Thursday, August 27, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Addicted to stress

As much as we complain about stress, do we really seek it out for the “high” it provides? Dr. Phil Oliver, philosophy, says, “We Americans tend to think of the pursuit of happiness as our hallmark, but a case can be made for stress as our most distinctive national attainment. Natalie Angier writes of the ‘vicious stress loop’ endemic to our way of life. Stress is good to a point, when it moves us to respond to its objective sources and disable them. It is thus a key element in restoring the equilibrium necessary for that fabled pursuit of happiness. But we tend to get sidetracked before the ‘disabling’ can happen. But beware the zeal of pursuing relaxation too vigorously. That, too, can stress you out. … It really is pretty basic: exercise, eat right, and chill. Relax… but not so hard. If all the other rats will bear that in mind too, we’ll enjoy the race.”

Contact Oliver at 615-898-2050.
poliver@mtsu.edu

Master stroke

MTSU is pleased to announce a new cohort program in Bedford County leading to a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction with an endorsement in reading. The program aims to help licensed classroom teachers in kindergarten through eighth grades in Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford and White counties to gain additional specialized skills that are directly related to literacy. It will begin Saturday, Aug. 29, and will be completed in spring 2010. A registration meeting is set for tomorrow, Aug. 28, at 4 p.m. at Central High School in Shelbyville. “This program provides qualified K-8 teachers with additional competencies directly related to the classroom and their students,” says Dr. Kathleen Burriss, elementary and special education professor, who will be the course instructor.

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2323.
kburriss@mtsu.edu

The sound of success

Dr. Richard Barnet, professor of recording industry, will discuss the state of the music business and prospects for careers at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Aug. 30, on “MTSU On the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Barnet will explain many of the technological and economic changes in the profession, which has had to deal with the benefits and the challenges of digital downloading and the de-emphasis on using radio as a tool for promoting recordings. His areas of expertise include concert promotion and touring, recording industry ethics and special events production. With an enrollment that averages between 1,200 and 1,700 students per semester, MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry is one of the largest programs of its kind in the world. A new concentration in songwriting was added last year.

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

TR EXTRA

THE RAIDER WELCOME WAGON-- The MTSU student organization will distribute donated household items to international students at the Raiders for Christ building, 1105 E. Bell St. in Murfreesboro, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, Aug. 29. Sarah Johnson, director of Women’s Outreach for the organization, says donations are things that people would need to set up housekeeping. Some of them include furniture, pots and pans, dishes, mattresses, sheets, towels, crockpots, rice cookers, trash cans, shower curtains, umbrellas, and computers. Donations also may be made at the back and side entrances of the Raiders for Christ house after hours. For more information, contact Johnson at 615-896-1529 or sarahfjohnson@yahoo.com.

YOUKOSO! (WELCOME!) -- Dignitaries from Fukushima University, led by Vice President Shuji Shimizu, will visit MTSU Aug. 29 through 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.

FOOTBALL FESTIVITIES--The MTSU Rutherford County Alumni Chapter’s annual Pigskin Pre-Game will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29, to kickoff the football season. The event will be held at Marymont Mansion in Marymont Springs, 1140 Rucker Lane in Murfreesboro. “Last year, almost 500 people attended Pigskin and we were able to raise almost $10,000 toward the scholarship fund,” says Paul Wydra, assistant director in the Office of Alumni Relations. Tickets for the event, which will run from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., will be $35. Attendees must pre-pay and reply by Wednesday, Aug. 26, to secure their tickets. The ticket price includes food, entertainment by Danny Lowe, beverages, door prizes and more. On-site parking will be available. Call 1-800-533-6878 for more information.

ART FROM THE HEART--The Todd Art Gallery at MTSU will present the art department’s 2009 biennial Faculty Art Exhibition 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.” An opening reception for art faculty will be held from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, in the gallery. This event is free and open to the public. 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.