Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

прошу прощения (I ask for forgiveness.)

During a visit to Poland earlier this month to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of that country, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin praised Polish soldiers for their bravery in World War II. However, the Polish press wanted a public apology from Putin for the 1939 secret deal between Hitler and Stalin that divided Europe into German-controlled and Soviet-controlled domains. “While morally reasonable to expect Putin to apologize for the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, it is not to be expected,” says Dr. Andrei Korobkov, political science. For one thing, Korobkov notes, Putin would be making a misstep in domestic politics to do so as President Dmitry Medvedev is now the titular head of the country, even though Putin is still believed to be calling the shots. Secondly, neither the elites nor the public at large in Russia would accept such a move, Korobkov notes.

Contact Korobkov at 615-898-2945.
korobkov@mtsu.edu

The F-bomb and other weapons of mass discussion

Are we losing our manners? U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) screamed "You lie!" at President Obama during a joint session of Congress. Serena Williams threatened profanely to shove a tennis ball down a lineswoman’s throat at the U.S. Open after being called for a foot fault at a crucial moment in her match with Kim Clijsters. Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the Video Music Awards to say he thought Beyonce’s video was the best. Americans are wondering if civility is a thing of the past. Pierre Vincent, instructor in the MTSU Department of Speech and Theatre, will discuss the use of language--rough and otherwise--to express oneself in public venues on "Morning Line with Nick Beres" on NewsChannel5+ from 8-9 a.m. today, Sept. 30. (NewsChannel5+ is Channel 50 on many cable and satellite systems.)

Contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081.
gklogue@mtsu.edu

Order in the courtyard

Randy O’Brien, director of News and Public Affairs for WMOT-FM, will discuss his first published novel, Judge Fogg, at the 2009 Southern Festival of Books in Nashville. O’Brien will speak from 3-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, in Room 29 of the Legislative Plaza building in downtown Nashville along with fellow authors Scott Pratt and Peggy Ehrhart. Inspired by Shakespeare’s “Othello,” Judge Fogg tells the fictional story of the first African-American criminal court judge in Nashville, his rise to power as a youthful corruption fighter and his downfall. O’Brien will sign copies of his book in the courtyard following the panel discussion. Free and open to the public.

Contact O’Brien at 615-898-2800.
robrien@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

“THERE’S SO MANY THINGS I NEED TO KNOW.”—“CRYSTAL BALL” BY STYX--MTSU recording industry students are revealing “Rock Prophecies” tonight, Sept. 30, in a free film screening and concert in the Wright Music Building. Dick Williams’ MTSU Record Label course guides students into the music business by giving them hands-on experience. The screening of “Rock Prophecies,” a documentary featuring 18-year-old Texas guitar virtuoso Tyler Bryant, starts at 7 p.m. with the concert by The Tyler Bryant Band to follow in Hinton Music Hall. The band cut several demos in MTSU’s Studio B in August. The event also is an opportunity for students who attend the concert to win a Fender Stratocaster guitar, a new Samsung Gravity 2 cell phone and Bluetooth.Contact Gina E. Fann in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5385 or gfann@mtsu.edu.

ART FOR STUDENTS’ SAKE--The MTSU Department of Art and its Student Art Alliance will team to present their first-ever joint exhibition featuring the juried work of MTSU students. The works will be on display through tomorrow, Oct. 1, in the Todd Art Gallery on the MTSU campus. “This show gives MTSU students the opportunity to engage in the process of submitting and showing their work in a public space, as well as competing with other artists for awards,” says John Donovan, assistant professor of art and SAA faculty adviser. For more information or directions to the campus gallery, call Eric Snyder, gallery curator, at 615-898-5653.

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Biodiesel: the bad and the beautiful

The National Biodiesel Board reports that two-thirds of U.S. biodiesel production capacity is unused. With the need to break our dependence on foreign oil, why isn’t biodiesel fuel being used in greater quantities? Dr. Cliff Ricketts, agribusiness and agriscience, says, “Biodiesel is sold in Tennessee as B-20. Personally, I have not heard of any issues with B-20. However, I have heard of issues with pure biodiesel before it is blended to make B-20. Biodiesel, which is made from soybean oil, peanut oil, or other oil crops can be used straight or without blending. Thus, we have good news and bad news. The good news is that it cleans the engine. The bad news is that it cleans the engine so (well) that it clogs the fuel filters.”

Contact Ricketts at 615-898-2430.
srickett@mtsu.edu

How’s the growing going?

The attainment of a student population of more than 25,000 is a notable achievement, but it is also a considerable responsibility. How is MTSU handling its growth? Dr. Deb Sells, vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment services, says, “We’re handling the growth by continuing to insist on quality in our academic programs, in the students we enroll, in the faculty we hire. We continue to focus on creating a truly student centered environment. And we continue to pursue partnerships in the local community and on a national level that allows us to create strategic alliances that are good for both our community and our campus. We are continuing to create top-notch facilities, including construction of the new College of Education and the new Student Union, both of which continue on-track despite the general economic downturn.”

Contact Sells at 615-898-2440.
dsells@mtsu.edu

“Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend.”—Mao Tse-Tung

This Thursday, Oct. 1, marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Where does the most populous nation on the planet stand after decades of Communist rule? Dr. Yuan-ling Chao, history, says, “It appears that the Chinese government’s experiment in a hybrid economy of capitalism and command economy of socialism have muted much discontent and diverted attention away from her human rights violations and political dictatorship. But this image of an indifferent China is misleading. Many Chinese intellectuals are deeply engaged in a political discourse that boldly demands more democratic process, as exemplified by last December’s publication of Charter 08, an online pro-democracy manifesto.”

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

TR EXTRA

“THERE’S SO MANY THINGS I NEED TO KNOW.”—“CRYSTAL BALL” BY STYX--MTSU recording industry students are revealing “Rock Prophecies” on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in a free film screening and concert in the Wright Music Building. Dick Williams’ MTSU Record Label course guides students into the music business by giving them hands-on experience. The screening of “Rock Prophecies,” a documentary featuring 18-year-old Texas guitar virtuoso Tyler Bryant, starts at 7 p.m. with the concert by The Tyler Bryant Band to follow in Hinton Music Hall. The band cut several demos in MTSU’s Studio B in August. The event also is an opportunity for students who attend the concert to win a Fender Stratocaster guitar, a new Samsung Gravity 2 cell phone and Bluetooth.Contact Gina E. Fann in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5385 or gfann@mtsu.edu.

