Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State University alumni and friends gathered in the Junction last Tuesday to celebrate MSU's 134th birthday. Jerry Toney, left, MSU Alumni Association national president, and Jimmy Abraham, associate vice president for development and alumni and Alumni Association executive director, cut a giant cowbell cake, which was served along with complimentary hamburgers and MSU ice cream. PHOTO: Russ Houston | University Relations

Student researchers have new ethics advice option
Students engaged in research at Mississippi State University have access to a new tool that offers guidance in making responsible decisions when it comes to issues surrounding the responsible conduct of research. Trisha Phillips, assistant professor in the university's Department of Philosophy and Religion, is serving as the ethics consultant for student researchers.

U.S. presidential award recognizes volunteers
Members of the Mississippi State and Starkville communities have the opportunity to help others and receive recognition for it through the President's Volunteer Service Award. "The awards stand not just as a personal record, but also as a testament to the culture of service in the Starkville and Mississippi State communities," said Meggan Franks, program coordinator for student leadership and community engagement for the Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State.

Nobel winner F.W. de Klerk speaks Wednesday
The former South African president who shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for helping end his country's apartheid policies speaks Wednesday at Mississippi State. Sponsored by the university's Campus Activities Board, F.W. de Klerk's address will begin at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium. The program is free and open to all.

Summit to focus on furniture production March 21
A March 21 summit at Mississippi State will feature the latest news in furniture manufacturing and government regulations. Topics will include recent changes in China and their effect on domestic furniture production, opportunities for a resurgence of manufacturing in America, and regulations impacting furniture production.

Recycling change: No more glass in bins, please
Mississippi State's single-stream recycling program has now been in place for more than a year. The program has fundamentally changed the way the university collects recyclables and trash on campus. However, due to a contractor change, MSU can no longer collect glass as part of the recycling stream.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 03/05/12
Men's Tennis hosts Virginia at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, and travels to Georgia for a 1:30 p.m. match Friday and then Tennessee for a Sunday match at noon... Baseball hosts Penn State at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, and opens a home weekend series with Mercer on Friday at 6:30 p.m.... Softball hosts Florida on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and opens a home weekend series with Georgia at 5:30 p.m. Friday... Men's Basketball begins play in the SEC Tournament on Thursday... Women's Tennis hosts Georgia on Friday at 2 p.m. and Tennessee on Sunday at 1 p.m. Men's Golf begins play Friday in the Seminole Intercollegiate in Tallahassee, Fla... Track & Field travels to Boise, Idaho on Friday for the NCAA Championships.

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Byrd named 'Outstanding Dietetic Educator of Year'
Sylvia Byrd and two nutrition students in Mississippi State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will be honored at a statewide awards function Thursday. Byrd is an associate professor and director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics in MSU's Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion. She has been named the Outstanding Dietetic Educator of the Year by the Mississippi Dietetic Association.

Eksioglu lands $3.5-million USDOT UTC grant
Mississippi State is the lead institution for a $3.5-million federal grant to help fund a center of excellence for transportation research. Burak Eksioglu, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering, is principal investigator for the project. He said the formation of a diverse, multi-disciplinary team at the 134-year-old land-grant institution played a critical role in winning the highly competitive grant.

Fruit crops specialist Stafne joins MSU
Mississippi fruit producers have a new specialist to consult about crop problems and advise them on best practices. Mississippi State University's Extension Service has hired Eric Stafne as the assistant Extension professor of fruit crops. He is located at MSU's Coastal Research and Extension Center in Poplarville.

Harvard's Bobo coming to MSU as speaker, scholar
"Post-Racial Dreams, American Realities" will be the Monday topic of a Mississippi State program led by a nationally prominent sociologist. Lawrence D. Bobo's university presentation begins at 5 p.m. in McCool Hall's first-floor Rogers Auditorium. The event is free and open to all.