Fireworks highlight Celebration Under the Stars

by Priscilla Wainwright

Murfreesboro residents attending this year's Celebration Under the Stars will be accomplishing more than enjoying a holiday and pondering history when they gather at MTSU on July 4.

Those who bring canned food items for the day-long food drive will also be helping the less fortunate in the community. Donations will be collected on-site, then transported to area community service organizations for distribution.

Activities for the day include face painting, arts and crafts, "which way" croquet, a replay relay, yo-yo, hula hoop, paddle ball contests, and a birthday cake to celebrate the 4th. The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on MTSU Intramural Fields behind Bragg Mass Comm Building.

Families are invited to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs, or enjoy tailgate socials in parking areas, but are asked not to bring pets, grills, fireworks, or alcoholic beverages. Concessions will be sold by the Blue Raider Athletic Association. The event is free and open to the public.

Performances by gifted students from across the state will begin at 5 p.m., with the Governor's School Chorale. Under the direction of MTSU assistant professor of Music Angela Tipps, the group will perform "The Star Spangled Banner," "The Gift to Be Simple," The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Sourwood Mountain," and "Every Time I Feel the Spirit." In case of rain, WGNS will announce the cancellation of this performance beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Beginning at 5:25 p.m., the Governor's School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Lipscomb University Music Professor Stephen Rhodes will perform a selection of patriotic music. Both groups will perform "America The Beautiful," at 5:50 p.m.

Murfreesboro Mayor Richard Reeves is among dignitaries expected to address the crowd beginning at 7:25 p.m. Rep. John Hood will emcee.

Selections scheduled for performance by the Middle Tennessee Symphony include the National Anthem, "American Civil War Fantasy," "On the Mall March," "Star Wars," "Dixieland Jamboree," Salute to Big Bands," "Remembering the Beatles," "Selections from Hook," highlights from "Rocky," "Porgy and Bess," "Movie Spectacular," "Olympic Fanfare," "Disney Magic," "Peter Gunn," and Tschaikovsky's "1812 Overture." Dr. Laurence Harvin, MTSU professor of Music, is the symphony director.

In case of rain, the symphony will perform in the Music Hall of the Wright Music Building at MTSU. WGNS would begin making this announcement at 6 p.m.

This year's sponsors include the City of Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, Rutherford County Government, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Kroger, Wal-Mart, The Daily News Journal, Heritage Farms Dairy and the Middle Tennessee Symphony.

For more information, call event chairperson Lori Ducey at (615) 898-5143 or MTSU News and Public Affairs at (615) 898-2919.

Bonner takes helm of Education College

by Priscilla Wainwright

Dr. Gloria Bonner calls her work as an educator a "labor of love." Bonner, who served as interim dean after former dean Dr. Bob Eaker returned to teaching, has recently been named the dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at MTSU.

"Whether I'm in the classroom, working with colleagues, developing programs, or providing leadership as an administrator, the common denominator is teaching and learning," Bonner said.

"I am pleased that Dr. Bonner has accepted the appointment as dean of the College of Education. Dr. Bonner has excellent credentials and will bring to the position a vast amount of experience and knowledge," said MTSU President James E. Walker.

"I look forward to working with her in her new role as dean," he added.

"I am very pleased at Dr. Gloria Bonner's appointment as dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences," said associate vice president for Academic Affairs Dr. Bob Jones.

"She is widely respected within the state's educational community and has the confidence of the faculty of the College. Dr. Bonner is a very dedicated professional who has given much to the university and to her students in her 14 years at the university," Jones said.

"She will be an excellent leader of the college that educates the largest number of baccalaureate teachers in Tennessee," he added.

Departments in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences include Criminal Justice Administration, Education-al Leadership, Elementary and Special Edu-cation, HPERS, Human Sciences, and Psychology.

Taking the helm of one of the state's largest teacher education programs is a personal milestone for Bonner, a Murfreesboro native, who says she felt even as a freshman beginning her teacher training that MTSU had "an exceptional teacher preparation program."

When asked what influenced her entering the teaching profession, she cites the teachers she had in Murfreesboro's city schools and Rutherford County Schools, including Emma Roberts at Holloway High School.

"At every grade level I remember something special about every year and every teacher. There were vivid programs with caring individuals. They all took a special interest in their students."

