Friday, January 29, 2010

[280] MTSU's Todd Hall Art Gallery Welcomes 'Prints' Exhibit Feb. 16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 29, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919, or lrollins@mtsu.edu

MTSU’s TODD HALL ART GALLERY WELCOMES ‘PRINTS’ EXHIBIT FEB. 16
Public Invited to Free Feb. 15 Reception in Honor of Collector-Acquired Display

(MURFREESBORO)—The Todd Hall Art Gallery in the Department of Art at MTSU will present “PRINTS: Through the Collector’s Eyes,” an exhibition that brings together a wide variety of original prints, beginning Feb. 16 through March 4.
An opening reception for the show will be held one day prior to its official opening, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 15, in the campus-based gallery. The public is encouraged and invited to attend this free event.
Among the works that will be displayed as part of “PRINTS: Through the Collector’s Eyes” are wood engravings, etchings, lithographs and screen prints, all of which primarily from collectors in the middle Tennessee area.
"The common theme is that they have been acquired by individuals, rather than by museum curators,” observed exhibit curator Christie Nuell, MTSU art professor. “Included (in the exhibit) are prints from the 17th to the 21st centuries, with work by famous artists as well as those who are less well known.”
Several of the artists are known primarily for work in other media, Nuell added, including Rembrandt, Renoir, Manet, Warhol, Christo, Wesselman and Red Grooms.
“Whereas a painting is a unique piece of art, an original print is usually part of an edition, and so there are a finite number of identical copies,” she explained. “(But) with printmaking, the artist creates the image, which is then inked and printed over and over to produce a number of proofs which form the edition.
“Prints are not the same as reproductions, which are photographic copies of work in another medium,” Nuell continued. “Prints by famous artists are generally much more affordable than their paintings, and the print collector can benefit from this and build up a collection which includes artists of significance.”
The relationship of printmaking to commercial printing has a rich history, exhibit organizers reported. Further, among the works that will be included in this exhibition are a 17th century map by John Speed of the Isle of Man, which is based on an oral description of the island, as well as prints by Thomas Bewick and Robert Indiana that were created to be included in books.
Two of the Bewick prints have been taken out of books, and the careful observer will see telltale signs of the printing on the reverse side of the paper, Nuell said.
Eric Snyder, gallery liaison, said artists such as Seymour Haden, Geoffrey Wedgwood and John Taylor Arms and Mark Hosford are printmakers first and foremost.
“They are masters of the print medium,” he said, “and their ability to communicate through their deep understanding and love of printmaking is obvious.”
Regarding the upcoming exhibit, “Each artist brings to the medium the concerns of his or her age,” Nuell noted. “For example, in ‘The New World Order’ we see Sue Coe’s concern for humanity as the Gulf War unfolds … (while) Andy Warhol and Rembrandt continue their exploration of portraiture.

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“Pop Artists Wesselmann and Indiana embody the atmosphere of the 1960s and 1970s,” she described, “and Red Grooms and Wayne White recall humor and comic book imagery. And other artists show us the beauty apparent in city scenes and landscapes that might otherwise be taken for granted.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. The gallery is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 9 a.m.-noon on Fridays, closing only on university and public holidays.
For more information or directions to the gallery, please call Snyder at 615-898-5653.

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• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request an interview with exhibit curator Nuell or secure a pdf file of postcard art created for this exhibit, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at lrollins@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-2919


With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[279] MTSU Launches New Home Page Redesign Feb. 1

Release date: Jan. 29, 2010


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or jweiler@mtsu.edu
IT contact: Barbara Draude, 615-904-8383 or bdraude@mtsu.edu
Marketing & Communications contact: Dr. Tonjanita Johnson, 615-494-7800
or tljohnso@mtsu.edu


MTSU Launches New Home Page Redesign Feb. 1


(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU is “counting down to the new look” for its Internet presence, university officials said, noting that the change will be a different look for the first time in three years.
University officials are hopeful the new design at www.mtsu.edu will be unveiled Monday, Feb. 1, Tonjanita L. Johnson and Barbara Draude said.
“Everything's on track (for the Feb. 1 unveiling),” said Draude, assistant vice president for academic and instructional technologies, adding that a “T-minus X days and counting” countdown has been in place on the Web site since Jan. 4.
Draude said if all goes well with the final processes of the redesign, the new-look www.mtsu.edu site should be available by 8 a.m. Monday.
“We’re been pretty much on schedule,” said Johnson, associate vice president for the Office of Marketing and Communications and a member of the redesign committee.
An improved search mechanism will be one of the many features of the redesign.
“The search mechanism will be licensed through Google and offer better search capabilities,” Johnson said.
Draude said the “I’m One” aspect of the current home page and a two-year MTSU marketing campaign “will still be a component of the new site, but not as prominent. And we’ll be able to expand to other areas on campus. We feature five students (and students who became alumni) now. The redesign “will feature one person, but it can spotlight more than just students.”
In a message Thursday to the MTSU community, Lucinda Lea, vice president for the Division of Information Technology and chief information officer, said, “More than just a cosmetic change to the home page, this process has involved reviewing the message, branding, content and navigation of the mtsu.edu domain. In conjunction with efforts to move existing campus Web sites into the official content management system, the redesign process has resulted in a unified presentation that provides a revitalized look for MTSU, along with improved Web site navigation and searching ability.”
Lea added that ITD’s Web applications team has converted more than 300 sites an excess of 5,000 pages to the new look since the new design was approved in December.
Maine-based CampusTours Inc., an interactive media and software company that created the virtual tour unveiled in August, is working again with the committee on the redesign of the MTSU home page.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

[278] Spring 2010 Heritage Lecture Series Kicks Off Feb. 18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 29, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919, or lrollins@mtsu.edu

SPRING 2010 HERITAGE LECTURE SERIES KICKS OFF FEB. 18
Public Invited to Free ‘Art and Material Culture in Civil War Era Tennessee’ Talk

(MURFREESBORO)—The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, along with the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, invite the public to attend the first program of its spring 2010 series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.
The free lecture, Shades of Gray and Blue: What Art and Material Culture Can Tell Us About Life in Civil War Era Tennessee, will be led by Susan W. Knowles, a Ph.D. candidate in public history.
For the past year, Knowles and collaborator, Celia Walker, a former museum curator now working as director of special projects, Vanderbilt University Libraries, have traveled the state identifying significant objects that help tell the story of life in Tennessee during the Civil War.
Knowles and Walker are working in partnership with MTSU’s Walker Library and a panel of museum curators and educators from across the state. The virtual gallery of objects and the stories behind them will be published as a Web site so students and teachers may dig deep into the rich history of Tennessee as it was 150 years ago.
“For the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War in 2011, we are using works of art and artisanship to open the door to hidden aspects of our state’s Civil War history,” said Knowles, who has worked as an independent curator for more than 20 years, has organized exhibitions for the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, The Tennessee State Museum and National Museum of Women in the Arts.
The Community Heritage Lecture Series will be held at The Heritage Center, located just off the downtown square in Murfreesboro at 225 West College St. The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, which is a partnership unit of the National Park Service, sponsors the free program.
The Heritage Center is open 10 a.m. to 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 615-217-8013 or e-mail to jbutt@mtsu.edu.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

[277] Student, Teacher Satellite Webcasts Reach K-12 Schools Across Tennessee

Release date: Jan. 28, 2010


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or jweiler@mtsu.edu
Instructional Technology Support Center contact: Dr. Connie Schmidt, 615-898-5191 or cschmidt@mtsu.edu


