Annual xTREME Games Provide Students Real Business Experience; Demonstrate PwC’s Continued Commitment to Supporting Youth Education

NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ — As college students across the country continue to face a highly competitive job market, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) today announced the launch of the firm’s 8th Annual xTREME Games, a unique competition that enables undergraduates at schools across the country to experience and solve real-world business challenges.  Participants in PwC‘s xTREME Games compete for school bragging rights and nearly $300,000 in total prize money while broadening and enhancing valuable skills such as decision making, communication and team building, which are critical to success in the professional world.  Approximately $1.5 million in total prize money has been awarded to students since xTREME began.

As one of the nation’s largest employers of college graduates, PwC collaborates with schools across the country to provide meaningful, relevant learning programs and opportunities to ensure that students are well prepared to enter the profession. The xTREME Games competition is part of PwC’s larger, ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility and youth education.

xTREME, beginning this week at the University of Alabama, includes xTAX, short for “Extreme Tax,” and xACT, short for “Extreme Accounting.” Both challenge undergraduates to solve cases designed to expose them to real tax and accounting scenarios, including policy and planning issues.   Over the next six weeks, hundreds of the best accounting students representing nearly 80 schools nationwide will compete in five-person teams for the right to potentially represent their schools at the national finals in January.

“When it comes to preparing students for successful careers in the accounting profession, there is no substitute for hands-on, real-world experience,” said Christina Fitzpatrick, National Campus Sourcing Programs Leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers. “With the xTREME Games, students get a firsthand look at the type of intricate challenges that tax and accounting professionals face on a daily basis.  The competition builds collaboration and problem-solving skills while also requiring that ideas are effectively presented — all crucial skills in a competitive job environment.”

Created by PwC in 2002, the xTREME Games competition has grown steadily to include nearly 80 schools and more than 2,500 teams comprised of 13,000 participants.  More information about xTREME can be found at www.pwc.com/xtreme.

PwC has a strong history of investing in education and talent development.  For the past two years, PwC has been ranked #1 in Training magazine’s “Training Top 125″ annual ranking of organizations that excel at employee training and development (the firm also ranked #2 in 2007).  PwC has also consistently been named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, and has been highly ranked on BusinessWeek‘s lists of “Best Internships” and “Best Places to Launch a Career.”

About PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for our clients and their stakeholders.  More than 163,000 people in 151 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

“PricewaterhouseCoopers” and “PwC” refer to the network of member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PwCIL). Each member firm is a separate legal entity and does not act as agent of PwCIL or any other member firm.  PwCIL does not provide any services to clients.  PwCIL is not responsible or liable for the acts or omissions of any of its member firms nor can it control the exercise of their professional judgment or bind them in any way.  No member firm is responsible or liable for the acts or omissions of any other member firm nor can it control the exercise of another member firm’s professional judgment or bind another member firm or PwCIL in any way.

CONTACT: Elliott Frieder, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, +1-646-471-3108

Young Architects Partner for Three Years with Local Organizations in Underserved Communities to Expand Capacity for Sustainable Design

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise) today announced that the Enterprise Rose Fellowship in Community Architecture has placed two new Fellows – one  in Los Angeles and one in Chicago – to work for three years with local nonprofit organizations, forging community ties, developing leadership skills, and expanding their hosts’ capacity to create sustainable projects in the future.

“The Enterprise Rose Fellowship in Community Architecture develops the next generation of leaders committed to sustainable design excellence and meaningful community engagement in the planning and execution of affordable housing and community development projects nationwide,” said Katie Swenson, senior director of Fellowships for Enterprise and co-author of the recently published Growing Urban Habitats. “At the core of community architecture is the innate desire to make sure the built structure is well integrated into the fabric of life of the surrounding neighborhood. These fellows are excited and committed to making that integration happen.”

A former Rose Fellow, who was recently named an Emerging Leader by the Design Futures Council and a Green Giant by Steelcase, Inc., Swenson has consistently shown her commitment to community architecture and shepherding young designers into the world of sustainable community development.

