Monday, April 21, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Bye-bye, buying

Middle Tennessee consumers are losing confidence in the economy. The latest Consumer Confidence Report from MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research (OCR) shows the index plummeted from 158 in February to 44 in April. That’s an all-time low for the poll. “Rising gasoline prices, news of layoffs, concerns about the future of the job market, concerns about future negative effects of the credit crunch and decreases in the stock market have all contributed to the overall gloomy outlook regarding the American economy,” says Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the OCR. The poll of 452 randomly selected adult residents of Davidson, Rutherford and Williamson counties was conducted the evenings of Monday, April 14 and Thursday, April 17.

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

Equal pay for equal work

In observance of Pay Equity Day tomorrow, April 22, people across the MTSU campus will be wearing red to symbolize the fact that women are still “in the red” compared to men when it comes to earnings. The American Association of University Women, the June Anderson Women’s Center, the Women’s Studies Program and the President’s Commission on the Status of Women will have volunteers handing out buttons that read “Ask me about 77 cents.” That’s how much a woman earns on average for every dollar a man earns in the United States. At 2:40 p.m., tomorrow, April 22, Dr. Ayne Cantrell, professor emeritus and president of the Murfreesboro branch of the AAUW, will present a lecture titled “Behind the Pay Gap: How Far Have Women Come?” in Room 100 of the James Union Building. This event is free and open to the public.

Contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193.
jawc@mtsu.edu

Down in the dumps

If the Nashville area economy is slumping, the loss of manufacturing jobs is the main reason. That’s one conclusion of the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center’s (BERC) analysis of the latest Midstate Economic Indicators. “Manufacturing has lost 5,500 jobs over the year, mostly in durable goods production,” writes Dr. David Penn, director of the BERC. “Though specifics are not available, auto industry production slowdowns suggest that much of the losses are due to cutbacks in local businesses that manufacture auto parts.” Also, permits for single-family home construction sank in the fourth quarter, a 23.9% drop from the third quarter after seasonable adjustments and 39% lower over the year.

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

TR EXTRA

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.

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. tonight, April 21, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. This event is free and open to the public.

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.

TOP TEN--Ten special high-school seniors who have endured and overcome life’s hardships will be recognized tomorrow, April 22, when they will receive Neill-Sandler Scholarships at the MTSU awards ceremony. This event will start at 6 p.m. at the Emmett and Rose Kennon Sports Hall of Fame. Eight recipients will get awards of $5,000 each. One student will be the recipient of the $10,000 Ray and Judy Danner Scholarship. Another student will get the $7,500 Sidney and Elizabeth McPhee Scholarship. This year’s Neill-Sandler Scholars hail from Smithville, Franklin County, Lebanon, McMinnville, Tullahoma, Murfreesboro, Woodbury, Wartrace, Brentwood and Coffee County. For more information, contact Randy Weiler at 615-898-2919 or Kippy Todd at 615-898-5756.