Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Radio daze

Does radio actually stand in the way of record sales? That sounds counterintuitive. Ken Sanney, adjunct recording industry professor and licensed attorney, says he’s found some interesting research conducted by Professor Ashbel Smith at the University of Texas at Dallas. “One … result of his research is that if people are listening to free music on the radio, they are not listening to prerecorded music ... seems like a no-brainer,” Sanney says. “I'd like to say he has a wonderful grasp of the obvious, but it is gospel in the music industry that radio airplay drives music sales. So if that is the longstanding industry belief, that radio airplay drives sales, why do we believe this? I'll admit that radio airplay can drive up the sales of a single song or album, but does it actually increase overall record sales? That is the important question, the question that Professor Smith addresses in his statement.”

Contact Sanney at 615-456-6502.
ksanney@mtsu.edu

A Laffer matter

Arthur Laffer, supply-side economist who served on President Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board and is best known for the “Laffer Curve,” will be guest speaker at this year’s MTSU Executives-in-Residence program, on Wednesday, April 8. Laffer will speak from 10:20 to 11:15 a.m. in Tucker Theater on “A Supply-Side View of the First 75 Days of the Obama Administration.” This executive briefing will be open to classes and to the public. There is no charge, but interested parties should reserve seating by calling 615-898-2764. The “Laffer Curve” theory asserts that in certain situations a decrease in tax rates can result in an increase in tax revenues.

For more information, contact Tom Tozer in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.
ttozer@mtsu.edu

Health care horrors

The earlier autism is detected in children, the more likely they can get the kind of help they need to live the most productive lives possible. But the parents of autistic children don’t get much help from the health care system in America. Ed Evans, president of the MTSU student organization Students for Autism Awareness, says, “Health care is extremely expensive. It starts with the testing just to isolate the possible problems. Drug regiments are initiated to see which will respond. These drugs are for the most part experimental and expensive—therefore, not covered by insurance. This is not to mention any additional education needs … speech (therapy), occupation therapy, physical therapy, behavior therapy …”

Contact Evans at 615-493-7379.
edevans43@comcast.net

TR EXTRA

SHOWING OFF SCHOLARSHIP--Scholars Week 2009, which continues through Friday, April 3, has become an anticipated campus event each spring as MTSU scholars eagerly share their research findings as well as their enthusiasm for doing research. Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history and organizing committee member, says that selected MTSU students are inviting others to visit the universitywide poster and multimedia event at 12:40 p.m. on Friday, April 3, in the Murphy Center track area and will act as hosts during the event. Presentation titles range from “Hurricane Ike vs. an Atomic Bomb;” “How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Sanitation Issues in the Food Industry;” and “Knock It Off!: Consumers’ Perceptions Toward Purchasing Counterfeit Products.” A schedule and a link to poster abstracts are at www.mtsu.edu/~research. For more information, contact McCusker at 615-898-2544 or Dr. Andrienne Friedli at 615-898-2071.

PROJECT RUNWAY--The MTSU Fashion Promotion class will conduct a fashion show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. Admission is $5 per person at the door. All proceeds will be donated to Pennies for Peace. For more information, contact Dr. Jasmin Hyunju Kwon, assistant professor of textiles, merchandising and design, at 615-904-8340.

IT’S A PRIVILEGE--Dr. Peggy McIntosh, associate director of the Wellesley Centers for Women, will guide a workshop for MTSU students titled “Coming to See Privilege Systems: The Surprising Journey” at 4 p.m. today, March 31, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. For more information, contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

“ARE YOU REALLY JUST A SHADOW OF THE MAN THAT I ONCE KNEW?”—FROM “DOCTOR WU” BY STEELY DAN--How do you teach students the art of filmmaking? By letting them make a film. But how do you pay for it? With a national economic recession and the threat of budget cuts hitting close to home, Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, is going viral and asking for donations to pay for it online. Pondillo is the writer and director of “The New, True Charlie Wu,” a movie made with an all-MTSU student crew. The film is now in post-production. It’s “the story of a young man caught in a job he hates,” says Pondillo. He compensates for his malaise through conspicuous consumption, thinking that things can “fill the hole in his heart,” as Pondillo puts it. To contribute, go to www.youandcharliewu.com. For each dollar contributed, the donor gets a point. The more points the donor gets, the more prestigious the mention in the credits. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 and pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THE NITTY GRITTY--The Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS) Collaborative, a statewide initiative to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is inviting you to register your program in the National Girls Collaborative Project Program Directory. Teachers, community groups and other organizations committed to collaborating with, informing and motivating girls are encouraged to register. The online program directory lists programs and resources that encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and work together on STEM-related projects for girls. With the online program directory, you can enter a program for inclusion in the directory, sign up for the e-newsletter listserv and search for programs using various criteria. For more information, contact Cacy DeSheles, assistant director of GRITS, at 615-494-7763 or cdd3b@mtsu.edu.

PLEASE DON’T SQUEEZE THE CHARMIN.--MTSU Theatre will present “Urinetown the Musical” at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow through Saturday April 1-4 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 5, in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building’s Tucker Theatre. The three-time Tony Award-winning musical provides a satirical and comedic look at a future in which water supplies have dried up and the public must use pay-to-pee toilets regulated by the Urine Good Company. When Bobby, a custodian at the filthiest toilet in town, decides enough is enough, he leads a rebellion to free the citizens. Deborah Anderson, a member of MTSU’s speech and theatre faculty and the play’s director, says, “We’re all going to experience this (environmental) ruin that is rocketing toward us at such a speed that we will probably not be able to turn it away no matter how much recycling we do. But at least we should try, and this show provides a humorous look at what could happen.” Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for MTSU staff and K-12 students. MTSU students are admitted free of charge with a valid ID. For more information, call 615-494-8810.

RECYCLED KNOWLEDGE--The American Association of University Women will conclude its annual Book Sale to benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship for MTSU students from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, March 31, in front of Phillips Bookstore in the Keathley University Center. Books, CDs, DVDs, tapes and records will be available. For more information, contact Ann Funkhouser at 615-898-2538 or afunkhou@mtsu.edu.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

C.Y.A. (Covering your art)

Do you have a favorite album or CD cover? Dr. Mike Alleyne, recording industry, writes in the March 21 edition of Billboard magazine, “Album cover images speak volumes. In the digital age, though, as listeners’ relationships with recorded music becomes (sic) ever more tenuous, the album cover is fading away.” Alleyne says this is regrettable because album art has been part of the listening experience in that covers are part of the overall artistic statement. “If a picture still paints a thousand words, then the growing absence of memorable cover imagery makes paupers of us all,” Alleyne opines.

Contact Alleyne at 615-904-8336.
malleyne@mtsu.edu

A sporting chance?

Researchers have targeted the ACTN3 gene, one among more than 20,000 in the human genome, as a key indicator of a child’s athletic abilities. Now a Colorado-based company claims to have developed a test that can assess those abilities by swabbing the inside of the child’s cheek and along the gums and collecting DNA. Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, sees the potential for some children to be cast aside. “The children who receive ‘high’ scores on this genetic test will receive most of the resources toward skill development,” Anshel says. “We will be giving most of the opportunities to compete to so-called ‘future elite athletes’ while ignoring or reducing the amount of resources toward skill development to lower test scorers.”

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

Keep me in with the ball game.

Why will Major League Baseball’s new 24/7 cable television network succeed? Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, cites a strong brand and a lot of content as two reasons. Also, it has distribution. “Lack of distribution dooms more new products to failure than any other factor,” Roy says. “MLB Network launched with an audience of more than 50 million households, larger than the other three networks’ audiences at their launches. … I am looking forward to my first season having MLB Network as a resource to help with my fantasy baseball efforts... and I can use all the help I can get!”

