Monday, February 9, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Take me to your leader

Feb. 9-13 is Leadership Week at MTSU. The Office of Leadership and Service is sponsoring programs and events each day including “Generation X and Y: How to be an Effective Leader No Matter What the Generation,” an address by Amanda Samsel, Coordinator of Judicial Affairs, at 4 p.m. today, Feb. 9, in Room S130A of the Business and Aerospace Building. This event is free and open to the public. The Leadership Recruitment Fair is slated for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 10, in the Keathley University Center. Information will be available on BOLT (Bettering Our Leaders for Tomorrow), Lightning Leadership Coordinators, Resident Assistants, Leadership Studies Minor, SOAs (Student Orientation Assistants), Up ‘Til Dawn, SGA (Student Government Association), Blue Elite, Student Ambassadors, Judicial Board and Student Programming Board.

For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/leadandserve.

A vote of no confidence

Consumer confidence in Middle Tennessee is in the toilet. The overall Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index compiled by the MTSU Office of Consumer Research fell from 4 in December 2008 to -66 (minus 66) in February 2009. Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the office, says, “The psychology of consumers can have dramatic effects on the future of the economy. Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of the American economy. Decreases in consumer confidence that translate into reduced purchasing patterns can have significant negative effects on the economy. Conversely, increases in consumer confidence that translate into accelerated consumer spending can have significant positive effects on the economy.”

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

From Columbia to Changsha

Columbia, Tenn., native Cory Brunson recently was selected to study abroad at Hunan Normal University in Changsha from mid-February through August. A junior majoring in political science with an emphasis in international relations at MTSU, Brunson will study Mandarin during the trip abroad. To date, Brunson has received three scholarships: $4,000 from The Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State; $2,500 from The Freeman Asian Award, which is funded by the United Nations; and $2,000 from the MTSU Study Abroad program. Beginning in January 2010, Brunson also is slated to serve as an intern at the Tennessee State Capitol for the 2010 legislative session through a program with MTSU.

To interview Brunson, contact Lisa L. Rollins or Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

TR EXTRA

PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION--Baldwin Photographic Gallery is displaying an exhibit fearing photographs by Jim Stone, whose work has been exhibited and published internationally and is represented in the permanent collections of major museums. Stone has written or co-authored several books that are used as textbooks, and he currently teaches in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of New Mexico. Stone will deliver a lecture at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Feb. 9, in Room 221 of MTSU’s Learning Resources Center with a reception to follow in the gallery. Hours for gallery viewing are Mon.-Fri. 8-4:30 p.m., Saturday from 12-4 p.m., and Sunday from 6-9:45 p.m. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, call 615-898-2085.

STIMULUS PACKAGE—Tomorrow, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville, MTSU will partner with 15 area universities to host the College to Career Fair and Teacher Recruitment Fair. More than 120 employers will be recruiting for various full-time, degreed positions. A free ticket is required and a limited number are available at the Career Development Center in Room 328 of the Keathley University Center. Contact the Career Development Center at 615-898-2500 or career@mtsu.edu.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.--To help students dealing with high prices and tight budgets, the MTSU Off-Campus Housing Web site will waive its $25 fee for posting notices of apartments to be sublet effective immediately. The Web site (www.mtsuoffcampus.com) was created in November 2007 by the Office of Off-Campus Student Services in cooperation with Off-Campus Partners, a Virginia-based company providing services to nearly 30 universities. Property managers pay fees to post information such as location, price and type about apartments, condominiums and houses for rent and for sale. To make it easier for students to cut transportation costs, the Web site also features Carpool Central, a message board for people seeking rides to and from school; Ride Board, for rides wherever they want to go out of town; and a Roommate Matching message board. For more information, contact the Office of Off-Campus Student Services at 615-898-5989 or ocss@mtsu.edu.

Y’ALL COME BACK NOW, YOU HEAR?--The MTSU Department of Art’s Gallery at Todd Hall presents “Revisited,” an exhibit featuring the collective works of four of its retired faculty members, through Friday, Feb. 20. The artists whose work is being showcased are Ollie Fancher, who taught graphic design and drawing; Jim Gibson, sculpture; Klaus Kallenberger, jewelry; and David LeDoux, painting. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, says these individuals “contributed a great deal to the Department of Art’s program and curriculum and have been asked to return to MTSU in honor of their hard work.” The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and is closed on all state holidays. Admission is always free and exhibits are open to the public. For more information, contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.