Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Donald McDonald House

The MTSU Department of Aerospace will name a new hangar at the MTSU Flight Operations Center at Murfreesboro Airport the Donald McDonald Aerospace Maintenance Laboratory at 10 a.m. today, Sept 17, at the airport. The media, the general public and the campus community are all invited to attend. McDonald (B.S. ’63) and his wife, the former Frances Wright, have been extremely generous with their donations, says Dr. Wayne Dornan, aerospace chair. Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU president, and other local and state dignitaries will be on hand for the ceremony. Also, a new Donald McDonald Scholarship will be awarded to a freshman for the 2009-10 academic year. “It will be a full-ride scholarship that pays 100 percent for four years,” says Dornan. It will be open to any of five aerospace concentrations—professional pilot, technology, maintenance, administrative and flight dispatch—as well as engineering technology.

Contact Dornan at 615-898-2788.
wdornan@mtsu.edu

Singing her own song

Dr. Felicia Miyakawa, assistant professor of music at MTSU, will deliver the first Women’s Studies Research Series lecture of the academic year at 3 p.m., tomorrow, Sept. 18, in the SunTrust Room of the Business and Aerospace Building. Miyakawa will speak on “Queering the ‘Sometimes’ Trope: Gay Choruses and Gendered Readings of ‘Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.’” “During this presentation, I will share examples of how this beloved tune has been wrapped into issues of gender identity,” Miyakawa says. “Specifically, I will explore what performances of this song by gay-identified choruses or in gay-themed performance contexts reveal not only about what these particular performance groups value in this song, but also how their appropriations of this song are indicative of a seemingly universal tendency of finding endless troves of personal meaning in the song’s text, music and traditions.”

For more information about this and future lectures in the series, contact Dr. Jane Marcellus at
615-898-5282.
jmarcell@mtsu.edu

A need-to-know basis

The state’s Freedom of Information Act is under review by government and various interest groups. At a recent hearing, some government officials complained that providing the public with information distracted state employees from their duties. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, says their duties should include informing citizens about what their government is doing with their money and in their name. “Somehow too many government officials have gotten it into their heads that the public has no business knowing what the government is up to,” Burriss says. “And this usually happens when the official has something to hide—which is the very time we, the public, need to know what’s going on.”

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

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. today, 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.

OUTSTANDING IN THEIR FIELD--MTSU’s School of Agribusiness and Agriscience will hold a field day from 4 to 7 p.m. tomorrow, 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. Contact Gill at 615-898-2523 or wgill@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.