Thursday, August 12, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

War and the courts

Zones of Twilight: Wartime Presidential Powers and Federal Court Decision Making, a new book from Dr. Amanda DiPaolo, political science, examines military detentions, warrantless wiretaps (dating all the way back to Lincoln tapping telegraph communications), the confiscation of property and free speech cases. DiPaolo explains the courts’ handling of cases involving presidential power during times of national security emergencies. Zones of Twilight also puts into historical context more recent cases stemming from the war on terror, showing not only how the debates and concerns have a long history, but that recent decisions rarely depart from historical precedent.

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

Can you compete?

Is a noncompete agreement really enforceable? Drs. Patrick Geho and Stephen Lewis, in Proceedings of the Academy of Entrepreneurship, say many states apply a test of reasonableness in determining whether to enforce the document. They say reasonableness is defined by three criteria: “1) Is the restraint reasonable in the sense that it is no greater than necessary to protect the employer in some legitimate interest? 2) Is the restraint reasonable in the sense that it is not unduly harsh and oppressive on the employee? 3) Is the restraint reasonable in the sense that it is not injurious to the public? … Although there are a few states that hold noncompete agreements as prima facie void, most state courts will rule for partial enforcement.”

Contact Geho at 615-898-2745 or pgeho@mtsu.edu
Contact Lewis at 615-898-2902 or slewis@mtsu.edu.

When bad news is a good thing

ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” recently aired an expose on the lack of food safety at many major sports venues in the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says these venues can turn lemon into lemonade if they use the information uncovered by ESPN as a catalyst for change. Roy says, “In the case of sports food service, the ESPN expose should serve as a call for companies to review all aspects of their operations, including hiring, training, food preparation processes, and the quality of products offered by their suppliers. … Sports venues have expanded their food service options to more upscale (and higher profit margin) fare, but their efforts may be more fruitful with a focus on a quality, consistent and healthy experience for their patrons.”

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

THE FISCAL FUTURE--Dr. David Penn, director of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, will be one of the participants in a panel discussion on “Nashville’s Economic Forecast” at 3:30 p.m. today, Aug. 12, at the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville. Other scheduled participants include Doug Brandon, managing principal, Cassidy Turley, and president of the Leadership Middle Tennessee class of 2010; Rob McNeilly, president and CEO, SunTrust Bank; and Christopher Parks, co-founder and CEO, change: healthcare. This discussion, which is co-sponsored by the Nashville Business Journal and Colliers International, is part of NBJ’s “Shaping a Greater Nashville” series. To register, go to http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/event/27811.

GRITS ARE GOOD FOR YOU.--The GRITS Collaborative Project and MTSU invite you to participate in their 2010 forum from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. today, Aug. 12, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. The keynote speaker will be Lee Rennick, executive director of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Education Partnership. Her address is titled “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.” Guest speaker Donna M. Inch, newly appointed Chairman and CEO of Ford Land, will discuss the importance of attracting and retaining women in the engineering and science pipeline. GRITS stands for Girls Raised in Tennessee Science. Its collaborative project brings together organizations and individuals committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The registration fee is $10. Students may attend for free. Contact Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross at 615-904-8253 or jiriarte@mtsu.edu.

“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.