Article seems to indicate cold shoulder to the arts from Missouri Southern

A concerted effort to bring classical music to the Joplin area is being continued by the same people who organized the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, according to an article in today's Joplin Globe.

One hundred thousand dollars remained in the account after the final competition, the article said, and that money will be used to help bring classical performers to the area.

What is conspicuous is that there is virtually no mention of Missouri Southern State University, another indication that the ending of the piano competition was forced by the same people who have caused all of the recent turmoil at the university:

Each year, money from the fund will be distributed to organizations, including colleges and universities, that offer classical musical programs with an emphasis on piano performance, and/or to schools in Jasper and Newton counties.

If Missouri Southern was considered a prime player in this scenario, it would undoubtedly have received a prominent mention. That, unfortunately for the university, is not going to happen in the Bruce Speck/Dwight Douglas era.