Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“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.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

The lyin’, the which, and the what for?

How do parents decide whether to let their kids see a movie that has links to a popular earlier film, but is darker and more violent than the original, earning it a PG rating? Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says this is the thorny issue facing parents as “Prince Caspian,” the second film installment of the C.S. Lewis books, is slated to be released this week. “What is particularly interesting is that every parent I talk to says they don’t want to take their own children, but they have to because every other parent is going to take their kids,” Burriss says. “Now, some parents will insist on taking their young children. They will argue, ‘Well, every other child is going, so I have to take mine.’ The short answer to that is, ‘No, you don’t.’ I don’t think any six-, seven- or eight-year-old is going to be damaged because they don’t get to see a particular movie.”

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

Half and half

Hybrids are popular among motorists who want to express their concern for the environment, but are they wise economic investments? Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says, “Hybrid models come at a price premium anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand dollars over a gas engine version. This price differential has been a deterrent from hybrids gaining widespread adoption as the gas savings often would take too long to offset the higher price of a hybrid vehicle.” However, Roy notes, “The long payback period is shortening thanks to soaring gas prices. Now some hybrids have payback periods of two to four years. This shortening of the break-even point means that hybrid owners are more likely to realize savings. Of course, this assumes gas prices remain high.”

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@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 Thursday, 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.