Monday, August 30, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Selling the dwelling?

Home prices in Tennessee remained in a downward slump in the first quarter, according to Tennessee Housing Market, a publication of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center. “Average home prices, including sales and refinanced mortgages, fell 4.8 percent over the year for Tennessee, less than the U.S. average decline of 6.8 percent,” TCM states. “Clarksville, Chattanooga and Knoxville experienced declines substantially lower than the state average, while Nashville’s decline was about the same as the state. Larger declines occurred in Memphis and the nonmetro portions of the state. Price declines lower than the state average occurred in Johnson City (-1.1 percent) and Kingsport-Bristol (-2.7 percent).”

Contact the Business and Economic Research Center at 615-898-2610.

Oh, Canada!

Our neighbor to the north is the focus of an Advance Studies in Comparative Politics Course being taught this semester by Dr. Amanda DiPaolo, assistant professor of political science at MTSU. “The Politics of Canada” provides an overview of the major political institutions of the Canadian regime. Students will examine the Canadian Constitution, the concept of Canadian federalism, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, political parties and the electoral system, and Canadian foreign policy, as well as concepts such as regionalism and the place of Quebec within Canada. No prior knowledge of Canada is required, but this course will be a challenging intellectual experience. Attendance will be mandatory, as will active participation in class discussions.

Contact DiPaolo at 615-898-2708.
dipaolo@mtsu.edu

Malaysia, Truly Asia

Dr. Sean Foley, assistant professor of history at MTSU, will embark in mid-September on a 10-month research excursion in Southeast Asia after winning the third Fulbright Fellowship of his career. Foley will work and study primarily in Malaysia, where he will examine religious links between Southeast Asia and the Arab-dominated Middle East region under the auspices of International Islamic University Malaysia in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. In addition, Foley’s study and lecture itinerary will take him to India, Thailand and Brunei, an experience he will chronicle with periodic columns in The Tennessean.

Go to www.seanfoley.org for more information about Foley’s work.
Contact Foley at sfoley@mtsu.edu.

TR EXTRA

IF YOU YEARN TO LEARN—“Adventures in Learning,” the annual mini-school for adults age 50 and above, will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 13, Sept. 20, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4 at First United Methodist Church, 265 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. The purpose of the event, which is planned by an interfaith coalition, is to provide a program by and for older adults in which they can shore knowledge, talents and skills for lifelong learning and personal growth. As usual, retired and active MTSU faculty will play prominent roles in the event. A highlight will be “Mount and Mountain,” a dialogue between Dr. Rami Shapiro, adjunct professor of religious studies and an ordained rabbi, and Dr. Michael A. Smith, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. This class will be based on online conversations Shapiro and Smith conducted about the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. To register, or for more information, contact Mary Belle Ginanni at 615-895-6072.