TURKEY TALES: About 140 turkeys will be served to Susquehanna University students at the annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 15. SU faculty and staff, led by university President L. Jay Lemons, will don aprons and serve up turkey with all the trimmings to students. A tradition now in its 21st year, the family-style dinner will be served at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. seatings. What else makes the feast? Try 70 gallons of gravy, 540 pounds of mashed potatoes, 200 pounds of corn, 140 pounds of green beans, and, for dessert, 140 pumpkin pies.
CONTACTS: Donald Eagan, director of food services, (570) 372-4229, or egan@susqu.edu.
11/01
SECURITY: When requesting background checks on prospective hires or contractors, employers need to remember that you "get what you pay for," says Ron Keefer, director of business internship programs at Susquehanna and a former federal senior executive responsible for, among other things, building security. The more background information desired the more time it takes to obtain and verify it, and hence the more the investigative service will cost.
CONTACT: Ron Keefer, director of the business internship program, (570) 372-4209, or keefer@susqu.edu.
10/01
EDUCATIONAL TESTING: Failing schools are reported to not prepare students to reach their potential and live as productive members of society. "Test scores play a part, but do not necessarily identify a failing school," says Berneice Brownell, head of the Susquehanna education department. "States have identified standards to define what students should know and be able to do. But testing the understanding of the diverse population representative of many schools is a daunting task that provides at best a skewed picture of what is happening in schools."
CONTACT: Berneice Brownell, head of education department, (570) 372-4508, brownell@susqu.edu.
10/01
CHINA: Economic globalization in Asia - particularly Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China - will accelerate between when China joins the World Trade Organization and the 2008 Olympic Games, says George Wei, associate professor of history at Susquehanna. "The need for globalization is generating a consensus among Asians, especially the Chinese. One reason so many Chinese cried upon the news that Beijing had been named host of the 2008 Olympics is their understanding of the importance of globalization. They wanted the world to recognize the successes of China and accept China as a normal member of the global community."
CONTACT: George Wei, associate professor of history, (570) 372-4194, wei@susqu.edu.
10/01
MIDDLE MANAGEMENT WOES: Mid-level managers are being squeezed by the drive for productivity and the drive to cut costs in the economic slowdown, says Bill Ward, Warehime professor of business administration at Susquehanna University. "After almost a decade of economic gain, some retrenchment is setting in. Mid-level management is clearly one of the first target areas in the agonizing reappraisal that is setting in."
CONTACT: Bill Ward, Warehime professor of business administration, (570) 372-4463, or wardw@susqu.edu. 09/01
ECONOMIC SLUMP: The Federal Reserve has lowered short-term interest rates seven times since January to battle a slowing economy. "It's going to be tough, because it's not just the U.S., it's the whole world" that's slowing, says Sirapat Polwitoon, assistant professor of finance at Susquehanna University. "In the past, the Asian countries were there to help out. That isn't the case now."
CONTACT: Sirapat Polwitoon, assistant professor of finance, (570) 372-4749, or polwitoon@susqu.edu. 09/01
BICYCLE SECURITY:
Susquehanna University Director of Public Safety Richard Woods says students taking bicycles to college should be mindful of bicycle security and always lock or secure them to something stationary when left unattended. He advises securing them in a well-traveled, lighted area with a quality U-lock and locking removable front wheels as well. Other tips: engraving driver's license number or other identification on the frame and registering the bicycle with local and campus police.
CONTACT: Richard Woods, director of public safety, (570) 372-4136, or woodsr@susqu.edu.
08/01
