Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State remains open during usual business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week while students enjoy Spring Break. Classes resume March 20. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

MSU celebrates Butler Guest House renovations with upcoming open house
Mississippi State is celebrating recent renovations to its Eugene Butler Guest House with a mid-March open house reception. Free to all, the 1-5 p.m. event takes place Tuesday at 45 Walker Road on the Starkville campus. The Butler Guest House is located beside Davis Wade Stadium, between Hull Hall and the MSU Police Station. Refreshments will be served. Ann Bailey, MSU director of housing and residence life, said the Butler Guest House’s centralized location makes it a convenient home-away-from-home for overnight visitors, especially during football season and other big-event weekends on campus.

MaxxSouth Broadband extends support to MSU Libraries
Two gifts from MaxxSouth Broadband, a subsidiary of the media holding company, Block Communications, Inc., are benefitting Mississippi State University and the current expansion of Mitchell Memorial Library. The first gift is a $440,000 contribution to establish the MaxxSouth Broadband Digital Media Center Facilities Fund, as well as an accompanying endowment to provide perpetual support for the facility’s upkeep. “We are very grateful for the generous support of MaxxSouth Broadband,” said Asya Cooley, director of development for MSU Libraries. “Their investment in our university will help promote our vision of delivering first-rate programs of teaching, research and service.”

Grant will fund research to advance understanding of infant head trauma
A research collaboration between Mississippi State University and Cardiff University in the United Kingdom aims to increase understanding of infant head trauma. Using funds from an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council grant, researchers from both institutions will continue working to create highly-detailed 3-D and computational models of the infant brain, which will advance forensic analysis and safety research related to infant head trauma.

RCU launches K-12 innovations podcast
The first three audio podcasts highlighting major achievements in Mississippi’s K-12 public education are now available. “Mississippi ED Talk” will be a monthly production of the Research and Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State University. The podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher and SoundCloud, or by visiting www.rcu.msstate.edu/MSEDTalk. The programs will “reveal the unique strategies that Magnolia State educators are using to ensure academic excellence, equip students for the workforce and maximize educational opportunities for students,” said RCU Project Manager Kristen Dechert.

MWRRI director finalists' presentations now available
Mississippi State University will host three finalists for director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute over the next several weeks. During their visits, each candidate will deliver a public presentation where they will share their vision for the institute, as well as discuss their leadership style. Interested members of the campus community are invited to attend.

New opportunities with Maroon Volunteer Center
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community on its website and in its newsletter this week, including the MSU Big Event on April 1, MSU Collegiate Leadership Conference, track and field meet official volunteers, Feeding Starkville Food Drive, Oktibbeha County Humane Society, Bulldogs on the Move, tutoring, and more.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription, privacy and more.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 03/13/17
Baseball hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and then opens an SEC weekend series on the road at Arkansas with games on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. ... Softball plays Central Arkansas on the road Wednesday at 5 p.m., and then hosts Alabama on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. ... Men's Tennis travels to Nashville for a 4 p.m. match against Vanderbilt on Thursday and plays Kentucky in Lexington on Saturday at noon ... Track and Field hosts the Mississippi State Relays on Friday and Saturday ... Women's Tennis hosts Missouri on Friday at 3 p.m. and Arkansas at 1 p.m. on Sunday ... Visit HailState.com for NCAA Tournament information for Women's Basketball, which will be announced Monday evening.

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Twietmeyer addresses complexities of sports ethics
A Mississippi State kinesiology faculty member is helping future teachers, coaches, sports administrators and others gain a better appreciation for the complex subject of sports ethics. Assistant professor Gregg J. Twietmeyer is the author of a just-released textbook titled “The Fundamentals of Sports Ethics.” Within its 264 pages, he introduces concepts sports philosophers often take for granted and about which many that are part of the game often struggle.

MSU Police Department debuts new uniforms
Mississippi State University Police Department officers will transition to a new look over spring break. The department recently purchased black Armorskin uniforms made by Blauer, replacing the gray polo-style shirts officers previously wore. MSU Police Chief Vance Rice said officers were able to select the uniforms they would be wearing. “They all really liked the external vest with these uniforms,” Vance said. “These will help them stay cooler and give a more professional look.”

MSU, city again observe National Nutrition Month
Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman and Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum recently marked National Nutrition Month with the signing of a proclamation announcing the city and campus observance of the annual March event. The local observance is being coordinated by MSU’s Student Dietetic Association, an organization of the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.