FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 26, 2009
CONTACT: Jennifer Butt, 615-217-8013 or jbutt@mtsu.edu
FREE FEB. 12 COMMUNITY LECTURE SPOTLIGHTS BUTLER FARM
AS PART OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION
(MURFREESBORO)—The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area will present the first lecture in its spring series of public programs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12.
In celebration of African-American History Month, the free lecture series will spotlight the Butler Farm, a Rutherford County Century Farm property. Dating back to about 1880, the farm is one of 25 certified Century Farms located in Rutherford County and one of only four in Tennessee founded by African-American farmers.
Caneta Hankins, director of the Tennessee Century Farms Program, will give an overview of the program, and then Dee Butler will discuss her documentary research on her family’s farm.
The Tennessee Century Farms Program, which has been administered by the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU for 25 years, documents, recognizes, interprets and supports the conservation of farms that have been in continuous production and owned by the same family for at least 100 years.
The 2009 Community Heritage Lecture Series will be held at The Heritage Center, which is located just off the square at 225 West College St.
In addition to being the site for the lecture series, The Heritage Center is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays, and features guided walking tours of the town square on the hour. Group tours are available Monday through Saturday by advance reservations. Admission is free.
The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County is a joint venture between the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, Main Street: Murfreesboro/ Rutherford County, the City of Murfreesboro and the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU. Additional support comes from the Rutherford County government and State Farm Insurance
For more information on the Community Heritage Lecture Series, please call the center at 615-217-8013 or e-mail Jennifer Butt at jbutt@mtsu.edu.
—30—
Monday, January 26, 2009
[272]MTSU SITE FOR NINTH ANNUAL FLUTE FESTIVAL ON JAN. 31
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 26, 2009
CONTACT: Tim Musselman, (615) 898-2493
MTSU SITE FOR NINTH ANNUAL FLUTE FESTIVAL ON JAN. 31
(MURFREESBORO)—The ninth annual MTSU Flute Festival, featuring guest artist Katherine Kemler, will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. in the Wright Music Building lobby on the MTSU campus.
Guest artist Kemler will give a 1 p.m. recital performance and a 3:30 p.m. master class in the Hinton Music Hall located in the Wright Music Building. In addition, Kemler will give a workshop titled “Introduction to Body Mapping for Flutist” at 2:30 p.m.
"Dr. Kemler is an exiting and vivacious performer," said Deanna Little MTSU associate professor of flute at MTSU and organizer of the festival. "Her enthusiasm is infectious and all that attend will be sure to have a fantastic experience."
Other flute festival events will include a High School Solo and a Junior Solo competition; a Mock Orchestral Audition, which is a new event this year; a Flute Choir Reading, with guest, Sarah McVey; and flute exhibits that will feature various flute-related vendors, including Pearl Flutes from Nashville and Miles Ahead Instrument Service and Sales, with repair services available.
In addition, a morning "Flute Chat" session will take advantage of the expertise of other area flute teachers, including Ann Richards (Nashville Symphony Flutist), Lisa Vanarsdel (Austin Peay flute professor), Heidi Pintner (Western Kentucky flute professor) and Jennifer Whitehead (doctoral candidate in Memphis).
Guest artist Kemler is the Charles and Mary Barré Alumni Professor of Flute at Louisiana State University, flutist with the Timm Wind Quintet and a regular visiting teacher at the Oxford Flute Summer School in England. Kemler has performed as soloist with the British Chamber Orchestra in London's Queen Elizabeth Hall and with the Orchestra Medicea Laurenziana throughout Italy. She has toured extensively as a soloist, with the Kemler/Benjamin flute/harp duo and with the Timm Wind Quintet. She also has performed in China, England, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, Canada, France and throughout the United, as well as providing solo broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and National Public Radio.
Admission for the flute festival is $15 to register for the day as a participating flutist. The general public may register as a guest for one or all of the public concerts and public competitions for a one-time charge of $5.
For more information, please access www.mtsu.edu/~drhahn/flutefest09.html or call Little at 615-898-2473.
—30—
CONTACT: Tim Musselman, (615) 898-2493
MTSU SITE FOR NINTH ANNUAL FLUTE FESTIVAL ON JAN. 31
(MURFREESBORO)—The ninth annual MTSU Flute Festival, featuring guest artist Katherine Kemler, will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. in the Wright Music Building lobby on the MTSU campus.
Guest artist Kemler will give a 1 p.m. recital performance and a 3:30 p.m. master class in the Hinton Music Hall located in the Wright Music Building. In addition, Kemler will give a workshop titled “Introduction to Body Mapping for Flutist” at 2:30 p.m.
"Dr. Kemler is an exiting and vivacious performer," said Deanna Little MTSU associate professor of flute at MTSU and organizer of the festival. "Her enthusiasm is infectious and all that attend will be sure to have a fantastic experience."
Other flute festival events will include a High School Solo and a Junior Solo competition; a Mock Orchestral Audition, which is a new event this year; a Flute Choir Reading, with guest, Sarah McVey; and flute exhibits that will feature various flute-related vendors, including Pearl Flutes from Nashville and Miles Ahead Instrument Service and Sales, with repair services available.
In addition, a morning "Flute Chat" session will take advantage of the expertise of other area flute teachers, including Ann Richards (Nashville Symphony Flutist), Lisa Vanarsdel (Austin Peay flute professor), Heidi Pintner (Western Kentucky flute professor) and Jennifer Whitehead (doctoral candidate in Memphis).
Guest artist Kemler is the Charles and Mary Barré Alumni Professor of Flute at Louisiana State University, flutist with the Timm Wind Quintet and a regular visiting teacher at the Oxford Flute Summer School in England. Kemler has performed as soloist with the British Chamber Orchestra in London's Queen Elizabeth Hall and with the Orchestra Medicea Laurenziana throughout Italy. She has toured extensively as a soloist, with the Kemler/Benjamin flute/harp duo and with the Timm Wind Quintet. She also has performed in China, England, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, Canada, France and throughout the United, as well as providing solo broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and National Public Radio.
Admission for the flute festival is $15 to register for the day as a participating flutist. The general public may register as a guest for one or all of the public concerts and public competitions for a one-time charge of $5.
For more information, please access www.mtsu.edu/~drhahn/flutefest09.html or call Little at 615-898-2473.
—30—
[271]MTSU RESEARCHERS MAKE IT “CLEAR” -- SCIENCE TOUCHES US ALL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 26, 2009EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
MTSU RESEARCHERS MAKE IT “CLEAR” -- SCIENCE TOUCHES US ALL
Interdisciplinary Approach Promotes Professional Collegiality, Grants Opportunities
(MURFREESBORO) –Environmental research at colleges and universities isn’t just scientific anymore. Increasingly, scientists are taking an approach to their work that includes more than laboratory analysis. That is the concept behind CLEAR, or Collaborative Education and Research, the brainchild of three professors at Middle Tennessee State University.
“What we’re trying to do is bring together as many professors as we can in all different disciplines to work on projects from a very integrated standpoint,” says Dr. Frank Bailey, associate professor of biology.
That means the project might bring together not only other scientists, but academics from the worlds of history, economics, education and other fields to bring their experience to bear on the assessment of the results. This is an approach that attracts funding.
“We’ve been together for less than a year, and we have about $60,000 in funding already, both internal and external,” says Dr. John DiVincenzo, professor of chemistry.
The professors agree that the reason more scientists haven’t taken this approach is the work it takes to get scientists and non-scientists using jargon that all of them can understand at the same time.
“You have to learn the language that the other people speak,” says Bailey. “We’ve had some fun with it, actually. You might think that’s not an issue, to put sociologists and economists in a room with a bunch of biologists, and everybody tries to talk about what they’d like to see happen. It’s more different than you think, and it’s kind of a struggle sometimes to get that started. But we’ve had a lot of positive feedback.”
“You get a room of people who are very highly educated from different arenas, and one word might be different for every single person in that room,” adds Dr. Ryan Otter, assistant professor of biology. “The word pollution is different to me than it is even to John or Frank, and all three of us are trained as either biologists or chemists or a mix of both.”
However, the rewards can be large-scale grants from government agencies or private foundations.
“You’re starting to see more requests for proposals from organizations like EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and NSF (National Science Foundation) that want the holistic picture,” DiVincenzo says. “They don’t want to look at just the impact of a chemical in the soil and water. They also want to know, ‘If we remove that chemical, what’s the economic impact?’”
The MTSU trio admits that some academics can associate with colleagues outside their areas of expertise for the sole purpose of landing a grant but never see each other again after the project is finished. Otter insists CLEAR will be different.
“We’re working together and we’re going to have a track record of working together for multiple projects on multiple different aspects,” he says. “As we go up for very highly competitive grants at the top level, our track record should speak for itself.”
The ultimate beneficiaries will be the students, both undergraduate and graduate-level, who will be working with Otter, Bailey, DiVincenzo and company.
“This will open the door for a lot more of them,” Bailey asserts. “They can get this perspective of what it’s like to design a project, work with somebody off campus, collect the samples, cradle to grave, all the way through, and finish the project and write it up.”
The starting point for CLEAR is the study of watersheds, specifically the waters and streams of the nearby town of Smyrna. The scientists also are communicating with the Tennessee Duck River Development Agency and the Harpeth River Watershed Association. In addition, Dr. Angela Mertig, professor of sociology, and Dr. Cindi Smith-Walters, a biology professor who works with MTSU’s Center for Environmental Education, have a grant to study watersheds from sociological and educational perspectives.
“The opportunity that comes along with it can’t be surpassed,” says Otter. “I really don’t know if many people are willing to jump off that bridge and go for a truly multidisciplinary group like we’ve put together, but I see nothing but opportunity.”
ATTENTION, MEDIA: CLEAR’s new Web site is available at http://frank.mtsu.edu/~clearmt/. For more information, call 615-898-2660.
MTSU RESEARCHERS MAKE IT “CLEAR” -- SCIENCE TOUCHES US ALL
Interdisciplinary Approach Promotes Professional Collegiality, Grants Opportunities
(MURFREESBORO) –Environmental research at colleges and universities isn’t just scientific anymore. Increasingly, scientists are taking an approach to their work that includes more than laboratory analysis. That is the concept behind CLEAR, or Collaborative Education and Research, the brainchild of three professors at Middle Tennessee State University.
“What we’re trying to do is bring together as many professors as we can in all different disciplines to work on projects from a very integrated standpoint,” says Dr. Frank Bailey, associate professor of biology.
That means the project might bring together not only other scientists, but academics from the worlds of history, economics, education and other fields to bring their experience to bear on the assessment of the results. This is an approach that attracts funding.
“We’ve been together for less than a year, and we have about $60,000 in funding already, both internal and external,” says Dr. John DiVincenzo, professor of chemistry.
The professors agree that the reason more scientists haven’t taken this approach is the work it takes to get scientists and non-scientists using jargon that all of them can understand at the same time.
“You have to learn the language that the other people speak,” says Bailey. “We’ve had some fun with it, actually. You might think that’s not an issue, to put sociologists and economists in a room with a bunch of biologists, and everybody tries to talk about what they’d like to see happen. It’s more different than you think, and it’s kind of a struggle sometimes to get that started. But we’ve had a lot of positive feedback.”
“You get a room of people who are very highly educated from different arenas, and one word might be different for every single person in that room,” adds Dr. Ryan Otter, assistant professor of biology. “The word pollution is different to me than it is even to John or Frank, and all three of us are trained as either biologists or chemists or a mix of both.”
However, the rewards can be large-scale grants from government agencies or private foundations.
“You’re starting to see more requests for proposals from organizations like EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and NSF (National Science Foundation) that want the holistic picture,” DiVincenzo says. “They don’t want to look at just the impact of a chemical in the soil and water. They also want to know, ‘If we remove that chemical, what’s the economic impact?’”
The MTSU trio admits that some academics can associate with colleagues outside their areas of expertise for the sole purpose of landing a grant but never see each other again after the project is finished. Otter insists CLEAR will be different.
