March 3, 2000
Lyon first of its kind to have enhanced 911 service
Lyon College’s enhanced 911 emergency call service is the first of its kind in Arkansas. The service lets 911 operators pinpoint the location of emergency calls made from campus extensions.
The enhanced 911 service was made possible when the college’s telephone system was upgraded last summer. The upgrade included the installation of a new private switch that enabled the enhanced 911 feature. The enhanced 911 service became available campuswide last fall.
Dwight Williams, Southwestern Bell’s area manager for 911 in Arkansas, said Lyon was the first private-switch owner to convert its equipment to enable enhanced 911.
Private Switch 911 allows emergency-response teams to identify the exact telephone extension, room number, campus building, and street address from which an emergency call originates. Previously, a call to 911 showed only the main listed address for the college, without giving the specific location from which the call was placed.
Lacking precise location information, emergency crews may take longer to respond to the calls. It is also helpful when a caller is unable to speak or is confused, and when a visitor doesn’t know his exact location, college officials said.
"It’s a quantum leap forward," Williams said of the installation of Private Switch 911 at Lyon.
Phone companies originally offered enhanced 911 service only for residential phones and other telephones on their standard public networks. Southwestern Bell modified its equipment to make the service available to private-switch owners and Lyon was the first entity in Arkansas to take advantage of it.
Williams said he expects other colleges and private-switch owners to implement the service in the future. He said the state of Texas has mandated that its institutions provide the enhanced 911 service.
While the enhanced 911 service adds to the college’s telephone expenses and entails extra data-base maintenance to keep the addresses updated, Lyon officials say the service is worth it.
"People appreciate the fact they can pick up the phone, dial 911, and the dispatcher knows where the call is coming from," said John Cuny, vice president for business and finance at Lyon. "If it saves one person’s life, it’s worth it."
All 911 calls go to the 911 emergency dispatch center in Batesville. After determining the nature of the emergency, the dispatcher then notifies the agency that needs to respond , whether it’s the ambulance service, fire department, police, or a combination of response teams.
'Lysistrata' to be performed at Holloway TheatreHarlequin Theatre's Spring production of the classic comedy “Lysistrata” will be performed March 16-19 with curtain each evening at 7:30 p.m. Due to the subject matter, the play is recommended for mature audiences.
A contemporary translation by Douglass Parker, this hilarious romp through ancient Athens pits the women against the men in the eternal battle between the sexes. The play poses the question "If you're a fighting man, what's the one thing a woman could deny you that would leave you begging for PEACE?" Come see and hear the answer. The box office phone line is now open to take your reservations. Phone 793-1749 to make your reservations now: avoid the after-Spring Break Rush! Your reserved ticket(s) will be held for you until 7:15 p.m. on the evening of performance.
Bakalova wins scene design at theatre festival
Kalina Bakalova, a Lyon College junior from Sofia, Bulgaria, won honorable mention (second place) in the scene design category at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Region VI (Arkansas,Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico).The competition was open to both undergraduate and graduate students from this region. The design, Bakalova’s first, was for “Identifying Spirit,” a student-written and student-produced play that was presented last fall at Lyon and the state ACTF competition.
Bakalova is the first Lyon College student to win an award in the design category.
Sports
Basketball The Pipers and Scots basketball teams ended their seasons this week with second-round losses in their respective TranSouth Conference Tournaments.The Pipers lost to Union University 69-55 Monday in Jackson, Tennessee. The Pipers finished 15-15 overall and 6-8 in the conference.
Sarah Meier and Amy Shue were selected first-team all-conference players.
The Scots ended their season Tuesday with an 85-71 loss to David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. The Scots finished the season at 5-9 in conference play and 8-21 overall.
Baseball
The University of Mary defeated the baseball Scots 16-11 on Tuesday at Scots Field. The Scots are 14-5 for the season.
The team was to play the University of Mary at home again Thursday in varsity and junior varsity games. The Scots will travel this weekend to Birmingham Southern for games Saturday and Sunday.
Tennis
The Lyon tennis teams were defeated by the highly ranked Union University netters February 25 in Jackson, Tennessee. The tennis Scots lost 9-0 to the sixth-ranked Union Bulldogs and the Pipers fell 6-0 to the fifth-ranked Lady Bulldogs.
The Scots are 0-2 in the conference and 0-4 overall. The Pipers are 0-2 in the TranSouth Conference and 1-3 overall. The teams will resume play March 11 against Christian Brothers in Memphis.
Lyon College Campus Calendar
Friday, March 312 noon Catholic Campus Ministry Meeting EDH 002
1 p.m. Convocations Committee
Lyon, Seminar West4 p.m. Reception for Math Candidates Lyon, Flanders Reading
Saturday, March 4
9 a.m. Math & Science Academic Day Brown Chapel, Lyon & Science Buildings
1 p.m. Scots Baseball vs. Birmingham Southern U. Birmingham, AL
Sunday, March 5
1 p.m. Scots Baseball vs. Birmingham Southern U. Birmingham, AL
Spring Break!!
Monday, March 6
10 a.m. Admissions & Financial Aid Committee Lyon, Citizens Bank Room
3 p.m. Institutional Advancement Staff Meeting Lyon, Citizens Bank Room
Tuesday, March 7
4 p.m. Science Fair Committee Lyon, Seminar East
Thursday, March 9
9 a.m. Institutional Advancement Software Demonstration Lyon, Seminar East
Friday, March 10
1 p.m. Scots Baseball vs. Lipscomb University Nashville, TN