FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919
MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS TAKE PART IN MULTI-COUNTY 4-H NUTRITION, FITNESS CAMP
Youth from Seven Area Counties Combine Cooking, Healthy Lifestyle Lessons at Event;
Organizers Create Camp to Combat Childhood Obesity, Inspire Better Food Choices
(MURFREESBORO)—Health, nutrition and fitness topped the menu for some 35 campers who signed up for the first 4-H Myself Camp held earlier this month on the MTSU campus.
Area 4-H extension agents partnered with the university’s Department of Human Sciences to help camp organizers create a food-meets-fun event for grades six through eight designed to make celery sensational, broccoli more beautiful and turn jicama—a sweet and edible root that resembles the turnip—into a household word.
Justin Crowe, Davidson County extension agent, was the creator and director of the camp, which he said he was inspired to initiate after attending a 4-H conference in Washington, D.C., in 2006.
“There is most definitely a great need (for this kind of nutrition-focused camp), because not only do youth not know how to cook and how to function on their own when they might be at home by themselves, but they also don’t know what resources are available,” he said.
“Oftentimes, it’s easier to stop at McDonald’s or some fast-food place on the way home, and those kinds of places are fine, because there are lots of healthy things you can get in those kinds of environments,” Crowe continued. “However, what we want the kids to understand is that the kitchen is not a scary place. Yes, there are safety things to consider, but when a young person is at home, they can prepare food at home. They can learn new and innovative recipes that are easy to make, with five or six ingredients, and have things they can eat at home.”
Middle-schoolers from Rutherford, Coffee, Davidson, Robertson Wilson, Sumner and Cheatham counties lined up in MTSU’s Rutledge Hall to register for Myself Camp before being divided into three activity groups—the Fruits, Grains and Dairy teams—and participating in back-to-back educational sessions teaching youngsters how to make healthier lifestyle choices.
One of the event’s fun and innovative sessions was Veggie Time. Kathy Finley, Robertson County extension agent, said the activity encouraged children to explore vegetables with all their senses, and in the end, the campers “actually did pretty well trying different things.”
“Some of them had never eaten a sweet red pepper, and so they liked those,” Finley said, smiling. “They tried the celery and broccoli with some different dips. We asked them to try the cucumbers and tomatoes with cottage cheese, and they found that, ‘Hey, that’s OK.’ But otherwise, they had were like, ‘Yuck!’ But then they decided that was something they could try and it was OK … and most of them tried it and had fun.”
Campers also “felt different things (such as) an ear of corn to determine what that was, and they listened to someone biting into an apple … or peeling a banana,” she continued. “They also smelled several foods, like tomatoes, and we even added fruit in there with pineapple—not only feeling the texture of the pineapple, but also the smell of it once it was being cut. So they got to experience several things in that session.”
Aside from classes in nutrition know-how, reading food labels, maintaining a proper body image and cooking their own meals, campers also had lessons in table etiquette and how to properly organize a place setting, from plates and napkins to big and little forks and spoons, and learned about food safety with the help of a Glo-Germ—a chemical that glows beneath a black light when cross-contamination has occurred as a result of reusing kitchen utensils.
At the close of the weekend event, Crowe encouraged all camp participants to share what they had learned with at least 10 other people, especially younger children. Then, to help them with their assignment, each camper was presented with a large plastic tub of nutrition-related materials, games, coloring books and information, including an 18-inch-tall inflatable food pyramid.
“Childhood obesity is a major issue right now,” Crowe said. “Kids are not making good, healthy choices, and so what we want as a result of this camp is for these kids to not only go home with (healthy food) knowledge but to share that knowledge with others.”
Many of this year’s participants said they hope to return to the nutrition camp again next year, and many expressed a desire for the camp to last longer than a weekend. If Crowe gets his way, 4-H Myself Camp will be an annual event at MTSU with a reach that’s statewide, not just regional.
Chris Brown, a 4-H member from Manchester, is among those who said he plans to return to Myself Camp in summer 2008.
“This was pretty fun,” exclaimed the brown-eyed camper, as he readied for the trip back home. “I liked a lot of the activities we got to do, and I liked having my own dorm room. And I really think I liked the sessions.
“A lot of the sessions that we had and the classes that we attended were fun. We really did some interesting things in those classes,” he said, laughing.
• For more information about 4-H activities and programs, including Myself Camp, contact your county’s local extension agent.
—30—
***ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview camp organizer Justin Crowe or participating extension agents from your county, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 or via e-mail at lrollins@mtsu.edu.*** Please note that video footage from this event is available to broadcast outlets upon request, including interviews with camp participants and organizers, by contacting Rollins.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
409 DALEWOOD STUDENTS ‘BUILD A BRIDGE TO COLLEGE’ AT MTSU
Release date: June 21, 2007
Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Dalewood Middle School contacts: Buddy Sullivan, 423-503-8198, and Danni Morris
DALEWOOD STUDENTS ‘BUILD A BRIDGE TO COLLEGE’ AT MTSU
(MURFREESBORO) — Fifteen students from Chattanooga’s Dalewood Middle School gained a glimpse of college and university life during the four-day Building a Bridge to College visit to Middle Tennessee State University June 19-22.
Led by Dalewood faculty members Buddy Sullivan and Danni Morris, the students, all of whom will be high-school freshmen this fall, took part in math- and science-related activities, toured three Nashville-area college campuses, visited the Tennessee State Museum, enjoyed dinner at Nashville’s Hard Rock Café and attended a Nashville Sounds Triple-A baseball game.
“The class activities have been great,” said Quiana Roberson, who will be a ninth-grader at Brainerd High School this fall and said she wants to be an attorney some day. “The teachers are cool. They’re good teachers.”
Roberson, who said she is an A student with three sisters and two brothers, said what she enjoyed most was “living on my own for four days. I liked the road trips, going back and forth to Nashville.”
Incoming Brainerd freshman Terrance Sturdivant said what he found “exciting” about the trip was that he “got to live in a dorm like a college student. I really enjoyed it.”
Sturdivant said he enjoyed the egg drop class session.
“You build a house for an egg and you drop it to see if it (egg) would break,” said Sturdivant, who added that he would like to be a music producer or an automobile engineer one day.
This marks the ninth year Sullivan and Morris have brought students to MTSU. They said more than 150 students have participated in Building a Bridge to College.
“We try to plant the seed (for college),” Sullivan said. “We want to get them excited and show them it (college) is doable.”
“We’ve got a good group of students,” Morris said. “It’s a new experience and growing-up time for them.”
Other trip attendees included Starlexis Belcher, Chalsea Greene, Robert Kelley, Joshualyn Woods, Derrick Butts, Jalisa Jones, Quintana Nance, April Cross, Danielle Jackson, Autumn Smith, Cameron Walton, Michael Greene and Brishayla Greene.
Participating MTSU faculty included Dr. Sid Sridhara (engineering technology and industrial studies), Angela Golden (information technology), Dr. Daniel Erenso (physics and astronomy) and Laura Clippard (Student Support Services).
The group will return to Chattanooga by bus around 1 p.m. EDT Friday.
###
Note: Student photos may be available Friday afternoon. Call Buddy Sullivan to obtain.
Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Dalewood Middle School contacts: Buddy Sullivan, 423-503-8198, and Danni Morris
DALEWOOD STUDENTS ‘BUILD A BRIDGE TO COLLEGE’ AT MTSU
(MURFREESBORO) — Fifteen students from Chattanooga’s Dalewood Middle School gained a glimpse of college and university life during the four-day Building a Bridge to College visit to Middle Tennessee State University June 19-22.
Led by Dalewood faculty members Buddy Sullivan and Danni Morris, the students, all of whom will be high-school freshmen this fall, took part in math- and science-related activities, toured three Nashville-area college campuses, visited the Tennessee State Museum, enjoyed dinner at Nashville’s Hard Rock Café and attended a Nashville Sounds Triple-A baseball game.
“The class activities have been great,” said Quiana Roberson, who will be a ninth-grader at Brainerd High School this fall and said she wants to be an attorney some day. “The teachers are cool. They’re good teachers.”
Roberson, who said she is an A student with three sisters and two brothers, said what she enjoyed most was “living on my own for four days. I liked the road trips, going back and forth to Nashville.”
Incoming Brainerd freshman Terrance Sturdivant said what he found “exciting” about the trip was that he “got to live in a dorm like a college student. I really enjoyed it.”
Sturdivant said he enjoyed the egg drop class session.
“You build a house for an egg and you drop it to see if it (egg) would break,” said Sturdivant, who added that he would like to be a music producer or an automobile engineer one day.
This marks the ninth year Sullivan and Morris have brought students to MTSU. They said more than 150 students have participated in Building a Bridge to College.
“We try to plant the seed (for college),” Sullivan said. “We want to get them excited and show them it (college) is doable.”
“We’ve got a good group of students,” Morris said. “It’s a new experience and growing-up time for them.”
Other trip attendees included Starlexis Belcher, Chalsea Greene, Robert Kelley, Joshualyn Woods, Derrick Butts, Jalisa Jones, Quintana Nance, April Cross, Danielle Jackson, Autumn Smith, Cameron Walton, Michael Greene and Brishayla Greene.
Participating MTSU faculty included Dr. Sid Sridhara (engineering technology and industrial studies), Angela Golden (information technology), Dr. Daniel Erenso (physics and astronomy) and Laura Clippard (Student Support Services).
The group will return to Chattanooga by bus around 1 p.m. EDT Friday.
###
Note: Student photos may be available Friday afternoon. Call Buddy Sullivan to obtain.
406 SYMPHONY WILL LIGHT UP JULY 4TH WITH ROUSING SOUSA MARCHES AND MORE
SYMPHONY WILL LIGHT UP JULY 4TH WITH ROUSING SOUSA MARCHES AND MORE
June 20, 2007
CONTACT: Marlane Sewell, Parks and Rec, 615-893-2141
Tom Tozer, MTSU, 615-898-2919
MURFREESBORO—There will be no better time to sample the artistry, energy and variety of the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra than to hear these professional musicians play during Rutherford County’s “Celebration Under the Stars,” which will kick off at 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, at MTSU’s intramural field, the traditional site for the countywide event.
From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be games and activities for the kids, including face painting, patriotic puzzles and arts ‘n’ crafts projects.
At approximately 8:00, there will be the presentation of colors by the Murfreesboro Fire Department’s Color Guard and a tribute to the armed forces and singing of the national anthem. The Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra will follow with a rousing hour-long program of traditional patriotic tunes, rousing marches, and inspirational classics. Dr. Raphael Bundage, MTSU professor in the Robert W. McLean School of Music, will conduct.
Musical selections will be composed of Sousa’s “El Capitan March,” “Semper Fidelis March,” “Washington Post March,” “King Cotton March,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Others will include “Backaroo Holiday” and Variations on a Shaker Melody” by Copland; Strauss’ “Radeszky March” and “Pizzacato Polka,” “Chariots of Fire” (Vangelis), “Tennessee Waltz” (Steinberg), “American Fantasy” (Herbert), “Armed Forces Salute” (Lowden), and of course Tschaikowsky’s dramatic “1812 Overture.”
The Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra provides educational programs for youth and adults throughout Middle Tennessee and specifically serves Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, Cannon, Davidson, Coffee, Warren and Bedford counties. Last year’s Youth Concert entertained more than 3,500 children throughout the region, and many member musicians also play with the Nashville, Jackson, Chattanooga and Huntsville symphonies.
Prior to the musical program, Rep. John Hood, program emcee, will extend a formal welcome at 7:30 p.m., followed by remarks from local dignitaries and sponsor representatives. This is Hood’s 10th year serving as emcee for this event.
