Monday, August 31, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“You better think, think about what you’re trying to do to me.”—Aretha Franklin and Ted White

If we as a society cherish education and encourage our children to do well in school, why do we make fun of intelligent students and call them names? This week, the first full week of classes at MTSU, “Today’s Response” presents a series on the ways that smart people are depicted in the movies. Dr. Scott Carnicom, associate dean of the University Honors College, sees smart people characterized in film in three rough categories: the traditional nerd, the highly intelligent as abnormal or sick and the intelligent hero. Why the stereotypes? Carnicom says, “It has been argued by many others that throughout the history of America we’ve had strong pockets of anti-intellectualism. We are a nation of people who fled oppression and sought the opportunity and egalitarianism of a new world. We’re all supposed to be equal. We don’t like it that some people are smarter than others or try to be more learned than others through education.”

Contact Carnicom at 615-494-7611.
carnicom@mtsu.edu

Getting to know us

Week of Welcome activities continue tomorrow, Sept. 1, and Wed., Sept. 2, with “Meet Murfreesboro” in the Keathley University Center courtyard and a performance by stand-up comic Ralphie May at 8 p.m. tomorrow night in Murphy Center. On Thursday, Sept. 3, it’s the MTSU Department Fair from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the courtyard, where free cookies and lemonade also will be available. The Blue Raider Bash will start at 5 o’clock Thursday night. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the courtyard will be the venue for the Volunteer Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Student Organization Fair is slated for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. From 8 p.m.-midnight on Friday, Sept. 11, it’s “Dance the Night Away” in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building.

Contact Randy Weiler in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.
jweiler@mtsu.edu

Brother, can you spare a job?

In the week ending Aug. 15, seasonally adjusted weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance in Tennessee was 11,596, down from 12,368 in the previous week. Before seasonal adjustment, initial claims declined to 7,495 for the week. The four-week moving average dropped to 12,079, the first decline in four weeks. Continued claims for unemployment insurance (insured unemployment after seasonal adjustment) are 101,131, down from 104,356 in the previous week. Before seasonal adjustment, continued claims dropped to 93,064 during the week. The four-week moving average declined to 104,040, the lowest level since February.

Contact the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center at 615-898-2610.

TR EXTRA

YOUKOSO! (WELCOME!) -- Dignitaries from Fukushima University, led by Vice President Shuji Shimizu, will visit MTSU through Thursday, Sept. 3, to explore expanding the universities’ existing relationship through student exchange. In addition, the educators will discuss ideas for the long-term planning of Fukushima’s Faculty of Economics and Business and Administration (FEBA). MTSU’s comprehensive partnership with the Japanese institution formally began with the signing of an agreement in 1996. “Fukushima University is one of the oldest international partners of MTSU with much collaborative faculty research in the past, but there has been little student exchange,” says Dr. Kiyoshi Kawahito, Advisor to the President and the Provost on Asian Affairs and professor emeritus of economics and finance. Contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

WHEN YOU YEARN TO LEARN--MTSU professors, past and present, will serve as some of the tour guides for the 19th annual “Adventures in Learning,” an interesting educational experience for persons age 50 and older, on four successive Mondays, Sept. 14, 21, and 28, and Oct. 5, at First United Methodist Church, 265 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. Topics to be explored include recreation, literature, country music, genealogy, technology, ethnicity and history. Classes will last from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 10:45-11:45 a.m. “Adventures in Learning” is made possible by a local interfaith coalition. The cost for all four weeks is $8 in advance or $10 after Sept. 2. Lunch reservations and payments must be made in advance of the classes. Lunch will be catered by Carolyn’s Creations, followed by forums on various items of civic interest. Contact Mary Belle Ginanni at 615-895-6072.

SOLID AS A ROCK BLOK—Registration is open now for this fall’s Rock Blok workshop at MTSU. Young musicians ages 10-17 can learn music, make friends and form a band at the workshop, which is slated to begin September 5th. “When a student signs up, he or she is assigned to a band with other students,” says Ryan York, executive leader of Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!) and workshop leader. “Each band has two professional musicians as volunteer teachers. The students then spend two hours each Saturday learning music, working up a set list, making merchandise for their band, recording an album and writing music.” At the conclusion of the workshop, the bands will perform in concert. The fee is $40 a month ($120 total). For more information, go to www.YEAHintheBoro.org, send an e-mail to info@YEAHintheBoro.org, or call 615-849-8140.

PRESSING ON--The legacy of MTSU’s working replica of an 18th century printing press will be explained through photos and prints as part of an exhibit at the main branch of the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St., through Sept. 27. The exhibit is titled “Telling the Story: Letterpress Printing and Community.” The university’s segment will include the story of letterpress printing at MTSU. The works of current MTSU art students; alumni; visiting artists; faculty; elementary, middle- and high-school teachers and students who printed on the James E. Walker Library’s unique device will be highlighted. A reproduction of the English common press used by Benjamin Franklin in the early 1700s, the printing press was handcrafted in 2004 and 2005 out of chestnut and white oak wood from a 100-year-old house in Virginia. Contact Kristen Keene at 615-898-5376 or kkeene@mtsu.edu.

ART FROM THE HEART--The Todd Art Gallery at MTSU will present the art department’s 2009 biennial Faculty Art Exhibition today, Aug. 31, through Sept. 17. “This exhibit will feature works of art by faculty members as a way to introduce their work to art majors, the broader campus population and the community,” says Eric Snyder, gallery curator, who adds that the artworks represented will vary in media and styles—from representational, abstract and non-objective to traditional media in a straightforward manner and mixed media with a “twist.” The gallery, which is located in the Todd Building on the MTSU campus, is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each Monday-Friday and is closed on state and university holidays. Admission is always free. Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.