“I am humbled that these leaders in their fields took notice of my work with the Enterprise Rose Fellowship in Community Architecture, blending sustainability, design and community,” added Swenson. “Honors like these really show our Fellows the support they can expect to receive from the architectural and design community at large.”

The new Fellows are Theresa Hwang, MA in Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design, and Daniel Splaingard, MA in Community Planning, Auburn University School of Architecture, Design and Construction (the Rural Studio).  Theresa is working with the nonprofit, Los Angeles-based Skid Row Housing Trust, to provide quality green affordable housing and local solutions for community residents.

“The Trust has a long history of combining affordable and supportive housing with inspiration, sustainable design,” said Mike Alvidrez, executive director, Skid Row Housing Trust. “Having the Enterprise Rose Fellow as part of our community — both in and outside of the office — will afford us the skills of a designer who is in sync with our mission and our goals, especially as we move forward with green initiatives in our existing portfolio as well as new projects.

Daniel is working with Chicago’s nonprofit Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation on the development and design of affordable rental housing and condominium conversions in areas hit hard by foreclosures of multifamily properties on the city’s northwest side. During the next three years, they will use the Enterprise Rose Fellowship in Community Architecture’s three core principles to guide their work: participatory planning with community residents, holistic design and green building.

“Daniel is an integral member of Bickerdike’s team as we work to provide urgently needed affordable housing and create a model for environmentally and socially sustainable housing,” said Joy Arguete, Executive Director, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation.  “By bridging the areas of community outreach, project financing and management, and sustainable design, Daniel will help us to meet the varied challenges we face as an organization.  At the same time, we will deepen his experience with a holistic approach to affordable housing development, which will serve him — and the communities he serves — well in the future”

The program was launched in 2000 with the support of Jonathan Rose, an Enterprise Trustee, in honor of his late father, Frederick P. Rose, the urban builder and philanthropist. Thirty-one Fellows to date have collectively produced or rehabilitated 4,500 affordable, energy-efficient homes in urban and rural communities across the country, as well as designed more than 43 community buildings, including day care facilities, health clinics and mixed-use properties.

Since 2004, the Fellows’ work has supported Enterprise Green Communities, a nationwide initiative to make green affordable housing the industry standard, which has so far invested $700 million to create and preserve more than 15,000 green affordable homes and has transformed housing policies across the country.  Funding for the 2009-2012 Enterprise Rose Fellowship in Community Architecture was supplied in part by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

Enterprise is a leading provider of the development capital and expertise it takes to create decent, affordable homes and rebuild communities. For more than 25 years, Enterprise has introduced neighborhood solutions through public-private partnerships with financial institutions, governments, community organizations and others that share our vision. Enterprise has raised and invested more than $10 billion in equity, grants and loans to help build or preserve more than a quarter million affordable rental and for-sale homes to create vital communities. Enterprise is currently investing in communities at a rate of $1 billion a year. Visit www.enterprisecommunity.org and www.enterprisecommunity.com to learn more about Enterprise’s efforts to build communities and opportunity.

CONTACT: John Keaten, Group Gordon, +1-212 784 5701, John@GroupGordon.com; or TeAnne Chennault, Enterprise, +1-213-787-8234, Tchennault@enterprisecommunity.org

Coming to St. Louis, November 5-7

Montvale, N.J., October 1, 2009 – College students from around the country will join educators and veteran practitioners for three days of learning and networking at the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA®) 10th Annual Student Leadership Conference. This year’s event will be held at the St. Louis Union Station Marriott in St. Louis, Mo. from November 5-7. Online registration is now available at http://www.imanet.org/redirects/studconf_press.asp

Students of accounting, finance and various business majors will attend sessions covering management accounting career opportunities, ethics, forensic accounting, XBRL, Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) certification, leadership, professional development and more.