Student, Teacher Satellite Webcasts
Reach K-12 Schools Across Tennessee


(MURFREESBORO) — “Cedar Glades: Rocking Out with Endemic Plants” will be one of seven live Spring 2010 Programs for K-12 Students presented by the MTSU Satellite and Webcasting Center.
The Tuesday, March 2, Cedar Glades program will be led by Dr. Kim Cleary Sadler from the MTSU Center for Cedar Glades Studies and Department of Biology and by Marrie Lassater of Homer Pittard Campus School.
All of the one-hour student programs will air at 9 a.m. each Tuesday.
Other live student programs will include:
• “Why Would You Want to Be an Engineer?” on Feb. 2;
• “WISE Women Caring for Critters” on Feb. 23;
• “Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece” on March 16;
• “A Hole in a Box Can Turn the World Upside Down! The Art and Science of Pinhole Photography” on March 23;
• “The Battle of Stones River” on March 30; and
• “Discovering Primary Sources at the Tennessee State Library and Archives V: A Student's Guide” on April 6.
The prerecorded student programs will include:
• “Sanctuary: A Captive Elephant’s Only Acceptable Alternative” on Feb. 9; and
• “Fueling the Future Update: Building Engines that Run on Sun and Water” on Feb. 16.
No student program will air March 9 because of MTSU’s spring break.
Nine more one-hour Professional Development Programs for Teachers will air live at 3:30 p.m. each Thursday.
The teachers’ programs include:
• “Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources: Focus on the Civil Rights Movement in Tennessee” on Feb. 4;
• “Why Would a Student Want to Be an Engineer: A Teacher’s Guide” on Feb. 11;
• “How to Learn Mathematics on Your Own” on Feb. 18;
• “Excite Your Students About Science” on Feb. 25;
• “Watersheds and Wetlands Galore” on March 4;
• “Teaching with Primary Sources: Prelude to the Civil War in Tennessee” on March 18;”
• “Vocal Care for Teachers: Strategies to Maintain Optimal Vocal Health” on March 25;
• “Discovering Primary Sources at the Tennessee State Library and Archives V: A Teacher’s Guide” on April 1; and
• “A Step-By-Step Guide to Modifying and Adapting Lessons for Inclusive Teaching for General Educators” on April 8.
A special presentation of the 2009 “Play Symposium III Diversity: Children’s Play and Physical Activity” will be broadcast starting at 8:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, April 10.
No teacher program will air March 11 because of MTSU’s spring break.
In Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, the programs air on ERC@MT (MTSU Channel 9). School and center sites from Dyersburg and Memphis in West Tennessee to Knoxville and Church Hill in East Tennessee will carry the broadcasts.
Midstate school viewing sites include Cannon County High and Short Mountain Elementary in Woodbury; Centertown School; Shelbyville Central High; Clark Memorial School in Winchester; Cornersville School; Grundy County High in Coalmont; Lincoln County High in Fayetteville; Moore County High in Lynchburg; and Mt. Juliet High.
ETV Channel 9 in Huntsville, Ala., also airs the broadcasts. ETV Channel 9 viewers should check local listings for dates and times of the broadcasts.
For more information, visit http://itsc3.fsa.mtsu.edu/itsc/satellite.shtm or call the Instructional Technology Support Center at 615-898-5191


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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

[275] Small Loans, Big Help For Small Murfreesboro Businesses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 27, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

SMALL LOANS, BIG HELP FOR SMALL MURFREESBORO BUSINESSES
MTSU Center Provides Expertise for City Government’s Microloan Program

(MURFREESBORO) – The City of Murfreesboro, in partnership with MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC), will announce the establishment of a microenterprise loan fund at 3 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 28, at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, 501 Memorial Blvd.
With money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program, the fund will provide approved applicants with allocations to expand, improve or create small businesses that might not be eligible for traditional commercial financing.
Dr. Patrick Geho, state executive director of the MTSU - TSBDC Lead Center and associate professor of business communication and entrepreneurship, says applicants must meet HUD’s income qualifications or express a desire to hire low-income individuals who can achieve a greater income status. Interest rates will be negotiable.
The concept of microfinance is most popularly associated with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize-winner and former MTSU professor, whose Grameen Bank provides microloans in his native Bangladesh. However, says Geho, “the model being applied here is different. There is no interaction between borrowers, as is the case in the Bangladeshi model, which also depends upon a communal business effort and peer pressure to insure the loan is repaid.”
The TSBDC’s role in the process will include working with borrowers initially to help them understand the loan process and to assist them with the implementation of the loans after the city issues them.
Linebaugh Public Library will host the first in a series of microloan orientation training workshops conducted by the TSBDC at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, in the second floor board room. Reservations are required. For more information, go to www.linebaugh.org, or call 615-893-4131, extension 110, to register.
For more information on the TSBDC, call the center at 615-898-2745.


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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[274] Faith, Friendships Deepen Earthquake Survivor's Love of Life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 27, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081, or WMOT-FM, 615-898-2800

FAITH, FRIENDSHIPS DEEPEN EARTHQUAKE SURVIVOR’S LOVE OF LIFE
Social Work Major Discusses Help and Hope on “MTSU on the Record” on WMOT

(MURFREESBORO) – Katie Erie, a 21-year-old MTSU social work major, was performing Christian mission work at an orphanage in Haiti on Jan. 12 when an earthquake registering 7.0 on the Richter scale rattled the island nation. Erie will talk about that traumatic experience and her hope for the Haitian people at 8 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 31, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).
Erie, who was working for Bruce Gambrell Ministries of Nashville, had chosen to take a semester off to help the people of the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. She returned safely to the United States a few days after the quake, but in those harrowing moments immediately following the temblor, her parents did not know whether she was dead or alive.
To listen to last week’s program on the future of radio with MTSU associate professor Paul Allen, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2010.html and click on “January 24, 2010.” For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

[273] MTSU's Dwight Patterson Recipient Of 2010 Pleas Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 27, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu


MTSU’S DWIGHT PATTERSON RECIPIENT OF 2010 PLEAS AWARD
MTSU Chemistry Professor Chosen to Receive Honor for Minority Faculty


(MURFREESBORO)—Dr. Dwight E. Patterson, associate professor chemistry at MTSU, has been named as the 2010 winner of the John Pleas Faculty Recognition Award as part of the university community’s celebration of Black History Month.
A reception in honor of Patterson will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the Tom Jackson Building’s Cantrell Hall on the MTSU campus.
Presented since 1996, the Pleas honor is given to a minority faculty member who has made significant contributions to the university and community. He or she must have excelled in research, instruction, publications and/or service to the university. The recipient also must have demonstrated a commitment to MTSU’s African-American students.
A member of MTSU’s faculty since 1996, Patterson received his Bachelor of Science degree and master’s degree from Western Kentucky University and his Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.
For more information about the Pleas honor, which was named after John Pleas, retired MTSU psychology professor, please contact Dr. Adonijah Bakari director of Middle Tennessee State University’s African-American Studies Program, by calling 615-898-2536 or e-mailing abakari@mtsu.edu.



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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[272] Stones River Chamber Players Set Free Feb. 1 Concert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 27, 2010
CONTACT: Tim Musselman, 615-898-2493, or tmusselm@mtsu.edu

STONES RIVER CHAMBER PLAYERS SET FREE FEB. 1 CONCERT

(MURFREESBORO)—The Stones River Chamber Players will present the act’s second concert of the 2009-10 season with a program titled "The Latin Flair "at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, in the T. Earl Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus.
The artists-in-residence, consisting of various combinations of MTSU music faculty, will perform several works, including two by major Spanish composers Manuel de Falla and Joaquin Turina.
"The de Falla Suite Espanola is an arrangement for violin and guitar of movements from his famous Seven Spanish Songs and will be performed by Andrea Dawson (violin) and Bill Yelverton (guitar)," said Lynn Rice-See, MTSU piano faculty and co-director of the group.
"Turina’s Poema en forma de canciones is a set of love songs for soprano and piano that will be sung by Christine Isley-Farmer with pianist Leopoldo Erice, who is himself a native of Spain," Rice-See said.
"The truly unusual element of this cycle is the first song, which is a piano solo," Erice explained.
Additionally, Deanna Little (flute) and Maya Stone (bassoon) will perform Bachianas Brasilieras No. 6 by Latin American composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos.
"American composers Carlos Surinach and Joseph Turrin will be represented in works influenced by the Spanish style," Rice-See noted. "Surinach's work is the exhilarating Ritmo jondo suite for trumpet, clarinet, and a battery of percussion, including even hand-clappers."
MTSU music faculty Michael Arndt (trumpet), Todd Waldecker (clarinet), Lalo Davila (percussion), David Loucky (trombone) and Sandra Arndt (piano), along with several MTSU students, also will perform during the concert.
The Feb. 1 concert is free and open to the public.
For information on this and other concerts in the MTSU School of Music, visit www.mtsumusic.com or call Tim Musselman at 615-898-2493.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

[271] MTSU Student Group Promotes Academic Studies Of Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 26, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

MTSU STUDENT GROUP PROMOTES ACADEMIC STUDIES OF WOMEN
New Women’s Studies Student Organization Spreads the Word, Ready to Collaborate

(MURFREESBORO) - As students continue to delve into the spring semester, a new student group will be trying to capture their attention and their imagination. The Women’s Studies Student Organization welcomes students with any and all majors and minors who are interested in gender issues to take part.
President Courtney Shelton says the fledgling group will focus on academics, not just activism. Panel discussions and intellectual roundtables will be among the members’ activities along with fundraising and other charitable endeavors, as well as collaborations with other student groups.
All officers of the WSSO say that women’s studies classes have validated what they were sensing about the oppression of women in society even though their high school classes barely touched on women’s history, let alone the history of the feminist movement.
“I felt like a mask had been pulled off, and I became aware of issues that I could feel but really hadn’t been able to put a name to,” says Vice President Kamryn Warren, a junior sociology major from Leiper’s Fork.
Shelton, a junior social work minor, cites the Women in Leadership class she took as being especially enlightening.
“That helped a lot to see the whole sphere of women who have power, the obstacles they have to overcome to get in positions of power and how they operate,” says Shelton.
Treasurer Lisa L. Walker, a junior sociology major from Dyersburg, says she decided to come to MTSU specifically because it has a women’s studies program. She says she could not wait to arrive here after reading feminist books in her senior year of high school.
“You finally are around people that feel the same way, that say things that you can relate to, things that I didn’t hear people say in my hometown,” Walker says.
Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, English professor and director of the Women’s Studies Program, sees great value in the peer-to-peer mentoring the WSSO can provide to students of all geographical areas, educational pursuits and personal worldviews.


