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MUSC Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction   Employee survey Rumor: I heard that the recent Employee Survey was not anonymous even though it says it is. My supervisor kept track of who picked up the employee survey and who did not. I also saw other department supervisors write employee names on the survey envelopes, so, ultimately they knew who picked up the surveys and who didn’t. Doesn’t this dilute the confidentiality and anonymity of the survey? Truth: The survey was designed to be anonymous and for that reason, everyone received a sealed envelope which contained a personal identification number to access the online survey. There is no way that any marking on the envelope could identify the survey participant. Managers were encouraged to see that all of their employees participated in the survey. For that reason, they may have written an employee’s name on the envelope to make sure everyone received an envelope. However, there is no record of what PIN numbers were sent to MUSC nor which PIN numbers were used by staff. The numbers were generated by Press Ganey, which administered the survey. Ashley Avenue crosswalk Rumor: We keep hearing that safety improvements will be made to the Ashley Avenue Crosswalk, yet the same old ineffective at best flashing yellow lights and white painted crosswalk remain. What are the facts? Truth: By law, mid-block crosswalks like the one found at the Ashley Avenue crossing are not required to have stop signs, because vehicles are required to stop only when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. The challenge with this walk is that service and other vehicles often stand on the side of the roadway on the approach to the crosswalk. These vehicles block the view of both the pedestrian and the drivers of vehicles approaching the crosswalk. The MUSC Public Safety Department has directed its officers to pay closer attention to the Ashley Avenue Crosswalk, and the City of Charleston Traffic Safety Department has been alerted to the challenge with this crossing. The City of Charleston also has implemented a citywide Pedestrian Safety Campaign requiring new, larger and brighter signs, pedestrian count down signals at all traffic signalized intersections, and high visibility crosswalks. MUSC is working with the local law enforcement divisions in promoting the campaign and enforcing the law for pedestrian safety. Parking Rumor: Is it true that during weekdays daytime employees will not be parking in Hagood when the 1,500 space parking in Bee  Street opens in fall 2008, and instead they will be parking in Ashley-Rutledge area; and also when the New MUSC hospital opens? Truth: This is not true. After the Bee Street (1,500-space) garage opens in fall 2008, MUSC will continue to use the Hagood Park & Ride System. The Bee Street garage will be used to provide parking to employees and students at the on-campus parking rate. This new garage will enable the parking system to absorb the current waiting list for on-campus parking and give MUSC the flexibility needed to adjust parking usage across campus. ART, CARTA Express Rumor: I heard that once Ashley River Tower (ART) is opened a new CARTA Express stop will be near ART? Truth: There are no plans at this time to add a CARTA Express stop nearer  ART.  Options have been discussed with CARTA, however none yet have been viable without compromising the basic purpose of express service. Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/.     Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.