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

TR EXTRA

SHOWING OFF SCHOLARSHIP--Scholars Week 2009, slated for today, March 30 through Friday, April 3, has become an anticipated campus event each spring as MTSU scholars eagerly share their research findings as well as their enthusiasm for doing research. Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history and organizing committee member, says that selected MTSU students are inviting others to visit the universitywide poster and multimedia event at 12:40 p.m. on Friday, April 3, in the Murphy Center track area and will act as hosts during the event. Presentation titles range from “Hurricane Ike vs. an Atomic Bomb;” “How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Sanitation Issues in the Food Industry;” and “Knock It Off!: Consumers’ Perceptions Toward Purchasing Counterfeit Products.” A schedule and a link to poster abstracts are at www.mtsu.edu/~research. For more information, contact McCusker at 615-898-2544 or Dr. Andrienne Friedli at 615-898-2071.

PROJECT RUNWAY--The MTSU Fashion Promotion class will conduct a fashion show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. Admission is $5 per person at the door. All proceeds will be donated to Pennies for Peace. For more information, contact Dr. Jasmin Hyunju Kwon, assistant professor of textiles, merchandising and design, at 615-904-8340.

IT’S A PRIVILEGE--Dr. Peggy McIntosh, associate director of the Wellesley Centers for Women, will guide a workshop for MTSU students titled “Coming to See Privilege Systems: The Surprising Journey” at 4 p.m. tomorrow, March 31, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. For more information, contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

“ARE YOU REALLY JUST A SHADOW OF THE MAN THAT I ONCE KNEW?”—FROM “DOCTOR WU” BY STEELY DAN--How do you teach students the art of filmmaking? By letting them make a film. But how do you pay for it? With a national economic recession and the threat of budget cuts hitting close to home, Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, is going viral and asking for donations to pay for it online. Pondillo is the writer and director of “The New, True Charlie Wu,” a movie made with an all-MTSU student crew. The film is now in post-production. It’s “the story of a young man caught in a job he hates,” says Pondillo. He compensates for his malaise through conspicuous consumption, thinking that things can “fill the hole in his heart,” as Pondillo puts it. To contribute, go to www.youandcharliewu.com. For each dollar contributed, the donor gets a point. The more points the donor gets, the more prestigious the mention in the credits. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 and pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THE NITTY GRITTY--The Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS) Collaborative, a statewide initiative to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is inviting you to register your program in the National Girls Collaborative Project Program Directory. Teachers, community groups and other organizations committed to collaborating with, informing and motivating girls are encouraged to register. The online program directory lists programs and resources that encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and work together on STEM-related projects for girls. With the online program directory, you can enter a program for inclusion in the directory, sign up for the e-newsletter listserv and search for programs using various criteria. For more information, contact Cacy DeSheles, assistant director of GRITS, at 615-494-7763 or cdd3b@mtsu.edu.

BRIGHT AND BRASSY--“Pistons and Pipes,” a free concert featuring the MTSU Faculty Brass Quintet, the MTSU Symphonic Brass Ensemble and First United Methodist Church organist and MTSU faculty member Sandra Arndt, will be held at 7:30 p.m. tonight, March 30, at the church at 265 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. Festival music selections include J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, multiple brass choir works of Giovanni Gabrieli, David Sampson’s Fanfare for Canterbury Cathedral, Ingolf Dahl’s Music for Brass, and Craig Phillips’ energetic and lyric Suite for Organ, Brass, and Percussion. The concert will conclude with Ottorino Respighi’s brilliant Ancient Aires and Dances. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 615-898-2493 or go to www.mtsumusic.com.

PLEASE DON’T SQUEEZE THE CHARMIN.--MTSU Theatre will present “Urinetown the Musical” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday April 1-4 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 5, in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building’s Tucker Theatre. The three-time Tony Award-winning musical provides a satirical and comedic look at a future in which water supplies have dried up and the public must use pay-to-pee toilets regulated by the Urine Good Company. When Bobby, a custodian at the filthiest toilet in town, decides enough is enough, he leads a rebellion to free the citizens. Deborah Anderson, a member of MTSU’s speech and theatre faculty and the play’s director, says, “We’re all going to experience this (environmental) ruin that is rocketing toward us at such a speed that we will probably not be able to turn it away no matter how much recycling we do. But at least we should try, and this show provides a humorous look at what could happen.” Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for MTSU staff and K-12 students. MTSU students are admitted free of charge with a valid ID. For more information, call 615-494-8810.

RECYCLED KNOWLEDGE--The American Association of University Women will hold its annual Book Sale to benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship for MTSU students from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, March 30, and tomorrow, March 31, in front of Phillips Bookstore in the Keathley University Center. Books, CDs, DVDs, tapes and records will be available. For more information, contact Ann Funkhouser at 615-898-2538 or afunkhou@mtsu.edu.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

John Hope Franklin (1915-2009)

The historian Dr. John Hope Franklin, who earned his bachelor’s degree at Fisk University in Nashville, died Wednesday at the age of 94. His 1947 book From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African-Americans is considered a seminal work in reshaping the racial dialogue in America. Dr. Tommy Bynum, assistant professor of history, says, “Beset by the strictures of Jim Crow segregation, Dr. John Franklin persevered and became one of America's foremost and preeminent historians. His work and scholarship, which spanned nearly six decades, serve as a model for both old and young scholars and continue to influence a generation of young black academics who will follow in his footsteps. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, students and members of the historical profession.”

Contact Bynum at 615-898-2760.
tbynum@mtsu.edu

Showing off scholarship

Scholars Week 2009, slated for Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3, has become an anticipated campus event each spring as MTSU scholars eagerly share their research findings as well as their enthusiasm for doing research. Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history and organizing committee member, says that selected MTSU students are inviting others to visit the universitywide poster and multimedia event at 12:40 p.m. on Friday, April 3, in the Murphy Center track area and will act as hosts during the event. Presentation titles range from “Hurricane Ike vs. an Atomic Bomb;” “How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Sanitation Issues in the Food Industry;” and “Knock It Off!: Consumers’ Perceptions Toward Purchasing Counterfeit Products.”

A schedule and a link to poster abstracts are at www.mtsu.edu/~research. For more information, contact McCusker at 615-898-2544 or Dr. Andrienne Friedli at 615-898-2071.

Sign on the dotted line.

Some marriages are real business agreements complete with contractual terms. Dr. Marilyn Wells, professor emeritus of sociology and anthropology, says there are three different rights that are essential to the contract. They are domestic service, right to sexual access and reproductive services. The latter is considered the most important right because it determines to which kin group the children will belong. “Bride price is the ritual gifts that are given by the groom’s family to the bride’s family,” says Wells. She says the gifts can include such things as a pouch of salt, spiced cocoa powder, coffee beans, copper shields, pouches of tobacco and finely woven mats. The progeny price can be included in the bride price and can be paid off in installments.

Contact Wells at 615-895-4385.

TR EXTRA

“HELL, THERE ARE NO RULES HERE. WE’RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING.”—THOMAS EDISON--The sounds of history come alive as Martin Fisher, manager of recorded media collections for the Center for Popular Music, discusses recording formats from the Edison cylinder to the digital download on the next edition of “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, March 29, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Fisher talks about his contemporary recordings of folk music on a 1906-era Edison cylinder phonograph at the 2007 Reelfoot Lake Arts and Crafts Festival and the 2009 Memphis Folk Alliance. Logue will play sound from the demonstrations, which illustrates the quality of the new mechanical acoustic recordings when reproduced with modern electric pickups. For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

PROJECT RUNWAY--The MTSU Fashion Promotion class will conduct a fashion show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. Admission is $5 per person at the door. All proceeds will be donated to Pennies for Peace. For more information, contact Dr. Jasmin Hyunju Kwon, assistant professor of textiles, merchandising and design, at 615-904-8340.

