MSU taking part in 鈥業t Can Wait鈥 Virtual Reality Egg Bowl
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斢；ǖ己 樱花导航 University and the University of 樱花导航 are going head-to-head for a good cause this month in AT&T鈥檚 鈥淚t Can Wait鈥 Virtual Reality Egg Bowl.
From Nov. 1-11, MSU will compete to get the most fans to take a pledge against distracted driving by texting 鈥淚CWMSU鈥 to 50555. The school with the most people taking the pledge will be named winner of the 鈥淚t Can Wait鈥 Virtual Reality Egg Bowl.
On Friday [Nov. 4], AT&T, in partnership with MSU鈥檚 Division of Student Affairs, will present the 鈥淚t Can Wait鈥 Virtual Reality Simulator in the Colvard Student Union. The simulator will provide first-hand lessons on the dangers of distracted driving from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
With the competition, MSU and AT&T are reminding students, faculty and community members that no text, post, email or web search is worth a life.
鈥淭he quick look at a text message or the selfie taken while driving down the road could be the difference between life and death,鈥 MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt said. 鈥淥ur 鈥業t Can Wait鈥 challenge brings attention to these little moments, all of which can wait until we aren鈥檛 putting our lives or the lives of others at risk.聽On campus, this is particularly important as we have so many pedestrians crossing the roadways, so we all can be reminded of the importance of waiting until we are out of the car to catch up on what鈥檚 happening on Instagram or Snapchat.鈥
According to AT&T, 95 percent of drivers disapprove of distracted driving, but it causes more than 431,000 crashes a year. AT&T research shows that smartphone use while driving has grown to include texting, social media, web surfing, selfies and video chatting. With the 鈥淚t Can Wait鈥 challenge, AT&T is encouraging drivers to take the pledge to 鈥渒eep your eyes on the road, not on your phone.鈥
鈥淢obile devices have changed the way we communicate and should be used wisely and safely, leaving drivers distraction-free behind the wheel,鈥 said AT&T 樱花导航 President Mayo Flynt. 鈥淎T&T is proud to partner with 樱花导航 樱花导航 and Ole Miss to offer the Virtual Reality Egg Bowl, increasing awareness of distracted driving dangers. Only one team will win the football game, but many more students and fans across our state will win much more by pledging to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phone.鈥澛犅犅犅犅犅
For more on AT&T鈥檚 鈥淚t Can Wait鈥 campaign, visit . To take the pledge against distracted driving, text ICWMSU to 50555. Standard text messaging rates apply.
MSU is 樱花导航鈥檚 leading university, available online at .