Because of the long holiday weekend, there will be no TR tomorrow or Monday. TR will resume Tuesday, April 22.

Adoption surge?

With the war winding down, is there a chance that Americans will rush to adopt orphans in Iraq--and out of what kind of motivation--pity, guilt, something else? When posed to Debbie Simpson, childcare training expert, she said her belief and hope is that any child should be adopted out of a sense of compassion. "I would hope that some sort of screening interview would be helpful in preventing adoptions made out of haste or a knee-jerk reaction to the war," she says. She adds that any children waiting for adoption should be counseled in a group setting to deal with whatever grief and/or anger they may have.

Contact Simpson at 615-904-8318.
dsimpson@mtsu.edu

Positive vibes from the war

The results of an MTSU telephone poll of 374 randomly selected residents of Rutherford, Davidson and Williamson counties reveals that people have reversed their formerly held opinion (from a Feb. poll) that the war in Iraq would have negative effects on the economy. Because of its quick and successful outcome, the majority of Middle Tennessee consumers (55 percent) now believe that the war will have a positive effect on the U.S. economyÑand 40 percent believe it will have a positive effect on the local economy.

Contact Dr. Tim Graeff, director of MTSU's Office of Consumer Research, at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

Tax cheats

What creates a 'cheatin' heart' this time of year? "Most frauds--tax and otherwise--involve what is called the 'fraud triangle'--motive, opportunity and rationalization," says business dean Dr. Jim Burton, certified fraud examiner. Some may look at the news with a 'They-did- itÑit's-OK-for-me' attitude. Motive may be anything from war opposition to 'I need the money more than they do.' Opportunity may come from hearing that there are fewer audits to changing one's name to keep from getting caught. "Few people ever start a fraud expecting to be caught--in fact, many start fairly innocently expecting to pay back."

Contact Burton at 615-898-2764.
eburton@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA:

APRIL 21-26: Earth Week events--MTSU's Students for Environmental Action (SEA) will present weeklong activities. Monday at 4:15 p.m., Dr. Michael Principe will discuss Cuba's Paradigm for Sustainable Agriculture, in the Stark Ag Building, Room 125; Tuesday at 9 p.m., the SEA and MTSU Recycling Dept. will sponsor a benefit at The Boro Bar and Grill. For a schedule of the week's events, contact NPA at 615-898-2919. For more information, call 615-898-5184. All events are free and open. Media welcomed.
MONDAY, April 21 at 2:30 p.m., Dr. Jan Simek, UT professor of anthropology, will lecture on "On the Backs of Serpents: The Prehistoric Cave Art of the Eastern [Tennessee] Woodlands," in the Business/Aerospace Building S102. Free and open--media welcomed.
MONDAY, April 21 at 7 p.m., the Stones River Chamber Players, which is approaching its 15th season, will perform selections from the group's upcoming European tour, in the Alumni Center. Free and open--but please call 615-898-2476 to check seating availability. Media welcomed.