Due to staff being out of the office, there will be no formal "Today's Response" on Feb. 6, 7 or 10. However, singular items of interest may be sent to the TR list during that time. Thank you.

Addressing social injustice

"Bob Herbert is a voice, often the only voice, for those unrepresented Americans," says Dr. David Eason, director of MTSU's John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies. "He is a man of great integrity, insight and informed opinion." Herbert, who writes the "In America" column for The New York Times op-ed page will address examples of social injustice about which he has written in his columns at 3 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Business/Aerospace Building S102. He will be interviewed by John Seigenthaler, former editor/publisher of The Tennessean and Wendell Rawls, MTSU journalism professor and former Southern Bureau chief for the NYT. Media welcomed.

Contact Eason at 615-898-5873.
deason@mtsu.edu

A reflection in the screen

Yes, TV certainly reflects the values of our culture--our number one value being "buy something--buy it now--buy it often--buy it on credit," says Bob Pondillo, assistant professor, electronic media communications. Does TV reflect violence? "Yes, but only to the extent that commercialized television needs violence to create an environment in which to sell products," he notes. "We're a much more violent nation on TV than we really are, but that's because TV does not reflect reality ... no more so than does a funhouse mirror." What TV does is to reinforce stereotypes already embedded in the culture, he adds.

Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

Real life model for violence

A recent news story discussed the increasing violence that elementary teachers and principals are seeing among the youngest of students. Is violence in media to blame? While violence in video games, movies, etc., certainly don't help, aggressive, violent behavior is more likely to be demonstrated by children "if it is modeled and/or rewarded in the child's most immediate environments ... the home and community," says Dr. Susan Sobel, clinical and school psychologist.

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

TR EXTRA: TOMORROW, Feb. 6, 11:30 a.m., JUB Tennessee Room, Unity Luncheon, "Honoring Unsung Community Heroes"; one honoree is 102 years old! ($15 per to the public) Media welcomed. Call 615-898-2919.
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wiser-Patten Science Building 220, Dr. Charles Higgins will lecture on Saturn, followed by telescope viewing outside, weather permitting. Contact Higgins at 615-898-5946. Free and open. Media welcomed.