[455]JUNE-JULY CUSTOMS TO TOUCH ON STUDENT SAFETY

Release date: May 21, 2008


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
CUSTOMS contact: Gina Poff (ghpoff@mtsu.edu) / 615-898-5533


JUNE-JULY CUSTOMS TO TOUCH ON STUDENT SAFETY


(MURFREESBORO) — New student summer orientation, or CUSTOMS, gets under way soon, and campus safety during the 2008-09 academic year will be a major point of emphasis for the students and their families attending.
A safety table manned by members of the Environmental Health and Safety Committee will provide potentially life-saving information that students will want to use and access when they return to campus in late August. The safety table will be part of the 6 p.m. dinner and ports of interest session on the first day of each CUSTOMS.
“We want to provide a safe campus environment for our students and visitors,” said Tom Tozer, director of the Office of News and Public Affairs and a member of the safety committee.
“We want them to know what's available in the event of a fire or tornado, and we're encouraging new students to register for MTSU’s emergency text-messaging system. We're hoping to have 10,000 students registered (for text-messaging) by Sept. 1.”
Tozer said that both he and campus Police Chief Buddy Peaster have spoken with Middle Tennessee TV (Channel 10), Sidelines (the student newspaper) and other media outlets to publicize campus safety opportunities.
Students also can go to the Alert4U location on the MTSU Web site “that takes them to everything,” Tozer said, including information on all types of emergencies, situations and safety plans.
Parents at CUSTOMS will view an informational video about the university that includes a section on safety. Bookmarks, key chains and magnets will be among the giveaway items with a safety theme.
College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Mass Communication majors and undeclared students will attend CUSTOMS June 3-4, June 13-14, June 24-25, July 9-10 and July 22-23.
Jennings A. Jones College of Business, College of Education and Behavioral Science and College of Liberal Arts majors and undeclared students will attend June 10-11, June 18-19, July 17-18 and July 25-26.
For more information, visit www.mtsu.edu/~customs, e-mail customs@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-5533. For questions about admission status, call 615-898-2111.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
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