Friday, May 30, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

A man of honor

Dr. John Vile, chair of the Department of Political Science, officially will become dean of the University Honors College July 1. Vile will replace Dr. Phil Mathis, who is slated to retire June 30. “(Vile) is an exemplary academic, an involved university and community citizen, and a man with a wonderful laugh,” Gebert says. “Dr. Vile will be an exceptional honors dean, and we are delighted to welcome him to this new role.” Vile says, “I directed an honors thesis this year and am looking forward to working with students on a one-to-one basis. I’ve always had an open door policy in political science that I plan to take with me to the Honors College.” Dr. Clyde Willis will assume the role of interim dean of political science.

Contact Vile at 615-898-2596.
jvile@mtsu.edu
Contact Gebert at 615-898-2880.
kgebert@mtsu.edu

Child custody

The issue of how society should deal with juvenile offenders remains a thorny one. In a paper he presented in March at the National Association of Black Political Scientists’ annual conference, Dr. Sekou Franklin, political science, assessed the juvenile justice reform movement, which has made some progress in Louisiana, Maryland and New York City. “Despite these victories, the (movement) still has a long way to go,” Franklin writes. “Reforms are slow to come by and many states and localities continue to implement ‘get-tough’ and zero-tolerance policies that have a disproportionate impact on poor youth and youth of color. Furthermore, despite federal mandates encouraging states to reduce racial disparities in their systems, disproportionate minority confinement is still a major problem.” To hear Franklin discuss this subject in more detail, tune in to “MTSU On the Record” at 7 a.m. this Sunday, June 1, on WMOT-FM (89.5) or at http://www.wmot.org.

Contact Franklin at 615-904-8232.
franklin@mtsu.edu
For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081.
gklogue@mtsu.edu

Camp capers

MTSU Campus Recreation kicks off its youth camp season Monday, June 2, to help keep young people healthy and fit this summer. The Summer Youth Sports Camp, which will run each week through Friday, Aug. 1, is for boys and girls seven to 13 years old. It will feature a variety of sports, leisure and fitness activities between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tuition for each weekly session is $150 with lunch or $125 if campers bring their own lunches. Swim Camp also begins June 2 and runs for four two-week sessions through July 25. The camp for swimmers ages 8 to 17 is set from 1 to 2 p.m. daily. Each two-week session costs $25 per participant, and swimmers may register for one session or all four.

For more details, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/~camprec or call 615-898-2104.

TR EXTRA

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!--In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc. For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu.

THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT--You can spend part of your summer examining the fascinating Native American history and prehistory of the Southwest and get geography or history credit for it at MTSU! The class is titled “Geography of Native Americans” and will be conducted for the 15th consecutive year by Dr. Doug Heffington, professor of historical geography and director of the Global Studies Program. “The class focuses on the examination of the human/land relationships between the native peoples of New Mexico and their natural environment,” Heffington says. “Most of our base camp is in the small colonial village of Truchas, which dates to the mid-1700s with its blend of Genizaro, Mestizo and Hispano cultures. The trip/course starts July 21st and takes about nine days to complete.” The cost is approximately $400 per student and includes transportation, two meals a day, lodging and entry fees. Contact Heffington at 615-898-5978 or jheffing@mtsu.edu.

LOOKS LIKE A HOMICIDE, HORATIO--Is your child itching to learn how forensic investigators examine crime scenes and ferret out the clues that solve real world mysteries? This summer’s “CSI: MTSU”, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 11-13, is a three-day program designed for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades in Rutherford and surrounding counties. The students will be presented with a re-creation of an actual crime scene. They will be trained in the processes of collecting evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fibers, simulated blood splatter and shoe prints. Young people will explore the career possibilities in forensic science, understand a “real life” reason to tackle higher level math and science courses, and develop skills in teamwork, seeing and understanding details, critical thinking and presentations. The program is co-sponsored by the Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE) and MTSU’s College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning. For more information, contact Eve Shockley at 615-898-5530 or eshockle@mtsu.edu.

“BLESSED ARE THE CRACKED FOR THEY SHALL LET IN THE LIGHT.”—GROUCHO MARX--How do you see God? Do you see the Almighty as a man, a woman, an ambiguous force of nature? These are questions to be explored this summer as Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, teaches “Images of God in the American Media” from July 7 through August 8 at MTSU. Pondillo and his students will pursue the subject by examining television programs ranging from “Family Guy” to “Joan of Arcadia” and movies like “Oh, God” and “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Pondilo says, “We’ll have an intellectual discussion and a cosmological discussion and a theological discussion—a discussion, not make it a time to convert people or anything like that. Let’s just talk and try to understand.” Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

ALMA MATER MATTERS--Registration has been extended to June 10 for MTSU’s Alumni Summer College, a two-and-a-half-day even full of fun, fellowship and presentations on local topics June 25-27. Faculty, staff and other experts who are slated to speak include Dr. Lisa Pruitt, director of the Gore Center, on “A Century of Service: The History of MTSU”; Dr. Rhonda Hoffman, associate professor of equine science, will introduce attendees to the latest research and technology in the horse world; and alumni Gloria Christy (’71) and Bill Shacklett (’73) will discuss the technical world of photo restoration. Also on tap are a trip to the Grand Ole Opry, dinner at Caney Fork Fish Camp and a scavenger hunt. Contact Rhonda Wright at 1-800-533-6878 or rwright@mtsu.edu.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The manufacturer’s suggested e-tail price

A new survey conducted by Direct magazine shows that e-tail is growing in popularity as a marketing tool. Seventy-two percent of the firms polled send e-mail to customers, and 50% send it to prospects. Meanwhile, direct mail usage declined 4% to customers and 1% to prospects. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says, “The days of advertising campaigns consisting of traditional media only are over. What is needed today is an integrated effort that can include traditional media elements such as print or broadcast (media). Direct marketing’s inherent capabilities to measure effectiveness make tools such as e-mail, direct mail and search engine advertising indispensable elements in today’s integrated marketing campaigns.”

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

“The merchant has no country.”—Thomas Jefferson

The fourth economic quarter was the best of the year for Tennessee exports, but Dr. Steve Livingston, political science, says that’s not necessarily anything to brag about. Exported produced totaled $5.861 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007, a gain of 6.54% over 2006. But, says Livingston, “The state substantially lagged behind the nation in its export performance. Total U.S. exports for the fourth quarter grew more than 14.3%, more than double that of Tennessee. The year 2007 itself was the weakest in memory for the state. Tennessee was one of only seven states that saw an actual decline in exports for the year (-.093%)—this while the nation’s exports were increasing by 12%.”

