Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Keep hope alive!

How do Middle Tennesseans’ dismal views of the economy compare with the views of other Americans? Well, we appear to be hopeful by comparison to the country as a whole, according to the Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index from MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research. Dr. Tim Graeff, director of the office, writes, “Even though concerns exist about the current economy and the current job market, local consumers are relatively more optimistic about the future of the overall American economy, are more optimistic about the future of the job market and are more optimistic about their personal financial situation in the next year.” The survey of 455 randomly selected adult residents from Davidson, Rutherford and Williamson counties was conducted by phone on Feb. 8-9.

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

Help for Haiti

“Restoration Haiti,” an informational benefit concert planned and performed by MTSU students to help the victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake, will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, at MTSU’s Wright Music Hall. Admission is $10 for non-students and $5 for students with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross. In addition, MTSU student Ertha Luma, a Haitian native, will share photographs and stories of catastrophic conditions in the Caribbean nation. As of Feb. 11, the official death toll stood at 230,000. Some one million Haitians have been rendered homeless by the quake. Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive estimates it will take 10 years to rebuild his country. The concert is the brainchild of MTSU junior Jasmine Pratt, a 20-year-old English major from Atlanta, Ga.

For more information, contact the Office of Leadership and Service at 615-898-5812 or contact Pratt at princess.jasmine213@gmail.com

As if Hurricane Katrina wasn’t enough …

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says there’s a link between imported drywall from China and corrosion in homes that installed it. A lot of the problem is in Gulf Coast homes that have been built or rebuilt after hurricanes. New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton, for example, had to move his family out of their home while it was completely gutted and redone. Dr. Heather Brown, associate professor of engineering technology, says, “From 2005-2007, enough drywall was delivered from China to build approximately 50,000 homes. This delivery has affected Florida, Louisiana and Alabama construction. The Federal Housing Administration is helping homeowners with temporary relief for repair costs, but other mortgage companies are not being as supportive.”

Contact Brown at 615-553-8268.
hjbrown@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

WHERE YOU LEAD, I WILL FOLLOW--Do you have a mentor? Do you know how mentors can make a difference in your life? The Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and INROADS are sponsoring a mentorship panel for students at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, in the Hazlewood Dining Room of the James Union Building. Food will be provided. RSVP BY THURSDAY, FEB. 18, to vavent@mtsu.edu or lsankey@inroads.org.

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 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, today, Feb. 16 through Sunday, March 4. 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.