Friday, January 29, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

At least no one shouted, “You lie!”

Although delivered with smiles and light humor, President Obama’s State of the Union address Wednesday night was decorated with a few well-placed barbs at some of his detractors. Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College and former chair of the Department of Political Science, says, “The speech was well-delivered, although the audience response was quite partisan and highlights the difficulties Obama now faces without a 60-vote majority in the Senate. Obama’s attack on the Supreme Court’s recent decision on union and corporate campaign spending was particularly sharp and drew obvious displeasure from at least one of the justices. The Republican response, delivered from the Virginia state legislature, highlighted a new face (Gov. Bob McDonnell), but was fairly unspecific as to policies. It’s doubtful that most viewers finished watching Obama’s own speech, much less the speech that followed.”

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

The Nashville numbers

What is the economic outlook for the Nashville area? Dr. David Penn, director of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, presented his analysis at the annual meeting of Forward Sumner in Gallatin on Jan. 27. Penn finds that hard evidence of an improving economy exists in the areas of housing, manufacturing, claims for unemployment insurance and household spending. He states that the recession probably has ended, and the recovery probably has begun. “Job growth locally should be apparent within the next 2-3 months,” Penn writes. However, he adds, “Reducing the unemployment rate below seven percent will require several years of effort.”

Contact Penn at 615-898-2610.
dpenn@mtsu.edu

Applause for the Pleas Award

Dr. Dwight E. Patterson, associate professor of chemistry at MTSU, has been named as the 2010 winner of the John Pleas Faculty Recognition Award as part of the university community’s celebration of Black History Month. A reception in honor of Patterson will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the Tom Jackson Building’s Cantrell Hall on the MTSU campus. Presented since 1996, the Pleas honor is given to a minority faculty member who has made significant contributions to the university and community. He or she must have excelled in research, instruction, publications and/or service to the university. The recipient also must have demonstrated a commitment to MTSU’s African-American students.

Contact Dr. Adonijah Bakari, director of African-American Studies, at 615-898-2536.
abakari@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

KATIE IN HAITI--Katie Erie, a 21-year-old MTSU social work major, was performing Christian mission work at an orphanage in Haiti on Jan. 12 when an earthquake registering 7.0 on the Richter scale rattled the island nation. Erie will talk about that traumatic experience and her hope for the Haitian people at 8 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 31, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Erie, who was working for Bruce Gambrell Ministries of Nashville, had chosen to take a semester off to help the people of the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. She returned safely to the United States a few days after the quake, but in those harrowing moments immediately following the temblor, her parents did not know whether she was dead or alive. For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5018 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

IN UNITY, THERE IS STRENGTH.--The annual Unity Luncheon, a traditional kickoff event for MTSU’s celebration of Black History Month, will be held Wed., Feb. 3, starting at 11 a.m. in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for MTSU students with university ID. The Unity Luncheon recognizes black citizens who have contributed their time and talent for the enrichment and welfare of the entire community and the state of Tennessee. This year’s honorees are Mary McKnight Wade, the first African-American woman to be elected to the Murfreesboro City School Board; Nora L. Clark Waters, a foster parent and member of the Rutherford County Foster Care Association for more than 20 years; and Eugene Ray, Bedford County Mayor. Contact Brenda Wunder at 615-898-2591 for tickets or information or bwunder@mtsu.edu.

CLASSICAL CLASS--John Hill, a professor in MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry, has a special interest in the outcome of the often overlooked Grammy Awards for classical records. Hill was one of the engineers who worked on “Ravel: L’Enfant et les sortileges,” which is nominated in the category of Best Classical Album. The work features the Nashville Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Alistair Willis, the Chattanooga Boys Choir, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Nashville Symphony Chorus and eight operatic soloists. “I really consider myself a musician who has a set of technical skills to draw on,” Hill explains. “For this type of work, you would definitely not want to have somebody who is just fiddling with knobs. … One really has to have some type of working knowledge of music.” The Grammy Awards telecast is slated for this Sunday, Jan. 31, on CBS. Contact Hill at 615-898-5868 or jphill@mtsu.edu. To hear excerpts of the CD and Gina Logue’s interview with Hill that aired on WMOT-FM’s “MTSU on the Record,” go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2010.html and click on “January 10, 2010.”

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS.--“Ramblings and Dwellings,” a joint exhibit of work by husband-and-wife artists Ken and Libby Rowe, is on display in MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery now through Tuesday, Feb. 9. An award-winning figurative sculptor, Ken’s “Ramblings” feature small-scale ceramic sculptures with a narrative bend and a whimsical nature. “His sculptures rely on a strong sense of humor and are often viewed as sardonic and quirky,” says Eric Snyder, gallery curator. In “Dwellings,” Libby’s current photographic work, she explores the emotional state of dwelling through the construction and photographing of small sculptural houses. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Todd Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free. Call Snyder at 615-898-5653 or esnyder@mtsu.edu.

HOME IS WHERE THE VOLUNTEERS ARE.--MTSU students are building a second Habitat for Humanity home for a Rutherford County resident. Building dates will include Wednesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays. There will be two shifts per day—in the morning from 8:30 a.m. to noon and in the afternoon from noon until 4 p.m. The home dedication is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 25. The Office of Leadership and Service is rounding up volunteers from student organizations for this humanitarian effort. The future resident’s family also will be helping to build their home, and Central Middle School and Jason’s Deli are pitching in. Media welcomed. Good photo opportunities throughout the construction process. For more information, contact Jackie Victory at 615-898-5812 or mtleader@mtsu.edu.