Thursday, February 12, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Dixieland blues

A federal appeals court has ruled that school officials in Farmington, Mo., were justified in suspending students for wearing Confederate flag clothing. The Farmington High School dress code stated that “dress that materially disrupts the educational environment will be prohibited.” Confederate flags and symbols were barred after several racial incidents in 2005. David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and First Amendment Center scholar, says the appellate panel took issue with three suspended students who claimed their free speech rights were violated. Hudson says, “The 8th Circuit noted that school officials must only reasonably forecast a substantial disruption, that they don’t have to wait for an actual disruption to occur. (Judge Lavenski R.) Smith wrote that ‘no other circuit [court of appeals] has required the administration to wait for an actual disruption before acting.’”

Contact Hudson at 615-727-1600.
dhudson@fac.org

Labor pains

Consumers’ views of the job market in Middle Tennessee aren’t any rosier than their views of any other aspect of the economy. According to the latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index, only two percent of respondents say that jobs in the area are “easy to find.” Fifty-eight percent say they are “hard to find.” Dr. Tim Graeff, director of MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research, says, “Consumers continue to lose hope of any positive changes in the job market in the near future. Only 19 percent said that in the next six months there will be ‘more job openings.’ However, 31 percent said that in the next six months there will be ‘fewer job openings.’” The survey of 500 randomly selected adult residents from Davidson, Rutherford and Williamson counties was conducted on Feb. 2 and 3.

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

Kudos from Carnegie

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905, recently selected MTSU for the 2008 Community Engagement Classification, which recognizes universities that demonstrate commitment to curricular engagement, outreach and partnerships. MTSU joins such schools as Duke, Clemson and Purdue universities and more than 100 other institutions of higher learning across the nation “where teaching, learning and scholarship engage faculty, students and community in mutually beneficial and respectful collaboration.” Faye Johnson, assistant to the executive vice president and provost for special initiatives at MTSU, says, “This is a very prestigious designation [that recognizes good work] to implement and sustain an integrated campuswide commitment to continuous community engagement.”

Contact Tom Tozer in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.
ttozer@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

“WHERE YOU LEAD, I WILL FOLLOW.”—CAROLE KING AND TONI STERN--MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee will conduct a town hall meeting at noon, today, Feb. 12, in the Keathley University Center Theater. This event is part of Leadership Week 2009 presented by the Office of Leadership and Service and is free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/leadandserve.

OH, BEHAVE!--Research indicates that classroom management is one of the most frequently mentioned problems by both beginning and experienced teachers. Dr. Phillip Waldrop, associate dean for teacher education at MTSU, will present “Do It Your Way: Manage to Excel,” a professional development program for teachers,” from 3:30-4:30 p.m. CST today, Feb. 12, through the MTSU Satellite and Webcasting Center. This session is directed toward beginning K-12 teachers. Participants will gain specific strategies for improving the flow of classrooms so that students can be successful in learning and behavior problems can be minimized. For more information, call 615-898-2737.

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.