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The following is a summary of major news activities at MTSU divided into National, Metropolitan, and Local, and further broken down as follows: Administrative, Athletics, Basic and Applied Sciences, Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Mass Communication, and Student Affairs.
The last category is General Interest and may include a broad spectrum of programs and people at , encompassing such areas as alumni, public safety, graduate programs, human interest, special celebrations, concerts, etc.
NATIONAL NEWS
Administration
The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a brief story about a grand jury indicting R. Winston Wrenn, former financial aid director at MTSU, for allegedly granting himself and members of his family thousands of dollars through the Financial Aid Office.
Business
Dr. Bill Ford, Weatherford Chair of Finance, appeared on CNBC-TV's "Squawkbox" program discussing new government reports and how they may affect interest rates and the stock market.
METROPOLITAN NEWS
Administration
A grand jury has indicted R. Winston Wrenn, former financial aid director, of granting himself and members of his family thousands of dollars through the financial aid office, reported the The Tennessean.
Page 2 (Administration, Metropolitan News, cont'd.)
Education, Memphis Commercial Appeal, amd Knoxville News Sentinel. Wrenn was released on a $5,000 property bond.
Tom Tozer, NPA, talked to Dennis Farrier, WSMV-TV, Channel 4, about campus safety.
Dr. Cliff Gillespie, Enrollment Management, talked to WTVF-TV, Channel 5's Dan McDonald about enrollment and how it may or may not be affected by possible tuition hikes.
Basic and Applied Sciences
Dean Earl Keese was interviewed on WLAC-AM concerning Marvin Runyon's coming to MTSU as the new chairholder of the Russell Chair of Excellence. An article also ran in the Chattanooga Times regarding Runyon assuming the duties of chairholder of the Russell Chair of Excellence.
Dr. Jay White, Physics and Astronomy, was interviewed on WTVF-TV Channel 5
about the Internet and access to information about outer space.
Business
An INREVIEW article titled "Come Dell or Highwater," quoted Dr. Rueben Kyle, director of the Business and Economic Research Center, as saying he didn't think we would see manufacturing plants for Dell suppliers springing up over night.
An article in The Tennessean said Mayor Phil Bredesen had some more work to do to get the Metro Council to vote in favor of the "Dell deal." The first vote, traditionally a perfunctionary vote, was 17-5 against.
The Tennessean did an independent analysis of the "Dell deal" and found that indirect costs were not included in the first proposal presented by Mayor Phil Bredesen. The indirect costs would be $171 million over a 40-year period. Some city council members who first voted for the proposal now will vote no or they are undecided, reported The Tennessean and Chattanooga Times.
Mayor Bredesen said The Tennessean's analysis was "dead wrong." He cited The Tennessean as saying, "any time you bring any jobs to the city, even though there are no incentives, it is a bad thing for the city. That doesn't even meet the common sense test." Bredesen still refers to the MTSU study that estimates the benefits to be $97 million over 40 years, according to an article in The Tennessean.
Dr. Bill Ford, Weatherford Chair of Finance, was on CNBC "Squawkbox" program discussing new government reports and how they may affect interest rates and the stock market.
It was announced in the Nashville Business Journal and The Tennessean that Dr. James Burton will take over as dean of the College of Business, effective Aug.1.
Vice president Al Gore unveiled his four objectives at the Family Reunion Conference at Vanderbilt, reported The Tennessean. Dr. Jeff Clark, Computer Information Systems, who watches polls and politics, said Gore's initiatives are safe political policy. Clark was also quoted in The Tennessean about the vice mayoral race in Nashville.
Education and Behavioral Sciences
Dawn Shelar, HPERS, talked to Steve Sullivan, WLAC-FM about summer activities for kids.
Dr. Gloria Bonner, dean, College of Education, was interviewed on WTVF-TV Channel 5 on teaching as a career. She was asked, "Do teachers make enough money to make it a worthwhile career?"
