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Gov OKs science building funds
by Randy Weiler
MTSU moved closer toward a new $94 million science building with the recent announcement by Gov. Phil Bredesen that he included $15 million for Phase One of the building as part of the 2006-07 state budget.
Bredesen's $354.6 million budget proposal for the next fiscal year was delivered to the Tennessee General Assembly Feb. 7 to coincide with his State of the State address.
"This is a major achievement," MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said in a Jan. 31 e-mail to faculty and staff. "This project has been on the (Tennessee Higher Education Commission) list for 10 years. It has been a top priority for my administration over the past five years."
The development was welcome and encouraging news to Dr. Earl Pearson, chair, chemistry, who earned his bachelor's degree in 1963 from MTSU and returned to the university in 1998.
"I am so looking forward to the new building and thankful to Dr. McPhee for his leadership and commitment to getting a new science building," Pearson said. "The new building will take MTSU into a new era in science."
A new building will replace Wiser-Patten Science Hall and the "newer" Davis Science Building.
"The DSB will be about 40 years old by the time the new building is constructed," Pearson said. "Just imagine the changes in science in the last 40 years, and you will see why this building is so out-of-date and so far below modern standards for science buildings."
The new facility, which likely will not be completed until at least MTSU's Centennial celebration in 2011, would be the new home of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences' biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics and astronomy departments and geosciences from the College of Liberal Arts.
Dr. Tom Cheatham, dean, CBAS, said that with the support of Dr. Kaylene Gebert, executive vice president and provost, an eight- to 12-member committee has compiled "a year's worth of work all in preparation to get the funding for the actual planning of the science building."
Art Lidsky and the nationally recognized firm Dober, Lidsky, Craig & Associates of Belmont, Mass., have been hired as design consultants.
Bredesen's proposals also include funds for safety updates, elevator updates, chilled-water line replacement and underground electrical updates across the campus.
Dr. James E. Walker, 1941-2006
Dr. James E. Walker, president of Middle Tennessee State University from 1991 to 2000, died Feb. 5 at his home in Illinois after a prolonged struggle with prostate cancer.
Walker, 64, left MTSU to become president of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, retiring from that position in December due to deteriorating health.
During Walker's tenure, he oversaw a building program that led to more than $300 million in capital projects. They included the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building, Business and Aerospace Building, Greek Row, Scarlett Commons, Telecommunications Building, an expanded Floyd Football Stadium, Steve Smith Baseball Complex, Student Recreation Center and the Tennessee Miller Horse Coliseum. He also lent his name to the James E. Walker University Library.
Under his guidance, enrollment grew to 19,000 students, and MTSU became the fastest-growing university in the state. In the fall of 1999, MTSU became the largest university in the Tennessee Board of Regents system.
With Walker's lead, the university made a concerted effort to attract the best and brightest to MTSU, and during his last three years as president, entering freshmen scored above the state and national averages on college entrance exams.
Walker also established the Honors College, the first at a public university in Tennessee, and launched MTSU's first capital campaign in 1991.
"Jim Walker's contributions to MTSU and the community are legion," said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee. "We are in his debt for his tireless efforts in overseeing tremendous growth in both facilities and academic programming."
Added State Rep. John Hood of Murfreesboro: "Jim Walker was such a dynamic force, giving MTSU vitality and stimulation as it made great strides in achieving its mission. His contributions to MTSU are numerous, and we are all beneficiaries by his service."
"He also helped change racial attitudes in the community and on campus," noted Dr. Barbara Haskew, who served as provost during his tenure. "His innovative leadership style and his extraordinary use of humor rearranged old attitudes, and he became a much loved man."
Walker is survived by his wife, Gwenn, and their daughters, Jamell and Jabrina. Funeral services were set for Saturday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church in Carbondale, Ill.
Memorials may be made to MTSU's James E. Walker Library or to the SIU Foundation Cancer Institute, Prostate Center, Mail Code 6805, Carbon-dale, Ill., 62901, Attention: Marla Fuller. (Please note "in honor of Dr. Walker." on any donations.)
Listen in as MTSU adds podcasts
from Staff Reports
Podcasting may sound like dialog from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," but last December, the editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary declared it the word of the year for 2005.
Defined as "a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player," podcasting has made all sorts of audio content available-from poetry to politics.
Now MTSU has tossed its hat into the podcasting ring. Beginning with the Jan. 22, 2006, program, each edition of "MTSU On the Record" will be available as an mp3 file at www.mtsunews.com.
For more than five years, the program has aired each Sunday at 7 a.m. on WMOT-FM 89.5. It's a 30-minute news program featuring interviews with MTSU newsmakers and campus visitors. In her five-plus years of hosting the program, media representative Gina Logue has talked to hundreds of fascinating people.
Logue noted that podcasts are an ideal format for news lovers.
"The Sunday morning political TV shows such as 'This Week,' 'Meet the Press' and 'Face the Nation' have podcasts available on their Web sites," she said. "This makes it much easier for busy Americans to keep up with current events on their own personal timetables.
"My hope is that this will ultimately result in a better-informed citizenry. In that same vein, my wish is that making 'MTSU On the Record' available in podcast form will keep folks abreast of events, issues and people on campus in a way that meshes with the listeners' lifestyles."
Tom Tozer, director of News and Public Affairs, was quick to endorse the idea.
"Anytime that the News and Public Affairs office can make information more accessible to a wider audience, we want to take advantage of that opportunity," Tozer said. "With people on the move more and more, we need continually to explore ways to reach them with good and accurate information where they are. Podcasting allows us to share this wealth of information with a fast-food, on-the-run society.
