BY LAWRENCE SIMMONSStaff Writer

Tough decisions await Mississippi State University president-to-be Mark Keenum as the effects of the current economic downturn meet proposed cutbacks for state agencies, including higher education.

Gov. Haley Barbour ordered a 2 percent spending reduction, totalling an estimated $42 million, in the state’s proposed current fiscal year budget Wednesday.

Laura Hipp, Barbour’s deputy press secretary, said the governor has asked state agencies and the Legislature to look for ways to trim spending by 2 per-

cent this fiscal year.MSU Interim

President Roy Ruby said any time there is a budget cut it means there will be a reduction somewhere.

“We will be working to cut the budget in such a way as to do the least damage to the university’s ability to carry out its mission, which is teaching, service and research,” he said.

The first things protected will be the academic and teaching aspects of the institution, he said.

“We will take care of any necessary reduc-tions in personnel by attrition and a freeze on some positions, but not faculty positions at this time,” Ruby said.

He said it is his understanding the uni-versity receives about 35 percent of its budget from the state of Mississippi.

“We will try to increase our efficiency whereas we do not have to cut programs or people,” he said.

MSU will be able to handle the cuts

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BY ROBERT JONES

Contributing Writer

The semester-long projects of Mis-sissippi State University senior art majors were unveiled in the second fl oor of the Union on Thursday.

“Diplopia,” the annual exhibition sponsored by the art department, showcased the creativity of its gradu-ating students, including Katherine Holmes, Zachry Ashmore and Brad Coleman.

An extension of the showcase is lo-cated in McComas Hall, containing the artistry of six other students.

The showcase attracted a sizeable audience of students, parents, faculty and enthusiasts. The photography, sculptures and drawings of the tal-ented students evoked intrigued and admiring reactions from gallery view-ers.

“I liked Katherine Holmes’ photog-raphy,” freshman psychology major

BY WAYNE BRAGG

Staff Writer

Mississippi State University students received sound advice on searching for a job after college during Thursday’s Hot Topics seminar sponsored by the Shackouls Honors College.

Charles Campbell, professor of eco-nomics at MSU, spoke to an audience of about 20 students on the right approaches to finding a job that will suit their needs.

Campbell said there are three approaches to finding the right job after college: targeting what students are looking for, networking to find the right connections in the field and postgraduate entrepreneurship involving students starting their own businesses.

“Each [approach] works differently and varies depending on the job and the job seeker,” Campbell said during the lecture. “Before you begin to look, figure out if you are going to search for a specific firm or company and job position within that company.”

The Shackouls Honors College

Barbour orders $42 millionstate spending reduction

Barbour

The

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Professor says networking is an

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Students receive job hunt advice

TUESDAYNOVEMBER 18, 2008

University braces for 2 percent budget cut

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ART GALLERY DATESThe Union and McComas Hall galleries will remain on display until Dec. 2.

Artists displaysemesterproductions

Ruby

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‘Diplopia’showcases senior

thesis artwork

BY PATRICK YOUNG | Staff Writer

Mississippi State University has received a near-failing grade

in sustainability and eco-friendliness according to an annual

study conducted by Harvard University’s Sustainable Endow-

ments Institute. The D-plus grade, which ranks near the

bottom of the nation and last in the SEC, was given as a part

of Harvard’s College Sustainability Report Card. The study looked at the top 300

universities in North America and their efforts to become more energy-efficient.

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