Losing a loved one

The pain of losing someone to war, murder or an accident is probably more intense because of the sudden nature of the death, says Dr. Margaret Fontanesi-Seime, associate professor, social work, and expert on issues related to death and dying. How the event is viewed is also important, she notes. "During World War II gold stars were hung in the windows of homes to indicate a life had been lost ... representing part of a national shared grieving process. During the Vietnam War, support and sympathy [for families who grieved] were less evident ... which made the whole process more painful and difficult." To understand the pain of loss, we must also understand personal and social responses to the event or way in which the individual died, she adds.

Contact Fontanesi-Seime at 615-898-5766.
fontanes@mtsu.edu

Consider the sacrifice

As the war winds down, it is time to consider the enormous sacrifice paid by our fellow citizens, says Dr. Kevin Breault, professor, sociology and anthropology. Some made the ultimate sacrifice so that generations to come could be protected from the development of horrific weapons and the genocidal criminality of Hussein's regime. "In giving us this proud moment in American history, they represent our most cherished values ... the good that is in each of us. Make no mistake--in a world that often turns a blind eye to what is wrong and fails to stand up for what is right, we now hold the moral high ground. It is our most important territorial claim, the promise of our nation."

Contact Breault at 615-898-2696 or H: 615-292-1663.
kbreault@mtsu.edu

World of hurt

Tomorrow at 4:30 p.m., the "Take Back the Night" 5K Walk/Run will take place on the MTSU campus. Later, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the campus and general community will be invited to participate in the "Take Back the Night" March and Rally, which will begin on campus and gradually move to the Rutherford County courthouse. The event will include music, messages from survivors of violence and a candlelight vigil. From now through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., T-shirts with poignant messages and images created by survivors of sexual assault will be displayed in the KUC courtyard. Media welcomed.

For more details on the week's events, contact Tennisha Smith at 615-898-2193.

THIS WEEK'S AUDIO CLIPS ON THE WEB: Go to http://www.mtsunews.com and click on "audio clips."
TOPIC 1: Dr. Richard Hannah, professor of economics, who has traveled extensively and taught in China, says SARS is impacting the Chinese economy.
TOPIC 2: Executives and students talk about the value of the annual Executives-in-Residence program, a recent class take-over by midstate executives.
TOPIC 3: Betty Rowland, Gore Research Center, and Elinor Johnson Folk, former U.S. Navy WAVE, talk about the ongoing MTSU Veterans History Project, in which Tennessee's veterans share oral histories of their experiences.

TR EXTRA: TODAY at 9 a.m., a videoconference by Dr. Mary Enderson, associate professor, mathematical sciences, Learning Resources Center. This session will focus on simple algebraic concepts that will be explored by use of technology. A studio audience will be composed of middle and high school students and teachers. Contact director Dr. Connie Schmidt at 615-898-2560. Media welcomed.
TOMORROW, April 16, 8 p.m. Tucker Theatre--"Step Afrika," a percussive dance ensemble, free and open to the public. For more information, call 615-898-2551.