$1.74 million of good medicine

Today's nursing shortage is critical. And a shortage of nursing school faculty is closing the door on promising applicants. According to the Bureau of Health Professionals, there are 20 percent fewer registered nurses below the age of 40 than there were 20 years ago. MTSU is poised to make a huge difference. Having just received a $1.74 million matching grant from the Murfreesboro-based Christy-Houston Foundation, MTSU's School of Nursing will be able to offer more scholarships, add endowed professorships, and build a new addition that will house state-of-the-art digital technology and furnishings. In short, MTSU will be able to train more nurses!

For comment, contact Dr. Pam Holder, director, MTSU School of Nursing, at 615-898-2446
pgholder@mtsu.edu
or call the NPA office at 615-898-2919.

Teach consequences and coping

While more serious acts of violence at school are rising, they are relatively uncommon and school violence overall is going down, says Dr. Susan Sobel, clinical and school psychologist. "However, we do need to resolve how to deal with such serious acts in such young children, and suspending them is not the answer," she notes. "Logical consequences, reparation for damage done, and teaching of positive coping when upset and angry are much more appropriate." Adults must model appropriate behavior, she adds.

Contact Sobel at 615-898-5288.
ssobel@mtsu.edu

The state of the 'Address'

State of the Union Addresses used to referred to as "Annual Messages," until Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the term (in 1935) to its present form, which has constitutional origins, says Dr. John Vile, constitutional expert. Thomas Jefferson actually discontinued George Washington's practice of delivering such addresses to Congress in person, and the practice was not resumed until Woodrow Wilson's presidency. "Presidential speeches to Congress are increasingly looking like major theatrical productions," Vile observes. "The presidential gallery is often filled with individuals who epitomize racial, ethnic, gender and other forms of diversity."

Contact Vile at 615-898-2596.
jvile@mtsu.edu

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 11 a.m., Davis Science Building, Room 100, Dr. James Poole, Ohio State University, will lecture on "Photochemistry of Tirapazamine: Anti-Tumor Agent and Potential Photo-Precursor for Hydroxyl Radical." Media welcomed.
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., Davis Science Building, Room 100, Dr. George Benz of the Tennessee Aquarium & Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute will discuss his little-known discoveries about the Greenland sharks and their intricate links with other creatures. Open to the public. Media welcomed.