IT’S A PRIVILEGE--Dr. Peggy McIntosh, associate director of the Wellesley Centers for Women, will guide a workshop for MTSU students titled “Coming to See Privilege Systems: The Surprising Journey” at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. For more information, contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

“ARE YOU REALLY JUST A SHADOW OF THE MAN THAT I ONCE KNEW?”—FROM “DOCTOR WU” BY STEELY DAN--How do you teach students the art of filmmaking? By letting them make a film. But how do you pay for it? With a national economic recession and the threat of budget cuts hitting close to home, Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, is going viral and asking for donations to pay for it online. Pondillo is the writer and director of “The New, True Charlie Wu,” a movie made with an all-MTSU student crew. The film is now in post-production. It’s “the story of a young man caught in a job he hates,” says Pondillo. He compensates for his malaise through conspicuous consumption, thinking that things can “fill the hole in his heart,” as Pondillo puts it. To contribute, go to www.youandcharliewu.com. For each dollar contributed, the donor gets a point. The more points the donor gets, the more prestigious the mention in the credits. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 and pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THE NITTY GRITTY--The Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS) Collaborative, a statewide initiative to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is inviting you to register your program in the National Girls Collaborative Project Program Directory. Teachers, community groups and other organizations committed to collaborating with, informing and motivating girls are encouraged to register. The online program directory lists programs and resources that encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and work together on STEM-related projects for girls. With the online program directory, you can enter a program for inclusion in the directory, sign up for the e-newsletter listserv and search for programs using various criteria. For more information, contact Cacy DeSheles, assistant director of GRITS, at 615-494-7763 or cdd3b@mtsu.edu.

BRIGHT AND BRASSY--“Pistons and Pipes,” a free concert featuring the MTSU Faculty Brass Quintet, the MTSU Symphonic Brass Ensemble and First United Methodist Church organist and MTSU faculty member Sandra Arndt, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, at the church at 265 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. Festival music selections include J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, multiple brass choir works of Giovanni Gabrieli, David Sampson’s Fanfare for Canterbury Cathedral, Ingolf Dahl’s Music for Brass, and Craig Phillips’ energetic and lyric Suite for Organ, Brass, and Percussion. The concert will conclude with Ottorino Respighi’s brilliant Ancient Aires and Dances. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 615-898-2493 or go to www.mtsumusic.com.

PLEASE DON’T SQUEEZE THE CHARMIN.--MTSU Theatre will present “Urinetown the Musical” at 7:30 p.m. April 1-4 and at 2 p.m. April 5 in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building’s Tucker Theatre. The three-time Tony Award-winning musical provides a satirical and comedic look at a future in which water supplies have dried up and the public must use pay-to-pee toilets regulated by the Urine Good Company. When Bobby, a custodian at the filthiest toilet in town, decides enough is enough, he leads a rebellion to free the citizens. Deborah Anderson, a member of MTSU’s speech and theatre faculty and the play’s director, says, “We’re all going to experience this (environmental) ruin that is rocketing toward us at such a speed that we will probably not be able to turn it away no matter how much recycling we do. But at least we should try, and this show provides a humorous look at what could happen.” Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for MTSU staff and K-12 students. MTSU students are admitted free of charge with a valid ID. For more information, call 615-494-8810.

RECYCLED KNOWLEDGE--The American Association of University Women will hold its annual Book Sale to benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship for MTSU students from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31, in front of Phillips Bookstore in the Keathley University Center. Books, CDs, DVDs, tapes and records will be available. For more information, contact Ann Funkhouser at 615-898-2538 or afunkhou@mtsu.edu.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

No Redoubt about it

Experts with the U.S. Geological Survey say that Alaska’s Mount Redoubt volcano could continue spewing ash for days or even months. Fred Belton of MTSU’s Academic Enrichment Department traveled to Tanzania in July 2005 on a four-week expedition to Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano in the African Rift valley. “It (Mount Redoubt) is not really a big danger in terms of towns or cities actually being destroyed by an eruption because the volcano is relatively remote,” Belton says. “The main issue is that it tends to produce fine ash which is widely dispersed. It is damaging to any machine that operates outside and has an air intake such as cars and air conditioning/heating units, and, in particular, planes are at risk.”

Contact Belton at 615-898-2208.
fbelton@mtsu.edu

Please don’t squeeze the Charmin.

MTSU Theatre will present “Urinetown the Musical” at 7:30 p.m. April 1-4 and at 2 p.m. April 5 in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building’s Tucker Theatre. The three-time Tony Award-winning musical provides a satirical and comedic look at a future in which water supplies have dried up and the public must use pay-to-pee toilets regulated by the Urine Good Company. When Bobby, a custodian at the filthiest toilet in town, decides enough is enough, he leads a rebellion to free the citizens. Deborah Anderson, a member of MTSU’s speech and theatre faculty and the play’s director, says, “We’re all going to experience this (environmental) ruin that is rocketing toward us at such a speed that we will probably not be able to turn it away no matter how much recycling we do. But at least we should try, and this show provides a humorous look at what could happen.”

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for MTSU staff and K-12 students. MTSU students are admitted free of charge with a valid ID. For more information, call 615-494-8810.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

As the Seattle Post-Intelligencer transitions into a totally digital product and the Rocky Mountain News fades into the sunset altogether, Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, pauses to assert that journalism is becoming more important than ever. Burriss says, “Here’s what sets journalism apart from run-of-the-mill blogs, twitters and other electronic sites that pass themselves off as serious reporting: journalists have access to newsmakers and are trained in the gathering and evaluation of information. Even many high-profile Web sites are nothing more than collections of gossip, innuendo, half-truths and distortions. That’s why I say the craft and role of journalism will become even more important.”

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

TR EXTRA

“HELL, THERE ARE NO RULES HERE. WE’RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING.”—THOMAS EDISON--The sounds of history come alive as Martin Fisher, manager of recorded media collections for the Center for Popular Music, discusses recording formats from the Edison cylinder to the digital download on the next edition of “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, March 29, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Fisher talks about his contemporary recordings of folk music on a 1906-era Edison cylinder phonograph at the 2007 Reelfoot Lake Arts and Crafts Festival and the 2009 Memphis Folk Alliance. Logue will play sound from the demonstrations, which illustrates the quality of the new mechanical acoustic recordings when reproduced with modern electric pickups. For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

PROJECT RUNWAY--The MTSU Fashion Promotion class will conduct a fashion show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. Admission is $5 per person at the door. All proceeds will be donated to Pennies for Peace. For more information, contact Dr. Jasmin Hyunju Kwon, assistant professor of textiles, merchandising and design, at 615-904-8340.

IT’S A PRIVILEGE--Dr. Peggy McIntosh, associate director of the Wellesley Centers for Women, will present “Recognizing and Lessening Systems of Privilege with Regard to Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation,” a workshop for administrators, faculty and staff, as part of the Women’s Studies Conference at 1 p.m. today, March 26, in the Tom H. Jackson Building. McIntosh also will guide a workshop for MTSU students titled “Coming to See Privilege Systems: The Surprising Journey” at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. For more information, contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

ORDER IN THE COURT--Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will lecture on “Judicial Independence in Jeopardy: The First Amendment and the Culture Wars” at 1 p.m. today, March 26, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. This event is free and open to the public and cosponsored by the Distinguished Lecture Fund and by the Women’s Studies Program. For more information, contact Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College, at 615-898-2152.

