Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Lullaby and good night

In March 2006, Jaz’s Jammies was created to collect new pajamas for sick children in hospitals to help them feel appreciated and loved while staying extended periods of time. Jaz’s Jammies has collected nearly 3,000 pairs of pajamas. Originally, it was the Girl Scout project of MTSU student Jasmine Gray, a young woman who had experienced dozens of surgeries for a facial disorder and had spent up to three months in the hospital at a time. You can help Jaz’s Jammies spread love by donating during the 2010 Pajama Drive April 1-29. Drop off your children’s PJs at the University Honors College, the John Bragg Mass Communication Building, the Business and Aerospace Building or the second floor of the Keathley University Center. If you’re off-campus, you can set up a drive for your community organization, business or school.

For more information, send an e-mail to jazsjammies@yahoo.com.

Eat, drink, but watch the movie, too.

“Eat Drink Man Woman,” which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1995, will be the next presentation in the Chinese Film Festival at MTSU at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 4, in Room 103 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. This movie has English subtitles and is free and open to the public. Distracted by their complicated love lives and secret ambitions, three adult sisters reluctantly humor their widower father by enduring the elaborate, traditional Taiwanese dinners he insists on having every Sunday. Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Brokeback Mountain”) directs this charming tale that humorously examines the clash between modernity and tradition within the contemporary Taiwanese family. Liu Xiao, a master’s degree candidate in mass communication, will guide a discussion following the screening.

Contact the Confucius Institute at 615-494-8696 or Dr. Bob Spires at 615-898-2217.

Murders on the metro

Russian state-run television reports that officials are looking for three suspected accomplices of the suicide bombers who killed at least 39 people on the Moscow metro on March 29. Is there a connection between the Chechen rebels believed to be responsible for the explosion and the most prominent name in the war on terror, Osama bin Laden? “We do have evidence that some of bin Laden’s operatives are working in Chechnya and train Chechens,” says Dr. Andrei Korobkov, political science. “We don’t know to what extent it is a large-scale operation. Obviously, there is very serious study of bin Laden’s tactics because we see very clear patterns, both in activities of terrorists in North America, Western Europe and in Russia.” Korobkov says these include conducting acts practically simultaneously, the reliance on women and the search for people who are not members of groups usually suspected of terrorist activities.

Contact Korobkov at 615-898-2945.
korobkov@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

PLAY SMART!--The Center for Physical Activity & Health in Youth at MTSU will present “Play Symposium III: Diversity, Children’s Physical Activity and Play” from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 10, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. This workshop, which is free and open to the public, is designed for student teachers, homeschool educators, public school educators and parents who want to enhance their children’s learning through physical activity and play. Dr. Kathy Burriss, elementary and special education, says, “The value of play and physical activity, no matter a child’s physical limitations, is invaluable, but one that is often overlooked. Our symposium will help participants connect physical activity with learning that is fun but also intellectually beneficial in ways that most don’t think about.” Contact Burriss at 615-898-2323 or kburriss@mtsu.edu.

NOAH’S ARK--Rebecca Carter, dissertation fellow and instructor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, will present “The Blessed Placemakers: Urban Violence, Religious Transformation, and Human Security in Post-Katrina New Orleans” at 12:45 p.m. Friday, April 2, in the Glassroom of Andrew L. Todd Hall. This event, sponsored by the Middle Tennessee Anthropology Society, is free and open to the public. Carter will deliver an informal talk on the grassroots formation of diverse religious movements in Orleans Parish and their influence in post-disaster urban redevelopment and reform. Case studies of religious communities include a Catholic “peace prayer” group; an Episcopal social justice ministry for victims of violence; an inner city Baptist church leading anti-violence and grief recovery ministries; and practitioners of Haitian Vodou conducting “crime ceremonies” for community healing. Contact the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at 615-898-2508.

GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES ORATE--MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets now. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through tomorrow, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Play smart!

The Center for Physical Activity & Health in Youth at MTSU will present “Play Symposium III: Diversity, Children’s Physical Activity and Play” from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 10, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building. This workshop, which is free and open to the public, is designed for student teachers, homeschool educators, public school educators and parents who want to enhance their children’s learning through physical activity and play. Dr. Kathy Burriss, elementary and special education, says, “The value of play and physical activity, no matter a child’s physical limitations, is invaluable, but one that is often overlooked. Our symposium will help participants connect physical activity with learning that is fun but also intellectually beneficial in ways that most don’t think about.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2323.
kburriss@mtsu.edu

Down for the count

On Thursday, April 1, workers for the U.S. Census Bureau will fan out across the country and track down people who have not mailed back their 2010 Census forms. Dr. Jason Reineke, associate director of the MTSU Poll, says, “Since the Census is presented as a ‘true’ head count of everyone in the country for the purposes of apportionment of House seats and allocation of public funds, the less-than-perfect response rate is troubling. This is especially true in terms of the particular types of individuals (lower-income, those who are homeless or move frequently, recent immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities) who tend to be missed disproportionately in the head count. Also, an actual head count takes a relatively long time, meaning that some people will move, etc.”

Contact Reineke at 615-494-7746.
jreineke@mtsu.edu

The Kit Kat Club

Greenpeace’s latest target is Nestle, which purchases palm oil for its Kit Kat bars from a supplier that allegedly endangers the rainforests and the orangutans who live there. The war is being waged on the Internet, where a video depicting someone unknowingly eating an orangutan finger out of a Kit Kat package has been downloaded more than 160,000 times. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says some are calling the backlash a “brand hijacking,” but that is totally wrong. “Social media give the public a channel to voice their opinion, both positive and negative,” says Roy. “For marketers, social media is a channel for listening as well as talking. It is important for businesses to allow customers and others to voice their concerns. Practicing extreme brand control a la Tiger Woods is history. Consumers own your brand—get used to it. Give them a voice—then listen to it.”

