, a non-profit network based in Maine, has enacted a campaign known as “Eat the View.”

Guilty until proven innocent
by Beverley Kreul, posted March 13, 2009
After almost decades of imprisonment, two men walk free. The world has changed in the past twenty years. Hotel keys are now cards. The gas station has automated voices that tell you how to pump your gas. Leadership has changed hands from Democrat to Republican and back again. We have entered a time of national threat, war, and now an impending recession. It would be difficult to comprehend the changes in the world if we had not experienced these changes as gradually as they happened.

Vagina Monologues are a success in raising awareness
by Hannah Riddle, posted March 9, 2009
Emotions ranging from embarrassment to empowerment ran through the audience in Jesse Auditorium at the 8th Annual Vagina Monologues performance on Feb. 28. The show was an eye-opener to some, and all who attended found out what women think of “down there.”

Telling stories, changing lives
by Beverley Kreul, posted March 3, 2009
Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of A Boy Soldier, and Laura Sims, professional storyteller and author of The Robe of Love: Secret Instructions from the Heart, presented readings from their books and personal stories of their lives Tuesday Feb. 18 at Jesse Auditorium.
As mother and son, Sims and Beah travel the country together telling the nation their story of overcoming the pains of a boy soldier and a peace-promoting mother.

Ag Alumni — Providing scholarships, one bid at a time
by Sami Jo Freeman, posted March 3, 2009
Around this time of year, many students are scrambling around their desks to figure out just how to finish countless homework assignments and scholarship applications. One thing that many students may not realize, however, is that hundreds of CAFNR Alumni are working just as hard to gather support for those very scholarships we need to continue at the University.

MU admissions teams help new students feel welcome
by Alex Johnson, posted March 3, 2009
Dealing with the needs of more than 5,500 people at once might seem like an impossible task. With a record increase in enrollment this past year, MU has been having to do just that. And numbers are looking even more impressive for the coming fall.
To help add a personal touch to recruiting this large class, MU is looking for current students to become members of two important groups: MU Tour Team and MU Admissions Liaisons.

Put your best foot forward for career fairs this week
by Constance Berneking, posted Feb. 23, 2009
On Wednesday, Feb. 25, from noon to 4 p.m., two career fairs will be held at the Reynolds Alumni Center: the Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Fair and the Hospitality Career Fair.

Soybean organizations sever ties in dispute over checkoff dollars
by Megan Graves, posted Feb. 23, 2009
The American Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board, a team that once worked like a well-oiled machine, have taken their relationship to a new level; they severed it completely.

Corner Post Opinion — 'Udderly' serious
by Beverley Kreul, posted Feb. 23, 2009
While cattle rustling may sound like a crime from a Western novel, it is becoming an increasing problem for Missouri’s cattle producers. Since 2005, Missouri has experienced a large amount of cattle theft.

One World, One Health, One Medicine
Health experts warn against dangers of global diseases
by Beverley Kreul, posted Feb. 18, 2009
The world today seems to be getting smaller; there are stronger international bonds, there is a greater number of outsourcing and globalization of jobs; and there are a greater number of diseases that threaten every corner of the globe.

State Historical Society recognizes Missouri's contribution to space travel
by Beverley Kreul, posted Feb. 18, 2009
The State Historical Society of Missouri recently hosted a collection of photographs covering Project Gemini. The St. Louis Gemini Story, produced by staff members of the Western Historical Manuscript Collection- St. Louis during the 1950s, is a photographic storyline of the creation of the Gemini spacecraft by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis. The exhibit ran from Jan. 24 through Feb. 2.

Books, bridles and spurs
by Hannah Riddle, posted Feb. 18, 2009
Most MU students have enough on their plate with all that college may include. Many fill their time with Greek life, working out at the rec, or working a job to pay off college tuition. However, some students choose to tack on the responsibility of taking care of not only themselves but also of their horse or horses.

John E. Brown and Dickinson Scholars
Changing perspectives
by Sami Jo Freeman, posted Feb. 13, 2009
Each year, the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources sends select students on one of two prestigious programs — the John E. Brown and Dickinson Scholars Programs. The main purpose of the programs is to take a student's classroom experience and unite that with hands-on experience in the agribusiness world of today. After a vigorous application and interviewing process, 16 students were selected for each program.

The Thundersnow Chaser
by Beverley Kreul, posted Feb. 5, 2009
The weather forecast says we will get three inches of snow. Instead we get 15. Why does it always seem like the weather report is never dependable? A joint research study between the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois is trying to make weather forecasting a bit more predictable. MU Professor Patrick Market, associate professor of atmospheric science, began his research on the phenomena of thundersnow in 2003. Since then, he has visited places as far away as Milwaukee to gather information.

Constance Berneking
I am Constance Berneking, I am 18-years-old and I am from Troy, Mo. This is my first year at MU and I love it so far. I hope to graduate a year early with degrees in both agricultural journalism and hotel and restaurant management. At MU, I am a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. In the future I want to become more involved with CAFNR activities. I am the daughter of Bart and Nancy Berneking. My dad is the owner of an architectural design/building firm and my mom is an interior designer. I have one sister, Sybil, she is 15 years old. I have a miniature daschund named Lily and I hope to get a kitten as soon as I get a house in Columbia. I attended Troy Buchanan High School where I played golf, was the Troy FFA Chapter Secretary, and student council president.

Jessica England
Hi, my name is Jessica England. I am a sophomore at the University majoring in agricultural journalism and agricultural education. This is my second semester writing for Corner Post. My hometown is Oquawka, Ill., a small town near Burlington, Iowa, but I recently became a Missouri resident and plan to live in Columbia this summer. In my free time, I like to see my friends and family, be outside, play sports, and travel. I am very outgoing and am usually having fun and laughing. At MU I am involved in Phi Mu, Mizzou 4-H, and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. My future plans are to obtain a degree from MU and continue on to graduate school with hopes to receive my master’s in agricultural education emphasis in agricultural journalism. I eventually would like to teach at the collegiate level and earn my doctorate.

Alex Johnson
My name is Melvin “Alex” Johnson and I was born and raised in the southeast corner of Missouri, famously known as the “bootheel.” My parents are Charles and Alberta Johnson and I have two siblings, Nelvia and Tamara Johnson. I grew up in the small town of Parma, Mo., and attended school at Bernie High School in Bernie, Mo. While in high school, I participated in sports, clubs and organizations, and community service activities. The most prominent of these activities was my participation in the National FFA Organization. During my involvement with the agricultural leadership based student organization, my interest in agriculture was encouraged. After graduating from high school, I entered the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri to pursue a degree in agricultural journalism and broadcast journalism. I currently reside in Columbia, Mo., where I am still pursuing a degree in agricultural journalism and broadcast journalism and I am completing my sophomore year at MU. At college, I am involved with Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences. I am also a cheerleader for MU football and women’s basketball. I hope to graduate from the college and pursue a career in news anchoring or public relations.