Friday, October 30, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Gosh darn it!

Is there a place for blasphemy in our lexicon? Dr. Phil Oliver, philosophy, says he’s ambivalent on the subject. Oliver says, “There should not be a category of speech called ‘blasphemy’ that gets free speakers prosecuted, persecuted or dead. But neither should theists and atheists go out of their way just to spite those who think differently than they do. That said, I expect I’ll continue to defend blasphemy by commission, omission and grandstand applause. Just don’t take it personally, anybody. I still respect your right to differ and expect you to say that you do. (That) doesn’t mean we have to be mean-spirited or violent about it.”

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

“You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.”—John Morley

The European Union yesterday condemned China’s execution of two Tibetans, questioning whether the defendants received a fair trial. Chinese officials claim the Tibetans were put to death for sparking ethnic violence in Lhasa last year to embarrass the Chinese government as it prepared to host the Olympics. Dr. Yuan-ling Chao, history, says, “The attempts to silence dissidents, suppress social discontent and rural unrests, and control information access reflect a deep-seated concern on the part of the Communist government with maintaining legitimacy and control. … The government should recognize that the flexibility to grant greater freedom, both economic and political, would bolster, rather than jeopardize, its legitimacy as the people’s party.”

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

Learning to teach, teaching to learn

In 1909, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the General Education Bill, which provided for the establishment of three schools for the education of teachers. Each of these schools, one of which was at Middle Tennessee State Normal School, was to have a “practice school” where teaching students could observe and practice. That school was moved to its present location on East Lytle Street in Murfreesboro in 1929. Celebrate the 80th anniversary of Homer Pittard Campus School on “MTSU on the Record” at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Nov. 1, on WMOT-FM (89.5 or wmot.org). Host Tom Tozer interviews Marrie Lasater, chair of the celebration committee; Campus School supporter John Green; and student Ryan Whitefield.

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

TR EXTRA

PICTURES OF YOU, PICTURES OF ME--A different take on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is on display in Stan Strembicki’s exhibit “Memory Loss/Lost Library” in the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in the Learning Resources Center at MTSU. Strembicki has been photographing the streets, people and events of New Orleans since 1984. Returning after Katrina, he was drawn to photograph not the ubiquitous crushed homes or overturned cars, but the subtler tragedy of washed-away personal ephemera in the debris of the Lower Ninth Ward. “Memory Loss/Lost Library” will be on display until Dec. 9. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. Strembicki, a professor of photography at Washington University in St. Louis, will deliver a free and open lecture at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in Room 103 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building with a reception to follow. For more information, contact Tom Jimison at 615-898-2085 or tjimison@mtsu.edu.

WEEKEND WARRIORS AND WARBLERS--Two opportunities to see “Ragtime,” the MTSU School of Music’s presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical, and the Blue Raiders’ home game against Florida International University are highlights of the Nov. 6-7 Family Weekend. “Ragtime,” starring Shawn Lewis and Scott Willis, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, in Tucker Theatre. Saturday’s events include registration at 11:30 a.m. and a silent auction in Walnut Grove. While the silent auction is underway, the “Blue Raider Lunch, Tailgating and Fun” is set from noon to 2:30 p.m. in Walnut Grove and other activities are planned. The Raider Walk, a pregame tradition, is slated for 1:15 p.m. The football game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. in Floyd Stadium. For more information, call the Office of New Student and Family Programs at 615-898-2454.

MICKEY MAKES A SCHEDULE CHANGE--The date of the Disney Keys to Excellence Conference hosted by MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business at the Sheraton Downtown Nashville has been changed to Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to take an exclusive look at the "business behind the magic" from Walt Disney World© insiders, who will share the successful business practices and unique philosophies that have made the Disney name synonymous with creativity, quality, and innovation the world over. Also, the special free 90-minute session on leadership on campus for MTSU personnel only will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Tom Jackson Building. Those MTSU personnel who have already registered need do nothing further. To learn more and to register, go to www.keysnashville.com or call 877-544-2384.

LADIES IN THE LABORATORIES--The 13th annual Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science Conference for middle-school and high-school girls is slated for tomorrow, Oct. 31, at MTSU. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Leslie Wisner-Lynch, co-founder of BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. The company is described on its Web site (http://biomimetics.com) as “a biotech company utilizing recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor as its primary technology platform.” EYH is a hands-on science and math gathering that will give girls opportunities to participate in science workshops that are educational and fun. Workshops slated for this year’s event include “Lighting up the Future;” “Ooze, Goo and Slime;” and “Egg Drop Contest.” Participants also will be able to learn the perspectives of undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Contact Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross at 615-904-8253 or jiriarte@mtsu.edu.

DESIGNING STUDENTS--The juried work of graphic design students at MTSU is on display through Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Todd Art Gallery. The purpose of the exhibition is to showcase the department’s largest segment of declared majors and to promote the making and understanding of Graphic Design’s role in our academic culture and the community at large. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Todd Art Gallery closes only on state and university holidays. For more information, contact Eric Snyder, gallery curator, at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Pictures of you, pictures of me

A different take on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is on display in Stan Strembicki’s exhibit “Memory Loss/Lost Library” in the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in the Learning Resources Center at MTSU. Strembicki has been photographing the streets, people and events of New Orleans since 1984. Returning after Katrina, he was drawn to photograph not the ubiquitous crushed homes or overturned cars, but the subtler tragedy of washed-away personal ephemera in the debris of the Lower Ninth Ward. “Memory Loss/Lost Library” will be on display until Dec. 9. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. Strembicki, a professor of photography at Washington University in St. Louis, will deliver a free and open lecture at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in Room 103 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building with a reception to follow.

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

Dragging the line

It’s not “green.” It’s not politically correct. But it’s more popular than ever. It’s the American Drag Racing League (ADRL), whose operators expect revenues of $12 million this year. That’s a 100 percent increase over 2008. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, thinks he knows why. Roy says, “The ADRL story is a great lesson for businesses in any industry, not just sports. Business success is driven by coming up with game changing ideas and mindsets. The one aspect of ADRL that fascinates me most is CEO Kenny Nowling's view that ‘our product is our fan, and the customer is our sponsors.’ What a unique way to view a sports property! Rather than beating its head against a wall trying to sell tickets in a competitive, economically challenged market, ADRL realized it could harness the value of fan access and monetize it.”

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

Weekend warriors and warblers

Two opportunities to see “Ragtime,” the MTSU School of Music’s presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical, and the Blue Raiders’ home game against Florida International University are highlights of the Nov. 6-7 Family Weekend. “Ragtime,” starring Shawn Lewis and Scott Willis, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, in Tucker Theatre. Saturday’s events include registration at 11:30 a.m. and a silent auction in Walnut Grove. While the silent auction is underway, the “Blue Raider Lunch, Tailgating and Fun” is set from noon to 2:30 p.m. in Walnut Grove and other activities are planned. The Raider Walk, a pregame tradition, is slated for 1:15 p.m. The football game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. in Floyd Stadium.

For more information, call the Office of New Student and Family Programs at 615-898-2454.

TR EXTRA

MICKEY MAKES A SCHEDULE CHANGE--The date of the Disney Keys to Excellence Conference hosted by MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business at the Sheraton Downtown Nashville has been changed to Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to take an exclusive look at the "business behind the magic" from Walt Disney World© insiders, who will share the successful business practices and unique philosophies that have made the Disney name synonymous with creativity, quality, and innovation the world over. Also, the special free 90-minute session on leadership on campus for MTSU personnel only will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Tom Jackson Building. Those MTSU personnel who have already registered need do nothing further. To learn more and to register, go to www.keysnashville.com or call 877-544-2384.