"Through the efforts of people like Logue, who produces audio clips, and John Lynch, who has the expertise to make audio clips, streaming video and other information available on our Web site, we are able to expand our communication services. We call such things 'communication vehicles.' We're producing newer models that are better, faster and more efficient. We have to ... to keep up with a technology-savvy generation."
Logue has been posting shorter mp3 audio clips on the NPA Web site since 2002, but the public's wide use of mp3 players, especially the Apple iPod, has prompted the move to podcasting.
Comparing the two varieties of audio, she noted that "both involve digital audio, obviously. But audio clips are designed and edited for integration into newscasts with all the other news of the day. They are individual audio snapshots, whereas the podcast is an audio panorama. The podcast listener can hear the original questions and grasp the tone and tenor of the interview. Listening to the podcast is more like listening to a conversation."
"MTSU Audio Clips," found on the same Web site, gleans its material from interviews on "MTSU On the Record," news conferences and events on campus and interviews with faculty, staff and students. Logue uses audio editing software to ferret out sound snippets from the audio files and write broadcast-style stories around those snippets. The stories are usable by commercial and non-commercial radio stations in their newscasts. They are highly adaptable to various formats and speaking styles.
"In fact," she said, "I tend to make them a little long so that the anchor can edit the information according to his/her news judgment. But if the anchor doesn't have time for editing, the clips and stories are ready to be cut and pasted as they are. The stories are uploaded to our Web site. Then I send out an e-mail letting the media know new stories are available, what they are and how to access them."
IN BRIEF:
SHOW YOUR HEART, SAVE LIVES; JOIN V-DAY 2006 PERFORMANCES
MTSU V-DAY 2006 will present benefit performances of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 13 and 14, in Tucker Theatre. Proceeds benefit the Rape Recovery and Prevention Center of Murfreesboro. All tickets will be sold at the door and are $10 for the general public and $5 for MTSU students. V-DAY merchandise also will be available in the lobby. Only cash or checks made payable to RRAPC will be accepted.
TEAM UP WITH TRiO FOR FEB. 20-24 AWARENESS WEEK
The TRiO programs (McNair, Talent Search and Student Support Services) will host a TRiO Awareness Week Feb. 20-24 and an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in MGB 101 and 103 to celebrate National TRiO Day and to thank MTSU for its support. Federally funded TRiO programs help first-generation, low-income and disabled students to enter college and successfully graduate. For more information, e-mail crickett@mtsu.edu.
HELP WANTED: ALUMNI OFFICE SEEKS STUDENT AMBASSADORS
The Office of Alumni Relations is now accepting applications for the members of the 2006-07 Student Ambassador program. Applications are available in the Alumni Center and KUC and online at www.mtalumni.com. Applications are due to the Alumni Center by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 3.
ACCREDITATION VISIT FEB. 21-23 FOR ONLINE NURSING MASTER'S
The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission plans a site visit Feb. 21-23 as part of the Master of Science in Nursing Regents Online Degree Program's consideration for initial accreditation. The public can meet with reviewers during the visit; specific dates and times will be posted at www.rodp.org. The public also may submit comments in writing to Dr. Pam Holder, 1415 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, Tenn., 37217, or to NLNAC, 61 Broadway, New York, N.Y., 10006. Written comments will be shared with the site visitors and with Holder.
Baseball, culture and literature focus of March 31 event
by Dr. Ron Kates
The 11th Annual Conference on Baseball in Literature and Culture has moved to MTSU from Indiana State University, where it enjoyed a successful 10-year run.
MTSU's Dr. Crosby Hunt, who has attended all but two of the previous meetings, refers to the CBLC as an "anti-conference." And indeed, this conference, planned for Friday, March 31, does differ from the traditional academic conference.
The array of cross-disciplinary presentations brings together a wide variety of academics, professionals and baseball mavens. Since many of the presenters and audience members know each other from previous conference meetings, the Q&A sessions following the essays have a less formal structure than at more traditional conferences, with presenters and audience members often digressing into baseball recollections.
Presenters cover topics that investigate baseball's intricate link with American literature and culture, with presentation genres ranging from literature-based academic essays to cultural observations to personal reminiscences to creative expressions.
Members of the MTSU community may attend any of the sessions, which will be held in the James Union Building's Tennessee Room, Hazlewood Dining Room and Dining Room C.
The centerpiece of the conference is the presentations of baseball scholars, historians and students of baseball literature. Included in this year's program is a panel on Nashville baseball history, a look at the role of black chroniclers of Negro League action and an examination of baseball metaphors in politics and culture.
The conference begins with the keynote address, which will be delivered by Dr. Don Johnson of East Tennessee State University. Johnson is the editor of Athelon, a journal devoted to sports literature and to examining the roles of sport in society.
One consistent conference feature is the appearance of a former Major League Baseball player as the luncheon keynote speaker. This year, former Red Sox and Expos pitcher Bill "The Spaceman" Lee will talk about his baseball and media careers.
The "Spaceman's" visit helps to continue the "anti-conference" tradition in another way. Past speakers have also been tabbed from the ranks of baseball's iconic personalities. In past years, pitchers Dock Ellis and Bill Campbell, umpire Larry Barnett, high-minors hero Razor Shines, and power-hitting outfielders Ron Kitle and Al Oliver have been luncheon speakers.
Dr. Ron Kates teaches courses in general studies English, sports and literature, and renaissance literature. For more information, e-mail him at rkates@mtsu.edu or visit mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11072/baseball/.
TBR gets spring enrollment tallies
by Randy Weiler
Dr. Sherian Huddleston said she submitted 20,951 students enrolled at MTSU this semester to the Tennessee Board of Regents on Feb. 1.
