Monday, September 29, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The numbers game

When a news story involves a lot of numbers, how can the news media get the numbers right and reach the wrong conclusion? Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, says, “Unfortunately, many of the numbers we read, see and hear can’t be checked by readers, viewers and listeners—pollution levels are getting larger/smaller; test scores are going up/down/ our water is getting better/worse. When these numbers are then used with incomplete statements of fact, the results can be truly alarming and lead us to a distorted view of the world. For instance, we read a lot about the thousands of children who are kidnapped each year. What that statement doesn’t tell you is that most kidnappings of children are done by the non-custodial parent. The actual number of true child kidnappings is less than 200 each year.”

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

The horrors at home

The June Anderson Women’s Center (JAWC) at MTSU will augment its constant concern for the health and safety of women and girls in October with observances of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Janine Latus, author of If I Am Missing or Dead—A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder and Liberation, will be the keynote speaker for Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities. Latus will deliver her address at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Tom H. Jackson Hall with a reception and book signing to follow. Additionally, Latus’ book will be the focus of discussion at the JAWC’s first “Our Friends/Our Selves Book Club” meeting of the new academic year from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. today, Sept. 29, at the center, Room 206 in the James Union Building. If I Am Missing or Dead chronicles Latus’ courage in breaking out of a repressive marriage only to learn that her younger sister, Amy, had been murdered by her boyfriend.

Contact the JAWC at 615-898-2193.
jawc@mtsu.edu

Microfinance has major results

MTSU senior Steve Sibley, recipient of the Kawahito Scholarship for Experiential World Poverty Studies, continues to discover the benefits of microfinance as he lives and learns in Bangladesh this semester. His latest e-mail, about a trip to a Grameen Bank branch about 50 kilometers south of Dhaka, tells the story of a woman who had joined the bank only a year ago. “She has just finished paying off first 1,000-taka loan,” he writes. “With her initial loan, she had bought bamboo, with which she makes stools. Her supplies for each stool cost 140 taka, while she can sell each stool to a retailer for 200 taka. Working five days a week while also raising her two children, she has been able to increase her family's income by 175 taka per week. With the extra income, she says that she can better feed her family and has been saving money in a Grameen savings account.”

For more information about the Kawahito Scholarship, contact Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito at 615-898-5751.
kawahito@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

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.

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 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

CAREER WITHOUT FEAR--More than 125 organizations and professional/graduate schools are registered to attend the MTSU Fall Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, on the track level at Murphy Center. Students are advised to research the companies, be prepared and dress professionally. The goal at the Career Fair is to demonstrate that one is the best candidate and deserves a follow-up interview. For a complete list of the participating companies and to watch a video with tips on how to make the best impression possible, go to http://career.web.mtsu.edu. For more information, contact the Career Development Center at 615-898-2500 or career@mtsu.edu.