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“It is a way to have students light that spark in other students,” Johnson says. “When you have other students pass on this information in this atmosphere of collaboration and partnership, then it’s easier for students to be drawn into the field.”
For more information about the WSSO, contact the Women’s Studies Program at 615-898-2910, or send e-mails to Shelton at ces3v@mtsu.edu, Walker at ll23b@mtsu.edu, or Warren at kdw3e@mtsu.edu.

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: For a color jpeg photo of Dr. Johnson and the Women’s Studies Student Organization officers, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.



With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[270] MTSU Professor Engineers Grammy-Nominated Album

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 26, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

MTSU PROFESSOR ENGINEERS GRAMMY-NOMINATED ALBUM
John Hill Masters Mike Management for Ravel Recording

(MURFREESBORO) - The Grammy Awards for classical recordings usually are not included in the pop-oriented television presentation ceremony. Perhaps that’s a good thing if only to keep Kanye West from popping up onstage and arguing that Beyonce was better than Beethoven.
However, it means you will have to listen closely to the CBS telecast on the night of Sunday, Jan. 31, for any fleeting mention of the winner for Best Classical Album. MTSU recording industry professor John Hill will be listening closely. He was an engineer on one of the nominated CDs.
Hill worked on “L’Enfant et les sortileges” (“The Child and the Spells”) and “Sheherazade,” both compositions by Maurice Ravel, by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Alistair Willis. Also featured in the recording on the Naxos label are the Chattanooga Boys Choir, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Nashville Symphony Chorus and eight operatic soloists.
Recorded in late 2006 and 2007 and released in 2009, “Ravel: L’Enfant et les sortileges” was one of the first recordings ever made in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. The album is up against some heavyweight internationally renowned competition, including Michael Tilson Thomas directing the San Francisco Symphony and James Levine directing the Boston Symphony.
“Of course, the source material is the orchestra, molded by whoever is conducting them,” says Hill. “But it also takes a solid technical team to put together a recording that’s going to be good.”
Hill’s responsibility was the so-called acquisition phase of the process, positioning more than 30 state-of-the-art microphones in just the right places and funneling the sound into a multitrack recorder. Typically, for a symphonic recording, the primary pair of mikes is placed behind the conductor, and spot mikes are scattered in various areas of the orchestra.
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The technique of creating the mix in real time, as the orchestra is performing, is quite old school in an age when artists don’t even have to be in the same country, let alone the same studio, to lay down tracks. However, that’s standard procedure for recording classical music.
“It helps if it’s not your first rodeo,” says Hill, who rearranged the mikes for recording purposes following three live performances of the same material.
Of course, it wasn’t Hill’s first “rodeo.” He has been the Nashville Symphony’s recording engineer since 2000. In addition to a master’s degree in sound recording from McGill University in Montreal, he has a bachelor’s degree in music from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. No mere functionary, Hill considers his technical skills an extension of his artistic appreciation of the material being performed.
“I really consider myself a musician who has a set of technical skills to draw on,” Hill explains. “For this type of work, you would definitely not want to have somebody who is just fiddling with knobs. … One really has to have some type of working knowledge of music.”
To hear brief excerpts from the CD and an interview with Hill that aired on WMOT-FM’s “MTSU on the Record,” go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2010.html and click on “January 10, 2010.”

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[269] March of Dimes Grant Will Improve Health Of Young Women In Tennessee

Jan. 26, 2010

CONTACT: Cynthia Chafin, M.Ed., CHES – Tennessee Folic Acid Council Coordinator and project director, MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services, 615-847-3081 or cchafin@mtsu.edu.
Dr. Jo Edwards, 615-898-2905
Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919 or ttozer@mtsu.edu

MARCH OF DIMES GRANT WILL IMPROVE HEALTH OF YOUNG WOMEN IN TENNESSEE

MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services will be Collaborative Partner

NASHVILLE—The March of Dimes Tennessee Chapter has awarded a grant to the Tennessee Folic Acid Council to support, “Did u know what’s g%d 4 u is good 4 ur future baby?”, a campaign utilizing text messaging and Web technology to educate college women on important lifestyle issues.
The project is geared toward young women attending Middle Tennessee State University who come from all parts of the state. They will learn about the importance of folic acid and birth-defects prevention, not smoking and abstaining from alcohol, as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing diabetes, obesity and other chronic health conditions. Peer-directed educational activities will include a text-messaging campaign and other online educational tools.
“We will use the March of Dimes grant as seed money to meet our objective of providing young women from all areas of the state of Tennessee with education on healthy lifestyles, which may impact them today as well as tomorrow as future parents,” said Cindy Chafin, TFAC Coordinator and project director for MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services.
“We want to use innovative methods of reaching these young women that fit with the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation for pre-conceptual health. We are grateful to those volunteers who support the March of Dimes by participation in events like March for Babies and who donate in other ways. That participation and those donations make this grant possible,” Chafin added.
The Tennessee Folic Acid Council is a partnership between the Tennessee Chapter of the March of Dimes and the Tennessee Department of Health committed to the prevention of birth defects. Through a variety of activities, the council provides education and advocacy regarding the benefits of folic acid to the general public, health- care providers and local policymakers so that the incidence of preventable neural-tube defects is reduced., Chafin explained.
MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services has been a previous grant recipient for folic-acid education and has been involved in several activities of the Tennessee Folic Acid Council.
“The Center for Health and Human Services is delighted to be a continuing partner in helping to promote healthy lifestyles in young women and to reduce birth defects through its projects with the March of Dimes,” noted Dr. Jo Edwards, MTSU Adams Chair of Excellence in Health Care Services and director of the university’s Center for Health and Human Services.
For more information about folic acid and National Folic Acid Awareness Week or about MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services, visit www.folicacidinfo.org, www.folicacidtn.com or MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services’ Web site at http://mtsu.edu/~achcs/.
Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For more information, visit www.marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at http://nacersano.org.


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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[268] Interactive Program Created to Focus on Values, Heighten Sportsmanship On and Off The Field

Jan. 27, 2010
Contact: Tom Tozer, NPA Office, 615-898-2919; Dr. Colby Jubenville, 615-898-2909