Contact Livingston at 615-898-2720.
slivings@mtsu.edu

Alma mater matters

Registration has been extended to June 10 for MTSU’s Alumni Summer College, a two-and-a-half-day even full of fun, fellowship and presentations on local topics June 25-27. Faculty, staff and other experts who are slated to speak include Dr. Lisa Pruitt, director of the Gore Center, on “A Century of Service: The History of MTSU”; Dr. Rhonda Hoffman, associate professor of equine science, will introduce attendees to the latest research and technology in the horse world; and alumni Gloria Christy (’71) and Bill Shacklett (’73) will discuss the technical world of photo restoration. Also on tap are a trip to the Grand Ole Opry, dinner at Caney Fork Fish Camp and a scavenger hunt.

Contact Rhonda Wright at 1-800-533-6878.
rwright@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!--In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc. For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu.

THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT--You can spend part of your summer examining the fascinating Native American history and prehistory of the Southwest and get geography or history credit for it at MTSU! The class is titled “Geography of Native Americans” and will be conducted for the 15th consecutive year by Dr. Doug Heffington, professor of historical geography and director of the Global Studies Program. “The class focuses on the examination of the human/land relationships between the native peoples of New Mexico and their natural environment,” Heffington says. “Most of our base camp is in the small colonial village of Truchas, which dates to the mid-1700s with its blend of Genizaro, Mestizo and Hispano cultures. The trip/course starts July 21st and takes about nine days to complete.” The cost is approximately $400 per student and includes transportation, two meals a day, lodging and entry fees. Contact Heffington at 615-898-5978 or jheffing@mtsu.edu.

LOOKS LIKE A HOMICIDE, HORATIO--Is your child itching to learn how forensic investigators examine crime scenes and ferret out the clues that solve real world mysteries? This summer’s “CSI: MTSU”, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 11-13, is a three-day program designed for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades in Rutherford and surrounding counties. The students will be presented with a re-creation of an actual crime scene. They will be trained in the processes of collecting evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fibers, simulated blood splatter and shoe prints. Young people will explore the career possibilities in forensic science, understand a “real life” reason to tackle higher level math and science courses, and develop skills in teamwork, seeing and understanding details, critical thinking and presentations. The program is co-sponsored by the Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE) and MTSU’s College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning. For more information, contact Eve Shockley at 615-898-5530 or eshockle@mtsu.edu.

“BLESSED ARE THE CRACKED FOR THEY SHALL LET IN THE LIGHT.”—GROUCHO MARX--How do you see God? Do you see the Almighty as a man, a woman, an ambiguous force of nature? These are questions to be explored this summer as Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, teaches “Images of God in the American Media” from July 7 through August 8 at MTSU. Pondillo and his students will pursue the subject by examining television programs ranging from “Family Guy” to “Joan of Arcadia” and movies like “Oh, God” and “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Pondilo says, “We’ll have an intellectual discussion and a cosmological discussion and a theological discussion—a discussion, not make it a time to convert people or anything like that. Let’s just talk and try to understand.” Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

BLUE RAIDERS WITH GREEN THUMBS--During the spring semester, students started a garden on MTSU farm property. The Plant and Soil Science Club is helping maintain the garden and will be selling produce on campus to raise club funds. Starting today, May 29, the club will be open for business two days a week—Tuesday mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Thursday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Horticulture Center on Blue Raider Drive across from the Livestock Center. Selection will vary depending on what is ready for harvest, but today’s produce will include lettuce, radishes and possibly some early cabbage, as well as many ornamental Brugmansia plants. Contact Dr. Nate Phillips at 615-494-8985 or nphillip@mtsu.edu.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

A whole new world

Middle Tennessee State University will look to fill the position of MT Abroad Director this summer as Jennifer Campbell prepares to depart May 30. Campbell is slated to assume the job of Director of Study Abroad at her alma mater, Rollins College, in Winter Park, Fla., starting June 2. During Campbell’s nearly six-year tenure, MTSU has sent more college students abroad than any other Tennessee Board of Regents institution. She says she remains confident that international education will remain a strong priority at MTSU. “There’s a campus here that really believes in study abroad, puts their money where their mouth is and really supports international growth on this campus,” Campbell says.

For more information about study abroad opportunities at MTSU, contact the MT Abroad office at 615-898-5179 or go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~mtabroad.

Ooh la la!

For the second consecutive year, the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the world, has accepted an independent film produced by MTSU students and faculty. The movie, which is titled “Wait …,” also has been accepted by Digifest in Florence, Italy, and is under consideration by nearly other 40 festivals around the globe. “I’m astonished and humbled at the same time,” Dr. Bob Pondillo, professor of electronic media communication and the screenwriter and director of “Wait …,” says. “This validates the work of MTSU mass communication faculty and students.” Pondillo and his students first attracted attention at Cannes last year with “My Name is Wallace,” the touching tale of an emotionally challenged man who looks for love in a very unusual way. Both films star Los Angeles-based professional actor David Lawrence, who shares executive producer credit with Pondillo.

To view the film and for more information on “Wait …,” go to http://www.waitfilm.com. For interviews, contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

Blue Raiders with green thumbs

During the spring semester, students started a garden on MTSU farm property. The Plant and Soil Science Club is helping maintain the garden and will be selling produce on campus to raise club funds. Starting tomorrow, May 29 (Thursday), the club will be open for business two days a week—Tuesday mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Thursday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Horticulture Center on Blue Raider Drive across from the Livestock Center. Selection will vary depending on what is ready for harvest, but tomorrow’s produce will include lettuce, radishes and possibly some early cabbage, as well as many ornamental Brugmansia plants.

Contact Dr. Nate Phillips at 615-494-8985.
nphillip@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!--In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc. For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu.

THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT--You can spend part of your summer examining the fascinating Native American history and prehistory of the Southwest and get geography or history credit for it at MTSU! The class is titled “Geography of Native Americans” and will be conducted for the 15th consecutive year by Dr. Doug Heffington, professor of historical geography and director of the Global Studies Program. “The class focuses on the examination of the human/land relationships between the native peoples of New Mexico and their natural environment,” Heffington says. “Most of our base camp is in the small colonial village of Truchas, which dates to the mid-1700s with its blend of Genizaro, Mestizo and Hispano cultures. The trip/course starts July 21st and takes about nine days to complete.” The cost is approximately $400 per student and includes transportation, two meals a day, lodging and entry fees. Contact Heffington at 615-898-5978 or jheffing@mtsu.edu.

LOOKS LIKE A HOMICIDE, HORATIO--Is your child itching to learn how forensic investigators examine crime scenes and ferret out the clues that solve real world mysteries? This summer’s “CSI: MTSU”, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 11-13, is a three-day program designed for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades in Rutherford and surrounding counties. The students will be presented with a re-creation of an actual crime scene. They will be trained in the processes of collecting evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fibers, simulated blood splatter and shoe prints. Young people will explore the career possibilities in forensic science, understand a “real life” reason to tackle higher level math and science courses, and develop skills in teamwork, seeing and understanding details, critical thinking and presentations. The program is co-sponsored by the Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE) and MTSU’s College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning. For more information, contact Eve Shockley at 615-898-5530 or eshockle@mtsu.edu.

