Monday, September 24, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Words and music

Stephen Smith, tenor and associate professor of voice at MTSU, will perform in a faculty recital with collaborative pianist Caleb Harris at 8 p.m. tonight, Sept. 24, in the T. Earl Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building. Smith and Harris will perform the works of Benjamin Britten, Richard Strauss, Henri Duparc and Gabriel Faure. Smith has a master’s degree in vocal performance from the Eastman School of Music in New York. He has performed leading roles on numerous opera stages. Harris, a former member of the music school’s faculty, is a doctoral candidate at the Eastman School and an in-demand competition accompanist and vocal coach.

Contact Tim Musselman at 615-898-2493.
tmusselm@mtsu.edu

Let’s give ‘em something to talk about.

Vanderbilt University professor and author Dr. Bruce Barry will deliver a lecture titled “Will Work Leave You Speechless? The Erosion of Free Expression in the American Workplace” on Thursday, Sept. 27, in the Keathley University Center at MTSU. The 9:45 a.m. event is free and open to the public. In his new book, Speechless: The Erosion of Free Expression in the American Workplace, Barry examines the history of free expression in the workplace, how and why Americans have come to take free speech for granted and how employers can legally punish employees for speaking their minds. Barry’s presentation is co-sponsored by the Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies and MTSU’s American Democracy Project.

Contact Beverly Keel at 615-898-5150.
bkeel@mtsu.edu

The STEM selling job

Who will be the next generation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) career professionals? Find out what it takes to enjoy a great career in the STEM field. Meet an engineer, a computer scientist, a geologist and a mathematician and ask them questions. Prepare to be surprised as these dynamic professionals discuss their education, jobs and career successes in “STEM Power,” an enrichment program for students in grades 9-12, presented via MTSU’s Satellite and Webcasting Center tomorrow, Sept. 25, from 9-10 a.m. CST, 10-11 a.m. EST. Karen Claud, director of Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS), and Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross, professor of chemistry at MTSU, will make the presentation.

For more information, call 615-898-2737 or send an e-mail to vmoxley@mtsu.edu.

TR EXTRA

BONJOUR!--Any student whose summer was no more exciting than spending endless hours lying by the pool frying to a crisp can prepare now for an unforgettable summer 2008. There’s no time like the present to register for the annual general education study abroad program in Cherbourg, France, which will run from June 2 to June 27. At this beautiful port town in the Normandy region of northwest France, students will experience the history, art and culture of the area. “With the general education program, a student can spend four weeks in Cherbourg and in Normandy, and they can begin studying French while they’re there if they choose to, but they don’t have to already know any French,” Dr. Anne Sloan, Assistant to the Provost for International Education, says. Contact Sloan at 615-898-5091 or asloan@mtsu.edu or Jennifer Campbell, Director of International Education and Exchange, at 615-898-5179 or jjcampbe@mtsu.edu.

THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY--“Colleagues: A Community College Art Faculty Exhibition” is the title of the upcoming diversity-rich art exhibit that is being presented through Oct. 4 in the Todd Gallery on the MTSU campus. “This exhibition recognizes the talented faculty who serve students enrolled in community colleges across the state that are often far removed from major population centers,” says Lon Nuell, professor of art and gallery curator. Nuell says each of the participating artists work and teach in traditional studio areas such as painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, ceramics and sculpture, and graphic design and visual communication. The Todd Gallery, located on the first floor of the Todd Building, is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays. Admission is always free, and the exhibit is open to the public. For more information, please contact Eric Snyder, gallery assistant, at 615-898-5653.

DON’T GET MAD, GET RAD!--The Rape Aggression Defense system is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. RAD is a comprehensive course for women that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, while progressing to the basics of hands-on defense training. Classes will begin tomorrow, Sept. 25, and will run through Tuesday, Oct. 30. Classes will be held from 6-8 p.m. for six consecutive sessions. The class is offered free of charge to all MTSU students, faculty and staff, as well as the general public. A workbook/training manual is provided to each student. Classes will be held at the MTSU Public Safety Training Room located at 1412 East Main Street. For information or to enroll, call RAD instructor David Smith at 615-494-8855.

A SOUND DECISION--Check out MTSU Audio Clips on the Web at http://www.mtsunews.com. Click on “MTSU Audio Clips” on the right side of the page to read radio-ready stories, and click on the mp3 files to listen to the accompanying sound. Topic One is the upcoming Presidential Prism Gala Concert slated for Oct. 4 to benefit hurricane-ravaged Southern University at New Orleans. Topic Two is the rediscovery of a bit of hidden history by MTSU graduate student Sarah Elizabeth Hickman, who is writing her master’s thesis about Harness Racing Hall-of-Famer and Tennessee native Edward Franklin “Pop” Geers. Audio Clips are fashioned for radio professionals to use in their newscasts by simply cutting and pasting. For more information, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.