Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Views of Islam

“The emphasis on ‘headline events’ often means a predominant focus on the negative, sensational, violent. The ‘dark side’ of religion predominates over coverage of religion’s more transcendent and transformative aspects. … Most glaringly in recent years, Islam and Muslims have come to be viewed primarily through the lens of religious extremism and terrorism.” These are the words of Dr. John Esposito, professor of religion and international affairs at Georgetown University, who will speak on “Islam and the West” at 7 o’clock TONIGHT in the State Farm Lecture Hall in the Business and Aerospace Building at MTSU. Esposito’s lecture is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Middle East Center.

Contact Dr. Allen Hibbard at 615-494-8809
ahibbard@mtsu.edu
or Chantal Rich at 615-494-7906.
cfrich@mtsu.edu

Google this

Do you see what you think you see when you look at a satellite or aerial photograph of a given locality on Google? Actually, the company has not been using current images for its map files. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says, “One of the disadvantages of new technology is that it makes it easier for someone to manipulate reality. And it’s not just the Internet. Every new technology—writing, the telegraph, movies and videotape—have made it easier for those with sinister purposes to change both the past and the present. So we just have to watch out for those who would give us their own version of reality, rather than the plain truth. It’s like Thomas Jefferson said—‘The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.’”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

Smells like teen spirit

Your musically talented youngster could produce his or her own CD before he graduates high school. Ryan York, a 21-year-old MTSU student and teacher of guitar, bass and drums lessons, continues his recording workshops for kids ages 12-17. For a fee of $125 per student, the kids will be introduced to cassette four-track recording, digital eight-track, computer recording, and electronic music. All proceeds will help pay for the equipment. The next workshop classes are slated for May 10 through June 17 on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons in the John Bragg Mass Communication Building at MTSU. Registration for these classes is in progress and will continue through April 30. The recording workshops are sponsored by the Youth Culture and Arts Center, a function of Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!), a nonprofit Murfreesboro-based organization.

For more information about the workshops, contact York at bororecording@gmail.com.
To learn more about the Youth Culture and Arts Center, go to http://www.youthculturecenter.org.

TR EXTRA

“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.

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.