Friday, July 16, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

A passion for fashion

MTSU fashion merchandising major Shelby Crocker of Milan, Tenn., will describe her internship with Fashion News Live in the heart of the New York fashion industry at 8 a.m. this Sunday, July 18, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). Crocker worked for the popular website (fashionnewslive.com) in February 2010 during Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek, the premier event of the year for designers, models and others concerned with the business of haute couture. Her duties included uploading videos to the site and sending newsletters to subscribers. Crocker says she aspires to be a fashion journalist. To listen to prior programs, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/news/podcast/podcast2010.shtml.

Contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

A veritable cornucopia

Lots of sweet corn will be available at the weekly student farmers’ market from 1-3 p.m. today, July 16, in the MTSU Horticulture Center. The corn is priced at $2 for six ears of $3.50 per dozen. In addition, there will be yellow squash, crookneck squash, onions, cabbage, potatoes, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, Anaheim peppers, jalapeno peppers, Hungarian hot wax peppers, purple hull peas and snap beans. Landscape plants also will be for sale, including knockout roses, boxwoods, forsythia, daylilies, monkey grass and much more. Gallon-size plants are priced at $3 each. Proceeds from the sale will benefit students by helping maintain the MTSU Farm Laboratories and the students’ Plant and Soil Science Club.

Contact Dr. Nate Phillips at 615-494-8985.
nphillip@mtsu.edu

Now where did I leave that eight-track tape?

Are your child’s college professors technologically challenged? Do they beg the students for help when trying to play a DVD or display a PowerPoint presentation? Dr. Thomas Brinthaupt, psychology, Dr. Maria Clayton, English, and Barbara Draude, assistant vice president for information technology, have published their research into “Barriers to and Strategies for Faculty Integration of IT” in the Encyclopedia of Distance Learning. According to the abstract, “Depending on level of faculty expertise, asking them to increase the time and effort they put into their teaching might reduce the time and effort they can devote to research, service, and other institutional requirements and responsibilities. Why should they, especially if there is very little acknowledgment or tenure/promotion credit given for incorporating IT into their teaching?”

Contact Brinthaupt at 615-898-2317, Clayton at 615-898-2585, and Draude at 615-904-8383.

TR EXTRA

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE--Today is the final day of the MTSU Computer Science Camps starting at 10 a.m. in Room 252 of Kirksey Old Main and Room 201 of the Midgett Building. Nearly 50 Rutherford County high school students have been exploring the fun and challenging worlds of robotics, animation and multimedia. Brenda Parker, computer science and animation camp director, says, “I’m so proud of the way they’ve worked, and I think it’s because they just enjoy it.” Pedro Reyes, rising senior at Riverdale High School, says, “Robotics is what I’m here for. … I’ve been able to dive right into it, and I’ve been able to learn from the other people (in the camp).” Media welcomed. Contact Randy Weiler in MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5616 or jweiler@mtsu.edu.

NO ENRGY CRISIS HERE!--Although many physically disabled youth miss out on adaptive-recreation opportunities as part of their lifestyle, the local creators of Camp ENRGY are hoping their summer-camp template will soon catch on. Now in its second year, Camp ENRGY, which stands for Excellence ‘N’ Recreation and Games for Youth, is a weeklong camp for youth designed and implemented by Dr. Don Morgan, director of the Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth at MTSU, and two of his doctoral students, Sandy Stevens and Jenny Hutchens. Set for July 26-30 on the MTSU campus, the camp’s registration roster filled quickly. Like last year, this year’s daytime camp will include yoga, swimming, nature trails, dance, indoor soccer, martial arts and GPS-based activities, as well as baseball, golf, strength/flexibility training and football. To request interviews with Morgan or Stevens, or to request a camp schedule, contact Lisa L. Rollins at 615-898-2919. Media are welcomed to attend, videotape and photograph camp activities for editorial purposes.

WOMEN OF THE ACADEMY--AAUW (formerly known as the American Association of University Women) of Tennessee will hold its Summer Leadership Conference at the MTSU Foundation House tomorrow, July 17. AAUW’s Murfreesboro branch maintains close ties with MTSU. The branch has faculty members, student participants in branch activities and joint projects with MTSU’s June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students. A highlight of the agenda will be an address by Terri Johnson, director of the June Anderson Center, on “Women’s Issues in Higher Education” at 11 a.m. Johnson is the winner of the 2009-10 Ayne Cantrell Award for outstanding service to the MTSU Women’s Studies Program. In addition, Tennessee representatives at the National Conference of College Women Student Leaders, which was held June 3-5 at the University of Maryland, will share what they learned.
Contact Johnson at 615-898-5989 or trjohnso@mtsu.edu.

IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO THEM.--For the eighth consecutive summer, girls with a passion to rock the house will descend on MTSU for the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp (SGRRC) sponsored by Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!), Monday, July 26, through Saturday, July 31. The day camp for girls ages 10-17 aims to create a positive atmosphere of collaboration and self-esteem. Campers will attend workshops and receive instruction in guitar, vocals, keyboards, bass, electronic music, songwriting, drums, recording, screenprinting, music herstory, photography, zine-making and do-it-yourself arts and crafts. On Saturday, July 31, the bands the girls have formed during the week will put what they’ve learned on display in a showcase performance at 7 p.m. in the Siegel High School auditorium, 3300 Siegel Road in Murfreesboro. Doors open at 6 p.m. All tickets are $10 general admission. Children age nine and under will be admitted free of charge. Contact the SGRRC at 615-849-8140 or sgrrc@yeahintheboro.org.

“A HEALTHY STATE ENCOURAGES MANY VOICES—AND LOTS OF LISTENING.”—HHS SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS--Expressions of confidence, faith, defiance, togetherness, satire and sobriety characterize the second edition of Voices We Haven’t Heard, a publication of MTSU’s June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students. The latest Voices is larger than last year’s edition, and it includes feminist poetry and prose nestled between glossy, colorful covers. Center Director Terri Johnson says the magazine empowers students by providing them with a creative outlet for their observations on racism, sexism, classism, homophobia and other forms of oppression. Voices We Haven’t Heard is free and available from the June Anderson Center in its new home, Room 320 of the Keathley University Center. For more information, call 615-898-5989 or go to www.mtsu.edu/jac.

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.

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.