Monday, March 1, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Life, liberty and the pursuit of ratings

Eric Covington, a communication studies student and debate team member at MTSU, has been selected to participate in the Theodore Clevenger Undergraduate Honors Conference at the 2010 Southern States Communication Association Convention. In his original analysis, Covington identified the rhetorical ideographs of “life,” “liberty,” and “security” in the public discourse of the three most popular conservative political pundits—Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage. In his latest analysis, he further examines their unique rhetorical use of these American political ideographs, and he explains how and why they function persuasively in our public discourse as extraordinarily powerful motivators for recent new social movements and fanatical opposition to President Barack Obama. Covington plans to present his ongoing work during MTSU’s Scholars Week March 22-26.

Contact the College of Liberal Arts at 615-898-2534.

School for Scriptures

Some people of faith differentiate among “studying the Scriptures,” “praying the Scriptures,” and “learning the Scriptures.” What does it all mean? Dr. Rami Shapiro, adjunct professor of religious studies and ordained rabbi, answers in the pages of Spirituality and Health magazine. He writes, “When I study the Bible, I examine it objectively, looking for clues to its meaning in archeology, anthropology, sociology, psychology and comparative myth, literature and religion. The text is clearly something outside of me. … All three methods are valuable. My advice: study fearlessly—don’t be afraid to learn all you can from as many sources as you can. Pray fearlessly—don’t be afraid to enter the text and explore it from the inside. And learn fearlessly—don’t be afraid to grow beyond the word and discover the living truth planted in your own soul.”

Read Shapiro’s blog at http://rabbirami.blogspot.com.
rabbirami@gmail.com

Yes, we can, Afghanistan.

An Obama administration official says U.S.-led military forces plan to launch a full-scale operation later this year in an effort to wrest the city of Kandahar from the Taliban. Dr. Karen Petersen, history, says, “If we can help establish a government that governs well and does so without the violence and oppression characterized by Taliban rule, I think most of the population of Afghanistan would call that a victory. This is only possible if the Taliban is eliminated along with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” But Petersen says the battle for hearts and minds is important, too. “In addition to troop strength increases, human development measures must continue and will require funds,” she says. “Schools need to be built and protected. Agriculture needs to be improved. The work in Afghanistan is overwhelming, but the costs of walking away are too high.”

Contact Petersen at 615-494-8662.
kpeterse@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

THE GANG’S ALL HERE.--The Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE) and the Tennessee Gang Investigators Association will present the 2010 Youth Gang Organized Crime Symposium March 11-13 in MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. This symposium will examine contemporary gang issues involving (and distinguishing) youth and adult gang members. The subject matter will be of interest to law enforcement, business and education professionals and community leaders. The training is being provided free to attendees with scholarship support from the U.S. Department of Justice. Scheduled topics include “The Impact of Youth Gangs on Our Communities,” Ethnic Youth Gangs in the Community: How Are They Different?,” “Not Just Sex, Drugs and Firepower—The Anatomy of a Gang;” and “Hispanic Gang Identification and Officer Safety Issues.” The deadline for registration is Thursday, March 4. Go to http://mtsufire.ning.com for more information. To register, go to http://cte.mtsu.edu/gangs/new.htm.

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

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.