Friday, May 18, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Veni, vedi, vici?

A new book by Cullen Murphy titled Are We Rome? The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America attempts to draw parallels between American society today and ancient Rome right before it crumbled. Is Murphy on to something, or is he just beating an old metaphor to death? Dr. Louis Haas, history, says he has not read the book, but the comparison is “quite the old chestnut.” Haas says, “Historically, Rome was not as stagnant as this model presumes; thus, I think the author here is very much stretching his model. For whatever it is worth, in the late 1970s, a number of authors argued the fate of Rome and the linkage to potential American decline in discussing the Laffer Curve—Rome was an overtaxed society; thus, it collapsed. Therefore, America should have cut taxes like nobody’s business to avoid the fate of decline.”

Contact Haas at 615-898-5828.
lhaas@mtsu.edu

We bring good things to life.

Does the general public really have a good understanding of the latest advancements in science and technology? Dr. Saeed Foroudastan, associate dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, says, “I believe the average lay person can piece together some aspects of a scientific idea, but as far as understanding the process through which the idea evolves, the average person falls short. If someone does not understand the general basic of a concept, then they have no way to put together all of the random facts they interpret from the media.” He says the public has benefited from the ability to “Google” a scientific term or process and access lots of information.

Contact Foroudastan at 615-494-8786.
sforouda@mtsu.edu

So the symphony conductor said, “Do you think there’s too much sax and violins on TV?”

Dick Cavett’s response to the age-old complaint that TV violence inspires people to imitate what they see is, “There's so much comedy on television. Does that cause comedy in the streets?” Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, says, “There is … statistical evidence that is often overlooked when people want to draw a direct line of influence from media violence to short- or long-term violent behavior. The evidence suggests that the people most likely to be involved in violent behavior—either as perp or victim—are young males 16-24. It’s young males, however, who are the lightest TV viewers, according to surveys.”

Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

ROCK ON!--Registration will run through May 31 for the fifth annual Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC), a week-long music day camp for girls ages 10-17 slated for July 16-21 on the campus of MTSU. Volunteers will tutor the campers in vocals, keyboards, drums, guitar, and electronic music. The girls will learn about other aspects of the music industry through workshops in subjects such as photography, music journalism, recording, DIY arts and crafts, and songwriting, as well as panel discussions with industry insiders. Throughout the week, campers will form their own bands, write songs, and practice two hours each day with volunteer band managers. At the end of the week, the girls will show off their talents in a Saturday night showcase in Tucker Theatre. For more information, visit http://www.sgrrc.org, call 615-849-8140, or send an e-mail to sgrrc05@gmail.com.

ACCORDING TO CUSTOMS--CUSTOMS, the summer orientation for new MTSU students and family members, will begin a two-month run May 30-31 and will continue until July 31. CUSTOMS is a two-day session to aid the transition of new undergraduate students to the university, prepare them for educational opportunities, and to initiate the integration of new students into the intellectual, cultural and social climate of MTSU. College of Basic and Applied Sciences and College of Mass Communication majors may attend CUSTOMS May 30-31, June 8-9, June 19-20, July 10-11, July 24-25, and July 30-31. College of Business, College of Education and Behavioral Science and College of Liberal Arts majors may attend June 5-6, June 12-13, June 22-23, July 19-20, and July 30-31. For more information, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/~customs, e-mail customs@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-5533. For questions about admission status, call 615-898-2111.

THE GRIDIRON GIRLS, WHOSE THEME SONG IS “THANK YOU FOR BEING AN END”--MTSU Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill and the MTSU football staff invite you to join them for the 2007 Ladies Football Clinic on Saturday, July 14 in Murphy Center. The clinic, which will feature seminars on strategy, equipment, training and rules, will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with registration slated to start at 8 a.m. Ladies will be encouraged to take part in coaches’ drills and demonstrations. The goal is to provide a fun learning experience. Participants will receive commemorative T-shirts and lunch will be provided. The cost of the clinic is $25 dollars. For the children, the Rick Stockstill Youth Camp for rising 1st through 8th graders will be held June 4-7. For more information, contact Danny Lewis at 615-898-2311.

FROM POLE TO POLE--The National Pole Bending Association will hold its second annual national pole bending championship May 19 and 20 at MTSU’s Tennessee Miller Coliseum. Pole bending is a timed event in which a horse and mounted rider weave their way around poles arranged in a line. More than 250 members from across the country have qualified so far. NPBA founding member Ross Carnahan says, “The first NPBA National Championship was a great success. It was the largest pole bending ever held and we paid out over $35,000. The exhibitors really enjoyed the Tennessee Miller Coliseum and we are really happy we have the opportunity to return there in 2007. The NPBA Web site hails the Miller Coliseum as “a first class facility. It hosts many barrel races and pole bendings and thanks to a tireless crew has a reputation for outstanding ground.” Contact the Tennessee Miler Coliseum at 615-494-8961 or tmc@mtsu.edu.

HOLLYWOOD PLAYS DEAD--Kids will be able to see for themselves how Hollywood creates the blood and gore of severed limbs and other gross stuff in a Special Effects Makeup Workshop from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in Room 120 of the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building at MTSU. Lori Gann-Smith, an assistant professor of speech and theatre at MTSU, will teach youngsters ages 10-18 how to cast and mold body parts and how to decorate them to indicate bruises, abrasions and other injuries for the most realistic possible look. The cost of the workshop is $50 per person with all proceeds benefiting the Youth Culture and Arts Center, which is dedicated to providing “a safe and positive atmosphere for young people to create and experience the arts.” To register, send an e-mail to youthculturecenter@gmail.com or call 615-849-8140.

SPRING FLING--Spring Fling, the postseason competitions of the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s member schools, will take place May 21-26 at various Rutherford County venues. Track and field events, some tennis matches, and Class AAA and all championship baseball games are slated to be held at MTSU, according to the organization’s Web site (http://www.tssaa.org). A study on the local impact of Spring Fling 2006, completed by Dr. David Penn of the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center, found that Spring Fling created a total effect of approximately $3.4 million on the local economy. For more information, contact the Business and Economic Research Center at 615-898-2610 or Mona Herring, vice president, Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau, at 615-278-2014.