Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

What do you yuan to do?

The Chinese are a major player in the global economy. When it was announced on July 19 that the country experienced economic growth of 11.9 percent in the second quarter, eyebrows were raised. Dr. Jinfeng Yue, management and marketing, cites two major reasons. “First, China’s government announced it would reduce the export tax reimbursement, which started in July 2007. To take the export tax reimbursement advantage, many international companies ordered products from China before July 2007, which boosted the demand and stimulated the fast economic growth … Second, China is lifting its currency value. The long-term effect will be a reduction in international demand, a reduction in China’s trade surplus, and a slowdown in economic growth.”

Contact Yue at 615-898-5126.
jyue@mtsu.edu

Blue Raider Blasts

MTSU is offering a chance for all alumni, friends and fans to preview the 2007-08 athletic season at Blue Raider Blasts. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head coaches Rick Stockstill (football), Kermit Davis (men’s basketball), Rick Insell (women’s basketball), Steve Peterson (baseball) and MTSU student-athletes will be on hand to meet and greet Blue Raider fans in Smyrna today, Aug. 2, at the home of Britt and Mary Esther Reed, 135 Sugar Creek Lane; Thursday, Aug. 9, on the Cannon County Courthouse Square in Woodbury; and Thursday, Aug. 23, on the historic Rutherford County Courthouse Square in Murfreesboro. Admission is free to all blasts, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will feature inflatables, face painting, giveaways, and food.

Call 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or visit www.mtalumni.com for details.

“Surrender, surrender, but don’t give yourself away”—Cheap Trick, Vol. 2

“Fugitive Safe Surrender” continues through Aug. 4 in Nashville. Persons with outstanding warrants for non-violent criminal offenses will have an opportunity for a second chance, depending on the circumstances, by showing up at the Galilee Baptist Church. In the four cities where police and clergy have worked together on the program, some 3,800 people have surrendered. Dr. Bill Shulman, criminal justice administration associate professor and attorney, says, “I will … assume that the underlying misdemeanor charges will then be handled at the makeshift court, and some of those people with lengthy records and more serious misdemeanors may, in fact, still face jail time. This should be a decision a court makes at a sentencing hearing where the defendant is represented by legal counsel.”

Contact Shulman at 615-898-2630.
wshulman@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

RECORDING REDUX--It’s not too late to enroll your child in the Youth Culture and Arts Center’s (YCAC) recording workshops at MTSU. The current enrollment period is in effect through Aug. 10 for the upcoming Aug.16-Sept. 9 workshop in MTSU’s John Bragg Mass Communication Building. The workshop is for youngsters ages 12-17, and the fee is $125 per student. Classes are taught by Ryan York, a 21-year-old MTSU student and teacher of guitar, bass, and drums lessons at Chambers Guitars and Musical Instruments in Murfreesboro. Ryan will provide instruction in cassette four-track instruction, digital eight-track, computer recording and electronic music. All proceeds will benefit YCAC, a program of Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH), a nonprofit organization. Call 615-849-7140 or contact York at bororecording@gmail.com.