MTSU News Summary for May 2000

NATIONAL NEWS Business PR Newswire quoted Dr. Bill Ford, Weatherford Chair of Finance, saying "April had five weekends this year as compared to four last year giving consumers an extra Saturday and Sunday of shopping that helped to bolster sales." Liberal Arts Dr. Ron Aday and Ben Austin, Sociology, answered this question in the Boston Globe: "What do country musicians think of old people?" Their answer "Not much" METROPOLITAN NEWS Administration With MTSU's skyrocketing enrollment President James Walker says the university needs more space and more faculty, reported The Tennessean. The Tennessee Tribune noted Dr. Walker received the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award from the Middle Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts of America. Athletics STAR Physical Therapy gives free injury assessments to high school athletes during the fall, and works with MTSU to hire graduate assistants as athletic trainers for Williamson County schools. Basic and Applied Sciences Dr. Eric Klumpe, Physics and Astronomy, told WMOT-FM sky watchers to get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime event when the sun and five planets line up with a crescent moon. Business Dr. Jackie Gilbert, Management and Marketing, interviewed with Holly Thompson of WSMV-Channel 4 on women in management issues which was the result of "Today's Response." Gilbert also talked to WMOT-FM about stress and how to manage it. Buddy Sadler of WSM-FM spoke with Dr. Doug Timmons, Economics and Finance, about the effects of rising interest rates on the real estate market. The NBJ noted R. Clayton McWhorter received the Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award from MTSU and the Jennings A. Jones Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise. Dr. Bill Ford, Weatherford Chair of Finance, was quoted in The Tennessean about the Federal Reserve interest rate hike. Ford also noted in The Tennessean that retail sales in Nashville are likely to increase because Opry Mills is a "destination mall," bringing in dollars from shoppers outside the local area. MTSU researchers wrote in their spring report on Midstate economic indicators "Depending on one's perceptive, the employment situations are either the jewel in the crown or a ball and chain that may inhibit future growth in the midstate economy." WMOT-FM spoke to Dr. Susan Harmon, Marketing and Management, about the Planning and Leadership Seminar for managers and supervisors. Management and Marketing professor Dr. David Foote talked to WMOT-FM about technology revolutionizing business and increasing efficiency, but he also said there was a downside to all the new technology. Education and Behavioral Science Dr. Bill Whitehill, HPERS, was interviewed by WSM-FM, and he will be on "The Plus Side of Nashville" discussing massage therapy research. The massage program was also featured on WTVF Channel 5 News. Dr. Diane Sawyer, holder of the Murfree Chair in Dyslexic Studies, was interviewed on WMOT-FM about the $1 million gift to the Center as a result of Today's Response. Dr. Rosemary Owens, dean of Continuing Education and Public Service, told WMOT-FM online education is a coming trend for lots of universities but that it won't take the place of more traditional schooling. Dr. Gloria Bonner, dean, College of Business, attended the dedication ceremony of the African-American Museum and Community Center, which was the old Bradley Academy, noted the Tennessee Tribune. Mass Communication Concerning early morning news programs, Dr. Richard Campbell, Journalism chair, says "People now use the TV in the morning the way they used to use the radio," reported The Tennessean. Dr. Larry Burriss, Journalism, interviewed with WSM-FM and WLAC-FM about stalking on the Internet, as a result of "Today's Response." Dr. Larry Burriss, Journalism, talked to WMOT-FM about the Watergate scandal, when "LIFE" was more than a board game or a cereal, and "Can talking about violence make people violent?" Liberal Arts Anthropology students in Melissa Schrift's class are looking for ways, like the "buddy" system, to help international students adjust to college life, reported The Tennessean. As a result of "Today's Response," Dr. Kevin Breault, Sociology, was interviewed by WSM-FM and Metro Networks about the burning of black churches. Lisa