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

TR EXTRA

CHEERS, CHEERS FOR OLD NOTRE DAME!--Former Notre Dame football player Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the inspiration for the 1993 motion picture “Rudy,” will present a “Leadership Speaks” address at 7 p.m. today, March 30, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. The third of 14 children in a Joliet, Ill., family, Ruettiger struggled with dyslexia throughout childhood, but the condition was not diagnosed until he entered Holy Cross Junior College in South Bend, Ind. The school was across the street from the University of Notre Dame, which fueled Ruettiger’s desire to transfer and to make the Fighting Irish football team. Since Notre Dame Head Coach Ara Parseghian welcomed walk-ons, Ruettiger tried out and made the practice squad, despite being only 5’6” and 165 pounds. His unflagging hustle and determination earned him the respect of his teammates. Call the Office of Leadership and Service at 615-898-5812.

NOAH’S ARK--Rebecca Carter, dissertation fellow and instructor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, will present “The Blessed Placemakers: Urban Violence, Religious Transformation, and Human Security in Post-Katrina New Orleans” at 12:45 p.m. Friday, April 2, in the Glassroom of Andrew L. Todd Hall. This event, sponsored by the Middle Tennessee Anthropology Society, is free and open to the public. Carter will deliver an informal talk on the grassroots formation of diverse religious movements in Orleans Parish and their influence in post-disaster urban redevelopment and reform. Case studies of religious communities include a Catholic “peace prayer” group; an Episcopal social justice ministry for victims of violence; an inner city Baptist church leading anti-violence and grief recovery ministries; and practitioners of Haitian Vodou conducting “crime ceremonies” for community healing. Contact the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at 615-898-2508.

GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES ORATE--MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets now. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. today, March 30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Ann Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Political chemistry

Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, believes the first woman President of the United States will be a chemist like former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and current German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “Dr. Merkel’s ability to solve complex problems, such as those that she specialized in as a quantum chemist at the Academy of Sciences in East Berlin, no doubt helped her piece together a ‘grand coalition’ government after Germany’s ‘hung election’ in 2005,” says MacDougall. As for Lady Thatcher, he says, “Prior to her political career and marriage to Mr. Thatcher, Margaret Roberts was a chemistry major at a second-tier college. Her intellectual gifts earned her a transfer to Oxford University, where she was tutored in advanced chemistry and crystallography by Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin (1964 Nobel Prize winner).”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

Cheers, cheers for old Notre Dame!

Former Notre Dame football player Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the inspiration for the 1993 motion picture “Rudy,” will present a “Leadership Speaks” address at 7 p.m. tomorrow, March 30, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. The third of 14 children in a Joliet, Ill., family, Ruettiger struggled with dyslexia throughout childhood, but the condition was not diagnosed until he entered Holy Cross Junior College in South Bend, Ind. The school was across the street from the University of Notre Dame, which fueled Ruettiger’s desire to transfer and to make the Fighting Irish football team. Since Notre Dame Head Coach Ara Parseghian welcomed walk-ons, Ruettiger tried out and made the practice squad, despite being only 5’6” and 165 pounds. His unflagging hustle and determination earned him the respect of his teammates.

Call the Office of Leadership and Service at 615-898-5812.

“Just a little bit of history repeating”—The Propellerheads

The Texas Board of Education recently revised its social studies curriculum to exclude Thomas Jefferson as one of the intellectuals who inspired revolutions in the 18th and 19th centuries and to include an assertion that the Founding Fathers envisioned America as a Christian nation, although not all of them were Christians. Dr. Willis Means, elementary and special education, says, “The influence of Texas’ textbook adoption and its ability to impose its ideologies on what is taught in K-12 schools through its statewide textbook adoptions is real. However, it is a reality that has been recognized since the publication of America Revised by Frances FitzGerald in 1980.” (Kirkus Book Review calls America Revised “an intelligent, reflective examination of American history textbooks.”

Contact Means at 615-494-8871.
hmeans@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

NOAH’S ARK--Rebecca Carter, dissertation fellow and instructor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, will present “The Blessed Placemakers: Urban Violence, Religious Transformation, and Human Security in Post-Katrina New Orleans” at 12:45 p.m. Friday, April 2, in the Glassroom of Andrew L. Todd Hall. This event, sponsored by the Middle Tennessee Anthropology Society, is free and open to the public. Carter will deliver an informal talk on the grassroots formation of diverse religious movements in Orleans Parish and their influence in post-disaster urban redevelopment and reform. Case studies of religious communities include a Catholic “peace prayer” group; an Episcopal social justice ministry for victims of violence; an inner city Baptist church leading anti-violence and grief recovery ministries; and practitioners of Haitian Vodou conducting “crime ceremonies” for community healing. Contact the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at 615-898-2508.

MINUTE TO WIN IT?--The annual Employment Opportunities Exchange will be held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today, March 29, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. The purpose of the ‘exchange’ is to help 2010 and 2011 graduates meet recruiters seeking employees in sales, marketing and management. “Using the ‘exchange’ format, employers will have the opportunity to share their information with many more students than time would allow at a typical career fair,” says Dr. Katie Kemp, assistant professor in the Department of Management and Marketing. Recruiters will rotate from table to table in timed sessions of approximately 10 to 15 minutes each, briefly sharing career opportunities with small groups of students seated at tables. When the bell rings, the recruiters move to another table. Contact Kemp at 615-898-2346 or kkemp@mtsu.edu.

GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES ORATE--MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets now. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. today and tomorrow, March 29-30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Ann Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

A shaky foundation

More than one in five construction workers in Tennessee in 2006 were misclassified as independent contractors or paid under the table, according to a study by Dr. William Canak of MTSU and Dr. Randall Adams of Tennessee Tech. Canak and Adams will discuss their findings at 8 a.m. this Sunday, March 28, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Canak and Adams’ research was based on data from state and federal agencies. It concluded that the misclassification of 38,680 workers cost the state nearly $15 million in unemployment taxes and $92 million in workers’ compensation premiums. They testified about their study to the House Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee of the Tennessee General Assembly on Feb. 17.

Contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

Noah’s ark

Rebecca Carter, dissertation fellow and instructor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, will present “The Blessed Placemakers: Urban Violence, Religious Transformation, and Human Security in Post-Katrina New Orleans” at 12:45 p.m. Friday, April 2, in the Glassroom of Andrew L. Todd Hall. This event, sponsored by the Middle Tennessee Anthropology Society, is free and open to the public. Carter will deliver an informal talk on the grassroots formation of diverse religious movements in Orleans Parish and their influence in post-disaster urban redevelopment and reform. Case studies of religious communities include a Catholic “peace prayer” group; an Episcopal social justice ministry for victims of violence; an inner city Baptist church leading anti-violence and grief recovery ministries; and practitioners of Haitian Vodou conducting “crime ceremonies” for community healing.

Contact the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at 615-898-2508.

When you care enough to send the very best

Paris Hilton is suing Hallmark over a greeting card displaying a cartoon figure of a waitress with Hilton’s head saying to the customer “That’s hot,” a phrase she used in her reality TV series “The Simple Life.” The caption reads “Paris’ First Day as a Waitress.” Hilton alleges misappropriation of publicity under California law. David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and First Amendment Center scholar, says, “If Hilton’s publicity claim succeeds then Hallmark cannot make cards that spoof celebrities without compensating them. Publicity rights will have defeated the First Amendment right to free expression. … The case of Paris Hilton and Hallmark could be a watershed in determining how to balance publicity rights with the First Amendment.”

Contact Hudson at 615-727-1342.
dhudson@fac.org

TR EXTRA

PLAY BALL, HOLD ON TIGHT, AND PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION--New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready stories are available for radio stations to download and insert into their newscasts at www.mtsunews.com. (Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Dr. Warren Tormey, English professor and organizer of the annual Baseball Literature and Culture Conference at MTSU, discusses today’s gathering in the James Union Building. Hall-of-Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins will be the luncheon speaker. Dr. Melissa Lobeigeier, geosciences, remembers her 2005-2006 internship in Concepcion, Chile, the epicenter of the February 27th earthquake, and talks about how the earth’s shifting and colliding plates affect that part of the world. Dr. Brenden Martin, director of MTSU’s Public History Program, talks about the search for World War II homefront artifacts and oral histories from Rutherford Countians for an exhibit showing what life was like in the county during the war. Contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

MINUTE TO WIN IT?--The annual Employment Opportunities Exchange will be held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 29, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. The purpose of the ‘exchange’ is to help 2010 and 2011 graduates meet recruiters seeking employees in sales, marketing and management. “Using the ‘exchange’ format, employers will have the opportunity to share their information with many more students than time would allow at a typical career fair,” says Dr. Katie Kemp, assistant professor in the Department of Management and Marketing. Recruiters will rotate from table to table in timed sessions of approximately 10 to 15 minutes each, briefly sharing career opportunities with small groups of students seated at tables. When the bell rings, the recruiters move to another table. Contact Kemp at 615-898-2346 or kkemp@mtsu.edu.

CHINA ON THE SILVER SCREEN--The Confucius Institute and the Office of the Dean of the College of Mass Communication at MTSU will present a Chinese Film Festival on Sunday nights from Mar. 28-Apr. 18 in Room 103 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. Each movie will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Following each movie, Liu Xiao, a master’s degree candidate in the College of Mass Communication, will facilitate a question-and-answer session. All movies in the series have English subtitles and are free and open to the public. The first film, slated for viewing on March 28, is “Rickshaw Boy” (1982), the first film from the People’s Republic of China to open in an American theater. It’s the tale of the ugliness of a city run by dueling warlords where many of the poor turn against each other for survival. Other films scheduled to be presented include “Eat Drink Man Woman” (1994) on Apr. 4; “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” (2002) on Apr. 11; and “Getting Home” (2007) on Apr. 18. Contact the Confucius Institute at 615-494-8696 or Dr. Bob Spires at 615-898-2217.

JAM FOR LIFE--The Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at MTSU will host its first Alpha Jam from 1-6 p.m. tomorrow, March 27, on the lawn in front of the Tom H. Jackson Building to promote mental health awareness and combat suicide rates in the area. “On Sept. 9, 2009, the Eta Nu chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity lost a beloved brother due to suicide,” says Edgard Izaguirre, the chapter’s public relations officer. “Since that moment, the active brothers have worked to honor him.” Tickets are $5 each, which includes a concert, food, inflatables, a rock wall and more. Izaguirre says all proceeds will go directly to “To Write Love on Her Arms,” which is described on its Web site (www.twloha.com) as “a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.” This event is free and open to the public. Media welcomed. Contact Izaguirre at 786-863-3334 or eizag001@gmail.com.

GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES ORATE--MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets now. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 29-30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Anne Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Play ball, hold on tight, and praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

New MTSU Audio Clips and radio-ready stories are available for radio stations to download and insert into their newscasts at www.mtsunews.com. (Click on “Audio Clips” on the right side of the page. In this edition, Dr. Warren Tormey, English professor and organizer of the annual Baseball Literature and Culture Conference at MTSU, discusses tomorrow’s gathering in the James Union Building. Hall-of-Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins will be the luncheon speaker. Dr. Melissa Lobeigeier, geosciences, remembers her 2005-2006 internship in Concepcion, Chile, the epicenter of the February 27th earthquake, and talks about how the earth’s shifting and colliding plates affect that part of the world. Dr. Brenden Martin, director of MTSU’s Public History Program, talks about the search for World War II homefront artifacts and oral histories from Rutherford Countians for an exhibit showing what life was like in the county during the war.

Contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081. gklogue@mtsu.edu

Minute to win it?

The annual Employment Opportunities Exchange will be held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 29, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. The purpose of the ‘exchange’ is to help 2010 and 2011 graduates meet recruiters seeking employees in sales, marketing and management. “Using the ‘exchange’ format, employers will have the opportunity to share their information with many more students than time would allow at a typical career fair,” says Dr. Katie Kemp, assistant professor in the Department of Management and Marketing. Recruiters will rotate from table to table in timed sessions of approximately 10 to 15 minutes each, briefly sharing career opportunities with small groups of students seated at tables. When the bell rings, the recruiters move to another table.

