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.