Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Truth in labeling

The Free Speech Coalition has proposed a domain name that will indicate which Web sites are “kid friendly.” In March, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers considered and rejected a proposal to let porn Web sites voluntarily adopt triple-x domain names. Some observers say that such labels would amount to censorship, but Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, would beg to differ. “All the label does is tell you what the content is,” Burriss says. “It says absolutely nothing about what the content ought to be. … Labeling is a way for the public to get more information about what it consumes. And the more accurate and descriptive the label, the better served the public will be.”

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

A poor report card

A recent report by the Commonwealth Fund grades states on the basis of health system performance. Tennessee is one of the five lowest-performing states in the area of premature death. Overall, Tennessee ranks 40th with grades of “D” in the categories of “avoidable costs” and “healthy lives,” a “C” in “equity,” and “Bs” in “access” and “quality.” Dr. Judy Campbell, associate professor of nursing, says, “This should be a worrisome problem for all of the citizens of Tennessee. We have a major problem with high rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes in this state. One of the major concerns we face is educating the citizens on the value of prevention and health promotion. Unfortunately, low income residents, minority residents, residents living in rural areas and residents with low literacy levels are all at greater risk for seeking and receiving health promotional care.”

Contact Campbell at 615-898-5729.
jcampbel@mtsu.edu

Pseudo-twister

MTSU officials have authorized a tornado-alert drill TODAY sometime between 9 a.m. and noon. The campus tornado siren will sound, and an e-mail alert will be sent to specific people in every building who have been designated as “building runners.” Building runners will notify every office and classroom in their assigned area and ask occupants to go to the safest area in their particular building. “We will look at how well the building runners perform their task and how students, staff and faculty respond to the alert and head for shelter,” says Buddy Peaster, director of MTSU’s Office of Public Safety. “And we will certainly want their feedback so that we can iron out any wrinkles and make the plan run as smoothly as possible.”

Contact Peaster at 615-898-2424 or Tom Tozer, Office of News and Public Affairs, at 615-898-2919.

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.