“ARE YOU REALLY JUST A SHADOW OF THE MAN THAT I ONCE KNEW?”—FROM “DOCTOR WU” BY STEELY DAN--How do you teach students the art of filmmaking? By letting them make a film. But how do you pay for it? With a national economic recession and the threat of budget cuts hitting close to home, Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, is going viral and asking for donations to pay for it online. Pondillo is the writer and director of “The New, True Charlie Wu,” a movie made with an all-MTSU student crew. The film is now in post-production. It’s “the story of a young man caught in a job he hates,” says Pondillo. He compensates for his malaise through conspicuous consumption, thinking that things can “fill the hole in his heart,” as Pondillo puts it. To contribute, go to www.youandcharliewu.com. For each dollar contributed, the donor gets a point. The more points the donor gets, the more prestigious the mention in the credits. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 and pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THE NITTY GRITTY--The Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS) Collaborative, a statewide initiative to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is inviting you to register your program in the National Girls Collaborative Project Program Directory. Teachers, community groups and other organizations committed to collaborating with, informing and motivating girls are encouraged to register. The online program directory lists programs and resources that encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and work together on STEM-related projects for girls. With the online program directory, you can enter a program for inclusion in the directory, sign up for the e-newsletter listserv and search for programs using various criteria. For more information, contact Cacy DeSheles, assistant director of GRITS, at 615-494-7763 or cdd3b@mtsu.edu.

BRIGHT AND BRASSY--“Pistons and Pipes,” a free concert featuring the MTSU Faculty Brass Quintet, the MTSU Symphonic Brass Ensemble and First United Methodist Church organist and MTSU faculty member Sandra Arndt, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, at the church at 265 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. Festival music selections include J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, multiple brass choir works of Giovanni Gabrieli, David Sampson’s Fanfare for Canterbury Cathedral, Ingolf Dahl’s Music for Brass, and Craig Phillips’ energetic and lyric Suite for Organ, Brass, and Percussion. The concert will conclude with Ottorino Respighi’s brilliant Ancient Aires and Dances. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 615-898-2493 or go to www.mtsumusic.com.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“Hell, there are no rules here. We’re trying to accomplish something.”—Thomas Edison

The sounds of history come alive as Martin Fisher, manager of recorded media collections for the Center for Popular Music, discusses recording formats from the Edison cylinder to the digital download on the next edition of “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, March 29, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Fisher talks about his contemporary recordings of folk music on a 1906-era Edison cylinder phonograph at the 2007 Reelfoot Lake Arts and Crafts Festival and the 2009 Memphis Folk Alliance. Logue will play sound from the demonstrations, which illustrates the quality of the new mechanical acoustic recordings when reproduced with modern electric pickups.

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

The Tour de Raider

Prospective MTSU students and their families and friends now have a way to take a tour of campus on weekends and other times when offices and departments are closed. The Admission Tour Podcast has been uploaded to the MTSU iTunes store. “It’s all audio files and a map of the tour podcast,” says Admissions Counselor Travis Tipton. “It takes a student around campus. It highlights buildings in a certain order. There are 13 tracks so students can pause as they go to their next building.” By April 1, admissions will have a procedure in place for prospective students to check out mp3 players from Tour Coordinator Betty Pedigo at the information booth in the main lobby of the Cope Administration Building.

Contact Tipton at 615-494-7956.
ttipton@mtsu.edu

The nitty gritty

The Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS) Collaborative, a statewide initiative to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is inviting you to register your program in the National Girls Collaborative Project Program Directory. Teachers, community groups and other organizations committed to collaborating with, informing and motivating girls are encouraged to register. The online program directory lists programs and resources that encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and work together on STEM-related projects for girls. With the online program directory, you can enter a program for inclusion in the directory, sign up for the e-newsletter listserv and search for programs using various criteria.

For more information, contact Cacy DeSheles, assistant director of GRITS, at 615-494-7763.
cdd3b@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

PROJECT RUNWAY--The MTSU Fashion Promotion class will conduct a fashion show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. Admission is $5 per person at the door. All proceeds will be donated to Pennies for Peace. For more information, contact Dr. Jasmin Hyunju Kwon, assistant professor of textiles, merchandising and design, at 615-904-8340.

IT’S A PRIVILEGE--Dr. Peggy McIntosh, associate director of the Wellesley Centers for Women, will present “Recognizing and Lessening Systems of Privilege with Regard to Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation,” a workshop for administrators, faculty and staff, as part of the Women’s Studies Conference at 1 p.m. tomorrow, March 26, in the Tom H. Jackson Building. McIntosh also will guide a workshop for MTSU students titled “Coming to See Privilege Systems: The Surprising Journey” at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. For more information, contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

ORDER IN THE COURT--Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will lecture on “Judicial Independence in Jeopardy: The First Amendment and the Culture Wars” at 1 p.m. tomorrow, March 26, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. This event is free and open to the public and cosponsored by the Distinguished Lecture Fund and by the Women’s Studies Program. For more information, contact Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College, at 615-898-2152.

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for tomorrow and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

FARM FAIR--The first-ever MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience Career Fair will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. today, March 25 on the first floor of the Stark Agriculture Building. The ag program has nearly 400 students in three majors: animal science, including horse science; plant science; and agribusiness. The Student Agriculture Council, agribusiness and agriscience faculty and staff and the Career Development Center are serving as hosts of the ABAS Career Fair. The fair is for MTSU students only. Participants should bring updated copies of their resumes and professional attire is strongly encouraged. For more information, contact Nicole Green, career coordinator for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, at 615-494-8797.

“ARE YOU REALLY JUST A SHADOW OF THE MAN THAT I ONCE KNEW?”—FROM “DOCTOR WU” BY STEELY DAN--How do you teach students the art of filmmaking? By letting them make a film. But how do you pay for it? With a national economic recession and the threat of budget cuts hitting close to home, Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, is going viral and asking for donations to pay for it online. Pondillo is the writer and director of “The New, True Charlie Wu,” a movie made with an all-MTSU student crew. The film is now in post-production. It’s “the story of a young man caught in a job he hates,” says Pondillo. He compensates for his malaise through conspicuous consumption, thinking that things can “fill the hole in his heart,” as Pondillo puts it. To contribute, go to www.youandcharliewu.com. For each dollar contributed, the donor gets a point. The more points the donor gets, the more prestigious the mention in the credits. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 and pondillo@mtsu.edu.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“Are you really just a shadow of the man that I once knew?”—from “Doctor Wu” by Steely Dan

How do you teach students the art of filmmaking? By letting them make a film. But how do you pay for it? With a national economic recession and the threat of budget cuts hitting close to home, Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, is going viral and asking for donations to pay for it online. Pondillo is the writer and director of “The New, True Charlie Wu,” a movie made with an all-MTSU student crew. The film is now in post-production. It’s “the story of a young man caught in a job he hates,” says Pondillo. He compensates for his malaise through conspicuous consumption, thinking that things can “fill the hole in his heart,” as Pondillo puts it. To contribute, go to www.youandcharliewu.com. For each dollar contributed, the donor gets a point. The more points the donor gets, the more prestigious the mention in the credits.

Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

Cal Worthington and his dog, Spot, won’t work.

If your industry’s reputation was as compromised as the auto industry’s reputation, would you continue to advertise? Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says many General Motors dealers wish the company would put some sort of message into the marketplace. “The ‘buy now’ messages that historically have dominated this industry must be balanced with reinforcing quality and trust perceptions,” Roy says. “Of course, customer-friendly pricing and incentives would not hurt, either. Consumer confidence is shaky; marketers in all industries cannot pretend otherwise. Addressing it head-on through advertising is the right thing to do to restore confidence.”

