ELVIS'S HOUND DOG CHANGED ROCK MUSIC: When Elvis Presley recorded the song 'Hound Dog' in the late 1950s, he transformed rock and roll music by making the genre overwhelmingly popular, says Richard Aquila, a rock and roll historian and host of a nationally syndicated rock music radio program. Presley's tune tops his list of the 20 most historically important songs in rock's first 20 years (1954-74).
For more information, contact Aquila by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (765) 285-8728.
FACULTY, STUDENTS AGREE DIVERSITY IMPORTANT: College faculty and students agree that understanding diversity is important for success after graduation, according to a recent survey. The survey found that attitudes about diversity by faculty and students are similar, shows that students and faculty recognize the relationship between having diversity-related skills and knowledge, and being successful in the workplace, said Michael Stevenson, director of the Diversity Policy Institute that coordinated the study.
Contact him at [email protected] or (765) 285-1695.
SURVEY SHOWS SENIORS PLEASED WITH COLLEGE EXPERIENCE: The old saying, "You can't please all the people all the time," may be true, but Ball State comes close to pleasing all its graduating seniors. Survey results from nearly 1,000 seniors in last spring's graduating class found that 96 percent held a very positive or positive attitude toward their college experience. Better still, 86 percent said they would recommend the university to someone who wanted to major in their field of study.
For more information, contact Catherine Palomba at [email protected] or (765) 285-1337.
TAX CUT APPEALS TO CONSERVATIVE VOTERS: A massive tax cut proposal by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the leading Republican presidential candidate, is simple political posturing. Kevin Smith, a history professor, believes Bush's campaign promise appeals to his conservative supporters who think the primary objective of America's tax policy is not a strong economy.
Contact Smith at [email protected] or (765) 285-8722.
AQUATIC CENTER FIRST IN STATE: A new Biology and Fisheries Center is providing important field experience for students. The center provides more educational and research opportunities, said Tom McComish, center director and biology professor.
Contact McComish at (765) 285-8845 or [email protected].
JAIL POPULATIONS QUICKLY GROWING: America's get tough attitude with criminals is filling community jails beyond capacity and costing taxpayers millions of dollars. A survey of several county jails in Indiana found that inmate population growth is outpacing available beds, said Steve Smith, a criminal justice professor.
Contact him at [email protected] or (765) 285-5102.
PROFESSOR HELPS STATE WIN NATIONAL AWARD: Geography professor Kevin Turcotte was on the team responsible for the Indiana State Department of Health receiving an award for innovative use of information technology. The National Association of State Information Resource Executives recognized the department for its development of a computer program for the Indiana Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
Contact Turcotte at (765) 285-1774.
(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more stories and information, visit the Ball State University News Center at www.bsu.edu/news on the World Wide Web.)
Marc Ransford
1/04/00
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