INTERACTIVE PROGRAM CREATED TO FOCUS ON VALUES, HEIGHTEN SPORTSMANSHIP ON AND OFF THE FIELD

MURFREESBORO, TENN—An interactive program on sportsmanship for both players and coaches that has already been shown to help reduce ejections in high-school football by more than 60 percent over three years was adopted for use this past fall by the Sun Belt Conference with high expectations that it will have the same positive impact at the college level.
Sun Belt players and coaches must complete the “RealSportsmanship” platform as part of its requirements for competing within the conference. The Sun Belt commitment is for five years.
“RealSportsmanship,” an interactive, reality-based platform, was developed by “Learning Through Sports, Inc.,” the latter founded by Brian Shulman, entrepreneur and a former all-SEC punter for Auburn University in the 1980s.
Shulman, who thought the Golden Rule applied as much in competitive sports as in everyday life, originally developed sportsmanship platforms for high schools in Alabama and later Mississippi. Over three years, there was a significant drop in ejections in both players and coaches.
Shulman’s educational Internet programs on sportsmanship for K-12 athletics caught the eye of Sun Belt officials, who asked if this kind of sportsmanship program could be tailored for the collegiate level.
They sought the expertise of Dr. Colby Jubenville, associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance and director of the Center for Sport Policy and Research at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, a Sun Belt Conference member. It was Jubenville who shared their vision for an interactive platform on sportsmanship and civility at the college level. Focusing on the coach-athlete relationship, Jubenville subsequently created the “RealSportsmanship” platform.
“My research indicates that this is the one relationship that resonates the most with each athlete,” Jubenville explained. “So when we built ‘RealSportsmanship,’ the core of it focused on this innate relationship.”
Jubenville says he recognizes the enormous challenge in creating and implementing this type of platform. It has taken him two years and a herculean effort to educate athletic officials that there is value in values. It has also required the good faith and financial backing of his friend Shulman.
“In the complex college athletic landscape today, intertwining dollars and egos with core values and then connecting them to appropriate behavior—with an emphasis on the importance of the coach-athlete relationship—is much easier said than done,” Jubenville said.
“I applaud Wright Waters [Sun Belt Commissioner] for having the vision to commit dollars to this and not simply rely on a poster and a public service announcement to change behavior not just in football but in every conference sport,” Jubenville noted. “… Obviously this is not going to solve all the problems, but it’s a first step and it creates dialogue.
“We owe our athletes a life off the field,” he continued, “because for most of them, that’s where life will take them.”
In a late 2009 story issued by the Sun Belt Conference, SBC Commissioner Waters said the program prepares players and coaches with the tools to think first when confronted with a potentially hostile situation on the field of play.
“Young adults can certainly benefit from the training this initiative contains because, in many cases, they either haven’t been directly confronted with these scenarios yet or haven’t thought them through from multiple perspectives,” Waters noted, adding that older adults can benefit from the training, too.
Jubenville said the Sun Belt Conference officials charged him with making the program interactive and putting it online.
“When we began to build this concept, the focus was on making it interactive and reality-based,” Jubenville pointed out. “I think we have accomplished that with the first generation of the platform.
“After many years of teaching, it has become clear to me that athletes have a better understanding of core values when they are placed in the decision-making process,” he continued. “So I connected values to behavior. It’s important for coaches to tie concepts to behaviors in a way that athletes understand. ‘Learning Through Sports’ has a solution that has worked on the high-school level, and now we can begin piloting at the college level.”
For more information about the program, contact Jubenville at 615-898-2909 (jubenvil@mtsu.edu).

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Background

Jubenville completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. His doctoral dissertation focused on the coach-athlete relationship. While in the last few months of completing his doctorate, he helped launch a team at Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., develop a sport administration undergraduate program and ended up his second year of coaching with a 7-4 record. At one point, his team was ranked 17th in the nation in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics rankings.
Jubenville left there to take a faculty position at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky. He met several faculty members who had completed their degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and recognized that his talent would be well served in Murfreesboro, which was in close proximity to the Nashville professional sports market.
After building a solid foundation for the sport-management graduate program at EKU, Jubenville looked around for a new opportunity in early 2001. That’s when a friend introduced him to Brian Shulman.
“Brian built his initial fortune in the health-care industry,” Jubenville said. “That’s when he quit his job and decided to change the world in a positive way. He took his money and invested in the first-generation company called Mascot University. It later evolved into ‘Learning Through Sports.’ That’s when I met him. I told him I thought his platforms were good, but I could make them better.”
From that emerged the ‘RealSportsmanship’ concept.
“I’ve observed that teams take on the values of the head coach” Jubenville said. “When I started to build ‘RealSportmanship,’ I looked at how core values could be established in such a way that everybody else sees them, connects with them and wants to be a part of them. I think one problem we have today is that our culture values things, not concepts. The concept of using values to tie a community together is difficult to see early on, but when we look back, it is what usually defines communities and makes them great. The challenge for me was taking those ideas and implementing them into college athletics. So I asked myself, 'How do you create a framework that makes people focus on the idea that there are values and we will hold you accountable?' That’s the simple premise behind ‘RealSportsmanship.’

####


The ‘Real Sportsmanship’ Interactive Program

The interactive program asks questions on the front end then presents a pre-test, followed by more questions and a post-test. Jubenville and colleagues will look at this “experiment” to see “what impact it has on the realities that athletes face.”
Those realities include issues of drinking, partying, sexual activity, cheating in class and gambling, among others. Test-takers are asked to reflect on their experiences and how different decisions have led them to where they are now. Each section or platform engages the participant in real-life experiences of athletes and coaches utilizing text, narration and imagery.
“When the coach or student has completed the ‘RealSportsmanship’ platform, he or she should have a better understanding of how to connect knowledge to new situations they face and acquire the confidence to think differently about their roles as a leader on their team at their university,” Jubenville said.

####


Note: To view the ‘RealSportmanship’ platform, go to www.realsportsmanship.com/test

•Click on “Students”
•Select “University of Denver” from the list.
•Username kb123
•Password kobeis1

####


With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

Monday, January 25, 2010

[267] Trombonist Davis Headlines 2nd Concert In MTSU Jazz Artist Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 26, 2010
CONTACT: Tim Musselman, 615-898-2493, or tmusselm@mtsu.edu

TROMBONIST DAVIS HEADLINES 2nd CONCERT IN MTSU JAZZ ARTIST SERIES

(MURFREESBORO)—Jazz trombonist Steve Davis will perform with members of the MTSU jazz faculty in the second of three concerts billed as the 2009-2010 MTSU Jazz Artist Series at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 in Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus.
"Steve Davis is currently at the forefront of jazz trombone," said Don Aliquo, professor of saxophone and jazz coordinator for the MTSU School of Music. "His respect for the tradition while being among the most consistently creative soloists has made him recognizably among the best in the world."
Widely regarded as one of today's leading improvisers on the trombone, Davis has worked with the bands of jazz pros such as Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, Chick Corea's Origin and the cooperative sextet One For All. He also has appeared in Downbeat magazine's readers’ and critics’ polls numerous times, winning the Rising Star Trombone Category in 1998.
In recent years, Davis has been leading his own bands with more frequency, including an all-star quartet featuring renowned pianist and frequent collaborator Larry Willis (Alone Together/Mapleshade 2006) and his new Outlook Quintet featuring Mike DiRubbo (alto sax), David Bryant (piano), Dezron Douglas (bass) and Eric McPherson (drums).
An in-demand music sideman, Davis is featured on 100-plus recordings. In recent years, he has worked regularly with a broad variety of jazz icons such as Larry Willis' Quintet, Freddie Hubbard and The New Jazz Composers Octet, Slide Hampton, The Jimmy Heath Big Band, Cecil Payne, Horace Silver and Wynton Marsalis' Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
MTSU jazz faculty performing with Davis—who was nicknamed "Stevie-D" by the late Jackie McLean—will be Aliquo (saxophone), Jamey Simmons (trumpet), Jim Ferguson (bass), Joe Davidian (piano), Jim Ferguson (bass) and Tom Giampietro (drums).
For more information on this and other concerts in the MTSU School of Music, please visit the www.mtsumusic.com or call Tim Musselman at 898-2493.
Tickets: Admission to the Feb. 11 concert is $15 at the door and free to MTSU students and staff with valid MTSU IDs.


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ATTENTION, MEDIA: To secure artwork images for editorial use, please access the artist’s Web site at www.stevedavis.info.


With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[266] MTSU Mock Trial Takes First Place At Prestigious Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 25, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919, or lrollins@mtsu.edu

MTSU MOCK TRIAL TAKES FIRST PLACE AT PRESTIGIOUS CONTEST
Weekend Victory Marks MTSU Mock Trial’s Inaugural Win at Atlanta-based Contest

(MURFREESBORO)—An MTSU Mock Trial team won the 5th Annual Ramblin’ Wreck Mock Trial Tournament at Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Jan. 24 following eight ballots in four rounds and two days of competition against some of the best teams in the nation.
Led by seniors Austin Purvis, a political science major from Memphis, and Daniel Vaughan, a senior political science major from Mt. Juliet, the team compiled a 6-to-2 record that included wins against teams that placed second, third and fifth in the tournament. Additionally, Purvis was named as one of the tournament’s top attorneys.
Dr. John Vile, one of the team’s coaches and dean of the University Honors College, reported that MTSU split its first round against Miami University of Ohio, which placed third in the tournament, before winning both ballots against Georgia State University, which went 3-4-1 in the tournament, and the University of South Carolina, which placed fifth in the tournament. The MTSU team split with Duke University’s A team, which went on to place second. Referring to the weekend competition, “It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the nation, and this is the first time we have won; indeed, I believe it's the first time we've placed there at all,” Vile explained. “There are four rounds, each with ballots from two judges. Several teams were 6-2—the highest record in the tournament—but our team came in first because we had met the best competition during the course of the power-paired tournament,” he noted. This year’s case was a hypothetical criminal case involving allegations that movie producer Jackie Owens, a member of Trifecta Entertainment in Midlands, was responsible for murdering a partner, Jacob Bennett. Each team at the tournament argued two rounds on behalf of the prosecution and two on behalf of the defense, with judging by two attorneys in each trial.
In addition to MTSU’s Purvis and Vaughan, David Haggard a junior English major from Greenbrier, Tenn., played an attorney for MTSU. Meanwhile, Nathan Brown, a Murfreesboro freshman double majoring in physics and advertising; Rachel Harmon, a junior from Spencer, Tenn., who is majoring in international relations; and Jacob Strait, a senior political science major from Nashville all played witness roles. Samantha Farish, a freshman political science major from Goodlettesville, and Heather Haggard, a criminal justice major from Greenbrier, served as timekeepers. Beyond the aforementioned schools, other teams at the tournament hailed from Vanderbilt University, Rhodes College, Emory, Bellarmine University, Furman University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Southern Methodist University, the College of Charleston, Kennesaw State University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, Spelman College and the University of Minnesota at Morris.

