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.