The Record, Sept. 6, 2010, V19.05

Read the PDF version here!


Aerospace-ISR pact will create new tech jobs

by Tom Tozer

A partnership between Middle Tennessee State University and ISR Group will provide a hands-on training ground for MTSU students, attract industry and knowledge-based workers to Tennessee and generate permanent jobs that cannot be exported to other countries.

Principal players say the collaboration is unique to the southeastern United States and will one day wield global influence.

MTSU officials signed a memorandum of understanding on Aug. 20 with ISR Group, a Savannah, Tenn.-based provider of Unmanned Aircraft System, or UAS, services. ISR, whose four divisions are Technical Services, Logistics and Depot, Training Systems and Range Services, assists clients in developing unmanned-vehicle technologies for air-, ground- and water-based systems.

Through this collaboration, MTSU's Department of Aerospace, considered among the top three programs of its kind in the nation, will be able to expand its teaching and research and be on the ground floor of an industry that officials say is on the verge of a "growth tsunami.";

"There could not be a better fit,"; MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said of the partnership. "I can promise you as president … that we will do our part, led by our outstanding faculty, to make this one of the most successful partnerships that will benefit our citizens.";

"This is huge not only for Tennessee but for the Southeast,"; added ISR Group CEO Alfred Lumpkin. "What more perfect place to train these future knowledge-based workers than MTSU? It's a great day for us.";

ISR Group employs highly skilled professionals in research and development, testing and evaluation, production, operations, maintenance, training and logistical-support activities of unmanned-aircraft systems on a worldwide basis.

The company owns a 10-square-mile flight-training range in Hardin County, Tenn. To increase ISR Group's capability to operate and test unmanned aerial vehicles, MTSU has agreed to sponsor certificates of authorization via the Federal Aviation Administration.

"MTSU has committed to sponsoring FAA certification, and ISR is making some significant commitments,"; said Dr. Mike Allen, dean of MTSU's College of Graduate Studies, who first brought the university and ISR Group together. Allen noted that MTSU is one of the project team members on a recent FAA System Engineering 2020 contract valued at $1.4 billion with ITT, a White Plains, N.Y.-based high-tech engineering and manufacturing company.

"And now you're part of this ITT contract,"; Allen said, referring to ISR Group. "This collaboration could have a significant impact on next-generation communication systems for UAVs.";

"Those universities and businesses that are able to catch the vision and see where the trend is going and arrive at the right spot at the right time are going to be the winners,"; said Bob Boggan, executive vice president in charge of business development for ISR Group.

"Tennessee has the right business environment, and the MTSU/ISR Group team has the right strategy to capture business and attract talented people to our state. Our ultimate goal is to develop a leading position in the southeast United States in the unmanned market.";

Dr. Wayne Dornan, chair of MTSU's Department of Aerospace, emphasized the importance of the university being on the ground floor of the burgeoning unmanned-flight industry.

"This will give us a wonderful opportunity to expand our collaborative teaching and research,"; Dornan said. "MTSU will play a major research role on the new air-transportation system in the United States that will change radically in the next 20 years.

"To say 'the sky's the limit' is a little premature,"; he continued. "We are really in a situation that we don't know how to integrate unmanned aerial vehicles into the national airspace system. MTSU will be involved in those planning stages. MTSU's Department of Aerospace will take the lead in education in this arena. I'm proud of this partnership.";



TAKING FLIGHT—ISR Group CEO Alfred Lumpkin, left, talks with MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, ISR Group Executive Vice President Robert Boggan, MTSU Aerospace Chair Wayne Dornan and MTSU Vice Provost Michael Allen beside one of ISR's unmanned aerial vehicles after the company and MTSU signed a memorandum of understanding Aug. 20 for an educational partnership to expand teaching and research opportunities.

MTSU Photographic Services photo by Andy Heidt

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Professor's 3rd Fulbright takes him to Malaysia

by Gina K. Logue

Dr. Sean Foley, an assistant professor of history at MTSU, will embark in mid-September on a 10-month research excursion in Southeast Asia after winning the third Fulbright Fellowship of his career.

Foley will work and study primarily in Malaysia, where he will examine religious links between Southeast Asia and the Arab- dominated Middle East region under the auspices of International Islamic University Malaysia in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

In addition, Foley's study and lecture itinerary will take him to India, Thailand and Brunei, an experience he will chronicle with periodic columns in The Tennessean.

Foley's 2010-11 fellowship comes from the Fulbright Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Marianne Craven, the bureau's managing director of academic programs, says the program funds faculty and research scholars such as Foley as well as international scholars' work in the United States.

"It's really a program that exemplifies academic excellence, but even more than that, it's a program that promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,"; Craven says.

In addition, the Fulbright Program promotes teacher exchanges for primary and secondary schools, Humphrey Fellowships for mid-career professionals to come to the United States for a year and student excursions that enable American college graduates to go overseas and international students to come to the United States for graduate study and language instruction. MTSU alumnus and graduate student Eric Little will depart in late September for Portugal with a student grant to teach American culture and English.

More than 40 alumni of the Fulbright Program have won Nobel Prizes, including former MTSU professor Muhammad Yunus. He, along with his Grameen Bank in his native Bangladesh, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his development of microcredit and microfinance.

Craven says the Fulbright Program changes the proportion of fellowships available as events warrant, including an increased emphasis on the Muslim world after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The goal, however, is to help the Department of State achieve broad foreign-policy priorities and bilateral relationships with specific countries.