LADIES IN THE LABORATORIES--The 13th annual Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science Conference for middle-school and high-school girls is slated for this Saturday, Oct. 31, at MTSU. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Leslie Wisner-Lynch, co-founder of BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. The company is described on its Web site (http://biomimetics.com) as “a biotech company utilizing recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor as its primary technology platform.” EYH is a hands-on science and math gathering that will give girls opportunities to participate in science workshops that are educational and fun. Workshops slated for this year’s event include “Lighting up the Future;” “Ooze, Goo and Slime;” and “Egg Drop Contest.” Participants also will be able to learn the perspectives of undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Contact Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross at 615-904-8253 or jiriarte@mtsu.edu.

DESIGNING STUDENTS--The juried work of graphic design students at MTSU is on display through Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Todd Art Gallery. The purpose of the exhibition is to showcase the department’s largest segment of declared majors and to promote the making and understanding of Graphic Design’s role in our academic culture and the community at large. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Todd Art Gallery closes only on state and university holidays. For more information, contact Eric Snyder, gallery curator, at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Mickey makes a schedule change.

The date of the Disney Keys to Excellence Conference hosted by MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business at the Sheraton Downtown Nashville has been changed to Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to take an exclusive look at the "business behind the magic" from Walt Disney World© insiders, who will share the successful business practices and unique philosophies that have made the Disney name synonymous with creativity, quality, and innovation the world over. Also, the special free 90-minute session on leadership on campus will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Tom Jackson Building. Those MTSU personnel who have already registered need do nothing further.

To learn more and to register, go to http://www.keysnashville.com/ or call 877-544-2384.

The smart set

Forty-five years ago, historian Richard Hofstadter published his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Anti-Intellectualism in American Life. Dr. Scott Carnicom, associate dean of the University Honors College, says he has noticed a strain of anti-intellectualism in the depiction of smart people in motion pictures. He says, “We use the term ‘gifted’ with far too high a frequency in this country, when, in actuality, less than two percent of the population has an IQ over 130 and less than one-tenths of one percent has an IQ over 145. However, intelligence is often portrayed hand-in-hand with stigmas, such as defects or illness. By presenting intelligence this way, we take a not-too-subtle swipe. We say that intelligence is wrong, it’s sick, it’s folly, it’s laughable, or it’s even evil. It could be a way to distance ourselves from the genius of which we are secretly jealous.”

Contact Carnicom at 615-494-7611.
carnicom@mtsu.edu

The athlete doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Nick Montana, son of Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Joe Montana, is the starting quarterback at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif. The backup quarterback is Trevor Gretzky, son of Hockey Fall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky. These kids, by all accounts, are well-adjusted. But what are the pressures on an athletic child who is the son or daughter of a famous, successful professional athlete? Dr. Mark Anshel, health and human performance, says, “Pressure in sport is about the athlete’s perceived expectations of others. If a well-known athlete has parents who do not communicate high expectations and love their child-athlete unconditionally—that is, whether or not they perform above average and advance to elite level, they will be loved, accepted and supported—then that athlete will not ‘suffer’ from unreasonably high expectations from the outside world.”

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

TR EXTRA

INTERNATIONAL NOSHING--The ROTARACT student organization is having a bake sale today, Oct. 28, between 10:15 a.m. and 3 p.m. at three locations on the MTSU campus--the Keathley University Center, Peck Hall and in the quadrangle. Buy cookies, muffins and/or brownies for one dollar per bag. Proceeds will benefit ROTARACT, a group that fosters international and local civic service, leadership skills and all other ideas associated with the national constitution of Rotary International, and Community Assistance for International and Refugee Students (CAIRS), a group that provides small amounts of money for MTSU international and refugee students in emergency situations. For more information about the bake sale, contact ROTARACT President Joshua Fryer at joshuafryer@gmail.com.

LADIES IN THE LABORATORIES--The 13th annual Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science Conference for middle-school and high-school girls is slated for this Saturday, Oct. 31, at MTSU. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Leslie Wisner-Lynch, co-founder of BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. The company is described on its Web site (http://biomimetics.com/) as “a biotech company utilizing recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor as its primary technology platform.” EYH is a hands-on science and math gathering that will give girls opportunities to participate in science workshops that are educational and fun. Workshops slated for this year’s event include “Lighting up the Future;” “Ooze, Goo and Slime;” and “Egg Drop Contest.” Participants also will be able to learn the perspectives of undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Contact Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross at 615-904-8253 or jiriarte@mtsu.edu.

THAT HUMAN TOUCH--The MTSU Department of Human Sciences celebrates the centennial of human sciences as a profession from 3-4 p.m. today, Oct. 28, in the Ellington Human Sciences Building at 2623 Middle Tennessee Blvd. and the annex at 2627 Middle Tennessee Blvd. The theme is “From the Cradle to the Grave” because human sciences serves and touches everyone throughout every aspect of life. Human sciences as a profession was founded in 1909 and known for many years as home economics. Today, its focus is to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. This event coincides with the in-process accreditation for the Interior Design program, which is the largest undergraduate program of its kind in the state. Students and graduates will be on hand to talk about their work and involvement in professional organizations. Culinary Art students will serve hot hors d’oeuvres. For more information, contact the department at 615-898-2884.

DESIGNING STUDENTS--The juried work of graphic design students at MTSU is on display through Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Todd Art Gallery. The purpose of the exhibition is to showcase the department’s largest segment of declared majors and to promote the making and understanding of Graphic Design’s role in our academic culture and the community at large. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Todd Art Gallery closes only on state and university holidays. For more information, contact Eric Snyder, gallery curator, at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The Kandahar conundrum

President Obama met at the White House yesterday with his national security team to talk about strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dr. Karen Petersen, assistant professor of political science and Middle East expert, says, “As discussions of troop strength in Afghanistan heat up, it is worthwhile to consider why we entered the ‘Graveyard of Empires.’ This year’s … incoming freshmen at MTSU were in elementary school on Sept. 11, 2001. While indelible, the mark of that attack has begun to fade in the absence of further attacks on the U.S. homeland, making justification of the war in Afghanistan difficult. Clearly, the initial decision to enter Afghanistan was the removal of a safe haven for Al-Qaeda provided by the Taliban regime. Now that we have severely weakened Al-Qaeda, the current administration has begun a not-so-subtle shift away from the problems of the Taliban to an Al-Qaeda-centric story.”

Contact Petersen at 615-494-8662.
kpeterse@mtsu.edu

Ladies in the laboratories

The 13th annual Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science Conference for middle-school and high-school girls is slated for this Saturday, Oct. 31, at MTSU. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Leslie Wisner-Lynch, co-founder of BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. The company is described on its Web site (http://biomimetics.com) as “a biotech company utilizing recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor as its primary technology platform.” EYH is a hands-on science and math gathering that will give girls opportunities to participate in science workshops that are educational and fun. Workshops slated for this year’s event include “Lighting Up the Future;” “Ooze, Goo and Slime;” and “Egg Drop Contest.” Participants also will be able to learn the perspectives of undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Contact Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross at 615-904-8253.
jiriarte@mtsu.edu

The Martians are coming! Shucks, it’s just the Heene family again!

Seventy-one years ago this Friday night, Oct. 30, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre players managed to convince thousands of Halloween-happy listeners that Martians were invading Earth with their performance of H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds.” “But before you get too smug and claim you could never be taken in by such a hoax,” warns Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, “how many of you respond to Internet rumors, horoscopes and programs that purport to have interviews with UFO abductees, Bigfoot photographers and assorted other supposedly paranormal activities? And just in the last few weeks, how many of us, including first responders and television networks, were taken in by the ‘balloon boy’ story?”

