Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

A ray of hope

The national recovery, which has been tiptoeing into view over the past few months, finally is beginning to make itself known in Tennessee. According to the first quarter edition of Tennessee Housing Market, a publication of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center (BERC), “Nonfarm employment, for example, was steady during the quarter, and employment in services-providing sectors posted a modest increase. However, even though some labor indicators improved, the housing market experienced setbacks. Initial claims for unemployment insurance in Tennessee remained unchanged in the first quarter following several quarters of improvement. ‘Initial claims’ is the number of newly laid-off payroll workers, considered an indicator of the future path for the unemployment rate. The current level of initial claims is consistent with job growth, but we are not yet experiencing net employment increases.”

Contact the BERC at 615-898-2610.

Fighting words

The North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled that a teenager’s racial slur does not constitute protected speech. The juvenile, who was charged with disorderly conduct, allegedly yelled “stupid n-----“ at an African-American girl outside a teen center while also circling around her with other teens. The trial court rejected the alleged perpetrator’s First Amendment-based defense, and the high court agreed on appeal May 11. David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and First Amendment Center scholar, says, “The decisions from the North Dakota high court show that a court may take pains to find that speech constitutes fighting words if the expression is offensive enough. Courts often will look to see if there is any accompanying conduct that can tip the balance toward a disorderly conduct conviction or adjudication.”

Contact Hudson at 615-741-1342.
dhudson@fac.org

Picture this!

When Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams fainted during a floor session last week, Associated Press reporter Erik Schelzig took photographs. Now State Rep. Joe Towns (D-Memphis) has introduced a resolution to revoke Schelzig’s press credentials. Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and First Amendment expert, calls this “another cheap shot by a politician trying to make a name for himself.” Burriss points out, “Towns may think the photographs are distasteful, but it’s not his job to decide which news events the public needs to know about. Every state official takes an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. That means he and every other public official have to support the notion of a free and open press and the corollary about the public’s right to know.”

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

TR EXTRA

GOING THROUGH CUSTOMS--CUSTOMS orientation at MTSU will get underway Wednesday, May 26, and run through late July. Two-day sessions will acquaint students with what will be their academic and social home for the next four years. Admissions, Financial Aid, Housing and Residential Life, advising and other departments will be involved with the orientation process that will integrate new students into the intellectual, cultural and social climate of the university. Gina Poff, director of New Student and Family Programs, says organizers “are adding orientation leaders to work specifically with parents” this year. The general assembly portion of CUSTOMS will move to Murphy Center since Tucker Theatre is under renovation. CUSTOMS participants will be taken onto the field at Floyd Stadium at the beginning of the morning for a video message from head football coach Rick Stockstill. For more information, call 615-898-2454 or visit www.mtsu.edu/customs.

ADOPT A VET--The Albert Gore Research Center is an official partner in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. The center participates as part of its public service mission. Currently, the Gore Center has about 50 veterans of World War II and Korea on its list of those willing to be interviewed for the Veterans History Project at MTSU, but these vets are in their 80s and 90s. It is urgent that the Gore Center have funds in hand to record their stories in 2010. With each tax-deductible contribution of only $50, the Gore Center can fund one interview with a WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War or Iraq/Afghanistan veteran, or a civilian who supported the war effort by working in war industries or volunteering for the USO, Red Cross or other support organizations. Your donation will pay for tapes and other supplies, transcription, permanent archiving and posting of the materials on a website. For more information, go to http://gorecenter.mtsu.edu/adoptvet.hem.

APRENDA CON ME--The University School of Nashville is hosting MTSU’s 2010 Summer Language Institute, where you can learn Spanish in a fun, low-stress environment. The methods employed are Total Physical Response (TPR) and Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS). These methods mimic the way you learned your first language. Movement, games, songs and storytelling are all part of the instruction. Brian Roberts will teach Spanish I for ages 16 and up from July 19-23 at the University School and from Aug. 2-6 at the O’More School of Design in Franklin. Jason Fritze will teach Spanish II for ages 16 and up from July 19-23 at the University School. The cost for all language classes is $350 with a $20 materials fee due on the first day of class. Contact Dr. Shelley Thomas at 615-898-5757 or shthomas@mtsu.edu.