"We've tended to see Southeast Asia as 'something else' or 'different,'"; Foley says. "Some Americans may have had experience—either themselves or their parents—with Vietnam. But it's part of a larger global network in which the Indian Ocean has been important for a very long time.";

Although Americans learn relatively little about the region in the news media, Foley says it has probably the most important sea lane in the world in the Straits of Malacca, the gateway between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Malaysia, in particular, provides the world with electronic equipment, petroleum, rubber and palm oil. Foley says it is a commerce-based society that is an important U.S. trading partner.

"It is certainly a middle-class, well-educated country that has emphasized education, particularly learning English, as part of a way of integrating itself into the global economy,"; Foley notes.

Foley says it has become a destination for Muslims who seek a lifestyle that provides a balance between tradition and modernity. Sharia law is a part of the legal system, but the government is a constitutional monarchy with a king, prime minister and parliament.

"In fact, the legal code of Malaysia reflects the fact that it is a highly diverse society,"; says Foley.

According to the Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook, Malaysia's population is 50.4 percent Malay, 23.7 percent Chinese and 7.1 percent Indian. Muslims make up 60.4 percent of the faithful, followed by Buddhists with 19.2 percent, Christians with 9.1 percent and Hindus with 6.3 percent.

The locale and the research subject perfectly fit Foley's expertise and experience. He did his doctoral dissertation at Georgetown University on the Sufi movement, which has a huge following in the region. His most recent book, The Arab Gulf States: Beyond Oil and Islam (Lynne Rienner Press), finds numerous links between those six nations and Southeast Asia.

Foley's wife, Kerry, will join him for the 10-month duration of the fellowship. He says she speaks Russian, Somali and Arabic and picks up new languages with great facility.

Foley recently taped three segments with the Voice of America—one for the Turkish-language service, one for the Persian-language service and one for the Azeri-language service.

An Aug. 8 "MTSU On the Record"; interview with Foley and Craven is available for listening at http://bit.ly/a9Yg8s . For more information about Foley's research, go to www.seanfoley.org .



HEADING EAST—MTSU history professor Sean Foley stands in front of a wall-sized map of the Middle East. The region's relations with Southeast Asia are the focus of Foley's upcoming 10-month research trip after winning his third Fulbright Fellowship.

photo submitted


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Center for Popular Music celebrates 25 years by expanding archive storage

by Gina E. Fann

MTSU's Center for Popular Music is celebrating its 25th birthday with a big banner: "Caution—Work in Progress!";

Created in July 1985 to serve and preserve the study of American popular music as one of 16 Centers of Excellence across the Tennessee Board of Regents system, the center is in the midst of reconfiguring a collection that spans shape-note songbooks to hip-hop mash-ups.

A $140,000 one-time grant from the MTSU Provost's Office has doubled the center's storage capacity with the purchase of a compact- shelving storage system that stretches more than 10.5 feet high.

"We wanted to close the center for a little while (in mid-August) to move things out and around, but we just couldn't, because there were so many people coming in to do their research,"; explained Lucinda Cockrell, coordinator of research collections. "They've gotten grants to do their research, so when do they have to come? Summer, when they don't teach! And they've come from all over.

"We even put our plans to close on our website (http://popmusic.mtsu.edu ) and rescheduled two fellows who had made appointments to do their research, and we let people come on in anyway. We just couldn't tell them no.";

The Center for Popular Music has become the largest and oldest research facility of its kind in the world, says Interim Director Dr. Dale Cockrell, who is leading the center during the yearlong national search to replace founding Director Paul F. Wells. Wells, who guided the Center for Popular Music from a single borrowed desk 25 years ago to its current 6,700-square-foot facility in the Bragg Mass Communication Building, retired in April.

Cockrell, a renowned music historian and the husband of Lucinda Cockrell, is on leave from his post as professor of musicology at Vanderbilt University.

"This center has an international reputation. We've had scholars visit from every continent except Antarctica,"; the interim director said. "More than 40,000 scholars have used these archives since the inception of the center.";

The collection includes sheet music and broadsides, rare music books, sound recordings, music trade catalogs, periodicals, performance documents, manuscripts and photographs ranging as far back as the early 1700s. The center specializes in rock and roll and its roots, the various forms of vernacular religious music and the music of Tennessee and the Southeast.

One of the latest jewels in the center's crown is a new collection from pioneering country-music journalist Everett J. Corbin. The Murfreesboro resident and former editor of the Music City News brought his 40-plus-year career archives to MTSU to "be mindful of the many journalists who come after me needing reference material for books, essays and information in brief.";

His notes, recordings and publications "reflect traditional country music from before 1965"; and include interviews with Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse and the Osborne Brothers, as well as a chat Corbin touts as Dolly Parton's first major interview with a country-music publication.

"I never attempted to be a 'collector,' per se, but as editor at Music City News, I received lots of records for review and held onto more than a thousand for many years,"; said Corbin, who's also a songwriter, producer and publicist.

The Center for Popular Music also has recently added the Peter S. LaPaglia Collection of Tennessee Sheet Music, a collection of sound recordings from Associate Professor Charlie Dahan of MTSU's Department of Recording Industry, and the archives of the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp.