“We’re working together and we’re going to have a track record of working together for multiple projects on multiple different aspects,” he says. “As we go up for very highly competitive grants at the top level, our track record should speak for itself.”
The ultimate beneficiaries will be the students, both undergraduate and graduate-level, who will be working with Otter, Bailey, DiVincenzo and company.
“This will open the door for a lot more of them,” Bailey asserts. “They can get this perspective of what it’s like to design a project, work with somebody off campus, collect the samples, cradle to grave, all the way through, and finish the project and write it up.”
The starting point for CLEAR is the study of watersheds, specifically the waters and streams of the nearby town of Smyrna. The scientists also are communicating with the Tennessee Duck River Development Agency and the Harpeth River Watershed Association. In addition, Dr. Angela Mertig, professor of sociology, and Dr. Cindi Smith-Walters, a biology professor who works with MTSU’s Center for Environmental Education, have a grant to study watersheds from sociological and educational perspectives.
“The opportunity that comes along with it can’t be surpassed,” says Otter. “I really don’t know if many people are willing to jump off that bridge and go for a truly multidisciplinary group like we’ve put together, but I see nothing but opportunity.”
ATTENTION, MEDIA: CLEAR’s new Web site is available at http://frank.mtsu.edu/~clearmt/. For more information, call 615-898-2660.
[270] MTSU SPONSORS FEB. 7 LECTURE BY DESIGNER SHIRLEY HOROWITZ
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 23, 2009 EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919, or lrollins@mtsu.edu
MTSU SPONSORS FEB. 7 LECTURE BY DESIGNER SHIRLEY HOROWITZ
Annual Interior Design Showcase Open to Community; Tickets on Sale Now
(MURFREESBORO)—Shirley Horowitz, interior designer and owner of Davishire Interiors, will visit MTSU on Saturday, Feb. 7, to serve as the keynote speaker for the 4th Annual Interior Design Showcase.
Members of the MTSU student chapter of ASID/IIDA will serve as hosts for the Nashville-based designer’s upcoming talk, “An Interior Design Journey: The Interior Renovation of Far Hills, Tennessee Governor’s Residence,” which will be presented in the Tennessee Room of the university’s James Union Building.
In addition to the public lecture, “Students in the MTSU interior design program will present vignettes of drawings, models and project boards that include residential, contract, commercial and lighting design,” said Deborah Belcher, registered interior designer and faculty adviser for the
Regarding the Feb. 7 lecture, Belcher, an associate professor on MTSU’s interior design faculty, said Horowitz “will share her experiences as an interior designer, and show some of her design portfolio and work found on the Davishire Interiors Web site.”
To learn more about Davishire Interiors, which was founded in 1985, please access its online site at http://www.davishire.com/index.htm.
• TICKETS: Tickets to the showcase event, $25 each, must be purchased by
Feb. 2 and include a 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner and 7:30 p.m. lecture. Tickets are available through members of the MTSU student chapter of ASID/IIDA.
For more information, please e-mail Belcher at dbelcher@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-5604.
—30—
MTSU SPONSORS FEB. 7 LECTURE BY DESIGNER SHIRLEY HOROWITZ
Annual Interior Design Showcase Open to Community; Tickets on Sale Now
(MURFREESBORO)—Shirley Horowitz, interior designer and owner of Davishire Interiors, will visit MTSU on Saturday, Feb. 7, to serve as the keynote speaker for the 4th Annual Interior Design Showcase.
Members of the MTSU student chapter of ASID/IIDA will serve as hosts for the Nashville-based designer’s upcoming talk, “An Interior Design Journey: The Interior Renovation of Far Hills, Tennessee Governor’s Residence,” which will be presented in the Tennessee Room of the university’s James Union Building.
In addition to the public lecture, “Students in the MTSU interior design program will present vignettes of drawings, models and project boards that include residential, contract, commercial and lighting design,” said Deborah Belcher, registered interior designer and faculty adviser for the
Regarding the Feb. 7 lecture, Belcher, an associate professor on MTSU’s interior design faculty, said Horowitz “will share her experiences as an interior designer, and show some of her design portfolio and work found on the Davishire Interiors Web site.”
To learn more about Davishire Interiors, which was founded in 1985, please access its online site at http://www.davishire.com/index.htm.
• TICKETS: Tickets to the showcase event, $25 each, must be purchased by
Feb. 2 and include a 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner and 7:30 p.m. lecture. Tickets are available through members of the MTSU student chapter of ASID/IIDA.
For more information, please e-mail Belcher at dbelcher@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-5604.
—30—
[269]MTSU HONORS COLLEGE SPRING LECTURE SERIES BEGINS JAN. 26
Release date: Jan. 23, 2008
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Honors College contact: Dr. Scott Carnicom, 615-494-7611
MTSU HONORS COLLEGE SPRING LECTURE SERIES BEGINS JAN. 26
(MURFREESBORO) — The spring 2009 University Honors College Lecture Series – “Searching for Athena: An Exploration of Honors and Gifted Education” – will begin Monday, Jan. 26, with students’ study abroad presentations before embarking on the regular weekly series led by MTSU faculty and staff, and other noted professionals.
All lectures are free and open to the public, and will be held in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building Amphitheater (Room 106). Except for March 9 (part of spring break), the lecture series will be held from 3 until 3:55 p.m. each Monday.
Presenters will include Dr. June McCash, founding director of the MTSU Honors Program (1973-80); Dr. Rolland Pack, dean of the Freed-Hardeman Honors College and National Collegiate Honors Council treasurer; Michelle Arnold, associate director or admissions; Dr. David Carleton, associate professor, political science; Dr. Ada Long, editor of Honors in Practice and the Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council; Dr. Scott Carnicom, Honors College associate dean; Dr. Craig Cobane, executive director of the Western Kentucky University Honors College; and Dr. Ron Messier, MTSU Honors Program director from 1980-90.
Spring series: “Searching for Athena: An Exploration of Honors and Gifted Education”
Date Presenter Title
Jan. 26 Honors students Study Abroad Presentations
Feb. 2 June McCash “Why Honors? Precedents, Perceptions and Perspectives”
Feb. 9 Rolland Pack “Nailing Jell-O to Ivy-Covered Walls: Honors
and Higher Education”
Feb. 16 Michelle Arnold “The Journey of an Honors Student”
Feb. 23 David Carleton “No, Gifted Kids Will Not be Okay: Politics
and Advocacy in Tennessee”
March 2 Ada Long “How Would Athena Score on the ACT?
Wisdom and Knowledge in Honors Education”
March 16 Scott Carnicom “Portraits of ‘Intelligence’ in Popular Films”
March 23 Craig Cobane “Honors in 2025: What Should We Be Thinking About”
March 30 Ron Messier “Honors Education Means Knowing ‘the Other’”
April 6 and 13 Honors students Thesis presentations
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Honors College contact: Dr. Scott Carnicom, 615-494-7611
MTSU HONORS COLLEGE SPRING LECTURE SERIES BEGINS JAN. 26
(MURFREESBORO) — The spring 2009 University Honors College Lecture Series – “Searching for Athena: An Exploration of Honors and Gifted Education” – will begin Monday, Jan. 26, with students’ study abroad presentations before embarking on the regular weekly series led by MTSU faculty and staff, and other noted professionals.
All lectures are free and open to the public, and will be held in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building Amphitheater (Room 106). Except for March 9 (part of spring break), the lecture series will be held from 3 until 3:55 p.m. each Monday.
Presenters will include Dr. June McCash, founding director of the MTSU Honors Program (1973-80); Dr. Rolland Pack, dean of the Freed-Hardeman Honors College and National Collegiate Honors Council treasurer; Michelle Arnold, associate director or admissions; Dr. David Carleton, associate professor, political science; Dr. Ada Long, editor of Honors in Practice and the Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council; Dr. Scott Carnicom, Honors College associate dean; Dr. Craig Cobane, executive director of the Western Kentucky University Honors College; and Dr. Ron Messier, MTSU Honors Program director from 1980-90.
Spring series: “Searching for Athena: An Exploration of Honors and Gifted Education”
Date Presenter Title
Jan. 26 Honors students Study Abroad Presentations
Feb. 2 June McCash “Why Honors? Precedents, Perceptions and Perspectives”
Feb. 9 Rolland Pack “Nailing Jell-O to Ivy-Covered Walls: Honors
and Higher Education”
Feb. 16 Michelle Arnold “The Journey of an Honors Student”
Feb. 23 David Carleton “No, Gifted Kids Will Not be Okay: Politics
and Advocacy in Tennessee”
March 2 Ada Long “How Would Athena Score on the ACT?
Wisdom and Knowledge in Honors Education”
March 16 Scott Carnicom “Portraits of ‘Intelligence’ in Popular Films”
March 23 Craig Cobane “Honors in 2025: What Should We Be Thinking About”
March 30 Ron Messier “Honors Education Means Knowing ‘the Other’”
April 6 and 13 Honors students Thesis presentations
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
[268]LINGUISTICS OLYMPIAD AT MTSU LIGHTS THE WAY FOR LANGUAGE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 22, 2009EDITORIAL CONTACT: Dr. Aleka Blackwell, 615-898-5960
LINGUISTICS OLYMPIAD AT MTSU LIGHTS THE WAY FOR LANGUAGE
Challenging Competition Prods Students to Learn Word Origins, Speech Patterns
(MURFREESBORO) – Middle-school and high-school students who have a way with words will vie to determine verbal supremacy in the Third Annual Linguistics Olympiad at MTSU on Saturday, Jan. 31, on the second floor of the Business and Aerospace Building. More than 80 students representing eight schools in the region are enrolled in junior and senior levels of competition. Teams may consist of up to four students each. The schools represented include Blackman Middle, Christiana Middle, Greenway Middle, Blackman High, Riverdale High, Siegel High, La Vergne High and Ravenwood High.
Traditional challenges in the Olympiad include such exercises as identifying the word formation of a foreign language based on the information presented, deciphering proverbs from other languages, finding commonalities among English words, and decoding cryptic messages.
“During the competition, Dr. Mohammed Albakry (MTSU associate professor of English) will host a workshop for teachers on incorporating linguistics into middle- and high-school language teaching,” says Dr. Aleka Blackwell, associate professor in the MTSU Department of English, which has organized this free event. “Following the competition, we have organized fun activities for the students while judges are scoring, including Swahili 101, Word Games and Psycholinguistic Experiments.” Several MTSU faculty from the departments of English, Psychology and Speech and Theatre have volunteered their time to create competition problems and/or serve as judges, notes Blackwell. To learn more and for access to links with fun and challenging sample linguistics problems that you can work, go to www.mtsu.edu/linguisticsolympiad.
--30--
LINGUISTICS OLYMPIAD AT MTSU LIGHTS THE WAY FOR LANGUAGE
Challenging Competition Prods Students to Learn Word Origins, Speech Patterns
(MURFREESBORO) – Middle-school and high-school students who have a way with words will vie to determine verbal supremacy in the Third Annual Linguistics Olympiad at MTSU on Saturday, Jan. 31, on the second floor of the Business and Aerospace Building. More than 80 students representing eight schools in the region are enrolled in junior and senior levels of competition. Teams may consist of up to four students each. The schools represented include Blackman Middle, Christiana Middle, Greenway Middle, Blackman High, Riverdale High, Siegel High, La Vergne High and Ravenwood High.
Traditional challenges in the Olympiad include such exercises as identifying the word formation of a foreign language based on the information presented, deciphering proverbs from other languages, finding commonalities among English words, and decoding cryptic messages.
