Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Sophomore Taylor Saucier, left, a wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Mandeville, Louisiana, and MSU Sustainability Coordinator Christine Lashley weigh food and other waste left over from lunches last Monday [Oct. 9] at the Fresh Food Company. Organizers aimed to raise awareness with the tally as part of Campus Sustainability Month. From 813 patrons who participated in the food weigh-in, volunteers classified the waste into edible food (33 percent); non-edible food, such as banana peels or chicken bones (10 percent); drinks and ice (53 percent); and non-food/trash, such as napkins and straws (5 percent). PHOTO: Lizzy Powers | Public Affairs

International photo competition honors Lippillo
Photographic images by Dominic Lippillo of Mississippi State have been honored among top finalists in Photolucida’s 2017 Critical Mass portfolio competition. A nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, Photolucida works to “expand, inspire, educate and connect” photography communities around the world. The CM competition involves submissions of 10-image portfolios. “This latest recognition of Dom’s work not only supports the outstanding research reputation of the university, but also helps us continue to push our students to greater excellence,” said Angi E. Bourgeois, department head.

Benefits open enrollment underway
Benefits open enrollment is available for eligible Mississippi State University employees through Oct. 31, 2017. Open enrollment is required only if you are adding new coverage, changing existing coverage, or canceling coverage. If you aren’t adding new coverage, changing existing coverage, or canceling coverage, you do not need to participate in open enrollment and your current benefits will continue into 2018. All online elections must be completed by Oct. 26. Completed application forms must be received by HRM no later than Oct. 31.

Faculty, staff feedback wanted for research priorities
Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw invites faculty and staff to share their thoughts, ideas, concerns and suggestions for Mississippi State's research priorities by visiting https://w.msstate.edu/research-focus-areas/priorities/index.php. The survey is open through Nov. 17.

New opportunities with the 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 Boys & Girls Club volunteer orientation, Project CLASS mentors, campus voter registration drive, MSU Community Garden, Habitat for Humanity home build, Emerson's Fresh Start Garden, hurricane relief efforts, 3rd Annual Trail 5K Glow Run, Old Main Art Gallery volunteers, 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, 10/16/17
Men's Golf starts play Monday in the Autotrader Collegiate Classic in Duluth, Georgia ... Soccer visits Athens on Thursday for a 6 p.m. game against Georgia and then hosts Ole Miss on Sunday at 4 p.m. ... Softball hosts East Mississippi Community College in a double-header beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday ... Football hosts Kentucky for a homecoming game on Saturday with kickoff set for 3 p.m. in Davis Wade Stadium ... Volleyball visits Fayetteville on Sunday for a match against Arkansas beginning at noon.

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International Meshing Roundtable honors Marcum with 2017 Fellow Award
A professor from Mississippi State's Bagley College of Engineering has been selected as a Fellow of an international meshing organization. David Marcum, the chief scientist at the university’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and a professor of mechanical engineering, was chosen as the recipient of the International Meshing Roundtable 2017 Fellow Award. Marcum attributes much of his success within the IMR community to MSU’s research environment and the influence of Mississippi State alumnus and distinguished professor, Joe Thompson.

Grant Library assists with Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow’s latest biography
Ron Chernow, Pulitzer Prize winning author of “Hamilton,” spent four weeks at Mississippi State University researching for his latest book, a biography of Ulysses S. Grant. In the new book, “Grant,” released last week to widespread critical acclaim, Chernow thanks the staff of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at MSU’s Mitchell Memorial Library for their assistance with the 1,104-page biography. “We have Grant, and we have Lincoln,” MSU's John Marszalek said. “We’re becoming the place that people have to come if they want to do anything on the Civil War.”

Historians to host discussion, book signing of annotated Grant memoirs Friday
Three leading Ulysses S. Grant scholars at Mississippi State University’s Grant Presidential Library will host a public talk and book signing Friday for their new annotated version of the former president’s classic memoirs. “The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant: The Complete Annotated Edition,” published by Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, provides modern context for the historical memoirs. John F. Marszalek, MSU Giles Distinguished professor emeritus of history and Ulysses S. Grant Association executive director and managing editor, edited the book, along with David S. Nolen and Louie P. Gallo, association assistant editors.