"Paul and his staff have done such wonderful work obtaining and expanding the collection that we were at the point of having to stop taking in items because there was nowhere to put them,"; said Dr. Cockrell, noting that the new storage system has eased the center's space constrictions.

"We're looking at making a transition for the next 25 years, and we're establishing an advisory group from the university and community to see where the center should go,"; he continued. "The first 25 years focused on collecting and cataloguing, and we're thinking that the next 25 should target outreach and program-building. We can broadcast our name a little bit more broadly.";

First on that outreach list is a small but appropriate exhibit planned for October at MTSU's James E. Walker Library: the history of everyone's favorite song, "Happy Birthday,"; along with other highlights from the center's collections. A 25th-anniversary celebration, complete with cake and all the trimmings, is planned on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. during Homecoming Weekend.

"We're a work in progress, and we enjoy it,"; said Lucinda Cockrell. "We're glad to be such a wonderful resource for everyone.";


REORGANIZING—Librarian Grover Baker accesses a top shelf at the Center for Popular Music as Cataloging Assistant Christi Underdown-Dubois observes. A new compact-storage shelving system is providing more efficient archiving for the center, which is celebrating its 25th birthday.

MTSU Photographic Services photo by J. Intintoli




MUSIC HISTORY—A few editions of Music City News, donated to the Center for Popular Music by country-music journalist Everett Corbin, are displayed before cataloguing in the center's archives.

photo by News & Media Relations


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Conference puts economy in local, U.S. perspective

by Tom Tozer

Thomas E. Skains, chief executive officer of Piedmont Natural Gas, will be the keynote speaker at MTSU's 18th annual Economic Outlook Conference, Friday, Sept. 24, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Murfreesboro.

Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. Skains will speak at 9.

MTSU faculty may attend free by registering directly with the dean's office in Room N219 of the Business and Aerospace Building or by calling 615-898-2764. Faculty should not register online. MTSU students may attend the morning session, excluding lunch, at no charge.

The fee for non-MTSU guests is $50 per person. The registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 17.

Skains was elected Piedmont president and chief operating officer in 2002 and became CEO in February 2003, taking the post of chairman of the board later that same year. He was an attorney and a senior vice president at Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. in Houston, Texas. Skains earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Sam Houston State University and a law degree from the University of Houston Law School. He is active in several civic and charitable organizations.

"With his background in energy and environmental concerns and his work in areas of technology that are addressing these issues, Thomas Skains is a great headliner for the conference,"; said Dr. Jim Burton, dean of MTSU's Jennings A. Jones College of Business. "We are honored to welcome an industry leader of his caliber to MTSU and to middle Tennessee.";

Burton noted that the conference is targeted to bankers, business owners and managers, community officials and leaders as well as business and economics faculty and students—"and to anyone interested in economic growth in the region and nation."; The premise of the conference,
Burton said, is to promote the idea of free enterprise and to promote events that proudly wave that banner.

Continuing the informational tradition, the program also will feature Dr. David Penn, director of MTSU's Business and Economic Research Center, who will provide a Midstate and regional economic update at 10:30 a.m. The BERC maintains significant databases of regional, national and international information and provides research resources and databases for the MTSU community.

Dr. Donald Ratajczak, regent's professor of economics emeritus at Georgia State University and a nationally known economic forecaster, will address the luncheon audience at noon. Ratajczak's keen observations have become a staple of the annual conference.

"Don always has a thought- provoking approach to interpreting national and international data and making it relevant to the issues and problems facing regional businesses,"; Burton said. "And he's often right on target with his forecasts.";

During the lunch break, Burton and Aubrey B. Harwell Jr., holder of the Jones Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise, will present the Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award to Stephen B. Smith, chairman of the board of Haury & Smith Contractors, Inc., one of Nashville's oldest development and home-building companies. The award recognizes a person who exemplifies the ideals of free enterprise through any combination of entrepreneurship, governmental involvement, participation in civic and charitable affairs, and education.

Smith, whose name is synonymous with Blue Raider baseball, is active in community affairs and has won numerous awards for his public service. He attended MTSU and earned three varsity baseball letters and played on the team that won the 1976 Ohio Valley Conference championship.

He serves on the MTSU President's Council, is a former Blue Raider Athletic Association board member and in 2004 was inducted into the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame. Smith led the effort to raise $5 million to build a new MTSU baseball stadium named after his father, Reese L. Smith Jr.

An avid horseman, Smith has served as board member and president of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association. As a rider, he has won 10 world championships and, in 1992, was named Amateur World Grand Champion. A man of diverse interests and skills,
Smith also served as national finance co-chair for Lamar Alexander's presidential campaigns and for Alexander's U.S. Senate bid in 2008.

The conference will dismiss at 1:15 p.m.

The MTSU Economic Outlook Conference is co-sponsored by the Jones College, the Jones Chair in Free Enterprise, the Business and Economic Research Center and the Jack O. Weatherford Chair of Finance.

For more information, call the Jones College at 615-898-2764. The Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center is located at 1200 Conference Center Blvd. in Murfreesboro.


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In Brief: School-supply drive is ON!

Help MTSU beat Austin Peay off the gridiron, too! Collect school supplies for Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City students; the winning university will be announced at the Peay game at Floyd Stadium Saturday, Sept. 11. Turn in your donations by 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, in bins across campus. For more information, email sgaphil@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-5812.