“During the competition, Dr. Mohammed Albakry (MTSU associate professor of English) will host a workshop for teachers on incorporating linguistics into middle- and high-school language teaching,” says Dr. Aleka Blackwell, associate professor in the MTSU Department of English, which has organized this free event. “Following the competition, we have organized fun activities for the students while judges are scoring, including Swahili 101, Word Games and Psycholinguistic Experiments.” Several MTSU faculty from the departments of English, Psychology and Speech and Theatre have volunteered their time to create competition problems and/or serve as judges, notes Blackwell. To learn more and for access to links with fun and challenging sample linguistics problems that you can work, go to www.mtsu.edu/linguisticsolympiad.
--30--
Friday, January 16, 2009
[265]UNITY LUNCHEON FETES COMMUNITY HEROES FOR SERVICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 16, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Valerie Avent, 615-898-2718
UNITY LUNCHEON FETES COMMUNITY HEROES FOR SERVICE
Staple of Black History Month at MTSU Honors Lives of Honor, Achievement
(MURFREESBORO) – An annual hallmark of Black History Month at MTSU since 1996, the 2009 Unity Luncheon honoring “unsung heroes” in the community will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 3, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. This year’s honorees are Annie M. Cox, James E. McAdams Sr., Rev. James Thomas, Carl Wade, William Washington and Katie F. Wilson. Cox has been a dedicated schoolteacher in Cannon County for more than 30 years. She is considered an icon for coaching sports and molding young lives for the future in the school system and the county at large. Penny Nichols, who submitted her name for recognition, says of Cox, “She is an inspiration to others by living life to the fullest with happiness and appreciation.”
McAdams worked as a chauffeur at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Murfreesboro for 36 years. After retirement, he was employed as a dishwasher and head cook at Oakland High School’s cafeteria for a total of 20 years. McAdams is a member of First Baptist Church and was chairman of its deacon board for more than 43 years.
As pastor of Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville since 1971, Thomas has been ranked among the top 100 most powerful and influential people in the city by the Nashville Post for several years. His leadership roles over the past 37 years include co-chair of the Davidson County Rainbow Coalition, president of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Tennessee and president of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship. Wade serves on the finance committee, education committee and the deacon board of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. He retired from the Southern Baptist Convention Sunday School Board as warehouse leader after 22 years. Wade also serves on the board of commissioners of the Murfreesboro Housing Authority, which works with the director on budget, finances and housing projects.
A retired state employee, Wilson’s lifelong dedication to service includes work with the mentally retarded in the Bureau of TennCare and the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, as well as part-time employment for 33-and-a-half years as Special Event staff member in the MTSU Athletic Department. She chairs the boards of directors of Wee Care Day Care Center in Murfreesboro and the Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center.
Washington was custodian for the Cope Administration Building from the time it opened in 1964 until his retirement in 1994. A dedicated church-goer, he established a reputation as an ambassador for MTSU. Susan Turner Taylor, who nominated Washington, says, “He was always friendly to those who worked at the university and to guests of the university.” Tickets for the Unity Luncheon are $20 for adults and $8 for students. No tickets will be sold at the door. For more information, contact Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.
--30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For jpeg photos of the Unity Luncheon honorees, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Valerie Avent, 615-898-2718
UNITY LUNCHEON FETES COMMUNITY HEROES FOR SERVICE
Staple of Black History Month at MTSU Honors Lives of Honor, Achievement
(MURFREESBORO) – An annual hallmark of Black History Month at MTSU since 1996, the 2009 Unity Luncheon honoring “unsung heroes” in the community will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 3, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. This year’s honorees are Annie M. Cox, James E. McAdams Sr., Rev. James Thomas, Carl Wade, William Washington and Katie F. Wilson. Cox has been a dedicated schoolteacher in Cannon County for more than 30 years. She is considered an icon for coaching sports and molding young lives for the future in the school system and the county at large. Penny Nichols, who submitted her name for recognition, says of Cox, “She is an inspiration to others by living life to the fullest with happiness and appreciation.”
McAdams worked as a chauffeur at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Murfreesboro for 36 years. After retirement, he was employed as a dishwasher and head cook at Oakland High School’s cafeteria for a total of 20 years. McAdams is a member of First Baptist Church and was chairman of its deacon board for more than 43 years.
As pastor of Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville since 1971, Thomas has been ranked among the top 100 most powerful and influential people in the city by the Nashville Post for several years. His leadership roles over the past 37 years include co-chair of the Davidson County Rainbow Coalition, president of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Tennessee and president of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship. Wade serves on the finance committee, education committee and the deacon board of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. He retired from the Southern Baptist Convention Sunday School Board as warehouse leader after 22 years. Wade also serves on the board of commissioners of the Murfreesboro Housing Authority, which works with the director on budget, finances and housing projects.
A retired state employee, Wilson’s lifelong dedication to service includes work with the mentally retarded in the Bureau of TennCare and the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, as well as part-time employment for 33-and-a-half years as Special Event staff member in the MTSU Athletic Department. She chairs the boards of directors of Wee Care Day Care Center in Murfreesboro and the Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center.
Washington was custodian for the Cope Administration Building from the time it opened in 1964 until his retirement in 1994. A dedicated church-goer, he established a reputation as an ambassador for MTSU. Susan Turner Taylor, who nominated Washington, says, “He was always friendly to those who worked at the university and to guests of the university.” Tickets for the Unity Luncheon are $20 for adults and $8 for students. No tickets will be sold at the door. For more information, contact Valerie Avent at 615-898-2718.
--30—
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For jpeg photos of the Unity Luncheon honorees, contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.
[264] KENYANS AT MTSU REVEL IN INAUGURATION OF BARACK OBAMA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 16, 2009
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
KENYANS AT MTSU REVEL IN INAUGURATION OF BARACK OBAMA
U.S. President-elect, Son of Kenyan, Inspires MTSU Students from African Nation
(MURFREESBORO) – The inauguration of Barack Obama has a special significance for Kenyan students attending MTSU. They expect the joy they will feel in celebrating Obama’s swearing-in ceremony to exceed even the elation they felt in celebrating his Election Night victory in November. “To me, it gave me a sense of hope that you can do anything once you set your mind to it,” says 21-year-old nursing major William Songock. “When Obama started running, probably few people had hopes that he was going to win, actually, but he did it.” Songock, a cross-country runner, hails from the village of Eldoret, a drive of three to four hours away from Kogelo, the village where Obama’s father, Barack Obama Sr., was raised and where the President-elect’s paternal grandmother still lives. Songock says his uncle phoned him from Kenya after the election to ask if he voted for Obama, unaware that only American citizens can vote.
“The enthusiasm back in Kenya was really high,” Songock says. “For them, I think they were even more eager than some of us here.”
In fact, Songock says, Obama was on the front page of newspapers in Kenya for seven days after the election. The day following the election was declared a national holiday by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. “I know people in Africa and all around the world are hopeful about Obama,” says BenVictor Sang, a 26-year-old math major. “I’m very optimistic America will be viewed as a different country from the last eight years.” Sang says Obama endured a lot of criticism from people who thought he had no chance, but he proved his critics wrong. “He showed that anything is possible, especially in this country where there is democracy,” Sang says. Sang says when he called his family home in Kenya on Election Night, there was singing, dancing, partying and car-horn honking in the streets. “It makes me feel very proud to have a president with a Kenyan connection,” Sang says. Although that’s a point of pride for Songock, too, he says there’s more to it than that.
--more--
KENYANS
Add 1
“I see President-elect Obama not only as an African-American,” says Songock. “I see him first as a President of the United States, somebody who is going to bring change. The fact that he has African roots and, to make it more specific, Kenyan (roots), gives me even more sense of hope.”
Sang is especially hopeful that Obama will improve the financial climate in the U.S. “Being a foreign student, I felt the impact of the economy,” Sang says. “It seems he (Obama) is really on the right path.”
While critics complain that Americans have been too focused on choosing a president with whom they’d like to have a beer, Kenyans are in love with a beer with whom they have a president. Senator Beer, a barley-based lager brewed in Kenya, was created after Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate from Illinois in 2004. Drinkers call it simply “Obama.” The manufacturer, East African Breweries Limited, renamed it “President Beer” and distributed a limited edition of the beverage with the updated label. Songock says he hasn’t tasted “Obama” because he’s a teetotaler, but he says he knows it has been a top seller. “The beer just sold out,” Songock says. “People really drank, and they feasted, and they were so happy.” Both Songock and Sang say they hope to watch the inauguration on television with their fellow Kenyan students (Geoffrey Lagat, Festus Chemoor, Julius Kirui, and Isaac Biwatt) since they enjoyed Election Night coverage together. Songock says he thinks his professors will understand if he misses class just this once. “It’s very important, not only to me, but to other people,” he says.
--30—
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
KENYANS AT MTSU REVEL IN INAUGURATION OF BARACK OBAMA
U.S. President-elect, Son of Kenyan, Inspires MTSU Students from African Nation
(MURFREESBORO) – The inauguration of Barack Obama has a special significance for Kenyan students attending MTSU. They expect the joy they will feel in celebrating Obama’s swearing-in ceremony to exceed even the elation they felt in celebrating his Election Night victory in November. “To me, it gave me a sense of hope that you can do anything once you set your mind to it,” says 21-year-old nursing major William Songock. “When Obama started running, probably few people had hopes that he was going to win, actually, but he did it.” Songock, a cross-country runner, hails from the village of Eldoret, a drive of three to four hours away from Kogelo, the village where Obama’s father, Barack Obama Sr., was raised and where the President-elect’s paternal grandmother still lives. Songock says his uncle phoned him from Kenya after the election to ask if he voted for Obama, unaware that only American citizens can vote.
“The enthusiasm back in Kenya was really high,” Songock says. “For them, I think they were even more eager than some of us here.”
In fact, Songock says, Obama was on the front page of newspapers in Kenya for seven days after the election. The day following the election was declared a national holiday by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. “I know people in Africa and all around the world are hopeful about Obama,” says BenVictor Sang, a 26-year-old math major. “I’m very optimistic America will be viewed as a different country from the last eight years.” Sang says Obama endured a lot of criticism from people who thought he had no chance, but he proved his critics wrong. “He showed that anything is possible, especially in this country where there is democracy,” Sang says. Sang says when he called his family home in Kenya on Election Night, there was singing, dancing, partying and car-horn honking in the streets. “It makes me feel very proud to have a president with a Kenyan connection,” Sang says. Although that’s a point of pride for Songock, too, he says there’s more to it than that.
--more--
KENYANS
Add 1
“I see President-elect Obama not only as an African-American,” says Songock. “I see him first as a President of the United States, somebody who is going to bring change. The fact that he has African roots and, to make it more specific, Kenyan (roots), gives me even more sense of hope.”
Sang is especially hopeful that Obama will improve the financial climate in the U.S. “Being a foreign student, I felt the impact of the economy,” Sang says. “It seems he (Obama) is really on the right path.”
While critics complain that Americans have been too focused on choosing a president with whom they’d like to have a beer, Kenyans are in love with a beer with whom they have a president. Senator Beer, a barley-based lager brewed in Kenya, was created after Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate from Illinois in 2004. Drinkers call it simply “Obama.” The manufacturer, East African Breweries Limited, renamed it “President Beer” and distributed a limited edition of the beverage with the updated label. Songock says he hasn’t tasted “Obama” because he’s a teetotaler, but he says he knows it has been a top seller. “The beer just sold out,” Songock says. “People really drank, and they feasted, and they were so happy.” Both Songock and Sang say they hope to watch the inauguration on television with their fellow Kenyan students (Geoffrey Lagat, Festus Chemoor, Julius Kirui, and Isaac Biwatt) since they enjoyed Election Night coverage together. Songock says he thinks his professors will understand if he misses class just this once. “It’s very important, not only to me, but to other people,” he says.
--30—
[263] “YOU SHALL LIVE” SHINES LIGHT ON HIV IN BLACK COMMUNITY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 16, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
“YOU SHALL LIVE” SHINES LIGHT ON HIV IN BLACK COMMUNITY
Nashville Playwright’s Work to be Dramatized at MTSU for Black History Month
(MURFREESBORO) – “You Shall Live,” a dramatic presentation about the impact of HIV/AIDS, will be presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. The production was created by Nashville playwright Timothy Hampton, aka Thunder Kellie.
