Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Running out of gas

Consumers who responded to MTSU’s latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index indicated that the high price of gasoline has had an impact on their budgets. Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the Office of Consumer Research, says, “More than half (58 percent) of consumers have reduced their travel due to the higher gasoline prices. Nearly one half of consumers have reduced their spending for eating out (49 percent) and entertainment (48 percent). Forty percent have reduced spending on home improvement projects, and almost one third (32 percent) have reduced spending on groceries.” The index is based on telephone interviews with 411 randomly selected adult residents from Davidson, Rutherford and Williamson counties on Monday, Sept. 29, and Thursday, Oct. 2.

Contact Graeff at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

Putting it together

“Pulled Resources,” a sculptural collaborative by artists Dan DeZarn and Thomas H. Sturgill, is on display now through Friday, Oct. 17, at MTSU’s Todd Gallery. The artists have a shared interest in exploring the concerns of contemporary human culture. In the past, they have focused on material usage, commodity, nature and people, and how those ideas intersect, says Eric V. Snyder, gallery curator. “They quickly found that they could construct impressively large, labor-intensive projects in relatively short periods of time and with fairly modest budgets,” Snyder says. Located on the first floor of MTSU’s Todd Building, the Todd Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and closed on all state holidays. Admission is free. Exhibits are open to the public.

Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653.
esnyder@mtsu.edu

Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find.

The conventional spin is that the former Soviet republic of Georgia is a democracy trying to survive in the face of unwarranted aggression by Russia. However, a story in yesterday’s New York Times indicates that one essential element of democracy, media freedom, is stifled by the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili. Some say this censorship was especially strong during the August conflict—strange behavior for a government that wants to be associated with Western values. Dr. Vladimir Ilin, professor of sociology at St. Petersburg State University in Russia and a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at MTSU, says of Georgia, “Its president is an unpredictable politician with great ambitions successfully trying to manipulate big powers and involving them in the clash. I think that Georgia has no chance to join NATO soon, but its movement in this direction will be demonstrated to the Kremlin.”

Contact Ilin at vldmr.ilin@gmail.com

TR EXTRA

MILD, SPICY AND EN FUEGO—Lambda Theta Phi fraternity, the Lovely Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha, and the MTSU Office of Intercultural Affairs will present a live salsa band and salsa dancers on the Keathley University Center knoll tomorrow, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event, which is free and open to the public, is part of MTSU’s continuing celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. 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.

THEY REPORT, YOU DECIDE.--CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley (pronounced KROH-lee) and Pulitzer Prize-winner Walter Mears are among the nationally recognized journalists who will discuss the presidential election at MTSU’s Keathley University Center Theater today, Oct. 8. “History in the Making: Press Coverage of the Presidential Campaign” is the fourth in a yearlong series sponsored by the Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies that examines the media and the presidential election. At 10:30 a.m., Mears will present “On the Campaign Trail: 48 Years of Covering Presidential Politics.” At 11:30 a.m., Mears will join Bill Kovach, John Mashek and John Seigenthaler for “The Morning After: Who Won the Presidential Debates?”, a panel discussion moderated by Beverly Keel, director of the Seigenthaler Chair. At 12:40 p.m., Crowley will present “One on One with Candy Crowley.” This event is free and open to the public. Media welcomed. Contact Keel at 615-898-5150 or bkeel@mtsu.edu.