Contact Roy at615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

Fit and fabulous

Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg is slated to sign a proclamation commemorating Athletic Training Month today, March 24, at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall. Dr. Helen Binkley, health and human performance, says, “With the growing number of sports participants in high school and recreational activity, it is important that the public become aware of the athletic training profession. Nationally, only 42 percent of public high schools have access to athletic trainers.” Binkley notes that athletic trainers are different from personal trainers. “Athletic trainers have higher educational and certification requirements than personal trainers, who typically focus solely on fitness and conditioning,” she says.

Contact Binkley at 615-904-8192.
hbinkley@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

ORDER IN THE COURT--Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will lecture on “Judicial Independence in Jeopardy: The First Amendment and the Culture Wars” at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. This event is free and open to the public and cosponsored by the Distinguished Lecture Fund and by the Women’s Studies Program. For more information, contact Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College, at 615-898-2152.

LIBERTY BELL—The author of numerous critically acclaimed and influential books on the politics of race, gender, class and culture, bell hooks (lower case is correct) will speak at 4 p.m. today, March 24, at MTSU’s Keathley University Center Theater. This event is free and open to the public. “Feminism Forever: Continuing the Struggle” is the title of hooks’ talk. A reception and booksigning will follow. For more information about this National Women’s History Month event, contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

FARM FAIR--The first-ever MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience Career Fair will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. tomorrow, March 25 on the first floor of the Stark Agriculture Building. The ag program has nearly 400 students in three majors: animal science, including horse science; plant science; and agribusiness. The Student Agriculture Council, agribusiness and agriscience faculty and staff and the Career Development Center are serving as hosts of the ABAS Career Fair. The fair is for MTSU students only. Participants should bring updated copies of their resumes and professional attire is strongly encouraged. For more information, contact Nicole Green, career coordinator for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, at 615-494-8797.

THE REST OF THE STORY--The Muslim Student Association at MTSU will sponsor “Palestine, the Untold Side of the Story” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight, March 24, in the State Farm Lecture Hall in the Business and Aerospace Building. The sessions will be followed by questions and answers and are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Dr. Saleh Sbenaty at 615-898-2966 or ssbenaty@mtsu.edu.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

You can run, but you can’t hire.

How do Tennessee’s major urban areas compare with the nation and each other when it comes to unemployment? None of the cities has been immune to the economic decline of recent months. Knoxville posted the lowest preliminary jobless rate at 7.4 percent in January 2009, while Clarksville registered the highest rate at 9.6 percent. To lend a sense of perspective, Knoxville’s unemployment rate in January 2008 was 4.2 percent and Clarksville’s was 5.7 percent. The statewide figure soared from 5.9 percent to 9.3 percent between the two Januarys, while the national rate rose from 5.4 percent to 8.5 percent.

Contact the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center at 615-898-2616.

Math can save your life—or end it.

A Boeing 767 was scheduled to go from Montreal to Edmonton on July 23, 1983. Unfortunately, the fuel gauges in the cockpit weren’t working. Takeoff could be approved only if the fuel level was measured manually and there was enough fuel on board. Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says, “The ground crew multiplied the volume on board by the density of fuel in pounds per liter to get the mass of fuel on board, which they then subtracted from the needed fuel to determine how much they needed to put into the tanks.” Unfortunately, Canada had just converted to the metric system. Oops. The plane ran out of gas at an altitude of 41,000 feet a little over halfway to Edmonton. Fortunately, the pilot was able to land the plane on a drag strip in a small farming community. No one was injured.

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

“For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall”—From “The Spirit of Radio” by Rush

Did you know that 90 percent of the singles released via radio fail to make a profit? And Ken Sanney, adjunct recording industry professor and practicing attorney, says the other 10 percent aren’t selling they way they once did because of digital technology. He believes it’s time for a change. Sanney says, “I’m talking about a more efficient business model—one that takes into account the current realities of exceedingly large numbers of individual songs on the Internet—one that abandons payola and where labels no longer package eight bad songs with two good ones so that they can charge $15 per album to turn a profit. I don’t know what this business model would look like yet, but it is an interesting thought.”

Contact Sanney at 615-456-6502.
ksanney@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

LIBERTY BELL—The author of numerous critically acclaimed and influential books on the politics of race, gender, class and culture, bell hooks (lower case is correct) will speak at 4 p.m. tomorrow, March 24, at MTSU’s Keathley University Center Theater. This event is free and open to the public. “Feminism Forever: Continuing the Struggle” is the title of hooks’ talk. A reception and booksigning will follow. For more information about this National Women’s History Month event, contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

FARM FAIR--The first-ever MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience Career Fair will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 on the first floor of the Stark Agriculture Building. The ag program has nearly 400 students in three majors: animal science, including horse science; plant science; and agribusiness. The Student Agriculture Council, agribusiness and agriscience faculty and staff and the Career Development Center are serving as hosts of the ABAS Career Fair. The fair is for MTSU students only. Participants should bring updated copies of their resumes and professional attire is strongly encouraged. For more information, contact Nicole Green, career coordinator for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, at 615-494-8797.

THE REST OF THE STORY--The Muslim Student Association at MTSU will sponsor “Palestine, the Untold Side of the Story” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight, March 23, and tomorrow night, March 24, in the State Farm Lecture Hall in the Business and Aerospace Building. The sessions will be followed by questions and answers and are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Dr. Saleh Sbenaty at 615-898-2966 or ssbenaty@mtsu.edu.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Been down so long it looks like up to me

The median price of a home in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro Metropolitan Statistical Area fell from $179,000 in January 2008 to $165,000 in January 2009. Inventory dropped from 14,008 to 13,551. Closings plummeted from 1,364 to 821. Permits issued for multifamily units were down from 533 to 276, and single-family unit permits declined from 610 to 434. If you’re looking for a cheaper hotel room, the average room rate is down to $87.73 from $93.04 a year earlier. However, the occupancy rate is down, too. It sank from 51.1 percent in January 2008 to 47.2 percent in January 2009.

Contact the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center at 615-898-2616.

“Arrogance, Incompetence and Greed”—U.S. Rep. Paul Hoder (D-N.H.)

As AIG chief executive Edward Liddy tries to retrieve at least some of the millions of dollars in bonuses paid out to the company’s executives, President Obama is considering pursuing legal means to retrieve the money. Dr. Walker Todd, research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, blames several entities for lack of oversight. In a speech at his alma mater, MTSU, on Monday, Todd said, “We got into the mess, essentially, over the last decade through a failure of watchdogs on all fronts, especially in Congress. Where were the hearings on derivatives as they were running off the rails over the last 10 years, credit default swaps in particular? They didn’t happen.” You can hear Todd’s words and read radio-ready stories about his address by going to www.mtsunews.com and clicking on “Audio Clips.”

For more information about MTSU Audio Clips, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081.
gklogue@mtsu.edu

Diplomatic relations

In the waning days of Condoleezza Rice’s tenure as Secretary of State, MTSU student Hannah Brooks spent her fall 2008 semester at the agency’s Office of Nordic and Baltic Affairs in Washington, D.C., a logical assignment for someone who had studied in Denmark one year earlier. “I was in charge of communicating with the embassies and the consulates in our different countries and knowing our foreign policy in accordance with those countries,” says Brooks, an international relations major from Nashville with minors in history and global studies. This 13-week assignment was made possible through The Washington Center, a nonprofit organization.