The 20,951 students, which is a record for the spring semester, is an increase of 295 students-or 1.43 percent-from the spring 2005 census submitted to TBR. The TBR's 14-day census period ended Jan. 30.
MTSU saw a 13.82 percent increase in new transfer students, from 803 in 2005 to 914 this spring, Huddleston, associate vice provost, enrollment services, said.
The university saw an increase of 174 returning students, with 16,816 enrolled this spring compared to 16,642 in '05, Huddleston said.
There are 56 more returning graduate students, or 1,714 this spring compared to 1,658 in spring '05, she said.
Huddleston said there is a slight decrease (17 students altogether) in new freshmen, with 167 on campus this spring while 184 attended a year ago.
"It's good to see an increase in transfer students," Huddleston said. "New transfer enrollment is usually a roller coaster - down one year and up the next."
There was a decrease in transfer enrollment in spring '05, only a slight increase in '04 and a decrease in '03.
MTSU's enrollment has increased 11.61 percent since the spring 2002 semester when 18,771 students were enrolled, Huddleston said.
Top performer
CONGRATULATIONS-Dianna Z. Rust, right, representing MTSU's Employee Recognition Committee, presents Deborah Phillips, graduation analyst for the Records Office, with the university's Third Quarter 2005 Secretarial/Clerical Award. The Employee Recognition Committee salutes staffers who make outstanding contributions and demonstrate excellence in their roles. To nominate administrative, secretarial/clerical, classified or technical/service staff for the award program, download a nomination form at hrs.web.mtsu.edu/forms.html.
photo by J. Intintoli
Tunnel of Love returns with info for students
by Lisa L. Rollins
For the fourth consecutive year, MTSU's Department of Health and Human Performance will sponsor the "Tunnel of Love," an event designed to increase public awareness about the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, among the college population.
This year, the Tunnel of Love will take place Thursday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the James Union Building's Tennessee Room.
"Many college students who have not yet taken a health course in college or prior to coming to college seem to be under the assumption that many of the most prevalent STDs that affect the U.S. do not exist in high numbers in Tennessee or on our campus," remarked Shannon Josey, HHP instructor.
According to the latest findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 19 million new reported sexually transmitted infections each year-and half are among those ages 15-24.
The Tunnel of Love, Josey said, will give students "the power to make thoughtful, well-informed decisions concerning their sexual health" with an exhibit featuring current statistics of both bacterial and viral STDs, complete with pictures.
Door prizes will be given away and vendors will distribute safe-sex packets, Josey said.
For more information, contact Josey at 615-904-8137.
Adult learners to convene
by Gina K. Logue
Adult students and the professionals who specialize in teaching them will collaborate on new ideas Feb. 23-24 at the Adult Learners Conference on the campus of MTSU. This year's theme is "Adult Learners and Faculty: Enrich the Experience."
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Terry Weeks, professor of educational leadership. Weeks earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from MTSU and his doctorate from Vanderbilt.
For 15 years, Weeks taught in the Rutherford County school system, compiling numerous awards along the way. In 1987, he was named Tennessee Teacher of the Year, and he was designated National Teacher of the Year in 1988. In 1994, Weeks was inducted into the Tennessee Teachers Hall of Fame. MTSU bestowed its Outstanding Teacher Award on him in 1996.
Weeks' address, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," will focus on instructional strategies and the creation of a positive classroom environment. He will speak at the keynote luncheon, slated for noon on Feb. 23 in the Hazlewood Dining Room of the James Union Building.
Concurrent workshop sessions slated for Feb. 23 include "The 'Perks' of Faculty-Student Communication: Enhancing the Adult Learner's Collegiate Experience" and "Are You on the Net?: A New Vision of Adult Student Leadership and Development."
There also will be a panel discussion featuring selected adult students and faculty who have won Professor of the Year honors from the student organization OWLs, or Older Wiser Learners. On Feb. 24, featured sessions include "Helping Adults Adjust" and "I Need to be Perked Up and Other Stories from the Wonderful World of Nontraditional Learners."
Registration is available online at www.mtsu.edu/~owls/conference/form06.htm. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Ann Baily, director of the Adult Services Center at 615-898-5989 or owls@mtsu.edu.
NPA seminar to offer tips on event publicity
Your special conference, guest speaker, event or celebration is coming up in a few weeks. How do you let the community-MTSU and beyond-know?
The university's Office of News and Public Affairs wants to help. That's why they've scheduled three sessions of a special seminar, "How We Can Help You Make Your Event Even More Successful," Feb. 21-23.
"This seminar is for any individual or committee charged with the responsibility of organizing an MTSU event of any size and scope," said NPA Director Tom Tozer.
"It's for anyone and everyone-faculty, staff, executive aides-who have anything to do with organizing an event. Whatever you're organizing, we want to offer our help in publicizing it."
All three sessions will offer the same content, so participants will need to attend only one. The sessions, which will be conducted in the Faculty Senate Room (JUB 100), are scheduled at different times to accommodate more people's schedules, Tozer said.
Times for the seminar are:
¥ Tuesday, Feb. 21, 9:00-10:15 a.m.
¥ Wednesday, Feb. 22, 3:00-4:15 p.m.
¥ Thursday, Feb. 23, 3:00-4:15 p.m.
"We'll start on time because we'll have a lot of information to share in a brief period," Tozer said. "We think that you'll take away nuggets of information that will be helpful to you."
The discussion will explore:
¥ developing an active relationship between your department and NPA;
¥ what NPA needs from you;
¥ what you'll get from NPA; and
¥ your relationship with the Photo Services and Publications and Graphics departments.
There'll also be plenty of time for Q&A.
Registration is not required. For more information, call 615-898-2919.
