Friday, April 18, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Sorting out sports

The Journal of Sport Administration & Supervision (JSAS), a cutting-edge academic publication initiated at MTSU earlier this year, is issuing its first call for papers from scholars throughout the world. “We are pleased to open the submission process for authors to send their research for consideration and review,” says Dr. Colby Jubenville, associate professor of sport management and graduate program coordinator in the Department of Health and Human Performance. The journal’s most unique feature is its empowerment of sport practitioners, who will be allowed to review scholarly works, analyze research and determine whether it would be useful to them in the field. A major convenience of the Website, http://www.jsasonline.org, is its user-friendly online submission and review process.

Contact Jubenville at 615-898-2909.
jubenvil@mtsu.edu

By the numbers

The latest Midstate Economic Indicators posted by MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center (BERC) show a definite slowdown of economic activity in the Nashville area in the fourth quarter. Job growth went up 1.5 percent from a year ago. “The problem is that very little of this job growth is recent,” writes Dr. David Penn, director of the BERC. “Employment gains we experienced during the past 12 months were pretty well exhausted by the third quarter. Compared with the third quarter, fourth quarter nonfarm employment is virtually unchanged. It is likely that the Nashville area is entering a period of very low employment growth for the next quarter or two. If a recession for the Nashville area is truly just around the corner, one would expect to experience a much sharper drop in nonfarm employment.”

Contact Penn at 615-898-2610.
dpenn@mtsu.edu

A sense of community

Dr. Gloria Bonner, current dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Science, has been chosen to lead the Office of Community Engagement and Support, a newly created administrative office initiated to support MTSU’s overall mission as it relates to addressing the ever-growing needs of both MTSU and the surrounding community at large. Bonner’s new appointment will become effective May 1, and the university will begin a national search later this year to fill the deanship role that Bonner has held for a decade. According to its proposed mission statement, the primary aim of Bonner’s new office will be to articulate the university’s mission and activities to the surrounding communities, providing an ear to the needs and concerns of MTSU’s neighbors as it relates to the actions and activities of the university.

Contact Tom Tozer or Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

TR EXTRA

MYSTICAL AND MODERN—The Middle East Center at MTSU will present Turkish virtuoso Omar Faruk Tekbilek and his ensemble in concert at 2 p.m., tomorrow, April 19, in the Keathley University Center Theatre on campus. This event is free and open to the public. Tekbilek and his band will perform traditional Sufi, folk and contemporary music from the Middle East. Their music, while derived from centuries-old sounds, is influenced by modern music, resulting in a mystical, spiritual sound that has entertained and intrigued people of many countries and cultures. For more information, contact Dr. Allen Hibbard, director of the Middle East Center, at 615-494-7906 or at ahibbard@mtsu.edu. To hear samples of Tekbilek’s music or for more information about him, go to http://www.omarfaruktekbilek.com.

RAD-ICAL!--A series of six Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes will be offered at no charge every Thursday through May 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the MTSU police training room located at 1412 East Main Street. The class will be open to all female MTSU students, faculty and staff as well as to the general public. A workbook/training manual will be provided to each student. Enrollment is limited. For more information or to enroll, call MTSU RAD Instructor David Smith at 615-692-2424.

ART FOR ART’S SAKE—View the works of Clarke Hosp, Sarah Sullivan, Jonathan Myers, Beth Copley and Grace Absar at the BFA Variety Show through today, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at MTSU’s Todd Gallery. This exhibition is free and open to the public.

A WHOPPER OF A CHOPPER--MTSU alumnus and U.S. Army Capt. Brian D. Blake (’00) will help lead two Airmobile/Air Assault CH-47 helicopters on a mission as 20 to 30 members of the Forrest Raiders cadet corps are transported to Fort Campbell, Ky., today, April 18, for a field training exercise. The helicopters will arrive at approximately 10:30 a.m., landing on the grassy area near the MTSU tennis courts, which are located at the intersection of Greenland Drive and Middle Tennessee Boulevard. For more information, contact Maj. Chuck Giles at 615-898-5702 or cgiles@mtsu.edu.

A SOBERING THOUGHT--The University Police Department at MTSU will set up a field sobriety checkpoint on or around campus tonight, April 18, from midnight to 2:00 a.m. It will be the first one this year at MTSU. Three were conducted in 2007. “These sobriety checkpoints seem to be helping reduce alcohol-related accidents throughout the state,” says MTSU Police Chief Buddy Peaster. “The Governor’s Highway Safety Office has reported that there is a definite decrease in alcohol-related deaths since the increased efforts across Tennessee.” Associate Police Chief Roy Brewer says, “Our goal is to reduce the number of impaired drivers by being proactive.” Contact Peaster or Brewer at 615-898-2424.

MT on TV--Vehicles fueled by alternative energy, a science prodigy who earned an honorable mention on USAToday’s All-USA College Academic Team, “Nashville Star” winner Chris Young speaking at this year’s Invention Convention, discovering a healthy lifestyle, the four homes of the MTSU library over the decades, Tennessee writers reading their works, and mourning the passing of two beloved faculty members—it’s all on the April edition of “MT Record,” produced by John Lynch and Seth Alder of the Office of News and Public Affairs. “MT Record” can be viewed at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday on Channel 9 in Rutherford County and on NewsChannel5+ at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, as well as at http://www.mtsunews.com.
For more information, contact John Lynch at 615-898-5591 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

A FEW GOOD MEN--According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 70% of black women are single past the age of 30. Is this due to the unavailability of black men or some other factor? Join the debate, sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at 7:06 p.m. Monday, April 21, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. This event is free and open to the public.

OPERA MAN--The MTSU Symphony, Chamber Orchestra and Philharmonia, featuring MTSU faculty tenor H. Stephen Smith, will present their season’s finale concert titled Opera Gala Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 20, in the T. Earl Hinton Music Hall of MTSU’s Wright Music Building. This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.mtsumusic.com or call 615-898-4293.