Friday, December 21, 2007

TODAY’S RESPONSE WILL TAKE THE HOLIDAYS OFF UNTIL JANUARY 14, 2008, WHEN CLASSES WILL RESUME AND FACULTY WILL BE BACK ON CAMPUS. HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF THE YEAR AND AN EVEN BETTER NEW YEAR!

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“I’m no cheap crooked politician trying to save himself from the consequences of his crimes!”—Orson Welles in “Citizen Kane”

Movies that embrace political subjects, such as war and terrorism, have not been major moneymakers this year. “In the Valley of Elah” netted good reviews and Oscar buzz for star Tommy Lee Jones, but it only pulled in $7 million in ticket sales. Compare that with “Syriana,” the George Clooney espionage film that raked in $51 million in 2005 and earned Clooney an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Dr. Mark Byrnes, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and political science professor, says, “Overall … political movies have not been big draws at the box office. The fact that some still get made anyway might indicate that movie writers and producers find the subject matter compelling.”

Contact Byrnes at 615-898-2351.
mbyrnes@mtsu.edu

The dog ate my lawyer’s carefully crafted excuse.

New York Yankees hurler Andy Pettitte claims he never used steroids, and he only used human growth hormone (hGH) twice to help him recover more quickly from an injury. Since Pettitte’s admission, other lesser athletes have said that they don’t think taking hGH on a limited basis should be viewed as harshly as taking anabolic steroids as part of a regular regimen. Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, says the Major League Baseball Players’ Association is standing in the way of the detection of hGH with its endorsement of the current type of tests. “It’s only urine testing,” Anshel says. “And, so, without blood drawn, you can not get at a number of substances that are viewed as performance-enhancing. And human growth hormone is one of them.”

Audio clips and radio-ready stories with Anshel’s comments are available at www.mtsunews.com.
manshel@mtsu.edu

Are you drunker than a fifth-grader?

Thirty-seven states mandate drug and alcohol education in the public schools, but are you ready for alcohol education for elementary school youngsters? A University of Pittsburgh study published in the September issue of Prevention Science finds that seven percent of fourth-graders surveyed said they had taken an alcoholic drink in the past year. The percentages shoot up to 8.6 percent in fifth grade and 12.9 percent in sixth grade. Dr. Doug Winborn, health and human performance, says, “In order to intervene, it is preferable to identify and address the true problem. Lack of supervision, parental involvement, participation in school, community, extracurricular activities, finding and developing a talent—these tend to be the most predictive factors.”

Contact Winborn at 615-898-5110.
jwinborn@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Mr. Smith goes to Hollywood and winds up waiting tables in Encino.

USAToday analyzed 26 movies with “significant political themes” released over the past 20 years and found that nearly two-thirds made back less than $50 million. Only four did more than $100 million, even after being adjusted for inflation. Dr. Mark Byrnes, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and political science professor, teaches a course on politics and film. He says, “Hollywood mogul Samuel Goldwyn famously said, ‘Messages are for Western Union.’ In other words, movies should steer clear of political messages. Yet, throughout Hollywood history, movies have addressed political ideas, both explicitly and implicitly.” (USAToday’s top five grossing political films were “Enemy of the State,” “The Sum of All Fears,” “Fahrenheit 9/11,” “JFK,” and “The Interpreter.”)

Contact Byrnes at 615-898-2351.
mbyrnes@mtsu.edu

It’s not just about Clemens and Pettitte.

The baseball steroids scandal illuminated by the revelations in the Mitchell Report is not just about tainted All-Stars and MVPs. It’s about the example professional athletes set for young people, according to Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance professor. Anshel says, “These are the models, and these men—and, for that matter, women—can act as mentors to the less elite athletes in warning them not only is it unethical, not only is it cheating, not only can we not do it at the pro level, but it can kill you.” Anshel, who is writing about sports and drugs for a forthcoming book, says he thinks steroid use is underreported at the collegiate level because much of the research is dependent upon what the athletes are willing to reveal.