ART FOR STUDENTS’ SAKE--The MTSU Department of Art and its Student Art Alliance will team to present their first-ever joint exhibition featuring the juried work of MTSU students. The works will be on display through Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Todd Art Gallery on the MTSU campus. “This show gives MTSU students the opportunity to engage in the process of submitting and showing their work in a public space, as well as competing with other artists for awards,” says John Donovan, assistant professor of art and SAA faculty adviser. For more information or directions to the campus gallery, call Eric Snyder, gallery curator, at 615-898-5653.

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Getting out of the rough

This weekend’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta will be Tiger Woods’ last chance of the PGA season to make his mark. In his first year back after knee surgery, Woods has won six tournaments this year, but for the first time in his career, he did not win one of the majors (PGA, Masters, British Open, U.S. Open). How does a top-flight athlete like Woods, who is unaccustomed to disappointment, maintain his level of excellence? Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, says, “Elite athletes are, by nature, very competitive and often have very high—sometimes excessive—expectations and standards, a condition known as perfectionism. These athletes often take the blame for performance outcomes that do not match these lofty expectations. An athlete with an extensive history of success such as Tiger Woods will move on and recover quickly from his disappointments.”

Contact Anshel at 615-898-2812.
manshel@mtsu.edu

Population explosion

MTSU has surpassed the 25,000 mark in combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment for the first time in its history. What has led to this 5-6 percent increase? Dr. Deb Sells, vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment services, says, “We are driven by the pursuit of quality in the types of students we enroll, the academic programs that we offer and in the kind of experience students have as a part of this academic community. Growth is an outcome of demand to be a part of this high quality institution. I think that MTSU understands that if we do the right things to create a first-rate learning environment, the reasonable growth will be a natural byproduct.”

Contact Sells at 615-898-2440.
dsells@mtsu.edu

“There’s so many things I need to know.”—“Crystal Ball” by Styx

MTSU recording industry students are revealing “Rock Prophecies” on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in a free film screening and concert in the Wright Music Building. Dick Williams’ MTSU Record Label course guides students into the music business by giving them hands-on experience. The screening of “Rock Prophecies,” a documentary featuring 18-year-old Texas guitar virtuoso Tyler Bryant, starts at 7 p.m. with the concert by The Tyler Bryant Band to follow in Hinton Music Hall. The band cut several demos in MTSU’s Studio B in August. The event also is an opportunity for students who attend the concert to win a Fender Stratocaster guitar, a new Samsung Gravity 2 cell phone and Bluetooth.

Contact Gina E. Fann in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5385.
gfann@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

YOUR COOPERATION IS APPRECIATED--Dr. Justin Gardner, assistant professor of agribusiness and agriscience, will talk about the application of the co-op model to health care at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Sept. 27, on “MTSU On the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). A co-op (short for “cooperative”) is a not-for-profit, member-owned group that bands together to achieve common goals and regulates itself through a representative panel. Farmers are familiar with the co-op as a means of providing agricultural supplies at lower prices. U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) has proposed health care co-ops as alternatives to a public option. To hear last week’s interview with Professor David Hudson about his new book on combat sports, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2009.html and click on “September 20, 2009.” For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

ART FOR STUDENTS’ SAKE--The MTSU Department of Art and its Student Art Alliance will team to present their first-ever joint exhibition featuring the juried work of MTSU students. The works will be on display through Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Todd Art Gallery on the MTSU campus. “This show gives MTSU students the opportunity to engage in the process of submitting and showing their work in a public space, as well as competing with other artists for awards,” says John Donovan, assistant professor of art and SAA faculty adviser. For more information or directions to the campus gallery, call Eric Snyder, gallery curator, at 615-898-5653.

THE KEYBOARDS TO THE KINGDOM--Musicians from across the region will flock to the first Music City Piano Workshop and Concert today, Sept. 25, at the Sound Kitchen, 112 Seaboard Lane in Franklin. The event is made possible by a public-service grant from MTSU. Students, teachers and aspiring professionals can learn about music production, music business, performance and more during a day of three free workshops with industry professional at the Southeast’s largest recording and production studio. Following the workshops, a Whisperings Solo Piano Concert, featuring the renowned David Lanz and guests, is planned for 8 p.m. at the same location. The intimate concert will include other artists featured on Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio, the No. 1 broadcast on Live356.com for almost four years running. The program can be heard on iTunes, the Windows Media Tuner and TiVo and streams to nearly a million piano-music fans all over the world every month. Contact Gina E. Fann in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5385 or gfann@mtsu.edu.

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

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 Sunday, 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.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Your cooperation is appreciated.

Dr. Justin Gardner, assistant professor of agribusiness and agriscience, will talk about the application of the co-op model to health care at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Sept. 27, on “MTSU On the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). A co-op (short for “cooperative”) is a not-for-profit, member-owned group that bands together to achieve common goals and regulates itself through a representative panel. Farmers are familiar with the co-op as a means of providing agricultural supplies at lower prices. U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) has proposed health care co-ops as alternatives to a public option. To hear last week’s interview with Professor David Hudson about his new book on combat sports, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2009.html and click on “September 20, 2009.”

For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

Murph to the max

The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County will host the grand opening of “When Murphy Center Was KING” from 4 to 6 p.m. today, Sept. 24. Brian Dempsey, a Provost Writing Fellow at MTSU, will speak on the new exhibit that focuses on the many concerts and events at the university’s Murphy Center, from its opening in the early 1970s to the mid-1990s. Over the years, a number of big-name performers have played at the center, including Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, The Who, Pearl Jam, Garth Brooks and The Judds. The Heritage Center is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays, and features local history exhibits and guided walking tours of the town square on the hour.

For more information, call the center at 615-217-8013.
heritage_center@bellsouth.net

Art for students’ sake

The MTSU Department of Art and its Student Art Alliance will team to present their first-ever joint exhibition featuring the juried work of MTSU students. The works will be on display through Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Todd Art Gallery on the MTSU campus. Additionally, there will be a free and open reception for participating artists, as well as an awards ceremony, from 4-5 p.m. today, Sept. 24, in the gallery area. “This show gives MTSU students the opportunity to engage in the process of submitting and showing their work in a public space, as well as competing with other artists for awards,” says John Donovan, assistant professor of art and SAA faculty adviser.

For more information or directions to the campus gallery, call Eric Snyder, gallery curator, at 615-898-5653.

