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Tennessee Tech University | Cookeville, TN | 38505
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Volume 94 | Issue 2 | Free in single copy | September 17, 2010
Gubernatorial candidates hold first debate at Tech Haslam, McWherter focus on the state budget, education
By CHRISTINE SEIBER Managing Editor
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam and Democrat Mike McWherter faced off for the first time in Wattenbarger Auditorium Tuesday night. Although the two agreed on illegal immigration policies and the disagreement surrounding the Islamic Center in Murfreesboro, the two clashed over topics such as the state budget. “What I learned as mayor is this—you don’t go in and make one huge cut anywhere,” Haslam said. “You make thousands of cuts in lots of different places.” McWherter responded, “Bill wants to terrify you
into thinking the budget is going to be a huge hole once the stimulus money runs out.” After complimenting Gov. Bredesen and the state legislature on their handling of the budget, he added, “Tennessee has the revenue to move forward.” Disagreements about the budget paved way for the candidates to discuss how to approach the state’s pre-K program. “I’m going to do everything I can to expand the [pre-K] program because I know how important it is to the future,” McWherter said. “Those are the kind of programs where we capture young students’ young minds at an early age.” “We’re going to have a billion and a half less in rev-
interviews. “Only 21 to 23 percent of Tennesseans have a college degree. The national average is 28 to 29 percent,” Haslam said. “If we’re going to compete for those jobs and be the state we want to be, we Haslam McWherter need to drastically increase that number of people with colenue than we’re going to have this year,” Haslam said, lege degrees.” McWherter said, referring to the state stimu“We’ve got to make sure we lus money. “Pre-K, to expand use our community colleges universally, will cost another $250 to $300 million. My idea and technology centers in a is that we leave pre-K where much more efficient way. it’s in place right now, and Getting an English credit when the revenue situation at Jackson State ought to be with the state changes, we transferrable. You shouldn’t have to repeat that. I think will look to expand.” Although the two fo- [education] and economic cused on pre-K funding dur- development are completeing the debate, both candi- ly tied together.” The candidates are dates responded as to how scheduled to hold two more they would prioritize higher debates in Knoxville and education during post-debate Memphis in early October. Early voting begins Oct. 13.
Health Services seeks Family Nurse Practitioner By HANNAH HARRIS Staff Writer
A change has taken place at Health Services, leaving the nurses limited in treating patients. After 30 years of dedicated service at Tech, Randy Tompkins, Registered Nurse, Family Nurse Practitioner, has retired. Health Services is currently taking applications in search of hiring a new full-time F.N.P. “Along with change comes new beginnings,” Licensed Practical Nurse Phyllis Kilgore said. Health Services currently has twopart-time F.N.P. and a medical doctor who work when they can throughout the week. Number “We can still do anything that of nurse most real doctor’s offices can do,” practitioners said Cynthia Tompkins, who has a at Health bachelors in the science of nursing. However, because there is not a Services full-time F.N.P., the nurses are limited to what they can do for their patients. This means that appointments are moving slower than normal, and the doctor or an F.N.P. is not always in the office to treat patients. With this change taking place, the staff at Health Services gives students and faculty tips on how to make this transition easier.
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• Check the Health Services website or call to see when an F.N.P. or the M.D. is in the office. • If an emergency takes place, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. • Be patient. “It is not always going to be this slow, but transition takes time,” Kilgore said. Even though changes are taking place, not everything at Health Service has changed. They are still located in the basement of the Nursing and Health Services Building, and it is still free to be examined. However, medications, x-rays and lab work are to be paid for by the patient. Billing information can be provided to the patient for insurance purposes. “You can’t use your insurance here, but we will find the place with the lowest price to refer you to,” Bilbrey said. “We try to go the extra mile.” For more information, contact Health Services at (931) 372–3320 or visit www.tntech.edu/healthservices.
Environment, information security focus of new policy By WILL HOUSLEY Asst. Managing Editor
Tech is in the process of implementing and enforcing a new recycling policy. New, secured garbage bins are located around campus in departments and offices. Detailed instructions are posted above existing garbage and recycling bins. The instructions detail where to dispose of nonshredded paper, shredded paper, magazines, newspapers, and non-confidential information. There are specific instructions for disposing of papers including confidential information, which must
be shredded and disposed of in secured garbage bins. The new program went into effect Aug. 23. “This is just another step in making the campus a more environmentally friendly place,” President Bob Bell said. “It is partly due to a need for higher information security.” Tech has established a partnership with Cintas, a document shredding company. The locked Cintas bins can only be unlocked by Cintas officials. Cintas bins can be used for any document if a shredder is not available or if the volume is too large for shredding in the office. Cintas then transports the paper to its offcampus shredding facility.
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cilities. Because of the new program, only non-paper products should be placed in regular garbage bins. Custodians will no longer empty bins that contain paper. Cintas is the process of placing 100 blue 95-gallon locked containers at identified locations in every building. Tech pays $18 any time a bin on campus is emptied. Facilities will cover the Cintas fees. The new program is mandated to all departments on campus. “We are going to expect [abiding to the policy] from people,” Bell said. “It can have some pretty severe consequences if they don’t.”
Sticky notes: The adhesive on the paper dissolves during the recycling process Semi-glossy newspaper inserts: Newspaper and mixed paper can be recycled together
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Pizza boxes: If soiled with grease, cheese, and other toppings, pizza boxes cannot be recycled because the paper fibers and oils will not separate. Used napkins and paper towels: Many paper products have a thin plastic lining to aid absorbency. The plastic contaminates the recycling process. Source: Stanford University
IN THIS EDITION OPINION
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Alongside Cintas partnership, Tech has established its own in-house shredding and recycling program. In order for paper to be disposed within the University, shredded papers must be bagged separately and picked up by Facilities personnel. For items not shredded within the University, old recycling bins already located throughout the campus may still be used to collect preprinted bulk material and junk mail with little indentifying personal information. Recycled paper picked up by Facilities, including pre-shredded paper (strip shredded), will be taken to the county recycling center. Cross-shredded paper will also be collected by Fa-
Things you can and cannot recycle
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