Higher Education

Historic buildings on Columbia campuses will be getting a face-lift soon, thanks to planning projects at Stephens College, Columbia College and MU.

Lela Raney Wood Hall, at Broadway and College Avenue at Stephens, has been undergoing exterior renovation and will continue its transformation on the inside. It will be the home of student services, administrative offices, a renovated ballroom and the school’s Costume Research Library.

Self-expression comes in many forms, and for MU art major Ben Marsh, nothing does the job like photography.

“I don’t think I could express myself another way,” Marsh said. “It is the best way to get things across.”

More than words were expressed on Wednesday when $3,075 were presented to the Columbia Police Foundation board members in honor of Officer Curtis Brown and fallen Officer Molly Bowden.

Jim and Billie Silvey, co-chairs of the Columbia Police Foundation, accepted the money on behalf of the Officer Down Fund. The money was raised Feb. 26 when Columbia College hosted a benefit concert that featured the Hilary Scott Band.

In the market for 12 computer monitors? A medical examination table? A cheap piano? They may not be as hard to find as you think.

The MU Office of Procurement Services has sold university surplus property — including computer and medical equipment — for almost 30 years.

For MU freshman Corey Schneider, studying chemical engineering in college seemed to make sense.

“I always felt I would do something with math and science,” Schneider said. “I really liked chemistry in high school.”

Michael Porter said he thinks he has one of the best jobs at MU. As a communications professor and director of special degree programs, Porter has the opportunity to get to know the person behind the student number.

“I have one of the best jobs on campus because I get paid to sit around and talk to students all day,” Porter said. “The reason I enjoy that is because I make myself consciously aware that every student has a very interesting story.

Caroline Sicht, a sixth-grader at Gentry Middle School, isn’t sure what she wants to do when she grows up, but she has started saving for her college education.

Caroline, 12, exhibits show steers for her beef project in the Englewood Hustlers 4-H Club.

It’s never too early to start planning — even when you don’t know what to expect.

That’s what Anne Hoylman is doing when it comes to her son, Alex Gompper, 8, and his college education.

With the growing popularity of the Web log, commonly known as a blog, as a source of news and political commentary, traditional media outlets are beginning to recognize the need for blogs to have access to information —even to have a White House press pass.

On Monday Garrett Graff, editor of FishbowlDC (www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc), a blog published by Mediabistro.com, became the first blogger to receive a permanent White House press pass.

As a young student about to enter college, Peter Miyamoto found himself torn between great programs.

As a high school student in San Francisco, he had a variety of interests, including playing piano, competing in local tennis tournaments and participating in student government at his school. Miyamoto described his upbringing and education as “normal.”

As if college entrance exams were not stressful enough, the two biggest ones are being changed.

Both the SAT and the ACT will now include a written essay portion to help colleges make admissions decisions and determine at which level of English a student will be placed.

Lauren Palmer knows what she wants to do with her life — if only she could choose between the two.

Palmer recently played Celia, the naive cousin of the play’s protagonist, Rosalind, in MU’s Western-themed production of “As You Like It.” Palmer performed in her first show as a freshman at her Wichita, Kan., high school. “As You Like It” was her seventh show at MU.

Steve Paxton, the head coach of Tiger Wheelchair Basketball, is in the process of building a team.

MU is looking for ways to help students use resources already on campus to compete for grants, scholarships and awards outside the university.

Former state legislator Vicky Riback-Wilson, recently hired at MU in the Office of Service-Learning, was asked by interim Provost Lori Franz to help students attain more of these scholarships.

At 19, Jessica Pollard has learned the hard way how important regular exercise is.

In her first semester at MU last year, Pollard gained 15 pounds from all-you-can-eat dorm dining and by not keeping up the exercise she got as a high school athlete growing up on a farm.

The United States needs to be more ethically fit, author and law professor Anita L. Allen said Monday.

Next year, MU students may be able to request excused absences for religious obligations.

Now, it is up to the teacher.

A group of researchers, including MU marketing professor S. “Ratti” Ratneshwar, discovered that smells can enhance brand recall and recognition.

Albert Devlin has dedicated almost 10 years of his life to the life of a famed playwright and former MU student. This month, Devlin’s commitment will again come before the public when his second collection of Tennessee Williams’ letters is staged in New York.

Tom Echterhoff likes to be around people.