“BLESSED ARE THE CRACKED FOR THEY SHALL LET IN THE LIGHT.”—GROUCHO MARX--How do you see God? Do you see the Almighty as a man, a woman, an ambiguous force of nature? These are questions to be explored this summer as Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, teaches “Images of God in the American Media” from July 7 through August 8 at MTSU. Pondillo and his students will pursue the subject by examining television programs ranging from “Family Guy” to “Joan of Arcadia” and movies like “Oh, God” and “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Pondilo says, “We’ll have an intellectual discussion and a cosmological discussion and a theological discussion—a discussion, not make it a time to convert people or anything like that. Let’s just talk and try to understand.” Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

We’ll stop at the Exxon station on Jupiter.

The oil crisis and the space race share certain characteristics in the mind of Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry. “It seems to me that the sky-high price of gasoline has had an effect on Americans today that is similar to what Sputnik’s overhead flight did back in October of 1957,” MacDougall says. “People have been surprised by it and feel insecure even though a beeping fuel pump does not physically threaten them. They want the government to do something that solves the problem without creating bigger ones. … Our current national challenge will require chemical and engineering advances on a scale similar to or possibly even greater than those that won the space race.”

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

“Blessed are the cracked for they shall let in the light.”—Groucho Marx

How do you see God? Do you see the Almighty as a man, a woman, an ambiguous force of nature? These are questions to be explored this summer as Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, teaches “Images of God in the American Media” from July 7 through August 8 at MTSU. Pondillo and his students will pursue the subject by examining television programs ranging from “Family Guy” to “Joan of Arcadia” and movies like “Oh, God” and “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Pondilo says, “We’ll have an intellectual discussion and a cosmological discussion and a theological discussion—a discussion, not make it a time to convert people or anything like that. Let’s just talk and try to understand.”

Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

It’s a small world after all.

If you yearn to study art in Italy, anthropology in Brazil or French in Paris, the MT Abroad office has scholarships available to help foot the bill. You may apply for up to 50 percent of the total cost of your program. Classroom instruction, first-hand observation and field trips are part of the experiences offered with guidance by highly skilled and experienced faculty members who know the territory—literally and figuratively. And you can earn academic credit toward your degree! But now is the time to apply. The deadline is September 15 to apply for scholarships for Winter and Spring 2008 programs. Applications are available online at http://www.mtsu.edu/~mtabroad.

For more information, contact the MT Abroad office at 615-898-5179.
mtabroad@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

BRINGING IT UP TO PAR--The National Advisory Board for the Scholars Academy at MTSU presents the first annual Diversity and Multicultural Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 28, at Gaylord Springs Golf Course in Nashville. Founded in 2005, the Scholars Academy was developed to support bright and talented college students who may be underachieving. The Academy generally serves minority and other underserved students who benefit from a culturally rich learning environment. Throughout their collegiate careers, students are mentored and their development enhanced in the following areas: academics, psychological, social, bio-physical, and careers. All students remain in the program until college graduation. For sponsorship, golfer packages, or more information, contact Jerry M. Whitmore, Jr., in the Office of Institutional Diversity at 615-898-5975 or whitmore@mtsu.edu.

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

LINKIN’ LOGS--The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the second lecture in their series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the center. MTSU’s Michael T. Gavin, a preservation specialist, will discuss the history and architecture of log buildings in a lecture titled “Log Houses of Rutherford County.” Gavin says, “Log buildings are familiar symbols of our pioneer past, and a dwindling number still remain on the landscape.” Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation says those who cannot attend the May 29 lecture are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to a June 4 encore presentation beginning at noon. Both events are free and open to the public. Contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or send an e-mail to Graham at sgraham@mtsu.edu.

NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!--In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc. For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu.

THE BEST OF THE BEST--NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS AND REPORTERS: To obtain a list of those students from your county who graduated during MTSU’s 2008 May 3 spring commencement or made the Dean’s List during the spring semester, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs Web site at http://www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Graduation Lists” link or the “MTSU Dean’s List” link. Both are located on the upper left-hand side of the page. Next, click on the spring link for 2008, which will contain an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of the students. Please note that these Web pages also contain directions on how to download and save your county’s lists for editorial use in your publications or on your airwaves. For more information, contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT--You can spend part of your summer examining the fascinating Native American history and prehistory of the Southwest and get geography or history credit for it at MTSU! The class is titled “Geography of Native Americans” and will be conducted for the 15th consecutive year by Dr. Doug Heffington, professor of historical geography and director of the Global Studies Program. “The class focuses on the examination of the human/land relationships between the native peoples of New Mexico and their natural environment,” Heffington says. “Most of our base camp is in the small colonial village of Truchas, which dates to the mid-1700s with its blend of Genizaro, Mestizo and Hispano cultures. The trip/course starts July 21st and takes about nine days to complete.” The cost is approximately $400 per student and includes transportation, two meals a day, lodging and entry fees. Contact Heffington at 615-898-5978 or jheffing@mtsu.edu.

LOOKS LIKE A HOMICIDE, HORATIO--Is your child itching to learn how forensic investigators examine crime scenes and ferret out the clues that solve real world mysteries? This summer’s “CSI: MTSU”, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 11-13, is a three-day program designed for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades in Rutherford and surrounding counties. The students will be presented with a re-creation of an actual crime scene. They will be trained in the processes of collecting evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fibers, simulated blood splatter and shoe prints. Young people will explore the career possibilities in forensic science, understand a “real life” reason to tackle higher level math and science courses, and develop skills in teamwork, seeing and understanding details, critical thinking and presentations. The program is co-sponsored by the Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE) and MTSU’s College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning. For more information, contact Eve Shockley at 615-898-5530 or eshockle@mtsu.edu.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

NOTE: MTSU will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. There will be no Today’s Response on that day.

Excellence personified

Gretchen Jenkins, a May 2008 graduate of MTSU, has received a Phi Kappa Phi Award of Excellence to be used for graduate study. She was one of only 40 students from throughout the nation to be honored with the $2,000 stipend. Jenkins, the daughter of Baxter and Sandra Jenkins of Lebanon, Tenn., plans to attend classes at New York Law School in Manhattan starting August 18. She successfully defended her honors thesis on the First Amendment rights of students on April 11 at MTSU. “The U.S. Supreme Court has never heard a case about college students’ First Amendment rights,” Jenkins said in a recent telephone interview. For her thesis, Jenkins used several appellate court decisions for creating criteria by which the high court could decide a First Amendment case involving college students.

