Monday, July 31, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The numbers game

MTSU reported a summer enrollment headcount of 9,080 students to the Tennessee Board of Regents. Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services, says that’s a mere 16 students fewer than in 2005. Huddleston says this summer’s enrollment of 75 first-time freshmen was “holding steady” with 2005’s 77 first-time freshmen. There were 229 new transfers this summer. That’s 31 fewer than last year’s total. There was a summer increase in graduate students—274 compared to 201 a year ago.

Contact Huddleston at 615-898-2828.
shuddles@mtsu.edu

McNair mastery

“Personal Privacy: Risks of the Internet;” “The Social Roots of Terrorism: A Quantitative Approach;” “The Relationship Between the American Circus Clowns and British Pantomime”—these are just some of the fascinating subjects MTSU’s Ronald E. McNair Postbacclaureate Achievement Program scholars will be tackling TODAY and TOMORROW. The McNair Symposium is being held in the Tom H. Jackson Building. The program helps first-generation and low-income students as well as students from groups underrepresented in doctoral level studies. Most McNair scholars are in the program for two years. Media welcomed.

Contact Steve Saunders, coordinator, McNair Scholars Program at 615-898-8462.
saunders@mtsu.edu

Explaining civilian casualties

Why do innocent civilians die in war when they are purported not to be strategic targets? Derek Frisby, history professor and Desert Storm veteran, says, “The isolation experienced by U.S. troops (who are often cloistered in their bases for protection) and their fear that an attack can come at any time from someone who appears to be a “non-combatant” leads to a sense of hostility toward the Iraqi population. In isolated incidents, like those at Haditha and Abu Ghraib, U.S. servicemen have succumbed to this fear and hostility and committed terrible acts.”

Contact Frisby at 615-494-8856.
dfrisby@mtsu.edu


TR EXTRA

TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUMMER—TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY--
Pearl Drums is proud to provide drumming equipment for this year’s Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp July 31-Aug. 5 at MTSU. Cindy Phiffer, wife of Pearl Drums president Jim Phiffer, is one of the camp’s latest and strongest supporters. “We have raised two sons (Jonathan Fee, 24, and Josh Phiffer, 20) in Murfreesboro, and we are committed to doing our part to ensure that all area teens and pre-teens have the opportunity to experience the arts,” Phiffer says. “We believe it is vital to our future.” The Southern Girls Rock & Roll camp offers girls ages 10-18 a positive place to develop their musical skills, collaborate with other girls and enhance their self-esteem. Contact Phiffer at 615-893-4117 or cindyphi@comcast.net
For a color jpeg of the Saturday night SGRRC showcase ticket, contact Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu

RUN FOR THE VETERANS--Pay tribute to the MTSU faculty, staff, alumni and students who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces by taking part in the MTSU Veterans Memorial Run/Walk at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 17. There will be individual and team awards for top finishers in all age and gender divisions. Each pre-registered entrant will receive a race T-shirt. Early registration is $15, and online registration will close at 8 p.m. Central time Friday, Sept. 15. All proceeds will go towards construction of an on-campus memorial to military personnel. Media welcomed.
For more information, contact Maj. Chuck Giles at 1-888-682-7682 or cgiles@mtsu.edu

THE GRADS GET TOGETHER—THURSDAY--Join Middle Tennessee State University young alumni (graduates between the ages of 21 and 35) at Chili’s, 755 NW Broad St. in Murfreesboro, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3. It’s a chance to mix and mingle and enjoy happy hour specials and free appetizers. Admission is free. Contact Patience Long, Office of Alumni Relations, at 615-898-8198 or plong@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.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Run for the veterans

Pay tribute to the MTSU faculty, staff, alumni and students who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces by taking part in the MTSU Veterans Memorial Run/Walk at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 17. There will be individual and team awards for top finishers in all age and gender divisions. Each pre-registered entrant will receive a race T-shirt. Early registration is $15, and online registration will close at 8 p.m. Central time Friday, Sept. 15. All proceeds will go towards construction of an on-campus memorial to military personnel. Media welcomed.

For more information, contact Maj. Chuck Giles at 1-888-682-7682.
cgiles@mtsu.edu

To the beat of a different drummer

Pearl Drums is proud to provide drumming equipment for this year’s Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp July 31-Aug. 5 at MTSU. Cindy Phiffer, wife of Pearl Drums president Jim Phiffer, is one of the camp’s latest and strongest supporters. “We have raised two sons (Jonathan Fee, 24, and Josh Phiffer, 20) in Murfreesboro, and we are committed to doing our part to ensure that all area teens and pre-teens have the opportunity to experience the arts,” Phiffer says. “We believe it is vital to our future.” The Southern Girls Rock & Roll camp offers girls ages 10-18 a positive place to develop their musical skills, collaborate with other girls and enhance their self-esteem.

Contact Phiffer at 615-893-4117.
cindyphi@comcast.net
For a color jpeg of the Saturday night SGRRC showcase ticket, contact Gina Logue at 615-898-5081.
gklogue@mtsu.edu

Collateral damage

One of the most unfortunate results of war is civilian casualties, whether inadvertent or intentional. “Some would argue there is no distinction between civilians and combatants in modern warfare,” Derek Frisby, history professor and Desert Storm veteran, says. “Nothing could be further from the truth. It is imperative that U.S. forces distinguish the difference between civilians and combatants and respect the international laws of war regarding non-combatants and the treatment of POWs. Abiding by these rules helps ensure fair treatment of our own forces should they be in a similar situation.”

