Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Check your lotions at the trash can

The Transportation Security Administration is changing the rules on what can be taken on board airplanes almost as frequently as airplanes take off from and land at major airports. Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, says, “It is simply a matter of how high of a price (in terms of liberty and dollars) we are willing to pay for security. As far as the impact on air travel, one extreme would be for every flight to be screened in a manner similar to El Al (Israel’s airline). However, this would lead to gridlock and a lot of work for the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). … I presume that screening liquids will become commonplace but that the restrictions will be loosened once the process is better developed.”

Contact Petersen at 615-494-8662.
kpeterse@mtsu.edu

Venezuelan venues

Dr. Sekou Franklin, political science, recently returned from a trip to the oil-rich South American nation of Venezuela. Franklin is gathering information for a book chapter on African Americans, race and the Venezuelan experience that he is authoring. “My trip focused specifically on Afro-Venezuelan issues,” Franklin says. He met with leaders and activists from the Afro-Venezuelan network, a coalition of groups working on civil rights and anti-racism policies and legislation. Franklin also attended the San Juan festival, a three-day event that was a product of the slavery period, and met with community leaders in two towns founded by runaway slaves.

Contact Franklin at 615-898-8232.
franklin@mtsu.edu

Fat isn’t phat

Greg Critser, author of Fat Land, will be MTSU’s University Convocation speaker at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 27 at Murphy Center. Fat Land, which investigates why 60 percent of Americans are now considered overweight, is this year’s summer University reading selection. The book examines the many factors involved in American life—from supersizing to Super Mario, from high fructose corn syrup to the high cost of physical education in schools. The annual convocation welcomes new students into the MTSU learning community with faculty marching in regalia, dramatic music played by the university band, and explanations of MTSU traditions and rituals. Free and open to the public. Media welcomed. (Listen to a radio interview with Greg Critzer on “MTSU On the Record” at 7 a.m. Sunday, August 20 on WMOT, 89.5 on your FM dial..)

Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.
news@mtsu.edu


TR EXTRA

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 2 p.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

GET A HEAD START ON TAILGATING--Football weather has not arrived yet, but plans are in the works for the upcoming football season. This year, the MTSU Rutherford County Alumni Chapter’s annual Pigskin Pregame will be held from 7 p.m. unil 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26. Tickets will be $20 if purchased by Tuesday, Aug. 22, or $25 at the door. The ticket price includes an exclusive preview of Murfreesboro’s newest restaurant, Kirkenburt’s Smokehouse Grill, wine, beer truck, soft drinks, music, door prizes and more. Parking will be available at Central Middle School. All proceeds from Pigskin Pregame will benefit the Rutherford County Chapter Scholarship Fund. Media welcomed. Contact the MTSU Alumni Office at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or visit mtalumni.com.

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.

FAIR ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE--Memorabilia and free goodies will be available at MTSU’s booth at the Wilson County Fair Aug. 18-26 at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon. The fair is regarded as the top fair in the state and is listed in the Top 20 Events in August by the Southeast Tourism Association. Wilson County alumni and personnel from MT athletics, athletic marketing and the alumni office will be staffed starting at 5 p.m. on weekdays and virtually all day on two Saturdays, Aug. 19 and 26, and Sun. Aug. 20. The fairgrounds are located one mile off Interstate 40. Festival goers should take I-40 to exit 239B, then U.S. 70 West. Contact the MTSU Alumni Office at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or visit wilsoncountyfair.net.

BAKE IT AND TAKE IT--The Blue Raider Bake Off and Blue Raider Bash are slated for 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29 next to Cummings Hall. Members of the campus community will enter delicious desserts for a chance to win a tailgate party to feed 15 people. There are two categories—one for students and one for staff, faculty and administration. There will be a winner in each of the two categories. The applications are available at http://www.mtsu.edu/~nsfp.Click on Welcome Week, then Big Fat Blue Raider Bake Off, then application. Fill it out and turn it in to Keathley University Center, Room 326. MTSU student athletes will be on hand and there will be plenty of barbecue. All the eats are FREE, and the event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Media welcomed. Contact Rob Patterson, coordinator, New Student and Family Programs at 615-898-2454 or rpatters@mtsu.edu

AGRARIAN ART—“The Upper Cumberland Collection: The Plateau Years” is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery through Sept. 8. These photos are by Jack Stoddart, who began his career photographing a disappearing culture between 1971 and 1974. The gelatin silver images became a mainstay of future exhibits chronicling the last vestiges of an agrarian lifestyle that still existed in rural north central Tennessee. There will be a lecture by Stoddart at 7:30 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 6 in Room 104 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. A reception will follow in the gallery. Exhibitions are free and open to the public Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sat. Noon-4 p.m. For more information contact Tom Jimison, curator, at 651-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu