Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Sen. Edward Moore Kennedy (D-Mass.) (1932-2009)

Teddy Kennedy succumbed to brain cancer last night in Hyannisport, Mass., at the age of 77. Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College and former chair of the Department of Political Science, says, “Love him or hate him, Ted Kennedy has been a lion of the Senate. One of the few Senate ‘show horses’ who was also a ‘work horse,’ Kennedy was often able to forge friendships with political enemies. Kennedy’s passing has special significance at a time when health care reform (one of Kennedy’s most persistent interests) remains at the top of the national agenda. President Lyndon B. Johnson used the passing of John F. Kennedy to get civil rights legislation adopted. It wouldn’t be surprising if President Barack Obama attempted to use Ted Kennedy’s passing to give a further push to health care legislation.”

Contact Vile at 615-898-2596.
jvile@mtsu.edu

Fifteen-yard penalty for blogging

The Southeastern Conference went on defense in response to the backlash from fans who were appalled by the SEC’s social media policy. Fans thought they would not be allowed to upload photos or comments about games, but league officials say the policy is aimed at content producers. The SEC is concerned because it has signed a 15-year, $2.25 billion deal with ESPN. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says, “Given the investment ESPN has made in SEC sports, it is imperative that the SEC implement policies that spell out what is and is not permissible in the social media realm. The stakes are too high to allow parties that do not have media rights to do an end-around and capture video or audio for distribution.” Roy says, while the league’s “initial announcement of the social media ban came across as very heavy-handed,” eventually “the conference got it right.”

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

Time to go?

Altering the established timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq would be a mistake, says Dr. Sean Foley, history. In the spring 2009 edition of the Rutgers Law Record, Foley writes, “The continued presence of the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay alone is enough to give any Iraqi and American pause when considering the ramifications of the current agreement with Iraq. While there may be a host of valid reasons for modifying or delaying the plan for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq, it would nonetheless be wise to adhere as closely as possible to the timetables in the SOFA (status-of-forces agreement). Any deviation from it would lend credibility to those who opposed the agreement and arouse intense Iraqi suspicions about the influence of foreign armies in their country.”

Contact Foley at 615-904-8294.
sfoley@mtsu.edu

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 today, 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.