Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Day One

Students can still register for classes through TODAY and can add classes through FRIDAY. Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services, says first-day totals for the spring semester included 20,797 students. That’s 350 more than the 20,447 students who attended the first day of classes Jan. 16, 2006. Huddleston says Jan. 29 will be the day final enrollment totals will be submitted to the Tennessee Board of Regents. On that same day, students can get a “75 percent fee refund if they drop below full time and the deadline for them to drop a course without a grade being recorded on their transcript.”

Contact Huddleston at 615-898-2828.
shuddles@mtsu.edu

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. this FRIDAY. 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.
jweiler@mtsu.edu

Leave it to you

Time magazine got it right by naming “you” its Person of the Year for 2006 for “founding and framing the new digital democracy.” That’s Dr. Preston MacDougall’s opinion. The associate professor of chemistry backs up his view by hailing InnoCentive.com, a Web site launched five years ago by pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly. The company put chemical “challenges” on the site and invited volunteers, called “solvers,” to figure them out. “The response was enormous—they now have over 100,000 registered ‘solvers,’ and many are still chemistry students,” MacDougall says. “They have also expanded the range of challenges beyond the pharmaceutical industry, including such partners as Boeing and DuPont.

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

“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 TOMORROW, 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:

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007

MLK Display
MTSU chapters of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and Kappa Alpha Phi fraternity
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Keathley University Center

A Community Day of Service
The Community Day of Service program is in keeping and accordance with the teachings and philosophy of Dr. King. This program is designed to give back and to improve the lives of members of the MTSU community. Various Greek and other students engage in community service and service learning throughout the day.

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

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.