Friday, June 5, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Good science or Gary Sinise?

One of the most unique summer camps anywhere, “CSI: MTSU,” gives high school students a chance to explore the fascinating world of forensic science. Dr. Hugh Berryman, forensic anthropologist and founder of the Forensic Institute for Research and Education, will talk about this summer’s event at 7 a.m. this Sunday, June 7, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). From June 16-19, campers will be divided into teams, each with a qualified professional, and inspect “crime scenes,” using math and science to solve the crimes. They’ll learn about DNA, fingerprints, hair and fiber evidence, simulated blood spatter, shoe prints and methods for processing the evidence.

Contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

Embedded with the troops

Tomorrow, June 6, marks the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the day Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and paved the way for victory in World War II. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says media coverage of the event was different from today’s war coverage in many ways. “At D-Day, reporters saw a lot less formal censorship than we have today,” Burriss says. “Reporters were in the landing craft that hit Omaha and Utah beaches and were almost part of the Army. They wore uniforms and lived with the troops. Yet, they were independent. Censorship was an informal affair with reporters for the most part voluntarily following guidelines that were established between the news media and the military.”

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

The mistress of moderation

Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s record on First Amendment issues is somewhat mixed, says David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and First Amendment Center scholar. “First Amendment advocates have hailed her opinions in a gag-order dispute and in protest cases,” says Hudson. “But she also has been criticized for joining in rulings involving limits on student online expression and commercial-speech claims. Both critics and advocates have found rulings in which she supported or rejected First Amendment claims by prisoners.” Hudson’s analysis, which takes into account Sotomayor’s 16 years as a judge for the U.S. District Court and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, adds her record “doesn’t show a rigid, ideological outlook on First Amendment issues.”

Contact Hudson at 615-741-1600.
dhudson@fac.org

TR EXTRA

SUPER SOUND--New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready stories are available at www.mtsunews.com. Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Dr. Laura Blackwell Clark, an associate professor of educational leadership, advocates equal opportunity for access to higher education for undocumented immigrants and explains her position. Also, Martin Fisher, director of Recorded Music Collections at MTSU’s Center for Popular Music, loves to record sounds on wax cylinders not unlike those Thomas Edison used at the advent of the phonograph. Fisher likes to demonstrate and talk about his craft, too. Listen to one of his 21st century recordings on early 20th century equipment and compare it to a 1906 recording on an Edison device! For more information about MTSU Audio Clips, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

A BITE OUT OF THE BIG APPLE--The MTSU Women’s Chorale under the direction of Jamila McWhirter is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. tomorrow, June 6, at New York’s Carnegie Hall (along with several other choirs) for the 70th anniversary of the Shawnee Press Gala Concert. They also will perform this morning at a mass and concert at St. Malachy’s Church in the Broadway district. There is a possibility (uncertain at press time) that the chorale may be asked to sing on tomorrow morning’s broadcast of “The Early Show,” which airs locally on WTVF-TV's NewsChannel5+ (Cable Channel 50), from 8-10 a.m.

GOING THROUGH CUSTOMS--Running through late July, incoming MTSU students and their families will start familiarizing themselves with their new academic home through the CUSTOMS orientation process. “So many parents and students comment on how friendly folks are and how comfortable they feel about their choice of coming to MTSU,” says Gina Poff, director of New Student and Family Programs. “Although CUSTOMS is a lot of work for the staff and the new students, it really pays off in the end. It is a great way to start off the new journey into MTSU, and the freshmen really get a sense of what it is like to be part of the MTSU community.” Poff says officials expect 50 to 75 more students at each session this summer than in previous years. Contact Poff at 615-898-2454 or gpoff@mtsu.edu.

THE TOUR DU JOUR--MTSU’s Office of Admissions will offer student-led campus tours at 10 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (excluding holidays) through July 31. The tours are by reservation only. Plenty of openings remain for all of June and July. No tours will be given July 3 because the university will be closed for that holiday. To make a reservation, call 615-898-5670 or visit mtsu.edu/admissn/tour_admissn.shtml and click on “Schedule Campus Tours.” For more information, contact Michelle Arnold at 615-898-5280 or maarnold@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

CLEAR THINKING--Representatives of the CLEAR (Collaborative Education and Research) Water Institute at MTSU will discuss their ongoing assessment of Stewart’s Creek at the annual meeting of the Stones River Watershed Association at noon, tomorrow, June 6, at the Creek House at the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna. The institute is working with the Town of Smyrna to monitor conditions in the creek. The professors will present a hands-on demonstration. The goal of CLEAR is to bring as many researchers as possible together from a variety of disciplines to work on projects with an integrated, holistic approach. “We’re working together and we’re going to have a track record of working together for multiple projects on multiple different aspects,” says Dr. Ryan Otter, assistant professor of biology. “As we go up for very highly competitive grants at the top level, our track record should speak for itself.” Contact Randle Branch at 615-686-3602 about the Stones River Watershed Association. To find out more about CLEAR, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~clearmt/, call 615-898-2660 or send an e-mail to clearmt@mtsu.edu.