Contact Frisby at 615-494-8856.
dfrisby@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

A CENTURY OF BEAUTY—THIS WEEKEND--Beautiful bonsai trees will be on display at the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The show is co-sponsored by the Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU. “Unlike ikebana (arranged flowers), bonsai trees have a long life, often more than 100 years, and require not just love but much physical and mental commitment on the part of the grower,” Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, director of MTSU’s Japan-U.S. Program, said. Bonsai Master Warren Hill, former supervisory curator for the U.S. National Bonsai Collection, will conduct a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The tree he sculpts will be auctioned off during the demonstration. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed. To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

DANCING AND DRUMMING—SATURDAY--“The Bohemian Sanctuary: An Evening of Dancing and Drumming” will be presented at 7 p.m. at MTSU’s Wright Music Hall to benefit Rutherford County’s Rape Recovery and Prevention Center (RRAPC). Belly dancers from the Murfreesboro area will display their talents, and the Rhythmystik Tribal Percussion Duo will provide musical entertainment. The duo, which has released two CDs, is well known in the Nashville area. The RRAPC is a local nonprofit agency dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault and their families with the trauma and emotional battle resulting from sexual violence. The number for the 24-hour crisis line is 615-494-9262 (This number is for sexual violence crises only—not for information about the event.). For information about the “Bohemian Sanctuary” event, contact Justine Viola at 615-494-9881.

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.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Patient info at MTMC

Purdue University will study a new hospital-wide information tracking system being implemented by Middle Tennessee Medical Center (MTMC) to determine how hospital processes are improved by the plasma screen technology. “At a glance, caregivers can view capacity information and monitor patient activity rather than studying pages of text,” says Angie Boyd-Chambers, spokeswoman for MTMC. “These boards will display the exact location of anyone or anything wearing an active RFID (radio frequency identification tag) with a simple Web-based search.” The so-called “WIN” program is being funded by Ascension Health only at MTMC.

Contact Boyd-Chambers at 615-396-4110.
angie.boydchambers@mtmc.org

Rock and reap the rewards

In addition to a rock concert you’ll never forget, the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC) showcase at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at Tucker Theatre will give you a chance to go home with your arms full of prizes. These include two tickets to the Moonlight Drive-In Theater and concessions, two tickets to the Arts Center of Cannon County Playhouse, a gift certificate from Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, two Theory 8 Records gift bags full of CDs, “The Bluebird Café” book from The Bluebird Café, and a taste treat from Cookie Bouquet. All proceeds will benefit SGRRC, which is slated from July 31-Aug. 5 at MTSU. The annual summer day camp offers girls ages 10-18 a positive place to develop their musical skills, collaborate with other girls and enhance their self-esteem.

Contact SGRRC founding mothers Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald and Courtney Wood Sharpe at the camp office at 615-849-8140 or sgrrc05@gmail.com.

Public presentations

Twenty-one MTSU Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program scholars will make poster and PowerPoint presentations of their research July 31 and Aug. 1. The McNair symposium will be held in the Tom H. Jackson Building and will feature “very professional” presentations, Steve Saunders, coordinator, McNair Scholars program, said. Each scholar has a mentor who guides the student in the methods of research. The students receive $2,600 each for their eight weeks of research while the mentors receive $500 each. The program is designed to serve first-generation and low-income students as well as students from groups underrepresented in doctoral level studies.

For information about the symposium or program, call 615-904-8462.

TR EXTRA

A CENTURY OF BEAUTY—THIS WEEKEND--Beautiful bonsai trees will be on display at the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The show is co-sponsored by the Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU. “Unlike ikebana (arranged flowers), bonsai trees have a long life, often more than 100 years, and require not just love but much physical and mental commitment on the part of the grower,” Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, director of MTSU’s Japan-U.S. Program, said. Bonsai Master Warren Hill, former supervisory curator for the U.S. National Bonsai Collection, will conduct a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The tree he sculpts will be auctioned off during the demonstration. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed. To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

DANCING AND DRUMMING—SATURDAY--“The Bohemian Sanctuary: An Evening of Dancing and Drumming” will be presented at 7 p.m. at MTSU’s Wright Music Hall to benefit Rutherford County’s Rape Recovery and Prevention Center (RRAPC). Belly dancers from the Murfreesboro area will display their talents, and the Rhythmystik Tribal Percussion Duo will provide musical entertainment. The duo, which has released two CDs, is well known in the Nashville area. The RRAPC is a local nonprofit agency dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault and their families with the trauma and emotional battle resulting from sexual violence. The number for the 24-hour crisis line is 615-494-9262 (This number is for sexual violence crises only—not for information about the event.). For information about the “Bohemian Sanctuary” event, contact Justine Viola at 615-494-9881.

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.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“WIN” at the hospital

Middle Tennessee Medical Center has launched a new state-of-the-art information tracking system known as “WIN.” The goals are to improve productivity and communication for healthcare teams. MTMC spokeswoman Angie Boyd-Chambers says, “Plasma screens, or patient care information boards, installed throughout the hospital will provide real-time data through the use of colors and symbols. The transport of patients, bed management, arrival and release of STAT machines and other tasks will be streamlined through this program.” Data for patient activity and the location of equipment will be accessible more readily in real time. MTMC is the only hospital being funded by parent company Ascension Health for this project.

Contact Angie Boyd-Chambers at 615-396-4110.
angie.boydchambers@mtmc.org

Fabulous prizes in our showcase showdown! (With apologies to Bob Barker)

If you’re inspired by the girls who will perform at the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC) showcase at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at Tucker Theatre, stick around for a chance to win some terrific raffle items. These include a Daisy Rock Pink Metro Rock Candy Special Guitar; a Dillard’s gift basket with designer perfumes, lotions and a purse; a Grand Palace silkscreen gift bag of show prints; two tickets to the Country Music Hall of Fame; and a cut-and-style gift certificate from Bangz Family Salon. All proceeds will benefit SGRRC, which is slated from July 31-Aug. 5 at MTSU. The annual summer day camp offers girls ages 10-18 a positive place to develop their musical skills, collaborate with other girls and enhance their self-esteem.

Contact SGRRC founding mothers Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald and Courtney Wood Sharpe at the camp office at 615-849-8140 or sgrrc05@gmail.com.

Dancing and drumming

“The Bohemian Sanctuary: An Evening of Dancing and Drumming” will be presented at 7 p.m. this Saturday, July 29, at MTSU’s Wright Music Hall to benefit Rutherford County’s Rape Recovery and Prevention Center (RRAPC). Belly dancers from the Murfreesboro area will display their talents, and the Rhythmystik Tribal Percussion Duo will provide musical entertainment. The duo, which has released two CDs, is well known in the Nashville area. The RRAPC is a local nonprofit agency dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault and their families with the trauma nad emotional battle resulting from sexual violence. The number for the 24-hour crisis line is 615-494-9262 (This number is for sexual violence crises only—not for information about the event.).