This year’s speakers include: Michael W. Kramer, president and CEO of Kellwood Company; Kim Wallin, controller for the State of Nevada, Dr. Peter Brewer, professor of accounting, Miami University of Ohio; and John O’Leary, president and owner of Rising Above.

“IMA’s Student Leadership Conference provides tomorrow’s business leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in the constantly evolving accounting profession,” said Jodi Ryan, IMA director of student and academic relations. “At the same time, attendees are given potentially career-launching opportunities to network with respected members of the profession and their peers.”

A pre-conference industry visit is planned on Thursday afternoon in which participants will have a chance to meet with the accounting and finance department staff of the St. Louis Blues hockey team. Attendees will also enjoy an opening night reception and a riverboat dinner cruise along the Mississippi River.

Online registration is open now through Friday, October 16 (or until registration capacity is met). The St. Louis Union Station Marriott offers rooms at a special rate for registrants. For more information or to register online, please visit http://www.imanet.org/redirects/studconf_press.asp.

With a worldwide network of about 60,000 professionals, IMA is the leading association for accountants and financial professionals working in business. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.

Contacts:
Marc Gerrone
IMA
(201) 474-1502
mgerrone@imanet.org

Amy Ovsiew
Stern + Associates
(908) 276-4344, x-237
amy@sternassociates.com

The Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Literacy Gives Students Tips to Avoid Common Financial Mistakes

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today, the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Literacy (CEEL), www.Econ4U.org, offers college freshmen (and all students) a list of the “Freshman Financial Fifteen” – common financial mistakes made by students and ways to avoid them.

College students have a lot to deal with: New classes, new surroundings, new friends, and adjusting to a new lifestyle away from home. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the college scene and forget to take care of your finances, but making good decisions early will pay dividends later. Here are five financial missteps often made by college students and strategies to avoid them. For the full “Freshman Financial Fifteen” visit www.Econ4U.org.

1. Not budgeting

This is undoubtedly the biggest mistake we college students can make. It is important to set realistic goals to get a handle on your finances so that you know how much you can afford to spend on fun stuff.

2. Only making minimum credit card payments

Freshman year of college is an easy time to get plastic happy and spend more than you can afford. If you’ve gotten into debt, you may think that making the minimum payments on your credit cards is paying down your debt. In reality, only paying the monthly minimum means you’ll end up owing much more in the long run. Most cards have a minimum payment of 4 percent of your balance. If your card has an 18 percent interest rate, it will take more than 10 years to pay off a balance of $3,000, paying more than $1,700 in interest.

3. Overusing your student ID

Most students have a university ID that can carry meal plans, laundry money, bookstore credit, vending machine cash, etc. When you swipe your ID for a new sweatshirt at the bookstore, it may not feel like spending money. But those charges don’t just disappear – you will wind up getting charged for expenses at the end of the semester.

4. Buying a new cell phone

It seems like every month an awesome new must-have cell phone is on the market. It’s easy to fall prey to ads for “free phones” or phones that only cost a dollar. Don’t be fooled, cell phone companies offer deals to lock customers into contracts for years. The real cost of that new phone is hidden in your monthly bill.

5. Not having insurance

Buying any kind of insurance can be expensive, so it is important to assess risk before purchasing coverage. But in college you never know what might happen. If your belongings aren’t covered under your parents’ homeowners insurance what will you do if someone sets off your dorm sprinkler or there is a fire?

The Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Literacy aims to educate students and young adults on personal finance and economics in unique ways. Managing Director James Bowers, said, “Today’s youth are fumbling around in the dark, financially speaking. It’s critical to teach students basic economic principles that are applicable in everyday life.” For the full “Freshman Financial Fifteen” visit www.Econ4U.org.

CONTACT: Allyson Funk, for the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Literacy, +1-202-420-7878

NEW YORK, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Lebanese American University (LAU) will welcome Dr. Charles Elachi, director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), as the new chairman of its Board of Trustees later this year.  A valued member of LAU’s Board of Trustees for several years, Dr. Elachi will succeed Dr. George Faris, who has served meticulously as the chairman since 2006.

