Thursday, June 15, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Cable TV justice?

Veteran television executive Rick Kaplan is out as head of cable channel MSNBC, and executive Phil Griffin was put in his place. But the more intriguing decision was to take legal expert Dan Abrams off the air and make him general manager. Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, says this probably won’t make the Microsoft-NBC partnership any more successful. “I think Dan Abrams, while a very nice man and good court reporter, is kind of a lightweight when it comes to competing with CNN or Fox news personalities. I think MSNBC needs to grow—they’re perennially in third place (#1 being Fox, #2 CNN)—and I don’t think hiring a new manager is going to change that.”

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

Unintended consequences

What will happen to government employees following the the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against an L.A. prosecutor who claimed he was retaliated against after recommending to his superiors that a case be dismissed? Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, says, “What this ruling will do is force whistleblowers to go outside of channels to report fraud, waste and abuse. In the past, the whistleblower could go to supervisor and report suspected abuses, and the result would be an internal investigation that could very well clear a person suspected of illegal activity. Now, however, the whistleblower will have to go public immediately, before any investigation takes place, thus exposing a potentially innocent person to public humiliation.”

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

North vs. South

The conflict that almost ripped the nation apart, the American Civil War, will be the focus of an upcoming public forum, “Rethinking the Civil War at 150 Years,” from 7-8:45 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at the State Farm Lecture Hall in the Business Aerospace Building. The discussion will be led by Dr. Dwight Pitcaithley, the Department of History’s 2006 Visiting Distinguished Public Historian. Dr. Rebecca Conard, MTSU history professor, says the event “gives us an opportunity to spotlight two important developments in middle Tennessee: the opening of the new visitors center at Stones River National Battlefield last spring and the current effort to establish a national battlefield park in Franklin to commemorate the battle of Franklin.”

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. TOMORROW AND SATURDAY 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—SATURDAY--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 SATURDAY 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.

THE ART OF GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL--High school students can spend a fun and productive summer at the annual Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts THROUGH TODAY at MTSU. Youngsters will enjoy intensive study in art, dance, theater and music during the five-week residence program. Students now will receive six hours of college credit instead of three, as was the case in prior years. “We had a fantastic school in 2005, with more than 200 talented students who had a wonderful, life-changing experience at MTSU,” Dale McGilliard, professor of speech and theatre, observes. “Everything from registration into classes, to buses to dorms, to the smallest detail was excellent, thanks to all the school’s teachers who worked so hard to make things happen for these young artists of Tennessee.” Contact McGilliard at 615-898-2274 or dmcgilli@mtsu.edu.

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.

CANCER ANSWERS—TODAY--“Taking It to the Streets: Summit on the Burden of Cancer in Tennessee,” a state cancer summit, will be held at the Vanderbilt Student Life Center. MTSU is a partner in providing funding for several initiatives aimed at reaching more people with information on the deadly illness. Issues to be addressed include creating access to services for the homeless and the utilization of churches to raise awareness of the importance of cancer screenings for African Americans. The Tennessee Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition, which is made up of 272 individuals and organizations in Tennessee, is the driving force behind the gathering. Contact ReJeana Colman at 615-435-5739 or Gail Hardin at 615-936-5885, or visit http://www.vicc.org/2006summit.

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.