MTSU News Summary for July 2000

NATIONAL NEWS Administration Numerous media outlets reported that President James E.Walker would be leaving MTSU to take the presidency at Southern Illionis University. The Associated Press reported the many accomplishments of Walker in a wire story that ran in multiple states. Athletics AP noted MTSU head basketball coach Randy Wiel was a candidate for the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina, and in a subsequent report quoted Wiel as saying North Carolina made a good choice in picking Matt Doherty. Mass Communication Marc Barr, Radio/TV and Photography, will be interviewed on the WWL-TN Morning News show, which is the CBS affiliate in New Orleans about the SIGGRAPH convention. METROPOLITAN NEWS Administration A blurb on the front page of The Tennessean, followed by an article inside, gave readers their first hint that President James Walker might be leaving his post at MTSU to take over the presidency at Southern Illinois University. Page 2 (Administration, Metropolitian News, con't.) The following day The Tennessean ran a story praising Walkers' work at the university, and noting that he would be leaving MTSU for SIU. Lisa Rollin's, News and Public Affairs, was interviewed by WMOT-FM about Dr. Walkers departure from MTSU. The following media outlets contacted Doug Williams, director, News and Public Affairs, about Walker leaving MTSU; AP, WSMV-TV, WTVF-TV, WSM-FM, WLAC-FM, WGNS-AM, WMOT-FM, The Tennessean, WPSD-TV (Puducah, Ky.) and four newspapers in Illinois. WMOT-FM noted Walkers acceptance of the presidency of Southern Illinois University. A search for an interim will begin soon. Athletics Candidates for the head basketball coaching position at University of North Carolina, including MTSU's Randy Wiel, were listed in The News and Observer, (Raleigh, N.C.) Basic and Applied Sciences WMOT-FM talked to Dr. Ngee Chong, Chemistry, about his mobile air pollution lab taking to the road to monitor air pollution emissions at industrial facilities. TR Business WMOT-FM and a blurb in The Tennessean noted the renaming of the College of Business to the Jennings A. Jones College of Business after former Murfreesboro mayor Jennings A. Jones. In a story about unemployment in the midstate Dr. Al DePrince, Business and Economic Research Center, told The Tennessean "slight rise should not be unexpected. It also does not mean we're teetering on the brink of recession." Dr. William Ford, Weatherford Chair of Finance, reported in PR Newswire that June same-store sales were up 3.4 percent over the same period last year. Education and Behavioral Science Dr. Bella Higdon was interviewed by The Tennessean and WSM-FM about the 0Rebecca and Jennings Jones Academy for Teachers of the Gifted. Psychology professor Dr. Michelle Boyer-Pennington was interviewed on Fox Channel 17 regarding the memory/recall research she is doing with preschoolers who have Down's Syndrome. Dr. Keith Carlson, Psychology, was interviewed by WSM-FM, WLAC-FM, and WMOT-FM about children under 14 holding down part-time jobs. TR Liberal Arts WLAC-FM interviewed Dr. Pat Nation, Sociology and Anthropology, about the current movie "Gone in Sixty Seconds." TR Dr. Pat Nation's sociology class had a lesson in trash, learning what you discard can give criminals a lot of information about you and your family, reported The Tennessean. Dr. Kevin Smith, Sociology and Anthropology, was interviewed by Tennessee Radio Network and The Tennessean about the "dig" he is overseeing at Wynnewood Stagecoach Inn in Sumner County. English students in Dr. Ron Kates' class are resurrecting the Jefferson Springs resort area through interviews with people who lived during that era, and compiling information to put in a book, reported The Tennessean and WMOT-FM. Margaret Ordoubadian, English, talked to WMOT-FM about the Harry Potter series, whether they are too scary for young readers. TR Page 3 (Liberal Arts, Metropolitian News, con't.) The 150th Annual Homecoming was celebrated by the all-black rural community of Free Hill, noted Dr. Carroll Van West, Center for Historic Preservation, in The Commercial Appeal. Dr. John Vile, Political Science, was quoted in The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) about the amending process of the Constitution. Mass Communication Downloading music on the Internet causes some musicians to see red, while Recording Industry students, with their low financial status, say it's a way to get some music, reported The Tennessean. Dr. Tom Hutchison, Recording Industry, and Dr. Bill Robertson, Physics and Astronomy, have been researching the scientific reasons why people like music, reported WMOT-FM. Recording Industry chair Chris Haseleu told The Commercial Appeal and The Desert News (Salt Lake City) that the cost of manufacturing a CD is less than 25 cents, but recording companies have admitted price gouging, that has cost the American consumers $480 billion since 1997. Haseleu told the Naples Daily News that it is not a requirement to have a performance program to feed the music industry program. Recording Industry professor