Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Office of University Relations
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
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    Date: 4/28/98
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  24

SLU PROGRAM TEACHES SOCIAL SKILLS TO FUTURE BUSINESS  
     HAMMOND -- The basics of etiquette are usually ingrained in us in childhood: "knives
to the right, forks to the left."..."Don't chew with your mouth full."..."Get those elbows off the
table!"
     But the finer niceties of dining are not necessarily part of the rough and tumble, catch-as-
catch-can learning that goes on at family and school lunchroom meals. Yet faux pas-less table
manners, not to mention professional demeanor and  proper attire, are crucial to success in the
workplace. 
     So, the head of Southeastern Louisiana University's Master of Business Administration
program, Brad O'Hara, decided this semester to add a unit on social skills to MBA students'
studies of subjects such as finance, accounting and marketing.
     Twenty-three business graduate students learned about proper "professional demeanor"
from Anna Bass, administrative assistant to Southeastern College of Business Dean Mike
Budden; "dining etiquette" from Chris Eleser, a member of the university's developmental
education faculty and a long time advisor for Phi Mu Fraternity; and "dressing for success" from
two representatives from the Baton Rouge clothing store Garland and Co.
     The "pinnacle" of the week-long social skills course was a formal dinner on April 24 at
the Alumni Center. The students sat down to what Eleser called a socially "challenging" meal
along with special guests from campus and the community.
     Guests were Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jamene Dahmer, North Oaks
Health Systems Community Relations Officer Michelle Sutton; Donna Taylor, vice president of
Asset Management with Stirling Properties; Kim Hunter, executive assistant to Southeastern
President Sally Clausen; Phil Livingston of president of the Hammond Region, Deposit Guaranty
Bank; Keith Bobb-Semple, personnel director for the City of Hammond, and Don Ayres,
president of First Guaranty Bank. Taylor and Sutton are Southeastern MBA Program alumni.
     Eleser reviewed the students on points of etiquette such how to position silverware if how
a diner should position his silverware if he has to leave the table in the middle of a meal and
properly handling soup spoons. "This is a learning experience," she told the guests, "so we
appreciate your patience."
     "But do we get credit for this, too," laughed Bobb Semple.
     The students said the learning experience was fun as well as very useful.
     "I've really been enjoying this. It's answered a lot of questions," said Andre France of
Hammond. "It's a wonderful opportunity to find out more about three very important aspects of
business," agreed Bert Trecost, also of Hammond.