Audio clips and radio-ready stories with Anshel’s comments are available at www.mtsunews.com.
manshel@mtsu.edu

Getting AHeAD

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Aging Health and Development (AHeAD) Course at MTSU. It was created and nurtured by Dr. Cate Stogner, associate professor of human sciences, who also believes that it is the longest-running service-learning course on campus. “It’s the only full integrated service-learning course,” Stogner explains, “which means it’s not just a project here and there. After the first three weeks of orientation, it becomes the course, and students are with the senior citizens two hours every week.” Word of mouth creates a waiting line for AHeAD, she says. There are 20 students in the program every semester and approximately 30 senior citizens.

Contact Stogner at 615-898-5522.
cstogner@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The Mitchell Report

Major League Baseball is dealing with the humiliation of the Mitchell Report, an examination of the use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in the sport. It was released yesterday by former Senator George Mitchell, who conducted the investigation. Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, calls the report “very powerful” and says he wouldn’t be surprised to see enough pressure applied to Bud Selig to force him to resign as commissioner. “The commissioner either knew about the steroid issue … and decided to ignore it or just wasn’t doing his job,” Anshel says, “and it would seem to me that there is enough information out there to strongly suggest this should have been much more strongly enforced a long, long time ago.”

Audio clips and radio-ready stories with Anshel’s comments are available at www.mtsunews.com.
manshel@mtsu.edu

Managing your meat

Topps Meat Co. has filed for bankruptcy two months after the second-largest meat recall in U.S. history. On Nov. 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would double inspections of meat and poultry products from Canada because an Alberta-based company had supplied meat to Topps. Dr. Jessica Gentry Carter, agribusiness and agriscience, says the relative absence of market disruption since the recall “indicates that the general public continues to put trust in the USDA’s role to validate food safety. Consumers should always be aware that the most effective way to ensure food safety is by properly cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.” (USDA meat and poultry information is available at 1-888-MPHOTLINE or http:/www.fsis.usda.gov.)

Contact Carter at 615-898-2419.
jgcarter@mtsu.edu

This is the Army, Mr. Jones.

Three MTSU students from Tennessee will be commissioned into the United States Army at 10 a.m. today, Dec. 14, during swearing-in and pinning ceremonies in Keathley University Center Theater one day before graduating from the university. They include 2nd Lts. Caleb Daniel of Woodbury, Eric Flerchinger of Hixson and Tyler Garrett of White House. All are slated to report eventually to Fort Benning, Ga.—Garrett in January, Daniel in February, and Flerchinger in April. Lt. Col. Mike Walsh will preside over his third commissioning ceremony since becoming professor of military science in 2006.

Contact Walsh at 615-898-2470.
mwalsh@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE--More than 1,400 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 96th fall commencement ceremonies, according to Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. Tomorrow, Dec. 15, MTSU again will feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Gregg F. Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, will be the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. ceremony. On Dec. 15, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon. Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Are you in good hands?

Are consumer-driven health plans the way of the future? In a paper titled “Comments About the Future of Consumer-Driven Health Care Plans,” co-author Dr. Ken Hollman, holder of MTSU’s Martin Chair of Insurance, writes with his colleagues that “CDHCs are the most sweeping health insurance initiative in our country since the introduction of managed care three decades ago.” A CDHC is a mechanism similar to an individual retirement account (IRA) for medical expenses. “Its proponents contend that it can help lower or at least stabilize health care rates … They also believe it can meaningfully involve individual consumers in the management of their health and induce them to make prudent and cost-effective health care choices.”

Contact Hollman at 615-898-5596.
khollman@mtsu.edu

Let the sunshine in.

Americans should not refrain from participating in their own governance just because they are proscribed from voting on each individual issue. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment scholar, says he has a way to check elected officials who think it is all right to limit the amount of information available to the public. “Pass a law that says no secret meetings, no secret discussions, no secret decisions. Period. We get to know how much money each representative receives from which lobbyist. We get to know each and every time a city council member, county commissioner or state representative or senator meets with any group, lobbyist or concerned citizen—and that also goes for agency and department heads. Period.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983 or the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

Some like it hot.

