Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Today's Response
Middle Tennessee State University

But what are they really saying?

How can computer software pick apart a politician’s rhetoric to tell us what he or she is REALLY all about? Dr. Mohammed Albakry, English, says, “With the advances of computer text programs focused on analyzing certain linguistic patterns, we are now better able to investigate how people actually use language, both spoken and written, in real life situations. In so doing, we can gain powerful insights into a person’s type of personality and guiding ideology.” Albakry also says it is very likely (and not too Orwellian) that “software will be used to train public speakers such as presidential candidates for the maximum effect.” Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin already have performed post-election analyses on the 2004 presidential and vice-presidential speeches using such software.

Contact Albakry at 615-484-8658.
albakry@mtsu.edu

Multicultural kids

It’s time for the annual “Diverse Tales for Diverse Tots” book drive through May 5. The Diversity Committee of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women is asking for donations of children’s books that reflect or teach about any aspect of diversity and/or multiculturalism. These books may be old or new and for any age group. They will be presented in May to the MTSU Extended Evening School Program at the Homer Pittard Campus School. Dropoff locations include in the Sociology and Anthropology office (307 Todd Building), the English office (302 Peck Hall), the June Anderson Women’s Center (206 James Union Building), and the Older Wiser Learners office (320 Keathley University Center).

Contact Dr. Ida Fadzilla at 615-898-8275
ifadzill@mtsu.edu
or Dr. Elvira Casal at 615-898-2668.
ecasal@mtsu.edu

“The Teacher” is in the house

Hip-hop legend KRS-One will deliver a special guest lecture at 5 p.m. Friday, April 14, in Room 221 of the Learning Resources Center. Reporters will have an opportunity for questions and answers at 4 p.m. in the same room. Born Lawrence Krisna Parker in Brooklyn, N.Y., KRS-One originated Boogie Down Productions, “one of the most influential hardcore hip-hop outfits of the ‘80s,” according to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide. “KRS-One was known for his furiously political and socially conscious raps, which is the source of his nickname, ‘The Teacher.’” This event is free and open to the public thanks to support from the Center for Popular Music, the Robert W. McLean School of Music, the Department of Recording Industry and the MTSU Urban Music Society.

Contact Dr. Felicia Miyakawa, music, at 615-904-8043.
miyakawa@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

HE HAS A STORY TO TELL—TODAY--Governor Phil Bredesen will speak following the 11:30 a.m. lunch at the “Tennessee Summit on Mathematics & Science Education: Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce Today” event at the Doubletree Hotel in Nashville. The purpose of the summit is to bring together business, government and education leaders together from across the state to emphasize the need for improved math, science and technology education for all Tennessee students. MEDIA WELCOMED. Contact Dr. Ray Phillips or Dr. Dovie Kimmins at 615-904-8573.

“FROM BACH TO BEETHOVEN”—TODAY, 12:40 p.m.—A speial Lenten choral concert will be presented in MTSU’s Hinton Music Hall in the Wright Music Building. Dr. Raphael Bundage will conduct the MTSU Concert Chorale in this concert. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact the McLean School of Music at 615-898-2493.

NOT-SO-INTELLIGENT DESIGN?—TODAY, 7 p.m.--Raiders for Rationalism will host a talk titled “Is Intelligent Design Falsifiable?” in Room S118 of the Business Aerospace Building. The speaker will be Sarah Jordan, a campus and community organizer for the Center for Inquiry on Campus. The theory of intelligent design posits that life on Earth occurred through an” intelligent agent” instead of through evolution. Dr. William Langston, associate professor of psychology and faculty adviser for Raiders for Rationalism, says, “Intelligent design, which depends on the intervention of a supernatural designer, is often criticized for being a wholly religious hypothesis that offers no testable scientific claims.” He says Jordan will argue during her lecture that two criteria for intelligent design are inadequate and principally rhetorical. Contact Langston at 615-898-5489 or wlangsto@mtsu.edu. MEDIA WELCOMED.

VOICES OF VICTIMS AND MEN—TODAY, 7 p.m.--On New Year’s Eve 1995, Andrea Cooper returned home from a party to find that her 20-year-old daughter, Kristin, had taken her own life. Cooper eventually learned that Kristin had been so traumatized by an acquaintance rape that she had fallen into a deep depression that spiraled downward even further when her boyfriend rejected her. Cooper will talk about Kristin in Tucker Theatre. Immediately following Cooper’s address, Ben Atherton-Zeman will lighten the mood at Tucker Theatre with a humorous presentation poking fun at some male attitudes toward women through movie characters such as James Bond, Austin Powers and Rocky Balboa. This Sexual Assault Awareness Month doubleheader is free and open to the public. MEDIA WELCOMED. Contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

BOYS AND GIRLS AND EXERCISE—TOMORROW, 3:30 p.m.—Dr. Kathryn Davis, health and human performance, lectures on “The Influence of Gender on Teaching Elementary Physical Education” as the final presentation in the 2005-2006 Women’s Studies Research Series in Room 100 (the Faculty Senate room) of the James Union Building. For more information, contact the Women’s Studies Program office at 615-898-5910 or Dr. Trixie Smith at 615-904-8153 or tgsmith@mtsu.edu. MEDIA WELCOMED.

ATTENTION: MTSU AUDIO CLIPS

MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready stories for your newscasts are available at:

http://www.mtsunews.com

Click on "MTSU Audio Clips" on the right side of the page.

TOPIC 1—BATTER UP!: It’s spring, when every young fan’s heart turns to baseball. Dr. Ron Kates, associate professor of English and Chicago Cubs fan extraordinaire, will celebrate this annual rite of rebirth with the Baseball Literature Conference March 31st. Special guests will be East Tennessee State University’s Dr. Don Johnson, editor of the sports literature journal “Aethlon,” and former Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos pitcher Bill “The Spaceman” Lee.

TOPIC 2—NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: The president of the American Civil Liberties Union, Nadine Strossen, will be the keynote speaker for National Women’s History Month at MTSU. Dr. Elyce Helford, chair of the Women’s Studies program, discusses Strossen’s upcoming appearance and the other events on tap to celebrate women’s fight for equality and justice.

Radio stations, if you need audio from MTSU, please call 615-898-2919 or email news@mtsu.edu. We will be glad to send MP3 audio via email or post the audio on our Audio Clips web page http://www.mtsunews.com. Click on "MTSU Audio Clips" on the right side of the page.

VIDEO UPLINK

TV stations, if you need video from an event at MTSU, interviews with MTSU experts, or other specific video from the MTSU campus, please call 615-898-2919 or email news@mtsu.edu. With sufficient advanced notice, we have the capability to uplink video to stations with digital decoding equipment, or we can make arrangements to deliver tape or DVD to you.