Dr. Elachi comes to LAU with a distinguished career and vast leadership qualifications to complement the Board of Trustees.  Renowned for his ground-breaking work with NASA, he also serves as the Vice President of the California Institute of Technology and is a professor of electrical engineering and planetary science.  He is author of more than 230 publications in the fields of active microwave remote sensing and electromagnetic theory, and holds several patents in those fields. In 2006, he was honored as one of “America’s Best Leaders” by U.S. News & World Report and in 1989, asteroid 1982 SU was renamed 4116 Elachi in recognition of his contribution to space exploration.

As JPL’s Director for Space and Earth Science Programs for many years, he was responsible for the development of flight missions and instruments for Earth observation, planetary exploration and astrophysics.  Dr. Elachi has chaired a number of strategic planning committees for NASA and has lectured in more than 20 countries about space exploration and Earth observation. As a trailblazer in his field, Dr. Elachi has received national and international awards for his work of more than thirty years with JPL, particularly in developing spaceborne imaging radar.  Dr. Elachi is excited to use his knowledge and expertise to help the university, saying, “LAU brings the excellence of the American educational system to nurture the tremendous talent of the young men and women in Lebanon and the Middle East, and prepare them to be the leaders of the future in a wide range of disciplines.”

At the age of 16, Elachi received distinction as Lebanon’s top science student.  This in part earned him the opportunity to attend his university of choice, the University of Grenoble, France, where he received a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1968.  He went on to pursue an engineering degree from the Polytechnic Institute, Grenoble that same year. He then earned his master’s degree in 1969 and a doctorate in electrical sciences at the California Institute of Technology in 1971.  A tireless scholar, Dr. Elachi also received a master of business administration in 1978 and master of science degree in geology in 1983 from the University of Southern California and UCLA, respectively.

CONTACT:  Greg Houle, Communications Manager, Lebanese American University, +1-212-870-2587, greg.houle@lau.edu

drank(TM) Creates Calm Campuses as Increasing Number of Students Managing College-Related Stress and Lifestyle Changes Imbibe Relaxation Beverages

HOUSTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ — A new crop of functional beverages are stealing shelf space from popular energy drinks at the campus store by promising stressed-out students the opposite effect – relaxation.  drank™, a new calming beverage promising to “slow your roll™” with its combination of melatonin, valerian root and rose hips, is sweeping across college campuses this fall on a tidal wave of national publicity from Fox News Network, CNN, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and the music videos of Keri Hilson, The Pussycat Dolls, FloRida and others.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090930/NY84005 )

While some members of the media have gone as far as to refer to the calming beverage as “weed in a can,” the makers claim that the wildly popular drink was created to provide a safe and legal way to relax at the end of a stressful day.

“College comes with an enormous set of challenges and stresses.  Students struggling with being away from home, managing schedules and assignments and adapting to college life are finding their stress levels soaring,” said Peter Bianchi, CEO of Innovative Beverage Group and creator of drank™.  “Many students are striving to find reasonable methods to manage their stress levels without resorting to drug or alcohol use, and this lightly-carbonated, grape-flavored elixir is rapidly gaining popularity as the go-to beverage when the going gets tough.”

“Being a full-time college student in and of itself can be very straining and stressful – but being a full-time college student graduating in such a lackluster economic climate with few job opportunities adds even more stress. So when the going gets tough, I go get drank™. It’s calming and relaxing, but doesn’t stunt my thinking the way alcohol does,” says Shane Frohnapfel, a senior at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

“As a self-declared Type-A personality, I am always wound up about something, so I simply created a beverage that suited my needs to relax at the end of the day without waking up with a hangover,” said Bianchi. “Based on the widespread popularity of drank™, it seems that scores of consumers across the country feel the same way. Our customers tell us that they no longer want to be spoon-fed energy drinks that wire them up all night; to them, the phrase ‘slow your roll™‘ has never echoed truer.”

