Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

You don’t have to twist his arm!

This Friday, Little League Baseball’s board of directors will meet to consider limiting the number of pitches the youngsters would be allowed to throw beginning next season. A pilot program already is in place. Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, says this is a terrific idea. “Many young pitchers are coached by parents with no experience in understanding the limits of physical performance among their younger athletes,” Anshel says. “Dangerous long-term consequences may emerge if children overuse certain joints or muscles, which may prevent them from competing in sport and result in chronic pain.”

Contact Anshel at 615-898-2812.
manshel@mtsu.edu

“Partners in Craft”

The Nashville office of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is teaming with MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry to create a new songwriting program called “Partners in Craft.” Representatives from both ASCAP and MTSU will explain the program at a news conference and reception at 10 a.m. TOMORROW in the lobby of the ASCAP building at 2 Music Square West in Nashville. The event will feature performances by MTSU songwriters The Karg Boys, and many professional mentors and MTSU recording industry alumni will be in attendance.

Contact Michelle Goble at ASCAP at 615-742-5000 or mgoble@ascap.com
or MTSU’s Dr. Tom Hutchinson at 615-513-6278.

The appearance of truth

So much for the global village’s egalitarian new world where ideas could be debated and everyone could participate. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says that would be great if those doing the debating would stick to the issues instead of attacking personalities. “Butunfortunately, the ads, particularly those on television, instead of bringing out the best, sometimes tend to bring out the worst,” Burriss says. “The media, as we all know, create their own kind of reality; a reality that builds, not so much on substance, but on the appearance of substance--where we are not so much seeking the truth, but instead areseeking an appearance of truth.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983.
lburriss@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 $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 http://www.mtalumni.com.

FAIR ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE--Memorabilia and free goodies will be available at MTSU’s booth at the Wilson County Fair through Aug. 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 Aug. 26. 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 http://www.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 in the McWherter Learning Resources Center 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

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

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN—Enjoy Japanese hospitality and learn more about the Asia-related courses offered at MTSU as the Japan-U.S. Program welcomes new Japanese students, their friends and all students enrolled in Japan-related courses at TWO parties Friday, Sept. 1. The first event will take place from 5-6:30 p.m. in the SunTrust Room of the Business Aerospace Building. The follow-up party, or niji-kai, will take place at the home of Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, 202 Eventide Drive in Murfreesboro, at 7 p.m. Guests will include exchange students from partner institutions in Japan, Korea and the Philippines. But Kawahito says, “ … many returning Japanese students take this as a ‘welcome back party’ for them and as a great occasion to eat good foods—as much as they want. During the second party, I keep cooking, cooking and cooking.” For further information, especially about directions and parking, call the Japan-U.S. Program at 615-898-2229 or send an e-mail to japan@mtsu.edu

BLOOD SPORT--MTSU vs. Tennessee Tech: It’s the Thursday, Sept. 14 football game and Sept. 12-13 blood drive. MT athletics and the Student Government Association arefully behind the Red Cross blood drive that will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days. Anyone 17-and-over with a valid ID can participate. MTSU will compete against its longtime Ohio Valley Conference rival to see which school can “pump up” the most blood. For more information, call Jennifer Kirk, KUC event coordinator, at 615-898-2590.