Thursday, February 26, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“What is ground clutter and, if I step in it, can I get it off my shoes?”—Lewis Grizzard

For all the fuss about the conversion from analog to digital televisions, there should be some emphasis on the need for a radio. That’s the view of Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, who says a TV set, regardless of whether it’s analog or digital, is not your best bet for information in the event of severe weather. “You know, in a real emergency, you are likely to lose electrical power,” Burriss says. “And I have yet to see a 40-inch plasma television set that runs on batteries. Nope, that super-deluxe, laser-enhanced, wall-size television is going to be one giant piece of useless plastic and glass in an emergency. And even if your power does stay on, there is no guarantee the cable company or the satellite signal will still be operating. But the lowly radio----now that’s what will save your life.”

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

Coffee, tea, or me

In keeping with the recent trend of charging fees for services that used to be free, US Airways adopted a $2 charge for sodas and juices and a $1 for coffee. Executives had estimated that they could rake in $500 million from these fees. But Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says now US Airways has backed away from that policy. “First and foremost, it did not seem to think through what customer reaction [would be] to the perception of being nickeled and dimed (or, in this case, dollared) for drinks that were previously complementary,” Roy says. “Management saw revenues; what it should have seen was customer resentment. Second, US Airways should have realized it would stand out for all the wrong reasons if competitors did not follow suit. Years of fare wars should have been enough for US Airways to know that competitors that do not match price increases leave the one airline that did in an unfavorable position.”

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

Now you’re talking my language!

Donna Myers, director of MTSU’s new English Language Schools (ELS) Center, and Jeff Hutcheson, ELS District Director, will be Gina Logue’s guests on “MTSU on the Record” at 7 a.m. this Sunday, March 1, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). MTSU’s ELS Center in the Fairview Building is helping students from countries around the world improve their English language proficiency. The work of ELS is not only essential to helping international students improve in their college studies. ELS also arranges social activities, housing, home-stay experiences and cultural/immigration counseling to help ease the challenge of becoming acclimated to a completely new environment.

For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

TR EXTRA

CHEMISTRY CHATTER--Dr. Amber Hinkle, quality lead in plastics manufacturing for Bayer’s Material Science facility in Baytown, Texas, will be the MTSU National Women’s History Month “Women in Science” invited lecturer. Hinkle will speak from 7-8:30 p.m. tonight, Feb. 26, in Room 102 of Wiser-Patten Science Hall and again during a 2-6 p.m. workshop tomorrow, Feb. 27, in Room 219 of Monohan Hall. Her Feb. 26 talk will be on “Women in Chemistry: Successful Leaders.” Her workshop presentation will be on “Leading without Authority.” The Feb. 26 lecture is open to the MTSU community and general public. The Feb. 27 workshop requires registration at http://acs.learn.com/custom/customloginpage.asp.

THERE’S NO “I” IN “TEAM”--The MTSU Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth will present “Social and Moral Education of Youth: Can Sport Really Build Character?,” a lecture by Dr. Don R. Hellison, at 7 p.m. tonight, Feb. 26, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Hellison is a professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Much of Hellison’s work over the past three decades has focused on the development, implementation, and evaluation of alternative physical activity program models and structures that teach life skills and values, especially for underserved youth. Hellison has conducted his work where it counts—in the gymnasium, on the playground, and in tough, inner city neighborhoods. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Don Morgan at 615-898-5549 or dmorgan@mtsu.edu.

MIGHT MAKES RIGHT—The MTSU Campus Recreation Fitness Department will present the Strongman Competition at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, in the indoor arena of the Campus Recreation Center. There will be three weight classes: lightweight (under 190 pounds), middleweight (191-220 lbs.), and heavyweight (over 221 lbs.) Events include tire flip, shuttle carry, standing medicine ball toss, loading event and a truck push/pull. The competition is open to faculty, staff and students. For more information, call 615-898-2104.

RAD STREET CRED--A series of six Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes will be offered at no charge every Thursday through Mar. 26 from 6-8 p.m. in the MTSU police training room located at 1412 East Main Street. The class will be open to all female MTSU students, faculty and staff as well as to the general public. For more information or to enroll, call RAD instructor David Smith at 615-692-2424.