"I was always impressed with how teachers made a difference in the lives of their students. Becoming a teacher was a decision that evolved over a period of years."

Many of the qualities she saw in her teachers are qualities she will continue to develop in both her faculty and her students.

"Teachers have strong work ethics, are team players, service oriented, and are caring individuals. These are all qualities people need as they interact with others to bring out the best in others. I like these characteristics in people in general, and hope I model them to those I work and interact with."

After completing her bachelor's degree in 1972, Bonner remained at MTSU to receive both her master's in education and an educational specialist degree. She received her doctorate in education from TSU in 1988.

She began her teaching career in 1972 at Murfreesboro's Mitchell Neilson Elementary school, teaching fourth and fifth grades. In 1980, she began teaching in the Georgia's Dekalb County elementary school system, again in the fourth and fifth grades, then later as an instructional lead teacher. During this time, she taught at MTSU as an adjunct, which she says "affirmed for me that a lifetime goal was to become a faculty member in the teacher education program."

Returning to her alma mater as a developmental studies instructor in 1985 was another step in that journey. Winner of the MTSU Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award in 1989-90, Bonner became assistant dean for teacher education administration services in 1990.

She is a member of organizations including American Association of University Professors, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Kappa, the National Education Association, the Tennessee Association of Teacher Educators and the Tennessee Education Association.

Commenting on the new name of the college, the educator in Bonner quickly becomes evident.

"We're recognized for our teacher preparation program, which is part of the history and tradition of this institution. But there are four other departments within the college with a tremendous commitment to preparing other quality professionals in the areas of Human Sciences, Criminal Justice, Psychology and HPERS. Just as our teacher ed program is ranked, these are among our top programs on campus. We're very proud of the commitment of our faculty and administrators in these areas."

Bonner speaks with pride of the teacher preparation program, but says the highest praise comes from superintendents and school administrators who hire and oversee former MTSU students.

"Our graduates in the 90s have been recognized as outstanding teachers in their districts throughout the area, region and state. We can take pride in being not only one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the state, but also feel very good about the quality of teachers we prepare."

During her tenure in the college, Bonner has been heavily involved with recruiting minorities into teacher education to replace those who retire.

"That came as an outgrowth of the minority teacher fellowship program in the state, which involves early identification of students in K-12 programs, and providing them with scholarship opportunities to become teachers."

One of the current initiatives in the college that Bonner discusses readily and with the same pride is the research partnership with Fukushima University, studying school violence, or as it is called in Japan, "school bullying."

"It's an interdisciplinary collaborative project involving the departments of Educational Leadership, Elementary and Special Education, and Psychology."

Two faculty will join their Japanese colleagues in August to plan opportunities to publish the data collected. The project is in its second year, and Bonner is hopeful that funding for three additional years will be received, because of the timeliness of the subject.

"We were totally unaware of the need for research on this topic four or five years ago."

Another important initiative underway in the college is an outgrowth of the university's academic master plan. The academic master plan for teacher education is soon to be submitted to provost Dr. Barbara Haskew. "We're looking forward to aggressively addressing these strategies," Bonner says.

When asked whether she could imagine entering any profession other than teaching, Bonner shakes her head emphatically.

"Teaching for me has been very rewarding. I have had excellent mentors from my family, the community, and the schools, and throughout my professional career. I've never had any regrets about entering the teaching profession.

"I've probably learned as much or more from my experiences than I've taught others."

Glenn named new VP for Student Affairs

by Doug Williams

A strong pedigree in higher education administration, mixed with a family history in the ministry, and a keen interest in contract bridge, athletics, and Sherlock Holmes are all attributes of Dr. Robert K. Glenn, MTSU's new vice president for Student Affairs.

Glenn, former dean of students at Southwest Missouri State University, has received many accolades for his work with a broad range of student activities. He began his career at Birmingham Southern, where his great grandfather served as president more than five decades ago, when it was known as North Alabama Conference College and later as Birmingham College.

"My great grandfather actually finished his undergraduate degree while he was the sitting president of Birmingham College," Glenn said. "He was a Methodist preacher and in his forties was named president and felt he needed to finish his degree. The joke was that the faculty would send him notes asking if he finished all his homework. I sometimes think about that whenever I am dealing with students."

Glenn's father is also a Methodist minister and his insights helped shape his son's career.

"The church was and is an important part of who I am," he said. "My father always was a good role model and gave me direction but let me know the decisions I made I would have to live with.

