Meet Mushtaq

Mushtaq Khan is the new professor of microbiology at St. Ambrose University. He comes to St. Ambrose after spending the last 16 years teaching in Saudi Arabia.

Khan specialized in biotechnology, specifically in plant diseases and breeding. His tasks in Saudi Arabia were to establish labs and greenhouses and build up the agricultural department. “Development of agriculture is important in Saudi Arabia, because it is very difficult to make things grow in the desert,” Khan states.

Khan was born in India and graduated from the University of India. He came to the United States in 1970. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin--Madison in 1996. He spent the next year working in Madison.

Khan spoke of the similarities and differences between Saudi and American education.

“They have highly paid professors and their students still receive a poor education. There is no competition. No challenge. Their jobs are fixed and they are spoon fed everything. I would be interested to see how a Saudi Arabian student would fare in an American university.”

Saudi Arabia actually spends more money, per student, than the United States. They receive free boarding, free parking and their meals only cost a dollar, Khan states.

Khan says he likes working at St. Ambrose University. He says he prefers working at a smaller school with smaller classes giving him more contact with his students.

“30 to 35 students is about the perfect size.”

In his spare time professor Khan enjoys table tennis, soccer and building computers.

“I have become obsessed,” he states.

Men's basketball sizzles this season




The men's basketball team has been hot recently. Winners of nini of their last 13 games, the Fighting Bees are looking strong despite a rash of injuries and illnesses.

"One of our traditions here is we peak in the second half of the season," Coach Ray Shovlain said.

The Bees played a tough early season schedule with 11 of their first 15 opponenets being ranked in NAIA Divison I or II. Things should ease up for them while they finish with four or their last six games at home.

The turning point for the season seemed to be at the St. Xavier Midwest Classic in Chicago. The Bees defeated S. Gregory and St. Francis before snapping St. Xavier's 12 game winning streak in the championship game.

Senior Brandon Mays credits the key to the team's recent success to the coaching staff.

"The coaching staff has been making key in-game and half-time adjustments, as well as concentrating on our free-throw shooting," Mays said.

Shovlain shines the spotlight on the players.

"We've got a quality group of young men here," Shovlain said.

"I think as long as we stay positive and keep healthy, we have put ourselves in contention for the second half (of the season). If we shoot the ball as well as we are capable of, we have a good chance to win our games."

Shovlain went on to say that several key members of the team has missed several games, including Alex Burkle wo is going to miss the rest of the regular season.

He hopes to have him back for the playoffs.

St. Ambrose defeated Viterbo University in their last road game 78-70. Led by Brett Cole's 19 points and Adam Fahrenkrog's seven rebounds, The Bees hung on in the closing moments to seal the victory after Viterbo made a late push.