For information about the “Bohemian Sanctuary” event, contact Justine Viola at 615-494-9881.

TR EXTRA

A CENTURY OF BEAUTY—THIS WEEKEND--Beautiful bonsai trees will be on display at the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The show is co-sponsored by the Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU. “Unlike ikebana (arranged flowers), bonsai trees have a long life, often more than 100 years, and require not just love but much physical and mental commitment on the part of the grower,” Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, director of MTSU’s Japan-U.S. Program, said. Bonsai Master Warren Hill, former supervisory curator for the U.S. National Bonsai Collection, will conduct a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The tree he sculpts will be auctioned off during the demonstration. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed. To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

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.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

In the midst of the latest intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, one is prone to forget that the Israeli-Lebanese border was once one of the most peaceful in the Middle East. Dr. Sean Foley, who will start teaching history at MTSU this fall, says, “Between the years 1949 and 1967, the Israeli-Lebanese border experienced far less violence than did Israel’s border with Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Of the armistice agreements Israel reached with its four neighbors in 1949, the only agreement fully operative when the 1967 Arab-Israeli war broke out was with Lebanon. The border was so secure that Isareli foreign minister Golda Meir reported to President John Kennedy in 1963 that ‘cows occasionally wander over the border from Lebanon and are sent back. Girls in the Israeli Army may get lost and wander across the Lebanese border, but they are very politely returned.’”

Contact Foley at sfoley@mtsu.edu

Goodies galore!

Those who attend the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC) showcase at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at Wright Music Hall will get more than fabulous music performed by up-and-coming young women. The items to be raffled off include a Fender Stratocaster, a one-night stay and dinner for two from Loew’s Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, plants from Rogers Nursery, two gift certificates from Demo’s Steak and Spaghetti House and a gift bag from Bumpus Harley-Davidson. All proceeds will benefit SGRRC, which is slated from July 31-Aug. 5 at MTSU. The annual summer day camp offers girls ages 10-18 a positive place to develop their musical skills, collaborate with other girls and enhance their self-esteem.

Contact SGRRC founding mothers Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald and Courtney Wood Sharpe at the camp office at 615-849-8140 or sgrrc05@gmail.com.

Drinking and dating

The link between alcohol consumption and sexual assault is very disturbing. Chief Carl “Buddy” Peaster, director of the MTSU Department of Public Safety, says one survey suggests that the average age of alcohol intake in the U.S. is 13 years of age, with an average age for first consensual sexual intimacy of 14 years of age. “Sexual assaults can vary greatly in shape, form and fashion, but there are some common traits many times,” Peaster says. “Most sexual assaults for people between the ages of 17 and 24 involve the use of alcohol—usually excessively by at least one or both of the parties—as well as drug use and familiarity, meaning that the victim actually knows the offender.”

Contact Peaster at 615-898-2929.
cpeaster@mtsu.edu


TR EXTRA

A CENTURY OF BEAUTY--Beautiful bonsai trees will be on display at the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The show is co-sponsored by the Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU. “Unlike ikebana (arranged flowers), bonsai trees have a long life, often more than 100 years, and require not just love but much physical and mental commitment on the part of the grower,” Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, director of MTSU’s Japan-U.S. Program, said. Bonsai Master Warren Hill, former supervisory curator for the U.S. National Bonsai Collection, will conduct a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The tree he sculpts will be auctioned off during the demonstration. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed. To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

RAISING MONEY FOR ROCK ‘N’ ROLL—SATURDAY--The Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC) will sponsor a fundraising night of music at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 22, Cutthroat Junction, Juan Prophet Organization, and SGRRC founding mother Anna Fitzgerald will perform at The Boro, 1211 Greenland Dr. in Murfreesboro. Admission is $5. Persons aged 18 and over only. All proceeds will go directly to the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp, slated for Friday, July 31 to Saturday, Aug. 5 at MTSU. For more information, contact SGRRC at 615-849-8140 or sgrrc05@gmail.com.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 July 24-25. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts and Business and undeclared majors will be held TODAY. 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.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The chemistry of “snapdragon”

There’s an old English Christmas tradition known as “snapdragon” that puts most contemporary“drinking games” to shame. It involves pouring warm brandy in a warmed dish, sprinkling raisins into the dish and light it all up with a match. Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says, “Tongues of flame will dance excitedly, and the object of the game is to stick your fingers in, pick up raisins and pop them in your mouth. First-time players will usually be reluctant to stick their fingers into the flaming dish (which is imagined to be the snapping mouth of a dragon). Chemistry majors, who have learned about the thermochemistry of oxygenated hydrocarbons, are ringers. To further mitigate the limited heat transferred to their fingers by evaporation of water, they might lick their fingers first.”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

Belly, belly good

MTSU’s Wright Music Hall will be the venue for “The Bohemian Sanctuary: An Evening of Dancing and Drumming at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 29. All proceeds will benefit the Rutherford County Rape Recovery and Prevention Center. The RhythMystik Tribal Percussion Duo will lead off the evening’s entertainment. They describe their music as “organic compositions combining elements of Latin and African drumming with jazz, rock and hip-hop to create aggressive entrancing rhythms.” Following the RhythMystiks will be several belly dancers from the Nashville and Murfreesboro areas with educational commentary by Shawna Deslatte. Tickets are available in advance through the RRAPC office. Admission is $10. Media welcomed.

Contact Justine Biola at the RRAPC at 615-494-9881.

Identity theft

As fond as college students are of the Internet, it could be an invitation to identity theft. Chief Carl “Buddy” Peaster, director of MTSU’s Department of Public Safety, says, “Keep your sensitive information confidential. Lots of people enjoy writing about themselves online, and plenty of people keep a profile online.” But “it is also vital that people shred letters, offers and other papers and mail that have these personal identifiers on them.” Peaster also advises students to keep their Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords and dates of birth off Internet sites.