The symphony will continue to play as the fireworks light up the sky at 9:00.
A special “Celebration Under the Stars” publication will be inserted in the Sunday, July 1, DNJ, providing a schedule of activities and a map of the celebration site.
For more information about the celebration, call Marlane Sewell, steering committee chair, at 615-893-2141 or Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation at 890-5333 or MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919. For more information about the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, call 615-898-1862.
####
June 20, 2007
CONTACT: Marlane Sewell, Parks and Rec, 615-893-2141
Tom Tozer, MTSU, 615-898-2919
MURFREESBORO—There will be no better time to sample the artistry, energy and variety of the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra than to hear these professional musicians play during Rutherford County’s “Celebration Under the Stars,” which will kick off at 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, at MTSU’s intramural field, the traditional site for the countywide event.
From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be games and activities for the kids, including face painting, patriotic puzzles and arts ‘n’ crafts projects.
At approximately 8:00, there will be the presentation of colors by the Murfreesboro Fire Department’s Color Guard and a tribute to the armed forces and singing of the national anthem. The Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra will follow with a rousing hour-long program of traditional patriotic tunes, rousing marches, and inspirational classics. Dr. Raphael Bundage, MTSU professor in the Robert W. McLean School of Music, will conduct.
Musical selections will be composed of Sousa’s “El Capitan March,” “Semper Fidelis March,” “Washington Post March,” “King Cotton March,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Others will include “Backaroo Holiday” and Variations on a Shaker Melody” by Copland; Strauss’ “Radeszky March” and “Pizzacato Polka,” “Chariots of Fire” (Vangelis), “Tennessee Waltz” (Steinberg), “American Fantasy” (Herbert), “Armed Forces Salute” (Lowden), and of course Tschaikowsky’s dramatic “1812 Overture.”
The Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra provides educational programs for youth and adults throughout Middle Tennessee and specifically serves Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, Cannon, Davidson, Coffee, Warren and Bedford counties. Last year’s Youth Concert entertained more than 3,500 children throughout the region, and many member musicians also play with the Nashville, Jackson, Chattanooga and Huntsville symphonies.
Prior to the musical program, Rep. John Hood, program emcee, will extend a formal welcome at 7:30 p.m., followed by remarks from local dignitaries and sponsor representatives. This is Hood’s 10th year serving as emcee for this event.
The symphony will continue to play as the fireworks light up the sky at 9:00.
A special “Celebration Under the Stars” publication will be inserted in the Sunday, July 1, DNJ, providing a schedule of activities and a map of the celebration site.
For more information about the celebration, call Marlane Sewell, steering committee chair, at 615-893-2141 or Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation at 890-5333 or MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919. For more information about the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, call 615-898-1862.
####
405 MTSU ALUM SURVIVES REFUGEE HELL, ACHIEVES AMERICAN DREAM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 20, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081, or Karen Case, 615-898-5087
MTSU ALUM SURVIVES REFUGEE HELL, ACHIEVES AMERICAN DREAM
Naturalized Sudanese Minister Spreads Message of Freedom, Peace, and Hope
(MURFREESBORO) – John Awan is not trying to climb the corporate ladder to capitalistic glory. That is never how he envisioned his life after his December 2006 graduation from MTSU.
Awan, a native of war-torn Sudan, has five relatives in Kapanguria Refugee Camp and four in Kakuma Refugee Camp, both in Kenya. Due to a refugee census for which they had to travel, John’s loved ones in Kapanguria had to spend the money he sent them for survival in the summer of 2006 on bus passes. On September 23, 2006, John e-mailed the following heart-rending words to his friends:
“My sister Elizabeth (nine years old) told me last night that they are told that the police will force them out on the 30th. I told her not to fear the police, and she said, ‘Police will beat us …’ ‘I know very well what Kenya police mean. I lived in Kenya for years!,’ I said. ‘But the Kenyans and police were good when you lived here,’ she said. It was kind of interesting when she tries to teach me about Kenyan police that tried to detain me several times when I was in Kenya.”
John was born in 1979 in the Sudanese village of Nany. Like many Sudanese, he has no way of knowing his real birthday because record-keeping tends to be a low priority among people preoccupied with survival. For the sake of paperwork, like many of his fellow countrymen, he uses January 1 as his “official” birthday.
The family moved to the southern capital of Juba, among other places, in the 1980s until the war started. He fled the country at age 10 with two other children, embarking on a journey during which he would walk approximately 1,000 miles. After four years in an Ethiopian refugee camp, he went back to Sudan because Ethiopia itself had fallen into armed conflict.
From Sudan, whose janjaweed militia under the control of the racist Bashir regime had raped, pillaged, and murdered its way across the south, John made his way to Kenya, which was in the midst of a devastating drought. There was some water, though.
“Of course, a lot of rivers,” John remembers. “If you don’t swim, you die, and, if you swim, then you cross it, and then you come with an infection from the water.”
John spent nine years in Kakuma camp, where he and thousands of other “Lost Boys of Sudan” say they “raised themselves.” Even in the refugee community, John insisted on serving others. As a member of the United Nations’ Child to Child program, he helped distribute food to children, taught them how to cross the camp road safely, and worked to make sure children attended the camp school.
In 2001, with the help of the U.N., John resettled in the United States, specifically Nashville, with official refugee status. He made friends through Nashville churches.
John obtained his high school equivalency in October 2001 and was accepted into English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classes at Nashville Tech. He transferred to MTSU, where he co-founded the South Sudanese Student Organization and joined GLOBAL and the African Student Association. His major was political science.
“I think the reason I like it (political science) is some time it will give you the opportunity to help people,” John says. “You end up being in public service; then you have the ability to correct where you believe people need correction.”
If any nation in the world needs “correction,” it is Sudan, the largest country on the African continent. A peace deal was signed in January 2005, and the nation’s Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and a militia commander were charged in February with war crimes by the International Criminal Court. However, the government continues to obstruct the distribution of aid from overseas.
What aid has reached the south Sudanese failed to help John’s parents. His father died in an attack on a village in 2000. His mother died of illness in 2002. Money to pay for her health care did not arrive in time to save her life.
Despite his tortured past, John remains a hopeful soul. An Episcopal priest for Sudanese ministry and a naturalized American citizen, he drives sick people to doctor’s appointments, serves as a translator when necessary, and helps refugees adapt to the American way of life. For his altruistic spirit, John won MTSU’s 2006 Community Service Award.
As John wrote in his nomination presentation, “The decent treatment of people is my passion. … The more I serve others, the less I worry about my own situation. I am not so alone in my life now, having so many people to help. Serving others has brought much responsibility to me, with others depending on me, but it has also brought me satisfaction and joy.”
--30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For a photo of John Awan at his naturalization ceremony, or to request an interview with John, contact Gina Logue at the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081, or Karen Case, 615-898-5087
MTSU ALUM SURVIVES REFUGEE HELL, ACHIEVES AMERICAN DREAM
Naturalized Sudanese Minister Spreads Message of Freedom, Peace, and Hope
(MURFREESBORO) – John Awan is not trying to climb the corporate ladder to capitalistic glory. That is never how he envisioned his life after his December 2006 graduation from MTSU.
Awan, a native of war-torn Sudan, has five relatives in Kapanguria Refugee Camp and four in Kakuma Refugee Camp, both in Kenya. Due to a refugee census for which they had to travel, John’s loved ones in Kapanguria had to spend the money he sent them for survival in the summer of 2006 on bus passes. On September 23, 2006, John e-mailed the following heart-rending words to his friends:
“My sister Elizabeth (nine years old) told me last night that they are told that the police will force them out on the 30th. I told her not to fear the police, and she said, ‘Police will beat us …’ ‘I know very well what Kenya police mean. I lived in Kenya for years!,’ I said. ‘But the Kenyans and police were good when you lived here,’ she said. It was kind of interesting when she tries to teach me about Kenyan police that tried to detain me several times when I was in Kenya.”
John was born in 1979 in the Sudanese village of Nany. Like many Sudanese, he has no way of knowing his real birthday because record-keeping tends to be a low priority among people preoccupied with survival. For the sake of paperwork, like many of his fellow countrymen, he uses January 1 as his “official” birthday.
The family moved to the southern capital of Juba, among other places, in the 1980s until the war started. He fled the country at age 10 with two other children, embarking on a journey during which he would walk approximately 1,000 miles. After four years in an Ethiopian refugee camp, he went back to Sudan because Ethiopia itself had fallen into armed conflict.
From Sudan, whose janjaweed militia under the control of the racist Bashir regime had raped, pillaged, and murdered its way across the south, John made his way to Kenya, which was in the midst of a devastating drought. There was some water, though.
“Of course, a lot of rivers,” John remembers. “If you don’t swim, you die, and, if you swim, then you cross it, and then you come with an infection from the water.”
John spent nine years in Kakuma camp, where he and thousands of other “Lost Boys of Sudan” say they “raised themselves.” Even in the refugee community, John insisted on serving others. As a member of the United Nations’ Child to Child program, he helped distribute food to children, taught them how to cross the camp road safely, and worked to make sure children attended the camp school.
In 2001, with the help of the U.N., John resettled in the United States, specifically Nashville, with official refugee status. He made friends through Nashville churches.
John obtained his high school equivalency in October 2001 and was accepted into English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classes at Nashville Tech. He transferred to MTSU, where he co-founded the South Sudanese Student Organization and joined GLOBAL and the African Student Association. His major was political science.
“I think the reason I like it (political science) is some time it will give you the opportunity to help people,” John says. “You end up being in public service; then you have the ability to correct where you believe people need correction.”
If any nation in the world needs “correction,” it is Sudan, the largest country on the African continent. A peace deal was signed in January 2005, and the nation’s Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and a militia commander were charged in February with war crimes by the International Criminal Court. However, the government continues to obstruct the distribution of aid from overseas.
What aid has reached the south Sudanese failed to help John’s parents. His father died in an attack on a village in 2000. His mother died of illness in 2002. Money to pay for her health care did not arrive in time to save her life.
Despite his tortured past, John remains a hopeful soul. An Episcopal priest for Sudanese ministry and a naturalized American citizen, he drives sick people to doctor’s appointments, serves as a translator when necessary, and helps refugees adapt to the American way of life. For his altruistic spirit, John won MTSU’s 2006 Community Service Award.
As John wrote in his nomination presentation, “The decent treatment of people is my passion. … The more I serve others, the less I worry about my own situation. I am not so alone in my life now, having so many people to help. Serving others has brought much responsibility to me, with others depending on me, but it has also brought me satisfaction and joy.”
--30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For a photo of John Awan at his naturalization ceremony, or to request an interview with John, contact Gina Logue at the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
404 JULY 9 GRITS MATH, SCIENCE WORKSHOP AT MTSU
Release date: June 20, 2007
Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
GRITS contact: Karen Claud, 615-504-8587
TEACHERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS INVITED TO ATTEND
JULY 9 GRITS MATH, SCIENCE WORKSHOP AT MTSU
(MURFREESBORO) — Openings remain for the Girls Raised in Tennessee Science in-service teachers’ workshop, which will be held from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday, July 9, in the SunTrust Room of the MTSU Business and Aerospace Building.
The free workshop for teachers in grades 6-12 will “address the need of encouraging and motivating adolescent girls to seek further education and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields,” said Karen Claud, assistant director of the grant-funded program that goes by the acronym of GRITS.
Jennifer Rawls, executive director of the Tennessee Economic Council on Women, and Lachelle Norris, associate professor of sociology at Tennessee Tech University, will handle the “Working with GRITS” morning session.