Contact Kemp at 615-898-2346.
kkemp@mtsu.edu

Sex and the city attorney

In some states, teenagers who engage in “sexting”—that is, sending sexually explicit text messages—could face felony child pornography charges and be added to a sex offender registry. Should a youngster’s life be ruined because the law has yet to catch up to technology? Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, says, “Now a growing number of lawyers, educators and legislators are saying that current child pornography laws are too antiquated to deal with an adolescent cyberculture in which all kinds of sexual pictures circulate on sites like MySpace and Facebook. … Last year, several states passed laws reducing penalties for teenagers who engage in such activities. This year, 14 states are considering legislation that would treat young people who engage in sexting differently from adult pornographers and sexual predators.”

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

TR EXTRA

CHINA ON THE SILVER SCREEN--The Confucius Institute and the Office of the Dean of the College of Mass Communication at MTSU will present a Chinese Film Festival on Sunday nights from Mar. 28-Apr. 18 in Room 103 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. Each movie will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Following each movie, Liu Xiao, a master’s degree candidate in the College of Mass Communication, will facilitate a question-and-answer session. All movies in the series have English subtitles and are free and open to the public. The first film, slated for viewing on March 28, is “Rickshaw Boy” (1982), the first film from the People’s Republic of China to open in an American theater. It’s the tale of the ugliness of a city run by dueling warlords where many of the poor turn against each other for survival. Other films scheduled to be presented include “Eat Drink Man Woman” (1994) on Apr. 4; “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” (2002) on Apr. 11; and “Getting Home” (2007) on Apr. 18. Contact the Confucius Institute at 615-494-8696 or Dr. Bob Spires at 615-898-2217.

JAM FOR LIFE--The Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at MTSU will host its first Alpha Jam from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, on the lawn in front of the Tom H. Jackson Building to promote mental health awareness and combat suicide rates in the area. “On Sept. 9, 2009, the Eta Nu chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity lost a beloved brother due to suicide,” says Edgard Izaguirre, the chapter’s public relations officer. “Since that moment, the active brothers have worked to honor him.” Tickets are $5 each, which includes a concert, food, inflatables, a rock wall and more. Izaguirre says all proceeds will go directly to “To Write Love on Her Arms,” which is described on its Web site (www.twloha.com) as “a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.” This event is free and open to the public. Media welcomed. Contact Izaguirre at 786-863-3334 or eizag001@gmail.com.

GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES ORATE--MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets now. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 29-30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Anne Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Democracy by the numbers

How many seats should each U.S. state get in the House of Representatives? Dr. Paul H. Edelman, professor of mathematics and law at Vanderbilt University, will speak on “From Census to Seats: How to Apportion the House of Representatives in the New Decade” from 3-4 p.m. today, March 24, in Room 322 of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. Edelman says, “Since the founding of the United States, the decennial ritual of apportioning representatives among the states to the House has generated controversy. Four distinct methods have been tried and more have been suggested. It has been the subject of political feuds, mathematical feuds, legal challenge and perorations to God. It is also an excellent example of how mathematics can illuminate the law and how law can motivate mathematics.” This MTSU Distinguished Lecture is free and open to the public.

Contact Dr. Xiaoya Zha at 615-898-2494.
xzha@mtsu.edu

China on the silver screen

The Confucius Institute and the Office of the Dean of the College of Mass Communication at MTSU will present a Chinese Film Festival on Sunday nights from Mar. 28-Apr. 18 in Room 103 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. Each movie will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Following each movie, Liu Xiao, a master’s degree candidate in the College of Mass Communication, will facilitate a question-and-answer session. All movies in the series have English subtitles and are free and open to the public. The first film, slated for viewing on March 28, is “Rickshaw Boy” (1982), the first film from the People’s Republic of China to open in an American theater. It’s the tale of the ugliness of a city run by dueling warlords where many of the poor turn against each other for survival. Other films scheduled to be presented include “Eat Drink Man Woman” (1994) on Apr. 4; “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” (2002) on Apr. 11; and “Getting Home” (2007) on Apr. 18.

Contact the Confucius Institute at 615-494-8696 or Dr. Bob Spires at 615-898-2217.

Chow down on this.

First Lady Michelle Obama has launched an anti-child obesity drive. Legislation is pending in Congress to ban candy and sugary beverages from school food and to require schools to offer more nutritious food. But Dr. Janet Colson, human sciences, says, “The benefits of banning candy and soda in schools will have little impact on the childhood obesity epidemic UNLESS parents, restaurants, stores/food manufacturers, TV and even churches make changes in foods they give children, too. It is true that children spend a very good portion of their lives in schools and eat at least one meal and a snake there, but parents and everyone else also have a responsibility. … School foods do need to be changed, but they are not the only culprit in the childhood obesity problem—just one little piece.”

Contact Colson at 615-898-2091.
jcolson@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

JAM FOR LIFE--The Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at MTSU will host its first Alpha Jam from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, on the lawn in front of the Tom H. Jackson Building to promote mental health awareness and combat suicide rates in the area. “On Sept. 9, 2009, the Eta Nu chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity lost a beloved brother due to suicide,” says Edgard Izaguirre, the chapter’s public relations officer. “Since that moment, the active brothers have worked to honor him.” Tickets are $5 each, which includes a concert, food, inflatables, a rock wall and more. Izaguirre says all proceeds will go directly to “To Write Love on Her Arms,” which is described on its Web site (www.twloha.com) as “a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.” This event is free and open to the public. Media welcomed. Contact Izaguirre at 786-863-3334 or eizag001@gmail.com.

STIMULATING CONVERSATION--The official in charge of monitoring how federal stimulus legislation funds are spent by county governments is slated to speak at MTSU today, March 24. Jerry Durham, Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of County Audit (Tennessee), will talk and answer questions from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Room 121 of the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building. This event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by MTSU’s Urban Studies Program and the Department of Political Science. For more information, contact Dr. Sekou Franklin at 615-904-8232 or franklin@mtsu.edu.

GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES ORATE--MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets now. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

“STRENGTHEN THE FEMALE MIND BY ENLARGING IT, AND THERE WILL BE AN END TO BLIND OBEDIENCE.”—MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT--The Women’s Studies Program will observe MTSU Scholars Week, March 22-26, with presentations around the theme of “Celebrating Women as Scholars.” Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, director of the Women’s Studies Program and English professor, says, “Women often have a higher visibility for their service in the Academy than they do for their scholarship. This is the first time women scholars will be highlighted during Scholars Week.” All “Celebrating Women as Scholars” events are free and open to the public. Contact Johnson at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 29-30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. Donations can still be made at the James E. Walker Library on campus by 4:30 p.m. today, March 24th so they can be priced and categorized in time for the sale. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Anne Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@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.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Dress for distress

The ice dancing event at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver was marked by controversy, but it had nothing to do with the subjective judging. A Russian couple was chastised for dressing up in costumes with dark brown skin tones, leaves and body paint to symbolize what they believed resembled Australian aborigines. Australians expressed outrage, but the couple made only minor changes to their costumes. Was this the skating equivalent of Al Jolson singing “Mammy” in blackface? Dr. Yang Soo Kim, speech and theatre, says, “Interpretation of artistic expression is culture-bound and varies across cultures. Although cultural relativism urges us to understand another party’s behavior in terms of their own cultural context before we jump to hasty generalizations, this applies to both parties. Just as our culture deserves respect, so do other cultures.”

Contact Kim at 615-494-8756.
yskim@mtsu.edu

“Your education is worth what you are worth.”—Anonymous

Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale will present “Reforming Education in a Time of Austerity” at 1 p.m. today, March 23, in Room 106 of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. Ragsdale’s talk, which is free and open to the public, is part of the University Honors College’s Martin Lectureship series. “Mike Ragsdale has accomplished educational reform (in Knox County) at a time when budgets are tight,” says Dr. John Vile, dean of the Honors College. “It seemed a natural kind of fit the way education has been in the news.” Ragsdale began serving in August 2002 and began his second term in September 2006. He is president of the County Executives of America, an organization of more than 700 chief elected county officials.

Contact Vile at 615-898-2152.
jvile@mtsu.edu

You’re gonna like the way you look. I guarantee it.

Men’s Wearhouse has created a Prom Reps program in which a customer whose word-of-mouth promotion of the clothing retailer results in 10 tuxedo rentals gets his tuxedo rental for free. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, likes the idea. “Word-of-mouth can be a powerful channel for reaching teenage boys, particularly for a purchase that many of them may have never made before,” says Roy. “In the absence of prior experience, prospective renters are likely to place heavy weight on recommendations for tux rental outlets from people whom they know. … The Prom Reps are typically going to be high school students who may be thrilled if they are spared the outlay for tux rental. If one of my sons was attending prom this year, I would strongly encourage him to go to work for Men’s Wearhouse—at least for prom season!”

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

TR EXTRA

JAM FOR LIFE--The Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at MTSU will host its first Alpha Jam from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, on the lawn in front of the Tom H. Jackson Building to promote mental health awareness and combat suicide rates in the area. “On Sept. 9, 2009, the Eta Nu chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity lost a beloved brother due to suicide,” says Edgard Izaguirre, the chapter’s public relations officer. “Since that moment, the active brothers have worked to honor him.” Tickets are $5 each, which includes a concert, food, inflatables, a rock wall and more. Izaguirre says all proceeds will go directly to “To Write Love on Her Arms,” which is described on its Web site (www.twloha.com) as “a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.” This event is free and open to the public. Media welcomed. Contact Izaguirre at 786-863-3334 or eizag001@gmail.com.

STIMULATING CONVERSATION--The official in charge of monitoring how federal stimulus legislation funds are spent by county governments is slated to speak at MTSU on tomorrow, March 24. Jerry Durham, Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of County Audit (Tennessee), will talk and answer questions from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Room 121 of the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building. This event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by MTSU’s Urban Studies Program and the Department of Political Science. For more information, contact Dr. Sekou Franklin at 615-904-8232 or franklin@mtsu.edu.

GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES ORATE--MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets now. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

“STRENGTHEN THE FEMALE MIND BY ENLARGING IT, AND THERE WILL BE AN END TO BLIND OBEDIENCE.”—MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT--The Women’s Studies Program will observe MTSU Scholars Week, March 22-26, with presentations around the theme of “Celebrating Women as Scholars.” Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, director of the Women’s Studies Program and English professor, says, “Women often have a higher visibility for their service in the Academy than they do for their scholarship. This is the first time women scholars will be highlighted during Scholars Week.” All “Celebrating Women as Scholars” events are free and open to the public. Contact Johnson at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 29-30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. Donations can still be made at the James E. Walker Library on campus by 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, March 24th so they can be priced and categorized in time for the sale. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Anne Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@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.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Jam for life

The Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at MTSU will host its first Alpha Jam from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, on the lawn in front of the Tom H. Jackson Building to promote mental health awareness and combat suicide rates in the area. “On Sept. 9, 2009, the Eta Nu chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity lost a beloved brother due to suicide,” says Edgard Izaguirre, the chapter’s public relations officer. “Since that moment, the active brothers have worked to honor him.” Tickets are $5 each, which includes a concert, food, inflatables, a rock wall and more. Izaguirre says all proceeds will go directly to “To Write Love on Her Arms,” which is described on its Web site (http://www.twloha.com/) as “a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.”This event is free and open to the public. Media welcomed.