For an interview with Hannah Brooks, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081.
gklogue@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

NO HAVEN FOR THE HAITIANS--Two documentarians discuss their film “Poto Mitan,” which was screened at MTSU last month, on the next edition of “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, March 22, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Renee Bergan and Mark Schuller turned their cameras on the soul-crushing poverty of Haiti by following the lives of five women. Solange, Frisline, Therese, Marie-Jeanne and Helene belong to The Committee to Defend Working Women’s Rights to combat discrimination, sexual harassment and oppressive working conditions in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The film shows how these women endure and stand up for justice in a country where the minimum wage is the equivalent of $1.80 per day. For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

LIBERTY BELL—The author of numerous critically acclaimed and influential books on the politics of race, gender, class and culture, bell hooks (lower case is correct) will speak at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at MTSU’s Keathley University Center Theater. This event is free and open to the public. “Feminism Forever: Continuing the Struggle” is the title of hooks’ talk. A reception and booksigning will follow. For more information about this National Women’s History Month event, contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

GOING INTO OVERTIME--The deadline for applying for the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship has been extended to today, March 20. The Murfreesboro Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will award a $1,000 scholarship each semester—Fall 2009 and Spring 2010—to the MTSU undergraduate student who best demonstrates academic promise and financial need. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed their freshman year at MTSU. Returning adult students, in particular, are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is renewable each semester as long as full-time status and a 2.5 GPA are maintained. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. Send completed applications to Dr. Tanya M. Peres, chair of the Ruth Houston Scholarship Committee, at MTSU, Box 10, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Address your questions about scholarship criteria to Dr. Samantha Cantrell at 615-494-8751 or scantrel@mtsu.edu.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Hardly working

Two economic sectors led the way in January’s employment decline in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro metro statistical area. Statistics show a 10.67 percent decline in construction and mining and a 10.60 decline in manufacturing. Those percentages represent job losses of 4,300 and 8,100, respectively, from January 2007 to January 2008. The region’s unemployment rate nearly doubled from 4.3 percent to 8.0 percent over that 12-month period. Total nonfarm employment went down 3.10 percent.

Contact the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center at 615-898-2616.

“Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.”—Sam Rayburn

Barns of Tennessee, a just-completed book that illustrates the indelible connection between generations of the state’s residents and their farms, has been published in a partnership among Donning Company Publishers, the staff of The Tennessee Magazine and co-authors Caneta S. Hankins and Michael T. Gavin, both of MTSU. The 160-page, hardbound title features 375 photographs of Tennessee barns—made from stone, log, brick, and metal—along with information about each one. Most of the photographs are in color, though several are vintage black-and-white images. “The barns that are spread across the landscape have played a pivotal role in the changes and continuity of Tennessee’s farming traditions for more than 200 years,” notes Hankins.

To request interviews with the book’s authors or a jpeg of the book, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-494-8857 or lrollins@mtsu.edu.

The music and the message

Dr. Stacey Graham, research professor at MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation, and Dr. Mark Jackson, assistant professor of English, will present “Teaching with American Folk Music: Library of Congress Song Recordings as Primary Sources in the Classroom” at 3:30 p.m. CST (4:30 p.m. EST) today, March 19. This professional development program for teachers and librarians in grades K-12 will be transmitted via the Satellite and Webcasting Center. The session highlights the folk music recordings available through the Library of Congress Web site and ways to use these songs as primary sources for teaching history, literature, music, culture and folklore. Lesson ideas and tips for finding recordings on the Library of Congress Web site will be provided.

Contact the Video-Conferencing Technical Clerk at 615-898-2737 or vmoxley@mtsu.edu.

TR EXTRA

NO HAVEN FOR THE HAITIANS--Two documentarians discuss their film “Poto Mitan,” which was screened at MTSU last month, on the next edition of “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, March 22, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Renee Bergan and Mark Schuller turned their cameras on the soul-crushing poverty of Haiti by following the lives of five women. Solange, Frisline, Therese, Marie-Jeanne and Helene belong to The Committee to Defend Working Women’s Rights to combat discrimination, sexual harassment and oppressive working conditions in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The film shows how these women endure and stand up for justice in a country where the minimum wage is the equivalent of $1.80 per day. For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

LIBERTY BELL—The author of numerous critically acclaimed and influential books on the politics of race, gender, class and culture, bell hooks (lower case is correct) will speak at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at MTSU’s Keathley University Center Theater. This event is free and open to the public. “Feminism Forever: Continuing the Struggle” is the title of hooks’ talk. A reception and booksigning will follow. For more information about this National Women’s History Month event, contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

PREGNANCY AND PARTICIPATING--Should the law put limits on the extent to which pregnant women can participate in research? In the next Women’s Studies Research Series lecture at MTSU, Tara Prairie, research compliance officer, will speak about “Pregnancy and Research: A Critique of Subpart B” at 3 p.m., today, March 19, in the SunTrust Room (BAS127) of the Business and Aerospace Building. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Jane Marcellus at 615-898-5282 or jmarcell@mtsu.edu.

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

GOING INTO OVERTIME--The deadline for applying for the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship has been extended to tomorrow, March 20. The Murfreesboro Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will award a $1,000 scholarship each semester—Fall 2009 and Spring 2010—to the MTSU undergraduate student who best demonstrates academic promise and financial need. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed their freshman year at MTSU. Returning adult students, in particular, are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is renewable each semester as long as full-time status and a 2.5 GPA are maintained. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. Send completed applications to Dr. Tanya M. Peres, chair of the Ruth Houston Scholarship Committee, at MTSU, Box 10, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Address your questions about scholarship criteria to Dr. Samantha Cantrell at 615-494-8751 or scantrel@mtsu.edu.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“Some say the world will end in fire/Some say in ice”—Robert Frost

There are several ways the Earth could, eventually, come to an end. Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says, “They range from being consumed by the Sun’s plasma to being flung into the outer solar system—after being incinerated. The good news is that the Sun has enough hydrogen to keep humming along for several billion years. That gives us plenty of time to solve the crisis of faltering science and math education in many of our public school systems, and a few private ones as well, where using the b-word in the Earth’s age could result in a red giant welt on your b-hind.”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

No haven for the Haitians

Two documentarians discuss their film “Poto Mitan,” which was screened at MTSU last month, on the next edition of “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, March 22, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Renee Bergan and Mark Schuller turned their cameras on the soul-crushing poverty of Haiti by following the lives of five women. Solange, Frisline, Therese, Marie-Jeanne and Helene belong to The Committee to Defend Working Women’s Rights to combat discrimination, sexual harassment and oppressive working conditions in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The film shows how these women endure and stand up for justice in a country where the minimum wage is the equivalent of $1.80 per day.

For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

The cyberbully pulpit

Have you been attacked online with no clue as to who criticized you other than a screen name? The Maryland Supreme Court ruled last week that people who file libel suits against anonymous bloggers have to establish a basic case before a court can compel a Web site to release the posters’ real names. David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and First Amendment Center scholar, says, “The court split 4-3 regarding one element of the applicable legal standard: whether courts … must balance an anonymous poster’s free speech rights against the strength of the defamation claim. Four justices believed the balancing prong was necessary, while three justices contended that it would create a ‘superlaw of Internet defamation.’”

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

TR EXTRA

LIBERTY BELL—The author of numerous critically acclaimed and influential books on the politics of race, gender, class and culture, bell hooks (lower case is correct) will speak at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at MTSU’s Keathley University Center Theater. This event is free and open to the public. “Feminism Forever: Continuing the Struggle” is the title of hooks’ talk. A reception and booksigning will follow. For more information about this National Women’s History Month event, contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

I WAS A SCIENTIFIC PIONEER BEFORE I WAS BORN--Should the law put limits on the extent to which pregnant women can participate in scientific research? In the next Women’s Studies Research Series lecture at MTSU, Tara Prairie, research compliance officer, will speak about “Pregnancy and Research: A Critique of Subpart B” at 3 p.m., tomorrow, March 19, in the SunTrust Room (BAS127) of the Business and Aerospace Building. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Jane Marcellus at 615-898-5282 or jmarcell@mtsu.edu.