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For the Record: Winning scholarships is a collective effort

by Laura Clippard

Since coming to the Undergraduate Fellowships Office in fall 2008, I have realized that the old African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child,"; applies also to winning national scholarships. It takes the entire MTSU community to recruit, encourage and guide students toward achievement at the national level, a fact made clear by the recent announcements of several Fulbright Scholars from the university. I would like to thank everyone who assisted with the promotion, recruitment, interviews and review of last year's students. Because of your support, we have had our best year ever.

Part of the challenge is to identify the right students at the right time to apply. One frustration is to meet wonderful students and realize that they missed the timeline for application. For example, the Truman Fellowship requires students to apply during their junior year; that's just one example of why we need MTSU to be on alert for freshman and sophomore students with excellent leadership skills.

As the academic adviser for the University Honors College, I work directly with about 800 students, but I see many others on campus who do not take honors classes but also are eligible for fellowships.

Here are a few suggestions on how faculty and staff can help students continue their educations via undergraduate fellowships:

  • Make announcements in your classes from the UFO;
  • Forward informational emails from the UFO to your students and post them in your PipelineMT announcements;
  • Send us names and contact information for potential scholarship candidates;
  • Volunteer to read one or multiple fellowship essays, depending on your time commitments;
  • Serve on a student interview committee; and/or
  • Invite the UFO to do a presentation to your faculty committee or even your class.


The UFO will work with students interested in a variety of competitive undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities. We are especially interested in promoting the following:

  • Fulbright Fellowships—designed to promote international understanding through study or teaching abroad for a year. Applicants must expect to have bachelors' degrees by the time they begin their assignment. Foreign language facility and contact with a foreign scholar often are required; some countries are less competitive than others. Fulbright also sponsors summer institutes for college freshmen and sophomores in England;
  • Goldwater Scholarships—available for sophomores and juniors majoring in math, engineering or the natural sciences, these awards are designed for individuals who have already participated in undergraduate research who are planning to pursue postgraduate education in these areas (not generally given to students who plan to go to medical school);
  • Harry S. Truman Scholarships—college juniors may apply for these very competitive awards, which are tailored to students who plan to spend a career in public service;
  • Morris K. Udall Scholarships—open to Native American college sophomores and juniors or to individuals interested in environmental studies or tribal public policies;
  • George J. Mitchell Scholarships—open to graduating seniors interested in graduate study in Ireland;
  • Marshall Fellowship Program—provides two academic years of advanced study in the United Kingdom in a wide variety of areas (40 awarded each year);
  • Rhodes Scholarships—provides a scholarship for a graduating senior to spend two years at Oxford University (extremely competitive; no more than one nominee per institution); and
  • USA Today Academic Teams—recognize 20 students per year per team throughout the United States for outstanding achievement and leadership.


If you know outstanding students, please encourage them to complete the UFO Interest Form by the end of their sophomore year. Faculty, staff and students can email me at lclippar@mtsu.edu, call at 615-898-5464, or stop by Room 227 in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building.

Laura Clippard is the academic adviser for the University Honors College and serves as coordinator in the college's Undergraduate Fellowships Office. For more details about the UFO, visit the office's website.


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Foundation celebrates 17 faculty members' service

The MTSU Foundation celebrated 17 faculty members for their "outstanding work and the services they provide to our students"; with special awards Aug. 27 at the Fall Faculty Meeting in Tucker Theatre.

Recognized by Foundation President Murray Martin, the award honorees included:

  • Outstanding Teaching—Drs. Mohammed A. Albakry, English; Jessica Gentry Carter, agribusiness and agriscence; Richard S. Farley, health and human performance; Soraya C. Noguiera, foreign language and literature; and M. Wayne Rollins, business communication and entrepreneurship;
  • Outstanding Achievement in Instructional Technology—Nathan E. Adam, recording industry; Amy Macy, recording industry; and Dr. Debra Rose Wilson (nursing);
  • Public Service—Drs. Mark Byrnes, political science and interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts; Jennifer Caputo, health and human performance; and Dovie Kimmins, mathematical sciences;
  • Distinguished Research—Drs. Scott T. Handy, chemistry, and Stephen M. Wright, biology;
  • Creative Activity—Dr. Joseph L. Akins, recording industry;
  • Special Projects—Dr. Rebecca Conard, history/public history, and Leon Alligood, journalism; and
  • Career Achievement—Dr. Gary P. Wulfsberg, chemistry professor emeritus.

For more information on the MTSU Foundation's Faculty Awards, including how to nominate a faculty member for the 2010-11 awards, visit the Provost website. 


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Feel the 'Vibrations of Laughter' at 1-woman performance

Renowned actress Estelle Condra will bring the brilliant and determined teacher of author-activist Helen Keller to life in an hourlong, one-woman performance, "Vibrations of Laughter: The Story of Annie Sullivan,"; on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 9:40 a.m. in MTSU's Tucker Theatre.

The program is free and will be open to the public.

Condra's research into Sullivan's pre-Keller life led her to create a dramatic work that shares insights into the "teacher of all teachers"; via four different characters:

  • Megan Briggs, a resident of the Tewksbury, Mass., asylum/poorhouse where Sullivan and her little brother were dumped as orphans;
  • Isabella Braddy, a student at the Perkins School for the Blind, where Sullivan finally started her education as an illiterate 14-year-old;
  • Olivia Anagnos, wife of the principal at the Perkins School; and
  • Sullivan herself, "speaking"; from the garden house of the Keller home in Tuscumbia, Ala., where she changed Keller's life in an event immortalized in the classic play and film "The Miracle Worker.";

"I'm honoredto share this important story through my one-woman drama for the advent of Disability Awareness Month,"; said Condra, a keynote performance artist and author who spent her early career in South Africa and England and now lives in Tennessee.