Stacey Roberts-Ohr, national executive director for the Expanding Your Horizons Network, will present information on how to foster the success of girls in math and science through the EYH math and science conferences and the resources available from the EYH Network, Claud added.
The conference is being sponsored by a College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning public service grant. The College of Basic and Applied Sciences will provide lunch.
To register or attend, contact Claud at 615-504-8587 or e-mail her at kclaud@mtsu.edu.
###
Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
GRITS contact: Karen Claud, 615-504-8587
TEACHERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS INVITED TO ATTEND
JULY 9 GRITS MATH, SCIENCE WORKSHOP AT MTSU
(MURFREESBORO) — Openings remain for the Girls Raised in Tennessee Science in-service teachers’ workshop, which will be held from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday, July 9, in the SunTrust Room of the MTSU Business and Aerospace Building.
The free workshop for teachers in grades 6-12 will “address the need of encouraging and motivating adolescent girls to seek further education and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields,” said Karen Claud, assistant director of the grant-funded program that goes by the acronym of GRITS.
Jennifer Rawls, executive director of the Tennessee Economic Council on Women, and Lachelle Norris, associate professor of sociology at Tennessee Tech University, will handle the “Working with GRITS” morning session.
Stacey Roberts-Ohr, national executive director for the Expanding Your Horizons Network, will present information on how to foster the success of girls in math and science through the EYH math and science conferences and the resources available from the EYH Network, Claud added.
The conference is being sponsored by a College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning public service grant. The College of Basic and Applied Sciences will provide lunch.
To register or attend, contact Claud at 615-504-8587 or e-mail her at kclaud@mtsu.edu.
###
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
402 $1 MILLION UPGRADE GIVES MTSU PROGRAM NEW ‘DEFINITION’
Donors Help Create Digital Electronic Media Communication Facilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACTS: Dr. Bob Spires, rwspires@mtsu.edu
Gina E. Fann, 615-898-5385
(MURFREESBORO)—A million-dollar upgrade for high-definition TV equipment will put MTSU's electronic media communication graduates out front in their profession, thanks to generous donors and matching funds from the university.
"This is huge for us because so many places don't have HD (facilities) yet," said senior Jacob Smithson of Woodbury, one of the EMC department's first students to work extensively in the digital format, as he prepared to install more of the new equipment last week.
"I've been involved in the upgrade and will have that additional knowledge to use wherever I go. I'm not only getting firsthand experience in using the equipment, I'm getting experience in installing it, which is going to be critical in the industry."
The 16-year-old EMC facilities in the university's Bragg Mass Communication Building will be upgraded with the latest HD cameras, monitors and other equipment manufactured by Sony Broadcasting. Sony's in-kind support is paired with:
• a $200,000 cash grant from the Oklahoma City-based Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation;
• $10,000 from the Landmark Communications Foundation via Nashville's NewsChannel5 Network, the first Tennessee TV station to broadcast in HD;
• individual donations from alumni, community partners and private foundations; and
• $500,000 in matching funds from the office of MTSU's president, Dr. Sidney A. McPhee.
"This HD studio will return MTSU to the front of electronic media communication education in Tennessee," said Dr. Bob Spires, EMC department chairman. "I don't know of a more state-of-the art facility dedicated to teaching students of television production and television journalism in the United States.
"This project reflects the commitment of President McPhee to the Academic Master Plan in that it encourages academic excellence, and the facility will be used by literally thousands of students over its working life. I can't think of a better example of 'student-centeredness.'"
Renovations and installations are under way now to have the EMC studio ready for use this fall, said Marc Parrish, director of technical systems for the department. The project includes upgrades in the TV studio, central machine room, studio control room and audio control room.
When the renovated facility reopens this fall, MTSU will become the first university in Tennessee—and one of a mere handful around the country—to educate students with the new digital format.
HD TV provides theater-quality pictures and CD-quality sound, and because of its higher-resolution formatting and digital technology, it requires more specialized training to properly present media.
"There will definitely be a learning curve for both students and faculty," said Parrish. "When we're up and running, we'll definitely be a leader in the industry."
One of the most visible changes will be placement of a massive plasma screen, complete with a rotating menu of student projects, along the south hallway of the Bragg building to replace the bank of video monitors formerly visible behind the windows.
Inside the control room, users will be able to sit down to operate the "tape wall" of monitors, opening the facility up to better accessibility for people with disabilities.
The $1 million upgrade is just the first phase of a departmental digitization project, according to Steven Barnes, development director for the College of Mass Communication.
The second phase will upgrade EMC's Mobile Production Laboratory with digital technology for on-the-go coverage comparable to any professional TV station.
"This type of project exhibits how private support can benefit an entire generation of students," Barnes said.
"Sony's interest in our program has opened the door for some future opportunities that could have a great impact on the university."
MTSU's EMC department already is acclaimed for its hands-on opportunities for students aiming for careers in TV, film and electronic media management. Most recently, the department provided a closed-circuit news operation, complete with CNN-type coverage, of a massive disaster simulation in Nashville, to help first responders practice their crisis communications plans.
"This technology symbolizes the future of higher education, in its partnership with industry giants while delivering top-notch education to our students at MTSU," said Dr. Anantha Babbili, dean of the College of Mass Communication.
“It strengthens our accreditation standards and solidifies the mission of the university: to serve our students.”
One of the largest programs in the nation, the MTSU College of Mass Communication offers degree concentrations in 14 major areas—ranging from journalism to digital media and media management to recording industry management—and is accredited by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The College’s Department of Electronic Media Communication, with more than 800 majors enrolled, teaches digital media communication, television and radio production, electronic media journalism and management, digital animation, digital imaging, and photography.
—30—
NOTE: Media needing color headshots of principal sources OR “before” photos from the EMC facilities teardown should contact the Office of News and Public Affairs via e-mail at gfann@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-5385. Thanks!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACTS: Dr. Bob Spires, rwspires@mtsu.edu
Gina E. Fann, 615-898-5385
(MURFREESBORO)—A million-dollar upgrade for high-definition TV equipment will put MTSU's electronic media communication graduates out front in their profession, thanks to generous donors and matching funds from the university.
"This is huge for us because so many places don't have HD (facilities) yet," said senior Jacob Smithson of Woodbury, one of the EMC department's first students to work extensively in the digital format, as he prepared to install more of the new equipment last week.
"I've been involved in the upgrade and will have that additional knowledge to use wherever I go. I'm not only getting firsthand experience in using the equipment, I'm getting experience in installing it, which is going to be critical in the industry."
The 16-year-old EMC facilities in the university's Bragg Mass Communication Building will be upgraded with the latest HD cameras, monitors and other equipment manufactured by Sony Broadcasting. Sony's in-kind support is paired with:
• a $200,000 cash grant from the Oklahoma City-based Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation;
• $10,000 from the Landmark Communications Foundation via Nashville's NewsChannel5 Network, the first Tennessee TV station to broadcast in HD;
• individual donations from alumni, community partners and private foundations; and
• $500,000 in matching funds from the office of MTSU's president, Dr. Sidney A. McPhee.
"This HD studio will return MTSU to the front of electronic media communication education in Tennessee," said Dr. Bob Spires, EMC department chairman. "I don't know of a more state-of-the art facility dedicated to teaching students of television production and television journalism in the United States.
"This project reflects the commitment of President McPhee to the Academic Master Plan in that it encourages academic excellence, and the facility will be used by literally thousands of students over its working life. I can't think of a better example of 'student-centeredness.'"
Renovations and installations are under way now to have the EMC studio ready for use this fall, said Marc Parrish, director of technical systems for the department. The project includes upgrades in the TV studio, central machine room, studio control room and audio control room.
When the renovated facility reopens this fall, MTSU will become the first university in Tennessee—and one of a mere handful around the country—to educate students with the new digital format.
HD TV provides theater-quality pictures and CD-quality sound, and because of its higher-resolution formatting and digital technology, it requires more specialized training to properly present media.
"There will definitely be a learning curve for both students and faculty," said Parrish. "When we're up and running, we'll definitely be a leader in the industry."
One of the most visible changes will be placement of a massive plasma screen, complete with a rotating menu of student projects, along the south hallway of the Bragg building to replace the bank of video monitors formerly visible behind the windows.
Inside the control room, users will be able to sit down to operate the "tape wall" of monitors, opening the facility up to better accessibility for people with disabilities.
The $1 million upgrade is just the first phase of a departmental digitization project, according to Steven Barnes, development director for the College of Mass Communication.
The second phase will upgrade EMC's Mobile Production Laboratory with digital technology for on-the-go coverage comparable to any professional TV station.
"This type of project exhibits how private support can benefit an entire generation of students," Barnes said.
"Sony's interest in our program has opened the door for some future opportunities that could have a great impact on the university."
MTSU's EMC department already is acclaimed for its hands-on opportunities for students aiming for careers in TV, film and electronic media management. Most recently, the department provided a closed-circuit news operation, complete with CNN-type coverage, of a massive disaster simulation in Nashville, to help first responders practice their crisis communications plans.
"This technology symbolizes the future of higher education, in its partnership with industry giants while delivering top-notch education to our students at MTSU," said Dr. Anantha Babbili, dean of the College of Mass Communication.
“It strengthens our accreditation standards and solidifies the mission of the university: to serve our students.”
One of the largest programs in the nation, the MTSU College of Mass Communication offers degree concentrations in 14 major areas—ranging from journalism to digital media and media management to recording industry management—and is accredited by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The College’s Department of Electronic Media Communication, with more than 800 majors enrolled, teaches digital media communication, television and radio production, electronic media journalism and management, digital animation, digital imaging, and photography.
—30—
NOTE: Media needing color headshots of principal sources OR “before” photos from the EMC facilities teardown should contact the Office of News and Public Affairs via e-mail at gfann@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-5385. Thanks!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
401 $1 MILLION UPGRADE GIVES MTSU PROGRAM NEW ‘DEFINITION’
$1 MILLION UPGRADE GIVES MTSU PROGRAM NEW ‘DEFINITION’
Donors Help Create Digital Electronic Media Communication Facilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2007EDITORIAL CONTACTS:
Dr. Bob Spires, rwspires@mtsu.edu
Gina E. Fann, 615-898-5385
(MURFREESBORO)—A million-dollar upgrade for high-definition TV equipment will put MTSU's electronic media communication graduates out front in their profession, thanks to generous donors and matching funds from the university.
"This is huge for us because so many places don't have HD (facilities) yet," said senior Jacob Smithson of Woodbury, one of the EMC department's first students to work extensively in the digital format, as he prepared to install more of the new equipment last week.
"I've been involved in the upgrade and will have that additional knowledge to use wherever I go. I'm not only getting firsthand experience in using the equipment, I'm getting experience in installing it, which is going to be critical in the industry."
The 16-year-old EMC facilities in the university's Bragg Mass Communication Building will be upgraded with the latest HD cameras, monitors and other equipment manufactured by Sony Broadcasting. Sony's in-kind support is paired with:
• a $200,000 cash grant from the Oklahoma City-based Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation;
• $10,000 from the Landmark Communications Foundation via Nashville's NewsChannel5 Network, the first Tennessee TV station to broadcast in HD;
• individual donations from alumni, community partners and private foundations; and
• $500,000 in matching funds from the office of MTSU's president, Dr. Sidney A. McPhee.
"This HD studio will return MTSU to the front of electronic media communication education in Tennessee," said Dr. Bob Spires, EMC department chairman. "I don't know of a more state-of-the art facility dedicated to teaching students of television production and television journalism in the United States.
"This project reflects the commitment of President McPhee to the Academic Master Plan in that it encourages academic excellence, and the facility will be used by literally thousands of students over its working life. I can't think of a better example of 'student-centeredness.'"
