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.