Would you believe that the same chemical agent that burns your mouth when you eat spicy food can actually help alleviate pain? Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says this is true of capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers. “This may sound counterintuitive, especially if you’ve ever taken a bite of a habanero, but medical researchers have discovered that topical application of capsaicin—far from the eyes or mouth—is a very effective pain reliever,” he says. “A high concentration of capsaicin molecules has its numbing effect by overwhelming what are called the vanilloid receptors of sensor neurons. These are responsible for telling us that something is hot or sharp. This ‘shut down,’ or pain strike, is only temporary. After the capsaicin dissipates, the nerves are back in business, and one is again able to feel the pain of grabbing a hot test tube—or sitting through a new episode of ‘Hannah Montana.’”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE--More than 1,400 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 96th fall commencement ceremonies, according to Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. On Saturday, Dec. 15, MTSU again will feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Gregg F. Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, will be the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. ceremony. On Dec. 15, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon. Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

REDUCE, REFLECT, AND RECYCLE--Three MTSU art students have transformed waste into wonder with a project that turns a trip to the James E. Walker Library into a consciousness-raising experience. Hannah Green of Knoxville, Christine Peterson of Lyles and Erin Piper of Murfreesboro, members of the Student Art Alliance, will leave their artwork, titled “Reduce,” in place through the last day of final exams today, Dec. 13. It consists of a pile of bags of paper from copiers and recycle bins and strings of crumpled paper stretched across the library atrium. Posters made of recycled cardboard and located beside the pile on the main floor in front of the staircase alert library users to the wisdom of printing double-sided and previewing before they print to avoid waste. Contact Kristen Keene at the Walker Library at 615-898-5376 or kkeene@mtsu.edu.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Nashville by the numbers

Construction and mining employment increased 5.74 percent in Oct. 2007 over the same period a year ago, according to the latest economic indicators for the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro Metro Statistical Area compiled by MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center (BERC). The BERC also learned that manufacturing employment was down slightly more than three percent and information employment decreased a little more than one percent. The unemployment rate for Nashville dipped slightly to 3.7 percent from 3.8 percent in October 2006.

Contact the Business and Economic Research Center at 615-898-2610.

The bully pulpit

Forty-four percent of respondents polled by the Employment Law Alliance say they have worked for an abusive supervisor. Too bad, says Dr. David Foote, management and marketing. Foote says, “ … bullies have been around forever, and, while I don’t condone the bullying, maybe the bullies do serve a purpose. After all, I learned a lot about how NOT to manage people from the bullies I worked for in the military. Some of my best (albeit, more painful, as well) lessons about how to treat people right came from watching them treat people wrong. To be fair, I also had some outstanding bosses during my military days, and I learned a lot from them, too.”

Contact Foote at 615-898-2022.
dfoote@mtsu.edu

Reading between the lines

Would you miss the feel of a book, the sound of turning pages, if you had to read everything you wanted to read online? Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says Amazon.com might have an answer for you. It’s an e-book reader called Kindle, and it is supported with more than 90,000 titles. Roy says, “Positioning for Kindle is the convenience of having so many books at your disposal. It is a wise positioning strategy because positioning Kindle as somehow being on par with the experience of reading a paper book would be futile and not very credible. Early feedback on Kindle has been positive considering Amazon is currently out of stock.”

Contact Roy at 615-898-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE--More than 1,400 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 96th fall commencement ceremonies, according to Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. On Saturday, Dec. 15, MTSU again will feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Gregg F. Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, will be the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. ceremony. On Dec. 15, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon. Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