"I'm totally blind and have the privilege, as an actress who is blind, to celebrate and remember the lives of two inspiring women who overcame serious impediments.";

The dramatization's title is inspired by the true miracle of how Sullivan brought laughter into the life of her student, who had never seen or heard others laugh because of the childhood illness that left her deaf and blind, Condra said.

"Vibrations of Laughter"; is presented by VSA Tennessee in partnership with the MTSU Speech and Theatre through a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission.For more information, contact Lori Kissinger at userk7706@comcast.net or 615-826-5252.


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Komen on the Go takes detour through MTSU Sept.9

MTSU Health Promotion will serve as host to the Komen on the Go breast-cancer awareness tour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, said Lisa Schrader, director of the office and organizer of the event."

Representatives from Susan G. Komen approached us about adding a stop at MTSU for the Komen on the Go national tour,"; Schrader said.

"We felt it was in keeping with Health Promotion's goal to create an environment that promotes preventive health practices, and it will give the campus community a great opportunity to engage in a campaign addressing breast cancer, which touches so many families personally.";

The tour involves a traveling pink trailer with interactive games and activities to teach visitors about the global breast-cancer movement, life-saving recommendations, information on supporting loved ones and ways to get engaged and involved, Schrader said.

The trailer will be set up in the gravel lot on the north side of the Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center, she said.

Schrader added that organizers will "use this opportunity to sign up individuals and teams for the Raider Walk for the Cure,"; a breast-cancer walk taking place on campus on Friday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m. Details will be announced soon about the logistics of that event, she said.

Exhibit-day highlights include:

  • Komen on the Go's arrival in the eye-catching trailer that opens into an interactive learning center, outfitted with computer stations, flat screens and computer kiosks;
  • participants' opportunity to learn about Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the global movement, life-saving recommendations about breast-health awareness and more; and
  • a free drawstring backpack and information about breast self-awareness for each visitor.

For more information about the MTSU event, contact Schrader by calling 615-494-8704 or email thomason@mtsu.edu. For more information on the Komen organization, visit www.komen.org/go .


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Ag volunteers have 'grape' time making juice for veterans

from Staff Reports

School of Agriculture Professor Tony Johnston and an ag student volunteered their time Aug. 23 to help residents press 200 pounds of grapes at the Tennessee State Veterans Home on Compton Road in Murfreesboro.

The grapes came from the university vineyard at the Rutherford County Extension Office on John Rice Boulevard, said Johnston, who specializes in enology and viticulum. Johnston led the project.

"We used a small table-top press that can accommodate two gallons of fruit,"; Johnston said. "The residents of the veterans' home will use the juice to make jelly.";

The veterans' home residents and staff said they deeply appreciated the volunteers' efforts

"Words will never be able to express the joy that our veterans had with your students during our pressing of the grapes,"; Barbara Cochran, director of activities at the veterans' home, wrote in an email to Johnston. "The veterans were busy with their hands and minds as they spoke of days gone by, remembering when they made jelly at home.

"We appreciate those who picked the grapes for us and those who stayed with our veterans through the process for many hours. Today as I visited with our veterans, I heard so many stating what a good time we all had together preparing the grapes, and they can't wait to taste the final product.";

Cochran said this is just the "kind of activity we at the Veterans Home are looking for to engage our veterans in to make them feel more alive, useful and able to assist their community. Everyone needs to feel needed during the day, and thanks to your work and the dedication of MTSU students, you made that happen ...

"On behalf of all the staff and veterans, we greatly appreciate MTSU for sharing the fruits of your labor with us. We would love to help you in any projects you might have in the future. Please come and visit with us again real soon.";

Holly Baggett, a freshman agribusiness major from Fayetteville and a Motlow State Community College transfer, called volunteering at the Veterans' Home "a very fulfilling experience.";

"Just being a part of an activity, such as making jelly alongside the veterans and their spouses who live there, was an eye-opener for me,"; Baggett said.

"I enjoy spending time with them, and I really believe that they really enjoyed that a younger person was willing to sit with them and listen to their stories. Just being able to bring a smile to each one of their faces was heartwarming. It was really nice to give back to the people who gave so much to our country.";


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Tasty fish a 'Grand Slam' for Oct. 11 baseball fundraiser

from MT Athletic Communications

Grab a napkin and save room for the hush puppies! The annual Grand Slam Fish Fry fundraiser for Middle Tennessee baseball will take place on Monday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. at MTSU's Tennessee Livestock Center.

The event once again will feature country whole fried catfish with all the trimmings, prepared by Shelbyville's own "Big Hoss"; Cartwright, and authentic Cajun gumbo by Louisiana transplant and Blue Raider legend John Stanford, as well as hot dogs for the kids. The Russ and Becky Jeffers Country Band from the Jack Daniel Distillery will be on hand for the evening's entertainment.

"We have fried more than 600 pounds of catfish and 50 gallons of gumbo the last three years,"; said Steve Peterson, head baseball coach.