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MOCKTRIAL
Add 1

“The aim of this particular tournament is to get the top-10 (mock trial) teams in the country, and frankly, to come out on top in this is a huge victory for our students,” said Vile, whose co-coach is Murfreesboro attorney Brandi Snow, an MTSU mock trial alumna. “This competition will do much to prepare the team for regional competition in February and national competition in March and April.”


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ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request an interview with Dr. Vile or team members, please e-mail your request to Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at lrollins@mtsu.edu.


With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[265] History Scholar Delivers Strickland Lecture At MTSU Feb. 18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 25, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919, or lrollins@mtsu.edu

HISTORY SCHOLAR DELIVERS STRICKLAND LECTURE AT MTSU FEB. 18

(MURFREESBORO)—Dr. Christon Archer, a leading historian on Latin America and the global military, will deliver the 2010 Strickland Visiting Scholar Lecture in History at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in the State Farm Lecture Hall of the Business and Aerospace Building on the MTSU campus.
The topic of Archer’s free and open talk will be "Winning all of the Battles and Losing the War: How Insurgency and Counterinsurgency Forged Independent Mexico, 1810–1821."
A member of the history faculty at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, Archer has been widely published on the contact between Indians and the Spanish conquistadors on the West Coast of Northern America.
As a specialist and scholar on the insurgency and independence of Mexico (1810–1821). Archer was selected to give the 2006 keynote address at the Conference of Mexican-American-Canadian Historians, the largest Latin American History Congress.
A one-time resident fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation Study Center in Italy, Archer is the author of more than 70 book chapters, articles and titles. Among his numerous honors, Archer’s book, “The Army in Bourbon Mexico, 1760–1810” (University of New Mexico Press), won both the Pacific Coast Branch American Historical Association’s prize for best book and the Herbert E. Bolton Prize for best book from the Conference of Latin American History of the American Historical Association.
Regarding Archer’s selection as the 2010 Strickland scholar, Dr. Christoph Rosenmüller, associate professor of history at MTSU, said, “We are excited to have Dr. Archer on campus. He is a leading specialist of Latin American and global military history, and a very engaging speaker. He will provide MTSU students with fresh perspectives on the history of our neighbors and world affairs.
Aside from his free public Strickland Visiting Scholar Lecture in History at MTSU, Archer also will meet for formal and informal classes and workshops with undergraduates, graduates and faculty.
A native of British Columbia, Archer earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Victoria (Victoria, B.C.). He earned both a Master of Arts and his Doctor of Philosophy from New York’s Stony Brook. He also possesses an honorary Doctor of Letters from La Trobe University in Australia.
The purpose of the Strickland Visiting Scholar program is to allow students to meet with accomplished scholars whose expertise spans a variety of historical issues. It was established through the support of the Strickland family in memory of Dr. Roscoe Lee Strickland Jr., a longtime professor of European history at MTSU. Strickland was the first president of the MTSU Faculty Senate.
For more information regarding Archer’s Feb. 18 talk, please contact Rosenmüller, chairman of the Strickland lecture’s coordinating committee, at 615-898-2536 or via e-mail at rosenmul@mtsu.edu.
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ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request a jpeg of Archer for editorial use or to request an interview, please direct your inquiry to Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at lrollins@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-2919.

With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[264] MTSU Alumnus Ford Elevated to U.S. Rep. Tanner's Chief of Staff

Release date: Jan. 22, 2010


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or jweiler@mtsu.edu

MTSU Alumnus Ford Elevated to U.S. Rep. Tanner’s Chief of Staff


(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU alumnus and Clinton native Randy Ford became chief of staff and communications director for 8th District Congressman John Tanner on Jan. 4.
Ford, who was a 1996 graduate of Clinton High School and an August 2000 graduate of MTSU, has served as Tanner’s communications director since December 2004.
The 8th District includes Lake, Dyer, Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, Madison, Crockett, Gibson, Weakley, Henry, Carroll, Benton, Humphreys, Houston, Stewart and Dickson counties, and parts of Shelby and Montgomery counties.
Ford earned his B.S. in mass communication (with an emphasis in radio and television journalism) and earned minors in political science and speech and theatre. While at MTSU, he served as editor of Sidelines, the independent student newspaper, was an anchor and producer at WMOT, news director at WMTS and anchor and reporter for the student TV station.
From September 2000 through October 2001, Ford worked as state capitol correspondent for the Tennessee Radio Network. He joined Tanner’s staff as press secretary in October 2001.
He is the son of Kenny and Gwenda Ford of Clinton and Sandy and Steve Lyles of Lake City.
Ford said another MTSU alumnus, Mt. Juliet native Elizabeth Brown (B.A. ’06), works in the office, serving as Tanner’s health care legislative assistant.
###
Note: A high-resolution jpeg photo of Ford with Congressman John Tanner is available. Contact MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5616 if you would like to receive it by e-mail.

With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

Friday, January 22, 2010

[263] MTSU Alumnus Ford Elevated to U.S. Rep. Tanner's Chief of Staff

Release date: Jan. 22, 2010


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or jweiler@mtsu.edu

MTSU Alumnus Ford Elevated to U.S. Rep. Tanner’s Chief of Staff


(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU alumnus and Clinton native Randy Ford became chief of staff and communications director for 8th District Congressman John Tanner on Jan. 4.
Ford, who was a 1996 graduate of Clinton High School and an August 2000 graduate of MTSU, has served as Tanner’s communications director since December 2004.
The 8th District includes Lake, Dyer, Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, Madison, Crockett, Gibson, Weakley, Henry, Carroll, Benton, Humphreys, Houston, Stewart and Dickson counties, and parts of Shelby and Montgomery counties.
Ford earned his B.S. in mass communication (with an emphasis in radio and television journalism) and earned minors in political science and speech and theatre. While at MTSU, he served as editor of Sidelines, the independent student newspaper, was an anchor and producer at WMOT, news director at WMTS and anchor and reporter for the student TV station.
From September 2000 through October 2001, Ford worked as state capitol correspondent for the Tennessee Radio Network. He joined Tanner’s staff as press secretary in October 2001.
He is the son of Kenny and Gwenda Ford of Clinton and Sandy and Steve Lyles of Lake City.
Ford said another MTSU alumnus, Mt. Juliet native Elizabeth Brown (B.A. ’06), works in the office, serving as Tanner’s health care legislative assistant.
###
Note: A high-resolution jpeg photo of Ford with Congressman John Tanner is available. Contact MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5616 if you would like to receive it by e-mail.

With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

[262] Unity Luncheon Is Traditional Kickoff For MTSU Black History Month Celebration

Jan. 21, 2010
Contact: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919

UNITY LUNCHEON IS TRADITIONAL KICKOFF FOR MTSU BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

MURFREESBORO—The annual Unity Luncheon, a traditional kick-off event for Middle Tennessee State University’s celebration of Black History Month, will be held Wednesday, Feb. 3, starting at 11 a.m. in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for MTSU students with a university ID.
This year’s umbrella theme for the monthlong activities is “The History of Black Economic Empowerment.”
The Unity Luncheon recognizes black citizens who have contributed their time and talent for the enrichment and welfare of the entire community and the state of Tennessee. This year’s honorees are Mary McKnight Wade, Nora L. Clark Waters and Eugene Ray.
Darrell S. Freeman, MTSU alumnus (B.S. ’87, M.S. ’90) and founder and chairman of Zycron Inc., an international information technology services firm headquartered in Nashville, will be the special speaker for the celebration.
Mary McKnight Wade was the first African American female to be elected to the Murfreesboro City School Board and is currently serving a second term as board chair. She is a member of numerous organizations and is the senior service-first representative for State Farm Insurance Company where she has worked for 38 years. She is a member of the Franklin Road Church of Christ, a Life Member of the NAACP and a board member of the Middle Tennessee Insurance Professionals. Her awards include the Minerva Award presented by Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Outstanding Community Leader given by the Eastern Star, and she is a Scales Elementary Community Star. Mary has been married to Goldy Lee Wade for 42 years, and they have three children and seven grandchildren.
Nora L. Clark Waters has been a foster parent and a member of the Rutherford County Foster Care Association for more than 20 years. Her community service includes collecting toys for children, working with The Salvation Army both locally and on the national level and contributing more than 10 years of service to the local Crisis Center. She served as the National Night Coordinator for Rogers Park from 2003 to 2009 and is a 34-year member of Venus Chapter 21. She was active for 10 years in the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church and is currently a member of the Fellowship and Women’s Ministry.

