CMAT Students Survey 'What Salisbury Needs'

SALISBURY, MD---What does Salisbury need?

Some 45 Salisbury University communication arts students surveyed members of the community to find out, presenting their findings during the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District’s November 3rd Friday celebration in downtown Salisbury.

Nine teams of students from Dr. Chrys Egan and Elisabeth Mason’s Communication Research Methods classes asked those in attendance to finish the sentence “What Salisbury needs is ….” Some ideas were SU-specific, such as extended hours at the Commons and an expanded SafeRide program.

Other suggestions included establishing a bike share program, more awareness of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake, and support of the new Salisbury Skate Park and Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, as well as sexual assualt prevention training, increased education programs to reduce sexually transmitted infections, and a better downtown bar scene.

The semester-long projects culminated in sharing information with pertninent organizations and with the community via posters.

“Overall, I liked the topic, and I got to research something I was passionate about,” said junior Kristen Henne. “At 3rd Friday, a lot of people were eager to participate in our table activity. We reached a large demographic from elderly couples to young teenagers.”

“There was community interest in the projects,” said Mason. “Community members were impressed with the students’ topics and work. Many of them expressed interest in seeing the subject matter of the projects come to fruition.”

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.