Georgia State University News & Events

University Relations Tip Sheet - November 25, 2008

Study on runoffs implies there’s still a chance for Martin in Senate race
Georgia State assistant professor of political science Richard Engstrom said there still may be some hope for Jim Martin in his Senate runoff election with Saxby Chambliss. Engstrom recently completed a study investigating the outcomes of elections in states that use runoffs to determine a winner. “We find in our study of over 1,000 primary elections for Senate and gubernatorial nominations between 1980 and 2002, those who use the runoff system hold runoff elections about one-third of the time, and that for about one-third of the runoffs that occur, the leader in the first round loses to the candidate who made the runoff by coming in second,” Engstrom said. “This implies that while Chambliss has the advantage, Martin has a chance.” For more information, contact Lisa Spires at 404-413-1353 or lspires@gsu.edu.

How to find a job in a weak economy
With 1.2 million jobs lost so far this year and no real economic recovery expected until 2010, soon-to-be graduates face a tough market in which to find their first positions. But doing an internship before finishing college can help students stay competitive in this challenging economy, says Kevin Gaw, director of Georgia State University Career Services. The center recently launched three new internship programs for students in the biotechnology, communication and liberal arts fields. “A wise student will be doing internships,” Gaw said. “Many a recruiter has told me that they would take a student who has taken five years to get through college and had an internship, over the 4-year, straight-A student. That extra time learning and applying what they’ve learned gives them a foot forward.” For more information on Georgia State’s internship programs, call Liz Babiarz at lbabiarz@gsu.edu or 404-413-1356.

Keeping holiday food temptations at bay
It's that time of year again, the time when a plethora of goodies –from candy to decked-out spreads at parties and gatherings – tempt our tongues, but help expand our waistlines. Georgia State's Christine A. Rosenbloom, professor of nutrition, said a little forethought and planning can help people avoid holiday pitfalls. "Being faced with treats from the break room to a number of holiday parties can weaken even the best of us," Rosenbloom said. "By following a few simple rules, you can survive in the face of an endless array of goodies." One key tip is to eat a light snack with both proteins and carbohydrates before attending a party, to help keep hunger pangs down. She also advises those attending holiday gatherings and dinners to look over the bounteous tables of food to browse what's available before loading up plates with a lot of food. "Sharing food-related gifts with others is also a good idea, as well as using a smaller plate to help eat less," Rosenbloom added. For more information, contact Jeremy Craig at 404-413-1357 or jcraig@gsu.edu.

Holiday boom may bust for retailers
This year’s Black Friday may have retailers seeing red. Traditionally considered the day stores begin turning a profit for the year, Georgia State University marketing instructor Christopher Lemley believes the day after Thanksgiving this year will do little to boost sales. “A number of retailers you see right now, you won’t see in March,” said Lemley. “They’re looking for Christmas to save them and I don’t think it’s there.” Consumers, worried about their mortgage, car payment and job status, will be reluctant to open their wallets for high-priced gifts, Lemley says, but the news isn’t all bad, as big-box discounters could benefit as buyers shy away from higher-priced stores. To speak with Lemley, contact Michael Davis at 404-413-1361 or mdavis@gsu.edu.

Happenings at Georgia State University

Gala Holiday Family Concert
The Georgia State University School of Music presents its 11th annual Gala Holiday Family Concert featuring more than 200 student and faculty musicians as part of a university-wide celebration of the season. Performances will be held at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Rialto Center for the Arts. For more information, visit www.rialtocenter.org.

Canadian expert on reading disabilities to speak at Georgia State
Maureen Lovett, director of the Learning Disabilities Research Program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and professor of pediatrics and psychology at the University of Toronto, will speak about evaluating interventions for children and adolescents with reading disabilities at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in Room 1000 of the Urban Life Building at Georgia State University. Lovett is internationally recognized for her contributions to reading disabilities research and to the development of interventions addressing basic learning problems, which interfere with children's ability to read. The lecture is part of the Research in the Challenges in the Acquisition of Language and Literacy's Distinguished Lecture Series, and is cosponsored by the Center for Research on Atypical Development and Learning (CRADL). For more information, contact Jeremy Craig at 404-413-1357 or jcraig@gsu.edu.

Global Partners MBA program gives students a taste of business
The J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University will host an open house for its Global Partners MBA program, a partnership with the Sorbonne and COPPEAD Graduate School of Business in Brazil, Dec. 9 from noon to 1 p.m. at the downtown Atlanta campus, 35 Broad Street. The full time 14-month program gives students a taste of business on four continents during residencies in Atlanta, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and two weeks in China. For more information, visit http://robinson.gsu.edu/gpmba/index.html.

Candlelight Holiday Choral Concert
Georgia State University musicians will present the Candlelight Holiday Choral Concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Central Presbyterian Church, 201 Washington St. S.W. Admission is $5. For more information, call 404-413-5939 or visit www.music.gsu.edu.

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