Friday, April 6, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The marketplace of ideas

What is a university? On traditional campuses, deans are apt to say something like “a university is a marketplace of ideas.” But Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says the buyer should beware when entering such marketplaces. MacDougall says, “Various accrediting agencies exist to set standards, but these can be just as diverse as the educational institutions themselves. In chemistry, the American Chemical Society certifies bachelor degree programs that meet its rigorous curriculum standards, which range from advanced theoretical coursework to hands-on experiences in laboratories with modern instrumentation. Not all universities have the faculty and/or equipment to offer such a ‘Professional Chemistry’ degree. Some students learn this the hard way.”

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

Not exactly business as usual

Nearly 40 executives from the region will take over morning classes at MTSU TODAY for what has become one of the university's signature events linking textbook wisdom to the trenches of the real-world work place. The 16th Annual University Takeover/Executives-in-Residence program enables area CEOs, business owners, directors and managers to meet with 10:20 and 11:30 a.m. classes to share their experiences and answer questions from students on subjects ranging from job interviewing to climbing the corporate ladder. “The Executives-in-Residence program provides an opportunity for our students to interact with some very dynamic executives in Middle Tennessee and gives them a chance to see some of the theory they’re being taught in actual practice,” said Dr. Jim Burton, dean of the Jones College of Business.

Contact Burton at 615-898-2764 or Tom Tozer in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

Gender and race

Naomi Tutu, founder and former chair of the Tutu Foundation for Development and Relief in Southern Africa, will speak on “Building Gender Coalitions Across Racial Lines” at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12, in MTSU’s Keathley University Center Theater. Tutu, the third daughter of Anglican Archbishop Emeritus and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Desmond Tutu and his wife, Nomalizo, speaks on South African issues to audiences across the U.S. Since 2003, Tutu has worked as the associate director of the Office of International Relations and Programs at Tennessee State University. Her awards include citations from the California General Assembly, the Boston City Council, the Kentucky branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Outstanding Youth Women of America, and an honorary doctorate from the Universal Orthodox College of Ogun State in Nigeria. This event is free and open to the public. Media welcomed.

Contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193.
jawc@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

ANY LANDING YOU CAN WALK AWAY FROM …--Captain Al Haynes had some 30,000 flight hours under his belt when he was at the controls of United Airlines Flight 232 en route from Denver to Chicago on the afternoon of July 19, 1989. But the number two engine failed, destroying all three of the plane’s hydraulic systems. Haynes managed to make an emergency landing at Sioux City Gateway Airport, but the plane broke up, killing 110 passengers and one crew member. Haynes’ skill in landing the plane, along with the help of a DC-10 instructor pilot who was on board, is credited with saving the lives of 175 passengers and 10 crew members. Al Haynes will speak on “Crisis Management and the Crash of United Flight 232” at 5 p.m. TODAY in MTSU’s State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business Aerospace Building. This event, presented by Women in Aviation, AHP, and the MTSU Flight Team, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Department of Aerospace at 615-898-2788.

ON MY HONOR--MTSU’s chapter of Tau Sigma will induct 100 new members at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10, in Room 102S of the Business Aerospace Building. Tau Sigma is a national transfer student academic honor society. Undergraduate students from colleges and universities all over the country who have transferred to MTSU with at least 24 hours and have maintained a 3.5 grade point average in their first semester at MTSU are invited to join. MTSU’s chapter also inducts members transferring from and enrolled in programs at various satellite campuses. This year, 50 students from other Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges will be inducted into the honor society. For more information, contact Dr. Virginia Donnell at 615-898-5728.

ALL THAT JAZZ--Two MTSU faculty members will be among the featured composers for the second annual Jazz Writers Night with the Nashville Jazz Orchestra (NJO) TONIGHT. Trumpeter Jamey Simmons’ written works have been performed by groups ranging from the Glenn Miller Orchestra to the Rochester Philharmonic and the Buffalo Symphony Pops. He won the Best Arranger Award from Downbeat magazine in 2001 and 2002. Jim Williamson, an instructor at MTSU and the University of Tennessee, is director of the NJO. The founder of two high school jazz programs, Williamson has performed with a variety of artists ranging from Dinah Shore to B.B. King. There will be two shows, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., in the Steve and Judy Turner Recital Hall at Vanderbilt University. For ticket information, call 615-889-6335 or 615-322-7651.

TWINKLE, TWINKLE--Learn all about “White Dwarf Stars” at the MTSU Department of Physics and Astronomy’s latest First Friday Star Party TONIGHT from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Room 102 of the Wiser-Patten Science Building. Dr. Eric Klumpe will deliver a 30-45 minute public lecture followed by outdoor telescope observation, weather permitting. This event is free and open to the public. There will be free parking behind Wiser-Patten after 4:30 on Friday only. Contact Dr. Charles Higgins at 615-898-5946 or Dr. Eric Klumpe at 615-898-2483.

“DIVERSE TALES FOR DIVERSE TOTS”--The Diversity Subcommittee of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women is requesting donations of children’s books about any aspect of diversity now through April 27. The books could be old or new and for any age group. Gift certificates from your favorite bookstore also are welcome. These donations will be presented to MTSU’s Project HELP Program to help build up its new Dede Rucker Memorial Library collection. You can drop off your donations at several on-campus locations, including the Sociology and Anthropology mailroom (Room 335 in the Todd Building), the Upper Division English office (Room 323 in Peck Hall), the June Anderson Women’s Center (Room 206 of the James Union Building), and the Study Abroad office (Room 103A of Peck Hall. For more information, contact Dr. Ida Fadzillah at 615-904-8275 or ifadzill@mtsu.edu.

BRICK BY BRICK--Each and every brick to be laid in the MTSU Veterans Memorial will represent the support of an entire community for the enlightenment and inspiration of future generations. The bricks may be reserved by all those who wish to honor a veteran or active-duty service member or merely acknowledge their support for the construction of a permanent on-campus memorial to MTSU faculty, students, staff and administrators who perished while serving their country. The bricks will be integrated into the overall memorial design. All proceeds will help to pay for the memorial, which will be an outdoor classroom that includes a wall with the names of the military personnel. To purhcase a brick with a memorial message, send a tax-deductible check of $150 payable to “MTSU Foundation—Veterans Memorial,” to P.O. Box 109, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Credit cards also are accepted. Address any questions about brick purchases or donations to Robyn Kilpatrick at 615-898-5223 or rkilpatr@mtsu.edu.

GET INTO THE SWIM OF THINGS--The works of Kenda North are on display through April 19 in a photography exhibit titled “Urban Pools” at MTSU’s Baldwin Photographic Gallery. This exhibit is comprised of color Iris prints ranging in sizes up to 33” x 47”. The images were photographed underwater with a Nikonos 35mm camera. The original color negatives have been scanned and worked through Photoshop. The gallery will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Exhibitions and lectures are free and open to the public. This exhibit is co-sponsored by the National Women’s History Month Committee. Contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.