Friday, September 19, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Sparks will fly

Is your son or daughter drinking “energy drinks” with a totally different kick in them? The Center for Science in the Public Interest, with the support of 25 state Attorneys General, is suing MillerCoors to stop the sale of Sparks, an alcoholic energy drink, after pressuring Anheuser-Busch to get out of this area of the beverage industry altogether. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says MillerCoors is in a difficult spot. “On the one hand, it cannot ignore concerns about Sparks or engage in an adversarial debate that could appear to promote profits over the well-being of consumers. On the other hand, profit is an issue. Sparks has been a successful product for MillerCoors, so exiting the category completely is a difficult choice.”

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

No need for the Tim Russert Memorial Dry Erase Board (Florida! Florida! Florida!)

MTSU students will prepare and broadcast their own election night roundup live on MTTV, Channel 10, from 8 p.m. to 11 or possibly later, on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 4, depending on how close the tallies are. “It becomes more than just an organizational exercise, which is important,” says Dr. Bob Pondillo, who teaches “Electronic Media Production: Election Night News Coverage.” “However, it’s one thing to know how to make great television, but it’s quite another to know how to engage the community.” Although arrangements are subject to revision at a moment’s notice depending on the circumstances, the class is planning on three bases for live shots. The percentages in each race will be displayed at the bottom of the television screen through a black box Associated Press interface device.

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

The main course is GRITS.

Girls Raised in Tennessee Science, or GRITS, will hold its Collaborative Kickoff Conference on Friday, Sept. 26, at MTSU. The event is open to anyone interested in helping girls become involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) educational aspects, says Lacey Fleming, assistant director of GRITS. Attendees may be from education (K-12 and postsecondary), business, government and community-based and professional organizations across Tennessee and surrounding states. Dr. Leslie Wisner-Lynch, a co-founder of BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc., will be the keynote speaker. The kickoff will run from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will be held in the Keathley University Center lobby, theater, and KUC Room 322. Fleming says “people who are involved with companies or heading up programs with girls” are especially encouraged to attend the kickoff. Media welcomed.

Go to mtsu.edu/~grits or contact Fleming at 615-494-7763.
lfleming@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

IS A PICTURE WORTH A THOUSAND POLL POINTS?--How do political operatives arrange photo opportunities to achieve the most favorable image possible for their candidates? How do news photographers obtain the best shots possible, and how to they avoid being manipulated by the campaign? Chris Harris, professor of electronic media communication at MTSU, will tackle the topic of “Political Imagery” at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Sept. 21, on “MTSU on the Record” on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org) with host Gina Logue. An experienced photojournalist, Harris has performed hundreds of assignments for TIME, Newsweek and The New York Times. He also has worked as a reporter on investigative teams for TIME and The New York Times. For more information, contact Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800. If you missed last week’s show, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2008.html and click on “September 14, 2008.”

HABLAMOS ESPANOL--MTSU’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing through Oct. 15 with numerous cultural and informational events on tap. On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Dr. Sidney McPhee, MTSU President, will attend a reception for Hispanic students from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 316 of the Keathley University Center (KUC). On Monday, Oct. 6, Sidelines, the student newspaper, will feature a crossword puzzle with a Hispanic history theme. Prizes will be awarded in KUC Room 326 for the first five correct submittals. Also, ongoing Hispanic Poetry Periods and Latin music experiences will be conducted near the KUC Knoll, and special programming will be shown in dormitory lobbies. WMOT-FM (89.5) will air Latin jazz every Sunday. All events are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at 615-898-5812.

IN THE EYE OF THE ALUMNI--The MTSU Department of Art is hosting its second biennial exhibition of works by alumni, aptly titled “Alumni 2008,” through Friday, Sept. 26, in Todd Gallery. About 50 pieces representing a variety of media make up the exhibit, which will feature the art of Diane Fox (’86), Glenda Guinn (’85), George Juliano (’69), Rebecca Parker (’04), Jim Poag (’77), Tom Sain (’84), Patricia Tenpenny (’92) and Vicki Terry (’92). “They are active educators in higher education, performance artists or independent artists,” says Eric Snyder, gallery curator. “Their works are seen across the country, internationally in galleries and museums, found in private collections, and seen in regional and national publications.” Located on the first floor of the Todd Building, the Todd Gallery is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and closed on all state holidays. Admission is always free, and exhibits are open to the public. Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?--New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready stories are on the Web at www.mtsunews.com, your comprehensive source for MTSU information. Click on “MTSU Audio Clips on the right side of the page, and you will be able to hear Dr. Bill Ford, holder of MTSU’s Weatherford Chair of Finance and former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, offer his perspective on the federal government bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Listen to the views of Dr. Robb McDaniel, associate professor of political science, on the presidential candidates and what they need to do to convince the voters. And there’s an audio commentary by Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, on the nature of patriotism. For more information, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND.--The federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Bank of America’s agreement to acquire Merrill Lynch, the Chapter 11 filing by Lehman Brothers and other dramatic developments make this year’s MTSU Economic Outlook Conference a must. The conference will take place on Friday, Sept. 26, at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 1200 Conference Center Blvd. in Murfreesboro. Dr. James Bullard, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, will speak at 9 a.m. Dr. David Penn, director of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, will provide the Midstate/Regional Economic Update at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Donald Ratajczak, Regents Professor of Economics Emeritus at Georgia State University in Atlanta, will deliver the luncheon address during the noon hour. For more information, contact Dr. Jim Burton, Dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, at 615-898-2764 or eburton@mtsu.edu.