The central character is a young woman who returns home from New York to tell her father that she has tested positive for HIV. She is certain the church community in which she grew up will support her, but instead she suffered ridicule. Her plight prompts her father to bring an HIV counselor and HIV-positive people into the church to enlighten the congregation.
“A continuous HIV/AIDS conversation is crucial in terms of understanding, prevention, maintenance and compassion,” says Vincent Windrow, director of MTSU’s Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA). “Thunder Kellie and his group do an awesome job at facilitating that conversation.” “You Shall Live” is sponsored by IDA as part of the university’s Black History Month activities.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased either at the door or by contacting Valerie Avent at 615-898-5812.
--30--
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
“YOU SHALL LIVE” SHINES LIGHT ON HIV IN BLACK COMMUNITY
Nashville Playwright’s Work to be Dramatized at MTSU for Black History Month
(MURFREESBORO) – “You Shall Live,” a dramatic presentation about the impact of HIV/AIDS, will be presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building. The production was created by Nashville playwright Timothy Hampton, aka Thunder Kellie.
The central character is a young woman who returns home from New York to tell her father that she has tested positive for HIV. She is certain the church community in which she grew up will support her, but instead she suffered ridicule. Her plight prompts her father to bring an HIV counselor and HIV-positive people into the church to enlighten the congregation.
“A continuous HIV/AIDS conversation is crucial in terms of understanding, prevention, maintenance and compassion,” says Vincent Windrow, director of MTSU’s Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA). “Thunder Kellie and his group do an awesome job at facilitating that conversation.” “You Shall Live” is sponsored by IDA as part of the university’s Black History Month activities.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased either at the door or by contacting Valerie Avent at 615-898-5812.
--30--
[262]MTSU HONORS MLK WITH WEEK OF EVENTS CELEBRATING SERVICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 15, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
MTSU HONORS MLK WITH WEEK OF EVENTS CELEBRATING SERVICE
Activities Focus on Issues, Voter Registration, AIDS Awareness, Inauguration, Faith
(MURFREESBORO) – Numerous events of education and inspiration are slated to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on his official federal holiday, Monday, Jan. 19, and extending through Sunday, January 25. Although MTSU will be closed on Jan. 19 in observance of the federal holiday, a community service event involving several student organizations is slated for that date from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Discovery Center, 502 S.E. Broad Street in Murfreesboro. The goal is to communicate King’s purpose to local youth. A candlelight vigil is slated for that evening at 5 p.m. at the Keathley University Center (KUC) Theatre on the MTSU campus. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, a reception celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in MTSU’s Tom Jackson Building. “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People,” a voter registration and information drive, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, on the second floor of the KUC. A display about King’s life will be on display on the second floor at that time. At 7 p.m. that evening, faculty, students and guests are invited to participate in an “Achieving the Dream” forum about the issues pertaining to American progress in civil rights in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building.
On Thursday, Jan. 22, fraternity members will conduct a community service program, providing individualized mentoring, an extracurricular activity and a meal to a selected group of at-risk students at Bradley Academy in Murfreesboro. “You Shall Live: Everybody Has a Status; Know Yours,” a play about HIV/AIDS in the African-American community, will be presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, in Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building on the MTSU campus. Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased either at the door or by contacting Valerie Avent at 615-898-5812.
To conclude the week’s events, Pastor Darrell Hughes of Upon This Rock Church will deliver an uplifting message directly related to the struggles of college students during College Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the church, 4750 John Bragg Hwy. in Murfreesboro. MLK Celebration Week events are coordinated by the MTSU Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA) and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The MTSU chapter of the NAACP is collaborating on “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” and “Achieving the Dream.” All events are open to the public, and all are free except for “You Shall Live.” For more information, contact the IDA office at 615-898-5812.
--30--
MTSU HONORS MLK WITH WEEK OF EVENTS CELEBRATING SERVICE
Activities Focus on Issues, Voter Registration, AIDS Awareness, Inauguration, Faith
(MURFREESBORO) – Numerous events of education and inspiration are slated to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on his official federal holiday, Monday, Jan. 19, and extending through Sunday, January 25. Although MTSU will be closed on Jan. 19 in observance of the federal holiday, a community service event involving several student organizations is slated for that date from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Discovery Center, 502 S.E. Broad Street in Murfreesboro. The goal is to communicate King’s purpose to local youth. A candlelight vigil is slated for that evening at 5 p.m. at the Keathley University Center (KUC) Theatre on the MTSU campus. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, a reception celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in MTSU’s Tom Jackson Building. “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People,” a voter registration and information drive, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, on the second floor of the KUC. A display about King’s life will be on display on the second floor at that time. At 7 p.m. that evening, faculty, students and guests are invited to participate in an “Achieving the Dream” forum about the issues pertaining to American progress in civil rights in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building.
On Thursday, Jan. 22, fraternity members will conduct a community service program, providing individualized mentoring, an extracurricular activity and a meal to a selected group of at-risk students at Bradley Academy in Murfreesboro. “You Shall Live: Everybody Has a Status; Know Yours,” a play about HIV/AIDS in the African-American community, will be presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, in Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building on the MTSU campus. Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased either at the door or by contacting Valerie Avent at 615-898-5812.
To conclude the week’s events, Pastor Darrell Hughes of Upon This Rock Church will deliver an uplifting message directly related to the struggles of college students during College Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the church, 4750 John Bragg Hwy. in Murfreesboro. MLK Celebration Week events are coordinated by the MTSU Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA) and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The MTSU chapter of the NAACP is collaborating on “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” and “Achieving the Dream.” All events are open to the public, and all are free except for “You Shall Live.” For more information, contact the IDA office at 615-898-5812.
--30--
Thursday, January 15, 2009
[261]AFTER THE PARTY, WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICS OF “YES, WE CAN?”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 15, 2009
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
WMOT-FM, 615-898-2800
AFTER THE PARTY, WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICS OF “YES, WE CAN?”
Political Scientist Examines the Fierce Urgency of Obama on “MTSU on the Record”
(MURFREESBORO) — After the inaugural balls and other gala festivities are over, President Barack Obama will begin to tackle the major issues confronting the nation. Can the United States’ first African-American chief executive convert the enormous goodwill he currently enjoys into policies that will heal the country’s economy, preserve national security and improve the quality of life for all citizens?
Dr. Robb McDaniel, associate professor of political science and winner of a 2008 Outstanding Faculty Award from the MTSU Foundation, will assess the political winds of change on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 18, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).
For more information about "MTSU on the Record," contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800. To listen to the latest program, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2009.html anytime and click on "January 11, 2009" at the top of the page.
--30--
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
WMOT-FM, 615-898-2800
AFTER THE PARTY, WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICS OF “YES, WE CAN?”
Political Scientist Examines the Fierce Urgency of Obama on “MTSU on the Record”
(MURFREESBORO) — After the inaugural balls and other gala festivities are over, President Barack Obama will begin to tackle the major issues confronting the nation. Can the United States’ first African-American chief executive convert the enormous goodwill he currently enjoys into policies that will heal the country’s economy, preserve national security and improve the quality of life for all citizens?
Dr. Robb McDaniel, associate professor of political science and winner of a 2008 Outstanding Faculty Award from the MTSU Foundation, will assess the political winds of change on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 18, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).
For more information about "MTSU on the Record," contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800. To listen to the latest program, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2009.html anytime and click on "January 11, 2009" at the top of the page.
--30--
[259]‘REVISITED’ EXHIBIT FEATURES FORMER ART FACULTY WORKS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 14, 2009 EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu
‘REVISITED’ EXHIBIT FEATURES FORMER ART FACULTY WORKS
Free Public Reception for Artists Set for Monday, Feb. 2 at Todd Gallery
(MURFREESBORO)—Beginning Feb. 3, the Department of Art’s Gallery at Todd Hall will present “Revisited,” an exhibit featuring the collective works of four of its retired faculty members. The artists whose work will be showcased are Ollie Fancher, who taught graphic design and drawing; Jim Gibson, sculpture; Klaus Kallenberger, jewelry; and David LeDoux, painting. An opening reception in their honor will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday Feb. 2, in the gallery lobby. The public is encouraged to attend. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, said that because these individuals “contributed a great deal to the Department of Art’s program and curriculum and have been asked to return to MTSU in honor of their hard work.” “It will be great to welcome these men back and see what they have created since retiring from the department,” remarked Jean Nagy, art department chairwoman. “Revisited” will be on display Feb. 3-20 in the gallery, which is located on the second floor of MTSU’s Todd Building. The gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and closed all state holidays. Admission is always free and exhibits are open to the public. For more information regarding the “Revisited” exhibit, please contact the gallery curator at (615) 898-5653 or via e-mail at esnyder@mtsu.edu
—30—
• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request jpegs of some of the artwork that is part of this exhibit, or to request interviews with the artists, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affair at 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu.
‘REVISITED’ EXHIBIT FEATURES FORMER ART FACULTY WORKS
Free Public Reception for Artists Set for Monday, Feb. 2 at Todd Gallery
(MURFREESBORO)—Beginning Feb. 3, the Department of Art’s Gallery at Todd Hall will present “Revisited,” an exhibit featuring the collective works of four of its retired faculty members. The artists whose work will be showcased are Ollie Fancher, who taught graphic design and drawing; Jim Gibson, sculpture; Klaus Kallenberger, jewelry; and David LeDoux, painting. An opening reception in their honor will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday Feb. 2, in the gallery lobby. The public is encouraged to attend. Eric Snyder, gallery curator, said that because these individuals “contributed a great deal to the Department of Art’s program and curriculum and have been asked to return to MTSU in honor of their hard work.” “It will be great to welcome these men back and see what they have created since retiring from the department,” remarked Jean Nagy, art department chairwoman. “Revisited” will be on display Feb. 3-20 in the gallery, which is located on the second floor of MTSU’s Todd Building. The gallery is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and closed all state holidays. Admission is always free and exhibits are open to the public. For more information regarding the “Revisited” exhibit, please contact the gallery curator at (615) 898-5653 or via e-mail at esnyder@mtsu.edu
—30—
• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request jpegs of some of the artwork that is part of this exhibit, or to request interviews with the artists, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affair at 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu.
[258]MTSU’S CLEAR WATER INSTITUTE UNVEILS WEB SITE
Release date: Jan. 14, 2009
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
CLEAR Water Institute contact: Dr. John DiVincenzo, 615-904-8251
MTSU’S CLEAR WATER INSTITUTE UNVEILS WEB SITE
(MURFREESBORO) — The CLEAR Water Institute’s new Web site is available for campus and community viewing, its MTSU organizing members said recently.
The CLEAR Water Institute site can be found at http://frank.mtsu.edu/~clearmt/. The acronym CLEAR stands for Collaborative Education and Research.
The institute “is an interdisciplinary group of scientists from biology, chemistry, economics, environmental toxicology, education, sociology and concrete industry management that addresses social, economic and environmental issues related to water quality,” according to the “about us” information on the home page. The expertise and capabilities of the CLEAR Water Institute are outlined in the area in the menu on the left side of the home page.
Members organized CLEAR Water Institute in 2008. Sally Govan, publications edtor in the Business and Economic Research Center, designed the Web site.
For more information, call 615-898-2660.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
CLEAR Water Institute contact: Dr. John DiVincenzo, 615-904-8251
MTSU’S CLEAR WATER INSTITUTE UNVEILS WEB SITE
(MURFREESBORO) — The CLEAR Water Institute’s new Web site is available for campus and community viewing, its MTSU organizing members said recently.
The CLEAR Water Institute site can be found at http://frank.mtsu.edu/~clearmt/. The acronym CLEAR stands for Collaborative Education and Research.