Renovations and installations are under way now to have the EMC studio ready for use this fall, said Marc Parrish, director of technical systems for the department. The project includes upgrades in the TV studio, central machine room, studio control room and audio control room.
When the renovated facility reopens this fall, MTSU will become the first university in Tennessee—and one of a mere handful around the country—to educate students with the new digital format.
—MORE—
$1 MILLION HD UPGRADE
ADD 1
HD TV provides theater-quality pictures and CD-quality sound, and because of its higher-resolution formatting and digital technology, it requires more specialized training to properly present media.
"There will definitely be a learning curve for both students and faculty," said Parrish. "When we're up and running, we'll definitely be a leader in the industry."
One of the most visible changes will be placement of a massive plasma screen, complete with a rotating menu of student projects, along the south hallway of the Bragg building to replace the bank of video monitors formerly visible behind the windows.
Inside the control room, users will be able to sit down to operate the "tape wall" of monitors, opening the facility up to better accessibility for people with disabilities.
The $1 million upgrade is just the first phase of a departmental digitization project, according to Steven Barnes, development director for the College of Mass Communication.
The second phase will upgrade EMC's Mobile Production Laboratory with digital technology for on-the-go coverage comparable to any professional TV station.
"This type of project exhibits how private support can benefit an entire generation of students," Barnes said.
"Sony's interest in our program has opened the door for some future opportunities that could have a great impact on the university."
MTSU's EMC department already is acclaimed for its hands-on opportunities for students aiming for careers in TV, film and electronic media management. Most recently, the department provided a closed-circuit news operation, complete with CNN-type coverage, of a massive disaster simulation in Nashville, to help first responders practice their crisis communications plans.
"This technology symbolizes the future of higher education, in its partnership with industry giants while delivering top-notch education to our students at MTSU," said Dr. Anantha Babbili, dean of the College of Mass Communication.
“It strengthens our accreditation standards and solidifies the mission of the university: to serve our students.”
One of the largest programs in the nation, the MTSU College of Mass Communication offers degree concentrations in 14 major areas—ranging from journalism to digital media and media management to recording industry management—and is accredited by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The College’s Department of Electronic Media Communication, with more than 800 majors enrolled, teaches digital media communication, television and radio production, electronic media journalism and management, digital animation, digital imaging, and photography.
—30—
NOTE: Media needing color headshots of principal sources OR “before” photos from the EMC facilities teardown should contact the Office of News and Public Affairs via e-mail at gfann@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-5385. Thanks!
Donors Help Create Digital Electronic Media Communication Facilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2007EDITORIAL CONTACTS:
Dr. Bob Spires, rwspires@mtsu.edu
Gina E. Fann, 615-898-5385
(MURFREESBORO)—A million-dollar upgrade for high-definition TV equipment will put MTSU's electronic media communication graduates out front in their profession, thanks to generous donors and matching funds from the university.
"This is huge for us because so many places don't have HD (facilities) yet," said senior Jacob Smithson of Woodbury, one of the EMC department's first students to work extensively in the digital format, as he prepared to install more of the new equipment last week.
"I've been involved in the upgrade and will have that additional knowledge to use wherever I go. I'm not only getting firsthand experience in using the equipment, I'm getting experience in installing it, which is going to be critical in the industry."
The 16-year-old EMC facilities in the university's Bragg Mass Communication Building will be upgraded with the latest HD cameras, monitors and other equipment manufactured by Sony Broadcasting. Sony's in-kind support is paired with:
• a $200,000 cash grant from the Oklahoma City-based Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation;
• $10,000 from the Landmark Communications Foundation via Nashville's NewsChannel5 Network, the first Tennessee TV station to broadcast in HD;
• individual donations from alumni, community partners and private foundations; and
• $500,000 in matching funds from the office of MTSU's president, Dr. Sidney A. McPhee.
"This HD studio will return MTSU to the front of electronic media communication education in Tennessee," said Dr. Bob Spires, EMC department chairman. "I don't know of a more state-of-the art facility dedicated to teaching students of television production and television journalism in the United States.
"This project reflects the commitment of President McPhee to the Academic Master Plan in that it encourages academic excellence, and the facility will be used by literally thousands of students over its working life. I can't think of a better example of 'student-centeredness.'"
Renovations and installations are under way now to have the EMC studio ready for use this fall, said Marc Parrish, director of technical systems for the department. The project includes upgrades in the TV studio, central machine room, studio control room and audio control room.
When the renovated facility reopens this fall, MTSU will become the first university in Tennessee—and one of a mere handful around the country—to educate students with the new digital format.
—MORE—
$1 MILLION HD UPGRADE
ADD 1
HD TV provides theater-quality pictures and CD-quality sound, and because of its higher-resolution formatting and digital technology, it requires more specialized training to properly present media.
"There will definitely be a learning curve for both students and faculty," said Parrish. "When we're up and running, we'll definitely be a leader in the industry."
One of the most visible changes will be placement of a massive plasma screen, complete with a rotating menu of student projects, along the south hallway of the Bragg building to replace the bank of video monitors formerly visible behind the windows.
Inside the control room, users will be able to sit down to operate the "tape wall" of monitors, opening the facility up to better accessibility for people with disabilities.
The $1 million upgrade is just the first phase of a departmental digitization project, according to Steven Barnes, development director for the College of Mass Communication.
The second phase will upgrade EMC's Mobile Production Laboratory with digital technology for on-the-go coverage comparable to any professional TV station.
"This type of project exhibits how private support can benefit an entire generation of students," Barnes said.
"Sony's interest in our program has opened the door for some future opportunities that could have a great impact on the university."
MTSU's EMC department already is acclaimed for its hands-on opportunities for students aiming for careers in TV, film and electronic media management. Most recently, the department provided a closed-circuit news operation, complete with CNN-type coverage, of a massive disaster simulation in Nashville, to help first responders practice their crisis communications plans.
"This technology symbolizes the future of higher education, in its partnership with industry giants while delivering top-notch education to our students at MTSU," said Dr. Anantha Babbili, dean of the College of Mass Communication.
“It strengthens our accreditation standards and solidifies the mission of the university: to serve our students.”
One of the largest programs in the nation, the MTSU College of Mass Communication offers degree concentrations in 14 major areas—ranging from journalism to digital media and media management to recording industry management—and is accredited by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The College’s Department of Electronic Media Communication, with more than 800 majors enrolled, teaches digital media communication, television and radio production, electronic media journalism and management, digital animation, digital imaging, and photography.
—30—
NOTE: Media needing color headshots of principal sources OR “before” photos from the EMC facilities teardown should contact the Office of News and Public Affairs via e-mail at gfann@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-5385. Thanks!
401 ARRAY OF ED LEADERSHIP PROFESSIONALS SPEAK AT MTSU IN JUNE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu
ARRAY OF ED LEADERSHIP PROFESSIONALS SPEAK AT MTSU IN JUNE
Community, Media Welcomed to Attend Guest Speaker Talks, RSVP Required
(MURFREESBORO)—Educational leaders from throughout the region will return to the college classroom this month to take part in a helping prepare a group of MTSU graduate students for their futures within education.
Sponsored by the Department of Educational Leadership, the guest speakers will visit the campus as guests of Dr. Terry Goodin, assistant professor, and those enrolled in his summer course titled Organization and Administration of Public Schools.
“I am especially grateful to these professionals who are taking their time to come and speak to my students about the expectations that are placed upon them in their jobs in the field of education and about special topics or issues that they confront on a regular basis,” said Goodin, who adds that community members are welcomed to sit-in on the speakers’ visits on a space-available basis.
Thus far, a number of educational professionals have visited Goodin’s classroom since the series’ June 6 inception, including Jeff Helbig, former deputy director of schools for Sumner County; Harry Gill, superintendent for Rutherford County Schools; Dr. Dennis Bunch, director of the Tennessee Academy of School Leaders; and Dr. Ray Butrum, assistant principal of Murfreesboro’s Barfield Elementary School and a member of the Murfreesboro City Schools board.
“By addressing their own role in Tennessee’s system of education and current issues of importance to students, teachers and parents, these special speakers bring their own insights and problem-solving experience to MTSU graduate students who will someday fill school leadership roles,” remarked Goodin, who said he sought guests who represent a cross-section of Tennessee’s administrative personnel.
Rutherford County Schools‘ Paula Barnes, assistant superintendent of human resources and student services, and Dayna Nichols, human resources specialist, will be the next speakers in the series when they visit the MTSU campus Monday, June 18.
Dr. David Sevier, a research analyst and policy adviser for the Tennessee State Board of Education, will speak Wednesday, June 20, and Republican Sen. Jim Tracy of the state’s 16th District will address students Monday, June 25.
Goodin said that Shelbyville resident Tracy, who is a member of the state senate’s education committee, will discuss “the political forces that drive political change in Tennessee” during his upcoming stopover.
Dr. Pedro Garcia, director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, will visit MTSU’s ed leadership students Wednesday, June 27, and Susan Wilson, Teacher of the Year and educator for McFadden School of Excellence in Murfreesboro, and Karen Blooding, the 2006 Tennessee Teacher of the Year and Homer Pittard Campus School teacher will speak Thursday, June 28.
Regarding the wealth of information that the educators will share during their respective MTSU talks, Dr. James Huffman, chairman of educational leadership, said, “This type of insight is only gained through experience, and as these speakers share what they have learned in the practice of their profession. I think our students will gain significant understanding of leadership concepts as they are applied in the field.”
Goodin said interested faculty or community members are invited to attend any of the upcoming talks by scheduled guests, but the courtesy of an RSVP is required to ensure that there is available space and seating. All talks will be held 8-9:30 a.m. in Kirksey Old Main’s Room 158.
• To RSVP to attend any of the slated speaker sessions, please e-mail Goodin at tgoodin@mtsu.edu.
—30—
***ATTENTION, MEDIA: Members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend the guest speaker sessions, but advance notice of attendance is requested. To request an interview with Goodin or RSVP to attend a particular session, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 or via e-mail at lrollins@mtsu.edu
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu
ARRAY OF ED LEADERSHIP PROFESSIONALS SPEAK AT MTSU IN JUNE
Community, Media Welcomed to Attend Guest Speaker Talks, RSVP Required
(MURFREESBORO)—Educational leaders from throughout the region will return to the college classroom this month to take part in a helping prepare a group of MTSU graduate students for their futures within education.
Sponsored by the Department of Educational Leadership, the guest speakers will visit the campus as guests of Dr. Terry Goodin, assistant professor, and those enrolled in his summer course titled Organization and Administration of Public Schools.
“I am especially grateful to these professionals who are taking their time to come and speak to my students about the expectations that are placed upon them in their jobs in the field of education and about special topics or issues that they confront on a regular basis,” said Goodin, who adds that community members are welcomed to sit-in on the speakers’ visits on a space-available basis.
Thus far, a number of educational professionals have visited Goodin’s classroom since the series’ June 6 inception, including Jeff Helbig, former deputy director of schools for Sumner County; Harry Gill, superintendent for Rutherford County Schools; Dr. Dennis Bunch, director of the Tennessee Academy of School Leaders; and Dr. Ray Butrum, assistant principal of Murfreesboro’s Barfield Elementary School and a member of the Murfreesboro City Schools board.
“By addressing their own role in Tennessee’s system of education and current issues of importance to students, teachers and parents, these special speakers bring their own insights and problem-solving experience to MTSU graduate students who will someday fill school leadership roles,” remarked Goodin, who said he sought guests who represent a cross-section of Tennessee’s administrative personnel.