MTSU, community, providers team up to combat obesity
by Carrie Hargett
The MTSU Initiative on Obesity kicked off in January with a healthy breakfast so community leaders could come together and encourage others to take an active role in the fight against obesity.
Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, was the featured speaker.
Thompson, who currently serves as an independent chair for the Deloitte Center for Health Services, came to show his support for a team of six faculty members at MTSU who have taken a step toward fighting obesity in Middle Tennessee.
Dr. Thomas Brinthaupt, psychology, talked about a study MTSU started last fall with a group of fourth-graders at two Murfreesboro city schools. The study's goal is to educate students on calorie intake and physical activity levels.
"We are using a structured curriculum that teachers will be integrating into their classes," Brinthaupt said. "Our strategy is to implement these programs in a way that minimizes disruption to teacher and school routines and schedules."
The study, which will last two years, will follow current fourth-graders into fifth grade and also will take on another class of fourth-graders next year. Brinthaupt said MTSU faculty members hope to apply for federal or private funding for a larger project that focuses on more elementary schools.
"We are hoping that our intervention model is something that other elementary schools can easily adopt into their existing routines and schedules," he said.
Thompson noted that obesity is linked to serious health problems, such as hypertension and diabetes. The condition has been projected to cause health insurance costs to rise severely in the next 10 years.
"You are the only university doing what I think is important," Thompson said of the MTSU project. "This university, that wants to be a leader and is a leader, has set the bar higher (for others)."
Thompson encouraged the university community to start teaching courses on nutrition and obesity so college students can also learn to take better care of themselves and others.
The initiative kickoff guest list also included faculty members of MTSU and county schools, physicians, health care providers and politicians.
"This is a subject everyone here is deeply interested in-obesity," said Earl Swensson, chairholder of the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business.
Swensson has been a driving force behind the initiative at MTSU. He chaired a recent roundtable discussion on campus involving faculty whose health-related research approaches obesity from social, psychological, clinical, biological and economic perspectives.
TIME FOR TEAMWORK-Tommy Thompson, left, former U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services, speaks with Earl Swensson, chairholder of the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning in MTSU's Jones College of Business, during the recent Initiative on Obesity kickoff. The pair teamed up with MTSU faculty, students and community leaders to launch the quest for better health.
photo by Ken Robinson
Info to help students, staff make healthier choices
by Tom Tozer
While ARAMARK has worked to provide menus that include healthier items, food-service personnel say that students have responded to the obesity epidemic and need for healthier eating simply by making better food selections on their own.
"We've always tried to have those choices available," commented Russell Doyle, ARAMARK director, "but now we're seeing a greater number of smarter choices. Last year, we put in the 'Green Leaf Salad Station' in the Grill, which offers a variety of salads and fruits. All of our eateries have salad bars and delis, along with entree selections that are geared toward healthier eating."
Within the next couple of months, students, faculty and staff not only will be able to access a variety of menus online at www.mtdining.com, they also will be able to obtain the nutritional values of food items, including calorie and carbohydrate percentages.
"So you can have total control of your diet," Doyle said.
Doyle explained that he and his staff have tried to create a comfort zone in the Grill-specifically "The Home Zone Station"-where students can eat in a more pleasurable environment. Located in Keathley University Center, the Grill offers food selections for athletes, vegetarians, vegans and those who desire down-home country cooking. Quiznos was added last year, and a full-service coffee shop offers fat-free options and smoothies made with real fruit.
"The Terrace" in the James Union Building and "The McCallie Residential Restaurant" in Corlew Hall feature salad bars, deli sandwiches, stir fry and pasta and traditional all-beef and veggie burgers.
"All foods offered on campus are prepared to meet the desires of a wide variety of diets and nutritional needs," Doyle noted.
Doyle and his staff conduct a survey twice a year to discover the culinary needs and desires of the students.
"One of the main focus points for students over the past year is the need for health-food options," he said. "MTSU dining services recognizes the need to differentiate menu items to appeal to a diverse student population."
MTSU alumni make mark on regional Emmy awards
by Gina E. Fann
Alumni from the College of Mass Communication made their mark on the 20th annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards Jan. 28, netting eight top awards from 29 nominations.
Receiving the Nashville/Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' esteemed "Rising Star Award," which honors an industry professional who shows extraordinary promise, was MTSU alumnus Nicholas E. "Nic" Dugger (B.S. '00), an electronic media communication graduate and former instructor at the university.
Dugger, who has worked in TV since he was 12 years old, is the founder of Franklin-based Tennessee Digital Video (www.tndv.com). He completed the construction of his own all-digital mobile television production truck, which provided part of the facilities for the 2005 presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., and Gov. Phil Bredesen's 2005 State of the State address.
Alumnus Jim DeMarco (B.S. '83) of Nashville Public Television took top honors in two categories for his work on the acclaimed PBS documentary "The Carter Family: Will the Circle Be Unbroken." He also was nominated in the Camera/Non-News category for the same project.
MTSU alumni winners of regional Emmy awards in their respective categories include:
¥ Documentary/Historical-"The Carter Family," Kathy Conkwright, Mary Makley, Jim DeMarco (B.S. '83), Beth Curley, Nashville Public Television.
¥ Editor/Short Form-"Adam J. Mills Composite," Adam Mills (B.S. '03), WZTV.
¥ Engineering-"Tsunami," Mike Rose, Mark Martin (B.S. '80), Kevin Mason, WTVF.
¥ Investigative Reporting-"Capitol Hill Corruption," Phil Williams (B.S. '85), Bryan Staples, WTVF.
¥ Lighting Director-"The Carter Family," Jim DeMarco, Nashville Public Television.
