Friday, October 24, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

I get a kick out of you.

Texas Tech takes on Kansas tomorrow (Saturday) with a new kicker on the roster. Matt Williams won a month’s free rent by kicking a 30-yard field goal between quarters of a game earlier this year. The Red Raiders’ two regular kickers have missed all their PATs and half of their field goals this season. Dr. Mark Anshel, an MTSU health and human performance professor who taught at Texas Tech for two years, considers this a dicey decision. He says, “The decision to go with an untested kicker could adversely affect team morale if he also fails to kick successfully. Kicking for the first time under the pressure of competition can be very challenging, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure and performs. Best guess is that he will not perform well, and the coaches will regret their decision.”

Contact Anshel at 615-898-2812.
manshel@mtsu.edu

Kaintuck

Dr. Jack Justin Turner, whose previous novels have dispelled stereotypes about the Kentuckians who live in the Appalachian Mountains, scores again with his latest adventure, The Foxes and the Hounds—Volume One: Big Medicine River Days. Turner, a professor emeritus of international relations at MTSU, will talk about his new novel at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Oct. 26, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). In his latest tale of the mining communities, Turner tells the story of two childhood friends who leave the only culture they have ever known to go to college on the “Outside.” While braving a whole new environment of big cities and big business, they get caught up in dangerous situations. A reception and reading with Turner is slated for 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, at the MTSU Foundation House, 324 West Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. This event is free and open to the public. Media welcomed.

Contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

The people’s car

Governor Phil Bredesen and his entourage are in Germany, where they are trying to convince auto parts manufacturers to locate in Tennessee. Volkswagen plans to build a plant in Chattanooga, which will produce 2,000 jobs, but Bredesen wants to augment that number with parts plants. Dr. Steven Livingston, MTSU political science professor and editor of “Global Commerce,” says, “Though still primarily dependent upon Japanese investment, the state continues to diversify both sources of investment and the economic sectors into which it goes. The history of the past decade, as well as the impact of the Volkswagen decision, shows the degree to which Tennessee’s economic development, particularly in the manufacturing sector, is now linked to foreign investment.”

Contact Livingston at 615-898-2720.
slivings@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

“THIS IS JOHN CHANCELLOR SOMEWHERE IN CUSTODY.”—NBC NEWS REPORTER JOHN CHANCELLOR AS POLICE DRAGGED HIM OFF THE FLOOR AT THE 1964 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION—As political reporting evolves with new communication technology, several questions emerge as to how things have changed in presidential election coverage. Could this year’s election become a turning point in political coverage much like what happened to the elections once television began covering them? How will traditional journalism change as a result of blogging? Should bloggers be held to the same normative and ethical standards that journalists are? Dr. Joon Soo Lim, journalism, will discuss “Political Reporting and New Technologies” at a brown bag lunch lecture from noon to 1 p.m. today, Oct. 24, in Room 129 (Gore Center conference room) of MTSU’s Todd Building. This event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the American Democracy Project. For more information, contact Dr. Jim Williams at 615-898-2632 or jhwillia@mtsu.edu.

A FORUM THAT LOOKS LIKE AMERICA--A roundtable of MTSU faculty experts will discuss “Gender, Race and Politics” from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, in the Keathley University Center Theatre. This event, which is sponsored by the Women’s Studies Program, is free and open to the public, and student participation is encouraged. “It is essential to give students an opportunity to understand contemporary issues from a scholarly perspective and to participate in an intellectually invigorating exploration of these issues,” says Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, director of the Women’s Studies Program. The scheduled participants include faculty from political science, business communication and entrepreneurship and electronic media communication. Media welcomed. Contact the Women’s Studies office at 615-898-5910 or Johnson at 615-898-2705.

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.

A WORD IS WORTH A THOUSAND PICTURES--“4 Women 4 Views with Text,” a new art exhibition in MTSU’s James E. Walker Library, features the creativity of three MTSU professors and an MTSU graduate in combining visual and verbal elements, treating visitors to an experience that is at once visceral and intellectual. The works of Assistant Professors Noel Lorson and Kim Dummons, Professor Janet Higgins and alumna Nance Cooley will remain on display through Thursday, Nov. 13, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor of the library. Viewing is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Susan Hanson, a specialist with the library, says the works on display are individual entities that emerged from the creative spark of the collaborative experience. “It starts with a word, and it begins to take on a life of its own,” Hanson says. Contact Hanson at 615-904-8503 or shanson@mtsu.edu.

THE GOSPEL TRUTH--Local gospel choirs who want to reach a wider audience are invited to try out for a role in a new independent movie, “The New, True Charlie Wu,” written and directed by Dr. Bob Pondillo, professor of electronic media communication at MTSU. Auditions are slated for today, Oct. 24 from 6-10 p.m. each evening in Studio C on the first floor of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. “”We’re looking for exciting, uptempo, soulful singers who can project a lot of energy,” Pondillo says. Pondillo is the creative force behind three independent award-winning short films, two of which were accepted at the internationally prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France. To make an appointment for an audition or for more information, contact Veronica Privett at 615-752-7024.

PROMOTE THE VOTE--MTSU students who want to participate in early voting in the 2008 election will be provided with free transportation to the Rutherford County Election Commission Office at One Public Square South in Murfreesboro via Raider Express on six different dates this month. “The American Democracy Project (ADP) registered nearly 1,000 MTSU students to vote in Rutherford County this fall, so now we are shifting our attention to education all our students about the candidates in this election and making sure that everyone who needs a ride to vote has one,” says Dr. Jim Williams, coordinator of the ADP. The schedule for the free rides, all of which embark from in front of the James Union Building, is online at www.mtsu.edu./~amerdem.For more information, contact Williams at 615-898-2633 or jhwillia@mtsu.edu.

GREEN EGGS AND HAM ACTORS?--MTSU Theatre & Dance will present the fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza known as “Seussical the Musical” at 7:30 nightly through tomorrow, Oct. 25, on the stage of the university’s Tucker Theatre. Based on the zany and endearing characters and stories of Dr. Seuss, the musical will include appearances by some of his most famous characters from Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant to the Whos of Whoville. “Working on ‘Seussical the Musical’ has been an absolute joy!” says Dr. Jette Halladay, professor of speech and theatre and director of the production. “In its simplest form, the script focuses on integrity and kindness, yet that simplicity is portrayed in strong images, stirring music and zany Seuss characters.” Tickets are $10 for general admission; $5 for MTSU staff and K-12 students; free for MTSU students with valid ID. School group matinees also are slated for 9:30 a.m. today, Oct. 24, and Thursday and Friday, Oct. 30-31. Call 615-494-8810 or visit the department’s Web site at www.mtsu.edu/theatre for more information.

IT’S A SCIENCE ALLIANCE.--This year’s “Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) in Math and Science Conference” will give up to 300 girls in grades 5-8 a chance to learn more about science and technology careers from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 25, at sites across the MTSU campus. For the second year, a Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS) EYH will be held on the same date at the same time for up to 60 girls in grades 9-12. Karen Habucky, who is the president of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and has been a member of the association for more than 15 years, will deliver the keynote address. Girls in grades 5-8 will attend three workshops. The high-school girls will attend two-hands-on labs, enjoy a mentoring lunch with women already in science and math careers and participate in a college and careers workshop. Contact Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross at 615-904-8253 or Lacey Fleming at 615-494-7763.