Page 3 (Liberal Arts, Metropolitan News)
Liberal Arts
Dr. Charles Wolfe, English, has been interviewed on WSM-AM and WPLN-FM about his new book "A Good-Natured Riot: the Birth of the Grand Ole Opry." Wolfe's book was also written up in The Tennessean.
Dr. Christine Isley-Farmer, Music, was interviewed by Jim Ellis, WSM-AM Radio, about reducing stress through the Alexander Technique and music.
Mass Communication
The Tennessean noted the Student Show photo collection provides viewers with a diverse exhibit. The show is displayed in the Baldwin Photographic Gallery in the LRC.
A blurb in The Tennessean noted Chris Haseleu has been named the chairman of the Recording Industry Department.
Student Affairs
The "Best and Brightest" midstate high school graduates were pictured in The Tennessean. Several plan to attend MTSU this fall.
General Interest
The Tennessean reported on the tuition hikes for state colleges and universities that could have students or their parents paying $90 to $340 a year more for school.
The fourth annual South Pacific Festival is coming to campus, noted The Tennessean. There will be Polynesian food, dancing, arts and crafts.
The Tennessean polled 224 valedictorians and salutatorians from schools in 10 midstate counties concerning prayer in school. Eighty-two percent said they favored prayer in school, if it was voluntary.
Priscilla Wainwright, News and Public Affairs, was interviewed by WSM-AM Radio about the Fourth of July "Celebration Under the Stars."
Tennessee Radio Network interviewed Elderhostel coordinator Nancy Bragg.
WPLN-FM Radio talked about Marvin Runyon as the new chairholder of the Russell Chair of Excellence.
The Nashville Business Journal noted Michelle Blevins of MTSU has been named treasurer of The National Society of Fund Raising Executives, Nashville Chapter.
LOCAL NEWS
Administration
The new associate vp in the Business Office is from Franklin. He is Michael Gower, who previously worked with the Tennessee Board of Regents as chief operations officer, reported the Franklin Review-Appeal.
The Health and Human Services Partnership, part of MTSU's Academic Master Plan, is working to see how the university can optimize the opportunities for continued growth and development in the health and human service professions in the community. This effort is being coordinated by Dr. Jo Edwards, holder of the Adams Chair in Health Care Services, reported the M'boro Sun.
A grand jury has indicted R. Winston Wrenn, former financial aid director, of granting himself and members of his family thousands of dollars through the financial aid office, reported the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, DNJ, and Tullahoma News.
Page 4 (Athletic, Local News)
Athletics
The DNJ pictured workers removing the old turf from Horace Jones Field, and a separate picture showed painters applying a fresh coat of cement to a wall at Murphy Center.
The Middle Tennessee Athletic Media Relations office now offers sports information on a web site (www.goblueraider.com), reported the DNJ.
A contract agreed to by TSSAA and MTSU will keep the boys and girls basketball championships in MTSU's Murphy Center until the year 2005, reported the Lexington Progress.
Basic and Applied Science
The DNJ reported Dr. Paul Lee, Physics and Astronomy, has received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct summer workshops for high school teachers. The workshop will enable teachers to show students how to uncover for themselves the fundamental laws of science by hypothesizing and testing their hypotheses in the lab.
Bert Mansfield, Agribusiness and Agriscience, led the MTSU Livestock Judging team as it out-performed several of the top schools in the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference in the recent All-East Livestock Evaluation, noted the DNJ.
The Tullahoma News, DNJ, Paris Post-Intelligencer, Jackson Sun, Columbia Daily
Herald, Bristol Herald Courier, and Elizabethton Star reported on Marvin Runyon's return to the mid-state to assume the duties of chairholder of the Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence. Runyon first came to Tennessee to start the Nissan Automobile Manufacturing Corp. in 1980. His position becomes effective July 1.
Area high schools now have computer, audio system, microphone, telephone,
and software linked to the MTSU video conference center. This is due to a grant titled "Distance Learning Technology for MTSU and Rural Schools in Tennessee," reported the Shelbyville Times-Gazette.