¥ Newscast/Daytime-"Operation Tennessee Waltz: Political Corruption," Holly Thompson-Lynch (B.S. '94), Molly Day, Dennis Ferrier, WSMV.
¥ News Special Event-"Surviving Severe Weather," Nancy Van Camp (B.S. '95), Jason Wilson, Lisa Spencer, Cam Cornelius (B.S. '00), WSMV.
Van Camp also was nominated in the News Special Event category for her work on "Tennessee Tornadoes" and in the Magazine and Writer/News categories for a feature on Red Boiling Springs. Cornelius had nominations in five other categories for his work at WSMV: Spot Story, News Series/Hard News, Investigative Reporting, Camera/News and Editor/News.
Dugger also was nominated in the Entertainment, Engineering and Special Event/Live categories, while Williams received a second nomination in the Investigative Reporting category for "High Dollar Highways" and one in the Documentary/Topical category.
Thompson-Lynch received a second nomination in the Newscast/Daytime category. Mills also was nominated in the Editor/Non-News and Camera/Short Form categories.
Other MTSU alumni nominees for regional Emmys included:
¥ Camera/News-"Kicking It Old School," David Willis (B.S. '98), WKRN.
¥ Informational/Instructional-"Finding Hope," Laura Faber, Kyle Thigpen (B.S. '95, WZTV; "North Carolina's Mountain Treasures," Robert Van Camp, David Holt (B.S. '04), Scott Davis, Wide Eye Productions/UNC-TV.
¥ Non-Spot Story-"Mother's Day," Brent Frazier, David Willis, WKRN.
¥ Sports Segment-"Rolling Through Life," David Willis, WKRN.
Donors hurl first pitch for $5M ball park
MTSU's devoted Railbirds will be helping to feather a new 3,000-seat nest for the three-time Sun Belt Conference champion Blue Raiders, thanks to the generosity of two former players, a community leader and Head Coach Steve "Pete" Peterson.
The quartet donated more than $660,000 on Feb. 2 to help launch the capital campaign for the new $5 million baseball park, which is targeted for completion in time for the 2008 season.
"When you make baseball better, you make the campus better, the community better, the players better and the people sitting in the stands better, so it is a no-brainer," said Peterson, now in his 19th year with the program.
"If you are looking for a charity and to donate some money, the Blue Raider baseball building fund is where it's happening."
Peterson made a $10,000 contribution after the team's annual Groundhog Day Luncheon, joining former Blue Raider pitcher Steve Smith ($300,000), former MTSU pitcher and current San Diego Padre Dewon Brazelton ($250,000) and community leader Howard Wall ($100,000) in putting funds behind the Blue Raiders' new facility.
"This was important to me because I believe this baseball program was the first stepping stone in what made me what I am today," Brazelton said during the celebration. "I believe Coach Pete, Coach (Jim) McGuire and Coach (Mike) McLaury do a great job of developing young people into men and getting a new stadium will help them.
"More than baseball, they develop good young men. They are good people. You never hear of people coming out of this program getting into trouble, and that's because Coach Pete teaches discipline, so I would recommend Middle Tennessee to any young kid anywhere in the country."
Smith, who will serve as chairman of the capital campaign, said the contributions came because former players, as well as the community, "love them and want to help them."
"It's going to be a boost to the entire athletic department," said Smith, whose late father, Reese Smith, also gave his enthusiastic support, along with his name, to the current baseball field. "It is going to be the most money that has ever been raised in athletics, and my guess is today you probably saw the second, third and fourth biggest gifts in Middle Tennessee history for athletics, because Mr. (Emmett) Kennon obviously won the prize. [Kennon and his wife, Rose, donated $1 million to MTSU in 2002 to build the Sports Hall of Fame that bears their names.]
"I prefer to stay under the radar," continued Smith, "but I didn't think I was able to do that when we are doing something like this."
University President Sidney A. McPhee said he expects the new baseball park to receive about $1.5 million from a total $5.5 million donated in 2005 by the City of Murfreesboro to upgrade athletic facilities for the TSSAA Spring Fling. The balance, McPhee said, will be made up by the capital campaign.
The Blue Raiders open their season Saturday, Feb. 18, with a doubleheader against Indiana University-Fort Wayne at Reese Smith Field. MTSU was picked fifth in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll, while five players were named to the first-ever Preseason All-SBC Team.
For ticket information, call 615-898-2103.
Improvisation, fun mark premiere of play
by Lisa L. Rollins
The improvisation-infused "Mayor Moon & the Storytelling Festival," a play that contends everyone can contribute to the sense of community in a sometimes-dangerous world, will come to MTSU's Tucker Theatre at 7:30 nightly Feb. 24 -25.
Based loosely on the Russian folk tale "The Fool of the World," the MTSU-presented "Mayor Moon and the Storytelling Festival" is a multi-faceted production featuring music, dance and juggling as it weaves its way toward a magical conclusion.
The plot of "Mayor Moon" revolves around a girl named Mattilda and a quirky scientist named Twerpo, who find they share a vital curiosity in what makes the world work. When the town where they reside finds itself threatened by nature's force, it turns ultimately to the human imagination to save itself from potential disaster.
Written by Dr. Crosby Hunt, associate professor of developmental studies, "Mayor Moon" was developed through improvisation by the cast and its director, Deborah Anderson.
"Since the plot revolves around the telling of stories to help the town out of a dilemma," Anderson explained, "actual stories were brought in and merged with the script through improvisation."
A professor of speech and theatre, Anderson said she saw carnival elements in the script and, in turn, crafted a structure that she describes "as much a circus as it is a play."
In addition to improvisations, cast members learned juggling and hip-hop dancing and are even working with stilts and a unicycle.