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

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.

GOING INTO OVERTIME--The deadline for applying for the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship has been extended to Friday, March 20. The Murfreesboro Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will award a $1,000 scholarship each semester—Fall 2009 and Spring 2010—to the MTSU undergraduate student who best demonstrates academic promise and financial need. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed their freshman year at MTSU. Returning adult students, in particular, are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is renewable each semester as long as full-time status and a 2.5 GPA are maintained. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. Send completed applications to Dr. Tanya M. Peres, chair of the Ruth Houston Scholarship Committee, at MTSU, Box 10, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Address your questions about scholarship criteria to Dr. Samantha Cantrell at 615-494-8751 or scantrel@mtsu.edu.

WORLDWIDE WOMEN--In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Association of Faculty and Administrative Women (AFAW) will host an International Women’s Day Luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. today, March 18, in the Hazlewood Dining Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. This year’s program will be based on the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Areas of discussion include the development of schools for girls; supporting higher educational opportunities and training for these girls as they become women; the importance of Women’s Vocation Centers; and the societal benefits realized from educating women. The cost is $16 for AFAW members and $20 for non-members. In collaboration with the Office of Community Engagement and Support, AFAW also will be collecting spare change for the Pennies for Peace campaign. For more information, contact Kippy Todd at ktodd@mtsu.edu or go to www.mtsu.edu/~afaw.

WRITE YOUR WAY TO THE RIGHT WAY--The University Writing Center will present “Writing Strategies for Career Advancement” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21, in Room 325 of MTSU’s Peck Hall. Bring your resume, curriculum vitae, admissions/scholarship essays or applications, and tutors at the UWC will give you writing advice. Additional information from Financial Aid, Undergraduate Admissions, and Graduate Admissions also will be available. Included in the day’s activities is “Keeping Your Resume Out of the Trash and Your Name in the Loop,” a workshop by Karen Austin, associate director of the Career Development Center, at 11 a.m. This event is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, send questions to uwc.career@gmail.com.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Her scholar ship is see-worthy.

MTSU student Calie Sneed of Thompson’s Station, Tenn., recently was awarded a $500 scholarship from the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). Sneed is among 80 students in the nation to receive The Induction Recognition Award for active participation in her NSCS chapter. “We are pleased to recognize Calie’s outstanding contribution to the NSCS chapter at MTSU,” says Stephen E. Loflin, NSCS’ Executive Director. “At NSCS, we recognize the amazing potential of freshmen and sophomores. That’s why our members have access to more undergraduate scholarship dollars from us than they would get from any other honor society nationwide.” In addition to the Induction Recognition Awards, NSCS awards scholarships for textbooks, study abroad and graduate school.

For more information about the National Society of Collegiate Scholars at MTSU, go to http://nscs.org/chapters and type “Middle Tennessee State University” in the blank space.

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”—Heywood Hale Broun

The aficionados of March Madness are getting ready to fill in their brackets and open their wallets. Unfortunately, too many of those fans expect all local sports reporters to be “homers”—toadies who refuse to criticize the home teams, even when they cheat, display unsportsmanlike conduct, or just plain stink. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says, “Believe it or not, sports reporters are supposed to cover the team the same way the police reporter covers crime, the same way the city hall reporter covers government and the same way the education reporter covers the school board. The sports reporter is supposed to cover the news, report the facts, and give us the story, good or bad.”

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

Anyone remember Adelphia Coliseum?

If you’re puzzled by the timing of Citigroup’s $400 million deal with the New York Mets for the naming rights to their new stadium even as Citi accepts bailout money from the federal government, you’re not alone. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says a survey by Performance Research indicates that 62 percent believe companies that are on economic hard times should be spending less on sponsorships. Roy says, “It seems that consumers believe the cost-cutting measures they have taken with their household spending should be mirrored by corporations. … If companies’ support of a property via sponsorship is perceived as integral to the property’s success (which would more likely be the case for a non-profit or cause), the more positive consumer acceptance of that association will be.”

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

TR EXTRA

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

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.

THE KING OF POP--Best-selling author Chuck Klosterman, who is widely regarded as the nation’s premier pop journalist, will speak at 1 p.m. today, March 17, in Room 221 of MTSU’s Learning Resources Center. He will deliver the lecture “Life Through the Prism of Pop Culture.” The event, which is sponsored by the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies and the College of Mass Communication, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Beverly Keel at 615-898-5150 or bkeel@mtsu.edu.

GOING INTO OVERTIME--The deadline for applying for the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship has been extended to Friday, March 20. The Murfreesboro Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will award a $1,000 scholarship each semester—Fall 2009 and Spring 2010—to the MTSU undergraduate student who best demonstrates academic promise and financial need. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed their freshman year at MTSU. Returning adult students, in particular, are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is renewable each semester as long as full-time status and a 2.5 GPA are maintained. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. Send completed applications to Dr. Tanya M. Peres, chair of the Ruth Houston Scholarship Committee, at MTSU, Box 10, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Address your questions about scholarship criteria to Dr. Samantha Cantrell at 615-494-8751 or scantrel@mtsu.edu.

WORLDWIDE WOMEN--In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Association of Faculty and Administrative Women (AFAW) will host an International Women’s Day Luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, March 18, in the Hazlewood Dining Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. This year’s program will be based on the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Areas of discussion include the development of schools for girls; supporting higher educational opportunities and training for these girls as they become women; the importance of Women’s Vocation Centers; and the societal benefits realized from educating women. The cost is $16 for AFAW members and $20 for non-members. In collaboration with the Office of Community Engagement and Support, AFAW also will be collecting spare change for the Pennies for Peace campaign. For more information, contact Kippy Todd at ktodd@mtsu.edu or go to www.mtsu.edu/~afaw.

WRITE YOUR WAY TO THE RIGHT WAY--The University Writing Center will present “Writing Strategies for Career Advancement” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21, in Room 325 of MTSU’s Peck Hall. Bring your resume, curriculum vitae, admissions/scholarship essays or applications, and tutors at the UWC will give you writing advice. Additional information from Financial Aid, Undergraduate Admissions, and Graduate Admissions also will be available. Included in the day’s activities is “Keeping Your Resume Out of the Trash and Your Name in the Loop,” a workshop by Karen Austin, associate director of the Career Development Center, at 11 a.m. This event is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, send questions to uwc.career@gmail.com.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Going into overtime

The deadline for applying for the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship has been extended to Friday, March 20. The Murfreesboro Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will award a $1,000 scholarship each semester—Fall 2009 and Spring 2010—to the MTSU undergraduate student who best demonstrates academic promise and financial need. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed their freshman year at MTSU. Returning adult students, in particular, are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is renewable each semester as long as full-time status and a 2.5 GPA are maintained. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

Send completed applications to Dr. Tanya M. Peres, chair of the Ruth Houston Scholarship Committee, at MTSU, Box 10, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Address your questions about scholarship criteria to Dr. Samantha Cantrell at 615-494-8751 or scantrel@mtsu.edu.

Wise on the prize

The deadline for applying for OWLs 2009-2010 scholarships is today, March 16. OWLs, the student organization for nontraditional students, distributes 13 scholarships for each academic year. These are scholarships for first undergraduate degree-seeking students who are U.S. citizens and have a GPA higher than 3.0. There are two OWLs Challenge Enrichment Scholarships that are for students working on bringing up a lower GPA from earlier college work. The GPA requirement for those two scholarships is between 2.5 and 2.99. If you are not currently an OWLs member, you will need to submit the application for membership, which can be found at http://www.mtsu.edu/~owls/owlsform.htm, and a $20 fee. The link to the scholarship information and application is http://www.mtsu.edu/~owls/scholar.htm.

