Meet a great grad!

Scholar Eric Freundt (like "point") is the first MTSU student headed for Oxford University for graduate study, having been admitted into the Oxford/NIH Scholars in Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. A native of Franklin, Tenn., Freundt's recent groundbreaking research at MTSU confirmed what was not previously known--that ticks can transmit the enterovirus that causes viral meningitis. He is one of 800 students in the Honors College, recently winning the prestigious President's Award, the highest MTSU academic award. "I've had faculty tell me that Eric's work on enteroviruses and ticks will one day be published in an international journal," says Dr. John Paul Montgomery, Honors dean.

Contact Eric at 615-898-4571, and meet him in person at commencement May 10.

Breaking the law

Heavy fines were imposed on four college students for setting up a Napster-like internal network that shared songs on campus servers. Dr. Rich Barnet, professor, recording industry, says he recently asked his Ethics of the Recording Industry class if they thought students who illegally download music know they are breaking the law. "Only one believed that they do," he notes. "The remainder of the class felt the public has a vague understanding of the law, but most don't agree with the law. They compared it to driving over the speed limit." Barnet's class offered fascinating suggestions on better educating the public, including using a starving artist to do a psa--not a wealthy pop star.

Contact Barnet at 615-898-5869.
rbarnet@mtsu.edu
(The first printing of Barnet's book, Controversies of the Music Industry, written with Dr. Larry Burriss, has nearly sold out.)

Networking

According to reports, with a sagging economy, networking has become even more vital for college graduates. Networking through personal referrals is the number one way to find jobs, says Martha Turner, director of MTSU's Career and Employment Center. Personal contacts with faculty, alumni, family and friends can open doors to the hidden job market. "Candidates must be enthusiastic, persistent and show initiative--60 percent of the job search should be spent face to face; 20 percent on the phone; and 20 percent by other means, including the Internet and newspapers."

Contact Turner at 615-898-2500.
mturner@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA: TODAY at 9 a.m., tap, jazz, ballet and modern dance will be featured in this videoconference, and student spectators will have the opportunity to interact with the performers, choreographers and production crew of the Spring 2003 dance production. Middle and high school students will comprise a live studio audience. Contact videoconferencing director Dr. Connie Schmidt at 615-898-2560. Media welcomed.
SATURDAY, May 10, at 10 a.m. in Murphy Center, MTSU's Spring Commencement. Governor Phil Bredesen will be the commencement speaker. Media welcomed.