The institute “is an interdisciplinary group of scientists from biology, chemistry, economics, environmental toxicology, education, sociology and concrete industry management that addresses social, economic and environmental issues related to water quality,” according to the “about us” information on the home page. The expertise and capabilities of the CLEAR Water Institute are outlined in the area in the menu on the left side of the home page.
Members organized CLEAR Water Institute in 2008. Sally Govan, publications edtor in the Business and Economic Research Center, designed the Web site.
For more information, call 615-898-2660.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
[257]MTSU WILL BE CLOSED JAN. 19 FOR MLK HOLIDAY
Release date: Jan. 14, 2009
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
MTSU WILL BE CLOSED JAN. 19 FOR MLK HOLIDAY
(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, university officials said.
No classes will be held and no offices will be open.
University classes will resume Tuesday, Jan. 20. All offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that day.
Keathley University Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18; closed Monday, Jan. 19; and open regular hours Jan. 20.
The James Union Building will be open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 18 and closed until Jan. 22 when normal operating hours resume. While JUB will be closed, The Raider Zone will be open for food service from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17-19.
McCallie and Cyber Café dining facilities will be open their regular hours Jan. 16-17. JUB and KUC Grill dining services closing at 2 and 5 p.m., respectively. The KUC Grill will be closed Jan. 17-19.
Food service in JUB will be available from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17-19. On Jan. 19, McCallie will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cyber Café will be open from 5 p.m. Jan. 19 to 2 a.m. Jan. 20.
All venues will be open their regular hours on Jan. 20. For more information, visit mtdining.com.
Hours of operation for the James E. Walker Library will be 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Jan. 15; 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 16; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17; closed Jan. 18-19; 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Jan. 20.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
Media note: In case of emergency, contact MTSU Campus Police at 615-898-2424. They can contact MTSU News and Public Affairs personnel.
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
MTSU WILL BE CLOSED JAN. 19 FOR MLK HOLIDAY
(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, university officials said.
No classes will be held and no offices will be open.
University classes will resume Tuesday, Jan. 20. All offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that day.
Keathley University Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18; closed Monday, Jan. 19; and open regular hours Jan. 20.
The James Union Building will be open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 18 and closed until Jan. 22 when normal operating hours resume. While JUB will be closed, The Raider Zone will be open for food service from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17-19.
McCallie and Cyber Café dining facilities will be open their regular hours Jan. 16-17. JUB and KUC Grill dining services closing at 2 and 5 p.m., respectively. The KUC Grill will be closed Jan. 17-19.
Food service in JUB will be available from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17-19. On Jan. 19, McCallie will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cyber Café will be open from 5 p.m. Jan. 19 to 2 a.m. Jan. 20.
All venues will be open their regular hours on Jan. 20. For more information, visit mtdining.com.
Hours of operation for the James E. Walker Library will be 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Jan. 15; 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 16; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17; closed Jan. 18-19; 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Jan. 20.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
Media note: In case of emergency, contact MTSU Campus Police at 615-898-2424. They can contact MTSU News and Public Affairs personnel.
[256]MTSU DAILY CAMPUS TOURS WILL RESUME JAN. 26
Release date: Jan. 14, 2009
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Admissions contacts: Lynn Palmer, 615-898-2239 or Betty Pedigo, 898-5670
MTSU DAILY CAMPUS TOURS WILL RESUME JAN. 26
(MURFREESBORO) — Daily campus tours for prospective students interested in attending MTSU will resume Monday, Jan. 26, for the spring semester, officials in the Office of Admissions said recently.
The 1- to 1½-hour walking tours will begin in the lobby area near the main entrance to the Cope Administration Building. Participants can choose either a 10 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. tour. No campus tours will be given during spring break (March 9-14) and Good Friday (April 10). Daily tours will run through Wednesday, April 29.
“We invite any student thinking about attending MTSU to come and take a tour,” said Lynn Palmer, who serves as admissions director. “Taking a tour is a very important factor in the college choice process.”
MTSU students usually lead the tours, which are limited to 15 to 20 people per group.
To make a tour reservation, visit www.mtsu.edu/admissn/tour_admissn.shtml or call Betty Pedigo, tour coordinator, at 615-898-5670.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Admissions contacts: Lynn Palmer, 615-898-2239 or Betty Pedigo, 898-5670
MTSU DAILY CAMPUS TOURS WILL RESUME JAN. 26
(MURFREESBORO) — Daily campus tours for prospective students interested in attending MTSU will resume Monday, Jan. 26, for the spring semester, officials in the Office of Admissions said recently.
The 1- to 1½-hour walking tours will begin in the lobby area near the main entrance to the Cope Administration Building. Participants can choose either a 10 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. tour. No campus tours will be given during spring break (March 9-14) and Good Friday (April 10). Daily tours will run through Wednesday, April 29.
“We invite any student thinking about attending MTSU to come and take a tour,” said Lynn Palmer, who serves as admissions director. “Taking a tour is a very important factor in the college choice process.”
MTSU students usually lead the tours, which are limited to 15 to 20 people per group.
To make a tour reservation, visit www.mtsu.edu/admissn/tour_admissn.shtml or call Betty Pedigo, tour coordinator, at 615-898-5670.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
[255]FIRST-DAY MTSU SPRING ENROLLMENT COULD SURPASS 21,600
Release date: Jan. 13, 2009
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Student Affairs/Enrollment Services contact: Dr. Deb Sells, 615-898-2440
Enrollment Services contact: Sherian Huddleston, 615-898-2828
FIRST-DAY MTSU SPRING ENROLLMENT COULD SURPASS 21,600
(MURFREESBORO) — Spring enrollment at MTSU should be near or slightly ahead of spring 2008 totals when 21,648 students took regular and online classes, Drs. Deb Sells and Sherian Huddleston said recently.
As of Jan. 13, the Office of Records showed 21,573 students were registered for classes, said Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. Classes begin Thursday.
As of Tuesday, records data showed an increase of 703 students, which is a 3.37 percent increase, Huddleston said.
On Jan. 12, 2008, two days before the start of spring classes, enrollment stood at 20,870.
Huddleston said the spring ’09 enrollment would be submitted Jan. 28 to the Tennessee Board of Regents following the 14-day census period.
She added that 1,876 students were purged Jan. 8 for not paying their fees or not confirming their registration.
“It shows that those students who wanted to register have re-registered and other reenrollees and students who had not registered have just now decided to register,” she said. “So we have recovered from the purge.”
“We’ve seen a lot of activity in financial aid, new transfer students, students seeking FAFSA () information and the admissions office has had a lot of walk-in traffic,” Huddleston said.
“Projected (spring) enrollment appears to be on target, right in line with the past two or three years,” Sells, interim vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment and academic services, said. “Typically, spring enrollment runs about 1,200 to 1,500 students below fall. Right now, we look to be on track to hit about the same mark as last spring, which would be about 21,650 students).”
MTSU had a record enrollment of 23,872 during the fall semester.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Student Affairs/Enrollment Services contact: Dr. Deb Sells, 615-898-2440
Enrollment Services contact: Sherian Huddleston, 615-898-2828
FIRST-DAY MTSU SPRING ENROLLMENT COULD SURPASS 21,600
(MURFREESBORO) — Spring enrollment at MTSU should be near or slightly ahead of spring 2008 totals when 21,648 students took regular and online classes, Drs. Deb Sells and Sherian Huddleston said recently.
As of Jan. 13, the Office of Records showed 21,573 students were registered for classes, said Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services. Classes begin Thursday.
As of Tuesday, records data showed an increase of 703 students, which is a 3.37 percent increase, Huddleston said.
On Jan. 12, 2008, two days before the start of spring classes, enrollment stood at 20,870.
Huddleston said the spring ’09 enrollment would be submitted Jan. 28 to the Tennessee Board of Regents following the 14-day census period.
She added that 1,876 students were purged Jan. 8 for not paying their fees or not confirming their registration.
“It shows that those students who wanted to register have re-registered and other reenrollees and students who had not registered have just now decided to register,” she said. “So we have recovered from the purge.”
“We’ve seen a lot of activity in financial aid, new transfer students, students seeking FAFSA () information and the admissions office has had a lot of walk-in traffic,” Huddleston said.
“Projected (spring) enrollment appears to be on target, right in line with the past two or three years,” Sells, interim vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment and academic services, said. “Typically, spring enrollment runs about 1,200 to 1,500 students below fall. Right now, we look to be on track to hit about the same mark as last spring, which would be about 21,650 students).”
MTSU had a record enrollment of 23,872 during the fall semester.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
[254]MTSU SPRING SEMESTER CLASSES, ACTIVITIES START THURSDAY
Release date: Jan. 13, 2009
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Student Affairs/Enrollment Services contact: Dr. Deb Sells, 615-898-2440
MTSU SPRING SEMESTER CLASSES, ACTIVITIES START THURSDAY
(MURFREESBORO) — A new year, new semester and new outlook await MTSU students and faculty as they return to campus Thursday, Jan. 15, for spring semester classes with an eye toward the May 9 commencement, which may see the university’s largest ever graduating class.
Sells, interim vice president for student affairs who replaced Dr. Bob Glenn (now president at Athens State University in Alabama) in August, said priority items for the spring will include “working to communicate effectively with students about upcoming changes in tuition and fee structures” and sharing regular updates on President Sidney A. McPhee’s strategic workgroups working on the “Positioning the University for the Future” project.
“There will, of course, be a strong focus on recruitment and enrollment issues, including moving to a direct-lending program for financial aid,” Sells said. “We also expect to continue to focus on important student initiatives, including opening the new pharmacy at Student Health (Services), which will also be open to faculty and staff; making continued progress on the Student Union project; and supporting a healthy spring fraternity program.”
Along with classes, the spring semester will feature distinguished lectures and the Spring Honors Lecture Series, “Searching for Athena: An Exploration of Honors and Gifted Education” (full schedule at mtsu.edu/ honors/Spring_Lecture_Series.shtml), as well as many other activities.
For example, a full schedule of Black History Month events is available by visiting mtsu.edu/~aahm or calling the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at 615-898-5812.
The 37th annual Groundhog Day Luncheon for the MT baseball program is planned on Monday, Feb. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Murphy Center Monte Hall Arena floor. Tickets will be $20 each. For reservations, call the MT Ticket Office at 615-898-2103 or 1-888-YES-MTSU, or the Blue Raider Athletic Association office at 615-898-2210.
For the Jazz Artist Series, pianist and composer Donald Brown will appear Thursday, Feb. 12, to headline a busy February for the School of Music. Call 615-898-2493 or visit the School of Music Web site at mtsu.edu/~music for more details and other music events.
MTSU’s Office of Financial Aid once again will participate in College Goal Sunday, which will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, in the Business and Aerospace Building’s State Farm Lecture Hall. MTSU personnel will assist prospective students and answer questions. For more information, call 615-904-8414 or visit http://financialaid.web.mtsu.edu.
Some of the region’s sharpest young minds will visit campus and participate in the Invention Convention on Thursday, Feb. 26, and the Science Olympiad on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The 10th annual Up ’til Dawn finale will be held from 7 p.m. Feb. 20 until 3 a.m. Feb. 21 in the Campus Recreation Center. Senior Jameel Braddock is director for the event, which raises money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For information, call 615-898-8270 or the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership at 898-5812.
The Admissions Office’s Spring Preview Days, which are open to prospective students and their families to tour the university, are set for Saturday, March 21, and Saturday, April 18, beginning at 10 a.m. each day at the Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center.
National Women’s History Month activities through March can be found by visiting mtsu.edu/womenstu or calling the Office of Women’s Studies at 615-898-5910.
Scholars Week activities will be March 30 through April 3. For more information, call 615-898-2071.
In addition to MT basketball, baseball, softball and track and field action in the next five months, many of the state’s top girls’ and boys’ basketball teams head for Murphy Center for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association tournaments March 11-14 and March 18-21. The BlueCross Spring Fling will be May 18-23. Visit tssaa.org or call 615-889-6740 for ticket and other information.