Contact Izaguirre at 786-863-3334.
eizag001@gmail.com

Preschool is cool

Project Help, a preschool program that encourages cognitive, motor, adaptive and social skill growth, is in the process of adding names to the waiting list of children who are typically developing (aged 15-30 months). Some of the unique opportunities of attending an early intervention preschool include receiving a curriculum based on the Tennessee Department of Education’s Developmental Standards-Early Childhood/Early Learning; receiving individualized and group instruction from four degreed teachers with an average of 17.5 years of classroom experience and from four co-teachers with an average of over nine years in classrooms; having have a 1:4 teacher-to-children ratio; being included in extensive language acquisition and independence-oriented activities; and being involved in a goal-directed, progressive creative program that promotes diversity.

Contact Patricia Yeargan or Susan Waldrop at 615-898-2458.
pyeargan@mtsu.edu
swaldrop@mtsu.edu

Come to your Census!

Last week, millions of Americans received Census 2010 questionnaires in their mailboxes. The answers help determine how much federal funding areas of the country receive. Dr. Jason Reineke, associate director of the MTSU Poll, says, “One of the main academic debates on how to best capture a representation of the American public involves the use of sampling versus conducting an actual census. As you know, the decennial U.S. census attempts to gain responses from 100 percent of the American public. However, it has never, to date, achieved this goal. In 1980, the response rate was 75 percent; in 1990, it was 65 percent; and in 2000, (after a variety of techniques to improve response rates were implemented), it was 67 percent.”

Contact Reineke at 615-494-7746.
jreineke@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

STIMULATING CONVERSATION--The official in charge of monitoring how federal stimulus legislation funds are spent by county governments is slated to speak at MTSU on Wednesday, March 24. Jerry Durham, Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of County Audit (Tennessee), will talk and answer questions from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Room 121 of the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building. This event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by MTSU’s Urban Studies Program and the Department of Political Science. For more information, contact Dr. Sekou Franklin at 615-904-8232 or franklin@mtsu.edu.

GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES ORATE--MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets beginning today, March 22. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. NOTE TO NEWS MEDIA: Specific information regarding media access and credentialing will be forthcoming. For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

“STRENGTHEN THE FEMALE MIND BY ENLARGING IT, AND THERE WILL BE AN END TO BLIND OBEDIENCE.”—MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT--The Women’s Studies Program will observe MTSU Scholars Week, March 22-26, with presentations around the theme of “Celebrating Women as Scholars.” Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, director of the Women’s Studies Program and English professor, says, “Women often have a higher visibility for their service in the Academy than they do for their scholarship. This is the first time women scholars will be highlighted during Scholars Week.” To start the week, the Women’s Studies Program and the President’s Commission on the Status of Women will sponsor a roundtable discussion titled “Integrating Women into the Curriculum” from 3:30-5:00 p.m. today, March 22, in Room 100 of the James Union Building (JUB). All “Celebrating Women as Scholars” events are free and open to the public. Contact Johnson at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 29-30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. Donations can still be made at the James E. Walker Library on campus by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 24th so they can be priced and categorized in time for the sale. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Anne Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@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.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Calling all Bleacher Bums!

Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Ferguson Jenkins will be the guest on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 8 a.m. this Sunday, March 21, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Jenkins is scheduled to be the luncheon speaker at the 15th annual Baseball Literature and Culture Conference in MTSU’s James Union Building on Friday, March 26. The right-handed pitcher compiled a 284-226 career record between 1965 and 1983 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers. He won at least 20 games in each of six consecutive seasons he pitched with the Cubs from 1966 to 1972, chalking up 24 victories and the coveted National League Cy Young Award in 1971. To hear last week’s program on the search for World War II homefront memorabilia from Rutherford County residents, go to go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2010.html and click on “March 14, 2010.”

Contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

Going to the candidates’ debate

MTSU, in cooperation with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will play host to a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in Murphy Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with MTSU students, followed by faculty, staff and the general public. MTSU students with valid IDs may pick up tickets beginning Monday, March 22. All other university personnel and the general public may pick up tickets beginning Monday, April 5. Tickets should be picked up in advance at the MTSU Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A at Floyd Stadium on Faulkinberry Drive. NOTE TO NEWS MEDIA: Specific information regarding media access and credentialing will be forthcoming.

For all ticket and general information, call the MTSU Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-MTSU (1-888-937-6878).

Blithe spirit

Can an atheist be a spiritual person? Dr. Phil Oliver, philosophy, says, “My observation is that most atheists have deliberately opted out of religion and typically resent being lumped with the faith-based. Most atheists also think of themselves as something more and other than crass materialists who find nothing real but ‘matter and the void.’ So it matters because we want to know what ‘spiritual’ residue might remain for atheists, humanists, naturalists, Brights, etc., to claim after they’ve renounced ‘religion.’ But first we need to know what religion means so we’ll know if atheists, et. al., can safely renounce it. … It would be a tremendous aid to clarity if we could agree to mean by religion a God-centered worldview (There could still be a range of views about what that meant exactly.) and let the ‘merely’ spiritual go Godless. What do you think?”

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

TR EXTRA

“STRENGTHEN THE FEMALE MIND BY ENLARGING IT, AND THERE WILL BE AN END TO BLIND OBEDIENCE.”—MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT--The Women’s Studies Program will observe MTSU Scholars Week, March 22-26, with presentations around the theme of “Celebrating Women as Scholars.” Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, director of the Women’s Studies Program and English professor, says, “Women often have a higher visibility for their service in the Academy than they do for their scholarship. This is the first time women scholars will be highlighted during Scholars Week.” To start the week, the Women’s Studies Program and the President’s Commission on the Status of Women will sponsor a roundtable discussion titled “Integrating Women into the Curriculum” from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Monday, March 22, in Room 100 of the James Union Building (JUB). All “Celebrating Women as Scholars” events are free and open to the public. Contact Johnson at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 29-30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. Curbside pickup of items for the campus community is slated for today, March 19. On-campus donors may contact Ann Funkhouser at 615-898-2538 or afunkhou@mtsu.edu for curbside pickup. Donations can still be made at the James E. Walker Library on campus by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 24th so they can be priced and categorized in time for the sale. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Anne Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