For more information, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081.
gklogue@mtsu.edu

To their health

Dr. Andrew Owusu, assistant professor of health and human performance at MTSU, recently released the initial findings from a 2007 study that was the first of its kind to be conducted nationwide in Ghana on the health habits and health-risk behaviors of adolescents. By documenting the behaviors and factors that contribute to the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, the researcher says his goal is to help create a comprehensive system for monitoring the health-risk behaviors among youth. A native of Ghana, Owusu’s study found that 13.7 percent of the students (ages 12-16) surveyed had not cleaned/brushed their teeth in the past 30 days and 9.1 percent had “never or rarely” washed their hands in the past 30 days.

For more information, contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-8857.
lrollins@mtsu.edu

Looks like a homicide, Horatio.

Is your child itching to learn how forensic investigators examine crime scenes and ferret out the clues that solve real world mysteries? This summer’s “CSI: MTSU”, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 11-13, is a three-day program designed for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades in Rutherford and surrounding counties. The students will be presented with a re-creation of an actual crime scene. They will be trained in the processes of collecting evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fibers, simulated blood splatter and shoe prints. Young people will explore the career possibilities in forensic science, understand a “real life” reason to tackle higher level math and science courses, and develop skills in teamwork, seeing and understanding details, critical thinking and presentations. The program is co-sponsored by the Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE) and MTSU’s College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning.

For more information, contact Eve Shockley at 615-898-5530.
eshockle@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

BRINGING IT UP TO PAR--The National Advisory Board for the Scholars Academy at MTSU presents the first annual Diversity and Multicultural Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 28, at Gaylord Springs Golf Course in Nashville. Founded in 2005, the Scholars Academy was developed to support bright and talented college students who may be underachieving. The Academy generally serves minority and other underserved students who benefit from a culturally rich learning environment. Throughout their collegiate careers, students are mentored and their development enhanced in the following areas: academics, psychological, social, bio-physical, and careers. All students remain in the program until college graduation. For sponsorship, golfer packages, or more information, contact Jerry M. Whitmore, Jr., in the Office of Institutional Diversity at 615-898-5975 or whitmore@mtsu.edu.

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

LINKIN’ LOGS--The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the second lecture in their series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the center. MTSU’s Michael T. Gavin, a preservation specialist, will discuss the history and architecture of log buildings in a lecture titled “Log Houses of Rutherford County.” Gavin says, “Log buildings are familiar symbols of our pioneer past, and a dwindling number still remain on the landscape.” Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation says those who cannot attend the May 29 lecture are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to a June 4 encore presentation beginning at noon. Both events are free and open to the public. Contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or send an e-mail to Graham at sgraham@mtsu.edu.

NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!--In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc. For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu.

THE BEST OF THE BEST--NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS AND REPORTERS: To obtain a list of those students from your county who graduated during MTSU’s 2008 May 3 spring commencement or made the Dean’s List during the spring semester, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs Web site at http://www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Graduation Lists” link or the “MTSU Dean’s List” link. Both are located on the upper left-hand side of the page. Next, click on the spring link for 2008, which will contain an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of the students. Please note that these Web pages also contain directions on how to download and save your county’s lists for editorial use in your publications or on your airwaves. For more information, contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT--You can spend part of your summer examining the fascinating Native American history and prehistory of the Southwest and get geography or history credit for it at MTSU! The class is titled “Geography of Native Americans” and will be conducted for the 15th consecutive year by Dr. Doug Heffington, professor of historical geography and director of the Global Studies Program. “The class focuses on the examination of the human/land relationships between the native peoples of New Mexico and their natural environment,” Heffington says. “Most of our base camp is in the small colonial village of Truchas, which dates to the mid-1700s with its blend of Genizaro, Mestizo and Hispano cultures. The trip/course starts July 21st and takes about nine days to complete.” The cost is approximately $400 per student and includes transportation, two meals a day, lodging and entry fees. Contact Heffington at 615-898-5978 or jheffing@mtsu.edu.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Alabama bound

Bradley R. Byrne, chancellor of Alabama’s two-year college system, will recommend Dr. Robert Glenn as the next president of Athens State University to the Alabama State Board of Education at a meeting today, May 22. Glenn has served MTSU for eight years, initially as vice president for student affairs. Two years later, he assumed the additional role of vice provost for enrollment management. “On behalf of the MTSU community, I would like to congratulate Bob Glenn on his new position as president of Athens State University,” MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee says. “Dr. Glenn is returning to a state that is close to his heart and to a school that has great historical significance for his family.”

Contact Tom Tozer at 615-898-2919 or Dr. Robert Glenn at 615-898-2440.

Free at last

Cory Brunson, a 2008 graduate of Central High School in Columbia, Tenn., and 19-year-old political science major at Middle Tennessee State University, is the recipient of MTSU’s James C. Free Endowed Scholarship. Brunson is the son of Ken Brunson and Elaine Russell, both of Columbia. A triplet, Brunson’s sister, Cayla, is enrolled at Austin Peay State University and his brother, Collin, is a student at Columbia State Community College. The scholarship is named for James C. Free, president of the Smith-Free Group, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm. Free served as Special Assistant to the President for Congressional Affairs under President Jimmy Carter, and he managed Al Gore’s presidential bid in 1988.

Contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

Shake, rattle and roll

The devastating earthquake in China that registered 7.9 on the Richter scale reminded Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, of the words of Per Bak, a Danish theoretical physicist. Bak said, “Earthquakes may be the cleanest and most direct example of a self-organized critical phenomenon in nature.” MacDougall says Bak believes complex phenomena like earthquakes obey very simple laws that don’t depend on the size or nature of the event. “For instance, compared to 5.2 magnitude quakes, such as the one in Southern Illinois that harmlessly rumbled all the way to Tennessee in April, the frequency of devastating tremors such as the recent one in China is much, much lower,” MacDougall says. “If one were to closely study the sand pile forming in the bottom of an hourglass instead, you would find the same relative frequencies of little and big avalanches.”

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

TR EXTRA

BRINGING IT UP TO PAR--The National Advisory Board for the Scholars Academy at MTSU presents the first annual Diversity and Multicultural Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 28, at Gaylord Springs Golf Course in Nashville. Founded in 2005, the Scholars Academy was developed to support bright and talented college students who may be underachieving. The Academy generally serves minority and other underserved students who benefit from a culturally rich learning environment. Throughout their collegiate careers, students are mentored and their development enhanced in the following areas: academics, psychological, social, bio-physical, and careers. All students remain in the program until college graduation. For sponsorship, golfer packages, or more information, contact Jerry M. Whitmore, Jr., in the Office of Institutional Diversity at 615-898-5975 or whitmore@mtsu.edu.

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

LINKIN’ LOGS--The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the second lecture in their series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the center. MTSU’s Michael T. Gavin, a preservation specialist, will discuss the history and architecture of log buildings in a lecture titled “Log Houses of Rutherford County.” Gavin says, “Log buildings are familiar symbols of our pioneer past, and a dwindling number still remain on the landscape.” Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation says those who cannot attend the May 29 lecture are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to a June 4 encore presentation beginning at noon. Both events are free and open to the public. Contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or send an e-mail to Graham at sgraham@mtsu.edu.

NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!--In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc. For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu.

FIT AS A FIDDLE--The Summer 2008 MTSU Faculty-Staff Health and Wellness Program is underway. It runs through July 25th. The 10-week program will include fitness testing (pre- and post-), an aerobic class punch-pass, nutritional consultation with a registered dietician, and each MTSU faculty or staff member enrolled will be assigned a personal coach for weekly meetings. The nutritional consultation will be scheduled during registration. This is not a rehabilitation program. It will help enrollees develop action plans to replace unhealthy habits with positive, healthy routines and to provide ways to maintain program participation. Contact Lisa Eddy or Jerry Langham at 615-898-2104 or leddy@mtsu.edu or jlangham@mtsu.edu.

THE BEST OF THE BEST--NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS AND REPORTERS: To obtain a list of those students from your county who graduated during MTSU’s 2008 May 3 spring commencement or made the Dean’s List during the spring semester, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs Web site at http://www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Graduation Lists” link or the “MTSU Dean’s List” link. Both are located on the upper left-hand side of the page. Next, click on the spring link for 2008, which will contain an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of the students. Please note that these Web pages also contain directions on how to download and save your county’s lists for editorial use in your publications or on your airwaves. For more information, contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT--You can spend part of your summer examining the fascinating Native American history and prehistory of the Southwest and get geography or history credit for it at MTSU! The class is titled “Geography of Native Americans” and will be conducted for the 15th consecutive year by Dr. Doug Heffington, professor of historical geography and director of the Global Studies Program. “The class focuses on the examination of the human/land relationships between the native peoples of New Mexico and their natural environment,” Heffington says. “Most of our base camp is in the small colonial village of Truchas, which dates to the mid-1700s with its blend of Genizaro, Mestizo and Hispano cultures. The trip/course starts July 21st and takes about nine days to complete.” The cost is approximately $400 per student and includes transportation, two meals a day, lodging and entry fees. Contact Heffington at 615-898-5978 or jheffing@mtsu.edu.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The Land of Enchantment

You can spend part of your summer examining the fascinating Native American history and prehistory of the Southwest and get geography or history credit for it at MTSU! The class is titled “Geography of Native Americans” and will be conducted for the 15th consecutive year by Dr. Doug Heffington, professor of historical geography and director of the Global Studies Program. “The class focuses on the examination of the human/land relationships between the native peoples of New Mexico and their natural environment,” Heffington says. “Most of our base camp is in the small colonial village of Truchas, which dates to the mid-1700s with its blend of Genizaro, Mestizo and Hispano cultures. The trip/course starts July 21st and takes about nine days to complete.” The cost is approximately $400 per student and includes transportation, two meals a day, lodging and entry fees.

Contact Heffington at 615-898-5978.
jheffing@mtsu.edu

Bible park banter

Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, cites last week’s decision about the proposed Bible theme park in Rutherford County as proof that free speech is alive and well in Middle Tennessee. “You know that part of the First Amendment that talks about petitioning the government?,” Burriss asks rhetorically. “Well, there it was. Residents got a petition going that forced a two-thirds vote rather than a simple majority. And, again, everyone had a chance to have their say. And those who were in favor of the park apparently didn’t have enough support to stop the petition drive. Finally, there was the commission meeting itself. Dozens of citizens and other interested parties got to address the commissioners. While everyone who wanted to say something may not have gotten a chance to speak his or her peace, at least every side was represented.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

Hand in hand

MTSU’s Lisa L. Rollins recently was awarded one of four Grand Award prizes in the 2008 communications contest sponsored by District III of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education at its annual conference held in Atlanta, Ga. Rollins is director of special media projects for News and Public Affairs and an adjunct professor. The Grand Award is the highest honor bestowed by District III, which is an eight-state area, and Rollins’ entry, “Promoting Student learning in Print,” earned the contest’s Creative Partnership honor. Rollins received the award for a partnership she initiated on behalf of students enrolled in her writing courses with editors at The Daily News Journal. During the course of the project, about 19 of Rollins’ journalism students had more than 30 stories published by the DNJ, garnering the junior- and senior-level student journalists real-world, hands-on learning.

Contact Rollins at 615-898-2919.
lrollins@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

BRINGING IT UP TO PAR--The National Advisory Board for the Scholars Academy at MTSU presents the first annual Diversity and Multicultural Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 28, at Gaylord Springs Golf Course in Nashville. Founded in 2005, the Scholars Academy was developed to support bright and talented college students who may be underachieving. The Academy generally serves minority and other underserved students who benefit from a culturally rich learning environment. Throughout their collegiate careers, students are mentored and their development enhanced in the following areas: academics, psychological, social, bio-physical, and careers. All students remain in the program until college graduation. For sponsorship, golfer packages, or more information, contact Jerry M. Whitmore, Jr., in the Office of Institutional Diversity at 615-898-5975 or whitmore@mtsu.edu.

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

“THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART.”—TOM PETTY--With antiwar sentiment stronger than ever in this presidential election year, MTSU’s independent filmmakers await word from some 40 film festivals on how critics (and viewers of YouTube) will receive their latest effort. In fact, the movie is titled “Wait…,” an emotionally powerful examination of an American’s reaction to the news that his son has died in Iraq. Dr. Bob Pondillo, professor of electronic media communication, wrote the screenplay and directed the 9:25 short subject in November 2007 in Murfreesboro with a crew of students and alumni. Pondillo says he suspects the anti-war sentiment expressed in the film might have had a role in its rejection by at least one film festival, The Cinema Society of San Diego, a city with an economy heavily dependent upon seven military bases in the area. To view the film and for more information on “Wait…,” go to http://www.waitfilm.com. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THEY WERE JUST SO PROUD TO BE THERE.--In the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, barn dance radio spread country-and-western music nationwide. Its comforting, authentic sounds soothed the soul of a nation first down on its luck and later fighting overseas. The origins of the country music industry can be traced to the barn dance radio shows on WLS (Chicago), WSM (Nashville) and other stations, and women played a major role in both the style and substance of those programs. Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history at MTSU, tells the stories of some of these women, including the legendary Minnie Pearl, in her book Lonesome Cowgirls and Honky Tonk Angels: The Women of Barn Dance Radio. In addition to Minnie Pearl, McCusker profiles Linda Parker, Lily May Ledford, Rose Lee Maphis, and Milly and Dolly Good (The Girls of the Golden West). Contact McCusker at 615-898-2544 or mccusker@mtsu.edu.

LINKIN’ LOGS--The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the second lecture in their series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the center. MTSU’s Michael T. Gavin, a preservation specialist, will discuss the history and architecture of log buildings in a lecture titled “Log Houses of Rutherford County.” Gavin says, “Log buildings are familiar symbols of our pioneer past, and a dwindling number still remain on the landscape.” Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation says those who cannot attend the May 29 lecture are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to a June 4 encore presentation beginning at noon. Both events are free and open to the public. Contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or send an e-mail to Graham at sgraham@mtsu.edu.

NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!--In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc. For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu.

FIT AS A FIDDLE--The Summer 2008 MTSU Faculty-Staff Health and Wellness Program is underway. It runs through July 25th. The 10-week program will include fitness testing (pre- and post-), an aerobic class punch-pass, nutritional consultation with a registered dietician, and each MTSU faculty or staff member enrolled will be assigned a personal coach for weekly meetings. The nutritional consultation will be scheduled during registration. This is not a rehabilitation program. It will help enrollees develop action plans to replace unhealthy habits with positive, healthy routines and to provide ways to maintain program participation. Contact Lisa Eddy or Jerry Langham at 615-898-2104 or leddy@mtsu.edu or jlangham@mtsu.edu.

THE BEST OF THE BEST--NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS AND REPORTERS: To obtain a list of those students from your county who graduated during MTSU’s 2008 May 3 spring commencement or made the Dean’s List during the spring semester, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs Web site at http://www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Graduation Lists” link or the “MTSU Dean’s List” link. Both are located on the upper left-hand side of the page. Next, click on the spring link for 2008, which will contain an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of the students. Please note that these Web pages also contain directions on how to download and save your county’s lists for editorial use in your publications or on your airwaves. For more information, contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

It’s a team effort.

The Tennessee Titans topped the ratings for sports teams in MTSU’s latest Middle Tennessee Sports Affinity Survey. The Titans scored 75 points, a two-point rise from 2007. The Nashville Predators, the state’s only NHL team, fell 10 points from 58 last year to 48 this year. “It is possible that fan interest for the Predators has been negatively affected by lack of success in the NHL playoffs and the uncertainty about the franchise’s future that surfaced last summer,” says Dr. Don Roy, Sports Business Studies Coordinator for the Office of Consumer Research. The Nashville Sounds stayed in third place, but went down 11 points from 46 to 35. “Excitement about the Sounds generated by the prospects of a new stadium in downtown Nashville may have impacted last year’s score,” Roy says. “Now that the stadium development’s future is uncertain, area residents’ affinity for the Sounds appears to have subsided to some extent.”

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

The best of the best

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS AND REPORTERS: To obtain a list of those students from your county who graduated during MTSU’s 2008 May 3 spring commencement or made the Dean’s List during the spring semester, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs Web site at http://www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Graduation Lists” link or the “MTSU Dean’s List” link. Both are located on the upper left-hand side of the page. Next, click on the spring link for 2008, which will contain an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of the students. Please note that these Web pages also contain directions on how to download and save your county’s lists for editorial use in your publications or on your airwaves.

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

Fit as a fiddle

The Summer 2008 MTSU Faculty-Staff Health and Wellness Program is underway. It runs through July 25th. The 10-week program will include fitness testing (pre- and post-), an aerobic class punch-pass, nutritional consultation with a registered dietician, and each MTSU faculty or staff member enrolled will be assigned a personal coach for weekly meetings. The nutritional consultation will be scheduled during registration. This is not a rehabilitation program. It will help enrollees develop action plans to replace unhealthy habits with positive, healthy routines and to provide ways to maintain program participation. Orientation continues from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today, May 20, in Room 106 of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building.

Contact Lisa Eddy or Jerry Langham at 615-898-2104.
leddy@mtsu.edu
jlangham@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

BRINGING IT UP TO PAR--The National Advisory Board for the Scholars Academy at MTSU presents the first annual Diversity and Multicultural Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 28, at Gaylord Springs Golf Course in Nashville. Founded in 2005, the Scholars Academy was developed to support bright and talented college students who may be underachieving. The Academy generally serves minority and other underserved students who benefit from a culturally rich learning environment. Throughout their collegiate careers, students are mentored and their development enhanced in the following areas: academics, psychological, social, bio-physical, and careers. All students remain in the program until college graduation. For sponsorship, golfer packages, or more information, contact Jerry M. Whitmore, Jr., in the Office of Institutional Diversity at 615-898-5975 or whitmore@mtsu.edu.

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

“THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART.”—TOM PETTY--With antiwar sentiment stronger than ever in this presidential election year, MTSU’s independent filmmakers await word from some 40 film festivals on how critics (and viewers of YouTube) will receive their latest effort. In fact, the movie is titled “Wait…,” an emotionally powerful examination of an American’s reaction to the news that his son has died in Iraq. Dr. Bob Pondillo, professor of electronic media communication, wrote the screenplay and directed the 9:25 short subject in November 2007 in Murfreesboro with a crew of students and alumni. Pondillo says he suspects the anti-war sentiment expressed in the film might have had a role in its rejection by at least one film festival, The Cinema Society of San Diego, a city with an economy heavily dependent upon seven military bases in the area. To view the film and for more information on “Wait…,” go to http://www.waitfilm.com. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THEY WERE JUST SO PROUD TO BE THERE.--In the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, barn dance radio spread country-and-western music nationwide. Its comforting, authentic sounds soothed the soul of a nation first down on its luck and later fighting overseas. The origins of the country music industry can be traced to the barn dance radio shows on WLS (Chicago), WSM (Nashville) and other stations, and women played a major role in both the style and substance of those programs. Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history at MTSU, tells the stories of some of these women, including the legendary Minnie Pearl, in her book Lonesome Cowgirls and Honky Tonk Angels: The Women of Barn Dance Radio. In addition to Minnie Pearl, McCusker profiles Linda Parker, Lily May Ledford, Rose Lee Maphis, and Milly and Dolly Good (The Girls of the Golden West). Contact McCusker at 615-898-2544 or mccusker@mtsu.edu.

LINKIN’ LOGS--The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the second lecture in their series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the center. MTSU’s Michael T. Gavin, a preservation specialist, will discuss the history and architecture of log buildings in a lecture titled “Log Houses of Rutherford County.” Gavin says, “Log buildings are familiar symbols of our pioneer past, and a dwindling number still remain on the landscape.” Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation says those who cannot attend the May 29 lecture are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to a June 4 encore presentation beginning at noon. Both events are free and open to the public. Contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or send an e-mail to Graham at sgraham@mtsu.edu.

NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!--In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc. For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

You gotta be a football hero …

Football’s grip on Tennessee sports fans remains unchallenged, even at the collegiate level. NCAA football was tops among college sports in the latest Middle Tennessee Sports Affinity Survey conducted by the MTSU Office of Consumer Research. Football racked up 77 points, an eight-point increase over its score in the 2007 survey. Dr. Don Roy, Sports Business Studies Coordinator, says, “NCAA men’s basketball had a one-point increase in its affinity score compared to 2007 (58 versus 57). The increase for NCAA men’s basketball may be due to interest generated by the participation of five teams with Tennessee connections in this year’s men’s NCAA basketball tournaments. NCAA women’s basketball had a three-point decrease from last year (46 versus 49).”

