Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Scrimping or spending?

What should retailers make of the recent increase in consumer confidence indicated in MTSU’s latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index? Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the Office of Consumer Research, says, “Unfortunately, negative views of the current economy, fears about the current job market and future contractions in the job market, and concerns about personal finances suggest that many local consumers are still keeping a tight grip on their wallets. Retailers might have to wait a number of months before increases in consumer confidence will lead to dramatic increases in consumer spending. When asked about their spending plans for this year, 14 percent of consumers expect to increase their overall level of consumer spending from last year. This is down from 16 percent in April.”

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

Crisis on campus

In an AP-mtvU poll of students at 40 U.S. colleges, nine percent of students were found to be at risk of moderate to severe depression. Among those who reported serious symptoms of moderate depression or sores, just over 25 percent had ever been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Jane Tipps, director of MTSU Counseling Services, says, “The consistent trend over the last decade and top concern of all higher education administrators, not just university counseling staff, is the continuing increase in the severity of serious symptoms of depression; stress; anxiety; and suicidal thinking, gestures and attempts, among other issues of concern presented by students.”

Contact Tipps at 615-898-2670.
jtipps@mtsu.edu

The man who stared down a tank

When a young man walked in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square in Beijing 20 years ago this Thursday (June 4), he became a worldwide representation of the cry for democracy against a repressive regime. What happened to him? Dr. Yuan-ling Chao, history, says, “The iconic image of the man standing in front of the tank is more familiar to students in the West than with students in China, most of whom have never seen the picture. There is also a general sense of pride, amply demonstrated in the Beijing Olympics, in what China has been able to accomplish in recent decades.” There are conflicting stories about the fate of “Tank Man,” as he has been called. Some reports have him living in Taiwan. Other reports indicate he was executed.

Contact Chao at 615-898-2629.
ychao@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

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.

PUTTING IT ON THE PAGE--Suzanne Fisher Staples will be the visiting author at this summer’s Youth Writer’s Camp at MTSU. Staples, a former correspondent for United Press International in Asia who now writes young adult novels, is the winner of the prestigious Newberry Award for her novel Shabanu. The Youth Writer’s Camp is a two-week intensive writing camp for 4th through 12th graders Monday through Thursday June 8-18. Youngsters can expect community building with fellow writers, realistic feedback from peers and mentors, supportive writing groups, guided writing experiences, and exploration of new writing styles and topics. Each camper will get a writer’s camp T-shirt, a writer’s notebook, and an anthology of writing. Drs. Bobbie Solley and Ellen Donovan of the MTSU Department of Elementary and Special Education are camp directors. For more information, go to www.middletnwritingproject.org or send an e-mail to dianne.hall@comcast.net

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