REDUCE, REFLECT, AND RECYCLE--Three MTSU art students have transformed waste into wonder with a project that turns a trip to the James E. Walker Library into a consciousness-raising experience. Hannah Green of Knoxville, Christine Peterson of Lyles and Erin Piper of Murfreesboro, members of the Student Art Alliance, will leave their artwork, titled “Reduce,” in place through the last day of final exams tomorrow, Dec. 13. It consists of a pile of bags of paper from copiers and recycle bins and strings of crumpled paper stretched across the library atrium. Posters made of recycled cardboard and located beside the pile on the main floor in front of the staircase alert library users to the wisdom of printing double-sided and previewing before they print to avoid waste. Contact Kristen Keene at the Walker Library at 615-898-5376 or kkeene@mtsu.edu.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Mystery meat in the school cafeteria

A report card created by the Center for Science in the Public Interest gives more than half of all states grades of D-plus or lower for their school food plans. Only 11 states have comprehensive standards applicable to all foods and all grade levels. Dr. Janet Colson, human sciences, says, “I do believe that it’s time for the federal government to pass laws governing the types of foods sold in all school venues. The Tennessee legislature passed one of the most comprehensive school foods laws in the nation, which is the main reason we scored a B-plus on the ‘School Food Report Card.’ (We didn’t get an A because our school food law does not include high school—only Pre-K through 8.)”

Contact Colson at 615-898-2091.
jcolson@mtsu.edu

The Not Ready for Crime Time Players

In a recent editorial in USAToday, Richard Rosenfeld of the University of Missouri-St. Louis says CQ Press’ annual rankings of the “most dangerous cities” in America, according to the latest FBI crime statistics, is “meaningless, damaging and irresponsible.” Do these rankings really tell us anything about how safe we are? Carter F. Smith, criminal justice administration, says the rankings depend on the statistical foundation in which the cities were analyzed. “CQ says Mission Viejo, Calif., was the safest city and Detroit, Mich., was the most dangerous city,” points out Smith. “Meanwhile, the Crime Trends site linked from Dr. Rosenfeld’s university Website (http://www.crimetrends.com/id5.html) ranks New Orleans as the highest in homicide rates and 10 cities in the North and Midwest as lowest based on an analysis of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. Detroit was tied for 16th place (with a rate almost half of New Orleans), and Mission Viejo (tied for) 184th with about a fourth of the rate of Detroit.”

Contact Smith at 615-898-2630.
carterfsmith@gmail.com

Chickens coming home to roost

Last week, the Bush Administration revealed a plan to help as many as 1.2 million homeowners whose mortgage rates are scheduled to rise in the coming months. Dr. Doug Timmons, economics and finance, says the so-called “Teaser Freezer” plan will let loan servicers modify loans without facing lawsuits from investors. But Timmons is not certain investors will go for the idea, and he says there could be numerous lawsuits dealing with this issue. Timmons says, “…Subprime loans would never have been made if traditional lending concepts like down payments and income-to-debt ratio standards had been applied. The no documentation/no income verification loans came with low initial rates that would reset in a few years to levels borrowers could never pay. Surely loan originators knew this. They were motivated by the commissions generated on new loans.”

Contact Timmons at 615-898-5750.
jtimmons@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE--More than 1,400 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 96th fall commencement ceremonies, according to Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. On Saturday, Dec. 15, MTSU again will feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Gregg F. Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, will be the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. ceremony. On Dec. 15, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon. Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

REDUCE, REFLECT, AND RECYCLE--Three MTSU art students have transformed waste into wonder with a project that turns a trip to the James E. Walker Library into a consciousness-raising experience. Hannah Green of Knoxville, Christine Peterson of Lyles and Erin Piper of Murfreesboro, members of the Student Art Alliance, will leave their artwork, titled “Reduce,” in place through the last day of final exams Thursday, Dec. 13. It consists of a pile of bags of paper from copiers and recycle bins and strings of crumpled paper stretched across the library atrium. Posters made of recycled cardboard and located beside the pile on the main floor in front of the staircase alert library users to the wisdom of printing double-sided and previewing before they print to avoid waste. Contact Kristen Keene at the Walker Library at 615-898-5376 or kkeene@mtsu.edu.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Speaking of sports

In an Oct. 3 commentary on National Public Radio, Frank Deford chastised the Monday Night Football booth trio (Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser and Ron Jaworski) on ESPN for too much meaningless babble and crosstalk getting in the way of the enjoyment and appreciation of the game. Deford also criticized what he considered to be the sameness of the announcers and the absence of unique perspectives. Dr. Roger Heinrich, an associate professor of electronic media communication who teaches a course on the history of sports in the media, says, “On December 20, 1980, NBC's Don Ohlmeyer green-lighted a one-game experiment for the network to air a game between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins sans announcers. The experiment failed miserably. Sports announcers will always have detractors. Howard Cosell had many, but they have been proven to be a necessity of the game."