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

Now you’re talking my language!

In a recent guest editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, William Scott wrote, “Arabic language programming should be readily available to us in the United States. Reading books or computer screens does nothing to improve aural comprehension, especially since written Modern Standard Arabic differs so much from the various dialects spoken throughout the Arab world.” This summer, MTSU will offer courses in Modern Standard Arabic from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in two separate sessions—June 2-July 3 and July 7-August 8. Students will learn the Arabic script/alphabet, common useful vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. At the end of the sequence, students will be equipped with basic survival skills such as ordering food, booking hotel rooms, describing their daily lives, understanding and giving directions, etc.

For more information, Kari Sue Neely, assistant professor of foreign languages, at ksneely@mtsu.edu

Smoke gets in your diet

One reason some people smoke cigarettes is to control their weight. Is there any relationship to the increase in anti-smoking sentiment in society and the increase in individuals’ weight gain? Dr. Charles Baum, economics and finance, says, “About 30% of Americans are currently obese, which is roughly a 100% increase from 25 years ago. Public health officials have consequently become alarmed because recent research indicates that societal costs of obesity now exceed that of cigarette smoking and alcoholism. Cigarette taxes may have exacerbated the prevalence of obesity. In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General issued its first report relating smoking and health, and since that time, federal and state governments have increased cigarette taxes in a successful effort to reduce cigarette smoking.”

Contact Baum at 615-898-2527.
cbaum@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

BRINGING IT UP TO PAR--The National Advisory Board for the Scholars Academy at MTSU presents the first annual Diversity and Multicultural Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 28, at Gaylord Springs Golf Course in Nashville. Founded in 2005, the Scholars Academy was developed to support bright and talented college students who may be underachieving. The Academy generally serves minority and other underserved students who benefit from a culturally rich learning environment. Throughout their collegiate careers, students are mentored and their development enhanced in the following areas: academics, psychological, social, bio-physical, and careers. All students remain in the program until college graduation. For sponsorship, golfer packages, or more information, contact Jerry M. Whitmore, Jr., in the Office of Institutional Diversity at 615-898-5975 or whitmore@mtsu.edu.

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

“THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART.”—TOM PETTY--With antiwar sentiment stronger than ever in this presidential election year, MTSU’s independent filmmakers await word from some 40 film festivals on how critics (and viewers of YouTube) will receive their latest effort. In fact, the movie is titled “Wait…,” an emotionally powerful examination of an American’s reaction to the news that his son has died in Iraq. Dr. Bob Pondillo, professor of electronic media communication, wrote the screenplay and directed the 9:25 short subject in November 2007 in Murfreesboro with a crew of students and alumni. Pondillo says he suspects the anti-war sentiment expressed in the film might have had a role in its rejection by at least one film festival, The Cinema Society of San Diego, a city with an economy heavily dependent upon seven military bases in the area. To view the film and for more information on “Wait…,” go to http://www.waitfilm.com. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THEY WERE JUST SO PROUD TO BE THERE.--In the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, barn dance radio spread country-and-western music nationwide. Its comforting, authentic sounds soothed the soul of a nation first down on its luck and later fighting overseas. The origins of the country music industry can be traced to the barn dance radio shows on WLS (Chicago), WSM (Nashville) and other stations, and women played a major role in both the style and substance of those programs. Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history at MTSU, tells the stories of some of these women, including the legendary Minnie Pearl, in her book Lonesome Cowgirls and Honky Tonk Angels: The Women of Barn Dance Radio. In addition to Minnie Pearl, McCusker profiles Linda Parker, Lily May Ledford, Rose Lee Maphis, and Milly and Dolly Good (The Girls of the Golden West). Contact McCusker at 615-898-2544 or mccusker@mtsu.edu.

LINKIN’ LOGS--The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the second lecture in their series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the center. MTSU’s Michael T. Gavin, a preservation specialist, will discuss the history and architecture of log buildings in a lecture titled “Log Houses of Rutherford County.” Gavin says, “Log buildings are familiar symbols of our pioneer past, and a dwindling number still remain on the landscape.” Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation says those who cannot attend the May 29 lecture are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to a June 4 encore presentation beginning at noon. Both events are free and open to the public. Contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or send an e-mail to Graham at sgraham@mtsu.edu.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Take me out to what ball game?

It probably will come as no surprise to most Tennesseans that the National Football League tops the latest MTSU Sports Affinity Survey from the Office of Consumer Research at MTSU. The NFL had the highest score among professional leagues with 69. Major League Baseball was a distant second with 46, followed by the National Hockey League, the Professional Golfers’ Association, NASCAR, the National Basketball Association, Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the Indy Racing League and the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association. Dr. Don Roy, Sports Business Studies Coordinator for the Office of Consumer Research, says, “The rise in affinity for MSL may be attributed to the increased media exposure the league has received since British star David Beckham joined the Los Angeles Galaxy.”

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

Take 20 jumping jacks and call me in the morning.

Thanks to the efforts of an MTSU graduate student, the month of May officially has been declared “National Exercise is Medicine Month” in Tennessee. The Volunteer State now joins several other states and cities that have pledged to encourage citizens to lead healthier, more active lifestyles and to create more open dialogues with their health-care providers. Elizabeth A. Holbrook, a graduate teaching assistant and doctoral candidate in the Department of Health and Human Performance, sent a proclamation request to Governor Phil Bredesen requesting that the month of May be so designated. Holbrook is Tennessee’s representative to the American College of Sports Medicine, a co-sponsor of the initiative along with the American Medical Association.

Contact Holbrook at 615-904-8338.
eia2a@mtsu.edu
or contact Tom Tozer at 615-898-2919.
ttozer@mtsu.edu

Linkin’ logs

The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the second lecture in their series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the center. MTSU’s Michael T. Gavin, a preservation specialist, will discuss the history and architecture of log buildings in a lecture titled “Log Houses of Rutherford County.” Gavin says, “Log buildings are familiar symbols of our pioneer past, and a dwindling number still remain on the landscape.” Dr. Stacey Graham of MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation says those who cannot attend the May 29 lecture are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to a June 4 encore presentation beginning at noon. Both events are free and open to the public.

Contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or send an e-mail to Graham at sgraham@mtsu.edu.

TR EXTRA

BRINGING IT UP TO PAR--The National Advisory Board for the Scholars Academy at MTSU presents the first annual Diversity and Multicultural Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 28, at Gaylord Springs Golf Course in Nashville. Founded in 2005, the Scholars Academy was developed to support bright and talented college students who may be underachieving. The Academy generally serves minority and other underserved students who benefit from a culturally rich learning environment. Throughout their collegiate careers, students are mentored and their development enhanced in the following areas: academics, psychological, social, bio-physical, and careers. All students remain in the program until college graduation. For sponsorship, golfer packages, or more information, contact Jerry M. Whitmore, Jr., in the Office of Institutional Diversity at 615-898-5975 or whitmore@mtsu.edu.