"Improving the stories was a lot of fun," remarked Jordan Turman, sophomore theater major and cast member. "It gave us a chance to have some creative input-more so than just being cast in a play as an actor."
Before each performance, the show's cast members warm up with stretching and power yoga, then play theater games aimed at creating an ensemble effect for the production.
Jeff Gibson, assistant professor, speech and theatre, said that later this spring, the cast and crew of "Mayor Moon" will tour the production in Central America as part of The Honduras Project.
"The Honduras Project was developed to mutually serve the educational needs of MTSU students and the basic human needs of the citizens of La Cane, La Paz, Honduras," noted Gibson, who adds that the project involves MTSU students and faculty as partners in service learning in an international context.
A co-founder of the project, Gibson said that during the first student residency in summer 2006, some 25 undergraduate students and faculty from the speech and theatre, art, social work and other departments will be involved in research, scholarly and creative activities.
"These activities will focus on the study, exploration and implementation of methods to enhance and improve the quality of life for this indigent population," he explained.
In addition, Gibson said, students will tour "Mayor Moon" to orphanages, small villages and a U.S. military base," where educational workshops will also be provided by the MTSU group.
During the summer 2006 residency, MTSU students also will be heavily involved in humanitarian service work in La Cane, including a school-revitalization project and providing improvements to the facilities of Clementina's Kitchen, which Gibson described as "a cooperative service mission that provides meals to needy schoolchildren from La Cane."
The group will also collect and deliver essential food, clothing and medical supplies to citizens of La Cane and to local orphanages. For more information on The Honduras Project, visit www.mtsu.edu/~theatre and follow the link under "educational."
Advance tickets for evening performances of "Mayor Moon & the Storytelling Festival" will go on sale Monday, Feb. 20, at the CenterStage Ticket Office, located inside the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building at MTSU.
Tickets, which range in price from $4 to $8, also may be purchased at the door. MTSU students will be admitted free of charge with a valid student ID. For reservations, please call 615-494-8810.
The play also will be presented for local school groups in matinee performances at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21-24. For reservations, please contact Gibson at 615-898-5916 or via e-mail at jsgibson@mtsu.edu. Group tickets to matinees are $4 per student.
Popular Music Conference slated at MTSU Feb. 16-19
from Staff Reports
MTSU will once again set the tone for music scholars as IASPM-US, the U.S. branch of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music, conducts its annual conference on campus Feb. 16-19.
IASPM-US is the foremost academic association in the field of popular music studies in the United States and also publishes The Journal of Popular Music Studies three times a year through Blackwell Publishers.
The university's Department of Recording Industry and the College of Mass Communication are hosting the four-day event, called "Reconfiguring, Relocating, Rediscovering." It's expected to draw more than 150 participants from 10 countries, and delegates are scheduled to present research papers and hold directed discussions about myriad aspects of popular music.
"This is the largest professional meeting for scholars dedicated to popular music in the United States," said Dr. Paul D. Fischer, associate professor of recording industry and the local coordinator for the conference. "The association is nearly 30 years old, and the quality of research and reports made here continues to get better.
"This also is one of very few academic conferences where one of the first questions participants ask is: 'Where are the used record stores?'"
The 2006 conference marks the second time MTSU has hosted the IASPM-US; the group conducted its 1999 conference at the university, too.
The full 2006 conference program and abstracts of all the papers and discussions can be found at the association's Web site, www.iaspm-us.net.
A highlight of the program is a Saturday, Feb. 18, session on "Music and Activism: Anti-Censorship and Intellectual Property Rights Issues in Popular Music," featuring:
¥ Jenny Toomey of the Future of Music Coalition (www.futureofmusic.org);
¥ Ole Reitov of Denmark-based Freemuse (www.freemuse.org); and
¥ moderators Martin Cloonan and Reebee Garafalo, editors of Policing Pop.
A book launch and presentation by author Eric Nuzum, whose latest work is Singing in the Echo Chamber: Music Censorship in the U.S. After September 11, also is scheduled.
The conference also includes private evening events with live music on Feb. 16 and 17, a display and auction of current books in popular music studies from a range of publishers, and a sale of vintage vinyl and sheet music.
For conference schedule details, go to www.iaspm-.net/conferences/index.php to download the program and abstracts.
February's 'MT Record' returns with travel tales
by Leigh Harrington
This month on "Middle Tennessee Record," cameras follow MTSU faculty members as they travel across the globe to study volcanoes and what causes them to erupt.
Also bursting forth in the February edition:
¥ Dr. Al Ogden of the geosciences department gives a tour of the MTSU Mineral, Gem and Fossil Museum;
¥ Dr. Clare Bratten, assistant professor in electronic media communication, shares some video of her five-week adventure in Southern Kurdistan, which is located in present-day northern Iraq;
¥ MTSU breaks new ground to ease the nursing shortage;
¥ elementary students attend the Farm Festival to find out where their next meal comes from; and
¥ China native Haiqiong Deng, winner of the Outstanding Performance prize at the National Zheng Competition in Shanghai, plays a stringed instrument called the zheng, which dates back more than 3,000 years.
"Middle Tennessee Record" airs daily on Murfreesboro cable channel 9 at 5 p.m. and Saturdays on News-Channel 5+ at 1:30 p.m. Archives can be found at www.mtsunews.com.
Goggles ready? Demomania's here
from Staff Reports
If you like things that go snap, crackle, boom, you'll love Demomania.
Each year the MTSU Chemistry Club assembles a variety of chemistry demonstrations ranging from the informative (determining which items will float in various solutions) to just plain weird (incinerating gummy bears).
This year's event starts at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, in the KUC Theater. Jerry Oxsher, a senior chemistry major and president of the Chemistry Club, promises lots of color, smoke, booms and fun.