MIDDLE EAST MEETS MIDDLE TENNESSEE--Scholars from a 12-state region will engage in academic discourse on a variety of topics at the spring meeting of the Southeast Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Seminar (SERMEISS) at the MTSU Foundation House, 324 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro, today through Sunday, March 19-21. “This will be a marvelous opportunity for us to showcase our new Middle East Studies program and a number of the very fine faculty members who teach in our program,” says Dr. Allan Hibbard, director of MTSU’s Middle East Center and English professor. Dr. Ron Messier, history professor emeritus and former director of the University Honors Program, is president of SERMEISS. Messier says, “The meeting will bring many of the leading scholars in the region to our campus to discuss issues of paramount relevance to what is going on in the world today.” Contact Hibbard at 615-494-8809 or ahibbard@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

WAIT UNTIL WINNIE THE POOH HEARS ABOUT THIS!--The MTSU Farm Labs and Dairy Science Club are sponsoring an eight-week beginning course in beekeeping starting today, March 19. Classes will meet Friday evenings from 6-8 p.m. in Room 106 of the MTSU Horticulture Center. Two early meetings will be required to install bees during daylight hours. You’ll learn the essentials to understand and practice successful beekeeping and honey marketing from instructors Ed Holcomb and Joe Dement. Class size is limited to 25, so early registration is advised. The registration fee is $350, which covers books and materials to construct your own hive, the bees to start your colony and all equipment to practice beekeeping safely. To register, provide your name, address, phone number, e-mail and registration fee (cash or check) to MTSU Dairy Science Club, Attn: Tim Redd, MTSU Box 5, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132. Contact Redd at 615-898-2431 or tredd@mtsu.edu.

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@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.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.”—Mary Wollstonecraft

The Women’s Studies Program will observe MTSU Scholars Week, March 22-26, with presentations around the theme of “Celebrating Women as Scholars.” Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, director of the Women’s Studies Program and English professor, says, “Women often have a higher visibility for their service in the Academy than they do for their scholarship. This is the first time women scholars will be highlighted during Scholars Week.” To start the week, the Women’s Studies Program and the President’s Commission on the Status of Women will sponsor a roundtable discussion titled “Integrating Women into the Curriculum” from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Monday, March 22, in Room 100 of the James Union Building (JUB). All “Celebrating Women as Scholars” events are free and open to the public.

Contact Johnson at 615-898-5910.
womenstu@mtsu.edu

Building a better business picture

Single-family home construction continued to grow in the fourth quarter, according to Midstate Economic Indicators, a publication of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center (BERC). Dr. David Penn, BERC director, writes, “Permits issued for construction hit bottom in the first quarter and have increased in subsequent quarters. Activity in the fourth quarter is 25.9 percent higher over the year but remains much lower than pre-recession levels. Construction of multifamily units, including apartments and townhouses, has not fared as well. Multifamily construction is 27.3 percent lower over the year but experienced a very large spurt of activity during the fourth quarter. Multifamily housing is experiencing credit availability problems more severe than for single-family housing.”

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

On maneuvers in cyberspace

Social media present users and consumers with new challenges as well as new opportunities. After an Israeli Defense Forces soldier leaked details, including time and place, of an upcoming operation on Facebook, the operation had to be cancelled. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and served on active duty in Somalia, Bosnia, Central America, Europe and the Pentagon. He says, “Government agencies at all levels are trying to figure out how to cope with e-mail, cell phones and social networking sites. In some instances, commanders and supervisors are authorized to completely ban cell phones and to limit access by government computers. In addition, intelligence officials have reported that members of terrorist groups, as well as agents of nation-states, will often join social networks to try to influence government members or gain access to classified information.”

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

TR EXTRA

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BOOK--Books, tapes, compact discs and more will be available at terrific prices at the annual American Association of University Women Book Sale from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 29-30, on the first floor of MTSU’s Keathley University Center. All proceeds benefit the Ruth Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund for MTSU students. Curbside pickup of items for the campus community is slated for tomorrow, March 19. On-campus donors may contact Ann Funkhouser at 615-898-2538 or afunkhou@mtsu.edu for curbside pickup. Donations can still be made at the James E. Walker Library on campus by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 24th so they can be priced and categorized in time for the sale. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Anne Baily at 615-898-5989 or cabaily@mtsu.edu.

MIDDLE EAST MEETS MIDDLE TENNESSEE--Scholars from a 12-state region will engage in academic discourse on a variety of topics at the spring meeting of the Southeast Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Seminar (SERMEISS) at the MTSU Foundation House, 324 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro, tomorrow through Sunday, March 19-21. “This will be a marvelous opportunity for us to showcase our new Middle East Studies program and a number of the very fine faculty members who teach in our program,” says Dr. Allan Hibbard, director of MTSU’s Middle East Center and English professor. Dr. Ron Messier, history professor emeritus and former director of the University Honors Program, is president of SERMEISS. Messier says, “The meeting will bring many of the leading scholars in the region to our campus to discuss issues of paramount relevance to what is going on in the world today.” Contact Hibbard at 615-494-8809 or ahibbard@mtsu.edu.

VOICES ON VIDEO--Students in an MTSU Women’s Studies class are putting what they learn into action with “Multicultural Women’s Voices,” a video of women in the campus community voicing their views about gender, race, ethnicity and other cultural issues, which will be shown from 11:20 a.m.-12:45 p.m. today, March 18, in Room 307 of Peck Hall. The thematic frames for the discussion include gender socialization, ethnic/racial minority experiences, diverse family structures and empowerment strategies for women, says Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, director of the Women’s Studies Program and instructor of the Multicultural Women’s Voices class. The students taped interviews with several MTSU women students, faculty and staffers from a variety of racial, ethnic, national, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. Contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910 or womenstu@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. A reception to celebrate her craft is slated for 4:30-6:00 p.m. today, March 18, in the rotunda. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

WAIT UNTIL WINNIE THE POOH HEARS ABOUT THIS!--The MTSU Farm Labs and Dairy Science Club are sponsoring an eight-week beginning course in beekeeping starting tomorrow, March 19. Classes will meet Friday evenings from 6-8 p.m. in Room 106 of the MTSU Horticulture Center. Two early meetings will be required to install bees during daylight hours. You’ll learn the essentials to understand and practice successful beekeeping and honey marketing from instructors Ed Holcomb and Joe Dement. Class size is limited to 25, so early registration is advised. The registration fee is $350, which covers books and materials to construct your own hive, the bees to start your colony and all equipment to practice beekeeping safely. To register, provide your name, address, phone number, e-mail and registration fee (cash or check) to MTSU Dairy Science Club, Attn: Tim Redd, MTSU Box 5, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132. Contact Redd at 615-898-2431 or tredd@mtsu.edu.