Contact Peaster at 615-898-2929.
cpeaster@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

RAISING MONEY FOR ROCK ‘N’ ROLL—TONIGHT--The Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC) will sponsor two fundraising nights of music this week. At 9 p.m. TONIGHT at The 5 Spot, 1006 Forrest Ave. in Nashville, Happy Birthday Amy, A Poet Named Revolver, and Cantasy Famp will perform in a benefit. Admission is $5. at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 22, Cutthroat Junction, Juan Prophet Organization, and SGRRC founding mother Anna Fitzgerald will perform at The Boro, 1211 Greenland Dr. in Murfreesboro. Admission is $5. Persons aged 18 and over only. All proceeds from both will go directly to the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp, slated for Friday, July 31 to Saturday, Aug. 5 at MTSU. For more information, contact SGRRC at 615-849-8140 or sgrrc05@gmail.com.

A CENTURY OF BEAUTY--Beautiful bonsai trees will be on display at the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The show is co-sponsored by the Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU. “Unlike ikebana (arranged flowers), bonsai trees have a long life, often more than 100 years, and require not just love but much physical and mental commitment on the part of the grower,” Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, director of MTSU’s Japan-U.S. Program, said. Bonsai Master Warren Hill, former supervisory curator for the U.S. National Bonsai Collection, will conduct a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The tree he sculpts will be auctioned off during the demonstration. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed. To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

COACHES’ CORNER--MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend a Blue Raider Blast from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. TODAY at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free. Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com/.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 July 24-25. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts and Business and undeclared majors will be held TODAY AND TOMORROW. 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.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Exodus from hell

More than 1,000 Americans evacuated Lebanon aboard a cruise ship bound for Cyprus today. Meanwhile, Israel claims to have destroyed about 50 percent of Hezbollah’s arsenal as Israeli ground troops clash with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. In a July 17 article in the Terre Haute (Indiana) Tribune-Star, Dr. Sean Foley says Hezbollah has maintained its popularity with the Lebanese people by providing them with education and medical care that the weak government can not furnish. Foley, who will begin teaching history at MTSU this fall, calls condition in Gaza “grim, very grim,” and says the fighting has been among the worst battles between Israelis and Lebanese in 20 years.

Contact Foley at sfoley@mtsu.edu

Raising money for rock ‘n’ roll

The Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC) will sponsor two fundraising nights of music this week. At 9 p.m. TOMORROW NIGHT at The 5 Spot, 1006 Forrest Ave. in Nashville, Happy Birthday Amy, A Poet Named Revolver, and Cantasy Famp will perform in a benefit. Admission is $5. at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 22, Cutthroat Junction, Juan Prophet Organization, and SGRRC founding mother Anna Fitzgerald will perform at The Boro, 1211 Greenland Dr. in Murfreesboro. Admission is $5. Persons aged 18 and over only. All proceeds from both will go directly to the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp, slated for Friday, July 31 to Saturday, Aug. 5 at MTSU.

For more information, contact SGRRC at 615-849-8140 or sgrrc05@gmail.com.

For safety’s sake

All a criminal needs to be successful on a college campus is a window of opportunity. So says Carl “Buddy” Peaster, director of the Department of Public Safety. “While people spend a lot of time being concerned over violent attacks, the truth is that most campus crime is about opportunistic thefts than it is about violent crimes,” Peaster says. “So the first thing to do when you arrive in your dormitory or apartment is to lock up everything.” Peaster says common sense precautions can reduce significantly a student’s chances of becoming a crime victim. According to a brochure from Security On Campus Inc., college students as a group are highly likely to fall victim to muggings, burglaries and vehicle-related thefts.

Contact Peaster at 615-898-2929.
cpeaster@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

A CENTURY OF BEAUTY--Beautiful bonsai trees will be on display at the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The show is co-sponsored by the Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU. “Unlike ikebana (arranged flowers), bonsai trees have a long life, often more than 100 years, and require not just love but much physical and mental commitment on the part of the grower,” Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, director of MTSU’s Japan-U.S. Program, said. Bonsai Master Warren Hill, former supervisory curator for the U.S. National Bonsai Collection, will conduct a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The tree he sculpts will be auctioned off during the demonstration. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed. To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

COACHES’ CORNER--MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend a Blue Raider Blast from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. TOMORROW at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free. Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com/.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 July 24-25. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts and Business and undeclared majors will be held 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.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Middle East madness

As much of a surprise as the latest Middle East crisis has been to much of the world, at least one professor says there were signs that it was coming. For a July 17 article in the Terre Haute (Indiana) Tribune-Star, Dr. Sean Foley, who will teach Middle Eastern history at MTSU this fall, says Hezbollah “hinted fairly strongly that it was planning to do something like this, and, in fact, Israeli media has come down rather hard on the government for not being better prepared.” Foley says that Israeli strategy is targeted at sending a message of force and also dealing with Hezbollah. He recommends getting a third party to negotiate a cease fire.

Contact Foley at sfoley@mtsu.edu

Pardon the interruption

Technology has advanced to the point that we have become one with our expensive toys, leaving good manners behind—so much so that the mayor of Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) is considering banning Blackberry units from civic meetings. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says, “So many people have had their concerts, dinners and church services interrupted by buzzing, ringing and chirping communication devices there appears to be a backlash, and many companies have found they need to actually offer classes in “soft” skills: proper etiquette, particularly when dealing in the international arena. … Like any other technology, the Blackberry is neither good nor bad. It is just a box of plastic and circuits. It is how people use the device that really matters.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2963.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

A century of beauty

Beautiful bonsai trees will be on display at the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The show is co-sponsored by the Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU. “Unlike ikebana (arranged flowers), bonsai trees have a long life, often more than 100 years, and require not just love but much physical and mental commitment on the part of the grower,” Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, director of MTSU’s Japan-U.S. Program, said. Bonsai Master Warren Hill, former supervisory curator for the U.S. National Bonsai Collection, will conduct a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The tree he sculpts will be auctioned off during the demonstration. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed.