TR EXTRA

THE KEYBOARDS TO THE KINGDOM--Musicians from across the region will flock to the first Music City Piano Workshop and Concert tomorrow, Sept. 25, at the Sound Kitchen, 112 Seaboard Lane in Franklin. The event is made possible by a public-service grant from MTSU. Students, teachers and aspiring professionals can learn about music production, music business, performance and more during a day of three free workshops with industry professional at the Southeast’s largest recording and production studio. Following the workshops, a Whisperings Solo Piano Concert, featuring the renowned David Lanz and guests, is planned for 8 p.m. at the same location. The intimate concert will include other artists featured on Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio, the No. 1 broadcast on Live356.com for almost four years running. The program can be heard on iTunes, the Windows Media Tuner and TiVo and streams to nearly a million piano-music fans all over the world every month. Contact Gina E. Fann in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5385 or gfann@mtsu.edu.

GET THE GIANT ECONOMY SIZE--C. Dowd Ritter, chair, president and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation, will be the keynote speaker at MTSU’s 17th annual Economic Outlook Conference, today, Sept. 24 at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro, with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Ritter will speak at 9 a.m. The head of one of the nation’s largest banks, Ritter began his banking career in 1969. “Mr. Ritter will speak from the unique vantage point of the head of a bank that survived the economic storms of the last 18 months,” says Dr. Jim Burton, dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at MTSU. “He will likely have interesting thoughts about what the future of the banking industry may be. The program also will feature Dr. David Penn, director of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, with a midstate/regional economic update at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Donald Ratajczak, Regents Professor of Economics Emeritus at Georgia State University, will be the luncheon speaker. Call 615-898-2764 for more information.

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

CROP ROTATION--Officials in the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience will hold their second Field Day today, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m. at the Agricultural Laboratory Farm, 3301 Guy James Rd. More than 80 people had registered to attend as of Sept. 16. For more information, call Dr. Jessica Carter at 615-898-2419, the University of Tennessee Extension Office at 615-898-7710 or Dr. Warren Gill at 615-898-2404.

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 Sunday, 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.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

As I lay dying

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a two-year grant to Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history at MTSU, to study the nexus of public health issues and political power during a critical period in the American South. “’Just Enough to Put Him Away Decent’: The Management of Death and the Evolution of Public Health Policy in the South, 1918-1945” is completely supported by federal funds. The book is under option by the University of Illinois Press. “In the South, whether one was black or white, death was a common and important part of the region’s self-conception, its ‘mind,’ in writer W.J. Cash’s words, since the death of young and old alike was ever present,” writes McCusker. “What happened, then, when public health policy, which assumed that dying was bad except in old age or on a battlefield, infiltrated the South?”

Contact McCusker at 615-898-2544.
mccusker@mtsu.edu

The keyboards to the kingdom

Musicians from across the region will flock to the first Music City Piano Workshop and Concert this Friday, Sept. 25, at the Sound Kitchen, 112 Seaboard Lane in Franklin. The event is made possible by a public-service grant from MTSU. Students, teachers and aspiring professionals can learn about music production, music business, performance and more during a day of three free workshops with industry professional at the Southeast’s largest recording and production studio. Following the workshops, a Whisperings Solo Piano Concert, featuring the renowned David Lanz and guests, is planned for 8 p.m. at the same location. The intimate concert will include other artists featured on Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio, the No. 1 broadcast on Live356.com for almost four years running. The program can be heard on iTunes, the Windows Media Tuner and TiVo and streams to nearly a million piano-music fans all over the world every month.

Contact Gina E. Fann in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5385.
gfann@mtsu.edu

Me and my arrows

More arrows point up than down in the latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index from MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research. The poll of 450 randomly selected adult residents of Davidson, Williamson and Rutherford counties was conducted the evenings of Monday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 16. Compared to May 2009 figures, there was a three percent increase in the number of people who believe business conditions in the U.S. are good and a four percent increase in the number who believe business conditions in Middle Tennessee are good. However, there were declines in the number who believe now is a good time to make large purchases, who believe now is a good time to buy a home, and who believe now is a good time to buy a car (two percent fewer in each category). The number of respondents who believe jobs in Middle Tennessee are easy to find decreased one percent.

Contact Dr. Tim Graeff, director of MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research, at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

GET THE GIANT ECONOMY SIZE--C. Dowd Ritter, chair, president and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation, will be the keynote speaker at MTSU’s 17th annual Economic Outlook Conference, tomorrow, Sept. 24 at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro, with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Ritter will speak at 9 a.m. The head of one of the nation’s largest banks, Ritter began his banking career in 1969. “Mr. Ritter will speak from the unique vantage point of the head of a bank that survived the economic storms of the last 18 months,” says Dr. Jim Burton, dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at MTSU. “He will likely have interesting thoughts about what the future of the banking industry may be. The program also will feature Dr. David Penn, director of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, with a midstate/regional economic update at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Donald Ratajczak, Regents Professor of Economics Emeritus at Georgia State University, will be the luncheon speaker. Call 615-898-2764 for more information.

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

CROP ROTATION--Officials in the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience will hold their second Field Day tomorrow, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m. at the Agricultural Laboratory Farm, 3301 Guy James Rd. More than 80 people had registered to attend as of Sept. 16. For more information, call Dr. Jessica Carter at 615-898-2419, the University of Tennessee Extension Office at 615-898-7710 or Dr. Warren Gill at 615-898-2404.

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 Sunday, 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.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Get the giant economy size.

C. Dowd Ritter, chair, president and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation, will be the keynote speaker at MTSU’s 17th annual Economic Outlook Conference, Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro, with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Ritter will speak at 9 a.m. The head of one of the nation’s largest banks, Ritter began his banking career in 1969. “Mr. Ritter will speak from the unique vantage point of the head of a bank that survived the economic storms of the last 18 months,” says Dr. Jim Burton, dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at MTSU. “He will likely have interesting thoughts about what the future of the banking industry may be. The program also will feature Dr. David Penn, director of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, with a midstate/regional economic update at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Donald Ratajczak, Regents Professor of Economics Emeritus at Georgia State University, will be the luncheon speaker.

Call 615-898-2764 for more information.

You can make it if you try.

According to the latest edition of Midstate Economic Indicators, job losses in construction and manufacturing in the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area should become less severe in the coming months for two reasons. “First,” the publication states, “… housing construction is showing improvement as more permits are being issued for construction of single-family homes. But a building permit essentially indicates an intention to build; the economic impact will not be felt until construction gets underway. Second, manufacturing in the United States is moving much closer to a neutral stance. The PMI (Purchasing Managers Index), a well-known indicator of manufacturing activity, moved very close to neutral following 18 months of negative territory. This means that manufacturing is closing in on the time when output is rising instead of declining.”