Dr. Gary White, chemistry, is co-adviser to the club with colleague Dr. Andrienne Friedli.
Several hundred students from local high schools are expected to attend the event.
"Demomania is ... a fun and safe way to encourage students to consider a career in chemistry," White said.
University receives grant for medical research
from Staff Reports
MTSU will receive a $177,859 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to research better ways to develop medical compounds.
"MTSU is a top-notch university that boasts some of the country's best and brightest students and faculty," said U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, an MTSU alumnus, in announcing the grant.
"The research that will be conducted there has the potential to drive down drug costs and get new medicines into the marketplace faster.
"This is good news for Middle Tennesseans and for anyone who wants cheaper and more effective prescription drugs," he continued.
According to Scott Handy, associate professor of chemistry, researchers hope to determine new and faster ways of preparing heteraromatics, which are found in many optic materials and pharmaceuticals such as Lipitor, a prescription drug used to lower cholesterol.
The ability to combine materials more quickly will allow researchers to tweak drugs to determine which variation works best for a particular ailment.
"By combining materials more efficiently, we can make a whole lot of variations very quickly," said Handy. "And if you can make something quicker, you're probably going to reduce the cost."
The research, which Handy will conduct with the assistance of MTSU students, is scheduled to begin in May and will continue for two years.
"I am proud that this work will be conducted in Middle Tennessee," said Gordon.
"This type of research raises the profile of MTSU, and surrounding communities can reap great benefits from that exposure."
Written in stone
INCREASING CONCRETE CONNECTIONS-MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, right, watches as Dr. Yong Ming Zhang, director, materials science and engineering department, Tongji University, signs a document to develop formal agreements for research and training collaboration, student and faculty exchanges and possible internal relationships between the universities. Also signing was Austin Cheney (not pictured), director, MTSU Concrete Industry Program, who said the partnership "will create some neat and interesting paths for us." Others attending the signing included Jim Speakman, CIM Patrons board member; Chris Davenport, CIM Patrons president and MTSU alumnus; Michael Vaughn; and Ward Posten.
photo by Ken Robinson
People Around Campus: Hail to the chief and his 30 years of service
by Casey Phillips
At the end of a long day of working printing presses, many might feel like escaping everyday life for a bit and relaxing. But for MTSU Printing Services director Tony Snook, that's not always possible.
Why? For the past 30 years, Snook's membership in the Christiana Volunteer Fire Department has meant being constantly prepared to rush to someone's aid, regardless of how tired he is.
"I've had times when I've been needed in the community, and I've left work," Snook explained. "I use my vacation time, my leave time, to do it. There have been some times when I've been unable to leave, when it was impossible, and I had to leave it to my fellow volunteers. But that's all part of it; you just do it and move on."
A Smyrna native who was educated in Springfield, Mass., Snook said he moved to Christiana, Tenn., in 1974 with his wife, Katie, to find a place in the country.
Before that sweet country air began to do him any good, however, Snook had already joined his friends to help defend the community, placing his free time in jeopardy.
"I'm not a charter member, but I'm close," Snook said. "They were just starting the department out there in Christiana, and a few of my friends were getting involved. I asked them how to get involved, and they said to just join up."
Snook's decision wasn't spur of the moment, however, because helping people has always played a role in his life.
"I guess when you ask every little boy what he wants to be growing up, at one point or the other he'll say a policeman or a fireman, so I guess I got involved in it as part of a boyhood dream," Snook said.
"I've always wanted to help people, and I thought, what better way to help somebody than when their life and property are threatened?"
His desire to help others has expanded Snook's public services into other fields as well. On campus, Snook is perhaps best known for his radio and subscriber e-mail personality when bad weather is on its way.
"We've got the technology to warn people several minutes in advance of bad weather," Snook explained. "As part of the fire department, I have a pager and a weather radio here. If I know about what's coming before anybody else through the emergency communication system, I'm not going to sit back and say 'everybody's on their own' when I have a chance to let people know that danger is coming.
"I run into people and they'll ask me 'What's the weather, Tony?'" he added, laughing. "It's part of my nature, I guess. I don't want to know that somebody got blown away and I could've done something about it."
No matter the weather, however, Snook's role as the fire chief of his crew for the past 15 years has allowed him to do what he said he feels is his duty-to protect his community, a charge that he takes very seriously.
"Somebody asked me one time how I deal with ... the blood and the gore," Snook said. "I said that when we've got somebody just down the road that's hurt bad, and if I'm able to give him a few minutes more time to get to a hospital, then I can't just stand by. I couldn't pass a wreck or see my neighbor's home in flames and not stop and try and help."
On average, Snook said that he and his crew answer two calls for aid a week. Car wrecks and house fires are par for the course in his other occupation, but he noted that there are times when no amount of nerve or bravery can steel you for what you are called to do.
"One of the hardest calls I went on was when my son was watching the Super Bowl and was cooking supper and went to check the game-he forgot about supper and his kitchen caught on fire," he said.
"That's one of the hardest calls I've ever had to go on, when you know your son's in trouble. I'd never have thought I could move so fast. He lost most of his personal property, but he and my grandchild were OK, so that's all that matters."
Snook has helped many in the past 30 years, but he said it's time for someone else to take his place as chief. At age 59, he's stepped down and handed over the reins of fire department leadership; he's staying on the crew.
"I'm just getting too old to do it," he explained. "I can't get up and dressed and out the door in 45 seconds like I used to. There are young people we've got that are showing real leadership potential and promise.
"Plus," he added, laughing, "I want to be out of it when I'm young enough to stay in the background and kick their butts when they get out of line."
Casey Phillips is a junior mass communication major.
