Just a little free speech

Free speech can be tough to tolerate, says Dr. Bob Pondillo, assistant professor, electronic media communication, even though it is the heart and soul of the U.S. Constitution. But so can our variety of great religions. "It's hard being a good Christian, Jew or Muslim because the requirements of the faith are so unyielding. The provisions of the First Amendment Church of America are no less daunting. You simply cannot be 'a little bit' for freedom of speech--it's all or nothing." As elders of the faith, we must practice what we preach or be ready to embrace the faith of fascism, he adds.

Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

'The Correspondent's War'

Having a news correspondent decked out in flak jacket and helmet and reporting from some hotel rooftop in the middle of nowhere is nothing new, says Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism professor and Air Force veteran. The origins of the Spanish-American War can be traced back to newspapers and the circulation wars between Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. In fact, he says, the war has been referred to as 'The Correspondent's War.' "The war was brought on by two colossal Americans on a collision course ... by sparks given off by two oversized egos." It reminds one of today's correspondents and anchors, he adds.

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

Sammy's screw-up

Baseball hasn't been hurt as much as Sammy Sosa's legacy, opines Dr. Ron Kates, assistant professor of English and expert on baseball and sports in literature. Kates offers his "unscientific theory" behind the corked-bat incident. "Sammy had just come off the DL for an injured toe--and perhaps he was feeling like he needed an extra edge, a boost ... before the Yankee series. The team and fans look to him to lead them. ... So maybe he figured, 'What the heck, we're playing the D-Rays, nobody's really watching so why not give it a shot.'" This is not the first time Sosa and the corked bat have been an issue, Kates notes.

Contact Kates at 615-898-2595.
rkates@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TODAY, June 19, 4:30 p.m.--Groundbreaking for the Emmett and Rose Kennon Sports Hall of Fame Building at MTSU (behind Murphy Center). Media welcomed. NOTE: We are hoping to provide a special uplink later this afternoon with footage of the groundbreaking ceremony. If it is a go, we will confirm the time with you.
JUNE 16-25: Camp Prism, June 16-25, is a collaboration between MTSU and Murfreesboro City Schools, in which children will work together in hands-on activities involving chemistry, biology, geology, math and more. Events will take place on campus and around the community, beginning around 8:30 a.m. Media welcomed. Contact Dr. Rebecca Zijlstra, coordinator, on her cell phone at 848-8960 or Linda Gilbert, Murfreesboro City Schools, at 615-893-2313.