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 “Unfortunately, those positive feelings have been replaced by doubts about the current state of the economy.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.