Business
Dr. Reuben Kyle, Economics and Finance, was quoted in the DNJ about Dell Corp. moving to Davidson County. He said Rutherford County will benefit because some of the suppliers for Dell will locate in Rutherford County. In a subsequent DNJ article, Dr. Kyle says the BERC predicted the Dell Corp. facility will more than pay back a hefty incentive package offered by Mayor Bredesen.
Dr. Bill Ford, Weatherford Chair of Finance, said that stores open for more than a year in Nashville showed an increase in sales of 2.7% over last year, noted the DNJ.
Dr. James Burton was pictured in the DNJ along with an article announcing his new position, as of Aug. 1, as dean of the College of Business.
The Tennessean did an independent analysis of the "Dell deal" and found that indirect costs were not included in the first proposal presented by Mayor Phil Bredesen. The indirect costs would be over $171 million over a 40-year period, reported the Maryville Daily Times, Athens Post-Athenian, Paris Post Intelligencer, Sevierville Mountain Press, Cleveland Daily Banner, Oak Ridger, Jackson Sun, and Greeneville Sun.
Mayor Phil Bredesen said the Tennessean's analysis was "dead wrong." He cited The Tennessean as saying, "Any time you bring any jobs to the city, even though there are no incentives, it is a bad thing for the city. That doesn't even meet the common sense test." Bredesen still cites the MTSU study that estimates the benefits to be $97 million over 40 years, according to articles in the Columbia Daily Herald, Johnson City Press, Bristol Herald Courier, Athens Post-Athenian, Kingsport Times News, Paris Post Intelligencer, and Dyersburg State Gazette.
Page 5 (Business, Local News, cont.d)
Two students from Webb School were awarded second place overall in the 1999 Stock Market 2000 Game, which is an electronic simulation of Wall Street trading, sponsored by The Tennessean and the MTSU Center for Economic Education, reported the M'boro Sun.
Dr. Al DePrince, Economics and Finance, was quoted in The Tennessean about the jobless rates continuing to fall. "Future employment growth is going to be a challenge for employers, given the small pool of those not in the work force."
The sons of Grady Haynes, founder of Haynes Lumber Co., have given the MTSU Foundation $40,000 to be used as a scholarship for a Rutherford County student interested in entering the College of Business.
Education and Behavioral Sciences
The Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia recently honored 25 educators for their support of the center. Three honorees were pictured individually in the Cannon Courier, Grundy Co. Herald, and Maryville Times.
Liberal Arts
The remains of the city, Sijilmasa, Morocco, have been unearthed by Dr. Ron Messier, History, and his team of American and Moroccan archeologists. Artifacts they have found are on display at the Parthenon in Nashville until July 17. Messier became interested in the city while he was in graduate school, reported the DNJ. Dr. Messier's find was also pictured and written up in the Birmingham Post-Herald.
Dr. Charles Wolfe, English, was featured in the DNJ's Newsmaker section. Wolfe's latest book is "A Good Natured Riot: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry." Wolfe will be signing copies and discussing his book at Davis-Kidd Booksellers during Literary Lights, noted the Columbia Daily Herald.
The Lebanon Democrat noted Dr. Lisa Pruitt, formerly an assistant history professor at Campbell University, will assume the duties of director of the Albert Gore Research Center on July 1.
David LeDoux, a former art teacher at MTSU, will have his works displayed at the Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Center for the Arts, noted the Rutherford Courier.
Student Affairs
The Manchester Times pictured honor graduate Dana Giltner being congratulated by President James Walker. Giltner is the sports reporter for the Times. Coffee County graduates were also listed.
Honor graduates being congratulated by Dr. James Walker were pictured in the Franklin Review Appeal and Columbia Daily Herald
The Tullahoma News, Lebanon Democrat, and Wilson World pictured students receiving academic excellence awards at the College of Education awards banquet.
The Southern Standard listed those students appearing on this spring's graduation and dean's list from Van Buren and Warren counties.
