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.