MSU
For the past nine years, Robert Kolt has hosted a Super Bowl party in his Haslett home.
But it's only when the advertisements appear that the TV volume increases and conversations go quiet, with eyes intently focused on the screen.
Kolt, an MSU instructor, and about 15 other faculty members in the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing gather not to watch the game — but to grade the Super Bowl advertisements, which usually earns them national recognition in the media.
"I think we were the first ones to do it, and we continue to do it," Kolt said.
"The professors at Michigan State are pretty good, tough critics."
But during this Sunday's game, MSU's professors won't be the only ones judging.
Now advertising professionals, university professors and students worldwide can rate the advertisements themselves through an interactive Web site called MSU Ad Pulse.
Richard Cole, executive vice president and chief administrative officer with the Detroit Medical Center, came up with the idea for the Web site as a way to extend the rating of the advertisements to a broader base of people.
"It's just like anything — you don't know exactly what the outcome will be, but many more ideas will keep flowing," he said.
Cole takes office at MSU on March 1 as the new chairman for the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing.
The site — a project between MSU and Collaboration LLC, a marketing firm based in Pleasant Ridge, Mich.