“After a full day of classes, I usually don’t have time to make it to the gym until late in the evening and then I am too wound up to rest or focus on my homework. I’ve tried drank™ and found that it’s a great way to chill out at the end of the day and still be able to get up in the morning to do it all over again,” said Doug Fernandez, a freshman at The University of Delaware.

To help even more students “slow their rolls,” the makers of drank™ will be hosting Twitter and Facebook contests throughout the year to give drank™ prize packs to winners on campuses across the country.  To follow drank™ on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/slowyourroll or visit them on Facebook at the “Official Drank — Extreme Relaxation Beverage Page.” Be sure to follow them to get in on the free drank™ gear.

CONTACT:  Eric Fischgrund, Beckerman Public Relations, drankpr@beckermanpr.com, +1-201-465-8008, for Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, Inc.

MRSA, Staph and Fecal Bacteria Rampant in College Dorms

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ — Thousands of bacteria lurk in college dormitories, but students are not following proper hygiene routines to help protect themselves from serious illness, according to a study released today from the Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community, sponsored by an educational grant from LYSOL® brand products.(1) Despite growing concerns about influenza A (H1N1) on college campuses and recent study results estimating that of the ways influenza infection may be contracted, contact with contaminated surfaces may account for thirty one percent (31%) of the infection risk, only sixty three percent (63%) of students polled had cleaned their dorm room in the past week.(2) Eighty three percent (83%) had never cleaned their light switch and seventy three percent (73%) admitted they had never cleaned their dorm room door handle, one of the most frequently-touched surfaces and a conduit for germ spread.(3)

Such habits expose students to thousands of bacteria, including MRSA, E. coli, fecal organisms, streptococcus and more, just by touching common surfaces in their dorm.(4) Study results show:

• • Communal shower floors were the most contaminated surface in the dorm, harboring more than 40 times the number of bacteria found on the toilet seat.(5) Forty three percent (43%) of shower floors were contaminated with bacteria that can indicate fecal contamination and twenty percent (20%) hid streptococci.
  • Dorm room refrigerator door handles harbored twice as many bacteria as shared dorm toilet handles.  Thirty seven percent (37%) encountered bacteria that can indicate fecal contamination and thirteen percent (13%) encountered staph.(6)
  • Fifty six percent (56%) of students admitted they had never cleaned the interior of their dorm room refrigerator, making it no surprise that thirty percent (30%) of refrigerators harbored fecal indicators.(7)
  • While television remote controls and shared bathroom sink handles fare relatively well, both were found to be contaminated with MRSA, the dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, in some dorm rooms studied.(8)

“These findings compound the concerns many parents have about their child’s health when they’re away at college and out of their home,” says Dr. Elizabeth Scott, co-director of the Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community.  “Parents can help students stay healthy at college by encouraging them to take small preventative measures every day to help protect themselves from germs.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, universities and parents should encourage students to follow these healthy hygiene routines:(9)

• • Practice good hand hygiene. They should wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.(10)
  • Practice respiratory etiquette. The main way flu spreads is from person to person in droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it’s important that people cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze. If they don’t have a tissue, they should cough or sneeze into their elbow or shoulder, not their hands.(11)
  • Stay home if they are sick. Stay home or in their place of residence for at least 24 hours after they no long have a fever.(12)
  • Talk to their health care providers about whether they should be vaccinated. More information about priority groups for vaccination is available at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.(13)

In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, families and students can help protect themselves and prevent the spread of influenza virus by keeping surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.(14)

Many LYSOL® Disinfectant products are effective against strains of influenza A virus and specifically the H1N1 strain, including LYSOL® Disinfectant Spray, LYSOL® Disinfecting Wipes, LYSOL® All Purpose Cleaner Pourables and LYSOL® All Purpose Cleaner Triggers.