Rollins, News and Public Affairs, was interviewed about VOICES, an art and dance camp, on WTN with Jason Shepard. Drs. Bob Wyatt, Ken Blake, Teresa Mastin, and Jill Edy, Journalism, discussed the MT Poll on News 5 Plus "Open Line with Chris Clark." Dr. John Sanborn, Social Work, talked with Tennessean reporter Knight Stivender regarding a story on the Mt. Juliet students who were banned from their high school graduation because of the vandalism they caused at school. William Turner, History, wrote an article for The Tennessean titled "How Christ -like is it to belittle yoga, Rev. Graham?" The Tennessee Tribune noted Paul Wells, director of the Center for Popular Music, has been elected president of the Society for American Music, and will serve a two-year term A student-conducted study showed international students need "buddies" to help them get aquainted with campus life, reported The Tennessean. Dr. Steven Livingston talked to WMOT-FM about new foreign investments pouring into Tennessee. WMOT-FM talked to Dr. Bill Levine, English, and jazz journalist, about jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany. Dr. Fred Rolater, History, in his "What does history have to do with it?" segment on WMOT-FM, talked about "how important is a political pedigree?" and "Vietnam." Student Affairs WTVF-TV Channel 5 News aired footage, and The Tennessean did a story about kids on spring break, which showed some scenes not suited for a newscast. Gary Wolf, Journalism, called the tapes "crass". A journalism student, who freelances for The Tennessean, was charged with disorderly conduct after she interfered with an accident investigation. Students James Gilliam, Robbie Jones, and Barb Kellgren, who have excelled in their studies, were on News 5 Plus "Open Line with Chris Clark". WSMV-Channel 4 News featured graduate Jim Shannon, who overcame Cerebral Palsy to receive his diploma. The Tennessean noted Centennial High School graduate Teron Butler won a $5,000 Neill-Sandler Scholarship. Teron's home burned just months before graduation. The Tennessean noted nursing student AnnCarol Love of Williamson County has been elected for membership in Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. General Interest Tom Tozer, News and Public Affairs, was interviewed on WGNS-AM about the Cajun Feast, and the Management Seminar, both a result of "Today's Response". WTVF-Channel 5 News mentioned Dr. James Buchanan, Nobel Prize winner and graduate of MTSU, was commencement speaker at MTSU's spring graduation ceremony. The NBJ had a blurb about the Supervisory Management Seminar sponsoring Planning and Leadership Strategies for the New Millinnuium. Dr. Connie Schmidt, director, Instructional Technology Support Center, told The Tennessean the center worked with up to 1,500 teachers a year in workshops and technology labs. In the Local Section of The Tennessean, in the county blurbs, Spring Hill was asking families if they had any interesting stories or history from the years 1860-1880 to share with MTSU's Center for Historic Preservation. The Tennessean listed ten high school graduates who have faced unusual difficulties to go on and win Neill-Sandler Scholarships. Joseph Dey, $10,000 Neill-Sandler Scholarship winner, was featured in The Tennessean. Dey has had to overcome many obstacles to reach his high school graduation. Educational institutions, including MTSU, all reported experiencing a small number of email virus-related incidents, noted The Tennessean. The Tennessean noted the "office economy" of Williamson County needs continuing education, which could include bachelor's degree programs co-offered at MTSU. A new study by MTSU shows consumers are not reluctant to let companies know when they are displeased, reported The Tennessean. LOCAL NEWS Administration Dr. Duane Stucky, vp, Finance and Administration, and Dr. Robert Glenn, vp, Student Affairs, agree with athletic director Lee Fowler that students should not be allowed to use the new outdoor track for fear it would be damaged and not be able to meet strict NCAA standards for competition, reported the DNJ. President James Walker received the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award from the Middle Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts of America, noted the DNJ. Athletics The DNJ noted the Tennessee East-West Shrine Game