Contact Heinrich at 615-904-8565.
heinrich@mtsu.edu

The chemistry of teaching

Governor Phil Bredesen, who majored in physics and entered politics as a second career, proposes drawing from the ranks of mid-career professionals to produce more high school teachers. Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says, “It is not enough to simply hand off content—the Internet can do that for free. Great teaching is an art that you can’t learn by simply sitting in a classroom or even by watching on the sidelines as an intern. While I can teach any student how to diagram the chemical play of an acid passing a proton to a base, and then execute it, you can’t teach teaching to just anyone. In math and science, we need greater numbers of passionate teachers and effective coaches, wherever and however they learned their craft, so that our country can continue to compete and win on the international playing field.”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

Reduce, reflect, and recycle

Three MTSU art students have transformed waste into wonder with a project that turns a trip to the James E. Walker Library into a consciousness-raising experience. Hannah Green of Knoxville, Christine Peterson of Lyles and Erin Piper of Murfreesboro, members of the Student Art Alliance, will leave their artwork, titled “Reduce,” in place through the last day of final exams Thursday, Dec. 13. It consists of a pile of bags of paper from copiers and recycle bins and strings of crumpled paper stretched across the library atrium. Posters made of recycled cardboard and located beside the pile on the main floor in front of the staircase alert library users to the wisdom of printing double-sided and previewing before they print to avoid waste.

Contact Kristen Keene at the Walker Library at 615-898-5376.
kkeene@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE--More than 1,400 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 96th fall commencement ceremonies, according to Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. On Saturday, Dec. 15, MTSU again will feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Gregg F. Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, will be the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. ceremony. On Dec. 15, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon. Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

EDITORS: “TODAY’S RESPONSE” WILL TAKE THE DAY OFF THURSDAY, DEC. 6, AND FRIDAY, DEC. 7. “TODAY’S RESPONSE” WILL RESUME ON MONDAY, DEC. 10.

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Euphonium euphoria

“Twas the Brass Before Christmas,” a holiday concert featuring various brass groups formed by MTSU students, will take place at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 6, in the T. Earl Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus. David Loucky, professor of trombone and euphonium at MTSU, says the program will feature traditional, festive brass works and one medley of Christmas carols. The concert also will include the participation of several brass quintets, horn quintets and a horn choir, as well as a low-brass ensemble composed of trombones and euphoniums. This concert is free and open to the public.

Contact Tim Musselman at 615-898-2493 or visit http://www.mtsumusic.com.

Let us show you around the place.

Starting today, Dec. 5, MTSU’s tours office will be located in the information desk on the first floor of the Cope Administration Building. After moving from her second-floor office area, tours coordinator Betty Pedigo will be relocated since the campus tours begin in the first-floor lobby area. Pedigo will continue to take tour reservations and provide visitors with campus information from the information desk from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. After the Christmas and New Year’s holidays and winter break between semesters, the student-led tours will resume Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. “We provide catalogs, visitor parking passes, maps, self-guided tours and all campus materials,” Pedigo says.

Contact Randy Weiler in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.
jweiler@mtsu.edu

We would be honored.

A first-ever meeting of the University Honors College Board of Visitors on Friday, Dec. 7, at the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building will bring together a distinguished group whose mission "is to provide leadership in promoting sustained program quality and positive change in the University Honors College." The meeting agenda will include PowerPoint presentations on the history and role of the honors college by Dean Phil Mathis, panel presentations/discussion with students, tours of the Martin Honors Buildingand Monahan Hall, MTSU development and marketing plan by Vice President Joe Bales and business meeting led by board chairman Jeff Whorley, former executive VP/debt management with the Sallie Mae Corp. (student loans).