To find more information and resources to help protect families of all ages, visit:

• • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – H1N1 Information http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Ounce of Prevention initiative, created in partnership with LYSOL® www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention
  • Germ Protection Center via the Visiting Nurse Associations of America http://vnaa.org/vnaa/g/?h=html/germ_protection_center_influenza

About Reckitt Benckiser

Reckitt Benckiser is a world leader in household, health and personal care.  It is a FTSE top 15 company and since 2000 net revenues have doubled and the market cap has quadrupled. Today it is the global No 1 or No 2 in the majority of its fast-growing categories, driven by an exceptional rate of innovation – near 40% of revenue comes from innovations launched in the prior 3 years. It has a strong portfolio led by 17 global power brands which are: Finish, Lysol, Dettol, Vanish, Woolite, Calgon, Airwick, Harpic, Bang, Mortein, Veet, Nurofen, Clearasil, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Mucinex and French’s, and they account for over two thirds of its net revenue.  Reckitt Benckiser people are at the heart of the company’s success. They have an intense drive for progress and action and a desire to outperform wherever they focus, including in CSR where the Company has the most ambitious corporate responsibility program in the industry through its Carbon 20 initiative.  Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the Company employs 23,000 people worldwide, with operations in 60 countries and sales in 180 countries.  For more information visit RECKITTBENCKISER.COM.

(1) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 3.

(2)  “Relative Contributions of Four Exposure Pathways to Influenza Infection Risk.” Risk Analysis, Vol. 29, No. 9, 2009.

(3) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 15.

(4) Reckitt Benckiser, BRT-0008 Research & Development Claim Support Document, February 2009. Page 5.

(5) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 9. Statistic found by comparing mean aerobic count of shower bases vs. toilet seats.

(6) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 9. Statistic found by comparing mean aerobic count of dorm refrigerator handles vs. shared toilet handles.

(7) Reckitt Benckiser, BRT-0008 Research & Development Claim Support Document, February 2009. Page 5.

(8) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 9.

(9) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducation_toolkit.pdf.

(10) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducation_toolkit.pdf.

(11) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducation_toolkit.pdf.

(12) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducation_toolkit.pdf.

(13) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducation_toolkit.pdf.

(14) www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.

CONTACT: Erin Osher of Porter Novelli, +1-212-601-8352, erin.osher@porternovelli.com

COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO COMPETE FOR THE CHANCE TO INTERN AT THEFRISKY.COM, THE PREMIERE WEB DESTINATION FOR WOMEN 18-34

NEW YORK, 9-29-09– Do you get caught in class gossiping with your pals? Can you remember the name of Madonna’s boyfriend, but not the old dude on your test? Well, contrary to what you’ve been told at school, that can actually help you get a cool job in the real world — writing for TheFrisky.com, the premiere website for women 18-34! TheFrisky.com feels just like you’re dishing with your BFF about love, life, and celeb drama, you know, the dirt we really like to chitchat about. We’re looking for one lucky person who can talk the talk and can spell it all out for the blogosphere. So if you think you are ready to hang at our office in New York City and gab with us, all you gotta do is go to www.TheFrisky.com/WinInternship and show us just how Frisky you are!

To enter, answer one of the two questions below in 500 words or less:

• Question #1: Which topics would you like to see a woman’s website address more regularly?

• Question #2: What components make up your dream website for women?

The contest runs from September 25, 2009 to December 11, 2009 and the internship begins February 1, 2010 and ends April 23, 2010. Students must be enrolled in a four year college and must be in their junior or senior year. Winners will be notified via email. Travel and accommodations in New York are the responsibility of the winning intern and are not included as part of the internship. The winning entry will also win a $100.00 gift card to chill out and hang in New York City.

“The Frisky’s relatable, humorous and straight forward approach to everything that matters to young women has made us one of the fastest growing destinations on the web,” said Mina Lux, General Manager, The Frisky.com. “This contest gives one lucky college student the chance to have her voice heard by entering into a dialogue with our always passionate and outspoken Frisky community.”

