Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Corker vs. Ford: It’s so tight, it squeaks.

The latest MT Poll shows the U.S. Senate race betweeen Democrat Harold Ford Jr. and Republican Bob Corker is a statistical dead heat. The phone survey of 549 Tennesseans conducted Sept. 19-30 reveals 43 percent of likely voters questioned supporting Corker and 42 percent in favor of Ford. Sixteen percent were undecided. Perhaps the more intriguing statistics are those regarding all Tennessee adults—not only those likely to vote, but those less likely to vote. Forty percent of those respondents favor Ford, 35 percent back Corker, 24 percent don’t know, and the rest declined to answer. The poll defines “likeliest voters” as those who reported being registered to vote, having voted in the last statewide election, and being “very likely” to vote in next month’s election.

Contact Dr. Ken Blake, acting director, MT Poll, at 615-210-6187.
kblake@mtsu.edu
For total poll results, go to http://www.mtsusurveygroup.org.

Same-sex support

With a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage on this year’s ballot in Tennessee, nearly three-quarters of those surveyed in the latest MT Poll say state law should not recognize same-sex marriage. Twenty-one percent disagree. In last spring’s MT Poll, 69 percent voiced opposition to gay marriage. However, backing for same-sex civil unions is virtually unchanged from the spring figures. Thirty-three percent of respondents in the most recent poll would be in favor of allowing gay civil unions, but 59 percent would not want to permit such legal arrangements. In surveying attitudes on both same-sex marriage and civil unions, political orientation rather than religious orientation proved to be the strongest predictor of views.

Contact Dr. Bob Wyatt, founding director, MT Poll, at 615-477-8389.
rwyatt@mtsu.edu
For total poll results, go to http://www.mtsusurveygroup.org.

Food for thought

The annual month-long Islamic period of worship and contemplation known as Ramadan requires Muslims to fast during the daylight hours and refrain from smoking and sexual relations during fasting. The Muslim Students Association of MTSU will observe the end of Ramadan with an Iftar, the feast of fast-breaking, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. TONIGHT in Room S102 of the Business Aerospace Building. Students are encouraged to be there by 6:26, when they can break their fast. Food will be provided by Mezza Cuisine. The meal is free, but donations to Feed America First, a Tennessee-based charity, will be welcome. MSA President Roxanne Jenkins says the MSA obtained more than 100 pledges of help for Feed America First in its initial FAST-a-Thon this year. After breaking the fast, there will be a short presentation on the meaning of Ramadan, and students will share experiences of their day of fasting.

Contact the Muslim Students Association at msa@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

THE SPIN CYCLE--Where does the news leave off and propaganda from special interest groups begin? Dr. Jay Black, Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics, emeritus, at the University of South Florida, will address that question in a guest lecture at 6 p.m. TOMORROW in Room 104 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. “He will initially describe and analyze the new and often-deceptive media mosaic, making note of relevant semantic and ethical dilemmas, and then outline possible remedies for media consumers and practitioners,” Dr. Thomas Cooper, ethicist-in-residence at MTSU, says. Black says, “My fundamental argument is that propaganda is inevitable, that it is not just what the ‘bad guys’ do, that contemporary society relishes propaganda [and] that media cater to our closed-mindedness as willing recipients of propaganda.” Contact Cooper at twcooper@comcast.net

THE SWEET SMELL OF SCIENCE--Registration is open for the 2006 Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science. The conference for girls in grades 5-8 will be held from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, across the MTSU campus. Open to the first 300 girls who register, EYH will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on campus. To register, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/~EYH. Look for the registration button on the left side. Complete, print out, and mail the form to: Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross, c/o MTSU EYH, P.O. Box 161, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 37132. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY. For more information, contact Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross at 615-904-8253 or eyh@mtsu.edu or jiriarte@mtsu.edu

ALUMNI ART--The art works of 24 MTSU alumni are on display at the Todd Gallery through THIS FRIDAY. Paintings, prints, clay work, sculpture and graphic design imagery are among the featured media. The artists represent alumni from 1960 through 2004. Dr. Lon Nuell, art, says, “Their works are seen across the country and internationally in galleries and museums, are found in private collections, and seen in regional and national publications.” The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each Monday-Friday and closed on all state holidays. Admission is always free. Contact Nuell at 615-898-2505 or lrnuell@mtsu.edu

FOUR CONCERTS FOR FREE--The four-event Presidential Concert Series at MTSU will open with Requiem by Frigyes Hidas and will feature the MTSU Wind Ensemble, MTSU Concert Chorale and soloists beginning at 7:30 p.m. THIS SATURDAY in the Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building. Requiem has been noted for its groundbreaking scoring. Written in memory of the deceased from every war in history, it is the first work of its kind composed for winds rather than full orchestra, although it follows the traditional form of a requiem. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tim Musselman at 615-898-2493 or visit the calendar of events at http://www.mtsumusic.com.

ABLE IN THE ARTS--Internationally renowned actress/writer/teacher Estelle Condra will deliver the keynote address for Arts Talk, a two-day conference and career forum for artists with disabilities, THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY at MTSU. Condra, who is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa, will speak at 12:45 p.m. in the Business Aerospace Building. Another feature of the conference will be the Tennessee premiere of “The Goal,” an award-winning film by Darla Rae that stars MTSU alumna Laura Dodd, from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 6 in Tucker Theatre. In addition, “we will have people on campus discussing Social Security issues, legal issues, portfolio development and more,” says Lori Kissinger, MTSU speech and theatre instructor. Contact Kissinger at 615-826-5252 or userk7706@aol.com