Friday, June 16, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

There’s no bronze medal for third place in TV.

How can MSNBC lift itself above Fox and CNN in the cable television news ratings sweepstakes? Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, says veering to the right wouldn’t work because Fox has that territory covered. And, since CNN has captured the middle, that wouldn’t work either. “Nobody’s doing progressive, liberal news,” Pondillo says. “What an opportunity! … But that would mean MSNBC must check the conventions of news—much like Fox has done—and go not for ‘truth’ (whatever that is), but for targeting an underserved audience segment: American liberals. If they put wild, foaming-at-the-mouth liberals on the air—much like Fox news does with conservatives—then I think they have a chance to score major numbers!”

Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

Remember that little “third-rate burglary?”

Thirty-four years ago tomorrow, five men broke into Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington. But Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says the resulting Watergate scandal was not just about buggings and dirty tricks. Watergate, through the efforts of the Washington Post and other news agencies, revealed the necessity of a free press. Have we learned anything? “Sometimes, with all the hue and cry about the media, I wonder if we really want the press to be the watchdog it is supposed to be,” Burriss says. “More and more, I suspect, we expect reporters to be lap dogs and just take what the government gives out. Well, that’s not what the founding fathers intended, and that’s certainly not what the media are supposed to be doing.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

War and remembrance

A panel of top-notch Civil War experts will discuss the upcoming sesquicentennial of that watershed event in American history at MTSU from 7-8:45 p.m. Thursday, June 22. “Rethinking the Civil War at 150 Years” will be held in the State Farm Lecture Hall in the Business Aerospace Building. Dr. Dwight Pitcaithley, MTSU’s 2006 Visiting Distinguished Public Historian, will lead the public forum. Dr. Rebecca Conard, MTSU history professor, says it is “an opportunity for anyone interested in Civil War history to participate in a discussion with several well-known Tennesseans who will be involved in planning for the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.” Media welcomed.

Contact Conard at 615-898-2423.
rconard@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

HOPE AND HELL AT THE “HOT L”--Three MTSU undergrads, a professor and an alumnus breathe life into the seedy trappings of a condemned urban hotel when they check into “The Hot L Baltimore.” They’re lending their talents to the Murfreesboro Little Theatre’s production of the off-Broadway play at 7 p.m. TODAY AND TOMORROW and at 2 p.m. SUNDAY. Tim Johnson, a junior working toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration, plays Bill Lewis, a night clerk who harbors romantic feelings for one of the ladies of the evening who entertain their clients at the hotel. “He covers his true sentiments for the girl in a somewhat clumsy, but friendly manner,” Johnson says. For reservations, contact the MLT box office at 615-893-9825.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE A REFUGEE—TOMORROW--You’re thousands of miles away from home. You’re in a strange land where the language and the customs are unfamiliar. But returning home would mean starvation, rape, perhaps even death. That’s the situation facing international and refugee students who fled countries where war and terrorism are a way of life. Community Assistance for International and Refugee Students (CAIRS) helps these students pay for medical expenses, groceries and textbooks. CAIRS will hold a yard/garage/bake sale to raise money for these worthy young people from 8 a.m.-noon at the St. Rose of Lima school gymnasium, 1601 North Tennessee Blvd., in Murfreesboro. Contact Karen Case, CAIRS adviser, at 615-427-9411 or kcase@mtsu.edu.

SAVE THOSE TICKETS!—Due to illness, “Fresh Air” radio show host Terry Gross was notable to fulfill her previously scheduled commitments at MTSU. Her appearance has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19. Marc J. Barr, electronic media communication, says new tickets will not be printed. Therefore, people with the original April 17 tickets are encouraged to keep them for the September event. For more information, contact Barr at 615-898-5118 or at mjbarr@mtsu.edu.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in June and July for freshmen and transfers on a first-come, first-served basis. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Basic and Applied Science and Mass Communications and undeclared majors will have CUSTOMS June 23-24, July 11-12 and July 24-25. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts and Business and undeclared majors will be held June 20-21, July 6-7 and July 20-21. Transfers may complete CUSTOMS online and be cleared by their advisers to register for fall classes. For more information, call the Office of New Student and Family Programs at 615-898-5533 or visit http://www.mtsu.edu/~customs.

HEAD FOR THE MOUNTAINS!--Some 16 MTSU alumni and several faculty members have contributed to the newly published “Encyclopedia of Appalachia.” The title has more than 2,000 entries which provides ready reference to information about the people, culture and history of Appalachia. MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation was contacted by scholars at East Tennessee State University’s Center for Appalachian Studies and Services about collaborating on the project. CHP Director Dr. Carroll Van West says he agreed to participate because of his interest in southern architecture and because the Applachian region suffers from stereotyping. Contact the Center for Historic Preservation at 615-898-2947.

STAR-SPANGLED PARTY—INDEPENDENCE DAY--Once again, MTSU will host “Celebration Under the Stars.” The party will start at 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 4, on the intramural field. There will be games and activities for the youngsters from 5-8 p.m. There will be prizes and promotional giveaways. Wal-Mart will donate the “Celebration Under the Stars” birthday cakes. At 8 p.m., the Murfreesboro Fire Department’s color guard will present the colors. The Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra will perform patriotic tunes, Sousa marches and inspirational classics. Capping off the evening’s entertainment will be the traditional fireworks display at 9 p.m. Contact Marlane Sewell, steering committee chair, at 615-896-6710.