To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

TR EXTRA

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

COACHES’ CORNER--MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend a Blue Raider Blast from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20 at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free. Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com/.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 July 24-25. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts and Business and undeclared majors will be held 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.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Terrorist tactics

In response to the latest escalation of violence in the Middle East, many members of the international community have pointed fingers at Israel for what they call a “disproportionate” response to the kidnapping of its soldiers. Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, left Israel, where she attended a conference on terrorism, on June 7. She says the terrorists had to turn attention back to Israel due to the division of Palestine into political factions following the election of Hamas. “The leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran know that Israel will respond harshly to the tactics and that the international community (for the most part) will lash out at Israel,” Petersen says. “It is really a win-win for the terror organizations and a loss for the Palestininans and Israelis.” (Petersen will be the guest on “MTSU On the Record” on WMOT-FM (89.5) this Sunday at 7 a.m. and on the Internet at http://www.wmot.org/.)

Contact Petersen at 615-898-2708.
kpeterse@mtsu.edu

Blackberry whine

The mayor of Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) is on the verge of banning Blackberry units from civic meetings. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says electronic devices such as the Blackberry have made our lives easier, but they also have raised many cultural issues. “Which is more important—the person you are talking to or an incoming e-mail?” Burriss asks. “Interrupting a conversation to check on e-mail says to the person you were talking with, ‘You are not as important as this e-mail.’” Burriss says companies came to rely more and more on “hard” skills such as engineering, programming and technology during the last part of the 20th century. “Here the rules are clear-cut: something either works or it doesn’t,” Burriss says. “You didn’t need to be polite; you only had to be successful.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2963.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

Trees that please

The Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU will co-sponsor the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. “We hope to have well over 50 trees displayed in the show,” Barbara Walton, president of the Nashville Bonsai Society, said. “Bonsai is ‘living art’ and can be enjoyed by any age group.” Bonsai Master Warren Hill, former supervisory curator for the U.S. National Bonsai Collection, will conduct a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The tree he sculpts will be auctioned off during the demonstration. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed.

To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

TR EXTRA

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

COACHES’ CORNER--MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend two Blue Raider Blasts from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. TOMORROW on the courthouse square in Woodbury and Thursday, July 20 at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free. Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com/.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 July 24-25. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts and Business and undeclared majors will be held 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.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The latest Middle East mayhem

From the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers to the bombings of the Beirut airport and the city of Haifa, the Middle East seems to be exploding in a way it hasn’t in years. Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, left Israel, where she attended a conference on terrorism, on June 7. She says it was clear then that the situation would worsen. “Kassam rockets were already falling in the north and south of Israel (from Golan and Gaza),” Petersen notes. “The escalating violence on the part of the Palestinian terrorists and Hezbollah is a result of the political fracturing of Palestine with the election of Hamas. If the Arab terror organizations had failed to scale the violence and turn attention back to Israel, ‘Palestine’ would have degenerated into civil war.”

Contact Petersen at 615-898-2708.
kpeterse@mtsu.edu

Blocking the blogs

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher is blocking state computer access to certain blogs, some of which are critical of his policies. Is he restricting state employees’ right to freedom of speech? Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says, “A legitimate argument could be made that state workers should not be spending state time scrolling through Web sites that are unrelated to their official duties. But now we have to factor in employee morale. … His actions look petty … will probably not improve worker productivity and will certainly damage employee morale. The governor should unblock the blogs and treat state employees like adults who can be trusted to do their jobs.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2963.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

Bonsai!

Lovers of Japanese greenery from several states will compete in the Middle Tennessee Regional Bonsai Show Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The show is co-sponsored by the Nashville Bonsai Society and the Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU. Bonsai is the centuries-old Asian art of caring for trees and plants through meticulous pruning of roots and stems and restriction of roots. Some specimens, under the unwavering attention of their owners, have survived for hundreds of years. Plants will be on display to the general public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. A selection of bonsai forest and pre-bonsai stock will be available for purchase both days along with Sara Rayner, Tokoname and Houtoku pots, bonsai tools, akadama, lava rock, soil, wire, other bonsai supplies and accent plants. Admission both days is free. Media welcomed.

To register for the show or for more information, contact Barbara Walton at 615-337-4728 or 615-449-6693 or cuchem@charter.net.

TR EXTRA

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

COACHES’ CORNER--MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend two Blue Raider Blasts from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 on the courthouse square in Woodbury and Thursday, July 20 at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free. Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com/.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 July 24-25. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts and Business and undeclared majors will be held 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.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Battling with the bloggers

Bloggers complain that Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher is violating their rights by blocking state employees’ Web access to certain blogs that have been critical of Fletcher’s administration. Fletcher says he’s just trying to cut down on on-the-job dawdling. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says this situation raises some interesting issues. “On the free speech front, the general rule is that government can not ban speech based on content or viewpoint,” Burriss says. “In terms of employer rights, an employer could probably block access to all Web sites except those directly related to company business. … Thus, Governor Fletcher could probably block access to all blogs, but not to one blog or another based on content.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2963.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

All together now

Each year, nontraditional students award honors to the important people in their lives who make it possible for them to balance family, child-rearing and a college education. This year’s winner of the Best Husband award from the Older Wiser Learners (OWLs) student organization is Richard Denney of Murfreesboro. Richard and his wife, Monique, have five children ranging in age from 10 to one. Monique is an elementary education major, and Richard is also a full-time student, majoring in business administration. Monique studies from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The older children, 10-year-old Davien and nine-year-old Avionne, play with the babies and help with the cooking and household chores. In fact, they received a certificate as nominees for Best Children.

For more information about how nontraditional students juggle college, work and family responsibilities, contact Dr. Carol Ann Baily, director, Adult Services Center, at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

Energy boost

MTSU is one of more than 200 schools around the country that are buying renewable energy. The Tennessee Board of Regents recently approved student-led energy sustainability initiatives to be funded with money from an $8 per student per semester tuition fee. Students for Environmental Action says MTSU will offset 10 percent of its total energy consumption with renewable energy when the initiatives take effect. This will make MTSU the largest user of renewable energy in the state and in the entire Tennessee Valley Authority region. “Our generation is taking responsibility for our energy resources and participating in democracy by voting in record numbers to raise their own tuition in thename of sustainable energy,” says Charlee Tidrick, MTSU alumna and member of Tennessee Alumni & Students for Sustainable Campuses.