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

“THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART.”—TOM PETTY--With antiwar sentiment stronger than ever in this presidential election year, MTSU’s independent filmmakers await word from some 40 film festivals on how critics (and viewers of YouTube) will receive their latest effort. In fact, the movie is titled “Wait…,” an emotionally powerful examination of an American’s reaction to the news that his son has died in Iraq. Dr. Bob Pondillo, professor of electronic media communication, wrote the screenplay and directed the 9:25 short subject in November 2007 in Murfreesboro with a crew of students and alumni. Pondillo says he suspects the anti-war sentiment expressed in the film might have had a role in its rejection by at least one film festival, The Cinema Society of San Diego, a city with an economy heavily dependent upon seven military bases in the area. To view the film and for more information on “Wait…,” go to http://www.waitfilm.com. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THEY WERE JUST SO PROUD TO BE THERE.--In the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, barn dance radio spread country-and-western music nationwide. Its comforting, authentic sounds soothed the soul of a nation first down on its luck and later fighting overseas. The origins of the country music industry can be traced to the barn dance radio shows on WLS (Chicago), WSM (Nashville) and other stations, and women played a major role in both the style and substance of those programs. Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history at MTSU, tells the stories of some of these women, including the legendary Minnie Pearl, in her book Lonesome Cowgirls and Honky Tonk Angels: The Women of Barn Dance Radio. In addition to Minnie Pearl, McCusker profiles Linda Parker, Lily May Ledford, Rose Lee Maphis, and Milly and Dolly Good (The Girls of the Golden West). Contact McCusker at 615-898-2544 or mccusker@mtsu.edu.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

They were just so proud to be there.

In the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, barn dance radio spread country-and-western music nationwide. Its comforting, authentic sounds soothed the soul of a nation first down on its luck and later fighting overseas. The origins of the country music industry can be traced to the barn dance radio shows on WLS (Chicago), WSM (Nashville) and other stations, and women played a major role in both the style and substance of those programs. Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history at MTSU, tells the stories of some of these women, including the legendary Minnie Pearl, in her book Lonesome Cowgirls and Honky Tonk Angels: The Women of Barn Dance Radio. In addition to Minnie Pearl, McCusker profiles Linda Parker, Lily May Ledford, Rose Lee Maphis, and Milly and Dolly Good (The Girls of the Golden West).

Contact McCusker at 615-898-2544.
mccusker@mtsu.edu

The story you’re about to see is true?

CQ Press’ rankings of the “most dangerous cities” according to the latest FBI crime statistics are “meaningless, damaging and irresponsible,” says Richard Rosenfeld of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Are these figures really meaningful to the average citizen? Carter F. Smith, criminal justice administration, says, “Ultimately, CQ used a proprietary weighting system to rank these cities—they publish the numbers annually expecting controversy. I suggest that citizens use these numbers to determine the potential for crime victimization as they consider doing business, driving and relocating. I personally have no interest in living anywhere near any of the Top Ten. There are no monetary awards for reaching Number One, though more federal dollars may be sent to the local politicians.”

Contact Smith at carterfsmith@gmail.com.

When they begin the benzene …

What does an over-the-counter medication have in common with an instrument of destruction? Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says, “A staple of the petrochemical industry, benzene is the starting point in the industrial syntheses of compounds ranging from aspirin to high explosives like tetryl.” MacDougall explains, “Benzene is a toxic, naturally occurring hydrocarbon that, along with its name, was originally derived from a resin called gum benzoin. Benzoin is also known as frankincense of Java, even though it is not chemically similar to the Middle Eastern frankincense of the first Christmas. They are only related aromatically, and since the 19th century, whenever a chemist talks about an ‘aromatic compound,’ the reference is not to its aroma, but rather to its chemical, and often structural, similarity to benzene.”

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

TR EXTRA

BRINGING IT UP TO PAR--The National Advisory Board for the Scholars Academy at MTSU presents the first annual Diversity and Multicultural Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 28, at Gaylord Springs Golf Course in Nashville. Founded in 2005, the Scholars Academy was developed to support bright and talented college students who may be underachieving. The Academy generally serves minority and other underserved students who benefit from a culturally rich learning environment. Throughout their collegiate careers, students are mentored and their development enhanced in the following areas: academics, psychological, social, bio-physical, and careers. All students remain in the program until college graduation. For sponsorship, golfer packages, or more information, contact Jerry M. Whitmore, Jr., in the Office of Institutional Diversity at 615-898-5975 or whitmore@mtsu.edu.

“LANGUAGE IS THE DRESS OF THOUGHT.”—SAMUEL JOHNSON--MTSU’s annual Summer Language Institute will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16-20, June 23-27 and July 28-August 1 at the University School of Nashville. Languages to be taught will include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Scottish Gaelic, Arabic and Spanish Levels 1 and 2. The innovative teaching methods used at the institute, are designed to teach students a second language the same way they learned their first—by relating vocabulary to movement and learning grammar through storytelling. Students are completely immersed in the language from the first day of instruction in a fun environment. “I can now tell people who regret never having studied a language or who had a bad experience that it is not too late,” says Dr. Shelley Thomas, MTSU associate professor and institute founder. Tuition includes instruction and course materials and must be paid in full by tomorrow, May 15. Contact Thomas at 615-898-5757 or
shthomas@mtsu.edu.

“ENGLAND SWINGS LIKE A PENDULUM DO.”—ROGER MILLER--The Fab Four, miniskirts and go-go boots, the “mods” versus the “rockers”—If you’re looking for a fun and informative course to take this summer, MTSU is offering British Popular Culture from 10:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday July 7-August 7. This English course, taught by Dr. Jill Hague, will look at the development of popular culture in the United Kingdom after World War II, focusing on innovations in music, film and drama. Students will examine the cultural, historical and political contexts of the 1950s, the phenomenon of “Swinging London” and the Beatles in the 1960s and the rise of punk culture in the 1970s. Contact Hague at 615-904-8123 or ahague@mtsu.edu.

“THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART.”—TOM PETTY--With antiwar sentiment stronger than ever in this presidential election year, MTSU’s independent filmmakers await word from some 40 film festivals on how critics (and viewers of YouTube) will receive their latest effort. In fact, the movie is titled “Wait…,” an emotionally powerful examination of an American’s reaction to the news that his son has died in Iraq. Dr. Bob Pondillo, professor of electronic media communication, wrote the screenplay and directed the 9:25 short subject in November 2007 in Murfreesboro with a crew of students and alumni. Pondillo says he suspects the anti-war sentiment expressed in the film might have had a role in its rejection by at least one film festival, The Cinema Society of San Diego, a city with an economy heavily dependent upon seven military bases in the area. To view the film and for more information on “Wait…,” go to http://www.waitfilm.com. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.