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Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction President Street parking garage Rumor: I have heard there are open parking spaces for the President Street garage, however Parking Management has no way to know if those requesting spaces (most likely eight years ago) are still employed. This search for those next on the list takes weeks-months of getting these spaces filled. Truth: While it can take several weeks or even a month sometimes to reach a specific employee in order to offer a parking assignment, on average the time to fill a parking space from the time it becomes available is two weeks.  Calls are made from Parking Management's waiting list whenever and wherever spaces are available in the  reserved parking system. For parking garage II, names placed on the list in 1993 are now reaching the top of the call list. It can be difficult and time consuming to reach employees who have been on the list for this length of time or to be reasonably sure that someone is no longer at MUSC. In addition to employee name changes, which can throw the search off, many employees have changed from MUSC as an employer to UMA or the Hospital Authority. But not all employees on the waiting list are difficult to reach, and the assignment process continues while the search for some employees goes on. To  reiterate, on average the time to fill a parking space from the time of its becoming  available is two weeks.  Parking fees Rumor: Is it true that the parking fees imposed at the parking garages will be eventually reduced once the new parking facilities are constructed? With increasing insurances premiums and little to no amount of band increases given, we are finding it harder to continue to maintain our parking spaces. Truth: Parking fee increases were implemented in order to be able to borrow the necessary funds required to build a new garage. When the amount and terms of the garage loans are determined, university administration will evaluate the needed parking fee base for any changes needed. It is likely in the short term that fees can be stabilized. It is unlikely that there can be a roll back of fees while loans are being paid back. Anthrax Rumor: We just heard that 1 west is temporarily closed due to an anthrax investigation. Is this true?  Truth: The rumor is true. On Jan. 11 a citizen arrived at the Trauma Unit around noon and advised staff that she had possibly been exposed to anthrax by opening a letter that contained white powder. She had the letter and substance with her. Thus, precautionary measures were implemented and the Trauma Unit closed for a short period of time. A threat assessment was conducted and the substance sent to DHEC for analysis. Areas of the Trauma Unit that possibly could have been exposed to possible contamination were decontaminated and the unit reopened. The analysis of the substance has been completed and proved to be negative for anthrax.  Note of clarification from the Rumor Mill: This rumor inquiry was made Friday (Jan. 11) as the actual events were unfolding. However, the Rumor Mill is only periodically checked and this was not seen until the next routine morning check the following workday which was the following Monday. Everyone should be aware that the Rumor Mill was not intended or set up for immediate response to rumors that require immediate response. In any such situation, the normal university channels should be contacted. State education lottery Rumor: We have heard that state employees cannot play the lottery. Does that pertain to workers at MUSC? Truth: It is not true that state employees cannot play the lottery. Following is the clarification presented here on the Rumor Mill on 1/11/02: “According to the S.C, Attorney General's opinion issued Jan. 7, only Board of Trustee members and notary publics are prohibited from participation. Also all law enforcement officers are barred from participation.” Parallel Curriculum/Office of Diversity Rumor: I heard a rumor that the Office of Diversity will be moving into the office space the Parallel Curriculum personnel now occupy. Is there any truth to this? Truth: Current plans are to move the Office of Diversity, and space in the Wellness Center is being discussed. To date, no final plans have been made. Full time employee- full time student Rumor: Within the Clinical Services Department in the Authority there are several employees that are attending the Ph.D. program in the College of Nursing (CON) and maintaining full-time employment in clinical services within the hospital. They are taking courses during daytime hours and one has recently had to change work/business times for standing meetings (where many people are effected) which necessitated all the other members to change their schedule. She explained that the business meeting interfered with her school time. This causes me great concern that there is some inequality as to how employment status plus school status may effect clinical progress. Also what type of message does this send to other authority employees that are not as fortunate enough to have that type of “understanding”? Truth: As an academic medical center, we support the pursuit of higher education and are grateful for the development of the Ph.D. program right across the street. It allows a wonderful opportunity to build leaders for our organization, produce faculty for our students (at a time when it is predicted that 60 faculty will retire within the next five years in the state of South Carolina), and it provides a closer link to the CON for research and other collaborative opportunities. This first group of Ph.D. students are paving the way for others.  The CON has responded to student feedback and is moving towards offering Ph.D. classes out of business hours next semester. They are also working towards Web enhanced options for students. It is recognized that attending classes during normal work hours may cause some inconveniences. As indicated above, we are hopeful that possible class offerings outside normal work hours will help alleviate  this problem. Moreover, we are currently considering a revision to the tuition assistance policy to address this issue in greater detail.