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

TR EXTRA

I WANT TO PLAY, TOO!--Dr. Dan Gould, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University (MSU) and Director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at MSU, will speak at 7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 27, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Gould’s topic will be “The Professionalization of Youth Sports: Implications for Involvement and Youth Development.” Gould has served as a consultant to the U.S. Ski Team, NASCAR pit crews and drivers, professional tennis players, and numerous Olympic athletes. This event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by the MTSU-based Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth. Contact Dr. Don Morgan at 615-898-5549 or dmorgan@mtsu.edu.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Rosie the RBIter

The 2009 World Series will begin on Wednesday night, Oct. 28, in New York as the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies take on the American League champion New York Yankees. During World War II, women could be more than spectators of the great national pastime. Dr. Jan Leone, history, says, “The All-American Girls Baseball League was … born during the war. By 1942, minor league baseball teams had disbanded as young men went off to war. Major league owners worried that their teams would meet the same fate if the war continued. Phillip Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, supported one solution, and that was to create women’s teams. From 1943 to 1954, over 600 women played professional ball following major league men’s rules and reaching their peak in 1948 with ten teams and 910,000 paying fans.”

Contact Leone at 615-898-5580.
jleone@mtsu.edu

Put a tuber in your tank.

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering whether a production standard of something less than 100 million gallons a year of cellulosic ethanol might be the most viable option for next year. Dr. Cliff Ricketts, agribusiness and agriscience, says, “With the drop in oil prices, approximately 85 percent of the ethanol plants went bankrupt and closed. It is hard for any alternative fuel to compete with gas that goes under $2.50 per gallon. Another issue with ethanol (E-85) is that you get 20-25 percent fewer miles per gallon. Another problem that has arisen lately is there are reports that event gas with 10 percent ethanol in it is causing problems for small gas engines. Really, I do not believe this is really the problem, but much of the public believes it to be true. Perception is reality.”

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

Fighting photos

The U.S. military has backed away from its ban on photos of war dead in Afghanistan. The former rule was implemented after the Associated Press released a photograph showing a badly injured Lance Corporal Joshua Bernard, who later died of his wounds. The revised rule allows for photographs, but material where faces or other identifiable features are recognizable cannot be used. Chris Harris, electronic media communication, says, “Ultimately, the question becomes, ‘Do we show the effects of war or sanitize it?’ To document events for others to see and make decisions from is not a simple task. Photojournalists are not the villains they are often thought to be. But, rather, they are committed to showing the truth as they know it to be.”

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

TR EXTRA

THE MUSIC, THE MESSAGE AND MESSIAEN--The Stones River Chamber Players, an ensemble-in-residence at MTSU, will open its 2009-2010 season with Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Oct. 26, in the Hinton Music Hall of MTSU’s Wright Music Building. Faculty performers will include Andrea Dawson (violin), Todd Waldecker (clarinet), Xiao-Fan Zhang (cello) and Leopoldo Erice (piano). Michael Linton, music theory and composition professor, will serve as commentator for the concert. Linton says Messiaen wrote Quartet for the End of Time when he was in a POW camp and was performed first by the composer and fellow inmates before an audience of prisoners and guards. “It is a piece that carries with it none of the smoke of war but in every measure is lighted by the joy of transcendence,” says Linton. This event is free and open to the public. Contact the School of Music at 615-898-2493 or go to www.mtsumusic.com.

YOU ALWAYS HURT THE ONE YOU LOVE— The Department of Health and Human Performance and Student Health Services will co-host the 8th Annual Tunnel of Terror from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, October 26, in MTSU’s James Union Building. The tunnel is a sexually transmitted infection education event for all students, faculty, and staff. Since two-thirds of all STIs occur in 16-24 year olds, this is a great opportunity to educate students on how to protect themselves from becoming infected. Classes are welcome. It is a self-guided event so participants can move through as slowly or as quickly as they like. For more information, contact Casie Higginbotham at 615-904-8274 or chigginb@mtsu.edu.

I WANT TO PLAY, TOO!--Dr. Dan Gould, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University (MSU) and Director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at MSU, will speak at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 27, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Gould’s topic will be “The Professionalization of Youth Sports: Implications for Involvement and Youth Development.” Gould has served as a consultant to the U.S. Ski Team, NASCAR pit crews and drivers, professional tennis players, and numerous Olympic athletes. This event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by the MTSU-based Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth. Contact Dr. Don Morgan at 615-898-5549 or dmorgan@mtsu.edu.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Don’t read my shirt! I’ll get in trouble!

School administrators and teachers are waiting to see if the U.S. Supreme Court takes up a Texas case that could resolve dress code controversies across the country. It started in 2007 when sophomore Pete Palmer of Waxahachie was sent home for wearing T-shirts that said “San Diego” and “John Edwards for President 08.” The school dress code prohibited apparel that bore printed messages. Palmer challenged the dress code in court. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that the strict standard of United States v. O’Brien (1968) must be used to judge this free speech issue. David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and First Amendment Center scholar, says, “Under the O’Brien test, a regulation is constitutional if it furthers a substantial government interest, the government’s interest is unrelated to the suppression of free expression and the incidental restrictions on free speech are no more than are necessary to further the government’s interest.”

Contact Hudson at 615-727-1342.
dhudson@fac.org

The music, the message and Messiaen

The Stones River Chamber Players, an ensemble-in-residence at MTSU, will open its 2009-2010 season with Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, in the Hinton Music Hall of MTSU’s Wright Music Building. Faculty performers will include Andrea Dawson (violin), Todd Waldecker (clarinet), Xiao-Fan Zhang (cello) and Leopoldo Erice (piano). Michael Linton, music theory and composition professor, will serve as commentator for the concert. Linton says Messiaen wrote Quartet for the End of Time when he was in a POW camp and was performed first by the composer and fellow inmates before an audience of prisoners and guards. “It is a piece that carries with it none of the smoke of war but in every measure is lighted by the joy of transcendence,” says Linton. This event is free and open to the public.

Contact the School of Music at 615-898-2493 or go to www.mtsumusic.com.

Give me a shot with a latte chaser.

State and local governments are being pressured to crack down on energy drinks that combine caffeine and alcohol. What could be the adverse health consequences of mixing booze and caffeine? Dr. Doug Winborn, health and human performance, says, “Alcohol is a depressant; caffeine, a stimulant. So the pharmacological effect is something of a confusion. Alcohol is consumed for one effect and caffeine produces the opposite effect. Result: a wide awake drunk! …This is nothing new since there are people who consume alcohol along with cocaine and other illicit stimulants. The ’safety’ is found in the legal status of caffeine - less likelihood of arrest for possession of a scheduled narcotic.”

Contact Winborn at 615-898-5110.
jwinborn@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

YOU ALWAYS HURT THE ONE YOU LOVE— The Department of Health and Human Performance and Student Health Services will co-host the 8th Annual Tunnel of Terror from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, October 26, in MTSU’s James Union Building. The tunnel is a sexually transmitted infection education event for all students, faculty, and staff. Since two-thirds of all STIs occur in 16-24 year olds, this is a great opportunity to educate students on how to protect themselves from becoming infected. Classes are welcome. It is a self-guided event so participants can move through as slowly or as quickly as they like. For more information, contact Casie Higginbotham at 615-904-8274 or chigginb@mtsu.edu.