will be held at MTSU for the second consecutive year The Chuck Taylor Golf Tournament, which benefits the MTSU baseball program was announced in the DNJ. Taylor played ball for MTSU in the 60s. Basic and Applied Sciences The M'boro Sun, as the result of Today's Response, noted Dr. Pam Holder, Nursing, is researching breast self-examination and the frequency of such exams. Dr. Eric Klumpe, Physics and Astronomy, says there is nothing to fear when we read about the volcanic eruptions and boiling seas that are commonplace on planet's such as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, noted an article in the DNJ. The DNJ and Rutherford Courier reported MTSU and Smyrna High School went head to head on the track with their solar powered cars getting ready for the Solar Bike- Rayce USA in Topeka, Kan. A graduate student in Kim Sadler's Biology/Elementary Education class was pictured in the DNJ catching small creek animals, along with Campus School fourth -graders who were on a field trip at Lytle Creek. The Biology students helped develop the Campus School award winning "TIME Trails in Math Education." Five ROTC cadets who received honors during the annual award ceremony were mentioned in the DNJ. The College of Basic and Applied Sciences held their annual award ceremony and honored 60 Rutherford County students, reported the DNJ. Business According to Dr. Bill Ford, Weatherford Chair of Finance, retail sales in the greater Nashville area, which includes Rutherford County, increased 5 percent over April 1999, reported the DNJ. Dr. Jackie Gilbert, Management and Marketing, will participate in MTSU's annual management seminar addressing workplace stress, reported the DNJ. The Business Advisory Council for the Jennings A. Jones Chair in the College of Business met recently to discuss employment needs, noted the DNJ and Tennessee Tribune. The DNJ reported that the Business and Economic Research Center noted that Rutherford County growth has been staggering over the past 30 years. Dr. Al DePrince, director, BERC, said if the merger between J.C. Bradford and Paine Webber is to succeed, Paine Webber will have to give it a personal touch, which is the difference between investment banking and retail banking, reported the DNJ. DePrince was featured in the Newsmaker section of the DNJ. He came to MTSU from New York and has recently succeeded Dr. Reuben Kyle as director of the Business and Economic Research Center. Dr. Melodie Phillips, Management and Marketing, was interviewed on WMOT-FM about telemarketing in the Legislature in Tennessee. A blurb in the DNJ noted MTSU will be the only public university in Tennessee to offer a major in entrepreneurship. In a two-part series in the DNJ, Dr. Jim Burton, dean, College of Business, explained that at the Governance Alternatives for Rutherford County Seminar Rutherford County is not ready for metro government yet. Pat Geho, director, Small Business Development Center, as a result of Today's Response, told the M'boro Sun the reason so many dot-com businesses fail is because they have poor business plans. Education and Behavioral Science An event called Celebration of the Urban Forest, co-sponsored by MTSU's Center for Environmental Education and Friends of the Greenway, placed outdoor experts at four greenway trailheads to hand out literature and give advice to greenway users, noted the DNJ in two separate articles. Dr. Charles Babb, Elementary and Special Education, had written several articles for the DNJ including, "America's future could be Mayberry," "Internet could face security controls," "Neuroplasticity delves into the brain's circuits," and "Standardized tests drawing criticism." The eighth annual Invention Convention involving more than 200 elementary students was again held at MTSU according to the Hendersonville Star News. Construction on a new Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia will begin in September, thanks a to $1 million grant from the Christy-Houston Foundation, reported the DNJ. As a result of Today's Response, Gary DePriest, HPERS, talked to the M'boro Sun about talking on a cell phone while driving. Liberal Arts Students in Melissa Schrift's applied anthropology class are seeking ways to help improve campus life for their international peers, reported the DNJ. A DNJ editorial also discussed the students' efforts to help their