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

Cockeyed optimists or cockamamie optimists?

The latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index finds that local consumers are still more optimistic about the economy in certain ways than the rest of the nation. The poll of 450 randomly selected adult residents of Davidson, Williamson and Rutherford counties was conducted the evenings of Monday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 16. Forty-nine percent said business conditions in the U.S. will be better six months from now compared to 22 percent of the country as a whole. Forty-one percent said there will be more job openings six months from now. Only 18 percent of Americans believe that is true. Forty-six percent believe that their personal financial situation will be better 12 months from now. Only 11 percent of their fellow Americans feel similarly.

Contact Dr. Tim Graeff, director of MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research, at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

CROP ROTATION--Officials in the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience today postponed their second Field Day until Thursday, Sept. 24, because of the rain that has covered the Middle Tennessee region all week. Ag school director Dr. Warren Gill says the event will move to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Agricultural Laboratory Farm, 3301 Guy James Rd. More than 80 people had registered to attend as of Sept. 16, Gill says, adding that others can register to attend by calling Dr. Jessica Carter at 615-898-2419, the University of Tennessee Extension office at 615-898-7710 or Gill at 615-898-2404.

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 Sunday, 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.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Do we have to draw you a map?

An MTSU researcher, two undergraduates, a high school student and a high school teachers have produced a land cover map of the Blackman area that is considerably more accurate than the best map currently downloadable from the federal government. Dr. Mark Abolins, associate professor of geosciences, and his teammates used a Landsat image and a June 2009 Rutherford County road map to create a land cover map depicting developed, agricultural and forested land within a 10-square kilometer (3.9 square mile) area. “We generated a bunch of random locations, downloaded them onto GPS units, and then the students found each of those 519 locations and observed them from a road or the closest point they could approach it,” says Abolins. The new map has an overall accuracy of 73 to 82 percent. The federal government’s map is only 44 to 52 percent accurate.

Contact Abolins at 615-594-4210.
mabolins@mtsu.edu

Claim jumpers

In the week ending Sept. 5, seasonally adjusted weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance in Tennessee was 11,001 compared with 11,221 in the previous week. The four-week moving average dropped to 11,188, the fourth consecutive decline. Before seasonal adjustment, initial claims climbed to 8,024 for the week. Continued claims for unemployment insurance (insured unemployment after seasonal adjustment) are 92,270, down from 96,046 in the previous week. The four-week moving average declined to 96,772, the lowest level since the week of Jan. 31. Before seasonal adjustment, continued claims dropped to 84,449.

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

Happy days aren’t quite here again.

Consumer confidence is up, but that good feeling might not necessarily translate into increased spending. MTSU’s latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index rose to 142 in September from 113 in May. The poll of 450 randomly selected adult residents of Davidson, Williamson and Rutherford counties was conducted the evenings of Monday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 16. 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 still have to wait a number of months before increases in consumer confidence will lead to dramatic increases in consumer spending.”

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

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GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Temkin will lecture on his work at 7:30 p.m. today, Sept. 21, in Room 221 of the LRC with a reception to follow in the gallery. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

CROP ROTATION--Officials in the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience today postponed their second Field Day until Thursday, Sept. 24, because of the rain that has covered the Middle Tennessee region all week. Ag school director Dr. Warren Gill says the event will move to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Agricultural Laboratory Farm, 3301 Guy James Rd. More than 80 people had registered to attend as of Sept. 16, Gill says, adding that others can register to attend by calling Dr. Jessica Carter at 615-898-2419, the University of Tennessee Extension office at 615-898-7710 or Gill at 615-898-2404.

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 Sunday, 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.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Chinese checkups

In the 1960s, the dictator of Albania, China’s only ally in Europe, announced that “together the 803 million people of China and Albania cannot be defeated.” It was a laughable comment, but Dr. Steven Livingston, editor of Global Commerce, writes that China’s economy is growing so fast that might not need the other three fastest trading partners in the world—Russia, India and Brazil. “Russia is the smallest of the four, and in another generation it will be quite a bit smaller,” Livingston writes. "India is, by quite a bit, the poorest and the youngest. … Brazil is perhaps the most internally diverse with portions of the country essentially fully developed while other regions remain poor. And China, of course, is economically almost on a different planet than the others. It has by far the largest and fastest-growing economy.”

Contact Livingston at 615-898-2720.
slivings@mtsu.edu

Democracy in the classroom

Author and playwright Susan Griffin will lead the MTSU community in a workshop titled “Teaching Democracy: Integrating Themes of Social Responsibility in the Curriculum” from 1-4 p.m. today, Sept. 18, in the Faculty Senate Room of the James Union Building. Griffin will address how to connect private and public lives and how to encourage students to draw connections between events and memories in personal family histories with larger histories and issues. Using passages from her books Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy, Chorus of Stones and What Her Body Thought and her poem collection Bending Home, Griffin will discuss how to open up new avenues of inquiry through written reflection. This event is presented by the American Democracy Project and the Learning, Teaching and Innovative Technologies Center.

Contact Dr. Mary Evins at 615-904-8241.
mevins@mtsu.edu

You gotta believe

Consumer confidence is looking up in Middle Tennessee. MTSU’s Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index rose from 113 in May to 142 in September. However, Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the Office of Consumer Research warns, “It is not clear how much of this increase in consumer confidence is due to perceived changes in the fundamentals of the economy or to merely thinking, ‘It cannot get much worse, so it has to get better.’ Perceptions of the current economy have become only slightly less negative, and consumers have actually become less likely to believe that now is a good time to make large purchases.” The poll of 450 randomly selected adult residents of Davidson, Williamson and Rutherford counties was conducted the evenings of Monday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 16.

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

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TO FIGHT THE UNBEATABLE FOE--The range of ways in which to fight for fun and profit is growing exponentially in creativity and diversity. Some combine elements of traditional sports like boxing and wrestling with martial arts and just plain free-for-all, knock-down, drag-out pounding. Are the adventuresome men and women who take part in these sports true athletes? Are they destined to become as popular as the jocks in the NBA or the NFL? David Hudson, adjunct professor of political science and prolific writer about all kinds of sports, talks about the newest forms of fighting sports at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Sept. 20, on “MTSU On the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Hudson is the author of Combat Sports: An Encyclopedia of Wrestling, Fighting and Mixed Martial Arts. Contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Temkin will lecture on his work at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, in Room 221 of the LRC with a reception to follow in the gallery. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

CROP ROTATION--Officials in the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience today postponed their second Field Day until Thursday, Sept. 24, because of rain forecast for today and the rain that has covered the Middle Tennessee region all week. Ag school director Dr. Warren Gill says the event will move to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Agricultural Laboratory Farm, 3301 Guy James Rd. More than 80 people had registered to attend as of Sept. 16, Gill says, adding that others can register to attend by calling Dr. Jessica Carter at 615-898-2419, the University of Tennessee Extension office at 615-898-7710 or Gill at 615-898-2404.

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 Sunday, 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.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

OMG! Texting while testing!

A recent survey by Common Sense Media reveals that 35 percent of teens use their cell phones to cheat. Twenty-six percent store info on their phones and look at it while taking a test. Twenty-five percent send text messages to friends, asking for answers. Seventeen percent take pictures of a test and send it to their friends. Laura Sosh-Lightsy, assistant dean of student life, says, “I think there are a couple of things instructors can do to try to combat the problem. For example, I do not allow cell phone use in my classroom. If a cell phone goes off or is discovered, the student is required to leave class and they are counted as absent. I take my cell phone to class in the event that we are contacted via MTSU Alert about serious weather or a situation on campus.”

Contact Sosh-Lightsy at 615-898-2750.
llightsy@mtsu.edu

To fight the unbeatable foe

The range of ways in which to fight for fun and profit is growing exponentially in creativity and diversity. Some combine elements of traditional sports like boxing and wrestling with martial arts and just plain free-for-all, knock-down, drag-out pounding. Are the adventuresome men and women who take part in these sports true athletes? Are they destined to become as popular as the jocks in the NBA or the NFL? David Hudson, adjunct professor of political science and prolific writer about all kinds of sports, talks about the newest forms of fighting sports at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Sept. 20, on “MTSU On the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Hudson is the author of Combat Sports: An Encyclopedia of Wrestling, Fighting and Mixed Martial Arts.

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

Happy Constitution Day!

Join MTSU’s continuing celebration of the signing of the U.S. Constitution 222 years ago today, Sept. 17. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., personal copies of the Constitution will be distributed, and a large copy of the document can be signed on the Keathley University Center knoll. From 10 a.m. to noon on the knoll, speak your mind—with civility—at an open mike. Beginning at 12 noon after the chiming of the noon bells at the Honors College, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee will kick off the reading of the Constitution with President James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution,” and First Lady Dolley Madison in attendance. Lecture and panel topics throughout the day and night at various campus locations include “The Internet and the First Amendment;” “First Amendment Freedoms;” “Torture, Democracy and the American Press;” “Civil Liberties: Surveillance and Terrorism;” and “Living Democracy.”

For a detailed schedule, visit www.mtsu.edu/masscom/events.shtml and click on the Seigenthaler Chair “scheduled events’ link. Visit www.mtsu.edu/~amerdem for the American Democracy Project info.

TR EXTRA

GET THE PICTURE?--“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Temkin will lecture on his work at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, in Room 221 of the LRC with a reception to follow in the gallery. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

CROP ROTATION--Officials in the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience today postponed their second Field Day until Thursday, Sept. 24, because of rain forecast for today and the rain that has covered the Middle Tennessee region all week. Ag school director Dr. Warren Gill says the event will move to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Agricultural Laboratory Farm, 3301 Guy James Rd. More than 80 people had registered to attend as of Sept. 16, Gill says, adding that others can register to attend by calling Dr. Jessica Carter at 615-898-2419, the University of Tennessee Extension office at 615-898-7710 or Gill at 615-898-2404.

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 Sunday, 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 through today, 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.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Eye of the Tiger

Tiger Woods ran away with the BMW Championship on Sunday, besting second-place Jim Furyk and Marc Leishman by eight shots. Yet, Woods will conclude this year’s PGA season without winning at least one major tournament. What happens in the mind of a champion who so devastatingly dominates his sport when he enters a stretch when he is no longer dependably immortal, but merely brilliant? Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, says, “An athlete like Tiger Woods performs at such a high level that it is impossible to maintain that same level of performance over time. The human organism is not perfect and must adapt to highs and lows, successes and failures. At the same time, competitive sport includes an opponent, and sometimes the high quality of performance by a competitor supercedes the performance level of any athlete, including a persistently successful and elite athlete like Tiger Woods.”

Contact Anshel at 615-898-2812.
manshel@mtsu.edu

Get the picture?

“Relics,” an exhibit by Brad Temkin, is on display at the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in MTSU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) through Oct. 22. Temkin says of his work, “My approach builds on the sculptural foundation that integrates the object and the landscape. Remnants of humanity are abandoned amidst vast, empty and anonymous landscapes. These forms exude an energy that transcends originating intention, becoming beautiful and monumental ‘earth works’ in their own right.” Temkin will lecture on his work at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, in Room 221 of the LRC with a reception to follow in the gallery. Exhibitions are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085.
tjimison@mtsu.edu

Fast forward past the commercials

"Advertisements are now so numerous that they are very negligently perused, and it is therefore become necessary to gain attention by magnificence of promises and by eloquence sometimes sublime and sometimes pathetic," opined Samuel Johnson in 1759. Has anything really changed? Are ads any less cheesy than they were when Speedy Alka-Seltzer promised us fast relief? Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says, “I agree to a certain extent with Samuel Johnson. There is some really bad creative work being called advertising today. But there are good and bad books, good and bad paintings, and good/bad works in virtually all art forms. The demise in advertising quality may be debatable, but the demise of advertising as a communication form is greatly exaggerated.”

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

TR EXTRA

FREE TO BE YOU AND ME--MTSU’s Constitution Day celebration kicks off at 10:20 a.m. today, Sept. 16, with “Free Speech on University Campuses: The State of Play,” a lecture by Vanderbilt professor Bruce Barry in the Keathley University Center (KUC) Theater. At 11:30 a.m., Gene Policinski, vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center, will present results from the center’s annual survey of American attitudes and opinions on First Amendment issues in the KUC Theater. “Freedom Sings,” a critically acclaimed multimedia experience featuring an all-star cast of musicians and an “only in America” story line, will be presented at 2:20 p.m. in Tucker Theatre. The event, which includes hit songwriters and Grammy Award-winning artists, features music that has been banned, censored, or has sounded a call for social change. All three of these events are free, open to the public and presented by the John Seigenthaler Chair in First Amendment Studies. More events are slated for Thursday and Friday. For a detailed schedule, visit www.mtsu.edu/masscom/events.shtml and click on the Seigenthaler Chair “scheduled events” link. Visit www.mtsu.edu/~amerdem for the American Democracy Project info.

