Monday, May 4, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Having wonderful time in India. Vishnu were here.

This summer, Dr. Karen Petersen, political science, will teach “India on the Eve of Independence,” a fascinating course that will help you hone your negotiation and public presentation skills as you explore the impact of religion on politics from multiple perspectives. The course will run from May 11-26. Petersen says, “In this course, you will read works from the great Hindu and Muslim thinkers who guided the movement for Indian independence from British colonial rule. Then you will see if you can do it better! Through an intensive experiential learning simulation, you will play the part of one of the primary characters at the Simla conference and negotiate the end of British rule of India.”

For more information, contact Petersen at 615-494-8662.
kpeterse@mtsu.edu

The swine are fine.

Dave Warner, communications director for the National Pork Producers Council, says the hog industry is upset about the labeling of the H1N1 virus as “swine flu,” even though the World Health Organization says it has not been proven transmissible to humans through pork or other pig products. Dr. John Haffner, MTSU veterinarian, says, “As of now, no pigs in the USA have been found to be affected by the current episode of swine flu. Influenza viruses change all the time. … This particular type of influenza probably started from a strain that was in pigs at one time, but the current combination, a mix of avian, human and swine flu, has not been found in any American pigs.”

Contact Haffner at 615-494-8848.
jhaffner@mtsu.edu

My carrier pigeon sends his regards.

Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, never fails to be impressed by the fact that a lot of technological and communications advancements are fairly recent developments. “Did you know, for example, that it’s only been 70 years since the first presidential appearance on television?,” Burriss muses. “On April 30, 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first head of state to appear on television when he spoke for about two minutes at the New York World’s Fair. … Or let’s take another example. On April 30, 1926, a commercial service for sending photographs across the Atlantic via radio was inaugurated from London to The New York Times. … When we think about the old times and what communication was like only a few short years ago, it’s no wonder everything seems to be moving at light speed.”

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

TR EXTRA

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS--“People are shouting too many philosophies of health and happiness at us,” notes a commentator on the recent explosion of interest in a topic of vital interest to us all—our own perceived well-being. But long before the shouting began, philosophers like Aristotle, Epicurus, Montaigne, Spinoza, Mill, Hume and James were carefully considering the question of how to get happy and stay that way. Dr. James Oliver will lead students through an examination of this subject in “The Philosophy of Happiness,” a class slated for Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall at MTSU. “In this course, we’ll survey older philosophical ideas about happiness, the new approach in psychology, and some of the best fictional literature,” says Oliver. ”Our approach will be calm, reasonable and interdisciplinary, with no gratuitous shouting.” Contact Oliver at 615-898-2050 or poliver@mtsu.edu.

GET A CLUE!--MTSU is expanding its popular CSI: MTSU four-day program for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades in Rutherford and surrounding counties. This year’s event is slated for June 16-19. The goals of CSI: MTSU are: to allow students to explore many unique career possibilities in forensic science; to provide a “real life” reasons to tackle higher level math and science courses; and to develop skills in teamwork, seeing and understanding details, critical thinking and presentation skills. The student investigators will be presented with a re-creation of an actual crime scene. Each student is trained in the fundamental processes of collecting evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fibers, simulated blood spatter, and shoe prints. For more information or to register, call 615-898-2462 or send an e-mail to eshockle@mtsu.edu.