Around Town is now Polytechnic Gazette
Welcome to the first issue of Polytechnic Gazette, the new bi-weekly source of campus information for staff and faculty of Southern Polytechnic State University. If you have information you would like shared in the publication or dates for the Upcoming Events section, please contact the Office of Public Relations by phone at 7222 or e-mail at pr@spsu.edu.

SPSU goes green
You may notice that SPSU now has recycling bins throughout the campus.  This is a conscious, campus-wide effort, coordinated by the Staff Council, to reduce the amount of raw materials being consumed.  Currently, SPSU is accepting the following materials for recycling: paper, plastic, cardboard, used ink cartridges and batteries. Each building has designated areas with recycling bins labeled as such: blue bins are for paper, yellow are meant for plastics, and green bins are for cardboard.  The computer lab in Building H is collecting dried out ink cartridges and the Facilities structure is accepting used batteries.  For more information on this ongoing effort, contact John Mills at (678) 915-5545.

Lady Hornets think pink
The SPSU Lady Hornets are hosting their first "Think Pink" game against the Shorter Lady Hawk's on Sat., Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. in the Gymnasium during Alumni Weekend. Think Pink is a national effort by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to increase breast cancer awareness. All guests are asked to wear pink to support the cause.  Admission to the game is $2, and will be donated to the WBCA breast cancer fund. T-shirts will also be sold for the cause; the price is $10 per shirt.  For more information on how you can help, contact Coach Doss at ldoss@spsu.edu.

Volunteers needed for science olympiad
The 19th annual Georgia Regional Science Olympiad tournament is scheduled for Sat., Feb. 23 from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. in the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center. Students in grades nine through 12 from throughout the Atlanta metro area will be participating in over 20 events on campus. Volunteers with knowledge in the areas of ecology, herpetology, oceanography, epidemiology or Mars are still needed. There is also a need for assistance with registration, scorekeeping, counting, proctoring and awards. Lunch and t-shirts will be provided. For more information about the events or to find out how you can volunteer, please contact tournament director Lance Crimm by e-mail at lcrimm@spsu.edu or by phone at 7249.

Volume 1, Issue 1
February 4, 2008

12th Annual Chili Cook-Off
Come hungry to the 12th Annual Tony Tilman's Chili Cook-Off on Wed., Feb. 6 at 12 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.  This is a tasting contest in which all SPSU employees and student organizations are asked to enter their favorite chili recipe for judging.  There will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prize awarded.  Employees and students have also been invited to enter a soup recipe if they wish, the soups will not be judged.  Everyone who enters a dish gets to participate for free, for everyone else there is a $3 fee to eat five bowls of chili, and $1 for each additional bowl. For more information please contact Leigh Ann Soublis in the Student Center.

Celebrating Black History Month
SPSU is celebrating Black History Month by highlighting African-American authors. Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend and read or listen to an excerpt of your favorite book written by an African-American author. Drop by the Student Center Lobby on Thurs., Feb. 7 between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Books will be on display along with volunteer readers.  If you wish to volunteer at the event, please contact the Career and Counseling Center at 7391.

Continuing Education
The Georgia Conference on College and University Teaching will be held Fri., Feb.15 and Sat., Feb.16 at the KSU Center. The pre-registration fee is $100 and lasts until Feb. 8, onsite registration is $110.  Graduate students and adjunct faculty receive a special rate of only $50 to attend the conference.  For more information, please visit the conference website: http://www.kennesaw.edu/cetl/conferences/gaconf/2008/ga_conf.html.

Phonathon raises nearly $70,000
SPSU held its Fall Phonathon for the third year in a row this fall from Nov. 3-15, 2007.  Fifteen student callers made phone calls from the call center here on campus to over 15,000 alumni. More than 69,000 was pledged to benefit scholarships, academic departments, and programs.

Author among us
Congratulations to Dr. Hussein Abaza, Construction Management assistant professor, who has published a book titled The Moisture Behavior in Buildings. It discusses the legal and long-term implications impacting the general contracting industry.