Rutherford County Schools‘ Paula Barnes, assistant superintendent of human resources and student services, and Dayna Nichols, human resources specialist, will be the next speakers in the series when they visit the MTSU campus Monday, June 18.
Dr. David Sevier, a research analyst and policy adviser for the Tennessee State Board of Education, will speak Wednesday, June 20, and Republican Sen. Jim Tracy of the state’s 16th District will address students Monday, June 25.
Goodin said that Shelbyville resident Tracy, who is a member of the state senate’s education committee, will discuss “the political forces that drive political change in Tennessee” during his upcoming stopover.
Dr. Pedro Garcia, director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, will visit MTSU’s ed leadership students Wednesday, June 27, and Susan Wilson, Teacher of the Year and educator for McFadden School of Excellence in Murfreesboro, and Karen Blooding, the 2006 Tennessee Teacher of the Year and Homer Pittard Campus School teacher will speak Thursday, June 28.
Regarding the wealth of information that the educators will share during their respective MTSU talks, Dr. James Huffman, chairman of educational leadership, said, “This type of insight is only gained through experience, and as these speakers share what they have learned in the practice of their profession. I think our students will gain significant understanding of leadership concepts as they are applied in the field.”
Goodin said interested faculty or community members are invited to attend any of the upcoming talks by scheduled guests, but the courtesy of an RSVP is required to ensure that there is available space and seating. All talks will be held 8-9:30 a.m. in Kirksey Old Main’s Room 158.
• To RSVP to attend any of the slated speaker sessions, please e-mail Goodin at tgoodin@mtsu.edu.
—30—
***ATTENTION, MEDIA: Members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend the guest speaker sessions, but advance notice of attendance is requested. To request an interview with Goodin or RSVP to attend a particular session, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 or via e-mail at lrollins@mtsu.edu
400 VIDEOGAMING RANKS AS TOP ACTIVITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu
VIDEOGAMING RANKS AS TOP ACTIVITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
MTSU’s Kalinsky Says Hollywood Notes Industry’s Rocketing Popularity, Revenue;
Avid Gamers Insist They’ll Keep Overexerting for Nintendo Wii, Favorite Titles
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—While there are many activities to constructively fill a college student’s free time, playing videogames continues to rank as a favorite pursuit of many.
According to one article in U.S. News & World Report, for instance, the ever-growing popularity of the videogaming industry has progressed far beyond its initial “stereotypical skate punk in the basement playing Doom” and continues to rival the popularity of TV. Never minding, of course, that in 2001 the videogame industry—for the first time ever—generated more revenue than did Hollywood’s box office.
“Hollywood’s definitely paying attention (to the videogaming industry),” said Dr. Bob Kalwinsky, assistant professor of electronic media communication at Middle Tennessee State University, who cites Blizzard Entertainment’s online World of Warcraft game as an unprecedented revenue generator for its makers.
Commonly referred to as WoW, World of Warcraft is a pay-to-play online role-playing game designed for multiple players. And in spite of initial performance issues, WoW has become the world’s most popular subscription-based online game franchise, with a spring 2007 subscriber base of 8.5 million players worldwide, including 2 million players in North America.
“World of Warcraft reportedly made $900 million in one year, and big box-offices such as ‘Titanic’ don’t make that much in a year,” noted Kalwinsky, who added that, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the videogame industry generated some $10 billion in 2004—more than Hollywood cleared in the same period.
But why is gaming so popular, and especially among young adults?
“It’s a social experience, and we’re social animals,” Kalwinsky explained. “We want to interact with others, but gaming’s appeal goes beyond the interactive aspect. With gaming, you can explore an environment that’s different each time you play it and you have a great degree of freedom to explore.
“Beyond that,” he added, “look at the skills it’s developing such as your analytical abilities and flexibility. They’re wonderful things, these videogames. They’re experiential and you’re learning … and no other medium is going to offer you this.”
According to information from Gartner Industry Advisory Services, a Connecticut-based information technology research and advisory company, more than a third of all software purchases are for gamers 18 and over, with at least 22 percent of adults ages 25-34 playing online games at least once a week, including women.
What some videogamers might not know, however, is that playing these games—including the new but increasingly popular Nintendo Wii system—can be dangerous, if the gamer isn’t careful. Player warnings, in fact, are incorporated into game manuals such as the Wii instruction booklet, which advises, "WARNING—Repetitive Motion Injuries and Eyestrain. Playing videogames can make your muscles, joints, skin or eyes hurt.”
Few games, however, have made these dangers quite as real as those on the Nintendo Wii system, according to reports from avid gamers, including MTSU junior Jared Brickey.
"After a few rounds of Wii Boxing, Wii Tennis and Wii Bowling, I started to really feel sore in my right tricep and my right thigh muscles,” confirmed the Murfreesboro native. “It wasn't so bad that night, but man, was I sore in the morning."
Wii Sports, the game packaged that features the boxing, tennis and bowling games that gave Brickey’s muscles such a workout, has been the culprit of most injuries seen on gaming Web sites that report injuries by users.
In spite of the muscle strain that playing the system inflicted, however, Brickey said he intends to keep utilizing the Wii gaming system.
"I really do consider most Wii games to be more exercise than just about anything, at least with Wii Sports," he said.
Some videogamers, though, are quick to concede that they wound up on the wrong end of a Wii controller and sustained injuries they don’t care to repeat. Further, a perusal of gamer Web sites such as wiihaveaproblem.com reveals pictures of injuries endured by players as a result of indulging in videogaming, including photos of injuries sustained by players who said they overexerted themselves while playing, became too involved in a particular game, and ignored their physical limits.
One Nintendo Wii gamer known simply as Fred, for example, relayed his gaming-turned-injury story via wiihaveaproblem.com, saying, "My left foot slipped mid-swing, and my body was being twisted at (that) time … and my whole body weight went onto my right ankle!"
Admittedly, wrote Fred, he was playing Wii’s Homerun Derby game in his socks when he tried swinging the remote "as hard as I could." Consequently, he lost his balance and his ankle paid the price, but it’s not as if the console’s creators don’t warn players to guard against overexertion.
Aside from the "take a 10- to 15-minute break every hour, even if you don't think you need it" precautions outlined in user manuals, the Wii Sports games feature a pause menu that encourages players to take it easy, with a "Why not take a break?" message. Still, many do not.
Brickey, for instance, said he never pays attention to the break messages that appear on game screens.
“I'm going to play for five straight hours in Zelda when a game is that good,” said Brickey, who’s been an avid gamer for 15 of 21 his years.
Meanwhile, Shandora Dorse, a physician’s assistant at MTSU’s McFarland Health Services, said that college-age gamers such as Brickey who’ve played for years may be able to handle physical videogames better than older players, but it’s important for individuals to know their own limits.
“Let pain be your gauge,” advised Dorse, who said any stretching related to the upper body, neck and shoulder muscles can help reduce the risk of soreness or possible injury during gaming.
No stranger to seeing patients with gaming injuries, Dorse said, “What the Wii tries to do is get the kid motivated to play a game on their feet.” And Wii’s game-related aerobic workout, she noted, is preferable to the typical sitting-on-the-couch gaming that many participate in.
“Anything that you can do to move can be of value,” Dorse observed.
As for Brickey, “(The) Wii Play and Wii Sports … may be the best workout videogame console ever created,” he said. “At first I figured I was bound to be sore, but the more you do it, the more you adjust to it, and you aren't sore any more.”
Indeed, in spite of the potential for injuries, it’s unlikely that videogame enthusiasts will lose their zeal for the popular pastime.
“You can’t explore a film in the same way (that you can a videogame),” Kalwinsky observed, “and the game’s actually changing on a lot of levels each time you play.”
Unlike other media-related activities, he noted, when it comes to videogaming, “You engage with your imagination constantly … and it’s socially experiential, there’s interactivity and learning—and those are big things.”
As for whether it’s an enduring trend or merely a fad, no one can yet predict.
“I can’t say that it’s with us forever but it’s certainly with us for the immediate future,” Kalwinsky said. “Gaming is strong, and really, when have we not played games to begin with? Just on that basis alone it’s likely to be around awhile, but no one can predict for how long, really.”
—30—
• ATTENTION, MEDIA–For editorial needs, including to secure a jpeg of Kalwinsky or Dorse for editorial use, or to to request an interview with experts quoted in this story, please contact Lisa L. Rollins, Office of News and Public Affairs, at 615-898-2919 or via e-mail at lrollins@mtsu.edu.
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu
VIDEOGAMING RANKS AS TOP ACTIVITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
MTSU’s Kalinsky Says Hollywood Notes Industry’s Rocketing Popularity, Revenue;
Avid Gamers Insist They’ll Keep Overexerting for Nintendo Wii, Favorite Titles
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—While there are many activities to constructively fill a college student’s free time, playing videogames continues to rank as a favorite pursuit of many.
According to one article in U.S. News & World Report, for instance, the ever-growing popularity of the videogaming industry has progressed far beyond its initial “stereotypical skate punk in the basement playing Doom” and continues to rival the popularity of TV. Never minding, of course, that in 2001 the videogame industry—for the first time ever—generated more revenue than did Hollywood’s box office.
“Hollywood’s definitely paying attention (to the videogaming industry),” said Dr. Bob Kalwinsky, assistant professor of electronic media communication at Middle Tennessee State University, who cites Blizzard Entertainment’s online World of Warcraft game as an unprecedented revenue generator for its makers.
Commonly referred to as WoW, World of Warcraft is a pay-to-play online role-playing game designed for multiple players. And in spite of initial performance issues, WoW has become the world’s most popular subscription-based online game franchise, with a spring 2007 subscriber base of 8.5 million players worldwide, including 2 million players in North America.
“World of Warcraft reportedly made $900 million in one year, and big box-offices such as ‘Titanic’ don’t make that much in a year,” noted Kalwinsky, who added that, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the videogame industry generated some $10 billion in 2004—more than Hollywood cleared in the same period.
But why is gaming so popular, and especially among young adults?
“It’s a social experience, and we’re social animals,” Kalwinsky explained. “We want to interact with others, but gaming’s appeal goes beyond the interactive aspect. With gaming, you can explore an environment that’s different each time you play it and you have a great degree of freedom to explore.
“Beyond that,” he added, “look at the skills it’s developing such as your analytical abilities and flexibility. They’re wonderful things, these videogames. They’re experiential and you’re learning … and no other medium is going to offer you this.”
According to information from Gartner Industry Advisory Services, a Connecticut-based information technology research and advisory company, more than a third of all software purchases are for gamers 18 and over, with at least 22 percent of adults ages 25-34 playing online games at least once a week, including women.
What some videogamers might not know, however, is that playing these games—including the new but increasingly popular Nintendo Wii system—can be dangerous, if the gamer isn’t careful. Player warnings, in fact, are incorporated into game manuals such as the Wii instruction booklet, which advises, "WARNING—Repetitive Motion Injuries and Eyestrain. Playing videogames can make your muscles, joints, skin or eyes hurt.”
Few games, however, have made these dangers quite as real as those on the Nintendo Wii system, according to reports from avid gamers, including MTSU junior Jared Brickey.
"After a few rounds of Wii Boxing, Wii Tennis and Wii Bowling, I started to really feel sore in my right tricep and my right thigh muscles,” confirmed the Murfreesboro native. “It wasn't so bad that night, but man, was I sore in the morning."
Wii Sports, the game packaged that features the boxing, tennis and bowling games that gave Brickey’s muscles such a workout, has been the culprit of most injuries seen on gaming Web sites that report injuries by users.
In spite of the muscle strain that playing the system inflicted, however, Brickey said he intends to keep utilizing the Wii gaming system.
