Thursday, March 4, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“Jungle Red!”—Norma Shearer in “The Women”

Tennessee is seen by politicians as a red state, but the results of the latest MTSU Poll indicate it is redder than ever. The survey shows 51 percent of Tennesseans disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president while only 42 percent say they approve. Dr. Jason Reineke, associate director of the poll, says, “For comparison, according to pollster.com’s aggregation of national polls as of Feb. 27, 1010, 48 percent of Americans currently approve of the job Obama is doing as president, and 47 percent disapprove. Approval breaks as expected along party lines (in the MTSU Poll) with 84 percent of Democrats saying they approve while only 16 percent disapprove and 90 percent of Republicans saying that they disapprove while only 10 percent approve.”

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

“Am I Blue?”—Harry Akst and Grant Clarke

Phil Bredesen’s job approval rating hasn’t changed much as he heads out the door, according to the latest MTSU Poll. Fifty-two percent of Tennesseans say they approve of the job he is doing, which is the same number he had last spring and comparable to his 56 percent approval rating last fall. Twenty percent don’t care for the governor. The rest either don’t know or failed to answer. Dr. Ken Blake, director of communication research, says, “Not surprisingly, 60 percent of strong Democrats approve of the Democratic Bredesen. But so do 51 percent of moderates, whether Democratic or Republican, along with a 46 percent plurality of strong Republicans.”

Contact Blake at 615-210-6187.
kblake@mtsu.edu

Somewhere under the rainbow?

Nearly three-fourths of the adults in the state of Tennessee can’t name even one person who is running for governor. That’s the finding of the latest MTSU Poll. Seventy-three percent were so ignorant of the race to lead their state that they couldn’t come up with a candidate when asked. Dr. Ken Blake, director of communication research, says, “Even when the candidates are named one at a time, none is recognized by a majority of the state’s residents, and none has more than 12 percent support. A solid majority (57 percent) of Tennesseans say they currently don’t care whether the new governor is a Democrat or a Republican. Only 52 percent of Democrats express a preference for a Democratic governor, the same percentage who express a preference for a Republican governor.”

Contact Blake at 615-210-6187.
kblake@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

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.

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 today, 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.