Democracy not always freedom

In The New York Times, Robert Kaplan writes that freedom and democracy are not necessarily the same--that elections are not always synonymous with constitutional liberalism. Democracy and civil liberties are not always compatible, Dr. John Vile, political science chair and constitutional expert, echoes. The framers of the U.S. Constitution recognized this and attempted to create a "'republican' or 'constitutional' democracy, wherein the immediate whims of the people would be tempered by institutional restraints and by explicit constitutional limits enforceable in courts," Vile explains.

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

State of the U.N.

What is the status and role of the U.N. now that the war in Iraq is winding down? Has it lost prestige? Dr. Amy Staples, assistant professor of history and U.N. expert, says the body seems to be an increasingly attractive alternative to many members of the international community, "especially when compared to the unilateral military strategy of the U.S. The U.S. will certainly want U.N. participation in postwar Iraq if for no other reason than ... the U.N. has an unprecedented amount of expertise on development issues among its staff."

Contact Staples at 615-898-2569.
astaples@mtsu.edu

Artists celebrate Earth awareness

MTSU Students for Environmental Action and other groups are sponsoring an Earth Day Festival today starting at noon on the KUC knoll. Stephen Gaskin, self-proclaimed hippie who established the Farm in Summertown, Tenn., will speak. "Broken Word" will perform slam poetry; local bands "Spooky Johnson" and "Juan Prophet Organization" will play; and headlining the festival will be "Drums & Tuba," currently touring and showcasing their latest "Righteous Babe" release, "Mostly Ape." The festival is free and open to the public. Media welcomed. (Rain location will be in Tucker Theater.)

Contact Jennifer Kirk at 615-898-2551.

THIS WEEK'S AUDIO CLIPS FROM MTSU: http://www.mtsu.edu/~proffice/audio/audio_clips.html TOPIC 1: An MTSU professor from Iraq is not optimistic about the U.S. plans for reshaping his native land. Dr. Karim Salman, who teaches computer science, has not heard from his family in Baghdad in weeks and would like to go home.
TOPIC 2: During ABC's coverage of the war in Iraq, Ted Koppel and Charles Gibson had an on-air disagreement about whether news crews should air pictures of dead bodies and other gruesome scenes. MTSU professor Chris Harris says this wasn't even an issue in the days before technology made immediate coverage a reality.
TOPIC 3: MTSU will send about 50 new nurses into the profession following next month's graduation ceremony. But, with nurses in short supply nationwide, the school is seeking to expand its nursing building to accommodate more students. Dr. Pam Holder, director, School of Nursing, says a grant of nearly one-and-three-quarters million dollars from the Christy-Houston Foundation will help.

TR EXTRA: EARTH DAY EVENTS THIS WEEK: TODAY, Earth Day Festival, starting at noon, featuring several bands, KUC knoll. Free and open. (Rain location will be in Tucker Theater.) Media welcomed.
TODAY, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: MTSU Floyd Stadium, Special Olympics Spring Games, including schools from Rutherford and Trousdale counties as well as participants from the Adult Activity Center and Stones River Center. Free and open. Call John Harris at 615-898-2783. Media welcomed.
TOMORROW and SUNDAY, April 26 and 27, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; MTSU students, faculty and the community will come together to build a garden at Community Care of Rutherford County, 901 Country Farm Rd.; formal remarks at 11 a.m. Saturday. For more information, call the NPA office at 615-898-2919. Media welcomed.

Need help in finding an expert? Contact Tom Tozer, director, Media Relations, at 615-898-2919 or ttozer@mtsu.edu.