Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Put the champagne back in the fridge.

Yes, certain economic indicators are looking better than they did a few months ago, but Dr. Tim Graeff, director of MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research, says we’re not out of the woods yet. “Local retailers and businesses should not be overly exuberant about recent increases in consumer confidence,” he says. “There could still be some tough times ahead. Even though some consumers who have managed to weather the storm will increase their spending, many consumers are still concerned about the economy, the job market and their personal financial situation. These consumers are instead taking a cautious approach and opting to save in the event of even more economic tough times ahead. As such, the recent increases in consumer confidence over the past few months do not necessarily mean that we will see sharp increases in consumer spending in the immediate future.”

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

Campus under a cloud

If there is a bright side to the recent AP-mtvU poll on depression among college students, it is that 84 percent said they would know where to turn for help if they were in serious emotional distress or thinking about hurting themselves. Dr. Jane Tipps, director of MTSU Counseling Services, says, “Campus centers such a health services, health education, women’s centers, student counseling centers, and departments of nursing have stepped up the frequency of prevention presentations, health fairs, class presentations, online health and mental health screenings, as well as training and tutorials for faculty, staff and administrations. The goal of outreach efforts on university campuses, such as polls, health fairs, online screening and trainings is to increase awareness of mental health symptoms among students and administrators and, as an intended consequence, realize an increase in the number of at-risk students who will seek help.”

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

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.
gklogue@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