DYNASTY AMONG THE DUNES--The Almoravids emerged from a nomadic life in the Sahara to establish a dynasty that encompassed almost all of the territory from the Senegal River in West Africa to the Ebro River in Spain. Their story is full of colorful characters, cultural development, military conquests, and historical import. Looming over it all is Abd Allah Ibn Yasin, the dynamic preacher who instilled in the Almoravids an appreciation for Islam on cultural, moral and political levels. Dr. Ron Messier, professor emeritus of history and former director of the MTSU Honors Program, will talk about his forthcoming book on the Almoravids at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Oct. 25, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

I WANT TO PLAY, TOO!--Dr. Dan Gould, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University (MSU) and Director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at MSU, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Gould’s topic will be “The Professionalization of Youth Sports: Implications for Involvement and Youth Development.” Gould has served as a consultant to the U.S. Ski Team, NASCAR pit crews and drivers, professional tennis players, and numerous Olympic athletes. This event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by the MTSU-based Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth. Contact Dr. Don Morgan at 615-898-5549 or dmorgan@mtsu.edu.

HEAR IT NOW.--New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready news stories are on the Web at www.mtsunews.com. Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Linda Hooper, principal of Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tenn., talks about the Paper Clip Project. Hooper will explain this unique educational endeavor at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 24, at the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference. On Audio Clips, Hooper also discusses Holocaust education and how to express the gravity and the depth of this calamitous episode of history to children. Additionally, Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, talks about U.S. and international efforts to deal with Iran in light of its uranium enrichment efforts and the potential threat they pose to the world. Contact Audio Clips Producer Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW I’M FOUND.--In conjunction with the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference, MTSU Theatre and Dance presents “Dear Finder” through tomorrow, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. This performance unearths many truths about the past and the present. Featuring a series of monologues from the letters and journals of actual Holocaust survivors, “Dear Finder” shows a new perspective of this tragic period while also illustrating a connection between their experiences and contemporary incidents of racial genocide. Lobby doors open and ticket sales begin one hour prior to the performance. Seating begins 30 minutes prior to the performance. Visa, MasterCard, and cash are accepted. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $5 for MTSU faculty and staff and K-12 students, and free for MTSU students with a valid ID. Limit one per student. Call 615-494-8810 for more information.

FASCINATING RHYTHM—Pinpoint synchronization, dynamic themes and entertaining costumes will be in evidence when the Office of Greek Affairs, the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and the National Pan-Hellenic Council present their Step Show at 7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 23, in Murphy Center. Teams from MTSU fraternities and sororities will compete for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place with an additional $500 awarded for the best overall performance. “I like it because it represents our African-American heritage,” says organizing co-chair Ashlee Gray. “I take pride in telling our story through step dancing.” Admission is $10 in advance at the Murphy Center ticket office or $15 on the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted. For more information, contact Angela King at 615-898-5812 or Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@mtsu.edu.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“The very rich are different from you and me.”—F. Scott Fitzgerald

Maybe there’s at least one way the rich are like people in other economic classes. A recent study by Harris Interactive finds that more people with incomes between $100,000 and $149,999 use coupons than people with incomes below $100,000. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says, “Marketers targeting affluent segments should realize that just because these customers have more money does not mean they are less interested in saving money or receiving added benefits via coupon offers. It seems there is greater potential in targeting this audience with coupons in terms of coupon redemption as well as buying power. In particular, these consumers look to the Web for incentives to buy. Affluents are affluent for a reason: they understand spending less money than you take in builds wealth.”

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

Weaving an Afghan

NATO defense ministers are meeting today in Bratislava, Slovakia, to talk about the ongoing war in Afghanistan and President Obama’s plans for a new missile defense system in Europe. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is expected to brief his counterparts about a call for more troops on the part of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan. Dr. Sean Foley, history professor and Middle East expert, says, “There are serious questions about whether there is the political will in the United States in either party to continue to support operations in Afghanistan without some clear definition as to what’s going on. And, indeed, in terms of troops to succeed in a strategy, it’s very difficult to see how you can control a country that’s that large with that type of geography with the type of troops we’re talking about.”

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

Dynasty among the dunes

The Almoravids emerged from a nomadic life in the Sahara to establish a dynasty that encompassed almost all of the territory from the Senegal River in West Africa to the Ebro River in Spain. Their story is full of colorful characters, cultural development, military conquests, and historical import. Looming over it all is Abd Allah Ibn Yasin, the dynamic preacher who instilled in the Almoravids an appreciation for Islam on cultural, moral and political levels. Dr. Ron Messier, professor emeritus of history and former director of the MTSU Honors Program, will talk about his forthcoming book on the Almoravids at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Oct. 25, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).

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

TR EXTRA

SIX FEET UNDER--“Historic Cemeteries of Rutherford County” will be the focus of the installment of the 2009 Fall Community Heritage Lecture Series starting at 7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 22, at the Heritage Center, 225 W. College St. in Murfreesboro. Dr. Stacey Graham, research professor at MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation, will discuss selected early cemeteries found in the county. “Cemeteries tell the story of a region and its people if you know how to ‘read’ them,” says Graham. “These essential resources contribute to the history and culture of Rutherford County—from the early settlement period to the Civil War and Reconstruction and to the modern era.” This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013 or heritage_center@bellsouth.net.

I WANT TO PLAY, TOO!--Dr. Dan Gould, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University (MSU) and Director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at MSU, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Gould’s topic will be “The Professionalization of Youth Sports: Implications for Involvement and Youth Development.” Gould has served as a consultant to the U.S. Ski Team, NASCAR pit crews and drivers, professional tennis players, and numerous Olympic athletes. This event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by the MTSU-based Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth. Contact Dr. Don Morgan at 615-898-5549 or dmorgan@mtsu.edu.

HEAR IT NOW.--New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready news stories are on the Web at www.mtsunews.com. Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Linda Hooper, principal of Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tenn., talks about the Paper Clip Project. Hooper will explain this unique educational endeavor at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference. On Audio Clips, Hooper also discusses Holocaust education and how to express the gravity and the depth of this calamitous episode of history to children. Additionally, Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, talks about U.S. and international efforts to deal with Iran in light of its uranium enrichment efforts and the potential threat they pose to the world. Contact Audio Clips Producer Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW I’M FOUND.--In conjunction with the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference, MTSU Theatre and Dance presents “Dear Finder” today, Oct. 22, through Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. This performance unearths many truths about the past and the present. Featuring a series of monologues from the letters and journals of actual Holocaust survivors, “Dear Finder” shows a new perspective of this tragic period while also illustrating a connection between their experiences and contemporary incidents of racial genocide. Lobby doors open and ticket sales begin one hour prior to the performance. Seating begins 30 minutes prior to the performance. Visa, MasterCard, and cash are accepted. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $5 for MTSU faculty and staff and K-12 students, and free for MTSU students with a valid ID. Limit one per student. Call 615-494-8810 for more information.

FASCINATING RHYTHM—Pinpoint synchronization, dynamic themes and entertaining costumes will be in evidence when the Office of Greek Affairs, the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and the National Pan-Hellenic Council present their Step Show at 7 p.m., tomorrow, Oct. 23, in Murphy Center. Teams from MTSU fraternities and sororities will compete for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place with an additional $500 awarded for the best overall performance. “I like it because it represents our African-American heritage,” says organizing co-chair Ashlee Gray. “I take pride in telling our story through step dancing.” Admission is $10 in advance at the Murphy Center ticket office or $15 on the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted. For more information, contact Angela King at 615-898-5812 or Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.