For more information, call the Honors College at 615-898-2152 or MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

GET THE PICTURE?--“One Perspective/Two Countries: Mexico/Italy” is the photography exhibit on display through tomorrow, Dec. 6 at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery at MTSU. Harvey Stein teaches at the International Center of Photography and has been on the faculty of the New School University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Drew University, Bridgeport University and Jersey City State College. His photographs have been published in numerous magazines, including Time, Life, Esquire, The New Yorker, Forbes, People, and Smithsonian. For gallery hours, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE--More than 1,400 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 96th fall commencement ceremonies, according to Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. On Saturday, Dec. 15, MTSU again will feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Gregg F. Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, will be the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. ceremony. On Dec. 15, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon. Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

TOP OF THE POPS--The MTSU Commercial Music Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Dec. 5, in the T. Earl Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus. A few of the works to be performed include In the Midnight Hour, Josie, Rock with You, and My Cherie Amour, among many others. The MTSU Commercial Music Ensemble is a high-energy pop band that performs a wide array of music from both yesterday and today. “The program features five vocalists backed by a rockin’ rhythm section of two guitars, keyboards, bass and drums as well as a four-piece horn section,” says Rich Adams, director of the ensemble. Members of the ensemble are made up of students from both the MTSU music school and the Department of Recording Industry. This concert is free and open to the public. Contact Tim Musselman at 615-898-2493 for more information or go to http://www.mtsumusic.edu.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Top of the pops

The MTSU Commercial Music Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 5, in the T. Earl Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus. A few of the works to be performed include In the Midnight Hour, Josie, Rock with You, and My Cherie Amour, among many others. The MTSU Commercial Music Ensemble is a high-energy pop band that performs a wide array of music from both yesterday and today. “The program features five vocalists backed by a rockin’ rhythm section of two guitars, keyboards, bass and drums as well as a four-piece horn section,” says Rich Adams, director of the ensemble. Members of the ensemble are made up of students from both the MTSU music school and the Department of Recording Industry. This concert is free and open to the public.

Contact Tim Musselman at 615-898-2493 for more information or go to http://www.mtsumusic.edu/.

Conflicted consumers

The latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index from MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research finds that perceptions of the job market are still strong and healthy. Consumers are also relatively upbeat about their personal finances. However, they are approaching the holiday shopping season with some trepidation. Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the office, says, “When asked about their expected Christmas spending, almost two-thirds of local consumers plan to spend about the same as last year. With such uncertainty surrounding the economy, it appears that most consumers will hold steady and not change much from last year’s spending.” The poll of 469 randomly selected adult residents of Davidson, Rutherford and Williamson counties was conducted on the evenings of Tuesday, Nov. 27 and Thursday, Nov. 29.

Contact Graeff at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

Baby boozers?

A study published in the September issue of Prevention Science says that seven percent of fourth-graders said they had an alcoholic drink in the past year, and 10 percent had more than a sip in that period. Is alcohol education needed in the schools at that tender age, and, if so, what words should parents and teachers use to broach the subject? Dr. Doug Winborn, health and human performance, says, “In some instances, more drug/alcohol education only makes the situation worse. Part of the reason is that children consuming alcohol at earlier ages is not the true problem—it is the symptom. … Often, drug and alcohol experimentation at an early age is a result of too much leisure time without a worthy use of leisure.”