international classmates. The Wilson World noted that the Middle Tennessee Jazz Orchestra will perform at the Watertown Jazz Festival. As a result of Today's Response, Dr. Steven Livingston, Political Science, noted in the DNJ that the recession in Japan may be hurting the midstate area because of the strong Japanese presence in Tennessee. Dr. Jette Halladay, Speech and Theatre, has founded a camp, VOICES, for children age 7-18. They will be able to explore art, music, dance, and drama, reported the DNJ. MTSU's Mock Trial team, for the ninth consecutive year, has placed among the prestigious Top 10 teams in its division at the National Championship Tournament, reported the Franklin Review-Appeal. Dr. James Taylor, Social Work, was featured in the DNJ's HealthStyles section as a cancer survivor. Department of Music graduate Alysa Cannon is the first MTSU student to participate in the Fulbright Scholar Program. She will be studying music in Spain for a year for receiving this prestigious award, reported the DNJ and M'boro Sun. Paul Wells, director of the Center of Popular Music, has been elected president of the Society for American Music, noted the M'boro Sun. Mass Communication Dr. Ed Kimbrell, Journalism, has written several articles for the DNJ, including "Brown's free speech joke flubs," "Kick media over mall coverage," "News needs religion reporting," and "Talk show boycott real threat." Dr. Larry Burriss, Journalism, discussed Internet "cookies," which is a small computer program that a Web Site puts onto your machine, with the DNJ. As the result of Today's Response, Burriss told the M'boro Sun, "There is nothing inherently bad about a monopoly, if the company in question really operates in the public interest." Several Recording Industry students were featured in the DNJ discussing their work as DJs at local night spots. Student Affairs Anna Gorisch, theatre major, recently sat in the audience of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and watched her play, "The Individuality of Streetlamps" being performed, noted the DNJ. A student majoring in Aerospace wrote a letter to the editor of the DNJ promoting the need for an enrollment cap on freshmen entering college. Chris Amacher from Franklin County was mentioned in the Winchester Herald-Chronicle as having received the Military Order of Purple Heart Award at the ROTC awards ceremony. The DNJ noted three local students were inducted into Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. James Gilliam, MTSU senior, graduated first in his class with a 4.0 GPA, reported the DNJ. Two students from Cannon County, Crystal O'Hara, Presidential Scholarship winner, and Travis Luna, Academic Service Scholarship winner, plan to attend MTSU, noted the DNJ. Amanda Hale, an MTSU student and coordinator for MADD's Youth for Action, said in the DNJ that the Youth Leadership Power Camp helps students learn more about alcohol and themselves. The Lawrenceburg Democrat-Union noted graduating senior Joe Shay was named the Outstanding Photography Student. In the Rutherford Courier's "Our View," La Vergne High School senior Joseph Dey was featured as having overcome many obstacles to reach graduation. For his efforts he received a $10,000 Neill-Sandler Scholarship. The Smithville Review pictured Heather Cantrell who won a $5,000 Neill-Sandler Scholarship award. The Tullahoma News pictured June Parker who won the 1999-2000 Most Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the College of Education and Behavioral Science. Jessica Heim and Tessa Lynn, both from Coffee County, were two of 50 MTSU freshmen to be inducted into Phi Eta Sigma honor sorority. The Franklin Review-Appeal noted that Joshua Cromley was initiated into Beta Theta Pi at MTSU. Tips to Crimestoppers led MTSU police to arrest two students responsible for setting fire to a dumpster, reported the DNJ. The DNJ pictured two MTSU students who help young students with their learning skills as AmeriCorps volunteers. Andrea Perry, Psychology major, is pictured in the Tullahoma News being congratulated by Dr. J.P. Montgomery for receiving an Honors College Academic Achievement Scholarship. Giselle Roche-Klika was one of many who received awards of excellence during the Nashville Advertising Federation annual awards ceremony, reported the Shelbyville Times-Gazette. Andrew Dycus of Cascade