Eugene Ray has served as mayor of Bedford County for approximately 10 years and as a member and chairman for more than 20 years on the Board of County Commissioners. Ray has held nearly every office in the Shelbyville/Bedford County Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve on the chamber board as well as the Economic Development and Tourism boards. One of his most recent accomplishments is the major role he played in bringing both an MTSU and Motlow Community College presence to Bedford County to help provide educational opportunities for residents in a multi-county area.
For more information or to order tickets for the Unity Luncheon, please call Brenda Wunder at 615-898-2591.
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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

[261] MTSU Students Off to France for Global Music Conference

MTSU STUDENTS OFF TO FRANCE FOR GLOBAL MUSIC CONFERENCE
Attending MIDEM Will ‘Get Attention,’ Jobs for University Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 20, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina E. Fann, 615-898-5385

(MURFREESBORO)—With technology changing faster than this week’s top-10 downloads, MTSU recording-industry students are heading to France this week to expand their knowledge and their networking opportunities at MIDEM 2010, the world’s largest music-industry trade fair.

Accompanied by professor Ramona DeSalvo, the 10 travelers—nine undergrads and one graduate student—will leave Thursday to arrive in Cannes for the five-day international event, which begins Jan. 23 and is expected to draw more than 8,000 music-industry attendees from more than 80 countries.

“Everybody who’s anybody in music will be there to discuss trends in music, political and legal issues,” explains DeSalvo, an entertainment law and copyright litigation attorney who teaches courses in copyright law and contracts and legal issues, along with a seminar class, “How To Get A Job In the Entertainment Industry,” in MTSU’s College of Mass Communication.

“We’re taking these students because we want the university to be in the forefront of those trends. We don’t want to be teaching old business models. Plus, letting MTSU have a presence at MIDEM will … get attention for the department and give our students exposure to the global music business.”

This is the first time MTSU will be represented at the 43rd annual event (MIDEM is the acronym for Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale), and it’s one of only a handful of universities worldwide to attend.

“Our students received grants for research projects from the International Education and Exchange Committee, which are helping them to attend, and they’ll present their research during Scholars Week (March 22-26),” DeSalvo said. The students also will present a panel discussion to share information from MIDEM when they return to campus.

In addition to lectures, seminars and plenty of opportunities to network with industry bigwigs, the students will be rushing to huge nightly concerts and intimate music showcases, talking tours and merchandising, and even watching a classmate’s opportunity to gain international attention for her music.

Scheduled to attend are master of fine arts candidate Eboni Green, junior production and technology major John Carroll, junior music business major Kyle McCormick and senior music business majors Tiffany Adams, Brinn Black, Ashley Brunes, Gabriel Dodd, Dustin Poole, Dera Shelton and Claudia Whitehorn.

Black, whose focus is commercial songwriting and who is also a recording artist with Foothill Entertainment, also is scheduled for a showcase performance as the only country artist invited to MIDEM this year.

The MIDEM event also includes MidemNet, a conference encompassed within the broader event that will present panels and conferences on monetizing the digital music marketplace. It also will provide an opportunity to market and brand MTSU as the preeminent recording industry program in the world and could lead to international recruiting opportunities, officials said.

“We want to make connections now to prepare for next year, when we want to have a booth for the MTSU recording industry program,” said DeSalvo. “It’s all part of preparing for the university’s internationalization initiative.”

For more information about MIDEM, visit the event’s Web site at www.midem.com. For more information about MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry, one of the largest and best equipped in the country, visit http://recordingindustry.mtsu.edu.


With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, MTSU confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.
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IN BRIEF: MTSU recording-industry students are heading to France this week to expand their knowledge and their networking opportunities at MIDEM 2010, the world’s largest music-industry trade fair. Accompanied by professor Ramona DeSalvo, the 10 travelers—nine undergrads and one graduate student—will leave Thursday to arrive in Cannes for the four-day international event, which begins Jan. 23 and is expected to draw more than 8,000 music-industry attendees from more than 80 countries.

For MTSU news and information, visit www.mtsunews.com.


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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

[260] MTSU Gallery Hosts 'Ramblings & Dwellings" Exhibit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 20, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919, or lrollins@mtsu.edu

MTSU GALLERY HOSTS ‘RAMBLINGS & DWELLINGS’ EXHIBIT
Joint Exhibit by Libby & Ken Rowe on Display Now through Feb. 9

(MURFREESBORO)—The Todd Art Gallery in the Department of Art at MTSU is currently the host site for a joint exhibit of work by husband-and-wife artists Ken and Libby Rowe.
Titled Ramblings & Dwellings, the show is free and open to the public now through Feb. 9. Additionally, an open reception for the artists will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, in the gallery’s lobby.
An award-winning figurative sculptor, Ken is a native of Fairfield, Iowa. His recent work titled Ramblings features small-scale ceramic sculptures with a narrative bend and a whimsical nature.
“His sculptures rely on a strong sense of humor are often viewed as sardonic and quirky,” said Eric Snyder, gallery curator.
Ken’s background includes work with Will Vinton Studios and Toxic Mom Sculpting Studios, where he worked as a sculptor, mold maker and animator. Also, his work has been chosen as public art for the newly renovated Nashville Public Square.
Ken has said he credits his artistry as a reflection of his experiences growing up in a small Midwestern town that taught him to look for meaning in places that one would not normally expect.
In Dwellings, artist Libby’s current photographic work, she explores the emotional state of dwelling through the construction and photographing of small sculptural houses.
Moreover, Libby frequently exhibits her photographs, as well as mixed-media objects and installations, across the United States and internationally, including at the Fotocircle Gallery in Seattle and the Zone Gallery in Kansas City, Mo.
As a performance artist, she participated in the 7th Annual Feminist Research Conference in Utrecht, Netherlands where she exhibited and executed her piece titled learning feminine: posture.
Libby has taught photography and digital imaging at the Oregon College of Art and Craft and Vanderbilt University, and most recently, she joined the faculty at University of Texas, San Antonio.
Both Libby and Ken earned Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees from the University of Northern Iowa. Ken also holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Oregon and Libby has a master’s degree from Syracuse University.
GALLERY HOURS: The Todd Gallery is open 8 a.m.-4: 30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on state and university holidays. Admission to the gallery is always free. For parking, directions or more information, please contact Snyder at 615-898-5653

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: To secure artwork images for editorial use, please e-mail your request to Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at lrollins@mtsu.edu.

With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[259] MTSU Daily Campus Tours Will Resume Jan. 25

Release date: Jan. 20, 2010


News & Public Affairs Contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or jweiler@mtsu.edu
Admissions contact: Michelle Arnold, 615-898-5280 or maarnold@mtsu.edu


MTSU Daily Campus Tours Will Resume Jan. 25


(MURFREESBORO) — Daily campus tours for prospective students interested in attending MTSU will resume Monday, Jan. 25, officials in the Office of Admissions said recently.
The 1- to 1½-hour walking tours will begin in the second-floor lobby area in 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 the university’s spring break (March 5-12) and Good Friday (April 2). Daily tours will run through Wednesday, April 28.
MTSU students usually lead the tours, which are limited to 15 to 20 people per group.
To make a daily campus tour reservation, visit www.mtsu.edu/admissn/tour_admissn.shtml or call Betty Pedigo, tour coordinator, at 615-898-5670.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

[258] MTSU Hosts 10th Annual Flute Festival Jan. 30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 20, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Office of News and Public Affairs, 615-898-2919

MTSU HOSTS 10TH ANNUAL FLUTE FESTIVAL JAN. 30

(MURFREESBORO)—The 10th annual MTSU Flute Festival, featuring guests Angeleita Floyd and Daniel Velasco, will be Saturday, Jan. 30, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. in the Wright Music Building lobby on the MTSU campus.
"I am thrilled to have both guest artists this year, said Deanna Little, MTSU professor of flute. “Dr. Floyd was my undergraduate teacher and the greatest inspiration in my musical life. She is vibrant, energetic and a truly amazing musician and teacher."
Floyd will work with and lead the Honors Flute Choir in concert at 10 a.m. in Hinton Hall of the WMB and teach a morning session at 9 o’clock titled "No time warm-ups warm up! (Loose lips, loaded lungs and lightning speed).”
Then, at 1 p.m. in the WMB’s Hinton Hall, guest artist Valesco, a native of Quito, Ecuador, will give a public recital.
"Daniel Velasco is also a student of Angeleita Floyd's and he is a young, up and coming artist," Little said. "He recently won the (National Flute Association’s) Young Artist Competition as well as the Minnesota Orchestra's Young Artist Competition."
Other flute festival events will include a High School Solo and a Junior Solo competition, as well as flute exhibits including Miles Ahead Instrument Service and Sales, with repair services available.
Guest artist Floyd has been professor of flute at the University of Northern Iowa since 1986. Most recently, she was a featured guest artist at the 2009 National Flute Association Convention in New York City, directed and gave master classes at university-level summer flute workshops.
• ADMISSION: 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/flutefest10.html or call Little at 615-898-2473.