"I believe that in dealing with students and families our job is to help them understand that college is all about decision making. Students will be making decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.

"My job is to take care of students and enhance their experiences at MTSU. That may mean providing programs or services, dealing with residence hall questions, or just providing a sympathetic ear for someone to talk to. But our biggest challenge is to provide leadership and facilitate their ability to make good decisions.

"The world is changing so fast, that the rote memorization of facts is not the basis of a solid education. As the body of knowledge continues to grow, it will become impossible to know everything you need to know in any one subject. Rather, the goal is to give students skills in gathering knowledge, how to use that knowledge when it is found, and problem solving. I think Student Affairs is uniquely suited to assist in this endeavor."

MTSU president Dr. James E. Walker has high praise for Glenn.

"I am delighted that Bob will be joining our team in August," Walker said. "He has outstanding leadership credentials and has done an excellent job according to all the people who spoke to me about him. He is well qualified for the challenges that his position will provide."

Glenn replaces long-time MTSU vice president Dr. Robert LaLance Jr., who retired last December.

"I had the pleasure of knowing Bob LaLance for almost 20 years through his active participation in professional organizations on the national level," Glenn said "I learned a great deal about MTSU through my association with him. His hard work, integrity, and sincere interest in the well-being of the student were signs of what the university stood for."

Glenn is a native of Texas, and holds a B.S. in chemistry from Birmingham Southern College and both a masters and Ph.D. in counselor education from the University of Alabama. For more than two decades he has worked in student affairs administration.

He is married to Laura Whitehurst Glenn, who currently serves as director of Christian Education for a church in Springfield, Mo.. The Glenns have three children--Elisabeth (14), Katherine (10), and Carl (7). Glenn likes to spend his free time coaching his daughter's softball team, playing contract bridge, and has a special interest in books about Sherlock Holmes.

He will assume his duties at MTSU in mid-August.

Parking areas closed for maintenance July 9, re-opened July 11

by Tom Tozer

On Friday, July 9, the following areas will be closed at the times stated here in order to prepare for maintenance. Your understanding and cooperation will be appreciated.

The following areas will be closed at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 9: parking spaces located directly in front of Boutwell Dramatic Arts and Health Services

The following areas will be closed at 4:30 p.m., on Friday, July 9: parking spaces located at Peck Hall, Loop Drive north of Todd building (old library) and south of Jones Hall, Womack Lane (parking area on street), 1st Street parking area (south of Clement, Gore, and Deere Halls), C Street parking areas (street north of Art Barn and street south of Telecommunications parking lot)

Your cooperation is requested in making plans to have your vehicle removed from these parking areas by the lot-closing time stated above. These areas should re-open Sunday, July 11.

In the event that vehicles are parked in these areas after the stated lot-closing times on Friday, July 9, or on Saturday, July 10, Parking Services will make an effort to contact the owner of the vehicle and ask that it be removed. Please note that in the event the owner is contacted and the vehicle is not moved immediately--or the owner cannot be reached--the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense in order for the contractors to complete the work in these areas.

In case of inclement weather, the areas listed above will be closed Friday, July 23, and re-opened Sunday, July 25, at the same times indicated.

Parking Services apologizes for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Parking Services Office at 898-2850.

MTSU team competes in Solar BikeRayce

SUN CYCLE: Ken Sergeant Jr., center with cup, advises Jennifer Davenport, driver of the MTSU vehicle Rayce**Array.

by John Lynch

The day is getting hotter, and you're tired from bicycling. You flip a switch, and the electric motor on the bike kicks in. Batteries powered by solar cells provide a welcome respite from pedaling.

It's not a reality yet, but participants in the Solar BikeRayce are working to make that dream come true some day.

The MTSU Solar BikeRayce team under the direction of Ken Sergeant Jr., assistant professor of Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies, participated in their first event May 28-30 in Topeka, Kan.

The event features a 400-meter sprint and a 100-kilometer marathon. There are four categories of solar bikes. The MTSU team built an S-Series bike, which allows the use of two sealed lead acid batteries. The size of the bike is limited to approximately 11 feet long, four feet wide, and five feet high. Solar panels on the S-Series may have an area of about 11 square feet.