"The Fish Fry is one of our biggest events of the year. We have been hosting it since 1984, and each year it gets bigger and better. It's a great way to socialize with everyone and raise money for the baseball program. With great food, fun and entertainment, it's certainly an event you don't want to miss.";

Tickets are $20 at the door. Children 6 years old and younger will be admitted free.

Tickets are available at the Middle Tennessee Ticket Office, located at Gate 1A of Floyd Stadium and the Blue Raider Athletic Association's office in Murphy Center.

Patrons can mail checks, payable to Middle Tennessee Baseball Fish Fry, in care of Peterson at MTSU Box 90, 1301 E. Main St., Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132. For more information, please call 615-898-2210 or 615-898-2450.


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Make appointments now for TIAA-CREF counseling

MTSU employees with TIAA-CREF accounts can meet this month and in October with a representative on campus for individual counseling sessions, Human Resource Services officials said.

Meetings will be held in Room 313 of the Keathley University Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 21;
  • Wednesday, Sept. 22;
  • Tuesday, Oct. 12;
  • Wednesday, Oct. 13; and
  • Thursday, Oct. 21.

Employees must contact TIAA's Elaine Hostetter directly at 866-842-2336 to schedule their appointments in advance, HR officials said. Employees should to book their appointments early, because peak times are filled quickly.


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Feel like getting more fit this fall? Campus Rec has answer

Want a fitness program just for faculty and staff? Join the Faculty and Staff Wellness Program at MTSU. The full program for the entire semester runs Tuesday, Sept. 7, to Friday, Dec. 3.
If you prefer a shorter version, sign up for Session A—Sept. 7 to Oct. 13—or for Session B —Oct. 20 to Dec. 3.

Cost is $175 for the full program and $100 each for session A or B.

If you want to take control of your body, join your fellow students, faculty, staff and recreation members to "Get Fit and Stay Fit!"; A $50 fee gets a program designed for your needs, an aerobics pass good for 30 classes, a fitness assessment and more. Sign up anytime this fall in the Campus Recreation Office.

If you love to dance and to swim, Aquatic Moves and Grooves is the place for you. The first session begins Sept. 7. The second session begins Monday, Oct. 4, with an Oct. 1 sign-up deadline, and the third session starts Monday, Nov. 1 (Oct. 29 sign-up deadline). The fee is $24 for each monthly session, and classes meet Monday through Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m.

If you've wanted to run a half-marathon but never had the courage, your chance is now with the Half-Marathon Training Program. It includes 12 weeks of Saturday runs at 11 a.m. and a weekly schedule for an advised running plan. The cost is $50 per person, and the program runs from Saturday, Sept 11, to Saturday, Dec. 4. Participants must be able to run at least three miles when they begin the class.

If you're looking for a convenient class that will whip you into shape, come join students, faculty, staff and Rec Center members for Fall 2010 Boot Camp. Classes are offered Monday through Friday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. Cost is $50 per person.

And if you're tired of being a couch potato, train to run with the Couch to 5K Program. Six weeks of Saturday runs at 10 a.m. will be held from Sept. 11 to Oct. 23 along with a weekly schedule for an advised running plan. Cost is $25 per person.

For more information about any of the programs, call Campus Recreation at 615-898-2104, stop by the office in the Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center or visit the website at www.mtsu.edu/camprec . You also can read the back-to-school edition of the Rec Report online at http://bit.ly/MTRecReport .


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Harris takes basketball operations director's post

from MT Athletic Communications

Rick Insell, Middle Tennessee head women's basketball coach, has announced the appointment of Mariska Harris as the program's director of operations for the upcoming 2010-11 campaign.

"She is a great addition who gives us another look on things,"; Insell said. "The way she is able to communicate with our players and other coaches, along with her passion and work ethic, are unbelievable. When I witnessed her in camp … her rapport with the campers and our players was good, and that is when I decided that I wanted her to be a part of the Lady Raider basketball program. We are excited about her coming on board.";

Harris, a Midstate native, played at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, where she was a 2007 and 2008 NAIA All-American and Academic All-American. She played for four straight NAIA National Tournament squads, including the 2008 national runner-up, where she garnered first-team all-tournament recognition.

"I am really excited about getting started and coming on board,"; Harris said. "Coach Insell has really turned this program around in the five years he has been here, becoming one of the top programs in the nation. I am excited about being a part of it and his vision for what he wants in terms of its growth.";

Harris comes to Murfreesboro after serving as a varsity basketball coach and wellness teacher at Independence High in Thompson Station, Tenn. She has a variety of other camp experience as a coach and counselor, including the 2007 and 2008 Pat Head Summitt Overnight and Day Camps.


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People Around Campus: 'PopMaster Fabel' Pabon to offer personal perspective on hip-hop history Sept. 7

by Gina K. Logue

Hip-hop dancer, choreographer, activist and historian Jorge "PopMaster Fabel"; Pabon will show part of his new documentary, "Apache Line: From Gangs to Hip-Hop,"; at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, in the State Farm Lecture Hall, Room S102, of MTSU's Business and Aerospace Building.

The event is free and open to the public.

The film, which will be followed by a question-and-answer period with Pabon, offers an insider's view of the New York street culture that preceded what has come to be known as hip-hop. Afrika Bambaataa, T.KID 170 and INK 76 are among the icons interviewed in the movie.