First Friday Star Parties will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, March 6, April 3 and May 1 in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102. Call 615-898-5946 or 898-2483 for more details.
MTSU will serve as host for the International Horse Show Association Nationals April 23-26; contact Anne Brzezicki at 615-904-8481 for more information.
Spring also will mark the return of the Tennessee Labor Management Winter Conference March 11-13 in Memphis, the Jennings A. Jones College of Business Executives in Residence event on Wednesday, April 8, and the President’s Celebration of Excellence on Saturday, April 18.
For spring semester theater and dance events, visit mtsu.edu/~theatre.
Spring 2009 academic dates to remember
• Jan. 15—Classes begin
• Jan. 19—Martin Luther King holiday (no classes)
• March 9-14—Spring break
• March 13—University closed
• April 29—Last day of classes
• April 30—Student study day (no classes)
• May 1-7—Final exams
• May 9—Commencement (9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ceremonies in Murphy Center)
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Student Affairs/Enrollment Services contact: Dr. Deb Sells, 615-898-2440
MTSU SPRING SEMESTER CLASSES, ACTIVITIES START THURSDAY
(MURFREESBORO) — A new year, new semester and new outlook await MTSU students and faculty as they return to campus Thursday, Jan. 15, for spring semester classes with an eye toward the May 9 commencement, which may see the university’s largest ever graduating class.
Sells, interim vice president for student affairs who replaced Dr. Bob Glenn (now president at Athens State University in Alabama) in August, said priority items for the spring will include “working to communicate effectively with students about upcoming changes in tuition and fee structures” and sharing regular updates on President Sidney A. McPhee’s strategic workgroups working on the “Positioning the University for the Future” project.
“There will, of course, be a strong focus on recruitment and enrollment issues, including moving to a direct-lending program for financial aid,” Sells said. “We also expect to continue to focus on important student initiatives, including opening the new pharmacy at Student Health (Services), which will also be open to faculty and staff; making continued progress on the Student Union project; and supporting a healthy spring fraternity program.”
Along with classes, the spring semester will feature distinguished lectures and the Spring Honors Lecture Series, “Searching for Athena: An Exploration of Honors and Gifted Education” (full schedule at mtsu.edu/ honors/Spring_Lecture_Series.shtml), as well as many other activities.
For example, a full schedule of Black History Month events is available by visiting mtsu.edu/~aahm or calling the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at 615-898-5812.
The 37th annual Groundhog Day Luncheon for the MT baseball program is planned on Monday, Feb. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Murphy Center Monte Hall Arena floor. Tickets will be $20 each. For reservations, call the MT Ticket Office at 615-898-2103 or 1-888-YES-MTSU, or the Blue Raider Athletic Association office at 615-898-2210.
For the Jazz Artist Series, pianist and composer Donald Brown will appear Thursday, Feb. 12, to headline a busy February for the School of Music. Call 615-898-2493 or visit the School of Music Web site at mtsu.edu/~music for more details and other music events.
MTSU’s Office of Financial Aid once again will participate in College Goal Sunday, which will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, in the Business and Aerospace Building’s State Farm Lecture Hall. MTSU personnel will assist prospective students and answer questions. For more information, call 615-904-8414 or visit http://financialaid.web.mtsu.edu.
Some of the region’s sharpest young minds will visit campus and participate in the Invention Convention on Thursday, Feb. 26, and the Science Olympiad on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The 10th annual Up ’til Dawn finale will be held from 7 p.m. Feb. 20 until 3 a.m. Feb. 21 in the Campus Recreation Center. Senior Jameel Braddock is director for the event, which raises money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For information, call 615-898-8270 or the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership at 898-5812.
The Admissions Office’s Spring Preview Days, which are open to prospective students and their families to tour the university, are set for Saturday, March 21, and Saturday, April 18, beginning at 10 a.m. each day at the Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center.
National Women’s History Month activities through March can be found by visiting mtsu.edu/womenstu or calling the Office of Women’s Studies at 615-898-5910.
Scholars Week activities will be March 30 through April 3. For more information, call 615-898-2071.
In addition to MT basketball, baseball, softball and track and field action in the next five months, many of the state’s top girls’ and boys’ basketball teams head for Murphy Center for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association tournaments March 11-14 and March 18-21. The BlueCross Spring Fling will be May 18-23. Visit tssaa.org or call 615-889-6740 for ticket and other information.
First Friday Star Parties will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, March 6, April 3 and May 1 in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102. Call 615-898-5946 or 898-2483 for more details.
MTSU will serve as host for the International Horse Show Association Nationals April 23-26; contact Anne Brzezicki at 615-904-8481 for more information.
Spring also will mark the return of the Tennessee Labor Management Winter Conference March 11-13 in Memphis, the Jennings A. Jones College of Business Executives in Residence event on Wednesday, April 8, and the President’s Celebration of Excellence on Saturday, April 18.
For spring semester theater and dance events, visit mtsu.edu/~theatre.
Spring 2009 academic dates to remember
• Jan. 15—Classes begin
• Jan. 19—Martin Luther King holiday (no classes)
• March 9-14—Spring break
• March 13—University closed
• April 29—Last day of classes
• April 30—Student study day (no classes)
• May 1-7—Final exams
• May 9—Commencement (9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ceremonies in Murphy Center)
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
[253]CAMPUS SCHOOL RENOVATION MOVES AHEAD WITH SAFETY FIRST
CAMPUS SCHOOL RENOVATION MOVES AHEAD WITH SAFETY FIRST
Jan. 13, 2009
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
MURFREESBORO—Having received sufficient pledged funding a year ago to proceed with the first three phases of Homer Pittard Campus School renovation, officials are pleased with the progress that has been made on 80-year-old building, especially in the crucial areas of ADA compliance and safety.
Along with the $2.6 million committed by the Rutherford County commission, the Christy-Houston Foundation and MTSU pledged $1 million each, which enabled the renovation project to move forward. The bid was awarded last June, and workers began in earnest about two weeks before teachers returned for the fall semester, said Dr. Stan Baskin, Campus School principal.
Safety considerations were first on the list, Baskin said. “They hit it hard,” he said. “They took out all the glued-on ceiling tiles because they did not meet fire code. They removed the remaining tiles in two kindergarten rooms over the Christmas break. “The wiring is about 75 percent done, and the sprinkler system is probably about 75 percent done.”
When those projects are completed, the building will have all new electrical wiring, and every room in the building will have an automatic sprinkler system. Baskin added that new chillers have been installed, and about half of the blower units connected to the heating/cooling units have been put in place.
“Safety, efficiency and comfort—we have to have those things,” he noted.
Construction of the ADA ramp and elevator began last August. Baskin said the elevator will be finished by the first of August, “but I’ve heard they might be able to finish it by late February or March.”
The ramp on the northwest corner of the building leading to the ground-floor elevator will make it possible for people to access all three floors of the building.
“We’ve never really had a child who could not navigate the stairs adequately,” Baskin said. “But we have had several instances over the years when parents and grandparents could not get to the third floor for a classroom program. Sometimes they would just have to miss the program. Access to all three floors of the building is very important.”
“We excited about the progress being made with the Campus School renovations and the partnership we have developed with MTSU during the project,” commented Harry Gill Jr., director of Rutherford County Schools. “Many wonderful teachers in Rutherford County have benefited from the mentoring program at Campus, and the school is a valued part of our school district.”
“It is especially important to note that in determining project priorities, safety was and is the number one consideration,” Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU president, added. “I am grateful to the county and Campus School officials, to Christy-Houston and to the many parents for their interest in making these much-needed improvements while also striving to preserve the school’s historical integrity. Campus School will continue to be a crown jewel of which all of us can be proud.”
“A lot of people came together to make this work, and we’re appreciative of all of them,” Baskin said. “Everyone is excited about things being finished.”
The fourth phase of the Campus School renovation will include the brick work and plumbing.
####
Jan. 13, 2009
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
MURFREESBORO—Having received sufficient pledged funding a year ago to proceed with the first three phases of Homer Pittard Campus School renovation, officials are pleased with the progress that has been made on 80-year-old building, especially in the crucial areas of ADA compliance and safety.
Along with the $2.6 million committed by the Rutherford County commission, the Christy-Houston Foundation and MTSU pledged $1 million each, which enabled the renovation project to move forward. The bid was awarded last June, and workers began in earnest about two weeks before teachers returned for the fall semester, said Dr. Stan Baskin, Campus School principal.
Safety considerations were first on the list, Baskin said. “They hit it hard,” he said. “They took out all the glued-on ceiling tiles because they did not meet fire code. They removed the remaining tiles in two kindergarten rooms over the Christmas break. “The wiring is about 75 percent done, and the sprinkler system is probably about 75 percent done.”
When those projects are completed, the building will have all new electrical wiring, and every room in the building will have an automatic sprinkler system. Baskin added that new chillers have been installed, and about half of the blower units connected to the heating/cooling units have been put in place.
“Safety, efficiency and comfort—we have to have those things,” he noted.
Construction of the ADA ramp and elevator began last August. Baskin said the elevator will be finished by the first of August, “but I’ve heard they might be able to finish it by late February or March.”
The ramp on the northwest corner of the building leading to the ground-floor elevator will make it possible for people to access all three floors of the building.
“We’ve never really had a child who could not navigate the stairs adequately,” Baskin said. “But we have had several instances over the years when parents and grandparents could not get to the third floor for a classroom program. Sometimes they would just have to miss the program. Access to all three floors of the building is very important.”
“We excited about the progress being made with the Campus School renovations and the partnership we have developed with MTSU during the project,” commented Harry Gill Jr., director of Rutherford County Schools. “Many wonderful teachers in Rutherford County have benefited from the mentoring program at Campus, and the school is a valued part of our school district.”
“It is especially important to note that in determining project priorities, safety was and is the number one consideration,” Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU president, added. “I am grateful to the county and Campus School officials, to Christy-Houston and to the many parents for their interest in making these much-needed improvements while also striving to preserve the school’s historical integrity. Campus School will continue to be a crown jewel of which all of us can be proud.”
“A lot of people came together to make this work, and we’re appreciative of all of them,” Baskin said. “Everyone is excited about things being finished.”
The fourth phase of the Campus School renovation will include the brick work and plumbing.
####
[252]MTSU OPENS FULL-SERVICE PHARMACY ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 13, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
MTSU OPENS FULL-SERVICE PHARMACY ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK
Prescriptions and Over-the-counter Meds Available Inside and at Drive-thru Window
(MURFREESBORO) – MTSU’s new Campus Pharmacy, which features a drive-thru window, is slated to open for business on Thursday, Jan. 15, in the Health, Wellness and Recreation Center. The pharmacy will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with the drive-thru open until 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday with the drive-thru open until 4:30 p.m. “We’re excited to be serving MTSU students, staff and faculty,” says MTSU alumna Tabby Ragland, Director of Pharmacy, who will be assisted by Pharmacy Tech Gina Hale. “We plan to keep prices as low as possible.”
In addition to providing full prescription services, the pharmacy will offer a complete line of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, including cough and cold remedies, foot care products, vitamins, antacids, first aid items and more.
Accepted payment methods include cash, check, MasterCard, Visa and American Express, as well as students’ bursar accounts. The pharmacy currently is able to process Cigna insurance. Contracts with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and other companies are in progress. For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/pharmacy/index.shtml, or phone 615-898-8888.
--30--
MTSU OPENS FULL-SERVICE PHARMACY ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK
Prescriptions and Over-the-counter Meds Available Inside and at Drive-thru Window
(MURFREESBORO) – MTSU’s new Campus Pharmacy, which features a drive-thru window, is slated to open for business on Thursday, Jan. 15, in the Health, Wellness and Recreation Center. The pharmacy will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with the drive-thru open until 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday with the drive-thru open until 4:30 p.m. “We’re excited to be serving MTSU students, staff and faculty,” says MTSU alumna Tabby Ragland, Director of Pharmacy, who will be assisted by Pharmacy Tech Gina Hale. “We plan to keep prices as low as possible.”