Contact Brandon Armstrong of MTSU Students for Environmental Action at 615-498-5922 or bma2c@mtsu.edu.


TR EXTRA

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

GROWING YOUNG MINDS--More than 300 people are expected to attend this year’s “Growing Young Minds,” a dinner/live/music/silent auction fundraiser to benefit Project HELP, TONIGHT in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Registration is at 6:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Live music by the Boomers will follow at 7:30 p.m. The silent auction bidding will close at 8:15 p.m. Founded in 1983, Project HELP provides early intervention and family support services to high-risk children, children with disabilities and children with developmental delays.Contact Project HELP at 615-898-2458 or at http://www.mtsu.edu/~projhelp.

TEACHING ANDREW JACKSON--MTSU and The Hermitage are collaborating in a “Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop” funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. “The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson, and “America 1801-1861” will be offered through TOMORROW at The Hermitage. These workshops will enable K-12 educators to intensify their study and increase their knowledge of important historical topics through direct on-site experiences. Topics to be explored include “Growing Democracy,” “Cotton Economy and Slavery,” “Indians and Westward Expansion,” “Reform and Religion,” “Women’s Lives in a Changing America,” and “Developing a Distinct American Material Culture.” Contact Dr. Janice Leone, history, at 615-898-5580 or jmleone@mtsu.edu.

SHOW US YOUR STUFF!--The students who have attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts at MTSU this summer will showcase their talents at the Finale Festival TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT. Tonight’s event will include performances in opera and theatre. Tomorrow night’s event will feature dance and music. Performances on both evenings will begin at 7 p.m. and will be presented in Tucker Theatre. Tickets are $20, a price which includes admission to both nights of entertainment. A fundraising reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. and will include an hors d’oeuvres buffet in the Todd Gallery lobby prior to tomorrow night’s performance. The cost to attend the reception is $100 per person, which includes tickets to the performances. Contact Brenda Batey at 615-352-5184 or b.batey@comcast.net.

COACHES’ CORNER--MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend two Blue Raider Blasts from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 on the courthouse square in Woodbury and Thursday, July 20 at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free. Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 July 24-25. Students pursuing majors in the colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts and Business and undeclared majors will be held 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.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

How we play the game

One of the unpleasant realities of the post-9/11 world is that, sooner or later, terrorists are likely to strike at an American sporting event where thousands of fans are assembled. That’s why professional security measures at sporting venues are more important than ever. In an article in the May 2006 edition of “Athletic Business” magazine, Dr. Colby Jubenville, health and human performance, says, “I don’t think it’s a matter of if; I think it’s a matter of when. I think that’s where we are. And it will forever change the face of college athletics, professional athletics, athletics in general, when that day comes.”

Contact Jubenville at 615-898-2909.
jubenvil@mtsu.edu

Above and beyond the call of matrimony

The nontraditional students who attend MTSU must balance a number of balls in the air if they expect to complete their college educations and keep their home lives stable. Many belong to the group Older Wiser Learners (OWLs), which provides support and rewards family members who make their hectic lives easier. Robert Fischer of La Vergne was a nominee for Best OWLs Husband this year. At one point, however, it remained to be seen whether Robert would be around to appreciate the acknowledgement. He suffered a heart attack April 28, the last Thursday of classes before his wife Robin’s final exams. “He’s doing much better,” Robin says. “One of the first things he said was, ‘You’re going to finish school.’” After hearing that, Robin dismissed from her mind any notion of skipping summer school.

For more information about how nontraditional students juggle college, work and family responsibilities, contact Dr. Carol Ann Baily, director, Adult Services Center, at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

Chlorine-busters!

Let’s not jump the gun when it comes to phasing out the use of chlorine, as some environmentalists want to do, says Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry. “The environmental risks and benefits of chlorine chemistry are very complex and far-reaching with a never-ending supply of news that both concerns and surprises,” he says. But research into alternatives is proving interesting. For example, “Terry Collins, a chemistry professor at Carnegie-Mellon University, is developing chlorine-free “green oxidation chemistry” that eliminates many of the environmental problems that are associated with traditional methods of ‘bleaching’ wood pulp. Even if this chemistry only finds limited use, at least the students that have had a hand in developing it will have learned the invaluable technical and intellectual skills of actually solving environmental problems.”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

GROWING YOUNG MINDS--More than 300 people are expected to attend this year’s “Growing Young Minds,” a dinner/live/music/silent auction fundraiser to benefit Project HELP, July 13 in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Registration is at 6:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Live music by the Boomers will follow at 7:30 p.m. The silent auction bidding will close at 8:15 p.m. Founded in 1983, Project HELP provides early intervention and family support services to high-risk children, children with disabilities and children with developmental delays.Contact Project HELP at 615-898-2458 or at http://www.mtsu.edu/~projhelp.

TEACHING ANDREW JACKSON--MTSU and The Hermitage are collaborating in a “Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop” funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. “The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson, and “America 1801-1861” will be offered through July 14 at The Hermitage. These workshops will enable K-12 educators to intensify their study and increase their knowledge of important historical topics through direct on-site experiences. Topics to be explored include “Growing Democracy,” “Cotton Economy and Slavery,” “Indians and Westward Expansion,” “Reform and Religion,” “Women’s Lives in a Changing America,” and “Developing a Distinct American Material Culture.” Contact Dr. Janice Leone, history, at 615-898-5580 or jmleone@mtsu.edu.

SHOW US YOUR STUFF!--The students who have attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts at MTSU this summer will showcase their talents at the Finale Festival Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14. The July 13 event will include performances in opera and theatre. The July 14 event will feature dance and music. Performances on both evenings will begin at 7 p.m. and will be presented in Tucker Theatre. Tickets are $20, a price which includes admission to both nights of entertainment. A fundraising reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. and will include an hors d’oeuvres buffet in the Todd Gallery lobby prior to the July 14 performance. The cost to attend the reception is $100 per person, which includes tickets to the performances. Contact Brenda Batey at 615-352-5184 or b.batey@comcast.net.

