Friday, February 1, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The past is prologue?

As Black History Month begins today, it is interesting to note that a Pew Research Center study shows African-Americans are more dissatisfied with their progress than at any other time in the past 20 years. This comes as a surprise “only to those who tend to measure social change in America on an incremental basis rather than looking at it holistically,” says Dr. Jacqui Wade, social work. “African-Americans know all too well that only a cursory look at the past eight to 10 years of governmental changes of social policies and related political agendas—especially on state and local levels—and legal action-taking by the federal courts—especially district courts—will reveal many of the socio-cultural, political and economic gains they made resultant from the modern-day civil rights movement essentially have been eroded.”

Contact Wade at 615-898-2477.
jewade@mtsu.edu

What items are on your bucket list?

Dr. Janet Belsky, professor of psychology, will be a guest on “In Your Prime,” a discussion program on NewsChannel5+ (Comcast Channel 50), today at 1 p.m. CST with host Meryll Rose. Belsky, an expert on issues regarding aging, will discuss setting goals toward the end of one’s life as did the main characters in the recent movie “The Bucket List.” This program will be repeated at noon tomorrow, Feb. 2; at 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3; at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6; at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15; at noon, Saturday, Feb. 16; at 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17; and at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

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

Rah! Rah! Buy a bra!

Victoria’s Secret has purchased a 30-second television commercial scheduled to run during the second half of the Super Bowl this Sunday. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says he likes this move for two reasons. “First, the Super Bowl will be played a mere 11 days before Valentine’s Day, a key selling period for Victoria’s Secret,” he says. “Potential exists for the commercial to be a driver of traffic to stores and the VS Web site. From a timing standpoint, the VS spot makes much more sense than Hollywood studios running commercials for movies that will not open until summer! Second, airing the commercial during the second half means that the number of younger viewers who would be exposed (no pun intended) to the message could be lower compared to airing in the first half.”

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

TR EXTRA

LINGERIE LIVES!--MTSU Theatre & Dance will present Underwear: The Musical, book, music and lyrics by Heidi Ervin and Brandon Gwinn, at 7:30 p.m. through tomorrow, Feb. 2 in the Studio Theatre of the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. This tender, hilariously irreverent and original musical reveals a unique plan to control men and rule the world through the ingenious design of their underwear. Though lighthearted and endearing, Underwear: The Musical features scantily clad performers (no nudity) and mature themes. Therefore, it might not be appropriate for teenagers and younger children. General admission tickets are $3 each. The show will be performed in two acts with a 15-minute intermission. More information is available at http://www.underwearthemusical.com.

BRINGING THE MIDDLE EAST TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE--MTSU Honors students are going beyond the headlines to understand more about the customs and values of people in the Middle East. In “Contemporary Middle East Culture: Film, Music and Literature,” students are listening to music from various traditions, viewing films produced by contemporary Arab and Israeli directors, and read literary work by writers from the region. In their explorations, they discuss issues of language, identity, borders, homeland and memory. The instructors, Dr. Sonja Hedgepeth, professor of foreign languages and literatures, and Dr. Allen Hibbard, English professor and director of the MTSU Middle East Center, can assure students of a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the Middle East than that which is afforded by news stories reported in the general media. Contact the University Honors College at 615-898-2152.

THE GREEN FIELDS OF THE MIND--The 35th annual Groundhog Day Luncheon to benefit Blue Raider baseball is slated for 11:30 a.m. today, Feb. 1, at Murphy Center. The traditional menu of hamhocks, white beans, tomato salad, green onions, cornbread, chocolate cake and ice cream will be available. Former Blue Raider standouts Brett Carroll, Matt Ray and Todd Martin are among those who will be in attendance. Tomorrow, Feb. 2, the Middle Tennessee baseball program will conduct its “Show Me” Camp from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Murphy Center. The camp is for children ages six to 12. Hitting, pitching, infield play, outfield play, and base running will be the topics for the five sessions by coaches, players and former players. All campers should bring their gloves. For information on the luncheon, call 615-898-2103 or 615-898-2210. For information on the camp, call 615-898-2450 or 615-898-2961.

ALL NIGHT LONG--Up ‘til Dawn, a benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, will be held from 7 p.m. tonight, Feb. 1, to 7 a.m. tomorrow, Feb. 2, in MTSU’s Campus Recreation Center. It will be open to the public from 7 p.m. to midnight Feb. 1. A $5 donation is requested. Attendees will be entertained by sporting events, live entertainment and free food. A hypnotist is expected to be part of the late-night activities. A guest patient from St. Jude will speak. Last year, Up ‘til Dawn raised more than $96,000. This year’s goal is $105,000. For more information, call 615-904-8270, or visit http://www.mtsu.edu/~uptldawn.