In addition to providing full prescription services, the pharmacy will offer a complete line of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, including cough and cold remedies, foot care products, vitamins, antacids, first aid items and more.
Accepted payment methods include cash, check, MasterCard, Visa and American Express, as well as students’ bursar accounts. The pharmacy currently is able to process Cigna insurance. Contracts with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and other companies are in progress. For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/pharmacy/index.shtml, or phone 615-898-8888.
--30--
[250]MTSU STUDENT CHOSEN INAUGURAL SCHOLAR FOR 2009 CEREMONY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan.13, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
MTSU STUDENT CHOSEN INAUGURAL SCHOLAR FOR 2009 CEREMONY
Leadership, Scholarship Propel Kelman Edwards to Washington for Obama’s Oath
(MURFREESBORO) - The University Presidential Inaugural Conference in Vienna, Va., has selected MTSU senior Kelman Edwards of Nashville, a graduate of Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School, to participate in the Jan. 17-21 gathering of Inaugural Scholars in Washington, D.C., including attendance at the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The 21-year-old junior and pre-med major will be present on the National Mall for the oath of office, inaugural parade and presidential motorcade. He says he is excited to be present at the swearing-in ceremony for the nation’s first African-American President of the United States. “It definitely makes you feel as though you can reach higher than usual,” Edwards says of Obama’s inspiring personal narrative. If there is one caveat, it is Edwards’ concern for the enormous challenges Obama will inherit. “There might be too much pressure on him,” says Edwards. “Everything is going to take time, but I feel that he can aim the country in the right direction.” Tuition alone for this prestigious opportunity is more than $2,800, and students are responsible for their own transportation to and from Washington. The cost of Edwards’ trip is being handled through the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP). The program’s mission is “to increase the number of underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics … by at least 100 percent within a five-year period,” states its MTSU Web page. TLSAMP’s MTSU director, Mimi Thomas, was in Edwards’ corner all the way. “Kelman really is a natural leader,” says Thomas. “He made an impression on me right from the start. He’d like to stay in the back and be quiet, but once you pull him up to the front, he really has a lot to offer.” Edwards demonstrates that leadership through work as a residence assistant at a campus dormitory and a tutor to physics, chemistry and biology students. “We’re very proud of Kelman,” says Dr. Thomas Cheatham, Dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. “Mimi was instrumental in helping Kelman cobble together the resources to participate in this opportunity of a lifetime.”
The chance to be an Inaugural Scholar opened up for Edwards because he is an alumnus of the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, which Edwards attended in Atlanta in summer 2005. Edwards says that 12-day educational experience involved everything from touring the Centers for Disease Control to suturing surgical incisions on bananas.
After an opening night reception with his fellow scholars, Edwards’ five-day agenda includes attendance at keynote speeches from former Vice President Al Gore, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Erik Weihenmeyer, filmmaker and author of Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See. In addition, Edwards is slated to hear panel discussions on the campaigns, events and current topics with political pundits Paul Begala, a former campaign adviser to President Bill Clinton who now serves as a political contributor for CNN, and Tucker Carlson, MSNBC Senior Campaign Correspondent, as well as husband-and-wife political operatives (for opposing parties) James Carville (Democrats) and Mary Matalin (Republicans). After taking in the rich political and cultural history of the nation by visiting the museums and monuments that line the Mall, Edwards and the other Inaugural Scholars will attend an exclusive Black Tie Gala Inaugural Ball, the formal culmination of a whirlwind week of excitement. Edwards has his tuxedo and is proud of its combination of formality and style. “I actually might look better than Obama,” he jokes.
--30—
Web sites: Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation: http://www.mtsu.edu/~lsamp
University Presidential Inaugural Conference: http://www.inauguralscholar.org
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For interviews with Inaugural Scholar Kelman Edwards, contact Mimi Thomas at 615-898-5311 or mthomas@mtsu.edu. For a color jpeg photo of Edwards, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News a
MTSU STUDENT CHOSEN INAUGURAL SCHOLAR FOR 2009 CEREMONY
Leadership, Scholarship Propel Kelman Edwards to Washington for Obama’s Oath
(MURFREESBORO) - The University Presidential Inaugural Conference in Vienna, Va., has selected MTSU senior Kelman Edwards of Nashville, a graduate of Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School, to participate in the Jan. 17-21 gathering of Inaugural Scholars in Washington, D.C., including attendance at the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The 21-year-old junior and pre-med major will be present on the National Mall for the oath of office, inaugural parade and presidential motorcade. He says he is excited to be present at the swearing-in ceremony for the nation’s first African-American President of the United States. “It definitely makes you feel as though you can reach higher than usual,” Edwards says of Obama’s inspiring personal narrative. If there is one caveat, it is Edwards’ concern for the enormous challenges Obama will inherit. “There might be too much pressure on him,” says Edwards. “Everything is going to take time, but I feel that he can aim the country in the right direction.” Tuition alone for this prestigious opportunity is more than $2,800, and students are responsible for their own transportation to and from Washington. The cost of Edwards’ trip is being handled through the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP). The program’s mission is “to increase the number of underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics … by at least 100 percent within a five-year period,” states its MTSU Web page. TLSAMP’s MTSU director, Mimi Thomas, was in Edwards’ corner all the way. “Kelman really is a natural leader,” says Thomas. “He made an impression on me right from the start. He’d like to stay in the back and be quiet, but once you pull him up to the front, he really has a lot to offer.” Edwards demonstrates that leadership through work as a residence assistant at a campus dormitory and a tutor to physics, chemistry and biology students. “We’re very proud of Kelman,” says Dr. Thomas Cheatham, Dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. “Mimi was instrumental in helping Kelman cobble together the resources to participate in this opportunity of a lifetime.”
The chance to be an Inaugural Scholar opened up for Edwards because he is an alumnus of the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, which Edwards attended in Atlanta in summer 2005. Edwards says that 12-day educational experience involved everything from touring the Centers for Disease Control to suturing surgical incisions on bananas.
After an opening night reception with his fellow scholars, Edwards’ five-day agenda includes attendance at keynote speeches from former Vice President Al Gore, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Erik Weihenmeyer, filmmaker and author of Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See. In addition, Edwards is slated to hear panel discussions on the campaigns, events and current topics with political pundits Paul Begala, a former campaign adviser to President Bill Clinton who now serves as a political contributor for CNN, and Tucker Carlson, MSNBC Senior Campaign Correspondent, as well as husband-and-wife political operatives (for opposing parties) James Carville (Democrats) and Mary Matalin (Republicans). After taking in the rich political and cultural history of the nation by visiting the museums and monuments that line the Mall, Edwards and the other Inaugural Scholars will attend an exclusive Black Tie Gala Inaugural Ball, the formal culmination of a whirlwind week of excitement. Edwards has his tuxedo and is proud of its combination of formality and style. “I actually might look better than Obama,” he jokes.
--30—
Web sites: Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation: http://www.mtsu.edu/~lsamp
University Presidential Inaugural Conference: http://www.inauguralscholar.org
ATTENTION, MEDIA: For interviews with Inaugural Scholar Kelman Edwards, contact Mimi Thomas at 615-898-5311 or mthomas@mtsu.edu. For a color jpeg photo of Edwards, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News a
Thursday, January 08, 2009
[249]AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HAILS REFERENCE BOOK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 8, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HAILS REFERENCE BOOK
FEATURING WRITINGS BY MTSU SCHOLARS AS “EXCELLENT”
“Highly Recommended,” Reviewer Writes of Encyclopedia of the First Amendment
(MURFREESBORO) – The January 1 issue of Booklist, the American Library Association’s major library media review publication, has selected a reference work co-edited by two MTSU professors as a 2008 Editors’ Choice/Reference pick. In a starred review in Booklist, Janice Lewis praises the Encyclopedia of the First Amendment as “an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about broadcast regulation, the establishment of religion clause, students’ rights, or a myriad of other topics involving the First Amendment and its political, cultural and legal significance … highly recommended for academic, public and law libraries.” The Encyclopedia of the First Amendment, published by CQ Press, was co-edited by Dr. John R. Vile, Dean of the University Honors College; David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and scholar at the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University; and Dr. David Schultz, professor in the School of Business at Hamline University and a senior fellow in the Institute of Law and Politics at the University of Minnesota Law School. Nineteen members of the MTSU community contributed essays to the Encyclopedia, including eight faculty from the Department of Political Science, five faculty from the College of Mass Communication, and Tennessean Publisher Emeritus John Seigenthaler, for whom an endowed chair of excellence at the College of Mass Communication is named. “Booklist has a big influence on library collection development, and it helps us make the case to purchase, especially to the public libraries,” says Doug Goldenberg-Hart, acquisitions editor for the Reference Information Group at CQ Press.
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HAILS REFERENCE BOOK
FEATURING WRITINGS BY MTSU SCHOLARS AS “EXCELLENT”
“Highly Recommended,” Reviewer Writes of Encyclopedia of the First Amendment
(MURFREESBORO) – The January 1 issue of Booklist, the American Library Association’s major library media review publication, has selected a reference work co-edited by two MTSU professors as a 2008 Editors’ Choice/Reference pick. In a starred review in Booklist, Janice Lewis praises the Encyclopedia of the First Amendment as “an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about broadcast regulation, the establishment of religion clause, students’ rights, or a myriad of other topics involving the First Amendment and its political, cultural and legal significance … highly recommended for academic, public and law libraries.” The Encyclopedia of the First Amendment, published by CQ Press, was co-edited by Dr. John R. Vile, Dean of the University Honors College; David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and scholar at the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University; and Dr. David Schultz, professor in the School of Business at Hamline University and a senior fellow in the Institute of Law and Politics at the University of Minnesota Law School. Nineteen members of the MTSU community contributed essays to the Encyclopedia, including eight faculty from the Department of Political Science, five faculty from the College of Mass Communication, and Tennessean Publisher Emeritus John Seigenthaler, for whom an endowed chair of excellence at the College of Mass Communication is named. “Booklist has a big influence on library collection development, and it helps us make the case to purchase, especially to the public libraries,” says Doug Goldenberg-Hart, acquisitions editor for the Reference Information Group at CQ Press.
[248] FACULTY EVALUATION INSTRUMENT ENTERS SECOND SEMESTER MTSU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 7, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081
FACULTY EVALUATION INSTRUMENT ENTERS SECOND SEMESTER MTSU
Students Have Greater Range of Expression in Giving Professors Feedback
(MURFREESBORO) – At the end of each semester’s classes, MTSU students rate their professors’ performances by filling out questionnaires. In the university’s continuing efforts to provide the highest quality service to the students, the traditional questions were replaced in fall 2008 with a teaching evaluation instrument created at the University of California-Berkeley, an instrument that allows students to provide more meaningful feedback that will help educators improve their teaching. Results for fall 2008 should be available to all faculty for internal use by the end of January, says Barbara Draude, Assistant Vice President for Academic and Instructional Technologies and Co-Director of the Learning, Teaching and Innovative Technologies Center (LT&ITC). Students will assess their instructors for spring 2009 at the end of that semester. Classes are slated to begin Thursday, Jan. 15.
Anecdotally, students and professors have agreed for years that the previous evaluation instrument did not give students the opportunity to provide more nuanced perspectives on their classroom experiences. “It was a neutral instrument that didn’t upset anyone, but it didn’t do much good,” says Dr. Vic Montemayor, physics professor and former chair of the Pedagogy Task Force. “It was contentless. There was nothing there to help instructors improve their teaching.” After some two years of debate through the work of that task force, response to the Berkeley instrument was overwhelming. One hundred percent of faculty volunteers, 100 percent of deans and chairs and 76 percent of students found the Berkeley instrument to be superior in a pilot study conducted prior to fall 2008. As it turned out, the Berkeley instrument already was in use by the MTSU faculty mentoring program, but Montemayor says that had no impact on the final decision. However, the mentoring program administrators say they are delighted with the questionnaire. The former student evaluation sheet would gauge students’ reactions to statements such as “course requirements are clear,” “the class begins at scheduled times,” and “instructor presents material clearly” with ratings of “almost always,” “usually,” “rarely,” “never,” or “not applicable.”