VIEWS YOU CAN PERUSE--The Todd Gallery at MTSU is hosting a joint exhibit of artworks by Steve Prince and Boris Zakic through today, Oct. 22. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, says of Prince’s works, “Steve richly embeds layers of symbolism, cultural icons and biblical references in his work. He deals in themes of social and racial justice and visually explores a biblical response to the problems consuming today’s urban communities. Of Zakic, Snyder says, “A constant theme in his paintings is the integration of text, usually a single word often represented as a figure. He believes that words have no intrinsic meaning—they function as indicators with layers of possible meaning. He also signifies images, but not by the words generally associated with them.” The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on state and university holidays. Admission is always free. Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@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 today, 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.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Me, myself and I

How do you define your “self?” Some people define it as the body. Others define it as the soul. Others say it is one’s ego or individuality. Dr. Phil Oliver, philosophy, says, “Buddhists, for example, say the self is a construction built of relations. Take those away and literally nothing’s left. Others agree that the notion of a substantial self is illusory, thus disagreeing with (Rene) Descartes and his res cogitans. The ‘thinking thing’ may be nothing at all. But if self-hood is a process, does that make it unreal? Do you then vanish in a puff of high redefinition?” If one is partly defined by relations with others, what are you if you’re alone? “If we’re essentially constituted by our relations, we need relations in order to be ourselves,” says Oliver. “I, paradoxically, am not, then, just me.”

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

Six feet under

“Historic Cemeteries of Rutherford County” will be the focus of the installment of the 2009 Fall Community Heritage Lecture Series starting at 7 p.m. tomorrow night, Oct. 22, at the Heritage Center, 225 W. College St. in Murfreesboro. Dr. Stacey Graham, research professor at MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation, will discuss selected early cemeteries found in the county. “Cemeteries tell the story of a region and its people if you know how to ‘read’ them,” says Graham. “These essential resources contribute to the history and culture of Rutherford County—from the early settlement period to the Civil War and Reconstruction and to the modern era.” This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Heritage Center at 615-217-8013.
heritage_center@bellsouth.net

It just doesn’t add up.

The latest report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress finds that fourth-graders had not increased in learning since the last time the group's math test was given in 2007. Students had made gains on every such test given since1990 prior to this latest test. Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says, “Last fall, the Metropolitan Nashville school district decided to stop teaching algebra to seventh-grade students who were ready for advanced mathematical education. As a point of reference, on my bookshelf there is a middle-school textbook from Japan where the quantum theory of atomic structure is introduced—quantitatively. If you are like me, you might be wondering what the school board planned to replace the advanced mathematics instruction with.”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

I WANT TO PLAY, TOO!--Dr. Dan Gould, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University (MSU) and Director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at MSU, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Gould’s topic will be “The Professionalization of Youth Sports: Implications for Involvement and Youth Development.” Gould has served as a consultant to the U.S. Ski Team, NASCAR pit crews and drivers, professional tennis players, and numerous Olympic athletes. This event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by the MTSU-based Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth. Contact Dr. Don Morgan at 615-898-5549 or dmorgan@mtsu.edu.

HEAR IT NOW.--New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready news stories are on the Web at www.mtsunews.com. Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Linda Hooper, principal of Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tenn., talks about the Paper Clip Project. Hooper will explain this unique educational endeavor at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference. On Audio Clips, Hooper also discusses Holocaust education and how to express the gravity and the depth of this calamitous episode of history to children. Additionally, Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, talks about U.S. and international efforts to deal with Iran in light of its uranium enrichment efforts and the potential threat they pose to the world. Contact Audio Clips Producer Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW I’M FOUND.--In conjunction with the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference, MTSU Theatre and Dance presents “Dear Finder” tomorrow, Oct. 22, through Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. This performance unearths many truths about the past and the present. Featuring a series of monologues from the letters and journals of actual Holocaust survivors, “Dear Finder” shows a new perspective of this tragic period while also illustrating a connection between their experiences and contemporary incidents of racial genocide. Lobby doors open and ticket sales begin one hour prior to the performance. Seating begins 30 minutes prior to the performance. Visa, MasterCard, and cash are accepted. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $5 for MTSU faculty and staff and K-12 students, and free for MTSU students with a valid ID. Limit one per student. Call 615-494-8810 for more information.

FASCINATING RHYTHM—Pinpoint synchronization, dynamic themes and entertaining costumes will be in evidence when the Office of Greek Affairs, the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and the National Pan-Hellenic Council present their Step Show at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in Murphy Center. Teams from MTSU fraternities and sororities will compete for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place with an additional $500 awarded for the best overall performance. “I like it because it represents our African-American heritage,” says organizing co-chair Ashlee Gray. “I take pride in telling our story through step dancing.” Admission is $10 in advance at the Murphy Center ticket office or $15 on the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted. For more information, contact Angela King at 615-898-5812 or Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.

VIEWS YOU CAN PERUSE--The Todd Gallery at MTSU is hosting a joint exhibit of artworks by Steve Prince and Boris Zakic through tomorrow, Oct. 22. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, says of Prince’s works, “Steve richly embeds layers of symbolism, cultural icons and biblical references in his work. He deals in themes of social and racial justice and visually explores a biblical response to the problems consuming today’s urban communities. Of Zakic, Snyder says, “A constant theme in his paintings is the integration of text, usually a single word often represented as a figure. He believes that words have no intrinsic meaning—they function as indicators with layers of possible meaning. He also signifies images, but not by the words generally associated with them.” The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on state and university holidays. Admission is always free. Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@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 tomorrow, 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, October 20, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

I know what you did last summer.

Should law enforcement agencies keep closer tabs on people like James von Brunn, the self-defined white supremacist accused of killing a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in June, before they commit violent acts? Do they have the resources to do so? Would it be a violation of civil liberties to do so? Carter F. Smith, criminal justice administration, says law enforcement officials face certain restrictions, however, “There are private organizations that are not restricted by these prohibitions. … They often coordinate with government investigators and provide background and alerts in these cases. These serve as an adequate supplement for gathering initial information, but often draw a tremendous amount of criticism (or at least negative attention) from the media.”

Contact Smith at 615-424-8375.
carterfsmith@gmail.com

I want to play, too!

Dr. Dan Gould, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University (MSU) and Director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at MSU, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Gould’s topic will be “The Professionalization of Youth Sports: Implications for Involvement and Youth Development.” Gould has served as a consultant to the U.S. Ski Team, NASCAR pit crews and drivers, professional tennis players, and numerous Olympic athletes. This event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by the MTSU-based Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth.

Contact Dr. Don Morgan at 615-898-5549.
dmorgan@mtsu.edu

“We’re eyeball to eyeball and I think the other fellow just blinked.”—U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk

This Thursday, Oct. 22, will mark the 47th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the standoff in which the United States embarked on a quarantine of Cuba because the Soviet Union had positioned nuclear missiles there. At time, there were only three television networks. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says, “For the next two weeks we lived with the threat, but live coverage was non-existent, satellite transmission a long way in the future, and reporters were much more willing to simply take a government handout. … It’s been said that the media helped lose Vietnam and win Desert Storm. But 47 years ago we were in the dark, and those flickering black-and-white images did little to allay our fears that doomsday might very well be upon us.”

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

TR EXTRA

HEAR IT NOW.--New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready news stories are on the Web at www.mtsunews.com. Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Linda Hooper, principal of Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tenn., talks about the Paper Clip Project. Hooper will explain this unique educational endeavor at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference. On Audio Clips, Hooper also discusses Holocaust education and how to express the gravity and the depth of this calamitous episode of history to children. Additionally, Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, talks about U.S. and international efforts to deal with Iran in light of its uranium enrichment efforts and the potential threat they pose to the world. Contact Audio Clips Producer Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW I’M FOUND.--In conjunction with the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference, MTSU Theatre and Dance presents “Dear Finder” Oct. 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. at Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. This performance unearths many truths about the past and the present. Featuring a series of monologues from the letters and journals of actual Holocaust survivors, “Dear Finder” shows a new perspective of this tragic period while also illustrating a connection between their experiences and contemporary incidents of racial genocide. Lobby doors open and ticket sales begin one hour prior to the performance. Seating begins 30 minutes prior to the performance. Visa, MasterCard, and cash are accepted. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $5 for MTSU faculty and staff and K-12 students, and free for MTSU students with a valid ID. Limit one per student. Call 615-494-8810 for more information.