DOWN ON THE FARM-MTSU’s School of Agribusiness and Agriscience is hosting a field day starting at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 17, on the new Agricultural Laboratory Farm at 3301 Guy James Road. “The primary focus this year will be on home gardens and innovative nursery ideas, but there will also be updates on haylage production and use by beef cattle,” says Dr. Warren Gill, director for the school. Other topics will be presented, including a report on the Switchgrass, Bluestem, Indiangrass and wildlife plots being done in partnership with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Extension Service. Students will present displays, guide tours and be involved in every aspect of the program. Dr. Jessica Carter, associate professor, will conduct a live animal demonstration with cattle from the MTSU angus herd. The event is free and open to the public. Contact Gill at 615-898-2404 or wgill@mtsu.edu.

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 Sunday, 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 through tomorrow, 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.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

America’s fiber fetish

Manufacturers seem to be putting extra fiber into all kinds of foods these days because some of us are reluctant to eat the foods that provide it naturally. But couldn't increasing our fiber intake be counterproductive if we overdo it? Dr. Janet Colson, human sciences, says, “Moderation and variety are the key(s) to healthy eating in all areas, especially when it comes to fiber. Since most Americans consume only half the fiber needed to prevent constipation by keeping the GI (gastrointestinal) tract functioning, many food manufacturers have started adding fiber to things that don't naturally have it. For example, in the natural form, dairy foods contain no fiber. But manufacturers like Dannon have started adding fiber, probably as a marketing ploy.”

Contact Colson at 615-898-2091.
jcolson@mtsu.edu

Free to be you and me

MTSU’s Constitution Day celebration kicks off at 10:20 a.m. tomorrow, Sept. 16, with “Free Speech on University Campuses: The State of Play,” a lecture by Vanderbilt professor Bruce Barry in the Keathley University Center (KUC) Theater. At 11:30 a.m., Gene Policinski, vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center, will present results from the center’s annual survey of American attitudes and opinions on First Amendment issues in the KUC Theater. “Freedom Sings,” a critically acclaimed multimedia experience featuring an all-star cast of musicians and an “only in America” story line, will be presented at 2:20 p.m. in Tucker Theatre. The event, which includes hit songwriters and Grammy Award-winning artists, features music that has been banned, censored, or has sounded a call for social change. All three of these events are free, open to the public and presented by the John Seigenthaler Chair in First Amendment Studies. More events are slated for Thursday and Friday.

For a detailed schedule, visit www.mtsu.edu/masscom/events.shtml and click on the Seigenthaler Chair “scheduled events” link. Visit www.mtsu.edu/~amerdem for the American Democracy Project info.

The low-hanging fruit

Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, proposes that we use the media to improve high school and college graduates’ ability to think. While Burriss admits that this has been tried before, he says it failed because society depended upon the technology, not the content, to solve the problem. “We hear a lot about how the media are leading to the downfall of morals, the work ethic and education itself,” Burriss says. “Well, then, let’s turn all that content around and start using it for something constructive. The material is right there, like ripe fruit on a tree. It’s time someone picked it off and started using it.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

DOWN ON THE FARM-MTSU’s School of Agribusiness and Agriscience is hosting a field day starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, on the new Agricultural Laboratory Farm at 3301 Guy James Road. “The primary focus this year will be on home gardens and innovative nursery ideas, but there will also be updates on haylage production and use by beef cattle,” says Dr. Warren Gill, director for the school. Other topics will be presented, including a report on the Switchgrass, Bluestem, Indiangrass and wildlife plots being done in partnership with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Extension Service. Students will present displays, guide tours and be involved in every aspect of the program. Dr. Jessica Carter, associate professor, will conduct a live animal demonstration with cattle from the MTSU angus herd. The event is free and open to the public. Contact Gill at 615-898-2404 or wgill@mtsu.edu.

REP YOUR ROOTS--MTSU’s Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA) and the Student Government Association (SGA) will celebrate “Rep Your Roots Day,” today, Sept. 15. “Rep Your Roots Day” kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month. Vincent Windrow, director of IDA, says, “This initiative is aimed at celebrating the pluralistic make-up of our student and faculty/staff population by encouraging (them) to wear t-shirts that reflect … their nationality, hometown or any aspect of their heritage. Students and faculty/staff are encouraged to wear clothing reflecting their heritage, which can include shirts depicting flags, slogans, colors and shapes of continents, countries and states.”Contact Windrow at 615-898-5812 or vwindrow@mtsu.edu.

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 Sunday, 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 through Thursday, 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.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Down on the farm

MTSU’s School of Agribusiness and Agriscience is hosting a field day starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, on the new Agricultural Laboratory Farm at 3301 Guy James Road. “The primary focus this year will be on home gardens and innovative nursery ideas, but there will also be updates on haylage production and use by beef cattle,” says Dr. Warren Gill, director for the school. Other topics will be presented, including a report on the Switchgrass, Bluestem, Indiangrass and wildlife plots being done in partnership with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Extension Service. Students will present displays, guide tours and be involved in every aspect of the program. Dr. Jessica Carter, associate professor, will conduct a live animal demonstration with cattle from the MTSU angus herd. The event is free and open to the public.

Contact Gill at 615-898-2404.
wgill@mtsu.edu

A non-spending spree

Can consumer spending be the key to an economic recovery? It doesn’t seem likely, according to the latest edition of Midstate Economic Indicators from MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center. The report states, “Midstate households offer little evidence that consumer spending will lead the way to recovery as household spending continued to plummet in the second quarter. Taxable sales plunged 3.8 percent in the Nashville MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) and 3.3 percent in the midstate area, offering no evidence at all that consumers are beginning to spend again. The cash-for-clunkers incentive will show some impact on July and August sales tax collections, but the effect will very likely be temporary. It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which consumer spending leads the midstate to recovery in the absence of job growth.”

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

Rep Your Roots

MTSU’s Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA) and the Student Government Association (SGA) will distribute free T-shirts today, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Keathley University Center in anticipation of “Rep Your Roots Day,” tomorrow, Sept. 15. “Rep Your Roots Day” kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month. Vincent Windrow, director of IDA, says, “This initiative is aimed at celebrating the pluralistic make-up of our student and faculty/staff population by encouraging (them) to wear t-shirts that reflect … their nationality, hometown or any aspect of their heritage. Students and faculty/staff are encouraged to wear clothing reflecting their heritage, which can include shirts depicting flags, slogans, colors and shapes of continents, countries and states.”

