Friday, June 29, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

From Sudan to salvation

John Awan is not trying to climb the corporate ladder to capitalistic glory. That is never how he envisioned his life after his December 2006 graduation from MTSU. Awan, a native of war-torn Sudan, has five relatives in Kapanguria Refugee Camp and four in Kakuma Refugee Camp, both in Kenya. In 2001, with the help of the United Nations, John resettled in the United States. At MTSU, he co-founded the South Sudanese Student Organization, joined GLOBAL and the African Student Organization, and majored in political science. “I think the reason I like it (political science) is some time it will give you the opportunity to help people,” John says. “You end up being in public service; then you have the ability to correct where you believe people need correction.” In the same month John graduated college, he became a naturalized American citizen in a ceremony in Nashville.

To interview John Awan, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081.
gklogue@mtsu.edu

It’s the grown-up thing to do.

The new Adult Degree Completion Program at MTSU gives adults who left college prior to graduation a chance to earn degrees. Dr. Mike Boyle, dean of the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, says, “New technologies and alternative methods of earning credit have facilitated an environment in which someone who’s willing to work at it can complete a degree while continuing to meet work and family responsibilities. With MTSU entering this arena, it has greatly reduced the cost for most employees and employers compared to the for-profit or private-school alternatives. Our goal is to allow students to get a degree as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/adcp or call 615-848-2177.

Computer crackdown

Many Internet radio stations, possibly your favorite, were silent online Tuesday. The so-called “day of silence” was called to protest an increase in radio royalty rates that is slated to take effect July 15 and will be made retroactive to January 1, 2006. The U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia has been asked for an emergency stay. Ken Sanney, recording industry, says, “In 2002, the Library of Congress attempted the same short-sighted hike in royalty rates—hikes that were then, as they are now, aimed at “weeding out” the smaller competitors from the internet market. Such actions, both then and now, amount to governmental attempts to stifle competition, expression, and innovation.”

Contact Sanney at 615-456-6502.
ksanney@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

ROCK YOUR LOCKS--The Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC) invites you to update your look for a worthy event with a haircut from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, June 29, at Urban Image Style Studio, 200 W. Burton St., in Murfreesboro. With each haircut, regularly valued at $40 or more, patrons at the SGRRC Beauty Benefit will be encouraged instead to make a $20 donation to the camp. The fifth annual SGRRC, which is slated for July 16-21 on the campus of MTSU, is a week-long music day camp for girls ages 10-17. The camp is a program of Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities (YEAH), a nonprofit arts organization. Volunteers will tutor the campers in vocals, keyboards, drums, guitar, and electronic music. No appointment is necessary for haircuts during the 3-7 p.m. period on June 29. Contact the Urban Image Style Studio at 615-896-9700, call the Murfreesboro office of Southern Girls Rock & Roll camp at 615-849-8140, or send an e-mail to sgrrc05@gmail.com.

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.

ROCK, ROLL, AND RECORD—It’s that time again! Registration runs through July 13 for the latest recording workshop for children ages 12-17 at MTSU. The workshop will be conducted by MTSU student Ryan York in the John Bragg Mass Communication Building July 19-Aug. 12. For a fee of $125 per student, York will introduce the youngsters to cassette-four-track recording, digital eight-track, computer recording and electronic music. The workshop is sponsored by the Youth Culture and Arts Center, a project of Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities, a nonprofit organization.

For more information, or to enroll, contact York at bororecording@gmail.com.