For more information, contact Dr. Carol Ann Baily at 615-898-5989.
cabaily@mtsu.edu

Mock around the clock

For the 19th time in 20 years, MTSU’s mock trial teams have qualified for national competition. MTSU earned another bid at regional competition Feb. 27-28 at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., to complement the bid captured earlier this year at a tournament in Louisville, Ky. MTSU will send one team to one Opening Round Mock Trial National Tournament in Memphis and another team to the other Opening Round event in Greenville, S.C., on March 27-29. The final tournament to determine the national collegiate champion is slated for April 17-19 in Des Moines, Ia. The “mockers” are coached by Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College; Dr. Amanda DiPaolo, assistant professor of political science; and Brandi Snow, a local attorney and MTSU alumna.

Contact Vile at 615-898-2596. Contact DiPaolo at 615-898-2708. Contact Snow at 615-907-6330.

TR EXTRA

BANKING AND BAILOUTS--Dr. Walker Todd, research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), will speak on “Are Federal Bailouts the Answer?: AIG, the Banks, and the Automakers” from 1:30-2:30 p.m. today, March 16, in Room 106 of the Paul W. Martin Honors Building at MTSU. This event is free and open to the public. An attorney and economic consultant in private practice in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Todd grew up in Murfreesboro. This event is presented by the Weatherford Chair of Finance and the University Honors College. For more information, contact Dr. Bill Ford at 615-898-2889 or wfford@mtsu.edu.

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

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.

THE KING OF POP--Best-selling author Chuck Klosterman, who is widely regarded as the nation’s premier pop journalist, will speak at 1 p.m. tomorrow, March 17, in Room 221 of MTSU’s Learning Resources Center. He will deliver the lecture “Life Through the Prism of Pop Culture.” The event, which is sponsored by the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies and the College of Mass Communication, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Beverly Keel at 615-898-5150 or bkeel@mtsu.edu.

GETTING “HITCHED”--David Coleman, the inspiration for Will Smith’s character in the movie “Hitch,” will speak at 7 p.m. tonight, March 16, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. Will Smith’s character in the film was a professional “date doctor” who helped men who were not necessarily making good first impressions on the women of their dreams. Coleman’s appearance is being sponsored by MTSU’s Panhellenic Council. Admission is $2 per person with a portion of the proceeds going to the family of Chase McNelly, an MTSU student and brother of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, who lost his battle with cancer in February. For more information, contact Jessica Turri at jet3v@mtsu.edu or Annie Herring at annie.herring@gmail.com.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Vote with your pocketbook.

The public is concerned that Tennessee is not spending enough on education. Fifty-one percent of respondents in the latest MTSU Poll say the state spends too little on state universities. Fifty-four percent say community colleges and technical schools are underfunded. And 62 percent say elementary and secondary education don’t get enough money. Lower percentages of respondents call for more spending on the environment (49%), programs for the mentally retarded (47%), programs for the handicapped (47%), mental health (44%), mass transit (44%), and foster care (44%). The lowest ranked priorities for increased government spending are law enforcement agencies (40%), TennCare (38%), highway maintenance (35%), welfare (26%), and highway construction (25%).

Contact Dr. Ken Blake at 615-210-6187.
kblake@mtsu.edu

Baby maybe?

The majority of Tennesseans believe in legal abortion under certain conditions. The latest MTSU Poll shows that 52% believe abortion “should be legal under some circumstances, but not others.” Twenty-five percent believe the practice should be outlawed under all circumstances. Nineteen percent support legal abortion on demand. The General Assembly is considering two similar proposed amendments to the state constitution that would empower the legislature to pass anti-abortion statutes if the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision were to be overturned. Dr. Jason Reineke, associate director of the poll, says, “Previous polling under different circumstances has consistently shown that most people don’t think a girl under 18 years of age who was raped or was a victim of incest, or who is likely to be seriously injured or to die as a result of pregnancy or delivery, should be barred from terminating such a pregnancy.”

Contact Dr. Jason Reineke at 615-494-7746.
jreineke@mtsu.edu

“Annual income 20 pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six—result: happiness.”—Charles Dickens

Income is the best predictor of how things are going in the nation today. The latest MTSU Poll shows only 16 percent satisfied with the status quote and 76 percent are dissatisfied. Three percent rate the current economy good or excellent. Twenty-seven percent say it’s fair, and 68 percent say it’s poor. However, poorer and wealthier people are more satisfied than those in the middle. Among those making $40,000 a year or less, 18 percent are satisfied and 74 percent are dissatisfied. For those making $40-50,000, 15 percent and 82 percent are dissatisfied. For those making more than $50,000, nine percent are satisfied and 68 percent are dissatisfied.

Contact Dr. Bob Wyatt at 615-477-8389.
rwyatt@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

“YOU MUST STAY DRUNK ON WRITING SO REALITY CANNOT DESTROY YOU.”—RAY BRADBURY--J. Terry Price, the director of MTSU’s creative writing program, talks about the art and the craft of nurturing budding writers at 7 a.m. this Sunday, March 8, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). The program, known as The Writer’s Loft, pairs each student with a mentor who supports and guides the student’s efforts. Because weekly classroom attendance is not required, The Writer’s Loft is suitable to the lifestyles of working adults. Enrollment is available for a full certificate program or on a semester-by-semester basis. For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

DOMO ARIGATO, DR. KAWAHITO!--Music from Japan, now in its 34th season, will bring its internationally acclaimed presentation of Japanese music to Hinton Hall in MTSU’s Wright Music Building from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. This year’s “Tradition/E-novation” concert will include works for shamisen, a three-stringed traditional instrument similar to a guitar but with a much longer, slimmer neck and without frets, as well as violin and electronics. “They bring the best in the field every year,” says Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, Advisor to the President and the Provost on Asian Affairs and professor emeritus of economics and finance. Murfreesboro is one of only six stops on this year’s North American tour, which includes Washington, D.C., and New York, N.Y. This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Contact Kawahito at mfj@mtsu.edu or kawahito@mtsu.edu.

“MY SEXUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM TO ME, BUT I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE.”—DUSTY SPRINGFIELD--“Sexuality” is the theme of the 2009 Interdisciplinary Conference in Women’s Studies at MTSU, which is slated for Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, in Cantrell Hall in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building. Learned scholars from across the country, as well as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will present research on topics representing the vast panoply of perspectives on sexuality, including biology, culture, and sexuality; sex trafficking; feminism and sexuality; and gender construction and sexuality. “At MTSU, we have an inclusive definition of diversity,” says Dr. Kaylene Gebert, Executive Vice President and Provost. “The Women’s Studies Program and this conference give the campus and the community and opportunity to hear national speakers and scholars who focus on contemporary issues.” For more information, go to www.mtsu.edu/womenstu, or contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

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.

MONEY FOR SCHOOL--Applications materials are being accepted through March 15 for the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship. The Murfreesboro Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will award a $1,000 scholarship each semester—Fall 2009 and Spring 2010—to the MTSU undergraduate student who best demonstrates academic promise and financial need. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed their freshman year at MTSU. Returning adult students, in particular, are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is renewable each semester as long as full-time status and a 2.5 GPA are maintained. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. For complete scholarship criteria, contact Dr. Tanya M. Peres, chair of the Ruth Houston Scholarship Committee, at 615-904-8590 or tperes@mtsu.edu.