Contact Windrow at 615-898-5812.
vwindrow@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

MAKING AMENDMENTS--A single day isn’t big enough to contain MTSU’s observance of the 222nd anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Free public events are scheduled over three days—Sept. 16-18—as authors, speakers, singer-songwriters and educators team up across campus to celebrate the document created by “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union …” Events kick off Wednesday, Sept. 16, with lectures and a performance by “Freedom Sings,” followed on Thursday, Sept. 17, by panel discussions and more lectures by acclaimed author. The celebration concludes Friday, Sept. 18, with a faculty workshop on “Teaching Democracy” by author Susan Griffin. For a detailed schedule, visit www.mtsu.edu/masscom/events.shtml and click on the Seigenthaler Chair “scheduled events” link. Visit www.mtsu.edu/~amerdem for the American Democracy Project info.

FUNNY, YOU DON’T LOOK A DAY OVER 85!--“The Founding of MTSU,” a lecture by Dr. Jan Leone, history professor, will kick off the Fall 2009 Honors Lecture Series at 3 p.m. today, Sept. 14, in Room 106 of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. The theme for this semester’s lectures is “Blue Raider Milestones: Approaching the Centennial.” Each presentation will highlight a different aspect of MTSU history as the university nears its 100th birthday in 2011. Upcoming topics include “Sports at MTSU,” “Military Training on Campus,” “Philip Mankin and the Evolution of Academic Freedom at MTSU,” and “Development of the Women’s Center and Women’s Studies.” All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the University Honors College at 615-898-2152.

THE SHAPES OF THINGS TO COME--MTSU faculty clarinetist and pianist/composer Jackson Henry will premiere Henry’s new work, “Shapes,” during a free concert at 8 p.m. tonight, Sept. 14, in the Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building. “We are very excited to present (this premiere) by … Henry,” says Todd Waldecker, associate professor of music. “I approached Jackson last year about arranging some gospel tunes for clarinet and piano. Jackson welcomed the challenge and has ingeniously crafted a charming suite of songs from the shape note hymn tradition. The suite contains tunes of faith that are beautiful, haunting and joyful. It’s a welcome addition to the clarinet and piano repertoire.” In addition to “Shapes,” the duo will perform “Romanian Folk Dances” by Bela Bartok, “Arpeggione” by Franz Schubert and “Four Pieces in Bird Shape” by Takashi Yoshimatsu. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call the MTSU School of Music at 615-898-2493.

INJECTION FOR PROTECTION--MTSU Health Services will administer seasonal flu vaccine injections to faculty, staff and students. These vaccinations are not for the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as “swine flu.” Seasonal flu vaccinations will be available today, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the second floor lounge of the Keathley University Center. Payment may be made by cash or check at this location. The cost is $15 for students and $20 for faculty and staff. No appointment is necessary. Contact Health Services at 615-898-2988.

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 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.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Making amendments

A single day isn’t big enough to contain MTSU’s observance of the 222nd anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Free public events are scheduled over three days—Sept. 16-18—as authors, speakers, singer-songwriters and educators team up across campus to celebrate the document created by “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union …” Events kick off Wednesday, Sept. 16, with lectures and a performance by “Freedom Sings,” followed on Thursday, Sept. 17, by panel discussions and more lectures by acclaimed author. The celebration concludes Friday, Sept. 18, with a faculty workshop on “Teaching Democracy” by author Susan Griffin. (To hear an interview with Griffin, tune in to “MTSU On the Record” this Sunday, Sept. 13, at 7 a.m. on WMOT-FM (89.5 or wmot.org).

For a detailed schedule, visit www.mtsu.edu/masscom/events.shtml and click on the Seigenthaler Chair “scheduled events” link. Visit www.mtsu.edu/~amerdem for the American Democracy Project info.

MT on the tube

Tune in to the September edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” for a collection of some of our best stories. They include Dr. Tom Nolan’s use of GPS technology to preserve the record of a Civil War battlefield; new MTSU airplanes equipped with cutting-edge avionics; an MTSU program that helps remove lead hazards; students who learned how to make paper from unwanted plants; and the traffic roundabout on the east side of campus, which is decorated with vintage column sections from a Tennessee architectural landmark. “Middle Tennessee Record” airs on 15 different cable television systems throughout the region. To find out when it airs in your area or to view prior programs, go to www.mtsunews.com and click on “Middle Tennessee Record.”

For more information, contact John Lynch at 615-898-2919.
jlynch@mtsu.edu

Funny, you don’t look a day over 85!

“The Founding of MTSU,” a lecture by Dr. Jan Leone, history professor, will kick off the Fall 2009 Honors Lecture Series at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, in Room 106 of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. The theme for this semester’s lectures is “Blue Raider Milestones: Approaching the Centennial.” Each presentation will highlight a different aspect of MTSU history as the university nears its 100th birthday in 2011. Upcoming topics include “Sports at MTSU,” “Military Training on Campus,” “Philip Mankin and the Evolution of Academic Freedom at MTSU,” and “Development of the Women’s Center and Women’s Studies.” All lectures are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the University Honors College at 615-898-2152.

TR EXTRA

THE SHAPES OF THINGS TO COME--MTSU faculty clarinetist and pianist/composer Jackson Henry will premiere Henry’s new work, “Shapes,” during a free concert at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, in the Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building. “We are very excited to present (this premiere) by … Henry,” says Todd Waldecker, associate professor of music. “I approached Jackson last year about arranging some gospel tunes for clarinet and piano. Jackson welcomed the challenge and has ingeniously crafted a charming suite of songs from the shape note hymn tradition. The suite contains tunes of faith that are beautiful, haunting and joyful. It’s a welcome addition to the clarinet and piano repertoire.” In addition to “Shapes,” the duo will perform “Romanian Folk Dances” by Bela Bartok, “Arpeggione” by Franz Schubert and “Four Pieces in Bird Shape” by Takashi Yoshimatsu. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call the MTSU School of Music at 615-898-2493.

INJECTION FOR PROTECTION--MTSU Health Services will administer seasonal flu vaccine injections to faculty, staff and students. These vaccinations are not for the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as “swine flu.” Seasonal flu vaccinations will be available on Monday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the second floor lounge of the Keathley University Center. Payment may be made by cash or check at this location. The cost is $15 for students and $20 for faculty and staff. No appointment is necessary. Contact Health Services at 615-898-2988.

GETTING TO KNOW US--From 8 p.m.-midnight tonight, 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 or jweiler@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.

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 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.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Light at the end of the quarter?