The MTSU bike, a three-wheeler using an original design concept smaller than the other S-Series bikes in their competition, passed scrutineering with no problems, performed well in the sprint, but then blew a tire. Due to the nature of the custom-designed wheels, no spares were immediately available, and the team was unable to finish the race.

Team members were not discouraged about their experience, however. All said they looked forward to the next competition.

Sergeant says the vehicle will be shared with area students next year when team members visit local high schools. Others on the team include Linda Hardymon, Center for Energy Efficiency, and students Chris Buchanan, Slater Smith, Jennifer Davenport, and Veronica Rameriz.

What is a solar bike?

(From: http://www.sunrayce.com/BikeRayce/)

These are bicycles to which an electric motor, battery, and a solar panel have been added to assist the human power provided by the rider. In practical applications, a solar bike gives the rider the option of "coasting" on stored solar power to nearby destinations or cutting commute time by combining the electric assist with normal riding effort. Once at their destination, solar bikes recharge themselves for the ride home. In competition, solar bikes derive about half of their energy from the rider and half from the electric system. Top bikes in 1997 averaged more than 35 km/hr in the modified and over 34 km/hr in the stock categories. Sprint speeds for these special bikes can exceed 60 km/hr!

Marvin Runyon to be named holder of Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence

by Doug Williams

MTSU has named former U.S. Postmaster General and automotive executive Marvin Runyon the holder of the Robert E. and Georgianna West Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence.

As chairholder, Runyon will be involved in teaching, consulting with the department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies, and sharing his knowledge and experience with the MTSU community. He will assume his duties at MTSU on July 1.

"When I came to Tennessee to start Nissan's first U.S. manufacturing facility in 1980, I quickly discovered what a tremendous asset MTSU was to the business community and the people of Middle Tennessee," Runyon said. "Under Dr. Walker's excellent leadership, the university has enjoyed great momentum in recent years. I look forward to helping continue the success."

Runyon built a strong pattern of success during a 37-year career at Ford Motor Company. After leaving Ford in 1980 with the rank of vice president, Body and Assembly Operations, Runyon became president and chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation U.S.A. in Smyrna, Tenn. There he built Nissan's first American motor vehicle assembly plant from the ground up. He left Nissan in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan tapped him to be chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Most recently, Runyon served as the 70th U.S. Postmaster General from 1992-1998. In this role, he built a new, leaner management structure and virtually eliminated $2 billion in long-standing postal debt. During his tenure, the Postal Service achieved record net incomes, despite competition from new communications technologies and aggressive competitors.

"Marvin Runyon, with his vast contacts and experiences is the ideal man for this position," said MTSU President James E. Walker. "Middle Tennessee is becoming a mecca for the manufacturing industry, and MTSU is prepared to support this industry by educating future leaders in the field. I know Marvin will take to a new level of excellence the activities of the Russell Chair."

The Russell Chair was established in November 1988 with monies donated by the late Robert E. Russell and his wife Georgianna West Russell, and matched by MTSU and th Tennessee Chairs of Excellence program.

Robert Russell, a 1956 MTSU graduate with a degree in industrial arts, founded Quality Industries on a part-time basis in 1966. In 1972, he bought Wright Industries, a large tool and die shop, and expanded the business to serve the electronics, transportation, and food service equipment industries with annual sales of over $25 million. Russell was always quick to credit his wife, who was his first bookkeeper, for his success as a businessman.

"I'm thrilled that a man of his caliber will be the new holder of the chair," said Mrs. Russell. "My husband and I established this chair because of our interest in helping young people learn about the manufacturing industry."

"Mr. Runyon's influence can put this program on the map, both nationally and internationally."

Runyon has supported higher education since his days as an undergraduate at Texas A&M. He is an active alumnus at his alma mater but is intrigued by the prospects of being involved in the inner workings of a university as the holder of the Russell Chair. He plans to work closely with the MTSU faculty, sharing his experiences in the public and private sector.

"I feel it is very important in this country that we realize the crucial relationship between industry and education," Runyon said. "These two enterprises must work closely together if we are going to continue to compete globally."

The Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence is an independently endowed program in the Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies Department at MTSU. The Chair, through the influence and concern of the chairholder, was established to promote an ever increasing awareness of the challenges confronting the manufacturing industry. The chair also works to positively impact the curriculum that relates to industry at MTSU, increase the depth of knowledge and interest of students, and make contributions to the university's mission of public service.