Jennifer Mitchell was noted in The Southern Standard as being inducted into Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
The Winchester Herald-Chronicle pictured Katie Rieben as recently being given the Robert A. Alexander Outstanding Agribusiness Senior Award.
Presidential Scholarship winners were announced in the Tullahoma News, Rutherford Courier, Franklin Review Appeal, and Columbia Daily Herald. Erin Hendricks was pictured in the Lewisburg Tribune; Angela Bailey, Cannon Courier; Stephanie Kagley, Lenior City News-Herald; Kimberly Moore, South Pittsburg Hustler; Steven Latta, Columbia Daily Herald; and Alan Meadows, Lauderdale Voice, as Presidential Scholars.
Page 6 (Student Affairs, Local News, cont'd.)
The M'boro Sun reported on students who had received awards and scholarships from the College of Mass Communication. The Winchester Herald-Chronicle pictured a student receiving his 2nd Lt. bars during the Military Science graduation ceremony.
Spring graduates were listed in the Lebanon Democrat, Dyersburg State Gazette, Ashland City Times, Cannon Courier, Crossville Chronicle, Humboldt Courier Chronicle, Winchester Herald-Chronicle, Franklin Review Appeal, Wayne County News, Manchester Times, Springfield Times, Columbia Daily Herald, and Morgan County News.
Those students appearing on the Dean's List for the spring semester were listed in the Dyersburg State Gazette, Lebanon Democrat, Gallatin News Examiner, Bolivar Bulletin-Times, Humboldt Courier Chronicle, Lawrenceburg Democrat Union, McKenzie Banner, Elk Valley Times, Lenior City News-Herald, and Trenton Herald-Gazette.
Honor graduates Susan Bailey of Watertown, Tamekia Harris of Lewisburg, and Charlotte O'Dell of Shebyville were pictured receiving congratulations from President Walker in the Lewisburg Tribune, Shelbyville Times Gazette, Lebanon Democrat, Franklin Review Appeal, and Trenton Herald-Gazette, respectively.
Several students were listed in the DNJ for academic excellence, and Lori Bruce was noted in the Paris Post-Intelligencer for having received the Wade Gilbert Scholarship in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
Three local students were mentioned in the Rutherford Courier, one in the Waverly News-Democrat, two in the Lebanon Democrat, two in the Lewisburg Tribune, and one in the Smithville Review for academic excellence in the College of Business.
The Sparta Expositor noted Angela Redwine was awarded the William Kerr Award for Excellence in Psychology.
The Tullahoma News, Cannon Courier, Smithville Review, Trenton Herald Gazette, Columbia Daily Herald, and Lewisburg Tribune pictured students who were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honor society.
The DNJ noted that more of the top valedictorians and salutatorians from Rutherford County high schools plan to attend MTSU than any other higher education institution in the state.
The Lebanon Democrat, Cleveland Daily Banner, and Oak Ridger noted how some students will have to work longer hours at their jobs to meet the financial needs of going to school, because of the tuition hikes.
James Byrge, Nursing, was pictured in the Lafollette Press as having received the Mary Iles Nursing Scholarship.
The Covington Leader reported James Mason, freshman computer information systems major, was awarded the MTSU/TSU Matching Scholarship, which is awarded to African-Americans who display high scholastic skills.
Come next spring, students at all Tennessee Board of Regents schools will be able to register for classes, chat with professors, and buy textbooks using their computers at home. The board signed an agreement with Campus Pipeline Inc. of Salt Lake City. The system will have free Internet service in exchange for advertising on-line, according to articles in the Johnson City Press, Cookeville Herald-Citizen, Morristown Citizen Tribune, and DNJ.
Laura Bobo, a senior majoring in Actuarial Science, is pictured in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette receiving a scholarship check from American General Insurance.
Amy Schroder was honored for academic excellence during the College of Liberal Arts annual awards banquet, noted the Shelbyville Times-Gazette. Mondale Rogers was pictured in the Lauderdale Voice receiving honors from the department of Music in the College of Liberal Arts.