Is there any good news about the economy? In the latest edition of Midstate Economic Indicators, Dr. David Penn, director of the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center, writes, “An encouraging sign is found in initial claims for unemployment insurance, which fell to an average of 13,770 per week. Initial claims peaked during the first quarter and now appear to be on the decline. The level of initial claims, however, remains very high by historical standards and almost double that of a year ago. By contrast, continued unemployment insurance claims rose substantially, suggesting little relief for unemployment rates in the near future.”

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

The shapes of things to come

MTSU faculty clarinetist and pianist/composer Jackson Henry will premiere Henry’s new work, “Shapes,” during a free concert at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, in the Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building. “We are very excited to present (this premiere) by … Henry,” says Todd Waldecker, associate professor of music. “I approached Jackson last year about arranging some gospel tunes for clarinet and piano. Jackson welcomed the challenge and has ingeniously crafted a charming suite of songs from the shape note hymn tradition. The suite contains tunes of faith that are beautiful, haunting and joyful. It’s a welcome addition to the clarinet and piano repertoire.” In addition to “Shapes,” the duo will perform “Romanian Folk Dances” by Bela Bartok, “Arpeggione” by Franz Schubert and “Four Pieces in Bird Shape” by Takashi Yoshimatsu. The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information, call the MTSU School of Music at 615-898-2493.

Minding the store

What will it take for the commercial real estate market to rebound? Has it been hit by the same kind of unwise lending practices that have hurt the residential real estate market? Dr. Doug Timmons, economics and finance, says, “There is little doubt that prices of office and retail properties have fallen from their peak in 2007. Just like residential mortgages, many commercial mortgages were packaged and sold as asset-backed securities, and funding for projects has dried up because these markets are now all but closed. … Consumers have historically been the most important factor in our economy. The current recession has many consumers ‘hunkering down,’ and until their confidence is restored, the economy will have a hard time pulling out of the recession. Obviously, this impacts in a big way on retail, office and industrial properties.”

Contact Timmons at 615-898-5750.
jtimmons@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

INJECTION FOR PROTECTION--MTSU Health Services will administer seasonal flu vaccine injections to faculty, staff and students and multiple locations. These vaccinations are not for the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as “swine flu.” Seasonal flu vaccinations will be available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today, Sept. 10, in the atrium of the Health, Wellness and Recreation Center. At this location, payment may be made by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express, or students may charge the expense to their MTSU accounts. On Monday, Sept. 14, shots will be available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the second floor lounge of the Keathley University Center. Payment may be made by cash or check at this location. The cost is $15 for students and $20 for faculty and staff. No appointment is necessary. Contact Health Services at 615-898-2988.

GETTING TO KNOW US--From 8 p.m.-midnight tomorrow, 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 or jweiler@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.

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 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.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Two-digit trouble

Two Tennessee MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) now suffer from double-digit unemployment, as does the state as a whole. Preliminary figures show that Clarksville registered a 10.9 percent jobless rate in July 2009, followed by Memphis with 10.3. Nashville posted a 9.5 percent mark followed by Chattanooga at 9.5 percent and Knoxville at 9 percent. The unemployment rate in Tennessee was 10.8 percent, down from the previous month’s mark of 11.1 percent, but a far cry from the 6.8 percent statewide figure of a year ago. City dwellers fared better than those living less populated areas. The unemployment rate was 9.8 in the metropolitan areas, compared to 13.4 percent in the rest of the state. The national rate was 9.7 percent.

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

Diffraction action

MTSU is the leader of a successful collaboration to bring a state-of-the-art instrument for the neutron analysis of advanced materials to one of the world’s top centers for neutron scattering. MTSU joined with North Carolina State University, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to obtain a single-crystal neutron diffractometer, also known as IMAGINE, through the National Science Foundation and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “This diffractometer will fill a gap in U.S. neutron diffraction capabilities since no similar instrumentation is currently available at a neutron reactor source in the United States,” says Dr. Tibor S. Koritsanszky, professor of chemistry at MTSU. IMAGINE will be placed on a beam line with a cold neutron source, in which neutrons are chilled to reduce their energy and make them more useful for analyzing materials’ properties at longer microscopic lengths.

Contact Koritsanszky at 615-904-8592.
tkoritsa@mtsu.edu

The shot seen ‘round the world

Against the wishes of the family, a photo of Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard taken just after his body was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan was circulated by the Associated Press. Bernard later died. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates sent the AP a letter calling the news organization’s decision “appalling.” Chris Harris, a professor of electronic media communication who has done photographic work for the AP, United Press International, Time, Newsweek and other news-gathering entities, has seen the picture of Bernard. He says, “The photo was taken in poor light and, while disturbing, it is not as graphic as many other images taken in the war with Iraq. It is personal, however.” Harris says the clash between AP and the Defense Department “showed the constant conflict between news organizations and the subjects they cover.”

Contact Harris at 615-898-2841.
crharris@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

NINE IS FINE.--MTSU’s Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA) will mark the ninth day of the ninth month of 2009 with a campus-wide celebration today, Sept. 9. Faculty members from the Department of History will mark the occasion by sharing historical events that occurred on Sept. 9 with students in their classes. In honor of all students who were born on Sept. 9, IDA will present a huge birthday cake at noon in the Keathley University Center (KUC) courtyard. The comedy movie “Waterboy,” starring Sept. 9 birthday boy Adam Sandler, will be presented at midnight in the KUC Theater. Another celebrity born on Sept. 9, Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Harland “Colonel” Sanders, will be seen strolling around the campus. Since the Colonel passed away in 1980, a gifted impersonator, “Colonel” Bob Thompson, former mayor of Lawrenceburg, Ky., will assume Sanders’ identity. For more information, contact Vincent Windrow, director of IDA, at 615-898-2831 or vwindrow@mtsu.edu.

INJECTION FOR PROTECTION--MTSU Health Services will administer seasonal flu vaccine injections to faculty, staff and students and multiple locations. These vaccinations are not for the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as “swine flu.” Seasonal flu vaccinations will be available from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. today, Sept. 9, and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 10, in the atrium of the Health, Wellness and Recreation Center. At this location, payment may be made by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express, or students may charge the expense to their MTSU accounts. On Monday, Sept. 14, shots will be available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the second floor lounge of the Keathley University Center. Payment may be made by cash or check at this location. The cost is $15 for students and $20 for faculty and staff. No appointment is necessary. Contact Health Services at 615-898-2988.

GETTING TO KNOW US--The Student Organization Fair is slated for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today, 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 or jweiler@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.

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 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.