Thursday, February 11, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

You can’t get back change from a negative amount.

Consumer confidence is not picking up. The latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index from MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research (OCR) shows a drop from 83 in December 2009 to 53 in February 2010. Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the OCR, says, “A key question for local retailers is whether or not this continued decrease in consumer confidence will have a negative effect on consumer spending. Unfortunately, negative views of the current economy, fears about the current job market and concerns about personal finances suggest that many local consumers are opting to save more and spend less. When asked about their overall level of consumer spending, only 20 percent expect to spend more than they did last year.”

Contact Graeff at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

Could you translate that gesture, please?

We tend to think that everyone has the same cultural norms, values and perceptions that we do—until we encounter people from a different culture. Learning about these “invisible” rules that control our thoughts and movements throughout the day is an important aspect of becoming a more effective communicator in other cultures. This is the purpose of “Intercultural Communication” course being taught this semester by Dr. Linda Seward, speech and theatre. While the class is exploring a variety of cultures, the focus is on the Japanese culture. Students are examining Bushido (the code of conduct of the Samurai) and learning how its ancient ideas permeate Japanese culture today, affecting everything from bowling to baseball!

Contact Seward at 615-904-8572.
lseward@mtsu.edu

Skating on thin ice

The opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics are slated for tomorrow night in Vancouver. The U.S. speed skating team lost its sponsor, Dutch bank DSB, less than 100 days before the games. But comedian Stephen Colbert came to the rescue and urged his fans to make online donations to support the team. Can that kind of grass roots support of sports teams become more commonplace? Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says, “While Colbert’s gesture scores points for patriotism, it likely does not change the game of sponsorship. Does a sports property want to attempt to get a few dollars apiece from thousands of individual donors, or would it like to strategically align with a small number of sponsors with the resources to underwrite the property? I believe the latter still applies.”

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

TR EXTRA

THE MIGHT OF MICROMONEY--Linebaugh Public Library will host the first in a series of microloan orientation training workshops conducted by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at 4 p.m. today, Feb. 11, in the second floor board room. The City of Murfreesboro, in partnership with the TSBDC and MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business, is administering a microenterprise loan fund. It will provide approved applicants with allocations to expand, improve or create small businesses that might not be eligible for traditional commercial financing. The TSBDC’s role in the process will include working with borrowers initially to help them understand the loan process and to assist them with the implementation of the loans after the city issues them. Contact the TSBDC at 615-898-2745. Contact Linebaugh at 615-893-4131, extension 110.

MAKING A FASHION STATEMENT--MTSU’s Eta Kappa Chapter of the Gamma Sigma Sigma national service sorority will present its second annual Prom Dress Collection Drive from Monday, Feb. 15 through Saturday, Feb. 27. Drop off your prom dresses at Holiday Cleaners, 911 Memorial Blvd. in Murfreesboro, for distribution in March to high school junior and senior girls in Rutherford and Williamson counties who are on the free/reduced lunch program. Dresses must be from 2002 to the present, must be dry-cleaned and on hangers, and must be prom dresses, formal gowns or fancy party dresses. Garments that were purchased before 2002 or have not been dry-cleaned, wedding dresses, casual or semiformal clothing and tuxedoes are unacceptable. To make an appointment for dropping off a dress, or to make a monetary donation, contact Claressa Johnson at 615-427-1816 or claressa0467@hotmail.com.

LEARNING FROM THE LANDSCAPE--MTSU history students produced the exhibit “Listening to the Landscape: The Stories of Stones River National Battlefield,” which is on display at Linebaugh Public Library, 105 W. Vine St. in Murfreesboro, through March 9th. The exhibit highlights the changes that occurred on the battlefield landscape prior to the Civil War through the present. One of the four exhibit panels highlights the African-American community known as “Cemetery.” It formed around Stones River National Cemetery after the Civil War. Linebaugh also will feature books that are related to the exhibit. “Listening to the Landscape” is sponsored by Eastern National, the Public History Program at MTSU, the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area and Stones River National Battlefield. Contact the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area office at 615-898-2947 or the MTSU Department of History at 615-898-2536.

SOMEDAY YOUR PRINTS WILL COME.--The Todd Hall Art Gallery will present “PRINTS: Through the Collector’s Eyes,” an exhibition that brings together a wide variety of original prints, Feb. 16 through March 4. An opening reception for the show will be held one day prior to its official opening, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, in the campus-based gallery. The public is encouraged and invited to attend this free event. Among the works that will be displayed are wood engravings, etchings, lithographs and screen prints, all of which are primarily from area collectors. “Included are prints from the 17th to the 21st centuries with work by famous artists as well as those who are less known,” says Christie Nuell, exhibit curator and MTSU art professor. The gallery is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-noon on Fridays. Call Eric Snyder, gallery curator, 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.