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.