"I really do consider most Wii games to be more exercise than just about anything, at least with Wii Sports," he said.
Some videogamers, though, are quick to concede that they wound up on the wrong end of a Wii controller and sustained injuries they don’t care to repeat. Further, a perusal of gamer Web sites such as wiihaveaproblem.com reveals pictures of injuries endured by players as a result of indulging in videogaming, including photos of injuries sustained by players who said they overexerted themselves while playing, became too involved in a particular game, and ignored their physical limits.
One Nintendo Wii gamer known simply as Fred, for example, relayed his gaming-turned-injury story via wiihaveaproblem.com, saying, "My left foot slipped mid-swing, and my body was being twisted at (that) time … and my whole body weight went onto my right ankle!"
Admittedly, wrote Fred, he was playing Wii’s Homerun Derby game in his socks when he tried swinging the remote "as hard as I could." Consequently, he lost his balance and his ankle paid the price, but it’s not as if the console’s creators don’t warn players to guard against overexertion.
Aside from the "take a 10- to 15-minute break every hour, even if you don't think you need it" precautions outlined in user manuals, the Wii Sports games feature a pause menu that encourages players to take it easy, with a "Why not take a break?" message. Still, many do not.
Brickey, for instance, said he never pays attention to the break messages that appear on game screens.
“I'm going to play for five straight hours in Zelda when a game is that good,” said Brickey, who’s been an avid gamer for 15 of 21 his years.
Meanwhile, Shandora Dorse, a physician’s assistant at MTSU’s McFarland Health Services, said that college-age gamers such as Brickey who’ve played for years may be able to handle physical videogames better than older players, but it’s important for individuals to know their own limits.
“Let pain be your gauge,” advised Dorse, who said any stretching related to the upper body, neck and shoulder muscles can help reduce the risk of soreness or possible injury during gaming.
No stranger to seeing patients with gaming injuries, Dorse said, “What the Wii tries to do is get the kid motivated to play a game on their feet.” And Wii’s game-related aerobic workout, she noted, is preferable to the typical sitting-on-the-couch gaming that many participate in.
“Anything that you can do to move can be of value,” Dorse observed.
As for Brickey, “(The) Wii Play and Wii Sports … may be the best workout videogame console ever created,” he said. “At first I figured I was bound to be sore, but the more you do it, the more you adjust to it, and you aren't sore any more.”
Indeed, in spite of the potential for injuries, it’s unlikely that videogame enthusiasts will lose their zeal for the popular pastime.
“You can’t explore a film in the same way (that you can a videogame),” Kalwinsky observed, “and the game’s actually changing on a lot of levels each time you play.”
Unlike other media-related activities, he noted, when it comes to videogaming, “You engage with your imagination constantly … and it’s socially experiential, there’s interactivity and learning—and those are big things.”
As for whether it’s an enduring trend or merely a fad, no one can yet predict.
“I can’t say that it’s with us forever but it’s certainly with us for the immediate future,” Kalwinsky said. “Gaming is strong, and really, when have we not played games to begin with? Just on that basis alone it’s likely to be around awhile, but no one can predict for how long, really.”
—30—
• ATTENTION, MEDIA–For editorial needs, including to secure a jpeg of Kalwinsky or Dorse for editorial use, or to to request an interview with experts quoted in this story, please contact Lisa L. Rollins, Office of News and Public Affairs, at 615-898-2919 or via e-mail at lrollins@mtsu.edu.
Monday, June 11, 2007
398 MTSU WaterWorks! Earns Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award
Release date: June 6, 2007
Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Center for Environmental Education contact: Karen Hargrove, 615-898-2660
MTSU WaterWorks! Earns Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award
(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU has been selected as winner of the 2007 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award in the Green Schools Higher Education Category.
The award announcement came from Jim Fyke, commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. It will be presented Friday, June 8, during the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards ceremony. It will be held in the Ed Jones Auditorium at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville.
“This was our most competitive awards program ever,” Fyke said. “Both the number and quality of nominations created a challenging evaluation and selection process for the judges.”
Paula Lawson, used oil program coordinator for TDEC, nominated MTSU and the Center for Environmental Education for its WaterWorks! program.
“This honor is a direct result of the outstanding work and high visibility of WaterWorks!” said Dr. Cindi Smith-Walters, professor in biology and co-director of the Center for Environmental Education.
According to the center’s Web site, WaterWorks! is a statewide public education and outreach program to promote clean water in Tennessee. Funded in part by the Department of Agriculture Nonpoint Source Program and by TDEC’s used oil program, WaterWorks! promotes individual responsibility through “easy-to-learn and do” habits.
“The success of the WaterWorks! program,” said Karen Hargrove, Waterworks! coordinator, “is due to excellent teamwork from Environmental Education Center administration and staff, the creative efforts of the Bill Hudson Agency, strong support and funding from MTSU, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the many stormwater programs and watershed groups who have partnered with WaterWorks! We are grateful to them all.”
###
Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Center for Environmental Education contact: Karen Hargrove, 615-898-2660
MTSU WaterWorks! Earns Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award
(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU has been selected as winner of the 2007 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award in the Green Schools Higher Education Category.
The award announcement came from Jim Fyke, commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. It will be presented Friday, June 8, during the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards ceremony. It will be held in the Ed Jones Auditorium at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville.
“This was our most competitive awards program ever,” Fyke said. “Both the number and quality of nominations created a challenging evaluation and selection process for the judges.”
Paula Lawson, used oil program coordinator for TDEC, nominated MTSU and the Center for Environmental Education for its WaterWorks! program.
“This honor is a direct result of the outstanding work and high visibility of WaterWorks!” said Dr. Cindi Smith-Walters, professor in biology and co-director of the Center for Environmental Education.
According to the center’s Web site, WaterWorks! is a statewide public education and outreach program to promote clean water in Tennessee. Funded in part by the Department of Agriculture Nonpoint Source Program and by TDEC’s used oil program, WaterWorks! promotes individual responsibility through “easy-to-learn and do” habits.
“The success of the WaterWorks! program,” said Karen Hargrove, Waterworks! coordinator, “is due to excellent teamwork from Environmental Education Center administration and staff, the creative efforts of the Bill Hudson Agency, strong support and funding from MTSU, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the many stormwater programs and watershed groups who have partnered with WaterWorks! We are grateful to them all.”
###
396 MTSU ANNOUNCES NEW ADULT DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM
MTSU ANNOUNCES NEW ADULT DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM
June 1, 2007 CONTACT: David Foster, 615-898-5033; dfoster@mtsu.edu Tom Tozer, 615-898-5131
MURFREESBORO—Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning has established a new Adult Degree Completion Program, which will enable adults who have left college prior to finishing to earn a degree quickly and affordably. The ADCP is applicable to any degree offered by the college. Students have the choice of taking courses online, on campus or in combination. The program is individually customized so that each student works with the ADCP director and his or her academic advisor to select the most appropriate program. “There are more than 60,000 Tennesseans who have completed at least 30 hours of college and who can benefit tremendously from completing their degrees,” said Lance Ikard, ADCP director. “The average worker with a bachelor’s degree earns nearly $240,000 more during his or her career than those without one.” Dr. Mike Boyle, dean of the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, adds, “New technologies and alternative methods of earning credit have facilitated an environment in which someone who’s willing to work at it can complete a degree while continuing to meet work and family responsibilities. With MTSU entering this arena, it has greatly reduced the cost for most employees and employers compared to the for-profit or private-school alternatives. Our goal is to allow students to get a degree as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Boyle said. Program details can be found on the web at http://www.mtsu.edu/adcp/, and appointments with the ADCP director may be scheduled by calling (615) 848-2177.
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Sam Ingram Building
June 1, 2007 CONTACT: David Foster, 615-898-5033; dfoster@mtsu.edu Tom Tozer, 615-898-5131
MURFREESBORO—Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning has established a new Adult Degree Completion Program, which will enable adults who have left college prior to finishing to earn a degree quickly and affordably. The ADCP is applicable to any degree offered by the college. Students have the choice of taking courses online, on campus or in combination. The program is individually customized so that each student works with the ADCP director and his or her academic advisor to select the most appropriate program. “There are more than 60,000 Tennesseans who have completed at least 30 hours of college and who can benefit tremendously from completing their degrees,” said Lance Ikard, ADCP director. “The average worker with a bachelor’s degree earns nearly $240,000 more during his or her career than those without one.” Dr. Mike Boyle, dean of the College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, adds, “New technologies and alternative methods of earning credit have facilitated an environment in which someone who’s willing to work at it can complete a degree while continuing to meet work and family responsibilities. With MTSU entering this arena, it has greatly reduced the cost for most employees and employers compared to the for-profit or private-school alternatives. Our goal is to allow students to get a degree as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Boyle said. Program details can be found on the web at http://www.mtsu.edu/adcp/, and appointments with the ADCP director may be scheduled by calling (615) 848-2177.
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Sam Ingram Building
395 MTSU SITE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN RECORDS FORUM ON JUNE 19
MTSU SITE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN RECORDS FORUM ON JUNE 19
‘Whose Story Gets Told? Human Rights and the Power of Records’ Topic of Discussion
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—“Whose Story Gets Told? Human Rights and the Power of Records” is the topic and title of an open forum and panel discussion that will be presented 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, in the Business Aerospace Building’s (BAS) State Farm Lecture Hall on the MTSU campus.
Among its panelists, the 90-minute discussion will feature internationally known archivist Dr. Trudy Huskamp Peterson, MTSU’s 2007 Visiting Distinguished Public Historian. Dwight Lewis, a columnist and regional editor for The Tennessean, will serve as moderator.
Regarding the forum, Dr. Ellen Garrison, an associate professor of history at MTSU, said, “Throughout history, the victors in human conflicts have usually enshrined their account of those conflicts in carefully selected official records and standard published narratives, leaving the story of their victims untold.”
However, she continued, “In the 20th century, victims and their advocates began a systematic effort to recover those lost voices through truth commissions, video, film and oral history projects, and opening the complete record of government actions to the public.”
In addition to Peterson, participating panelists set to share their own efforts to preserve such lost voices include the Rev. Edwin King, plaintiff in the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission Records lawsuit; MTSU alumnus John Awan, a Sudan native and naturalized U.S. citizen; and Dr. Clare Bratten, an assistant professor of electronic media communications at MTSU and producer of a documentary on Kurds in Iraq and those who immigrated.
James E. Staub Jr., who volunteers with several Nashville-based social justice groups, said it is crucial to conduct educational discussions about the importance of accurate historical records within the realm of human rights and whose stories get told.
"When we work to change the world, we must make ourselves counted, and we must hold people with power accountable for their decisions," said Staub, a government information librarian. "Public records—and new records built from the people's stories when the official record is insufficient or injurious—expose truth and give us raw material to replace injustice with justice."
Those who attend the June 19 forum at MTSU will “hear a diverse panel explore contemporary examples of … recent human rights conflicts ranging from South Africa and the Sudan to Iraq and Mississippi,” remarked Garrison, event coordinator. And each panelist, she noted, has participated in the struggle to preserve the voices that have not been preserved in the official records of these conflicts.
“The late historian Carter G. Woodson, who is regarded as the father of what is now called Negro History Month, once said, ‘We must give our own story to the world,'” observed moderator Lewis “(and) I truly believe that, regardless of who ‘we’ happens to be.
Moreover, “Anytime I can help take part in doing that I seize the opportunity,” he said. “And Middle Tennessee State University’s public forum on human rights is, I think, one of those great opportunities.”