About The Frisky.com
The Frisky (www.thefrisky.com ), a unique premier online destination for women 18-34, offers smart, funny, fast-paced content and a growing community for girlfriends to speak in authentic voices about the things they really discuss. The Frisky covers celebrity news, pop culture, love, dating, relationships, fashion, beauty and anything else women talk about, obsess about, and want to know about – all with an irreverent, carefree, and most of all, honest and relatable perspective. The Frisky, which launched in March 2008, now has more than 1.7 million unique visitors per month and almost 7 million pageviews. (Source: Omniture).

Media Contact:

Sayles & Winnikoff Communications

Alan Winnikoff

Recommendations of Task Force on College Gambling Policies Focus on Recovery, On-Campus Restrictions and Special Events

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ — For the nearly 80 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. without a written policy on gambling, the release today of official recommendations from the national Task Force on College Gambling Policies will provide a solid, science-based framework that higher education institutions can use to fill this void. The task force was created by the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and funded by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG).

“Research has shown that teenagers and college-aged young adults are more impulsive and at higher risk for developing gambling disorders than adults,” said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, which is coordinating the distribution of the recommendations report. “We hope that the recommendations in this report will stimulate dialogue on college and university campuses about ways to integrate efforts to reduce gambling problems into existing programs focused on addictive behaviors.”

The task force was created after findings from an NCRG-funded study on gambling and alcohol policies at U.S. colleges and universities showed that while all schools in the study had student alcohol policies, only 22 percent had written policies on gambling. The study was conducted by Howard Shaffer and colleagues at the Division on Addictions in collaboration with the Harvard School of Public Health.

The 10 policy recommendations announced today are science-based guidelines that can be tailored, adopted and implemented by colleges and universities nationwide. The recommendations (see end of document) focus on three primary areas: on-campus prohibitions and restrictions, recognition of the importance of recovery-based policies and how to facilitate them, and special events. The recommended policies and programs range from establishing a campus-wide committee to develop a comprehensive gambling policy, to making reasonable accommodations for students who may miss class as they focus on recovery, to strengthening the capacity of counseling services to identify and treat gambling disorders.

“We know from research that when higher education institutions adopt and enforce clear policies, they can be very effective in preventing students from experiencing negative consequences from their decisions around health issues and can help them learn healthy habits they can take with them after college,” said Kristy Wanner, a member of the task force and the gambling prevention coordinator for Missouri Partners in Prevention, housed at the University of Missouri, Columbia. “The recommendations of the task force can help schools across the country create and establish policies on gambling that will support the entire campus community through education, training, prevention, treatment and recovery.”

The task force examined a number of factors to determine its policy recommendations, including: scientific literature about alcohol and gambling on college and university campuses; state, local and federal laws relating to alcohol and gambling; programs intended to reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs; and existing campus alcohol and gambling policies. The task force also reviewed policies on alcohol and gambling at on-campus events, such as charity and sports events, and addiction treatment and health services.

The NCRG and the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders are distributing the recommendations report to administrators, student health professionals, student life directors and other stakeholders through various professional organizations, meetings, listservs and social media avenues.

For students who are interested in promoting the adoption of gambling policies on their campuses, Wanner recommends starting at the top. “Notify your chancellor and the directors of student affairs, student life and the wellness center,” she said. She also recommends reaching out to school athletic programs and campus Greek Life coordinators to secure their support in promoting school policies on gambling.

The NCRG Task Force on College Gambling Policies represents a diverse range of institutions, including the University of Alabama; Bridgewater State College; the University of Denver; George Fox University; Harvard University; Lehigh University; Mississippi State University; the University of Missouri, Columbia; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; the University of Nevada, Reno; Oregon State University; and Villanova University.

For more information on the task force, including a list of members and the detailed recommendations report, visit www.ncrg.org.

Topline Recommendations of the Task Force on College Gambling Policies

1.  Establish a campus-wide committee to develop and monitor a comprehensive policy on gambling.

2.  Ensure that college policies are consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

3.  Strive for consistency and universal application with prohibitions and restrictions on gambling and alcohol use at special events.