Contact Winborn at 615-898-5110.
jwinborn@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com/ and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org/.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

GET THE PICTURE?--“One Perspective/Two Countries: Mexico/Italy” is the photography exhibit on display through Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery at MTSU. Harvey Stein teaches at the International Center of Photography and has been on the faculty of the New School University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Drew University, Bridgeport University and Jersey City State College. His photographs have been published in numerous magazines, including Time, Life, Esquire, The New Yorker, Forbes, People, and Smithsonian. For gallery hours, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

“I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN CONFIDENCE ALONE.”—JULIE ANDREWS IN “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”--The June Anderson Women’s Center (JAWC) will present “How to Gain Confidence, Handle Conflict and Be Successful in the Workplace” at 12 noon today, Dec. 4, in the SunTrust Room of the Business and Aerospace Building. This workshop, the latest in the Career Professional Development Brown Bag Series, will be presented by Terri Johnson, director of the JAWC. The focus will be on tips and strategies for building confidence and self-esteem. Participants will be able to role-play different scenarios, learn techniques for handling conflicts and understand strategies for achieving professional goals in the workplace. Contact the Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

INCA DINKA DOO--Join Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, and Dr. Kathy Burriss, elementary and special education, for an enrichment program for students to be presented through the MTSU Satellite and Webcasting Center from 9-10 a.m. CST (10-11 a.m. EST) today, Dec. 4. “Machu Picchu: Lost City of the Incas” will take students in grades 4-8 back in time to sail on the world’s highest lake and enable them to spend time on floating islands made of woven reeds. The Burrisses will explore the mysteries of pre-Colombian Bolivia and Peru and visit the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. They’ll discover the mysteries of 500-year-old temple sound systems and see interlocking stonework so precise a piece of paper will not fit between the joints. For more information, call 615-898-2737 or send an e-mail to vmoxley@mtsu.edu.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE--More than 1,400 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 96th fall commencement ceremonies, according to Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. On Saturday, Dec. 15, MTSU again will feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Gregg F. Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, will be the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. ceremony. On Dec. 15, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon. Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

THEY’RE NOT JUST BLOWING SMOKE--Tennessee public health officials and faith leaders will hold a forum at 10:30 a.m. today, Dec. 4, in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, Room 106. They will urge members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation to support legislation that would authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. Speakers will include: MTSU’s Dr. Martha Jo Edwards, Adams Chair of Excellence in Health Care Services and director of the Center for Health and Human Services; Barbara L. Forbes, MCN, GNP, director of the Institute for Smoking Cessation and Prevention at Vanderbilt University’s Dayani Center; Rev. Dave Adams, general secretary for United Methodist Men; and a representative from CHART, Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee. For more information, contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

They’re not just blowing smoke.

Tennessee public health officials and faith leaders will hold a forum at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, Room 106. They will urge members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation to support legislation that would authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. Speakers will include: MTSU’s Dr. Martha Jo Edwards, Adams Chair of Excellence in Health Care Services and director of the Center for Health and Human Services; Barbara L. Forbes, MCN, GNP, director of the Institute for Smoking Cessation and Prevention at Vanderbilt University’s Dayani Center; Rev. Dave Adams, general secretary for United Methodist Men; and a representative from CHART, Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee.

For more information, contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

Look out for that grinch!

Confidence among local Middle Tennessee consumers has declined heading into the Christmas and holiday season, according to MTSU’s latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index from the Office of Consumer Research (OCR). The index fell from 242 in September to 225 in November. “Consumer confidence had been bolstered in September by interest rate cuts by the Fed and the subsequent gains in the stock market in response to those rate cuts,” says Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the OCR. “Unfortunately, those positive feelings have been replaced by doubts about the current state of the economy. Concerns about the credit crunch, rising gas prices, falling home sales, and a fluctuating stock market have given consumers reasons to be tentative and cautious as they plan their budgets for this Christmas and holiday season.”

Contact Graeff at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

It’s not that easy being green.

Socially responsible business practices are nothing new in the curricula of American institutions of higher learning. But the “Green MBA” (master’s in business administration) with an emphasis on environmentalism is a relatively new phenomenon. Is it a fad, or is it the shape of things to come? Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says, “While ‘Green MBA’ programs aren’t likely to become standard fare in B-schools nationwide, there appears to be a market for offering such programs. At the very least, B-school curricula should include expanded coverage of social responsibility practices within each business discipline.”

