Monday, April 9, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

E.T. prefers Reese’s Pieces.

A recent study of important American and British corporate mission statements shows that values have changed over time. Marketing also evolves. Lately, marketing professionals have become interested in written fiction--product placement is appearing in literature. Professor Mireille Hardy of the University of Caen Basse-Normandie, IUT Cherbourg Manche, will lecture on “Company Communication: From Mission Statements to ‘Fictomercials’” from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, in Room 106 of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building at MTSU. Hardy will present different forms of “fictomercials” and show how they fit with the new orientation of corporate mission statements.

Contact the University Honors College at 615-898-2152.

Jumping the high hurdles

Ten Middle Tennessee high school seniors who have overcome obstacles and become successful in life will be honored for their tenacity Tuesday, April 10, during the ninth annual Neill-Sandler Strive for Excellence Banquet at MTSU. The invitation-only event will start at 6 p.m. in the Tennessee Miller Coliseum’s Miller Room. The students, who have been nominated by their schools and school systems, have persevered through rough times. Despite their situations, they have performed well in the classroom and on their college entrance examinations and exhibited leadership skills in and out of school. Some have worked to assist themselves and family members financially. Scholarships will go to students from the county school systems of Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Rutherford, Warren, Williamson, and Wilson, as well as the Tullahoma City Schools.

Contact Kippy Todd at 615-898-5756 or Randy Weiler of the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

The best of the best

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and the MTSU Alumni Association will present the fourth annual President’s Celebration of Excellence. The event will be held Friday, April 13, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. The celebration, which is held each spring, honors students, alumni, faculty, and friends of the university for their outstanding accomplishments and service to MTSU. Various Student Government Association, Division of Student Affairs, Blue Raider Athletics, MTSU National Alumni Association, MTSU Foundation and Office of the President awards will be presented.

For more information, call 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or visit http://www.mtalumni.com.

TR EXTRA

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 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

ON MY HONOR--MTSU’s chapter of Tau Sigma will induct 100 new members at 6 p.m. TOMORROW 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.

“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.