COACHES’ CORNER--MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend two Blue Raider Blasts from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 on the courthouse square in Woodbury and Thursday, July 20 at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free. Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 TODAY 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 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.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Don’t throw the bomb!

The job description for managers of sports facilities in the post-9/11 era goes far beyond putting fannies in the seats. The evidence includes last October’s Kansas State-Oklahoma football game in Norman, where a junior mechanical engineering major killed himself with a three-pound bomb within 200 yards of the stadium. In an article in the May 2006 edition of “Atlantic Business” magazine, Dr. Colby Jubenville, health and human performance, says, “We’ve moved from a service economy to an experience ecoomy, and sports is the epitome of that experience economy. The challenge for facility managers who handle security and risk management is balancing the experience with providing a safe and secure environment.”

Contact Jubenville at 615-898-2909.
jubenvil@mtsu.edu

My mom’s doing her homework.

Most parents have difficulty getting their 15-year-old son to clean up his room. Caleb Proctor volunteers to cook dinner for his mother, MTSU student Terri Proctor. “Not only does he cook, but he cleans the kitchen as well!” Proctor exclaims. “While I have been working on research papers and trying to meet deadlines, he has washed the laundry and vacuumed. What’s really amazing is that he has ‘listened’ to my research papers many times over without falling asleep! Actually, he has made some good revisions at times.” Caleb is the winner of the 2006 Best Son Award from Older Wiser Learners (OWLs), the official organization for adult and reentry studnts at MTSU.

For more information about how nontraditional students juggle college, work and family responsibilities, contact Dr. Carol Ann Baily, director, Adult Services Center, at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

The chlorine scene

Even with millions of people seeking relief from the summer heat in chlorinated pools, the environmental group Greenpeace calls for “a comprehensive phase-out of chrlorine and chlorine-based chemicals.” Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says more research is needed. “Without question, there are environmental problems associated with irresponsible industrial use and disposal of chlorinated compounds such as PCBs, where “C” is for chlorinated. On the other hand, there have also been public health tragedies when chlorine was not used, such as the lethal outbreak of E. coli poisoning in the water supply of Walkerton, Ontario, in May 2000. And, most importantly, for those who are fortunate enough to have it, drinking water that has been sanitized with chlorine or chlorinated products has been the single biggest advance in world health.”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

GROWING YOUNG MINDS--More than 300 people are expected to attend this year’s “Growing Young Minds,” a dinner/live/music/silent auction fundraiser to benefit Project HELP, July 13 in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Registration is at 6:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Live music by the Boomers will follow at 7:30 p.m. The silent auction bidding will close at 8:15 p.m. Founded in 1983, Project HELP provides early intervention and family support services to high-risk children, children with disabilities and children with developmental delays.Contact Project HELP at 615-898-2458 or at http://www.mtsu.edu/~projhelp.

TEACHING ANDREW JACKSON--MTSU and The Hermitage are collaborating in a “Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop” funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. “The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson, and “America 1801-1861” will be offered through July 14 at The Hermitage. These workshops will enable K-12 educators to intensify their study and increase their knowledge of important historical topics through direct on-site experiences. Topics to be explored include “Growing Democracy,” “Cotton Economy and Slavery,” “Indians and Westward Expansion,” “Reform and Religion,” “Women’s Lives in a Changing America,” and “Developing a Distinct American Material Culture.” Contact Dr. Janice Leone, history, at 615-898-5580 or jmleone@mtsu.edu.

SHOW US YOUR STUFF!--The students who have attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts at MTSU this summer will showcase their talents at the Finale Festival Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14. The July 13 event will include performances in opera and theatre. The July 14 event will feature dance and music. Performances on both evenings will begin at 7 p.m. and will be presented in Tucker Theatre. Tickets are $20, a price which includes admission to both nights of entertainment. A fundraising reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. and will include an hors d’oeuvres buffet in the Todd Gallery lobby prior to the July 14 performance. The cost to attend the reception is $100 per person, which includes tickets to the performances. Contact Brenda Batey at 615-352-5184 or b.batey@comcast.net.

COACHES’ CORNER--MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend two Blue Raider Blasts from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 on the courthouse square in Woodbury and Thursday, July 20 at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free. Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 TODAY and TOMORROW 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 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.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Coaches’ corner

MTSU alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend two Blue Raider Blasts from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 on the courthouse square in Woodbury and Thursday, July 20 at the Celebration Pavilion off Celebration Way in Shelbyville. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head doaches Rick Stockstill (football), Rick Insell (women’s basketball) and Steve Peterson (baseball) will be on hand to meet fans and share exciting news about the upcoming season. There will be inflatables, face painting and music for families to enjoy. Whitt’s Barbecue will provide dinners for $5 per plate. Admission is free.

Contact the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or at http://www.mtalumni.com.

“…yearning to breathe free”

The Independent Institute, an Oakland-based nonprofit think tank, has released its Open Letter on Immigration to President Bush and members of Congress. One of the more than 500 signatories is MTSU’s own Dr. Bill Ford, holder of the Weatherford Chair of Finance. The letter reads, in part, “The effect of all immigration on low-skilled workers is very likely positive as many immigrants bring skills, capital and entrepreneurship to the American economy. Legitimate concerns about the impact of immigration on the poorest Americans should not be addressed by penalizing even poorer immigrants. Instead, we should promote policies, such as improving our education system, that enable Americans to be more productive with high-wage skills.” (Read the entire letter at http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1727.)

