Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Hey, Roman, how about a remake of “Lolita?”

The American criminal justice system may have finally caught up with film director Roman Polanski, but Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says he doesn’t lack for sympathy among some of Hollywood’s biggest names. “Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Penelope Cruz and John Landis have called for his (Polanski’s) immediate release,” says Burriss. “Movie producer Harvey Weinstein is trying to rally support for Polanski. … I have to wonder how much support all of these people would give to the average Joe in the street who was accused of drugging and then raping a 13-year-old. My guess is not much. And what kind of overwhelming hubris do these people have, making ‘demands’ of the government of Switzerland (where Polanski was arrested)? These are people who are, for the most part, famous for simply being famous.”

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

When the lights go down in the city

Preliminary figures for July 2009 show slight declines in unemployment in most metropolitan statistical areas in Tennessee. Clarksville’s jobless rate went down from 11.1 percent in June to 10.9 percent, while Memphis remained constant at 10.3 percent. Nashville’s unemployment rate dipped from 10 percent to 9.6 percent. Chattanooga went from 9.7 percent to 9.5 percent, and Knoxville dropped from 9.3 percent to 9 percent. The statewide jobless rate sank from 11.1 percent to 10.8 percent, while the national rate remained at 9.7 percent. Overall unemployment in the nonurban areas dropped from 13.8 percent to 13.4 percent.

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

Let go of my ego!

Some people say the only way to avoid egomania is to acknowledge that you are merely part of a greater world and you cannot exist independent of others. Dr. Phil Oliver, philosophy, says, “This all sounds healthily humbling, but I worry about slipping too far to the other extreme: from overweaning self-aggrandizement to abased self-loathing and misanthropy. The ‘great man/woman’ view of history is hard to shake. How many truly impressive achievements have been notched by people without an assertive sense of self? Our supposedly selfless heroes and humanitarians know very well who they are and what they represent. They wear their benefaction proudly and prominently. Why not?”

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

TR EXTRA

“VIOLENCE IS THE LAST REFUGE OF THE INCOMPETENT.”—SALVOR HARDIN IN ISAAC ASIMOV’S “FOUNDATION” SERIES--October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The June Anderson Women’s Center is making purple ribbons available across the MTSU campus for people to wear. On Monday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Women’s Center will sponsor the Silent Witness Project in the second floor lobby of the Keathley University Center. This exhibit will feature blood red T-shirts displaying true local stories of women, men and children who have been victims of domestic violence. The stories are printed across the busts of the T-shirts. This powerful exhibit promotes peace, healing, education and awareness. The Silent Witness Project is free and open to the public. Contact the June Anderson Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.

ORDER IN THE COURTYARD--Randy O’Brien, director of News and Public Affairs for WMOT-FM, will discuss his first published novel, Judge Fogg, at the 2009 Southern Festival of Books in Nashville. O’Brien will speak from 3-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, in Room 29 of the Legislative Plaza building in downtown Nashville along with fellow authors Scott Pratt and Peggy Ehrhart. Inspired by Shakespeare’s “Othello,” Judge Fogg tells the fictional story of the first African-American criminal court judge in Nashville, his rise to power as a youthful corruption fighter and his downfall. O’Brien will sign copies of his book in the courtyard following the panel discussion. Free and open to the public. Contact O’Brien at 615-898-2800 orrobrien@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.

WHEN SAFETY MEANS MORE THAN TWO POINTS--MTSU’s Student Government Association will host a Blood Bowl in competition with Troy University from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today, Oct. 6, in Room 322 of the Keathley University Center. The Blood Bowl is a contest to see which university can get the most blood donated. To make an appointment in advance, visit www.givelife.org and enter the key word “mtsu19,” or walk in on Tuesday. The winner will be announced during halftime of the MTSU vs. Troy football game in Troy, Ala. For more information, contact Rebecca Cathey at 615-898-2464 or sgaphil@mtsu.edu.

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS--Terrell “TJ” Johnson, the first ex-felon ever hired by the Memphis Police Department, will speak at 6 p.m. tonight, Oct. 6, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. His address is free and open to the public. Incarcerated at the age of 19 for drug trafficking, Johnson was appointed upon his release by then-Mayor Willie Herenton of Memphis to be prevention and intervention coordinator for the city’s Juvenile Violence Abatement Project. Johnson is President/CEO of the Wake-Up youth Foundation and pastor of Wake-Up Ministries in Memphis, as well as pastor of Temple of Faith Deliverance Full Gospel Church in Bolivar. His address is presented as part of the MTSU Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA) Leadership Series. For more information, contact the IDA office at 615-898-5812.

JOIN TOGETHER WITH THE BANDS--Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp, which is held at MTSU each summer, is honored to be a part of the Next Big Nashville Music Festival & Conference. SGRRC will host a showcase at Grimey’s New and Preloved Music, 1604 8th Ave. S. in Nashville tonight, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. featuring Smack Talk and How Cozy! This event is free, family-friendly, and full of games and prizes! For more information, contact SGRCC at 615-849-8140.