FASCINATING RHYTHM—Pinpoint synchronization, dynamic themes and entertaining costumes will be in evidence when the Office of Greek Affairs, the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and the National Pan-Hellenic Council present their Step Show at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in Murphy Center. Teams from MTSU fraternities and sororities will compete for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place with an additional $500 awarded for the best overall performance. “I like it because it represents our African-American heritage,” says organizing co-chair Ashlee Gray. “I take pride in telling our story through step dancing.” Admission is $10 in advance at the Murphy Center ticket office or $15 on the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted. For more information, contact Angela King at 615-898-5812 or Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.

VIEWS YOU CAN PERUSE--The Todd Gallery at MTSU is hosting a joint exhibit of artworks by Steve Prince and Boris Zakic through Oct. 22. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, says of Prince’s works, “Steve richly embeds layers of symbolism, cultural icons and biblical references in his work. He deals in themes of social and racial justice and visually explores a biblical response to the problems consuming today’s urban communities. Of Zakic, Snyder says, “A constant theme in his paintings is the integration of text, usually a single word often represented as a figure. He believes that words have no intrinsic meaning—they function as indicators with layers of possible meaning. He also signifies images, but not by the words generally associated with them.” The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on state and university holidays. Admission is always free. Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@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.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

MTSU Poll—A shot in the park?

Despite the passage of the so-called “guns-in-bars” law by the Tennessee General Assembly, 80 percent of state residents are against allowing permit holders to carry handguns in bars. Sixty percent oppose handguns in restaurants. Fifty-four percent oppose handguns in parks. These are some of the results of the fall MTSU Poll. Dr. Jason Reineke, associate director of the poll, says, “As one might expect, Tennesseans who have handguns—and especially who have permits to carry them—express the most support for measures allowing handguns to be carried in these place. But there are limits even to their support. Among those who have a handgun in their household, 53 percent favor allowing handguns to be carried in parks; 49 percent, in restaurants, and 23 percent in bars.”

Contact Reineke at 615-494-7746.
jreineke@mtsu.edu

MTSU Poll—Oh, won’t you stay just a little bit longer?

Ask Tennesseans how they feel about dealing with illegal immigrants and the answers are mixed. According to the latest MTSU Poll, 43 percent say they should be required to leave the country. Twenty-nine percent say they should be allowed to stay and apply for U.S. citizenship. Twenty-two percent say they should be allowed to stay as temporary guest workers ineligible for U.S. citizenship. Dr. Ken Blake, poll director, says, “Most Republicans (54 percent) favor making illegal immigrants leave the country. Democrats and independents are more evenly distributed across the three options with independents most closely resembling the overall state percentages and Democrats mostly polarized between the deportation and citizenship options. Behind the obvious political party divisions, race becomes important with whites more supportive than non-whites of deportation.”

Contact Blake at 615-210-6187.
kblake@mtsu.edu

MTSU Poll—Can you feel the love tonight?

While national polls indicate that approval ratings for the president and Congress are slipping, Tennesseans are a little more approving of their chief executive and legislature. The latest MTSU Poll shows Gov. Phil Bredesen’s approval rating up from 52 percent last spring to 56 percent now. Dr. Bob Wyatt, director of communication research, says, “This rise in approval may be due to brightening economic prospects in the state. … Meanwhile the proportion of Tennesseans who approve of the state legislatures’ job performance is back up to 38 percent, perhaps again reflecting a brighter outlook. Legislative approval stood at 39 percent in fall 2008 but slid to 34 (percent) last spring.”

Contact Wyatt at 615-477-8389.
rwyatt@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

HEAR IT NOW.--New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready news stories are on the Web at www.mtsunews.com. Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Linda Hooper, principal of Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tenn., talks about the Paper Clip Project. Hooper will explain this unique educational endeavor at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference. On Audio Clips, Hooper also discusses Holocaust education and how to express the gravity and the depth of this calamitous episode of history to children. Additionally, Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, talks about U.S. and international efforts to deal with Iran in light of its uranium enrichment efforts and the potential threat they pose to the world. Contact Audio Clips Producer Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW I’M FOUND.--In conjunction with the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference, MTSU Theatre and Dance presents “Dear Finder” Oct. 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. at Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. This performance unearths many truths about the past and the present. Featuring a series of monologues from the letters and journals of actual Holocaust survivors, “Dear Finder” shows a new perspective of this tragic period while also illustrating a connection between their experiences and contemporary incidents of racial genocide. Lobby doors open and ticket sales begin one hour prior to the performance. Seating begins 30 minutes prior to the performance. Visa, MasterCard, and cash are accepted. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $5 for MTSU faculty and staff and K-12 students, and free for MTSU students with a valid ID. Limit one per student. Call 615-494-8810 for more information.

FASCINATING RHYTHM—Pinpoint synchronization, dynamic themes and entertaining costumes will be in evidence when the Office of Greek Affairs, the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and the National Pan-Hellenic Council present their Step Show at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in Murphy Center. Teams from MTSU fraternities and sororities will compete for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place with an additional $500 awarded for the best overall performance. “I like it because it represents our African-American heritage,” says organizing co-chair Ashlee Gray. “I take pride in telling our story through step dancing.” Admission is $10 in advance at the Murphy Center ticket office or $15 on the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted. For more information, contact Angela King at 615-898-5812 or Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.

VIEWS YOU CAN PERUSE--The Todd Gallery at MTSU is hosting a joint exhibit of artworks by Steve Prince and Boris Zakic through Oct. 22. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, says of Prince’s works, “Steve richly embeds layers of symbolism, cultural icons and biblical references in his work. He deals in themes of social and racial justice and visually explores a biblical response to the problems consuming today’s urban communities. Of Zakic, Snyder says, “A constant theme in his paintings is the integration of text, usually a single word often represented as a figure. He believes that words have no intrinsic meaning—they function as indicators with layers of possible meaning. He also signifies images, but not by the words generally associated with them.” The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on state and university holidays. Admission is always free. Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@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.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Never forget

Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and world-renowned Holocaust expert, will be the guest on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Oct. 18, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Weinberg is slated to speak on the topic “Roosevelt, Truman and the Holocaust” at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference. The author of 10 books, Weinberg’s A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II received three major awards for scholarship, was a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection, and is widely considered to be the best single-volume history of the war.

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

Hear it now.

New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready news stories are on the Web at www.mtsunews.com. Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Linda Hooper, principal of Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tenn., talks about the Paper Clip Project. Hooper will explain this unique educational endeavor at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference. On Audio Clips, Hooper also discusses Holocaust education and how to express the gravity and the depth of this calamitous episode of history to children. Additionally, Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, talks about U.S. and international efforts to deal with Iran in light of its uranium enrichment efforts and the potential threat they pose to the world.

Contact Audio Clips Producer Gina Logue at 615-898-5081.
gklogue@mtsu.edu

I once was lost, but now I’m found.

In conjunction with the 2009 MTSU International Holocaust Studies Conference, MTSU Theatre and Dance presents “Dear Finder” Oct. 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. at Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. This performance unearths many truths about the past and the present. Featuring a series of monologues from the letters and journals of actual Holocaust survivors, “Dear Finder” shows a new perspective of this tragic period while also illustrating a connection between their experiences and contemporary incidents of racial genocide. Lobby doors open and ticket sales begin one hour prior to the performance. Seating begins 30 minutes prior to the performance. Visa, MasterCard, and cash are accepted. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $5 for MTSU faculty and staff and K-12 students, and free for MTSU students with a valid ID. Limit one per student.