"We scheduled this event especially because of the recent dialogue about gangs in the community, and we hope it will contribute to a positive conversation,"; says Dr. Felicia Miyakawa, associate professor of musicology, assistant director of the MTSU School of Music and faculty adviser for the MTSU B-Boy/ B-Girl Club.

A native of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Pabon co-authored, co-directed and co-choreographed the first two hip-hop musicals, "So! What Happens Now?"; and "Jam on the Groove."; He won the 1991 Bessie Award for choreography along with fellow members of the Rhythm Technicians and the Rock Steady crew.

Some of his dancing credits include Lincoln Center's "Serious Fun!";, PBS's "Great Performances 20th Anniversary Special,"; the 1994 American-Japan Festival sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and the 1983 and 1991 Kennedy Center Honors events.

Pabon served as a consultant, moderator, panelist and writer for "The Hip-Hop Nation: Roots, Rhyme and Rage,"; an exhibit and conference at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1999. In 2001, he addressed delegates at the United Nations' "Hip-Hop Conference for Peace.";

As adjunct professor at New York University, Pabon teaches movement in the Experimental Theater Wing of the college's Tisch School of the Arts. In addition, he leads workshops and teaches master classes for numerous schools, universities, community groups and dance studios.

"He has been part of it since the beginning,"; says Miyakawa. "He started as a writer, B-Boy and DJ. He also gives us the benefit of a research-based perspective on hip-hop history. He's a walking encyclopedia.";

In addition to the documentary viewing, Pabon will speak to Miyakawa's "Hip-Hop Music and Culture"; class and will lead a B-Boy/B-girl workshop during his time on campus. Video of Pabon in action is available at http://bit.ly/Pabon1 and http://bit.ly/Pabon2 .

Pabon's visit to MTSU is sponsored by the Distinguished Lecture Fund, the MTSU School of Music, the Center for Popular Music and the Department of Recording Industry.

For more information, contact Miyakawa at 615-904-8043 or miyakawa@mtsu.edu.





MUSIC MAN—Jorge "PopMaster Fabel"; Pabon, a dancer, choreographer and hip-hop historian, will show part of his documentary "Apache Line: From Gangs to Hip-Hop"; at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, in the State Farm Lecture Hall (BAS S102).

photo submitted

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Faculty/Staff Update

Awards

Dr. Albert Ogden (geosciences) received the special President's Certificate of Appreciation Award from the National Speleological Society in August for his rock-and-roll band's performances at the society's annual convention for the last 25 years. The group expressed thanks "to a unique group of cavers who have come together for 25 years providing music and entertainment to the delight of National Convention attendees."; A number of the songs performed are Ogden's original compositions; he sings lead and plays guitar in the band.

Conferences

Dr. David Lavery (English) spoke on "'We Do the Weird Stuff': The Naughty Side of Joss Whedon" at WhedonFest 2010, a conference celebrating the work of famed "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"; director/writer Joss Whedon, Aug. 6-8 at the Barefoot Republic Campground in Scottsville, Ky. Lavery was mentioned as "the father of Buffy studies"; in a July 30 USA Today article about the event, which also benefited several charities.

Media

Dr. Pat Spangler (Student Health Services) was a guest on the "Health and Today's Woman"; program with Dr. Kelly Williams on WTVF NewsChannel 5+. The program aired several times in August and again on Sept. 1.

Panels

Professor Marc J. Barr (electronic media communication) was the organizer and moderator for two panels held at the 2010 SIGGRAPH Conference for specialists in computer graphics and interactive techniques July 25-29 in Los Angeles. Parts One and Two of "20XX.Edu: Grand Challenges in Education"; gathered individuals from industry and government agencies, including Nokia, the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts as well as other academics from various U.S. institutions to discuss the future of learning in the digital age. Barr also served as a juror for a program sponsored by Disney Research, the Disney Learning Challenge, at the conference.

Personnel Changes

James T. Havron Jr. (Albert Gore Research Center) is the new archivist for the Gore Center. He comes to MTSU from the special collections area of the Nashville Public Library and has also worked at the Grand Ole Opry Museum and the Tennessee State Library and Archives. In 2009, he earned a Master of Arts degree in history with a concentration in archives management from MTSU.

Presentations

Drs. Mark Anshel (health and human performance) and Tom Brinthaupt (psychology) and doctoral candidate Chris Dickson (HHP) presented a paper at the American Psychological Association Conference in San Diego Aug. 12-15 on "Effect of a 10-week Wellness Intervention on Long-Term Adherence Among University Employees"; as part of a symposium on "Effective Interventions for Promoting Exercise Participation and Adherence Among Different Populations—Applied Exercise Psychology."; Anshel chaired the symposium.

Professor Marc J. Barr (electronic media communication) gave two invited lectures to students and faculty from various Chinese colleges and universities participating in the China National Center for Developing Animation Cartoon and Gaming Industry at the Shanghai Animation and Comics Museum in Shanghai, China, on July 7 and 10, respectively. Barr also participated in the sixth Chinese International Cartoons and Games Exposition held at the Shanghai Exhibition Center.

Dr. Albert Ogden (geosciences) premiered his new educational video, "Karst Topography: A Unique and Fragile Environment,"; at the geology session of the annual convention of the National Speleological Society Aug. 3 in Essex Junction, Vt. Ty Whitaker and Pat Jackson (Audio/Visual Services) edited the video, and Dr. Bob Pondillo (electronic media communication) narrated. On Aug. 4, Ogden gave a presentation, "Cave Discoveries in South-Central, Cebu Islands, The Philippines,"; at the International Exploration Section of the convention. He and his Filipino caver friends discovered ancient burial pots filled with human bones, documenting more than 25 new caves and mapping some.