About the Guest Performers

Floyd has fostered numerous prize-winning students on the regional and national level. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Stetson University, where she studied with the eminent English flutist Geoffrey Gilbert and received Master of Music, Master of Music Education and Doctor of Music degrees from Florida State University. Her teachers included Jean-Pierre Rampal, William Bennett, Trevor Wye, Peter Lloyd, Irene Maddox and Charles DeLaney.
Guest artist Velasco has studied with Luis and Luciano Carrera. In Ecuador, he attended the National Conservatory starting at age 6 and graduated in 2004. He was also principal flutist of the Youth Orchestra of Ecuador, where he had the opportunity to play as a soloist. In January 2005, he was selected to be a member of the Latin American Youth Orchestra in Caracas, Venezuela, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and Claudio Abbado. He is studying for a master's degree at the University of Texas at Austin under the guidance of Marianne Gedigian.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[257] Radio, Records, Rapid Changes Discussed On WMOT Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 20, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081, or WMOT-FM, 615-898-2800

RADIO, RECORDS, RAPID CHANGES DISCUSSED ON WMOT PROGRAM
Recording Industry Professor Assesses Radio’s Relationship with Listening Public

(MURFREESBORO) – Is radio responding to the needs and desires of its listeners? Paul Allen, an associate professor in MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry, will examine the present and future of radio at 8 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 24, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).
Allen teaches Artist Management, New Media for the Music Business, Concert Promotion and Marketing of Recordings. He is the author of Artist Management for the Music Business, now in its third printing, and co-author of Record Label Marketing, now in its second edition. Allen’s professional background includes work in radio and television programming and management as well as radio ownership.
To listen to last week’s program with MTSU industrial hygienist Doug Brinsko, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2010.html and click on “January 17, 2010.” For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

[256] MTSU's Seventh Annual Double Reed Day Is Jan. 23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 19, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Office of News and Public Affairs, 615-898-2919

MTSU’s SEVENTH ANNUAL DOUBLE REED DAY IS JAN. 23

(MURFREESBORO)—Saturday, Jan. 23, marks the day that the MTSU School of Music will present its seventh annual Double Reed Day, a daylong event for double reed players (oboes, bassoons) of all ages, which will feature a 9 a.m. guest artist concert featuring Stephanie Wilson and Hana Lee and a 5:30 p.m. finale concert showcasing participants.
Both concerts, which are free and open to the public, will be held in the T. Earl Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus. Additionally, the special-event day is open to K-12, college and professionals players. Registration, $10 per player, will begin at 8 a.m. in the lobby of the WMB.
Guest oboist Wilson is with the Delaware Symphony and guest bassoonist and contrabassoonist Lee is with the Virginia, Wheeling and Charleston Symphony Orchestras.
"These talented women, in addition to being featured in a guest artist recital, will be on hand for several master classes throughout the day," said Laura Ann Ross, adjunct professor of bassoon at MTSU and a co-coordinator for the event.
"We encourage participants to sign up to play either accompanied or unaccompanied repertoire in these classes," she added.
Among the events scheduled for the day are master classes, double-reed ensemble rehearsals with the registered participants and guest Onks Woodwind Repair.
"Repairman Jason Onks will provide a clinic on double-reed instrument maintenance and will also sponsor our lunch," Ross noted.
The 5:30 p.m. finale concert will feature double-reed ensembles composed of the event’s participants and a special performance by the MTSU Chamber Group.
"This event is not to be missed for all ‘double-reeders’ in middle Tennessee and the surrounding mid-state region," Ross said.
For more event details or registration information, please contact Maya Stone, assistant professor of bassoon event co-coordinator, by e-mailing mstone@mtsu.edu.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

Friday, January 15, 2010

[255] MTSU Will Be Closed Jan. 18 for MLK Holiday

Release date: Jan. 15, 2010

News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616


MTSU Will Be Closed Jan. 18 for MLK Holiday


(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU will be closed Monday, Jan. 18, 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.
Some buildings will be open certain hours this weekend. They include:
• James E. Walker Library, which will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, then closed Sunday and Monday;
• Keathley University Center, which will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday and from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. Monday;
• James Union Building will be closed. However, The Raider Zone, which is located on the ground level, will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday for food service.
Other food service options for the weekend include McCallie Dining and Cyber Café being open their regular hours Saturday and Sunday, McCallie open from 11:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Monday and Cyber Café open from 5 p.m. Monday until 2 a.m. Tuesday. The KUC Grill will be closed Jan. 16-18. All venues will be open their regular hours Tuesday. For more information, visit mtdining.com.
After being closed Saturday through Monday, the Health, Wellness and Recreation Center will reopen at 6 a.m. Tuesday with their regular spring semester hours.
###

Media note: In case of emergency, contact MTSU Campus Police at 615-898-2424. They can contact MTSU News and Public Affairs personnel.

With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

[254] MTSU Industrial Hygienist Chats On "MTSU On The Record"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 13, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081; WMOT-FM, 615-898-2800

MTSU INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST CHATS ON “MTSU ON THE RECORD”
Doug Brinsko Puts Scientific Training to Work Improving Campus Environment

(MURFREESBORO) – Doug Brinsko, MTSU’s first-ever industrial hygienist, will discuss what he does to keep the campus in compliance with health and safety standards at 8 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 17, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).
Brinsko will talk about examining the university for potential hazards, evaluating air quality, hazardous waste management, limiting exposure to chemical and physical agents, assessing health and safety priorities in light of limited resources and the critical role of educating the campus community.
To listen to last week’s program with recording industry professor John Hill, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2010.html and click on “January 10, 2010.” For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[253] MTSU Announces Dean's List For Fall 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 13, 2010
CONTACT: News and Public Affairs, 615-898-2919

MTSU ANNOUNCES DEAN’S LIST FOR FALL 2009
County-by-County Listing of Fall 2009 Dean’s List Now Available Online

(MURFREESBORO)—Middle Tennessee State University has released the names and hometowns of those undergraduate students who were named to the Dean’s List during the fall 2009 semester.
 HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR COUNTY’S STUDENT LIST: To obtain a list for editorial use of those students from your county who are included on MTSU’s fall 2009 dean’s list, please access this information on the News and Public Affairs (NPA) Web site at www.mtsunews.com and click on the “MTSU Deans Lists” link on the upper, left-hand side of the page.
Next, click on the “Fall 2009” link, which will include an alphabetical, county-by-county listing of those MTSU students included on the fall 2009 semester’s dean’s list.
***Please note that this Web page also contains directions on how to download and save your county’s list for editorial use in your publication.

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: If you encounter any problems downloading and saving your county’s dean’s list, please contact the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 for assistance.

