Student Activities and Organizations
Art and Design Gallery
333 E. Walnut St.
(417) 829-5092
http://art.missouristate.edu/gallery.php
Exhibitions change monthly during the school year. Each year the exhibition schedule includes a faculty show and other shows by distinguished artists and designers from all regions of the country.
Campus Recreation and Intramural Sports
Plaster Student Union 131
(417) 836-5334
www.missouristate.edu/recreation
Campus Recreation is committed to improving all dimensions of wellness for the student, faculty, and staff through an integrated program of intramural sports, fitness and wellness activities, and outdoor recreation opportunities. This program includes challenging and rewarding activities coupled with educational leadership experiences designed to promote healthy, well-balanced lifestyles for the greater university community. See the Campus Recreation website for details.
Dance
Department of Theatre and Dance, Craig Hall 355
(417) 836-5268
www.theatreanddance.missouristate.edu
Dance concerts are presented annually as part of the cultural attractions available to the community. A faculty choreographed dance concert is presented each spring semester. Student choreographed studio programs are presented each semester, and advanced student work is selected for a full-fledged concert. Theatre productions often include dance as an integral element. Inertia Dance Company is the resident student organization which gives dance lecture-demonstrations and concert works to schools and groups throughout the geographic area.
Debate
Department of Communication, Craig Hall 375
(417) 836-4423
http://debate.missouristate.edu
Missouri State boasts a tradition of excellence in debate. The debate program is one of the oldest in the country - as old as the university itself - and has consistently been one of the top 20 debate programs in the nation. Missouri State is also the only school in the nation to have hosted both the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament and the National Debate Tournament (NDT). Missouri State students participate in NDT/CEDA policy debate. In 1992, Missouri State won first place at the CEDA National Tournament. Missouri State students have appeared in the “Sweet Sixteen” of college debate eleven times in the last twenty years, including a second place finish and three additional final four appearances (the latest in 2008.) In 2006 and 2008, the team secured one of 16 prestigious “First Round At Large” bids to the NDT. Within this tradition of competitive excellence lies a commitment to the education of the individual student. Missouri State debaters are consistently admitted to top graduate programs and law schools. The Holt V. Spicer Debate Forum features a national and regional travel schedule designed to offer each student the optimum level of participation.
Dramatic Performance Activities
Department of Theatre and Dance, Craig Hall 355
(417) 836-5268
www.theatreanddance.missouristate.edu
The Department of Theatre and Dance affords students with theatre and dance talent an avenue of expression and provides the campus community with entertaining and worthwhile productions. Several directed productions, including plays, musicals, operas, children’s plays, and performance pieces, are presented each year. Productions directed by students, both graduate and undergraduate, are also presented. Through participation in these productions, students gain practical experience in constructing and painting scenery, making costumes, applying makeup, light control technology and acting in outstanding plays of all periods. Productions are presented in Coger Theatre, the intimate Balcony Theatre in Craig Hall, Carrington Auditorium, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for Performing Arts.
One of the area’s favorite summer attractions is Tent Theatre. From June through July three shows, including musicals, are presented to local and regional audiences. This popular entertainment has been thrilling theatre-goers for over forty years.
The In-School Players, a group of advanced students chosen from audition, prepares original theatrical material to tour to area elementary schools two afternoons a week through the late fall and spring semesters. The Inertia Dance Company, a group of advanced students chosen from audition, prepares a presentation to tour to area elementary schools and a concert program for adult audiences.
Foreign Languages
Department of Modern and Classical Languages
Craig Hall 376
(417) 836-5122
www.missouristate.edu/MCL
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages offers a variety of activities to students to supplement its academic programs. The Department sponsors conversation tables, honorary societies, and cultural activities. Travel and study tours are offered to provide direct language and cultural experience. The Department also sponsors public service activities related to the study of foreign language and culture.
Hammons Student Center
661 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway
(417) 836-5772
www.missouristate.edu/hsc
The largest indoor facility in southwest Missouri has been home to Missouri State athletics since the 1976-77 season. With a seating capacity of 8,846, HSC hosts basketball, volleyball, swimming events, concerts and a variety of community events. HSC contains athletics and building administration offices, as well as offices for coaches, a lounge area and large varsity locker rooms. HSC is available for recreational use by students, faculty, staff and alumni. The facility contains an eight-lane, 25-yard swimming pool with one- and three-meter diving boards, racquetball courts, an indoor rifle range, and basketball courts. Recreational users of the facility are requested to show a valid University ID card or membership card prior to being admitted.
Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Juanita K.
525 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway
(417) 836-6776
www.hammonshall.com
Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts is a 2,215 seat multi-purpose performance facility owned and operated by Missouri State University to serve the needs of the campus, community, and region. Hammons Hall presents a full season of performances which includes touring Broadway musical productions, single performances covering the gamut of entertainment from classical music to jazz to dance to comedy to theatre, children’s shows, and an emerging concert artists recital series. In keeping with Hammons Hall’s mission to serve the student population, university concerts, recitals and lectures are also part of the venue's schedule. The Springfield Symphony presents its season at the Hall, and other community arts partners include Springfield Regional Opera and Springfield Visual Arts Alliance. Hammons Hall is also available for rental to outside promoters.
Mass Media Activities
Department of Media, Journalism & Film, Craig Hall 370
(417) 836-5218
http://mjf.missouristate.edu
An integral part of the Department of Media, Journalism & Film, the mass media program provides a wide range of activities in broadcasting, journalism, and film. The department maintains an instructional television studio which provides student programming on Springfield’s Cable Channel 24. The department also serves in an advisory capacity for the school newspaper, The Standard, and is associated with KSMU-FM (91.1 MHz), the University’s National Public Radio affiliate. Mass media majors can gain valuable experience working in each of these areas, as reporters and journalists for the newspaper, as producers of television programming, or as student interns at KSMU, the area’s FM source of fine arts and information programming. The Growl, a student run webcast radio station is also housed in the department. Students can gain valuable experience doing play-by-play sports announcing, creating web newscast, or DJ’ing a music program on The Growl. The student run Film Society is also affiliated with the department. The department maintains a strong internship program with local and regional broadcasters, providing an opportunity for majors to acquire professional experience at a variety of radio and television stations, as well as corporate production facilities.
Ozarks Celebration Festival
College of Arts and Letters
http://ocf.missouristate.edu
The Ozarks Celebration Festival is an entertaining and educational look at the region’s culture and heritage. The annual fall event is held on the campus in front of Carrington Hall and consists of traditional craftspeople and commercial artists, three stages of music (which will include traditional, bluegrass, and gospel music), Ozarks storytelling, traditional dance (which will include square, jig, contra and clogging), films, historical characters, exhibits, and much more. Many of the finest artists and craftspeople in the region will be on hand to demonstrate and display their creations, offering a number of items for sale. All events are free and open to the public.
Student Exhibition Center
838 E. Walnut St.
(417) 836-6999
http://sec.missouristate.edu
Located near campus on historic Walnut Street and John Q. Hammons Parkway, this converted Victorian two-story building contains exhibitions of student work that change monthly during the school year. Each year the exhibition schedule also includes a Foundations Show and Senior Design Show. Additional shows may vary from year to year.