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TUNE IN NEXT TIME--The December edition of the television program “Middle Tennessee Record” will present MTSU homecoming highlights; the groundbreaking at the site where a veterans memorial will be erected on campus; the dedication of a new home built by MTSU students volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to encourage girls who are interested in math and science; a new television program from the Department of Recording Industry that offers professional advise on songwriting; and other features that highlight MTSU faculty, students and events. To find out when “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record” on the right side of the page. For more information, contact John Lynch, Director of Marketing Technologies, at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FIRST AT THE FRIST--The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway in Nashville, will feature “Mid-State Art Majors,” an aptly titled exhibit that will include works by eight MTSU art students through Monday, Dec. 31. “I’ve been here four years and there’s never been a show put together like this,” says Erin Anfinson, assistant professor of art and liaison for the exhibit. “They came to us with the opportunity, and we were thrilled.” Art professors nominated MTSU students to be featured in the exhibit. Then a panel of faculty chose students to represent each of the concentrations of the art department—printmaking, ceramics, paintings, sculpture and graphic design. For more information about the exhibit, including driving directions, please visit the center’s online site at http://www.fristcenter.org.

I’LL GRANT YOU THAT--The President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at MTSU is accepting applications from faculty for its 2008 Curriculum Integration Grants. The 2007 grants, which have been awarded to three professors in allocations of $1,800 each, are being used to infuse courses at MTSU with an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of women. Dr. Jane Marcellus, journalism, will teach a course in the spring semester titled “Women in Journalism History.” Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, used her grant to create a version of her “Foundations of Government” general education class that would be applicable in a study-abroad context in Cherbourg, France. And Jeremy Rich, history, fashioned a course on “Women in Africa.” For more information on how to apply for this year’s grants, contact Dr. Tina Johnson, PCSW chair and associate professor of English at 615-898-2705 or ntjohnso@mtsu.edu.

GET THE PICTURE?--“One Perspective/Two Countries: Mexico/Italy” is the photography exhibit on display through Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery at MTSU. Harvey Stein teaches at the International Center of Photography and has been on the faculty of the New School University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Drew University, Bridgeport University and Jersey City State College. His photographs have been published in numerous magazines, including Time, Life, Esquire, The New Yorker, Forbes, People, and Smithsonian. For gallery hours, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

“I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN CONFIDENCE ALONE.”—JULIE ANDREWS IN “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”--The June Anderson Women’s Center (JAWC) will present “How to Gain Confidence, Handle Conflict and Be Successful in the Workplace” at 12 noon tomorrow, Dec. 4, in the SunTrust Room of the Business and Aerospace Building. This workshop, the latest in the Career Professional Development Brown Bag Series, will be presented by Terri Johnson, director of the JAWC. The focus will be on tips and strategies for building confidence and self-esteem. Participants will be able to role-play different scenarios, learn techniques for handling conflicts and understand strategies for achieving professional goals in the workplace. Contact the Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

INCA DINKA DOO--Join Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, and Dr. Kathy Burriss, elementary and special education, for an enrichment program for students to be presented through the MTSU Satellite and Webcasting Center from 9-10 a.m. CST (10-11 a.m. EST) tomorrow, Dec. 4. “Machu Picchu: Lost City of the Incas” will take students in grades 4-8 back in time to sail on the world’s highest lake and enable them to spend time on floating islands made of woven reeds. The Burrisses will explore the mysteries of pre-Colombian Bolivia and Peru and visit the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. They’ll discover the mysteries of 500-year-old temple sound systems and see interlocking stonework so precise a piece of paper will not fit between the joints. For more information, call 615-898-2737 or send an e-mail to vmoxley@mtsu.edu.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE--More than 1,400 degree candidates are expected to graduate during MTSU’s 96th fall commencement ceremonies, according to Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. On Saturday, Dec. 15, MTSU again will feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers starting at 9 a.m and 1 p.m. in Murphy Center. Gregg F. Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, will be the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, will be the featured speaker for the 1 p.m. ceremony. On Dec. 15, the doors to Murphy Center will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony. For the afternoon ceremony, the doors will open at noon. Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.