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@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.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Middle East meets Middle Tennessee

Scholars from a 12-state region will engage in academic discourse on a variety of topics at the spring meeting of the Southeast Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Seminar (SERMEISS) at the MTSU Foundation House, 324 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro, March 19-21. “This will be a marvelous opportunity for us to showcase our new Middle East Studies program and a number of the very fine faculty members who teach in our program,” says Dr. Allan Hibbard, director of MTSU’s Middle East Center and English professor. Dr. Ron Messier, history professor emeritus and former director of the University Honors Program, is president of SERMEISS. Messier says, “The meeting will bring many of the leading scholars in the region to our campus to discuss issues of paramount relevance to what is going on in the world today.”

Contact Hibbard at 615-494-8809.
ahibbard@mtsu.edu

The job of creating jobs

The overall economy may be showing signs of recovery, but apparently it’s still going to be a long, hard climb in the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the fourth quarter edition of Midstate Economic Indicators, a publication of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center (BERC), “In order to bring down the unemployment rate to the status quo ante, two things must occur. First, the economy must generate enough new jobs to recover those lost during the past two years. Second, the economy must generate enough jobs to absorb new entrants to the labor force, including immigrants from other counties and states, new high school graduates and new college graduates. Thus, we need unemployment growth to bring down the unemployment rate—and more employment growth to keep it there.”

Contact Dr. David Penn, BERC director, at 615-898-2610.
dpenn@mtsu.edu

Voices on video

Students in an MTSU Women’s Studies class are putting what they learn into action with “Multicultural Women’s Voices,” a video of women in the campus community voicing their views about gender, race, ethnicity and other cultural issues, which will be shown from 11:20 a.m.-12:45 p.m. tomorrow, March 18, in Room 307 of Peck Hall. The thematic frames for the discussion include gender socialization, ethnic/racial minority experiences, diverse family structures and empowerment strategies for women, says Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, director of the Women’s Studies Program and instructor of the Multicultural Women’s Voices class. The students taped interviews with several MTSU women students, faculty and staffers from a variety of racial, ethnic, national, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-5910.
womenstu@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

CASH CROPS--The second Ag Career Day for MTSU agribusiness and agriscience students and alumni will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. today, March 17, in the Stark Agricultural Building on campus. Farm Credit Services, Kroger Manufacturing, the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative and U.S. Department of Agriculture are among the corporate vendors participating. Prospective employers will be recruiting from all three majors and concentrations (agricultural business, plant and soil science and animal science) as well as for internships and grad school opportunities. Professional attire is encouraged and students and alumni should bring updated copies of their resumes. Ag Career Day is sponsored by the Student Agriculture Council, the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience staff and faculty and the MTSU Career Development Center. Contact Nicole Green at 615-494-8797 or kngreen@mtsu.edu,
or contact Dr. Warren Gill at 615-898-2523 or wgill@mtsu.edu.

A STITCH IN TIME IS QUITE SUBLIME.--Stand back from the framed work on the wall and you’re looking at a tiger, an elephant or a goddess. Move closer and you’re looking at thousands and thousands of intricately woven stitches, grouped distinctively, yet blending into each other through meticulous selection of colors. This is the magic of cross stitching. Jaye Kiblinger’s exhibition, “Cross Stitch as an Art Form,” is on display through Monday, April 5, in the rotunda of Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. A reception to celebrate her craft is slated for 4:30-6:00 p.m. tomorrow, March 18, in the rotunda. The exhibition of nearly 50 items and the reception are free and open to the public. Kiblinger, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship at MTSU, says, “Most of my creations now take well over a year to complete, which is just fine with me. … Cross stitch is now part of my DNA—who I am.” For more information, go to http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/ and click on “Art in the Rotunda” under “Events.”

WAIT UNTIL WINNIE THE POOH HEARS ABOUT THIS!--The MTSU Farm Labs and Dairy Science Club are sponsoring an eight-week beginning course in beekeeping starting Friday, March 19. Classes will meet Friday evenings from 6-8 p.m. in Room 106 of the MTSU Horticulture Center. Two early meetings will be required to install bees during daylight hours. You’ll learn the essentials to understand and practice successful beekeeping and honey marketing from instructors Ed Holcomb and Joe Dement. Class size is limited to 25, so early registration is advised. The registration fee is $350, which covers books and materials to construct your own hive, the bees to start your colony and all equipment to practice beekeeping safely. To register, provide your name, address, phone number, e-mail and registration fee (cash or check) to MTSU Dairy Science Club, Attn: Tim Redd, MTSU Box 5, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132. Contact Redd at 615-898-2431 or tredd@mtsu.edu.

BOUND BY BOOKS--What better place to display new and innovative books than the James E. Walker Library? The MTSU facility is providing a showcase for student-created books sure to spark conversation and ignite the imagination now through Thursday, April 1, in the Special Collections area on the fourth floor. This is the second annual juried show featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students. The Department of Art’s Book Arts Program offers classes in which students learn bookbinding techniques using both traditional and nontraditional forms and materials. Student works on display in Special Collections reflect individual creativity in expressing tributes to family or personal or humorous stories. Materials used include graphite, ribbon, rice paper, string, linen, cardstock, acetate, canvas, India ink, lithographs and leaves. The Special Collections area is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 615-904-8501. For photos of the student art, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@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.