Motivations behind war

The position of each faction in Iraq is motivated by a feeling of nationalism, says Dr. Ron Messier, modern Middle East expert. What they have in common is not wanting to be ruled by foreigners. "Nor would I describe their mentality as bent on conquest or expansion. Their war with Iran was the result of very old border disputes, aggravated in the 60s and 70s by the then Shah of Iran. We encouraged, supported and armed Iraq in that war because we saw Iran as our enemy. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait should have been no surprise." Hussein's arguments with Iran were rooted in oil production issues, debt issues, and, yes, sovereignty issues, he adds.

Contact Messier at 615-898-5828.
rmessier@mtsu.edu

Open access, yet security

"One of the greatest dilemmas faced by facility managers around the United States lies in balancing the demands of providing a secure environment for all patrons while simultaneously complying with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990," writes Dr. Colby Jubenville [and co-authors], assistant professor, HPERS, in the March/April 2003 Facility Manager. ADA requirements dictate that facilities post signs that give directions and information about rooms and spaces, etc. The security drawback is that this kind of knowledge can be helpful to someone with ill intent.

Contact Jubenville at 615-898-2909.
jubenvil@mtsu.edu

Parents should be honest

When it comes to parents talking about the war with their young children, since kids won't always ask questions, Mom or Dad certainly may solicit any concerns from them. "If they have none at the time, just let them know you're available if they do," advises Dr. Susan Sobel, licensed clinical and school psychologist. "Talking about good vs. evil with young children is probably not going to work very well because these concepts are pretty abstract, and young children don't have the cognitive abilities yet." The National Association of School Psychologists just published a handout on these issues, she adds. It is available at http://www.nasponline.org.

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

TODAY'S MTSU UPLINK AT 10 A.M.

SEGMENT 1: Dr. Karim Salman, associate professor of engineering technology and industrial studies, discusses his 80-year-old mother and a dozen members of his family who are still in Baghdad.
SEGMENT 2: Chris Harris, professor, electronic media communication and author of a textbook on visual journalism and articles on journalism ethics, discusses ethical questions surrounding wartime photos since the Civil War.
SEGMENT 3: Students at MTSU went through "The Tunnel of Love or Pain" yesterday to learn more about STDs.

TR EXTRA: TONIGHT at 7:30, James Union Building--Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, and executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, will talk about the legacy of her son. MEDIA: Mrs. Shepard is willing to take questions for 10 minutes--7:00 sharp to 7:10 in the JUB lobby. You are welcomed to remain for her presentation. For more information, contact Dr. Will Langston at 615-898-5489.
TOMORROW, April 3, 3 p.m.--Todd Gitlin, Columbia University professor of journalism and sociology, will speak in Mass Comm 104 as a guest of MTSU's John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies. This is free and open to the public. Media welcomed. Contact Dr. David Eason at deason@mtsu.edu.