4.  Promote campus-community collaborations that focus on reducing problems with student drinking and gambling.

5.  Encourage adjustments in disciplinary actions applied to violators of gambling rules if the student seeks assistance from health or counseling services.

6.  Make reasonable accommodations for students focused on recovery from a problem with gambling or alcohol.

7.  Measure student attitudes, behaviors, and problems with gambling through campus surveys or by incorporating such measures into existing campus health-related surveys.

8.  Promote campus-wide awareness of (1) pathological gambling as a mental health disorder that has a high rate of comorbidity with alcohol use and other addictive disorders, and (2) responsible gaming principles.

9.  Employ evidence-based strategies to identify and help students with gambling and alcohol problems.

10. Strengthen the capacity of counseling services to identify and treat gambling disorders.

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the NCRG is the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) affiliated charity. For more information, visit www.ncrg.org. NCRG funds provide grants to researchers to increase understanding of pathological gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. The funds are distributed through the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visit www.gamblingdisorders.org.

CONTACT:  Veronica Brown for NCRG, +1-202-530-4526

Burnham scholar to discuss findings on Oct. 8th at IIT and Oct. 11th at  NU

CHICAGO, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Dr. Kristen Schaffer will discuss her research into Daniel H. Burnham’s original draft of the 1909 Plan of Chicago during two public lectures in October, as part of Burnham Plan 100 Centennial celebration.

A leading Burnham scholar, Schaffer is author of “Daniel H. Burnham: Visionary Architect.” While reviewing Burnham’s handwritten draft of the Plan of Chicago in the Art Institute’s Ryerson Library, Schaffer was struck by the passages that were left out of the published Plan.

“Burnham’s views on architecture and his ideas for the city are more fully revealed in his notes, letters and drafts than in the published Plan of Chicago,” says Schaffer, associate professor of architecture at North Carolina State University. “These materials enrich our understanding not only of the public architect and planner, but also disclose the religious beliefs and moral values of the private man.”

Burnham’s draft of the 1909 Plan went beyond recommendations for the lakefront, traffic circulation and civic centers — it also advanced quality of life issues such as provisions for child care for working women, improvement of slum areas, and low cost access to recreational facilities for all of the Chicago’s citizens. Why Burnham’s quality of life recommendations were omitted in the published version is not known today. The draft reveals a planner with a heart as well as a vision for what Chicago could be.

The public is invited to hear Schaffer’s presentation of “Finding Burnham in the Archives: Spiritual Revelations and the Plan of Chicago” on Thursday, October 8 at 12 pm noon in  S.R. Crown Hall, at IIT’s College of Architecture, 3360 S. State St., Chicago, sponsored by the Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture; and on Sunday, October 11 at 3 pm in Fisk Hall, 1845 Sheridan Road, Evanston, sponsored by Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, The Program in American Studies. Both lectures are free to the public, and are co-sponsored by the Swedenborg Library of Chicago.

About Kristen Schaffer: Kristen Schaffer, Ph.D., Cornell University, teaches History of Architecture and Urbanism at North Carolina State University. She is author of “Daniel H. Burnham: Visionary Architect” (Rizzoli International, 2003). She is among the historians appearing in the recently released film by Archimedia Workshop, “Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham & The American City.”

About The Swedenborg Library: The Swedenborg Library hosts ecumenical programs on religious and spiritual topics. Founded in 1871 as the Western New Church Union, the Library is located at 77 W. Washington St. in downtown Chicago. For more information, see www.SwedenborgLib.org.

CONTACT:  Karen Feil of the Swedenborg Library, +1-312-346-7003, info@swedenborglib.org, Kimberly Campbell of IIT, +1-312-567-3279, kcampbe1@iit.edu, Natasha Dennison of Northwestern University, +1-847-491-3525; n-dennison@northwestern.edu