Visiting scholar/historian Peterson, who will be at MTSU from June 5 to July 7, is the founding director of the Open Society Archives and a consultant to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. She has served as an archivist for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and is the former executive director of the Open Media Research Institute. Additionally, she is the former acting archivist for the U.S. and author of “Final Acts: A Guide to Preserving Records of Truth Commissions” (John Hopkins Press, 2005).
“Dr. Trudy Huskamp Peterson’s reputation as an archivist is unparalleled in the United States and abroad,” confirmed Garrison, also a certified archivist. “During a 21-year career at the National Archives, she rose through the ranks to become the deputy archivist and acting archivist of the United States … (before leaving) the National Archives to embark upon an even more challenging career working with international organizations to identify, preserve and maintain control over records essential to prosecuting human rights violations.”
During her MTSU visit, in addition to speaking at “Whose Story Gets Told? Human Rights and the Power of Records,” Peterson—whose prior lectureships and professorships include George Washington University, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Hong Kong, Central European University in Budapest and Finland’s University of Oulu— also will teach “Current Issues in Public History Practice: Human Rights and the Power of Records,” a summer session course offered by the Department of History.
“Her prolific scholarship is matched by a distinguished record of public speaking and teaching in the U.S. and Abroad,” Garrison said of Peterson, who has garnered numerous awards and fellowships, including a grant from the U.S. Institute of Peace in 2004-2005.
Sponsorship for the upcoming forum was provided by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the College of Liberal Arts, the Middle East Center, the Department of Political Science and the Department of History’s public history program.
• For more information on the free and open June 19 event, which will be followed by a dessert reception, please contact the history department at MTSU at 615-898-2536.
—30—
***ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request jpegs of Peterson or the cover of her latest book for editorial use, or to request interviews with Peterson, Garrison or other forum panelists, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at lrollins@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-2919. Media are welcomed and encouraged to attend this event.
‘Whose Story Gets Told? Human Rights and the Power of Records’ Topic of Discussion
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—“Whose Story Gets Told? Human Rights and the Power of Records” is the topic and title of an open forum and panel discussion that will be presented 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, in the Business Aerospace Building’s (BAS) State Farm Lecture Hall on the MTSU campus.
Among its panelists, the 90-minute discussion will feature internationally known archivist Dr. Trudy Huskamp Peterson, MTSU’s 2007 Visiting Distinguished Public Historian. Dwight Lewis, a columnist and regional editor for The Tennessean, will serve as moderator.
Regarding the forum, Dr. Ellen Garrison, an associate professor of history at MTSU, said, “Throughout history, the victors in human conflicts have usually enshrined their account of those conflicts in carefully selected official records and standard published narratives, leaving the story of their victims untold.”
However, she continued, “In the 20th century, victims and their advocates began a systematic effort to recover those lost voices through truth commissions, video, film and oral history projects, and opening the complete record of government actions to the public.”
In addition to Peterson, participating panelists set to share their own efforts to preserve such lost voices include the Rev. Edwin King, plaintiff in the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission Records lawsuit; MTSU alumnus John Awan, a Sudan native and naturalized U.S. citizen; and Dr. Clare Bratten, an assistant professor of electronic media communications at MTSU and producer of a documentary on Kurds in Iraq and those who immigrated.
James E. Staub Jr., who volunteers with several Nashville-based social justice groups, said it is crucial to conduct educational discussions about the importance of accurate historical records within the realm of human rights and whose stories get told.
"When we work to change the world, we must make ourselves counted, and we must hold people with power accountable for their decisions," said Staub, a government information librarian. "Public records—and new records built from the people's stories when the official record is insufficient or injurious—expose truth and give us raw material to replace injustice with justice."
Those who attend the June 19 forum at MTSU will “hear a diverse panel explore contemporary examples of … recent human rights conflicts ranging from South Africa and the Sudan to Iraq and Mississippi,” remarked Garrison, event coordinator. And each panelist, she noted, has participated in the struggle to preserve the voices that have not been preserved in the official records of these conflicts.
“The late historian Carter G. Woodson, who is regarded as the father of what is now called Negro History Month, once said, ‘We must give our own story to the world,'” observed moderator Lewis “(and) I truly believe that, regardless of who ‘we’ happens to be.
Moreover, “Anytime I can help take part in doing that I seize the opportunity,” he said. “And Middle Tennessee State University’s public forum on human rights is, I think, one of those great opportunities.”
Visiting scholar/historian Peterson, who will be at MTSU from June 5 to July 7, is the founding director of the Open Society Archives and a consultant to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. She has served as an archivist for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and is the former executive director of the Open Media Research Institute. Additionally, she is the former acting archivist for the U.S. and author of “Final Acts: A Guide to Preserving Records of Truth Commissions” (John Hopkins Press, 2005).
“Dr. Trudy Huskamp Peterson’s reputation as an archivist is unparalleled in the United States and abroad,” confirmed Garrison, also a certified archivist. “During a 21-year career at the National Archives, she rose through the ranks to become the deputy archivist and acting archivist of the United States … (before leaving) the National Archives to embark upon an even more challenging career working with international organizations to identify, preserve and maintain control over records essential to prosecuting human rights violations.”
During her MTSU visit, in addition to speaking at “Whose Story Gets Told? Human Rights and the Power of Records,” Peterson—whose prior lectureships and professorships include George Washington University, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Hong Kong, Central European University in Budapest and Finland’s University of Oulu— also will teach “Current Issues in Public History Practice: Human Rights and the Power of Records,” a summer session course offered by the Department of History.
“Her prolific scholarship is matched by a distinguished record of public speaking and teaching in the U.S. and Abroad,” Garrison said of Peterson, who has garnered numerous awards and fellowships, including a grant from the U.S. Institute of Peace in 2004-2005.
Sponsorship for the upcoming forum was provided by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the College of Liberal Arts, the Middle East Center, the Department of Political Science and the Department of History’s public history program.
• For more information on the free and open June 19 event, which will be followed by a dessert reception, please contact the history department at MTSU at 615-898-2536.
—30—
***ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request jpegs of Peterson or the cover of her latest book for editorial use, or to request interviews with Peterson, Garrison or other forum panelists, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at lrollins@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-2919. Media are welcomed and encouraged to attend this event.
392 FIREWORKS, PATRIOTIC MUSIC, FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT MTSU JULY 4th
FIREWORKS, PATRIOTIC MUSIC, FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT MTSU JULY 4th
May 24, 2007
CONTACT: Marlane Sewell, Parks and Rec, 615-893-2141
Tom Tozer, MTSU, 615-898-2919
MURFREESBORO—Rutherford County’s “Celebration Under the Stars” will once again be held on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University—and admission to the family-oriented event will be free of charge. Festivities will kick off at 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, on the university’s intramural field, the traditional site for the countywide event.
From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be games and activities for the kids, including face painting, patriotic puzzles and arts ‘n’ crafts projects. There also will be prizes and promotional giveaways.
The Col. Hardy Murfree Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution again will provide free American flags for everyone. The chapter has provided flags for this celebration for the last nine years.
Wal-Mart at Old Fort Parkway is donating the “Celebration Under the Stars” birthday cakes.
Rep. John Hood, program emcee, will extend a formal welcome at 7:30 p.m., followed by remarks from local dignitaries and sponsor representatives. This is Hood’s 10th year serving as emcee for this event.
At 8:00 p.m., following the presentation of colors by the Murfreesboro Fire Department’s Color Guard, a tribute to the armed forces and singing of the national anthem, the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra will present a program of traditional patriotic tunes, rousing Sousa marches, and inspirational classics. Dr. Raphael Bundage, MTSU professor in the Robert W. McLean School of Music, will conduct.
The fireworks display will light up the sky at 9:00.
Guests should enter the campus on Faulkinberry Drive off Middle Tennessee Boulevard and from Greenland Drive. The entrances on the east side of campus along Rutherford Boulevard will be closed, and parking will not be permitted on either side of Rutherford Boulevard. The best parking on campus will be north and west of the celebration site and also in the new, large lot on the east side of Rutherford Boulevard.
The lots adjacent to the Recreation Center will be closed. MTSU police and university’s personnel will be on duty to help people to parking areas.
Rutherford Boulevard will be closed temporarily during the fireworks display and re-opened as soon as the area has been cleared. At the end of the evening, guests are asked to wait approximately 15 minutes before exiting the campus via MTSU Boulevard onto Rutherford Boulevard in order for officials to check for any fireworks that may not have detonated.
For safety purposes, organizers would like to remind everyone that pets, alcoholic beverages, cooking grills and personal fireworks or sparklers are not permitted on the celebration site. In addition, banners and signs from outside groups, other than the evening’s sponsors, will not be allowed on the grounds. Families are encouraged, however, to bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets for picnicking on the grass.
Sodehxo, food vendor for the event, will sell soft drinks, pizza, hotdogs, and traditional holiday snacks and desserts.
Sponsors of the event include MTSU, The Daily News Journal, the City of Murfreesboro, Murfreeboro Parks and Recreation, Rutherford County Government, and Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to MTSU, the DNJ, and the City of Murfreesboro, additional symphony supporters include SunTrust Bank and the Tennessee Arts Commission.
A special “Celebration Under the Stars” publication will be inserted in the DNJ, providing a schedule of activities and a map of the celebration site.
Event organizers will share the spotlight that evening with WGNS-AM 1450 Radio and Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, both of which are celebrating their 60th anniversary. Additionally, WMOT-FM, the MTSU station, is marking its 38th year on the air.
For more information about the celebration, call Marlane Sewell, steering committee chair, at 615-893-2141 or Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation at 890-5333 or MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.
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SIDEBAR to above story
JULY 4TH KICKS OFF WITH ‘ROCK THE POOL’ AT SPORTSCOM
Earlier in the day on July 4th, the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Aquatics Division will kick off the day’s celebration for the whole family with “Rock the Pool” at 10 a.m. at SportsCom, located at 2310 Memorial Boulevard.
There will be family-friendly music, games and contests, face painting and “tattoos,” and a concession stand offering hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza, chips and beverages.
At noon, there will be a pause in the festivities for the presentation of colors and playing of the national anthem.
The 50-meter outdoor pool at SportsCom has a high and low dive and a separate, shaded baby pool.
“Rock the Pool” will conclude at 4:30 p.m., in time for families to go home, change clothes and head to MTSU’s “Celebration Under the Stars.”
For more information, contact Sportscom at 615-895-5040.
May 24, 2007
CONTACT: Marlane Sewell, Parks and Rec, 615-893-2141
Tom Tozer, MTSU, 615-898-2919
MURFREESBORO—Rutherford County’s “Celebration Under the Stars” will once again be held on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University—and admission to the family-oriented event will be free of charge. Festivities will kick off at 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, on the university’s intramural field, the traditional site for the countywide event.
From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be games and activities for the kids, including face painting, patriotic puzzles and arts ‘n’ crafts projects. There also will be prizes and promotional giveaways.
The Col. Hardy Murfree Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution again will provide free American flags for everyone. The chapter has provided flags for this celebration for the last nine years.
Wal-Mart at Old Fort Parkway is donating the “Celebration Under the Stars” birthday cakes.
Rep. John Hood, program emcee, will extend a formal welcome at 7:30 p.m., followed by remarks from local dignitaries and sponsor representatives. This is Hood’s 10th year serving as emcee for this event.
At 8:00 p.m., following the presentation of colors by the Murfreesboro Fire Department’s Color Guard, a tribute to the armed forces and singing of the national anthem, the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra will present a program of traditional patriotic tunes, rousing Sousa marches, and inspirational classics. Dr. Raphael Bundage, MTSU professor in the Robert W. McLean School of Music, will conduct.
The fireworks display will light up the sky at 9:00.