Geoff Hull talked to WMOT-FM about Napster, the on-line song-swapping site. Student Affairs Two female students, 1999-2000 school year, were charged with vehicular homicide, noted In Review. Will Lambert, MTSU voice student, filled in at the last moment for an injured cast member in the Dickson Renaissance Center's performance of Tommy, noted The Tennessean. Two students shared their thoughts about Napster with The Tennessean. General Interest Harley Anton, Developmental Studies was interviewed on WSM-FM about standardized testing. TR Dr. Diane Sawyer, director, Dyslexia Center, was interviewed on Fox Channel 17 about the center. College students may face an 8 percent increase in tuition, according to a recommendation by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, reported The Tennessean. A letter to the editor of The Tennessean from Angie Melton, International Program and Services Office, offered condolences to the families of the two Chinese students who were killed in a car accident. Elderhostel coordinator Molly Culbreath talked to WMOT-FM about upcoming courses. TR Mary Patten, Library Science, talked to WMOT-FM about a bill currently in conference committee in the US Congress that would require public and school libraries to use Internet filters to block out questionable materials. TR Liz Johnson, coordinator for Telecourses and On-line courses told Randy O'Brien of WMOT-FM that the growth in off-campus courses surprises her. MTSU police are taking part in "National Night Out," which is a way for residents of a community to show solidarity against crime, noted WMOT-FM. Page 4 (General Interest, Metropolitian News, con't.) The Tennessean reported on the career change of Dr. Fred Rolater from history professor to missionary. Rolater retired after 33 years at MTSU. Governors School for the Arts, held on campus and directed by Dr. Jim Brooks, was noted in The Tennessean. A Tennessean article about making technology easily available to students noted that MTSU offers applications for admission, course registration, drop/add as well as about 40 Web-based courses. MTSU was mentioned in a Tennessean story about endowment funds not doing much to ease the cost of tuition. The Tobacco Summit, sponsored in part by MTSU, was held recently to help discourage teens from smoking, reported the Tennessee Tribune. TR The Williamson A.M. section of The Tennessean featured Covey Woods, a third grader who has benefited from treatment received at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Dyslexia. LOCAL NEWS Administration Provost and vice president of Academic Affairs Dr. Barbara Haskew told the DNJ that the university regrets losing Dr. Walker to SIU, but we should be thankful for all his contributions to the university. Dan Whittle's column in the DNJ was devoted to Gwenn Walker and the fact that she, too, will be missed. Dr. Barbara Haskew, provost, Academic Affairs, turned a children's song, "A Lion Named Sam" that her husband wrote in 1963, into a children's book, which she presented to him on their 37th wedding anniversary, reported the DNJ. Athletics Ty Coppinger, BRAA executive director, and Lee Fowler, athletic director, spoke at the annual BRAA business meeting, urging fans to attend games, especially now that we are in the Sun Belt, noted the DNJ. Jason Roberts, member of the baseball team, was pictured in the DNJ trying to stay cool while selling tickets to a game. MTSU head basketball coach Randy Wiel was mentioned as a candidate for the head coaching position at the University of North Carolina, noted the DNJ. In a subsequent DNJ article it was noted that Wiel will stay at MTSU. Monte Hale, sports editor of the DNJ, summed up Dr. Walker's leaving this way, "...athletics are not the cornerstone of a university, but they'll get people on your front porch." Basic and Applied Sciences According to Dr. Gary Wulfsberg, Chemistry, the department has a new $40,000 NQR spectrometer, which is an analytical device to help identify certain chemical compounds that will help develop a stronger more versatile plastic, reported the DNJ. Dr. Steve Howard, Biology, is working on a theory, based on a photo from NASA, that there is water on Mars, reported the DNJ. Business The DNJ, Morristown Citizen Tribune, Newport Plain Talk, and Lewisburg Tribune noted the College of Business has been renamed the Jennings A. Jones College of Business after former Murfreesboro mayor and MTSU benefactor Jennings A. Jones. Page 5 (Business, Local News, con't.) In a subsequent story, Jones, his wife Rebecca, President Walker, and Dr. Jim Burton were pictured at the renaming ceremony. The College of Business Exemplar Award was presented to five outstanding alumni, noted the M'boro Magazine. Dr. Al DePrince, director, Business and Economic Research Center, had this to say about Nissan's $1 billion expansion, "...with the local unemployment rate at its lowest point in decades and good employees being hard to find pressure on the local job market will likely intensify," reported the DNJ. College of Business dean, Dr. Jim Burton was one of a group of American