Publications

Dr. Debra Wilson (nursing) reviewed As Time Goes By by Abigail Trafford, which will be published in Activities, Adaptation, & Aging Journal, 34(3).

Workshops

Dr. Zachariah Sinkala (mathematical sciences) attended the Ohio State University Mathematical Biosciences Institute-Mathematical Endocrinology Workshop Aug. 9-13 in Columbus, Ohio.

Campus Calendar, Sept. 6-19

Please note: Event dates, times and locations may change after press time. Please verify specifics when making plans.

TV Schedule: "Middle Tennessee Record";
Cable Channel 9: Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m., 5 p.m.
NewsChannel 5+: Sundays, 1:30 p.m.
Visit www.mtsunews.com for other cable-outlet airtimes or www.youtube.com/mtsunews for a complete show archive.

Radio Schedule: "MTSU On the Record";
8 a.m. Sundays, WMOT 89.5-FM
Podcasts available anytime at www.mtsunews.com .

Sports @ Home
Sept. 10-11: Volleyball—Middle Tennessee Invitational
Sept. 10 vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m.; Sept. 11 vs. UAB, 10:30 a.m., Sept. 11 vs. Albany, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 11: Football vs. Austin Peay, 6 p.m.
For information, visit www.goblueraiders.com .

Monday, Sept. 6
Labor Day Holiday
No classes; university offices closed.

Tuesday, Sept. 7
Volunteer Fair
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Keathley University Center Courtyard
For information, contact: 615-898-2454.

Jorge "PopMaster Fabel"; Pabon, "Apache Line: From Gangs to Hip-Hop";
7 p.m., Room S102, Business and Aerospace Building (State Farm Lecture Hall)
For information, see page 8 or contact: 615-904-8043.

Wednesday, Sept. 8
Student Organization Fair
10 a.m.-2 p.m., KUC Courtyard
For information, contact: 615-898-2454.

Free Graduate Record Exam Introductory Workshop
4:30-6 p.m., Room 106, Honors Amphitheatre
For information, contact: 615-898-2840 or 615-898-2152.

Thursday, Sept. 9
Komen on the Go Breast-Cancer Awareness Tour
9 a.m.-3 p.m., Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center
For information, see page 3 or contact: 615-494-8704.

Retired Faculty/Staff Coffee
9:30 a.m., Foundation House
For information, contact: 615-898-2922.

Campus Memorial Service for Dr. John N. McDaniel
4:30 p.m., Hinton Music HallFor information, contact: 615-494-7628.

Friday, Sept. 10
Faculty Piano Recital: Lynn Rice-See
8 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
For information, visit www.mtsumusic.com or contact: 615-898-2493

Sept. 11-12
Heart of Tennessee Exotic Bird Fair
Tennessee Livestock Center
For information, contact: 615-890-5212.

Tennessee Pony of the Americas Club Show
Tennessee Livestock Center
For information, contact: 615-896-8728.

Saturday, Sept. 11
Blue Raider Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Induction Ceremony
3:30 p.m., Kennon Sports Hall of Fame (before the game)
For information, visit www.goblueraiders.com .

Sunday, Sept. 12
Faculty Oboe Recital: Laura Ann Ross
3 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
For information, visit www.mtsumusic.com or contact: 615-898-2493.

Monday, Sept. 13
Fall Honors Lecture Series—Dr. Guanping Zheng, "Women's Secret Script in Small Villages of Southern China";
3-3:55 p.m., Room 106, Honors Amphitheatre
For information, contact: 615-898-2152.

MTSU Music: Guest Flutist Molly Barth
6 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
For information, visit www.mtsumusic.com or contact: 615-898-2493.

Tuesday, Sept. 14
Elizabeth Davidson, "Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Literary Soldier";
9:40 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Tucker Theatre
No admission charge; suitable for teens and adults
For information, visit http://bit.ly/BeecherStowe .

Faculty Senate Meeting
4:30 p.m., Room 100, James Union Building
For information, visit the Faculty Senate website or contact: 615-898-2582.

Thursday, Sept. 16
Constitution Day Celebration
Screen printing by Printer's Proof, voter registration and Constitution signing,
9 a.m.-4 p.m., KUC Knoll;
Constitution printing on the Franklin replica press,
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Walker Library
For information, email amerdem@mtsu.edu or visit their website. 

Faculty Recital: H. Stephen Smith, voice; Lynn Rice-See, piano
8 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
For information, visit www.mtsumusic.com or contact: 615-898-2493.

Sept. 17-18
National Spotted Saddle Horse Show
Tennessee Livestock Center
For information, contact: 615-890-2864.

Sept. 17-19
Music City Arabian Horse Show
Miller Coliseum
For information, visit www.mtaha.com .

Friday, Sept. 17
Reading of the U.S. Constitution
10 a.m., KUC Knoll
For information, email amerdem@mtsu.edu or visit their website. 

Sunday, Sept. 19
Faculty Organ Recital: Angela Tipps
3 p.m., Hinton Music Hall
For information, visit www.mtsumusic.com or contact: 615-898-2493.