Page 7 (Students, Local News, cont'd.)
The Rutherford County Middle Tennessee State University Alumni presented their first alumni scholarship to Oakland High School graduate Amanda Leyhew, reported the M'boro Sun. She plans to study elementary education.
General Interest
The DNJ, M'boro Sun, Lebanon Democrat, Shelbyville Times-Gazette, and Tennessee Tribune reported the Adult Learning Center at MTSU is sponsoring an adult education fair, "Returning to Learning," for adults who are considering going back to college.
The DNJ reported that students will have a pleasant surprise when they return in the fall, with the creation of 252 new parking spaces on campus, according to MTSU officials.
The DNJ reported that the money MTSU will get from the state will be much lower than was hoped for. Capital projects and teachers' salaries will have to be put on hold. The money received has already been earmarked for improvement projects.
It was reported in the DNJ that Crye-Leike Realty Co. would host a large yard sale for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity and a Middle Tennessee Realtors Association scholarship, through the MTSU Foundation.
The DNJ pictured workmen painting lamp posts in front of the JUB entrance to MTSU and sandblasting curbs in preparation for new paint.
The DNJ reported that tuition hikes would be put on hold due to controversy surrounding heftier proposed tuition hikes for UT-Knoxville and the University of Memphis. A later DNJ reported the Tennessee Higher Education Commission was recommending an 8 percent tuition increase for 1999-2000 at MTSU and most other Tennessee public universities.
An editorial in the DNJ discussed the recent recommendation by the THEC for an 8 percent hike in tuition. It stated that higher education is still within reach of most Tennesseans, but if tuition rates continue to skyrocket some, including state employees, won't be able to afford it.
The Tennessee Board of Regents voted to increase tuition for MTSU by 6 percent reported the DNJ, Tullahoma News, Kingsport Times-News, Bristol Herald Courier, Elizabethton Star, and Sevierville Mountain Press. Tuition at MTSU will go up $212 this fall for in-state students.
The DNJ featured 10 women honored by Eastern Star. Seven of the women are MTSU alumni.
The Al Gore Sr. Research Center has been getting a lot of media attention, with the announcement of Al Gore Jr., as a presidential candidate, reported the DNJ.
The Union City Messenger and Columbia Daily Herald noted a bill passed in the House that orders all public universities in Tennessee to allow students to remove their names from mailing lists that colleges sell to credit card companies.
Stories in the Kingsport Times-News and Athens Post-Athenian noted MTSU as ranking fifth in the ninth annual crime report for college campuses, with 53 violent offenses, 292 nonviolent offenses and 12 drug offenses. A story in the DNJ related how MTSU Police Chief Jack Drugmand and his officers try to prevent crime by constantly patrolling the campus.
Elderhostel, a way for retired folks to continue traveling and learning, is gearing up for its next session on the MTSU campus, reported the DNJ.
The DNJ noted MTSU will receive a $190,000 federal grant that will enable 20 low-income students to prepare for graduate school.
The Rutherford Courier reported that census workers for the year 2000 will be paid $8.50 an hour. According to the most recent figures available to Dr. Reuben Kyle, director of BERC, clerical and administrative support jobs paid an average of $8.48 an hour in this
Page 8 (General Interest, Local News, cont'd.))
Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most census jobs have a starting hourly rate of $8.00 an hour.
The fourth annual South Pacific Festival will be held on campus, announced the Rutherford Courier. There will be Polynesian food, dancing, and arts and crafts.
It was noted in the DNJ and Rutherford Courier that the Celebration Under the Stars will be held on the MTSU campus, with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. and fireworks to follow at 9 p.m.
MTSU Parking Services will be closing several parking lots to prepare for maintenance, noted the DNJ.
More people are attending art events than ever before, according to the Johnson City Press. An economic impact study of the arts done by MTSU showed that for every $1 invested, the impact of the non-profit arts industry signifies "at least double the return" on the investment.
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