--more--
FACULTY EVALUATION INSTRUMENT ENTERS SECOND SEMESTER MTSU
Students Have Greater Range of Expression in Giving Professors Feedback
(MURFREESBORO) – At the end of each semester’s classes, MTSU students rate their professors’ performances by filling out questionnaires. In the university’s continuing efforts to provide the highest quality service to the students, the traditional questions were replaced in fall 2008 with a teaching evaluation instrument created at the University of California-Berkeley, an instrument that allows students to provide more meaningful feedback that will help educators improve their teaching. Results for fall 2008 should be available to all faculty for internal use by the end of January, says Barbara Draude, Assistant Vice President for Academic and Instructional Technologies and Co-Director of the Learning, Teaching and Innovative Technologies Center (LT&ITC). Students will assess their instructors for spring 2009 at the end of that semester. Classes are slated to begin Thursday, Jan. 15.
Anecdotally, students and professors have agreed for years that the previous evaluation instrument did not give students the opportunity to provide more nuanced perspectives on their classroom experiences. “It was a neutral instrument that didn’t upset anyone, but it didn’t do much good,” says Dr. Vic Montemayor, physics professor and former chair of the Pedagogy Task Force. “It was contentless. There was nothing there to help instructors improve their teaching.” After some two years of debate through the work of that task force, response to the Berkeley instrument was overwhelming. One hundred percent of faculty volunteers, 100 percent of deans and chairs and 76 percent of students found the Berkeley instrument to be superior in a pilot study conducted prior to fall 2008. As it turned out, the Berkeley instrument already was in use by the MTSU faculty mentoring program, but Montemayor says that had no impact on the final decision. However, the mentoring program administrators say they are delighted with the questionnaire. The former student evaluation sheet would gauge students’ reactions to statements such as “course requirements are clear,” “the class begins at scheduled times,” and “instructor presents material clearly” with ratings of “almost always,” “usually,” “rarely,” “never,” or “not applicable.”
--more--
[247] BARACK OBAMA TO PROVIDE ANOTHER “NEW DEAL” FOR AMERICA?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 7, 2009EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081; WMOT-FM, 615-898-2800
BARACK OBAMA TO PROVIDE ANOTHER “NEW DEAL” FOR AMERICA?
MTSU History Professor Examines Obama and FDR on “MTSU on the Record”
(MURFREESBORO) — A recent edition of TIME Magazine featured President-elect Barack Obama’s face juxtaposed on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s body, complete with confident beaming smile and cigarette holder. With experts describing the current national economy as the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, how valid are comparisons to the challenges faced by FDR then and the challenges facing Obama now?
Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history, will provide an historical perspective for the America to be inherited by the incoming Obama administration on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 11, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).
For more information about "MTSU on the Record," contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800. To listen to the latest program, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2009.html anytime and click on "January 4, 2009" at the top of the page.
--30--
BARACK OBAMA TO PROVIDE ANOTHER “NEW DEAL” FOR AMERICA?
MTSU History Professor Examines Obama and FDR on “MTSU on the Record”
(MURFREESBORO) — A recent edition of TIME Magazine featured President-elect Barack Obama’s face juxtaposed on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s body, complete with confident beaming smile and cigarette holder. With experts describing the current national economy as the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, how valid are comparisons to the challenges faced by FDR then and the challenges facing Obama now?
Dr. Kris McCusker, associate professor of history, will provide an historical perspective for the America to be inherited by the incoming Obama administration on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 11, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).
For more information about "MTSU on the Record," contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800. To listen to the latest program, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2009.html anytime and click on "January 4, 2009" at the top of the page.
--30--
[246]MTSU DANCE THEATRE SPONSORS BENEFIT CONCERT JAN. 16
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 6, 2009
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, lrollins@mtsu.edu, 615-898-2919.
MTSU DANCE THEATRE SPONSORS BENEFIT CONCERT JAN. 16
‘Holding Patterns’ Concert Proceeds Go to MTSU Dance Scholarship Fund
(MURFREESBORO)—MTSU Dance Theatre will present Holding Patterns, a concert to benefit the MTSU Dance Scholarship Fund, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building’s Tucker Theater.
Kim Neal Nofsinger, artistic director of the dance program, said the upcoming concert will feature his award-winning choreography performed by members of MTSU Dance Theatre and guest performers from Kennesaw State University and Illinois State University.
“Within the last four years the dance program at MTSU has gained regional and national recognition for its high-quality scholarship, community service and productions,” Nofinger said. “These achievements include selection for the Gala Concert at the American College Dance Festival Regional Conference in 2007 and in 2008.”
The benefit concert, in turn, will help further the program’s mission, added Nofsinger, who said proceeds from Holding Patterns will directly assist efforts to retain and recruit new students from throughout the southeast. Describing the benefit concert, which is based on Nofsinger’s “attempts to understand the intricacies of relationships,” Holding Patterns will feature eight dances linked by the writing of Adrienne Rich, including the award-winning solo, “The Fact of a Doorframe, and the nationally commissioned works “Adumbration,” “Holding Patterns” and “Letting Go.”
“Holding Patterns is based on my attempts to understand the intricacies of relationships,” the choreographer remarked. “I am fascinated with how individuals are seldom truly present in the relationship they are having. They tend to have false expectations of an idealized interaction, as they look ahead, or misperceptions of the current situation drawn from previous interactions. Seldom do they allow the current moment in any relationship to exist unfiltered and uncluttered.” Nofsinger said the complexity of this interweaving of hopes, desires, hurts and losses was brought to the forefront of his mind over the course of the last year. In May 2007, his sister Amy was diagnosed with terminal cancer; a month later she died. Although he still grieves his sister’s death on a regular basis, “her death brought a new awareness to my own life,” he has said.
“Within the space of those five weeks, the dynamics of a myriad of relationships were laid open,” Nofsinger shared, referring to his sister’s last weeks. “Exposed were the connections, both completed and missed, between parents and children, siblings, friends, lovers and community. The stark transparency this situation offered was a strange blessing in a time of great loss.”
• TICKETS: Tickets for Holding Patterns are $10 each and will be available at the door. For more information, please contact Nofsinger via e-mail at nofsinge@mtsu.edu or by calling (615) 494 -7904.
—30—
• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To secure a performance jpeg of dancer Matthew Frazier performing a work from Holding Patterns, please e-mail lrollins@mtsu.edu. Photo credit: Martin O'Connor.
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, lrollins@mtsu.edu, 615-898-2919.
MTSU DANCE THEATRE SPONSORS BENEFIT CONCERT JAN. 16
‘Holding Patterns’ Concert Proceeds Go to MTSU Dance Scholarship Fund
(MURFREESBORO)—MTSU Dance Theatre will present Holding Patterns, a concert to benefit the MTSU Dance Scholarship Fund, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building’s Tucker Theater.
Kim Neal Nofsinger, artistic director of the dance program, said the upcoming concert will feature his award-winning choreography performed by members of MTSU Dance Theatre and guest performers from Kennesaw State University and Illinois State University.
“Within the last four years the dance program at MTSU has gained regional and national recognition for its high-quality scholarship, community service and productions,” Nofinger said. “These achievements include selection for the Gala Concert at the American College Dance Festival Regional Conference in 2007 and in 2008.”
The benefit concert, in turn, will help further the program’s mission, added Nofsinger, who said proceeds from Holding Patterns will directly assist efforts to retain and recruit new students from throughout the southeast. Describing the benefit concert, which is based on Nofsinger’s “attempts to understand the intricacies of relationships,” Holding Patterns will feature eight dances linked by the writing of Adrienne Rich, including the award-winning solo, “The Fact of a Doorframe, and the nationally commissioned works “Adumbration,” “Holding Patterns” and “Letting Go.”
“Holding Patterns is based on my attempts to understand the intricacies of relationships,” the choreographer remarked. “I am fascinated with how individuals are seldom truly present in the relationship they are having. They tend to have false expectations of an idealized interaction, as they look ahead, or misperceptions of the current situation drawn from previous interactions. Seldom do they allow the current moment in any relationship to exist unfiltered and uncluttered.” Nofsinger said the complexity of this interweaving of hopes, desires, hurts and losses was brought to the forefront of his mind over the course of the last year. In May 2007, his sister Amy was diagnosed with terminal cancer; a month later she died. Although he still grieves his sister’s death on a regular basis, “her death brought a new awareness to my own life,” he has said.
“Within the space of those five weeks, the dynamics of a myriad of relationships were laid open,” Nofsinger shared, referring to his sister’s last weeks. “Exposed were the connections, both completed and missed, between parents and children, siblings, friends, lovers and community. The stark transparency this situation offered was a strange blessing in a time of great loss.”
• TICKETS: Tickets for Holding Patterns are $10 each and will be available at the door. For more information, please contact Nofsinger via e-mail at nofsinge@mtsu.edu or by calling (615) 494 -7904.
—30—
• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To secure a performance jpeg of dancer Matthew Frazier performing a work from Holding Patterns, please e-mail lrollins@mtsu.edu. Photo credit: Martin O'Connor.
[244]MTSU STUDENTS MUST PAY SPRING CLASS FEES BY JAN. 8
Release date: Dec. 24, 2008
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919 (o), 615-785-1196 (c)
MTSU Business Office contact: Becky Bussell, 615-898-5717
MTSU STUDENTS MUST PAY SPRING CLASS FEES BY JAN. 8
(MURFREESBORO) — Students planning to take spring semester classes at MTSU must pay their fees by Jan. 8, Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services, said recently.
Fees must be paid by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at the business office, which is located on the second floor of the Cope Administration Building, or by 6 p.m. Jan. 8 if students are paying electronically on RaiderNet, Huddleston said.
Students who do not meet the Jan. 8 fee payment deadline will be purged from the system and lose classes they already had registered to take, Huddleston said, adding that purged students can re-apply, but face the prospect of not obtaining classes they originally requested.
Students now are receiving their fee statements online and not in a hard copy previously mailed to their permanent address, said Huddleston and Becky Bussell, who is bursar in the business office.
“We sent an e-mail to students to let them know their fee statements would be online (PipelineMT) where they can go to their student account,” Huddleston said.
For information about student accounts in the business office, visit mtsu.edu/bursarmt, check the student’s account on PipelineMT or call 615-898-2761. The office is located in Cope Administration Building Room 103.
This office will be closed Dec. 25-Jan. 1 for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Office hours will be 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, and Jan. 5-9.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919 (o), 615-785-1196 (c)
MTSU Business Office contact: Becky Bussell, 615-898-5717
MTSU STUDENTS MUST PAY SPRING CLASS FEES BY JAN. 8
(MURFREESBORO) — Students planning to take spring semester classes at MTSU must pay their fees by Jan. 8, Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost for enrollment services, said recently.
Fees must be paid by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at the business office, which is located on the second floor of the Cope Administration Building, or by 6 p.m. Jan. 8 if students are paying electronically on RaiderNet, Huddleston said.
Students who do not meet the Jan. 8 fee payment deadline will be purged from the system and lose classes they already had registered to take, Huddleston said, adding that purged students can re-apply, but face the prospect of not obtaining classes they originally requested.
Students now are receiving their fee statements online and not in a hard copy previously mailed to their permanent address, said Huddleston and Becky Bussell, who is bursar in the business office.
“We sent an e-mail to students to let them know their fee statements would be online (PipelineMT) where they can go to their student account,” Huddleston said.
For information about student accounts in the business office, visit mtsu.edu/bursarmt, check the student’s account on PipelineMT or call 615-898-2761. The office is located in Cope Administration Building Room 103.
This office will be closed Dec. 25-Jan. 1 for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Office hours will be 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, and Jan. 5-9.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
###
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)