Call 615-494-8810 for more information.

TR EXTRA

FASCINATING RHYTHM—Pinpoint synchronization, dynamic themes and entertaining costumes will be in evidence when the Office of Greek Affairs, the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and the National Pan-Hellenic Council present their Step Show at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in Murphy Center. Teams from MTSU fraternities and sororities will compete for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place with an additional $500 awarded for the best overall performance. “I like it because it represents our African-American heritage,” says organizing co-chair Ashlee Gray. “I take pride in telling our story through step dancing.” Admission is $10 in advance at the Murphy Center ticket office or $15 on the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted. For more information, contact Angela King at 615-898-5812 or Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.

VIEWS YOU CAN PERUSE--The Todd Gallery at MTSU is hosting a joint exhibit of artworks by Steve Prince and Boris Zakic through Oct. 22. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, says of Prince’s works, “Steve richly embeds layers of symbolism, cultural icons and biblical references in his work. He deals in themes of social and racial justice and visually explores a biblical response to the problems consuming today’s urban communities. Of Zakic, Snyder says, “A constant theme in his paintings is the integration of text, usually a single word often represented as a figure. He believes that words have no intrinsic meaning—they function as indicators with layers of possible meaning. He also signifies images, but not by the words generally associated with them.” The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on state and university holidays. Admission is always free. Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.
ROCKS AROUND THE CLOCK--MTSU’s Department of Geosciences sponsors the campus celebration of Earth Science Week this week with a diverse array of activities that are free and open to the public. Undergraduate geosciences students will provide free geochemical analyses of drinking water for the campus community for a final day today, Oct. 16. At 1:50 p.m. today in Room 452 of Kirksey Old Main, Dr. Jonathan Gilligan of Vanderbilt University will discuss the scientific and human impact of climate change. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Abolins at 615-594-4210 or mabolins@mtsu.edu.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@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.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

MTSU Poll—No consensus on health care

Tennesseans don’t find it any easier to agree on health care reform than Congress does, according to the latest MTSU Poll. Sixty-three percent consider the issue “very important” or “extremely important.” But 48 percent say they oppose the current legislative proposals, 36 percent support the proposals, and 17 percent are undecided. Dr. Ken Blake, poll director, says, “As they are at the national level, these attitudes are highly partisan here in Tennessee, with Democrats far more likely than Republicans both to support the current health reform proposals generally and to favor specifics like a government-created health insurance plan and a requirement that all Americans buy health insurance. Independents tend to land between the two and also tend to be more undecided.”

Contact Blake at 615-210-6187.
kblake@mtsu.edu

MTSU Poll—No shortage of party poopers

The latest MTSU Poll shows that neither major political party can register a plurality of people who will identify themselves as members. Twenty-eight percent self-identify as Democrats; 32 percent identify themselves as Republicans; 36 percent say they are independent. But one area in which partisanship rears its head is in opinions of President Obama’s performance. Dr. Jason Reineke, assistant director of the poll, says, “Consistent with the results of the spring poll, fall approval breaks starkly along party lines: 80 percent of Tennessee’s Democrats approve of Obama, while 84 percent of Republicans disapprove. A plurality of 49 percent independents approve of Obama, while 43 percent disapprove.”

Contact Reineke at 615-494-7746.
jreineke@mtsu.edu

MTSU Poll—No recession relief

Seventy-one percent of respondents to the latest MTSU Poll say the recession has hurt them financially. That’s an increase from 66 percent in the spring survey. Dr. Bob Wyatt, MTSU Director of Communication Research, says, “Income is the best predictor of being hurt by the recession with 82 percent of Tennesseans with a family income of $15,000 or less hurting, followed by 78 percent with incomes between $15,000 and $40,000, and 68 percent making more than $40,000. About equal percentages say the recession has hurt a great deal (50 percent) or only some (49 percent). Spring figures were 52 percent hurting a great deal and 46 percent only some, a statistically insignificant difference.”

Contact Wyatt at 615-477-8389.
rwyatt@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

FASCINATING RHYTHM—Pinpoint synchronization, dynamic themes and entertaining costumes will be in evidence when the Office of Greek Affairs, the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and the National Pan-Hellenic Council present their Step Show at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in Murphy Center. Teams from MTSU fraternities and sororities will compete for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place with an additional $500 awarded for the best overall performance. “I like it because it represents our African-American heritage,” says organizing co-chair Ashlee Gray. “I take pride in telling our story through step dancing.” Admission is $10 in advance at the Murphy Center ticket office or $15 on the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted. For more information, contact Angela King at 615-898-5812 or Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.

VIEWS YOU CAN PERUSE--The Todd Gallery at MTSU is hosting a joint exhibit of artworks by Steve Prince and Boris Zakic through Oct. 22. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, says of Prince’s works, “Steve richly embeds layers of symbolism, cultural icons and biblical references in his work. He deals in themes of social and racial justice and visually explores a biblical response to the problems consuming today’s urban communities. Of Zakic, Snyder says, “A constant theme in his paintings is the integration of text, usually a single word often represented as a figure. He believes that words have no intrinsic meaning—they function as indicators with layers of possible meaning. He also signifies images, but not by the words generally associated with them.” The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on state and university holidays. Admission is always free. Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

ROCKS AROUND THE CLOCK--MTSU’s Department of Geosciences will sponsor the campus celebration of Earth Science Week with a diverse array of activities that are free and open to the public this week. Undergraduate geosciences students will provide free geochemical analyses of drinking water for the campus community throughout the week. Dr. Melissa Lobegeier and Heather Volker will present “Geoscience as Green Science” at 4:20 p.m. today, Oct. 15, in Room 452 of Kirksey Old Main. At 1:50 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 16, in Room 452 of Kirksey Old Main, Dr. Jonathan Gilligan of Vanderbilt University will discuss the scientific and human impact of climate change. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Abolins at 615-594-4210 or mabolins@mtsu.edu.

THE TOOTH, THE WHOLE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH--Dr. Lowell Levine, DDS, one of the top dental experts in the United States, will deliver a lecture at 7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 15, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Levine, a forensic odontologist, is director of the New York State Police Medicolegal Investigations Unit. He has been a consultant to the POW/MIA Accounting Command—Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. Dr. Levine also was a forensic consultant to the U.S. House of Representative’s Select Committee on Assassination Investigation regarding the death of President John F. Kennedy. He testified in the case of serial killer Ted Bundy, identified the remains of Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, identified the remains of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and was a member of the team of scientists who examined the remains of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family. This event, presented by MTSU’s Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE), is free and open to the public. Contact FIRE at 615-494-7896 or rsnow@mtsu.edu.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@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.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Trial and no error

Over the Oct. 9-11 weekend, two MTSU mock trial teams distinguished themselves in the year’s first competition at St. Louis University among a field of 34 teams from eight states. One MTSU team led by Austin Purvis, a senior political science major from Memphis, shared the winning record of seven wins and a tie with a team from Washington University in St. Louis, while a second MTSU team led by Daniel Vaughan, a senior pre-law major from Mt. Juliet, came in third with a record of six wins, one loss and a tie. “This is MTSU’s strongest start in recent years,” says Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College at MTSU and the team’s co-coach. “We have a great mix of new and returning students in our mock trial program this year and hope this is only the first of many future wins.”

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

Fascinating rhythm

Pinpoint synchronization, dynamic themes and entertaining costumes will be in evidence when the Office of Greek Affairs, the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and the National Pan-Hellenic Council present their Step Show at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in Murphy Center. Teams from MTSU fraternities and sororities will compete for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place with an additional $500 awarded for the best overall performance. “I like it because it represents our African-American heritage,” says organizing co-chair Ashlee gray. “I take pride in telling our story through step dancing.” Admission is $10 in advance at the Murphy Center ticket office or $15 on the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted.