Guests should enter the campus on Faulkinberry Drive off Middle Tennessee Boulevard and from Greenland Drive. The entrances on the east side of campus along Rutherford Boulevard will be closed, and parking will not be permitted on either side of Rutherford Boulevard. The best parking on campus will be north and west of the celebration site and also in the new, large lot on the east side of Rutherford Boulevard.
The lots adjacent to the Recreation Center will be closed. MTSU police and university’s personnel will be on duty to help people to parking areas.
Rutherford Boulevard will be closed temporarily during the fireworks display and re-opened as soon as the area has been cleared. At the end of the evening, guests are asked to wait approximately 15 minutes before exiting the campus via MTSU Boulevard onto Rutherford Boulevard in order for officials to check for any fireworks that may not have detonated.
For safety purposes, organizers would like to remind everyone that pets, alcoholic beverages, cooking grills and personal fireworks or sparklers are not permitted on the celebration site. In addition, banners and signs from outside groups, other than the evening’s sponsors, will not be allowed on the grounds. Families are encouraged, however, to bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets for picnicking on the grass.
Sodehxo, food vendor for the event, will sell soft drinks, pizza, hotdogs, and traditional holiday snacks and desserts.
Sponsors of the event include MTSU, The Daily News Journal, the City of Murfreesboro, Murfreeboro Parks and Recreation, Rutherford County Government, and Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to MTSU, the DNJ, and the City of Murfreesboro, additional symphony supporters include SunTrust Bank and the Tennessee Arts Commission.
A special “Celebration Under the Stars” publication will be inserted in the DNJ, providing a schedule of activities and a map of the celebration site.
Event organizers will share the spotlight that evening with WGNS-AM 1450 Radio and Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, both of which are celebrating their 60th anniversary. Additionally, WMOT-FM, the MTSU station, is marking its 38th year on the air.
For more information about the celebration, call Marlane Sewell, steering committee chair, at 615-893-2141 or Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation at 890-5333 or MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.
####
SIDEBAR to above story
JULY 4TH KICKS OFF WITH ‘ROCK THE POOL’ AT SPORTSCOM
Earlier in the day on July 4th, the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Aquatics Division will kick off the day’s celebration for the whole family with “Rock the Pool” at 10 a.m. at SportsCom, located at 2310 Memorial Boulevard.
There will be family-friendly music, games and contests, face painting and “tattoos,” and a concession stand offering hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza, chips and beverages.
At noon, there will be a pause in the festivities for the presentation of colors and playing of the national anthem.
The 50-meter outdoor pool at SportsCom has a high and low dive and a separate, shaded baby pool.
“Rock the Pool” will conclude at 4:30 p.m., in time for families to go home, change clothes and head to MTSU’s “Celebration Under the Stars.”
For more information, contact Sportscom at 615-895-5040.
390 MTSU STAFF MEMBERS GARNER BRONZE IN 2007 TELLY AWARDS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2947
MTSU STAFF MEMBERS GARNER BRONZE IN 2007 TELLY AWARDS
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—“Tennessee Iron Furnace Trail,” an informational video in digital-video disc (DVD) format that was produced in a collaborative effort between MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation and the university’s Audio/Visual Services, garnered a Bronze Award at the 28th Annual Telly Awards.
According to its Web site (www.tellyawards.com), “The Telly Awards seek to honor the very best local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions.”
The winning video, which was entered in the contest’s “TV Programs, Segment or Promotional Pieces—Education” category, was produced by Caneta Hankins, assistant director of the CHP; Patrick Jackson, assistant director for programming for A/V Services; and Connie Schmidt, director of MTSU’s Instructional Technology Support Center (ITSC). The video was directed and edited by Jackson, with additional editing by Ty Whitaker, video production assistant.
Hankins and Jackson scripted the video, with consultation from Michael T. Gavin, preservation specialist with the Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area, and Carroll Van West, CHP director. Frank Forgette, A/V Services director, and Jeffrey Nokes, assistant director of engineering, provided engineering support for the DVD, which is one component of the multi-county Tennessee Iron Furnace Trail project.
According to a release issued by the Telly Awards staff, the 2007 contest attracted more than 13,000 entries, a record-breaking pool.
“This is the second Telly that our department has won, and this time—just like before—it was a thrill and truly a team effort,” Jackson said. “Many people’s creative energies went into this project, and it’s rewarding to be recognized on such a distinguished level in a competition that draws thousands of quality entries.”
Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards’ mission is to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting and supporting creativity, per its Web site. Each year, silver and bronze statuettes are presented to Telly winners in recognition of the winner’s creative excellence. The statuettes weigh 4 ½ pounds each and were designed by the same firm that makes the Oscar and the Emmy trophies.
—30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For more information about the Iron Furnace Trail, please contact Hankins at the CHP directly at 615-898-2947. To interview this year’s MTSU Telly winners, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at lrollins@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-2919.
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2947
MTSU STAFF MEMBERS GARNER BRONZE IN 2007 TELLY AWARDS
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—“Tennessee Iron Furnace Trail,” an informational video in digital-video disc (DVD) format that was produced in a collaborative effort between MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation and the university’s Audio/Visual Services, garnered a Bronze Award at the 28th Annual Telly Awards.
According to its Web site (www.tellyawards.com), “The Telly Awards seek to honor the very best local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions.”
The winning video, which was entered in the contest’s “TV Programs, Segment or Promotional Pieces—Education” category, was produced by Caneta Hankins, assistant director of the CHP; Patrick Jackson, assistant director for programming for A/V Services; and Connie Schmidt, director of MTSU’s Instructional Technology Support Center (ITSC). The video was directed and edited by Jackson, with additional editing by Ty Whitaker, video production assistant.
Hankins and Jackson scripted the video, with consultation from Michael T. Gavin, preservation specialist with the Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area, and Carroll Van West, CHP director. Frank Forgette, A/V Services director, and Jeffrey Nokes, assistant director of engineering, provided engineering support for the DVD, which is one component of the multi-county Tennessee Iron Furnace Trail project.
According to a release issued by the Telly Awards staff, the 2007 contest attracted more than 13,000 entries, a record-breaking pool.
“This is the second Telly that our department has won, and this time—just like before—it was a thrill and truly a team effort,” Jackson said. “Many people’s creative energies went into this project, and it’s rewarding to be recognized on such a distinguished level in a competition that draws thousands of quality entries.”
Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards’ mission is to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting and supporting creativity, per its Web site. Each year, silver and bronze statuettes are presented to Telly winners in recognition of the winner’s creative excellence. The statuettes weigh 4 ½ pounds each and were designed by the same firm that makes the Oscar and the Emmy trophies.
—30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For more information about the Iron Furnace Trail, please contact Hankins at the CHP directly at 615-898-2947. To interview this year’s MTSU Telly winners, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at lrollins@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-2919.
389 MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARM JOINS STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARM JOINS STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM
175-Year-Old Rinehart Acres Recognized for Agricultural Contributions
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—Rinehart Acres in Montgomery County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation (CHP), which is located on the MTSU campus.
Nearly 175 years ago, Jacob W. Rinehart purchased a farm that carries his name his descendents continue to work the land. Although the family has little information on Jacob and his wife, Hankins said, they know the names of six children—John, Jacob, Pleasant, Abram, Mary Ann and Nancy.
It was Abram who acquired the farm in 1854. He and wife Mary had five children, but also adopted brother Pleasant’s two children after his death. During this time, the farm supported a variety of crops and livestock.
In 1906, the grandson of the founder, John W. Rinehart, obtained the property. He and his Betty had three children. Eventually, one of their children, Boyd Rinehart, managed the farm and produced hay, tobacco, soybeans, wheat, cattle, hogs and chickens. Wed to Bessie Rinehart, the couple had two children, John and Ann.
The fifth generation to own the farm was John Boyd Rinehart, who obtained the property in 1996. John and his wife, Pat, had two sons, Chris and Steve, and on the 190 acres, the family raised tobacco, soybeans, corn, sorghum and cattle.
In 2006, Chris J. and Steve Rinehart became the owners of the farm, continuing the farming tradition begun by their great-great-great-grandparents. Today, however, the property, which operates as an agritourism venture, mainly produces hay and blueberries have been planted, Hankins said.
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign, noting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural, and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview Hankins or the farm’s owners, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
175-Year-Old Rinehart Acres Recognized for Agricultural Contributions
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—Rinehart Acres in Montgomery County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation (CHP), which is located on the MTSU campus.
Nearly 175 years ago, Jacob W. Rinehart purchased a farm that carries his name his descendents continue to work the land. Although the family has little information on Jacob and his wife, Hankins said, they know the names of six children—John, Jacob, Pleasant, Abram, Mary Ann and Nancy.
It was Abram who acquired the farm in 1854. He and wife Mary had five children, but also adopted brother Pleasant’s two children after his death. During this time, the farm supported a variety of crops and livestock.
In 1906, the grandson of the founder, John W. Rinehart, obtained the property. He and his Betty had three children. Eventually, one of their children, Boyd Rinehart, managed the farm and produced hay, tobacco, soybeans, wheat, cattle, hogs and chickens. Wed to Bessie Rinehart, the couple had two children, John and Ann.
The fifth generation to own the farm was John Boyd Rinehart, who obtained the property in 1996. John and his wife, Pat, had two sons, Chris and Steve, and on the 190 acres, the family raised tobacco, soybeans, corn, sorghum and cattle.
In 2006, Chris J. and Steve Rinehart became the owners of the farm, continuing the farming tradition begun by their great-great-great-grandparents. Today, however, the property, which operates as an agritourism venture, mainly produces hay and blueberries have been planted, Hankins said.
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign, noting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural, and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview Hankins or the farm’s owners, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
388 LAUDERDALE COUNTY FARM JOINS STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM
LAUDERDALE COUNTY FARM JOINS STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM
Murley-White Farm 5th in County to be Recognized for Agricultural Contributions
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—The Murley-White Farm in Lauderdale County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation (CHP), which is located on the MTSU campus.
Joining four other certified Century Farms in Lauderdale County, Murley-White Farm was founded by Macdaniel Casey “M. C.” Murley and Mary Jane Murley in 1902. On the 150 acres east of Ripley, they raised cotton, corn, sorghum and wheat.
When M. C. Murley died in 1935, Mary Jane owned the land until 1948. After her mother’s death, Dorsey Murley White assumed ownership for more than 50 years until her death in 2001. Dorsey’s son, James Elwood White, owned the land for two years until his death.
Today, the farm is owned by his sons, Steve and Greg White, who also are the great-grandsons of the founders. The land supports a variety of crops and cattle. Steve continues to make his home in the farmhouse that his great-grandparents built in 1914.
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign, noting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural, and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview Hankins or the farm’s owners, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
Murley-White Farm 5th in County to be Recognized for Agricultural Contributions
(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—The Murley-White Farm in Lauderdale County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation (CHP), which is located on the MTSU campus.
Joining four other certified Century Farms in Lauderdale County, Murley-White Farm was founded by Macdaniel Casey “M. C.” Murley and Mary Jane Murley in 1902. On the 150 acres east of Ripley, they raised cotton, corn, sorghum and wheat.
When M. C. Murley died in 1935, Mary Jane owned the land until 1948. After her mother’s death, Dorsey Murley White assumed ownership for more than 50 years until her death in 2001. Dorsey’s son, James Elwood White, owned the land for two years until his death.
Today, the farm is owned by his sons, Steve and Greg White, who also are the great-grandsons of the founders. The land supports a variety of crops and cattle. Steve continues to make his home in the farmhouse that his great-grandparents built in 1914.
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign, noting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural, and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.
—30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview Hankins or the farm’s owners, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.
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