Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

The big picture

Overall, the national recovery is starting to bear fruit in Tennessee. According to Tennessee Housing Market, a publication of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, the first quarter was marked by “steady payroll employment, job gains in the services sector, and a steady, but high, unemployment rate. The first quarter will likely set the stage for gradual improvement in coming quarters. Although the first quarter was kinder for the labor market, that was not the case for the housing market. Poor weather and market distortions from the home buyer tax credit caused home sales to fall significantly. Permits issued for single-family construction rose somewhat, but multifamily permits rebounded sharply. Once the effect of the home buyer tax credit is behind us, we may expect a more gradual improvement in the housing market.”

Contact the BERC at 615-898-2610.

Full speed ahead!

MTSU strength and conditioning coaches are again offering Speed School, a camp for male and female athletes between the ages of 10 and 18 who could benefit from being faster or quicker in their sports. Students will receive instruction from the Middle Tennessee Speed and Strength staff and learn the same drills the blue Raiders use to optimize their speed and quickness. The first set is slated for June 9, 16, and 23. The second set is slated for July 14, 21, and 28. All sessions are on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $30 per date, $75 per set, or $130 for all six sessions.

For more information, go to http://www.goblueraiders.com/ and click on “Camps,” or call Matt Riley at 615-904-8196 or Russell Patterson at 615-898-2428.

Good neighbor policy

What does China want from us? In terms of trade with the U.S., it wants soybeans. We send more than $9 billion in soybeans to China each year, according to Global Commerce, edited by MTSU’s Dr. Steven Livingston. He writes, “A surprising number of Tennessee goods depend on China. For 15 of the top 100 products exported by the state, 20 percent of the shipments or more are to China. … These products are concentrated in metals and chemicals. But sections of the computer and industrial machinery sectors are increasingly reliant on China as well.”

Contact Livingston at 615-898-2720.
slivings@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

BE A GOOD SPORT.--Youth Sports Camp at MTSU Campus Recreation is a great opportunity for children to learn a variety of sport, leisure and fitness activities that emphasize some crucial life skills including teamwork, sportsmanship and the value of regular exercise. Activities include swimming, basketball, soccer, flag football, racquetball, whiffle ball, kickball, capture the flag, dodgeball and ping-pong, among others. There are 10 week-long sessions meeting Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning June 1. Drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5:30 p.m. The camp is open to boys and girls ages 7-13. There is a nonrefundable deposit of $25 for each session, and tuition for each session is $150 with lunch provided. Children must have received all school-required shots, and proof of family medical insurance also must be provided. For more information, contact Campus Rec at 615-898-2104 or go to www.mtsu.edu/~camprec.

ROLL OUT THOSE LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER.--Saturday, June 12, will be MTSU Alumni & Friends Day at Nashville Shores, 4001 Bell Rd. in Nashville. Registration will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch will be served from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Nashville Shores opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. The price is $20 per person, which covers admission into the park and lunch. Children under age two are admitted free of charge. The park has a brand new lazy river and wave pool for more fun in the water. This even is pre-pay only. The deadline to register is Wednesday, June 9. Call the Alumni Relations office at 1-800-533-6878, go online at http://www.mtalumni.com/, or send an e-mail to alumni@mtsu.edu.

I’M PLAYING WITH MY BOOKS, MOMMY.--“Books and Children in the 19th Century: A Small Portrait” is the theme of an exhibit on display now and throughout this summer in the fourth floor Special Collections area of MTSU’s James E. Walker Library. The purpose is to show the variety of ways children and the adults around them engaged with books in the 1800s and early 1900s. The works available for viewing are indicative of the children’s book as an object of moral and educational value. The idea behind the books is to teach values and build character. Entertainment techniques are employed strictly to attract the children and hold their interest. Highlights include several movable books, which are books that contain text or illustrations that the child can manipulate. Pop-up books are one such type of movable book. Many items in the display have never been exhibited previously. Call the James E. Walker Library at 615-898-2772.

SING A SUMMERTIME SONG--The theme of the third annual Alumni Summer College is “A Song’s Life.” From June 23-25, MTSU alumni are invited to learn how a song is written, recorded, produced, performed and managed during three fun-filled days of music and camaraderie. Alumni Summer College is an opportunity to expand one’s knowledge of interesting subjects and with a curriculum that combines innovative classes and entertaining tours specifically created with MTSU alumni in mind. Highlights of this year’s event include songwriters in the round at the “Jack and Diane” show, a studio recording session, a songwriter “show-and-tell” session, Vince Gill at the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B, the Wildhorse Saloon and Jack’s Barbeque. Tuition is $205 per person. The registration deadline is Tuesday, June 1. For more information and to register, go to http://www.mtalumni.com/.

GOING THROUGH CUSTOMS--CUSTOMS orientation at MTSU will get underway today, 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.