For more information, contact Angela King at 615-898-5812 or Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.

Views you can peruse

The Todd Gallery at MTSU is hosting a joint exhibit of artworks by Steve Prince and Boris Zakic through Oct. 22. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, says of Prince’s works, “Steve richly embeds layers of symbolism, cultural icons and biblical references in his work. He deals in themes of social and racial justice and visually explores a biblical response to the problems consuming today’s urban communities. Of Zakic, Snyder says, “A constant theme in his paintings is the integration of text, usually a single word often represented as a figure. He believes that words have no intrinsic meaning—they function as indicators with layers of possible meaning. He also signifies images, but not by the words generally associated with them.” The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on state and university holidays. Admission is always free.

Contact Snyder at 615-898-5653.
esnyder@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

ROCKS AROUND THE CLOCK--MTSU’s Department of Geosciences will sponsor the campus celebration of Earth Science Week with a diverse array of activities that are free and open to the public this week. Undergraduate geosciences students will provide free geochemical analyses of drinking water for the campus community throughout the week. Today, Oct. 14, Dr. Mark Abolins will host a hands-on event titled “Understanding the Environment with GPS (Global Positioning System) and Satellite Images.” Dr. Melissa Lobegeier and Heather Volker will present “Geoscience as Green Science” at 4:20 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 15, in Room 452 of Kirksey Old Main. At 1:50 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, in Room 452 of Kirksey Old Main, Dr. Jonathan Gilligan of Vanderbilt University will discuss the scientific and human impact of climate change. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Abolins at 615-594-4210 or mabolins@mtsu.edu.

THE TOOTH, THE WHOLE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH--Dr. Lowell Levine, DDS, one of the top dental experts in the United States, will deliver a lecture at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 15, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Levine, a forensic odontologist, is director of the New York State Police Medicolegal Investigations Unit. He has been a consultant to the POW/MIA Accounting Command—Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. Dr. Levine also was a forensic consultant to the U.S. House of Representative’s Select Committee on Assassination Investigation regarding the death of President John F. Kennedy. He testified in the case of serial killer Ted Bundy, identified the remains of Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, identified the remains of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and was a member of the team of scientists who examined the remains of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family. This event, presented by MTSU’s Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE), is free and open to the public. Contact FIRE at 615-494-7896 or rsnow@mtsu.edu.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@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.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Talk is cheap.

On a recent driving trip from Murfreesboro to Buffalo, N.Y., Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, listened to the radio all the way to his destination. He started listening to a local talk radio station and hit “seek” every time the station he was listening to would fade. Each station his radio found was a conservative talk radio station. “But what was particularly interesting was that every one of the hosts was criticizing the media, saying radio, television and newspapers are dominated by liberal commentators and reporters,” says Burriss. “The fact is the conservative message is getting out, and it’s getting out to a lot of people. But what must be discouraging is that during the last election, most people rejected what they had to say. Well, that’s not the same thing as not paying attention or not getting the message at all. People can hear your message loud and clear, but they can still reject it.”

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

“Not to transmit an experience is to betray it.”—Elie Wiesel

The MTSU Holocaust Studies Conference, slated for Oct. 22-24, will bring scholars from all over the world to campus to examine various aspects of one of the greatest tragedies of all time. Dr. Nancy Rupprecht, history professor and conference organizer, writes, “The masses of documents, interview transcripts, filmed and tape-recorded evidence, oral testimony and exhibits gathered for and presented at the (Nuremburg) trials clearly demonstrate the enormity of the crimes committed by German leaders. Most of the materials assembled by both the prosecution and the defense are easily accessible to historians and students of history. Only the most irrational of ideologues can deny the existence of the Holocaust given the masses of documents and other materials collected for the trials and subsequently made public.”

Contact Rupprecht at 615-898-2645.
nrupprec@mtsu.edu

It’s a high fry ball!

MTSU’s baseball team will hold its annual Grand Slam Fish Fry fundraiser at 6 p.m. tonight, Oct. 13, at the Tennessee Livestock Center. The event will feature country fried whole catfish with all the trimmings and authentic Cajun gumbo, as well as hot dogs for the kids. Entertainment will be provided by Russ & Becky Jeffers Country Band from Jack Daniels Distillery. Tickets are $20 at the door. Children six years of age and younger will be admitted free of charge. Tickets are available at the MTSU ticket office located at Gate 1A of Floyd Stadium and the Blue Raider Athletics Association office in Murphy Center. Proceeds benefit the baseball program.

Call 615-898-2210 or 615-898-2450 for more information.

TR EXTRA

ROCKS AROUND THE CLOCK--MTSU’s Department of Geosciences will sponsor the campus celebration of Earth Science Week with a diverse array of activities that are free and open to the public this week. Undergraduate geosciences students will provide free geochemical analyses of drinking water for the campus community throughout the week. Tomorrow, Oct. 14, Dr. Mark Abolins will host a hands-on event titled “Understanding the Environment with GPS (Global Positioning System) and Satellite Images.” Dr. Melissa Lobegeier and Heather Volker will present “Geoscience as Green Science” at 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, in Room 452 of Kirksey Old Main. At 1:50 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, in Room 452 of Kirksey Old Main, Dr. Jonathan Gilligan of Vanderbilt University will discuss the scientific and human impact of climate change. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Abolins at 615-594-4210 or mabolins@mtsu.edu.

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE--L.Y. Marlow, author of Color Me Butterfly, will deliver the keynote speech of Domestic Violence Awareness Month observances at MTSU at 4:30 p.m., today, Oct. 13, in Cantrell Hall of the Tom Jackson Building on the MTSU campus. Doors will open at 4 p.m. A reception and book signing will follow the presentation. Color Me Butterfly, published in 2007, is based on a true story of four generations of mothers and daughters who suffered domestic abuse. Set in Philadelphia and spanning 60 years, the book tells the story of how Eloise, Mattie, Lydia and Treasure found the courage to persevere, each in her own way. Marlow’s appearance is free and open to the public, is presented by the June Anderson Women’s Center and Women in Action, and is sponsored by the Distinguished Lecture Fund. For more information, contact the Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

THE TOOTH, THE WHOLE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH--Dr. Lowell Levine, DDS, one of the top dental experts in the United States, will deliver a lecture at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Levine, a forensic odontologist, is director of the New York State Police Medicolegal Investigations Unit. He has been a consultant to the POW/MIA Accounting Command—Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. Dr. Levine also was a forensic consultant to the U.S. House of Representative’s Select Committee on Assassination Investigation regarding the death of President John F. Kennedy. He testified in the case of serial killer Ted Bundy, identified the remains of Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, identified the remains of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and was a member of the team of scientists who examined the remains of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family. This event, presented by MTSU’s Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE), is free and open to the public. Contact FIRE at 615-494-7896 or rsnow@mtsu.edu.

IT’S FALL, YOU ALL--The October edition of “Middle Tennessee Record” is on the air and on the Web. Featured this month: the MTSU virtual tour, which allows anyone with access to a computer to wander around the campus without actually being there; Camp ENRGY, an innovative way to help children with physical disabilities participate more confidently in home- school- and community-based physical activities; interviews with Dr. Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper, initiator of the Paper Clip Project, two attendees at MTSU’s Holocaust Studies Conference later this month; and a look at True Blue TV through the eyes of host and creator Steven Mizell. To find out where “Middle Tennessee Record” airs in your area, or to watch it online, go to www.mtsunews.com. Contact producer John Lynch at 615-898-2919 or jlynch@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.