With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

Monday, January 11, 2010

[252] Two MTSU Students Capture Coveted Gilman Scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 11, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

TWO MTSU STUDENTS CAPTURE COVETED GILMAN SCHOLARSHIPS
Concrete Industry, Radio/TV Majors from ‘Boro, Whiteville to Study in Mexico, Japan

(MURFREESBORO) - Two MTSU students are recipients of the 2010 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, one of the most prestigious study abroad stipends in the nation. Murfreesboro’s Brock Downing, a junior concrete industry management major, and Whitney Rhodes, a junior radio/television major from Whiteville, will use their opportunities in very different ways.
Rhodes, whose minors are art and Japanese, will attend Saitama University in Japan in the spring 2010 semester. She says she has always been interested in the nation’s fashion, culture and history, but she did not want to learn about them from a distance.
“I don’t want to be a tourist and marvel, taking pictures of everything and asking questions IN ENGLISH,” Rhodes writes in an e-mail interview. “In order to be a less bothersome visitor in another country, I would like to know the language first.”
Rhodes’ major and her other minor also lend themselves to the study abroad experience. She says she hopes to use the popularity of American film in Japan to expand her vision as a documentarian.
“Being able to convey your ideas to other people will greatly influence how well your production goes if you are a producer,” Rhodes writes. “I’m sure it would be wise to have skills in writing and art to get your ideas across. So the art minor will really be of great benefit to me when I need to translate ideas into something tangible.”
Downing’s interests, on the other hand, are all about “something tangible”—or, to put it another way, “concrete.” A 27-year-old nontraditional student, Downing’s major is also nontraditional for a study-abroad scholarship winner. His scholarship resulted from a special pilot award cycle for majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field disciplines.
“These trips have always been geared toward people who were in the foreign languages department or international affairs or something like that,” says Downing. “But there’s definitely a need. We have to deal with foreign companies a lot, and there are a lot of opportunities out there.”
With a mandatory business minor and a second minor in Spanish, Downing will study during the summer 2010 semester at the Centro KIIS in Morelia. This new classroom serves as the instructional facility and administrative center for all programs in Mexico offered through the Kentucky Institute for International Studies, a consortium of colleges and universities dedicated to promoting international education.


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Downing points out that the number of Hispanics in the construction business and the United States’ efforts at becoming less dependent on foreign concrete create a demand for personnel who can bridge cultural divides.
“The way to achieve that is with new ideas and the ability to communicate with a variety of people from the people laying the concrete to the guy who owns the company,” says Downing.
“The Gilman Scholarship Program seeks to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go,” says Education Abroad Director Rhonda Waller. “Specifically, the Gilman Program offers scholarships for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in education abroad.”
Funded by Congress and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Gilman Scholarship program provides “grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad,” states the program’s Web site.
Recipients are selected competitively for these grants, which are used for such expenses as “program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.”
“Gilman also requires that students complete their service projects upon their return home,” says Waller. “Those service projects help to get the word out about the value of study abroad. So this program keeps paying dividends to our campus even after students receive their awards.”
To find out more about MTSU’s study abroad opportunities, contact the MTSU Office of Education Abroad and Student Exchange at 615-898-5179 or mtabroad@mtsu.edu. To learn more about the Gilman Scholarships, go to www.iie.org/gilman.

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: For color jpeg photos of Whitney Rhodes and Brock Downing, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.



With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[251] Unheralded Secretaries, Clerks Keep MTSU Moving Forward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 11, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

UNHERALDED SECRETARIES, CLERKS KEEP MTSU MOVING FORWARD
Association of Secretarial and Clerical Workers Also Helps Employees Learn, Advance

(MURFREESBORO) - They’re up front helping students wend their way through the university bureaucracy in order to add and drop classes and try to stay on track toward degree goals.
They’re behind the scenes inserting all manner of data into the veins and arteries of MTSU’s computer network.
They make it possible for administrators who couldn’t operate the fax machine or the photocopier without a diagram look as though they know what they’re doing anyway.
They are the secretaries and clerks who toil in academic and nonacademic units to keep MTSU’s day-to-day essential functions functioning. In 1976, they banded together to represent their collective interests under the name Clerical Caucus. Today, under the name of Association of Secretarial and Clerical Workers (ASCE), these professionals strive for career enhancement for the betterment of their work environment and themselves.
ASCE President Kym Stricklin, an executive aide in the Department of Agribusiness and Agriscience, says she joined because she wanted to reach out beyond the digital communication that has revolutionized the workplace to establish real human contact.
“It was an opportunity for me to network, meet other secretaries at the university and put faces with names,” Stricklin says. “I still think there’s a tremendous value in networking and knowing who to call in another department, establishing a professional relationship beyond e-mails.”
With 16 years as an ASCE member under her belt, Kathy Kano, the group’s treasurer and a past president, agrees.
“I have benefitted from it by the ability to know people on campus,” says Kano, an information research technician for the Division of Student Affairs. “That helps in learning what to do.”
It also helps in learning how to improve one’s income and resume. Employees who earn Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) status by passing an exam that assesses the full range of their skills are eligible for a nine percent pay raise.
“With state pay grades, there are not merit-based raises, and we’re not receiving cost-of-living raises,” Stricklin notes.

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“Today, most of the secretarial job announcements say ‘degree preferred’ or ‘CPS preferred,’” Kano adds. “What’s going to happen to all the women who don’t have that?”
However, it costs $300 to take the test, which is offered only twice a year. Furthermore, there are three books of study materials for each of three different exams, and those books cost nearly $100 each. Most secretaries can’t shell out that kind of money at the drop of a hat.
Enter ASCE with a CPS scholarship funded by annual pecan sales and a set of CPS books available for checkout by members, as well as sets of study books at the James E. Walker Library and June Anderson Women’s Center.
In addition, the pecan sales help fund the Bonnie McHenry Scholarship, for which all MTSU clerical employees and their dependents are welcome to apply. Stricklin says sales for 2009 total more than $1,000.
For everything that ASCE does, the annual dues are an inflation-busting bargain. In 1976, the dues were $2 per member. Today, the dues are only $5 per member.
To learn more about ASCE, contact Stricklin at 615-898-2523 or kstrick@mtsu.edu, or go to the Web site at http://www.mtsu.edu/asce/.


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ATTENTION, MEDIA: For a color jpeg of ASCE personnel donating historical papers to the Albert Gore Research Center, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.









With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[250] MTSU Professor Awaits Classical Grammy Award Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 6, 2010
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081; WMOT-FM, 615-898-2800

MTSU PROFESSOR AWAITS CLASSICAL GRAMMY AWARD RESULTS
Recording Engineer John Hill Talks About Nomination on “MTSU on the Record”

(MURFREESBORO) – MTSU recording industry professor John Hill will talk about his work on a Grammy-nominated record at 8 a.m. this Sunday, Jan. 10, on “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).
Hill was one of the engineers on “Ravel: L’Enfant et les sortileges.” It is nominated in the category of Best Classical Album in this year’s Grammy Awards, which are slated to be broadcast at 7 p.m. CST, Sunday, Jan. 31, on CBS.
The Nashville Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Alastair Willis performed the music from Maurice Ravel’s one-act opera at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville with the Chattanooga Boys Choir, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Nashville Symphony Chorus and eight solo vocalists. The album on the Naxos label was produced by Blanton Alspaugh, and Mark Donahue co-engineered the recording with Hill.
“L’Enfant et les sortileges,” or “The Child and the Spells,” tells the story of a destructive child who throws and breaks her personal possessions only to see them come to life and rise up against her to teach her a lesson. The singers and musicians portray the objects, as well as the garden plants and animals the child also has abused.
Hill has been recording engineer for the Nashville Symphony since 2000. He joined the MTSU Department of Recording Industry in 1992. He teaches Critical Listening, Advanced Audio Recording and Production Seminar II.
For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

[249] Dyer County Farm Joins State's Century Farms Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 11, 2010
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, Center for Historic Preservation, 615-898-2947

DYER COUNTY FARM JOINS STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM
104-Year-Old Childress Farm Becomes County’s 24th Designated Century Farm

(MURFREESBORO)—The Childress Farm in Dyer County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reports Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
In 1906, J. A. Childress and wife Emma Jane purchased 45.5 acres of land from S. K. P. Holland near Bogota. In 1908, they purchased 11 more acres to total 56.5 acres for their farm. With five children, the family raised corn and cotton.
In 1925, the farm passed to Roy Childress. He and his wife, Mary, and their children, Wilburn, Charles, Emma and Don, continued to raise cotton and corn and also added soybeans cows, swine and mules. The family recalls that Roy “purchased the first fire and wind insurance policy meant to cover structures on a farm” from Farm Bureau in the 1940s.
In 1974, Don became the third-generation owner of the farm that has grown to include 116 acres, 56.5 of which are of the original farm. Don and his wife, Judy Bargery Childress, have lived on the farm since 1963. Don was a 4-H All Star in the 1950s and was a member of the livestock judging team that represented Tennessee at the National Livestock Exhibition in Chicago in 1954.
Working the land today are Don and his sons, Wally and Tony Childress, and grandsons Doug Singleteary and Drew Ross. Crops raised on the Childress Farm include cotton, corn, soybeans, cows and swine.
With the addition of the Childress Farm, Dyer County currently has 24 certified Century Farms, Hankins said.

About the Century Farms Program

The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s
agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign, noting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.

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“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.


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• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request a jpeg of the farm’s barn for editorial use, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.



With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.