Monday, April 5, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

MTSU moviemakers

The initial public viewing of “The New, True Charlie Wu,” the fourth independent film from Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, and a crew of MTSU students and alumni will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, at Premier 6 Theater, 810 N.W. Broad St. in Murfreesboro. In addition, there will be multiple special nighttime showings from 7-10 p.m. that evening on the first floor of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. The short movie follows the title character, a young accountant who is disenchanted with his job, on a trip into his subconscious mind, where his overbearing boss and a gospel choir compete for his soul and his future. “Charlie Wu” already has received the Remi Award out of more than 2,400 entries at the 43rd annual Worldfest, the oldest independent film festival in the country, in Houston, as well as “Best Comedy Short” awards from the Smogdance International Film Festival in Pomona, Calif., and the Fifteen Minutes of Fame Film Festival in Palm Bay, Fla.

Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

Critter class

“Animals and Society,” a Sociology 4150/5150 course, will be offered in the May 17-June 5 session of the summer semester at MTSU. Dr. Angela Mertig, sociology, will teach the course Monday-Friday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. in Room 218 of Peck Hall. Issues to be explored include the role animals play in society; how animals have been viewed and treated by humans over time; what it means to say that humans are animals; the purpose of the animal welfare movement; the purpose of the animal rights movement; and what sociology can tell us about the relationships among animals, people and society.

Contact Mertig at 615-904-8349.
amertig@mtsu.edu

The I’s don’t have it.

One of the most stunning developments in journalism since the development of easily obtainable new technologies is the use of so-called I-reporters—audio, video and information from non-professionals who have no journalistic background. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says this gets into scary territory once the I-reporter moves beyond capturing the results of a flood or tornado with a camera. He says, “Do any of these folks now the first thing about contacting an authority figure to get some factual information? Probably not. Do they even know which expert to contact? Probably not. And let’s reverse the positions—suppose you are a rescue official and you’re approached by some unknown person with a cell phone. Are you going to talk with them? Of course not. The only outsider you are likely to talk with will be one with recognizable press credentials.”

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

TR EXTRA

INTERESTING ISLAM--The Muslim Students Association (MSA) at MTSU will kick off its annual Islam Awareness Week today, April 5, with an information table in the Keathley University Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This evening, the PBS documentary “New Muslim Cool” will be screened from 4:45-6:30 p.m. in Room N116 of the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Saleh Sbenaty, MSA faculty advisor, at 615-898-2966 or ssbenaty@mtsu.edu or Mujitaba Alamiri, MSA President, at mtsu.msa@gmail.com.

TO YOUR HEALTH--Dr. Scott Corlew, chief medical officer of Interplast, will have an open presentation on global health issues from 12:40 to 1:30 p.m. on World Health Day, Wednesday, April 7, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Interplast volunteers visit developing countries to provide free reconstructive surgery for adults and children with cleft palates, disabling burns and hand injuries. The presentation will be of special interest to students majoring in nursing, health and human performance, communication disorders, global studies and pre-health professions. This event is sponsored by the Adams Chair of Excellence in Health Care Services/Center for Health and Human Services and is free and open to the public. Contact Cindy Rhea at 615-904-8342 or crhea@mtsu.edu.

PRICELESS PRINTS--Printer, graphic designer and fine artist Brad Vetter will conduct two workshops from 4-5 p.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m. today, April 5, in Room 462 of the James E. Walker Library. Participants will have the opportunity to talk with the artist and work with the library’s 18th century reproduction printing press. The press is based on the English Common Press used by Benjamin Franklin during his days as a journeyman printer in London. It was constructed in 2004 of hand-hewn chestnut and white oak. The afternoon workshops are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at 615-898-2772.

THE MEAT OF THE MATTER--MTSU Raiders Against Animal Cruelty will host a screening of the documentary “Meat the Truth” at 7 p.m. tomorrow, April 6, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building as part of the MTSU Earth Month program. The student organization describes the film as exploring “the environmental impacts of animal agriculture.” According to the American Dietetic Association, meat protein production requires 26 times more water than vegetable protein. A discussion session will follow the film. This event is free and open to the public. To find out more, send an e-mail to mtsu-roar@googlegroups.com.

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 through April 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.

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.

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 today, 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 today, 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.”