academics who were invited to tour Japan's large corporations and explain the American way of doing business, the DNJ reported. TR The midstate economy has stayed firmly on its growth track in the first quarter of 2000, according to a report by the Business and Economic Research Center, which was printed in the Gallatin News Examiner and Tullahoma News. Dr. William Ford, holder of the Weatherford Chair of Finance, told the DNJ that even with the closing of some regional banks he does not see that affecting the middle Tennessee area. "Foreign trade is becoming an increasingly important part of local economics across the state" is just one of the conclusions drawn by the Business and Economic Research Center as published in the Global Commerce and reprinted in the Manchester Times. TR Education and Behavioral Science Elementary and Special Education professor Dr. Charles Babb writes a weekly column, "Future Watch" for the DNJ. Topics he has discussed are; "Corporate officer pay might fall back some", "Perks in the offing to bring in teachers", "Planners face tough future," "Wearable computers next trend," and "City demographics changing nationwide." Dr. Beverly Burke, Psychology professor and student advisor, was awarded the Superior Merit Award, noted the M'boro Sun. A 20-cent tax added on to the price of a six-pack of beer would reduce the spread of gonorrhea by up to 9 percent says Dr. Doug Winborn, HPERS, in the M'boro Sun. TR Psychology professor Dr. Jane Brissie agrees with a school board in South Dakota that recommends a program that encourages respect and responsibility in their students, reported the M'boro Sun. TR Dr. Patrick McCarthy, Psychology, told the M'boro Sun that friction between workers with children and those without is an issue of major concern. TR The two-week long Jennings and Rebecca Jones Academy for Teachers of the Gifted had attendees from Memphis to Chattanooga. The first week is spent on instruction for the teachers, and the second week they work with gifted students, reported the DNJ and Lewis Co. News. TR Dr. Michelle Boyer-Pennington, Psychology, has received grants from MTSU to study children diagnosed with Down's syndrome to determine their memory capabilities, reported the DNJ. Liberal Arts Dr. Jim Brooks, director of Governor's School, told the M'boro Sun that only the "best of the best" attend the monthlong residency program for gifted high school students. TR According to AP reports, since former president Richard Nixon did not donate his personal papers to the public, and the government seized them, a court settlement has awarded his estate $18 million, which Dr. John Vile, Political Science, says is unsettling to think that the American people are paying for documents that were generated during Nixon's public service, reported the M'boro Sun. TR Page 6 (Liberal Arts, Local News, con't.) The Wilson World noted two music faculty members, Dana Landry and Don Aliquo, performed at the Watertown Jazz Festival Dr. Kevin Smith, Sociology and Anthropology, has been on a "dig" with some of his students at the Wynnewood stagecoach inn in Castalian Springs, reported the Hendersonville Star-News, Hartsville Vidette, and DNJ. English professor Dr. Ron Kates did an interview with the DNJ at Uncle Dave Macon Days about his Jefferson Springs project. Another DNJ story pictured two women at the Jefferson Springs site when it was in its heyday. Kates English class is collecting information about the area to include in a book. Dr. Robert Hunt, History, will give a presentation on the Western Theater of the Civil War at Stones River Battlefield, announced the DNJ. One man's trash can be another man's treasure, especially if you are a criminal. That was the lesson Dr. Pat Nation, Sociology, was trying to show her students by having them go through someone's trash and find out all they could about that person, reported the DNJ. TR Dr. Hari Garbharran, Geography and Geology, took 11 MTSU students "down under" (Australia) on a field trip they will never forget, as stated to the DNJ by several students who traveled with Garbharran. The old "Art Barn," built in 1958, will be torn down and the Art Department will move into the former Todd Library, after renovations are made, reported the DNJ. The 150th Annual Homecoming was celebrated by the all-black rural community of Free Hill, noted Dr. Carroll Van West, Center for Historic Preservation, in the Columbia Daily Herald, DNJ, and Cookeville Herald Citizen. Sacred Objects and Sacred Places: Preserving Tribal Traditions is the name of Dr. Andrew Gulliford's new book on Native American religion, noted the M'boro Sun. TR Lisa Pruitt, director of the Albert Gore Research Center and an assistant professor of history, was the focus of the DNJ's Newsmaker section. Dr. John Vile, Political Science, told the M'boro Sun that if the State House cannot come to an agreement about the budget and there was a state shutdown, it would only affect nonessential services. TR Mass Communication Dr. Ed Kimbrell , Journalism, writes a weekly column for the DNJ and the Southern Standard. His topics have