PUBLIC SERVANT-Printing Services director Tony Snook dons his firefighting gear. He recently retired as chief of the Christiana Volunteer Fire Department, but he'll continue to serve on the force.
photo by J. Intintoli
The Record, February 13, 2006, V14.15
Campus Calendar
>>Top of Page
Campus Calendar
Feb. 13-26
TV Schedule
"Middle Tennessee Record"
Cable Channel 9
Monday-Sunday-5 p.m.
NewsChannel 5+
Saturdays-1:30 p.m.
Through Feb. 24
"From Studios to Stages: Images of American Music Makers" Photo Exhibit
Baldwin Photographic Gallery
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 12-4 p.m.; Sunday, 6-10 p.m.
No admission charge
For information, contact: 615-898-2085 or 615-898-2449.
Monday, Feb. 13
Honors Lecture Series
Dr. Eric Klumpe, "Copernicus & the Principle of Mediocrity"
3-3:55 p.m., HONR 106
For information, contact: 615-898-2152.
Faculty Senate meeting
4:30 p.m., JUB 100
For information, contact: 615-898-2582.
MTSU Men's Basketball vs. South Dakota State
7 p.m., Murphy Center
For information, contact: 615-898-2103.
Tuesday, Feb. 14
MTSU Guitar Festival Concert featuring Stanley Yates
8 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
For information, contact: 615-898-2493.
Wednesday, Feb. 15
Music from Japan Festival
7 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
No admission charge; reservations required
For information, contact: 615-898-2493.
Thursday, Feb. 16
Women's Studies Research Series
"Student Voices: Listening to Women's Studies Student Researchers"
3:30 p.m., JUB 100
For information, contact: 615-898-5910.
MTSU Women's Basketball vs. Arkansas State
7 p.m., Murphy Center
For information, contact: 615-898-2103.
Friday, Feb. 17
Deadline for Special Projects Award Proposals
Applications available at www.mtsu.edu/~devofc/found/specproj.html
For information, contact: 615-898-5007.
MTSU Chamber Winds/Brass Ensemble Concert
8 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
No admission charge
For information, contact: 615-898-2493.
Feb. 18-19
MTSU Baseball vs. IP-Fort Wayne
1 p.m. daily, Reese Smith Field
For information, contact: 615-898-2103.
Saturday, Feb. 18
MTSU Women's Basketball vs. Arkansas-Little Rock
7 p.m., Murphy Center
For information, contact: 615-898-2103.
Monday, Feb. 20
Honors Lecture Series
Dr. Elyce Helford, "From Suffrage to Sex Positivism"
3-3:55 p.m., HONR 106
For information, contact: 615-898-2152.
Stones River Chamber Players (Faculty Brass Quintet)
7:30 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
No admission charge
For information, contact: 615-898-2493.
Tuesday, Feb. 21
African-American History Month Event
Black Business Student Association Business Networking Reception
11 a.m.-2 p.m., JUB Hazlewood Dining Room
No admission charge
For information, contact: 615-494-8911.
African-American History Month Event
"Hip-Hop's Political Movement" lecture by Bakari Kitwana
4-5:30 p.m., BAS S260
No admission charge
For information, contact: 615-898-2987.
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Studio Smith Salute to African-American Composers
8 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
No admission charge
For information, contact: 615-898-2493.
Thursday, Feb. 23
Free Legal Clinic
7-9 p.m., June Anderson Women's Center (JUB 206)
Appointments required
For information, contact: 615-898-2193.
MTSU Men's Basketball vs. Western Kentucky
7 p.m., Murphy Center
For information, contact: 615-898-2103.
MTSU Jazz Combos
7:30 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
No admission charge
For information, contact: 615-898-2493.
Feb. 24-25
MTSU Softball, "MT Strikeout Breast Cancer Classic"
Times vary, Observatory Park
For information, visit www.goblueraiders.com or contact: 615-898-2103.
"Mayor Moon and the Storytelling Festival"
7:30 p.m. nightly, Tucker Theatre
Admission: $8 general, $6 employees and senior citizens, $4 students K-12
For information, contact: 615-494-8810.
Friday, Feb. 24
Up 'Til Dawn Fund-raiser for St. Jude Children's Hospital
7 p.m.-7 a.m., Campus Recreation Center
For information, visit www.mtsu.edu/~uptldawn, e-mail uptldawn@mtsu.edu
or contact: 615-904-8270.
Feb. 25-26
2006 Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship
Murphy Center
For ticket information, contact: 888-YES-MTSU.
"Road to the Horse"
Colt Starting Challenge
9 a.m. daily, Miller Coliseum
Admission: two-day general, $40; two-day reserved, $60
For information, contact: 325-736-5000.
Saturday, Feb. 25
MTSU Men's Tennis vs. Rice University
Noon, Murfreesboro Racquet Club
For information, contact: 615-898-2103.
MTSU Symphony Orchestra Concert
8 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
No admission charge
For information, contact: 615-898-2493.
Theatre Alumni Reunion
8:30 p.m., Tom H. Jackson Alumni Center
Admission: $25 per person
For information, contact: 615-898-2922.
Sunday, Feb. 26
MTSU Men's Tennis vs. Minnesota
1 p.m., Murfreesboro Racquet Club
For information, contact: 615-898-2103.
MTSU Women's Tennis vs. Tennessee Tech
TBA, Buck Bouldin Tennis Center
For information, contact: 615-898-2103.
Mozart/Mendelssohn Choral Concert
3 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
Admission: $10
For information, contact: 615-898-2493.
Calendar Items Welcomed
Submit your campus event calendar items (at least three weeks in advance of the event, please) to gfann@mtsu.edu or via fax to 615-898-5714.
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