Thursday, January 18, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Making a list and checking it twice

In an edition of the Nashville Scene published after the midterm election, Dr. Sekou Franklin, political science, criticized the Tennessee Tribune for publishing the names and addresses of non-voting residents from predominantly black north Nashville. Supporters of the Tribune’s pre-election action asserted that it was justified as a motivational tool to spur voters to go to the polls Nov. 7. Franklin disagrees. “Because voting in American politics is a private right and not compulsory, disciplinary measures, such as exposing non-voters to public reprimand, are callous and unethical, and they help to legitimate a culture of intimidation in electoral politics that has historically been used to dilute the black vote,” Franklin wrote.

Contact Franklin at 615-898-2708.
franklin@mtsu.edu

Bank it like Beckham

International soccer megastar David Beckham’s defection to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) will net him $250 million over five years. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says this could have a significant effect on the visibility of soccer in the U.S. “Companies such as Pepsi, Gillette, Motorola and Adidas already have global marketing deals with him,” Roy says. “If he does influence interest in soccer in the U.S., the companies that have invested in him as a brand endorser could be handsomely rewarded and MLS could become a mainstream pro sports league.”
Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

Hurray for housing!

MTSU and the Greek Life Programming Board will present Cheer for Humanity, a cheerleading competition for high school, middle school, and All-Star cheer squads THIS SUNDAY at 1:00 p.m. in Murphy Center. Last year’s event raised more than $15,000 for Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity. This year, more than 25 cheer squads from across Tennessee and Kentucky will compete. Winners from each division will receive paid bids to CheerNation’s World Open Cheer Championships February 3 and 4 in Atlanta. Doors will open at 12 noon. Admission is $5 per person.

Contact Jonathan Pursley, MTSU Spirit Coordinator, at 615-898-5812.

TR EXTRA

A TURN FOR THE NURSE--The two-story, 23,717-square foot addition to the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building will be dedicated at 10 a.m. TOMORROW. The structure is located across from Tucker Theatre near the intersection of Blue Raider and Faulkinberry drives. The second floor includes 12 faculty offices and secretary/reception suite, a 30-seat clinical consultation room, a state-of-the-art 20-bed clinical lab with two storage areas, two informal student seating areas, a faculty lounge with a kitchen and two data storage rooms and restrooms. The first floor features a 60-seat Dell computer lab classroom, a 78-seat master classroom, a classroom to accommodate 60 to 120 people, a small kitchen area, a student seminar room to hold up to 18 people and restrooms. Contact Randy Weiler in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919 or jweiler@mtsu.edu..

“AKEMASHITE OMEDETU (HAPPY NEW YEAR!)--The Japan-U.S. Program of MTSU will present its annual New Year’s celebration this SATURDAY from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the annex of Far East Restaurant, 1529 East Main Street in Murfreesboro. This year’s entertainment will include traditional Japanese dancing, country music, and taiko drum music, as well as karaoke and door prizes. Entertainers and those who bring food items will be expected to contribute $1 each to help defray expenses. Partiers who do not contribute food items will be expected to pay $5 each. “Although some ‘finger foods’ will be ordered from the restaurant ahead of time, basically this event will feature ‘potluck,’ substantially relying on Japanese food contributions, but accepting pizza and similar foods,” Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, program director, says. Contact Kawahito at 615-898-2229 or kawahito@mtsu.edu.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, IT’S EASY TO TRACE THE TRACKS OF MY YEARS--
If some of the students in the John Bragg Mass Communication Building look a little younger than usual this semester, they’re probably youngsters enrolled in the Youth Culture and Arts Center’s second slate of recording workshops. Classes are taught by Ryan York, a 21-year-old MTSU student and teacher of guitar, bass and drums lessons at Chambers Guitars and Musical Instruments in Murfreesboro. Starting TONIGHT, kids ages 12-17 will be introduced to cassette four-track recording, digital eight-track, computer recording and electronic music. The $125 fee will benefit the Youth Culture and Arts Center, a project of Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!), a nonprofit organization. Contact York at bororecording@gmail.com.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”—Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Collectively, this week’s activities to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., are titled “Remembering the King Spirit and Legacy.” The schedule:

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007

Leaders Luncheon with Meichelle “Ms. Manners” Gibson
Invitation required—for more information, call 615-898-2987.
11:30 a.m., James Union Building, Dining Room C

MLK Display
MTSU chapters of Zeta Phi Beta sorority and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Keathley University Center

Women’s Basketball
Lady Raiders vs. Arkansas State University (free with student I.D.)
7:00 p.m., Murphy Center

MLK Birthday/Black-out Party
Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity
10:06 p.m., TBA

Friday, Jan. 19, 2007

MLK Display
MTSU chapters of Delta Sigma sorority and Omega Psi Phi fraternity
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Keathley University Center

Unity Movie Night with Ms. Andia Winslow
Ms. Winslow will screen, review, and discuss Boondocks (Cartoon Network), Return of the King, and the documentary Still Black at Yale. This event is cosponsored by the Celebration Committee, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the MTSU Collegiate 100 Men and is designed to bring the entire campus community together for a night of camaraderie, discussion, and fun.
7:00 p.m., Business and Aerospace Building, State Farm Lecture Hall, Room 102

Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007

A Presidential Breakfast and Conversation with Dr. Jackie Thomas Featuring MTSU’s Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (by invitation)
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Tennessee Room, James Union Building

The MTSU Annual Memorial Service and Candlelight Vigil
This grand finale of the university’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Celebration Week is cosponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. This vigil will feature motivational speaker Ms. Kimberly LaMarque.
6:00 p.m., Tucker Theatre, Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building.

For more information and updates, please contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 615-898-2987. MLK Week events are free and open to the public.