Contact Ford for his thoughts on the impact of immigration on the economy at 615-898-2889.
wfford@mtsu.edu

Picture this

Last month, two news stories related to national security broke in the same week. A potential terrorist cell was broken up in Florida, and the federal government was tracking Americans’ bank accounts in an effort to sniff out terrorists’ sources of funding. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says there is room to debate which story was more important. “Some people have said the terrorist story is more important because it shows just what kind of danger the country is in,” Burriss says. “Other people say the financial story is more important because it shows a pattern of disregard for civil liberties and privacy.” What is clear is the difference between print and broadcast treatments of the stories. Because it’s difficult to show interesting pictures of bank accounts and easier to show “perp walks” and mug shots and interview members of the suspects’ families, television gave more weight to the terrorist cell story. The moral of the story, according to Burriss, is “ … a story that requires more thought and depth is more likely to be in the newspaper.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2893.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

GROWING YOUNG MINDS--More than 300 people are expected to attend this year’s “Growing Young Minds,” a dinner/live/music/silent auction fundraiser to benefit Project HELP, July 13 in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Registration is at 6:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Live music by the Boomers will follow at 7:30 p.m. The silent auction bidding will close at 8:15 p.m. Founded in 1983, Project HELP provides early intervention and family support services to high-risk children, children with disabilities and children with developmental delays.Contact Project HELP at 615-898-2458 or at http://www.mtsu.edu/~projhelp.

TEACHING ANDREW JACKSON--MTSU and The Hermitage are collaborating in a “Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop” funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. “The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson, and “America 1801-1861” will be offered TODAY through July 14 at The Hermitage. These workshops will enable K-12 educators to intensify their study and increase their knowledge of important historical topics through direct on-site experiences. Topics to be explored include “Growing Democracy,” “Cotton Economy and Slavery,” “Indians and Westward Expansion,” “Reform and Religion,” “Women’s Lives in a Changing America,” and “Developing a Distinct American Material Culture.” Contact Dr. Janice Leone, history, at 615-898-5580 or jmleone@mtsu.edu.

SHOW US YOUR STUFF!--The students who have attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts at MTSU this summer will showcase their talents at the Finale Festival Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14. The July 13 event will include performances in opera and theatre. The July 14 event will feature dance and music. Performances on both evenings will begin at 7 p.m. and will be presented in Tucker Theatre. Tickets are $20, a price which includes admission to both nights of entertainment. A fundraising reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. and will include an hors d’oeuvres buffet in the Todd Gallery lobby prior to the July 14 performance. The cost to attend the reception is $100 per person, which includes tickets to the performances. Contact Brenda Batey at 615-352-5184 or b.batey@comcast.net.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 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 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.

Thursday, July 6, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

NOTE: TR will take the day off tomorrow, Friday, July 7. TR will resume Monday, July 10.

Show us your stuff!

The students who have attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts at MTSU this summer will showcase their talents at the Finale Festival Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14. The July 13 event will include performances in opera and theatre. The July 14 event will feature dance and music. Performances on both evenings will begin at 7 p.m. and will be presented in Tucker Theatre. Tickets are $20, a price which includes admission to both nights of entertainment. A fundraising reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. and will include an hors d’oeuvres buffet in the Todd Gallery lobby prior to the July 14 performance. The cost to attend the reception is $100 per person, which includes tickets to the performances.

Contact Brenda Batey at 615-352-5184 or b.batey@comcast.net

Immigration and the economy

More than 500 economists and other scholars have signed an open letter to President Bush and all members of Congress stating their position on the immigration issue. One of the signatories is Dr. Bill Ford, holder of the Weatherford Chair of Finance at MTSU. The letter reads, in part, “Immigrants do not take American jobs. The American economy can create as many jobs as there are workers willing to work so long as labor markets remain free, flexible and open to all workers on an equal basis. In recent decades, immigration of low-skilled workers may have lowered the wages of domestic low-skilled workers, but the effect is likely to have been small, with estimates of wage reductions for high-school dropouts ranging from eight percent to as little as zero percent.” (Read the entire letter at http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1727.)

Contact Ford at 615-898-2889.
wfford@mtsu.edu

Taking stock

Now that our nation is 230 years old, how far have its communications media come? The Declaration of Independence was announced from a balcony on July 4, 1776. “Now, CNN would bring us the event live, CBS would have instant analysis, and USA Today would run two paragraphs of insightful comment, plus three charts and a graph. Oliver Stone would start a movie production and G. Gordon Liddy would warn of impending doom,” says Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism. But Burriss stresses that, despite all the technological advances of the last 230 years, the media still are people-based. “One of the thing we stress to our students is that, although there is a ‘mass’ in mass media, we are still reaching an audience one person at a time,” Burriss says.

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

TR EXTRA

FROM CAMP TO COLLEGE--Kayley Kravitz is a veteran of all three years of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. She studied guitar, bass and piano. In the fall, the 18-year-old graduate of The Webb School in Bell Buckle will attend Boston’s Emerson College, where she will major in journalism with an eye to becoming a music journalist. Simultaneously, Kayley will minor in music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. She encourages parents to enroll their daughters (ages 10-18) in this year’s camp, which is slated for July 31-Aug. 5. “Not only will they get to learn the ins and outs of the music business—they will gain a self-confidence that will benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Kayley says. Contact Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald or Courtney Sharpe at sgrrc05@gmail.com or call 615-898-8140.

GROWING YOUNG MINDS--More than 300 people are expected to attend this year’s “Growing Young Minds,” a dinner/live/music/silent auction fundraiser to benefit Project HELP, July 13 in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Registration is at 6:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Live music by the Boomers will follow at 7:30 p.m. The silent auction bidding will close at 8:15 p.m. Founded in 1983, Project HELP provides early intervention and family support services to high-risk children, children with disabilities and children with developmental delays.Contact Project HELP at 615-898-2458 or at http://www.mtsu.edu/~projhelp.

TEACHING ANDREW JACKSON--MTSU and The Hermitage are collaborating in a “Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop” funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. “The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson, and “America 1801-1861” will be offered July 10-14 at The Hermitage. These workshops will enable K-12 educators to intensify their study and increase their knowledge of important historical topics through direct on-site experiences. Topics to be explored include “Growing Democracy,” “Cotton Economy and Slavery,” “Indians and Westward Expansion,” “Reform and Religion,” “Women’s Lives in a Changing America,” and “Developing a Distinct American Material Culture.” Contact Dr. Janice Leone, history, at 615-898-5580 or jmleone@mtsu.edu.

GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT--Nine sessions of orientation for new students, called CUSTOMS, will be offered in 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 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 TODAY and TOMORROW 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.