Monday, September 15, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Outstanding in their field

MTSU’s School of Agribusiness and Agriscience will hold a field day from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, at the former Guy James Farm on Hall Hill Pike, east of campus. Dr. Warren Gill, director of the school, says the event will feature the state agriculture department’s enhancement program, hay-wrapping demonstrations and a new planting of warm season perennials, including Switchgrass, Big Bluestem and a wildlife mixture. “We received an ag enhancement grant to study wrapping hay in plastic to improve the product,” Gill says. “If you put hay up wet, it makes for a slightly improved product. Gill adds that newer hay-wrapping techniques now could help farmers save more money and time than conventional methods. This event is free and open to the public, but attendees should contact Dr. Jessica Carter by tomorrow, Sept. 16, so she can keep a headcount for the ribeye steak meal.

Contact Gill at 615-898-2523.
wgill@mtsu.edu

Go to the head of the mass

For a fleeting nanosecond, the news media reported last week on the completion of the construction phase of the Large Hadron Collider. It’s a circular particle accelerator which scientists hope will recreate the conditions at the beginning of the universe, thereby increasing our understanding of the universe and of the nature of mass. Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, explains, “Currently, we have a very good and fundamental understanding of why electrons in a battery go from the lead anode to the lead oxide cathode when you start your car. And we have some fundamental ideas about why certain rare isotopes of lead are highly radioactive, even though natural lead makes the best radioactivity shield at the dentist’s office. But, at the most fundamental level, we really don’t know why a lead balloon doesn’t go over well.”

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

Burning down the house

If the Web site you’re using to find a roommate allows you to make clear in explicit terms your preferences about race, gender and sexual orientation, is the Web site discriminatory? The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says that’s a fair question to put before the judicial system. The full court decided that Roommates.com can be sued under fair-housing laws. David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and First Amendment Center scholar, says the court based its ruling on a still-existing section of the Communications Decency Act, most of which has been declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. “Section 230(c) makes clear … that ISPs (Internet service providers) are not shielded from liability if they are ‘information content providers’—that is, if they create material instead of merely publishing content from third parties,” Hudson says.

Contact Hudson at 615-727-1600.
dhudson@fac.org

TR EXTRA

THE FOURTH ESTATE--“From Preachers to Sniper Fire: Press Coverage of the 2008 Presidential Election” is the title of today’s University Honors College lecture at 3 p.m. in Room 106 of MTSU’s Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. Beverly Keel, holder of the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies, will deliver the presentation. For more information, contact the Honors College at 615-898-2152.

THE MTSU VIEW--This month’s edition of “MT Record” features a trio of stories related to the preservation of war history. They include packages on the use of GPS technology to investigate a location near Stones River National Battlefield, the MTSU students who work with park officials to the benefit of its history and its natural beauty, and the contribution of one MTSU professor to a guidebook to help battlefield visitors in France appreciate the World War I exploits of Alvin York. Also, “Centennial Countdown” returns to 1935 to look at how three Coffee County freshmen reduced their college costs; “The A List” profiles history major Keith Schuman; and Gina Logue interviews Olympic veteran Dr. Andrew Owusu on the impact of the 2008 Summer Olympics. “MT Record” airs on NewsChannel5+ at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday. Go to mtsunews.com to find which local cable outlet airs it in your area. Contact John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES …--Students at MTSU will be able to print their own copies of the Preamble to the United States Constitution from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, in celebration of Constitution Day. Officials at the James E. Walker Library will transport their handcrafted replica of Benjamin Franklin’s 18th century printing press from its home on the fourth floor down to the library portico. In case of inclement weather, the press will remain in Room 462 of the library for the event. Passersby may manipulate the device themselves or allow library personnel to help them. Constitution Day 2008 will mark the 221st anniversary of the signing of the nation’s founding document. The distribution of free copies of the Preamble is co-sponsored by the library and the American Democracy Project. For photos of MTSU’s Franklin-era replica printing press, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 before 3 p.m. if possible or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

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.