High School is pictured in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette being congratulated by Mike Sandler after winning a Neill-Sandler Scholarship. Johnny McCraw had a dream of going to law school. The confidence he gained as a member of the Mock Trial team has helped him realize his dream, noted the M'boro Sun. The following students were named in the M'boro Sun for their achievements; LaTrina Mims, Panhellenic Council Student of the Year, Andrew Owusa, a graduate teaching assistant seeking to become Africa's first-ever athlete to be named an International Olympic Committee member, Jason Hill, physics major, helped dismantle the neutrino detector at Los Alamos National Lab, James Gilliam has a 4.0 GPA and was among the first group to win a $5,000 scholarship from Varsity Books.com, Stacy Horner, one of five students selected to perform in a Master class at the University of Memphis, and Keri Brewer, who was one of only two in the nation to win the $5,000 Human Resource Management Scholarship.(S.T.B.) The Southern Standard noted Kathryn Patterson received the Albert L. and Ethel C. Smith Pre-Pharmacy Scholarship. General Interest The DNJ noted the annual Cajun Feast hosted by the Rutherford County Alumni Chapter. Members of the Rutherford County Alumni Association were pictured in the DNJ at the annual event. Two area high school seniors were also pictured receiving their scholarship checks from the alumni association. The High School Drivers Education Safety Contest for Rutherford County, held at MTSU's driving course, was featured in the DNJ. Gary DePriest, HPERS, is the coordinator for the event. Ninety-seven year old Mary Lou Davidson was pictured in the DNJ walking in the 100-meter race during the Tennessee Senior Games, which were held on the new MTSU outdoor track. Four MTSU alumni, Holly Lynch, Billy Pittard, Charlie Myatt, and Bob Lamb, were honored as Distinguished Alumni at the annual Spring Appreciation Luncheon, reported the DNJ. The M'boro Sun noted a few major findings of the MTPoll "Bible Belt" beliefs, more state spending supported especially on education, consumer activism, and several other issues. Several high school seniors were quoted in the DNJ as they prepare to graduate, noting morals not technology are the key to life. Many of them plan to attend MTSU in the fall. The Career and Business Expo 2000 was organized by the Career Education Center, which is a part of the Division of Continuing Studies, noted the DNJ. The Winchester Herald Chronicle, Tullahoma News, Lebanon Democrat, Marshall Gazette, M'boro Sun, and DNJ reported that Dr. James M. Buchanan, Nobel Prize winner, and graduate of MTSU, will be the commencement speaker at the spring graduation ceremony. The DNJ noted MTSU honored 23 faculty and staff members who retired recently. They had worked at MTSU a total of 509 years. The possibility of MTSU buying St. Mark's United Methodist Church was mentioned in the DNJ. A subsequent article, according to a church official, said they would sell to MTSU. Murfreesboro Magazine noted three upcoming events to be held at MTSU: the Relay for Life for Cancer, Celebration Under the Stars, and Andy McCollum Golf Invitational to help support the Boys and Girls Club. Tom Tozer, director, Media Relations, was quoted in an article about Mother's Day. MTSU hosted the annual High School Drivers Education Contest on its Multiple-Car Driving Range, noted the Rutherford Courier. The MTSU Foundation will pursue building a $1.2 million on-campus welcome center and foundation headquarters as one of its main goals this year, reported the DNJ. In the Opinion section of the DNJ, an editorial was written about MTSU's future, which is looking dim unless the state increases funding for higher education. The Tullahoma News and Mt. Juliet News reported alumni picnics to be held by MTSU alumni chapters from Franklin and Wilson County. Chairwoman Dr. Liz Rhea and Jean Moser were pictured in the DNJ making plans for the upcoming President's Ball. Tom Nolin and Vince Armstrong from MTSU's Cartography Department will help complete a historical survey of the Civil War's 1863 Tullahoma Campaign, reported the Tullahoma News and Shelbyville Times-Gazette. Jazz fan Greg Hunt. with WMOT-FM, told the DNJ the diverse line up of the JazzFest is a treat for jazz lovers, but offer something for novices, too.