included; "Major story goes unclaimed," "News leaks can lead to the truth," "Campers leave media behind," "What happened to investigative journalism?" "King changes publishing world," and "Hearing sounds of silence." Commentary on WMOT-FM by Dr. Larry Burriss, Journalism, covered "The difference between breaking and bending the law," "Is it wise to parse bits and pieces of words just because they "might" have some evil connotation?" "You're nobody unless you're on the Internet," "How wholesome were the great old TV shows like "Bonanza" and "Andy Griffith," and "The phenomenal success of the Harry Potter series. " Student Affairs John Sullivan, senior, was the recipient of the N.C. Beasley Scholarship, named after the former English teacher and former co-founder of the MTSU Foundation from Tullahoma, noted the Winchester Herald-Chronicle. Placing first in the guitar category of the 2000 Beethoven Young Artists Competition was Matthew Palmer, reported the Johnson City Press. The first seven graduates of the Concrete Industry program were named in the DNJ. Two ROTC seniors were noted in the M'boro Magazine and were pictured in the M'boro Sun being "pinned" before the graduation ceremony. The Tullahoma News, Page 7 (Student Affairs, Local News, con't.) Rutherford Courier, and Franklin Review Appeal pictured graduates from Coffee County, Rutherford County, and Williamson County being "pinned." Students recognized at the annual College of Business awards banquet were pictured in the M'boro Sun (TR), Dyersburg State Gazettte, Tri-City Reporter, Shelbyville Times-Gazette, Winchester Herald-Chronicle, Franklin Review-Appeal, Columbia Daily Herald, Rutherford Courier, and Lebanon Democrat. Students appearing on the Spring 2000 Dean's List was named in the Jamestown Fentress Courier, Shelbyville Times-Gazette, Morgan Co. News, Crossville Chronicle, and Roane County News. The Spring graduation list appeared in the Huntingdon News-Leader and Manchester Times. Alicia Moore from Tullahoma won the top prize in a "Popular Photography" magazine, noted the DNJ. Several Coffee, Sumner, Franklin, and Wilson County students were noted in the Tullahoma News, Gallatin News-Examiner, Winchester Herald-Chronicle, and Lebanon Democrat as having received scholarships to attend MTSU. Ginny Barton, Biology major, was pictured in the Tullahoma News receiving the Tenet HealthCare Foundation's Citizen's Scholarship. Students inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma were pictured in the Winchester Herald-Chronicle, Manchester Times, Mt. Juliet News, Jamestown Fentress Courier, and Jefferson City Standard Banner. Beth Hood, a public relations and communications major at MTSU, won the Miss Tennessee title and was featured in the Jackson Sun, Morristown Citizen Tribune, Kingsport Times-News, and Sevierville Mountain Press. Two International students from China were killed in an automobile accident, reported the DNJ. Two MTSU students will be studying in Brazil as part of the Kentucky Institute for International Studies program, noted the Roane County News. The Winchester Herald-Chronicle announced Coty Wells has been named a MTSU Band of Blue 2000 majorette. A Maury County student, who plans to study Psychology, has received an Academic Service Scholarship from MTSU, noted the Columbia Daily Herald. The McKenzie Banner noted a student who received the Otis Floyd Scholarship. Students were noted in the Carthage Courier, Bolivar Bulletin-Times, and McKenzie Banner as having received Presidential Scholarships. A student from Harriman County was awarded the Albert L. and Ethel C. Smith Pre-Pharmacy Scholarship, noted the Roane County News. Jennifer Tarpley was pictured in the Cannon Courier, and Jaclyn Wilson in the McKenzie Banner as graduating with honors this past spring. Students receiving Scholastic Achievement Scholarships were noted in the Humboldt Courier Chronicle and Brownsville States Graphic. Two people, one an MTSU student, were involved in a light plane crash, reported the DNJ. Susan Finger, an MTSU student from Tullahoma, went to Cuba along with several other students and faculty and returned to tell her story to the Rockwood Times. The Murfreesboro Parent and DNJ reported on the Fourth of July "Celebration Under the Stars" event held on campus. Developmental Studies professor Harley Anton tells the M'boro Sun that phonics should only be one part of a total language approach to reading instruction. TR The Christy-Houston Foundation has pledged $1 million to the Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia, which Dr. Diane Sawyer, director, says will help build a Page 8 (General Interest, Local News, cont’d.) new facility, reported the M'boro Magazine, Franklin Review-Appeal, and Columbia Daily Herald. MTSU police officer Danny Booker was honored as one of the recipients of the Rutherford County Crimestoppers "Officer of the Year" award at their annual banquet, noted the M'boro Magazine. This year's President's Ball, scheduled for September 30, was noted in the M'boro Magazine. Retired professor Bertha Clark Chrietzberg was featured in the DNJ's Newsmaker section. Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce President Steve Benefield stressed how important it is to the economy of Rutherford County for the International Walking Horse Show to continue to be held in Murfreesboro, reported the DNJ. Two additional DNJ stories and one in the Franklin Review-Appeal said the Walking Horse Owners' Association executive director has publicly stated that his board is looking at alternative sites for the show. A picture of the stage to be used and a schedule of events for the "Celebration Under the Stars," was in the DNJ. The Party Line section of the DNJ complimented the "Celebration Under the Stars" event. A blurb in the Rutherford Parent explained Project HELP, a service program providing educational programming for "high risk" children. The MTSU Public Safety Department will participate in " National Night Out," which focuses on local police and fire departments, at their annual event, reported the DNJ in two separate articles. An airline mechanic from Warren County wants to build a Fokker Standard Universal plane, using students from the Aerospace Department as his labor force, reported the Southern Standard. Two courses offered through Continuing Studies, "First Line Supervison," and "Fundamentals of Business Writing," were noted in the DNJ. Larry Quesenberry's home and garden, pictured in the DNJ, will be the location for the Raider Roundup. Items being offered for auction were also listed in the DNJ's Party Line. Co-chairs of the Raider Roundup, Liz Rhea and Lori Ducey, were pictured in the DNJ with the Outback Steakhouse proprietor, who will cater the upcoming event. Another story pictured Raider planners Lori Ducey, Liz Rhea, and Linda Parks going over the invitation list for the Roundup. Members of the Raider Roundup were pictured in the DNJ showing items up for auction for the upcoming fund-raising party and auction. The M'boro Magazine also featured the Raider Roundup. The MTSU Foundation announced in the DNJ that it will sell 800 acres of the Stark property to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. An editorial in the DNJ discussed how the university will benefit from the sale of the property, and how the property will be preserved. Tommy Campbell, MTSU Foundation president, is pictured in the DNJ signing the contract to sell 800 acres of Stark property to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. A new ambulance station built on state-owned MTSU land is open and ready for business. The land is being leased for $1 a year, noted the DNJ. The Tennessee Writers Alliance and MTSU will sponsor a fiction-writing workshop, announced the Mt. Juliet News, Winchester Herald- Chronicle, and Tullahoma News. Page 9 (General Interest, Local News, con't.) An editorial in the DNJ noted the rash of light plane crashes, one an MTSU plane, and another one in which an MTSU student died, that have occurred in the community recently. The Tennessee Small Business Development Center/MTSU will provide a free workshop to help those interested in pursuing a career change or starting a new business, noted the DNJ and Heart of Tennessee. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission recommended an 8 percent tuition hike at Tennessee's public colleges and universities, which could lead to an increase in tuition for MTSU students, reported the DNJ. Dr. Walker told the DNJ that an increase was necessary to keep the quality of education we now have. The DNJ, Shelbyville Times-Gazette, and Elizabethton Star reported that the increase passed by the Tennessee Board of Regents was 10 percent, 2 percent higher than first thought. The DNJ noted that costs for a one-year education for a freshman could top $9,300, with tuition being only one-fourth of that total. The Heart of Tennessee noted the second annual Drum Corps International competition, held in Floyd Stadium, will be co-hosted by the MTSU Band of Blue. A group of Tennesseans, including Gary Wolf, Journalism, attended the Green Parties national convention to nominate Ralph Nader as their presidential candidate, reported the Greenville Sun. The theft of five projectors, valued at $40,000, from the Business and Aerospace Building was reported in the Rutherford Courier. The renovation scheduled for Womack Lane Apartments, family student housing, will not force families to leave their homes as previously thought, reported the DNJ. The M'boro Sun noted the Tobacco Summitt, held in Nashville, was backed in part by MTSU, with Drs. Martha Edwards and Peggy O'Hara Murdock accompanying graduate students and faculty who led workshops and supported the conference. The Lewisburg Tribune noted Don Moser has passed the MTSU Foundation presidential gavel to Tommy Campbell, a lifelong resident of Murfreesboro. MTSU Office of Continuing Studies took part in the YMCA's second Career Day, noted the DNJ. Students from local high schools are pictured in the DNJ participating in their various classes during Governors School. "Out with a bang" is how the DNJ described the Fourth of July "Celebration Under the Stars" at MTSU.