W elcome to MTSU, new stu-dents and faculty. Welcomeback, returning students

and faculty who have been away sinceearly May.

Classes begin Monday, Aug. 28,for the approximately 23,200 studentsand more than 900 faculty ready to hitthe fall semester and 2006-07 academ-ic year running.

“We should be very close to23,200,” said Dr. Bob Glenn, vice pres-ident of student affairs and viceprovost for enrollment management,referring to what would be about a3 percent increase in enrollment.

From President Sidney A. McPheeto Vice President and Provost KayleneGebert to Glenn, everyone across cam-pus anticipates an exciting year ofgrowth and opportunity.

A full complement of Week ofWelcome activities began with theAug. 25-26 We-Haul (helping studentsmove into dormitories) and will endWednesday, Sept. 6, with the StudentOrganization Fair, set from 10 a.m.

RAIDER FANS CAN TUNE IN TONEW FLAGSHIP STATION: 106.7 FM

WNFN 106.7 FM—The Fan will beNashville’s flagship radio affiliate forthe Blue Raider Network beginning withthe 2006-07 season. The agreement is aone-year deal with the option to renewfor a second season. The Nashville-based ESPN all-sports station will carryall Blue Raider football and men’s bas-ketball games live, along with a selectnumber of women’s basketball contests.The agreement also calls for 106.7 TheFan to air the Rick Stockstill and KermitDavis radio shows. For more informa-tion, visit www.goblueraiders.com.

TECTA SETS TRAINING CLASSESFOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS

The Tennessee Early ChildhoodTraining Alliance, a statewide trainingprogram for child-care providers inlicensed or registered settings, hasscheduled its latest 30-hour infant andtoddler care training classes. TECTA’sInfant-Toddler Orientation Class No. 1begins Saturday, Sept. 16, and continueson Sept. 30, Oct. 14 and 28 and Nov. 4.The course runs from 7:15 a.m. until 3p.m. each Saturday in Ellington HumanSciences Room 109 and is limited to anenrollment of 30 students. The course isfree and open to all who pre-registerbefore the first class meeting. The Infant-Toddler Orientation Class No. 2, whichwill meet in EHS 110, has the sameschedule and requirements. For moreinformation and to preregister, call 615-904-8318.

IACUC, IRB SCHEDULE MEETINGSIN SEPTEMBER AT GORE CENTER

The university’s InstitutionalAnimal Care and Use Committee willmeet Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 9 a.m. in theGore Center Conference Room. MTSU’SInstitutional Review Board meetsTuesday, Sept. 12, at 8 a.m. in the samelocation. For more information aboutthese meetings, contact universityCompliance Officer Tara Prairie at 615-494-8918 or compliance@mtsu.edu.

STORY IDEAS? NEWS TIPS?SEND ‘EM TO THE RECORD

Have you or your students made adiscovery, solved a quandary or reacheda milestone? Share it with our readers!E-mail your news to gfann@mtsu.edu.

www.mtsunews.com

a publication for the Middle Tennessee State University community Aug. 28, 2006 • Vol. 15/No. 4

PRE-SORTEDFIRST CLASS MAILU.S. POSTAGE PAID

MURFREESBORO TNPERMIT NO. 16

IN BRIEF

Cultural experienceTraining helps officersbetter serve communitysee page 3

Honor their service5K event will raise fundsfor new veterans memorialsee page 8

Thoughtful topic‘Natural Disasters’ are focusof Fall Honors Lecture Seriessee page 6

F aculty who are teaching anexperiential learning coursein fall 2006 should attend a

faculty development sessionTuesday, Aug. 29, from 3 until 4p.m. in Peck Hall 106, according toDr. Jill Austin, EXL steering com-mittee chair.

“This is a general discussion ofexpectations for EXL classes, use ofrubrics for assessment and reflec-tion requirements for EXL classes,”

See ‘WOW!’ page 5

from Staff Reports

See ‘EXL’ page 5

by Randy Weiler

Ready to return

LAST-MINUTE LINE—Students and parents waitoutside MTSU's FinancialAid Office to meet the Aug.17 fee payment deadline forthe fall 2006 semester.Financial Aid processedmore than 500 students perday—an average greaterthan one per minute—dur-ing the week of Aug. 17. Inthe inset photo, junior busi-ness administration majorChase McGee awaits his feetally from Sondra Rooker, aBusiness Office retiree whoreturned to help accept stu-dent payments. To ease thewait in the final hours, theBusiness Office iced down acart full of soft drinks andbottled water for studentsstanding in line.

photos by News & Public Affairs

MTSU preparingfor 1st-ever 23K+fall enrollment

WOW!

Interested inteaching EXL?Seminars set M TSU’s Department of

Recording Industry hasjoined forces with the

Nashville office of ASCAP—theAmerican Society of Composers,Authors and Publishers—to create anew commercial songwriting pro-gram called “Partners in Craft.”

The program begins this fall atMTSU and will match veteran indus-try songwriting and publishing men-tors with exceptional student song-writers.

Representatives from ASCAP andMTSU’s recording industry programcelebrated the new songwriting pro-gram with an event at the ASCAPbuilding in Nashville on Thursday,

Aug. 24, featuring a performance byMTSU songwriters The Karg Boys.

Partners in Craft grew out of along-standing relationship betweenASCAP and the Department ofRecording Industry, organizers said.

“ASCAP has sent mentors to our[recording industry] program sincethe early days to talk about perform-ance rights and help with songwrit-ing and publishing classes,” saidAssistant Professor Hal Newman,who teaches in the new Partners inCraft program.

“From providing seminars toserving in an advisory capacity,

See ‘ASCAP’ page 7

MT, ASCAP join forcesNew songwriting program

page 2 The Record Aug. 28, 2006

A s the 2006-2007 academic yeargets under way, the MTSUFaculty Senate is working

hard to represent and support the fac-ulty. To start the year off, the Senatepresented revised bylaws for a vote atthe Annual Fall Faculty Meeting.

The revised bylaws clarify manyissues such as officer succession, rep-resentation on the senate and the roleof the Senate Liaison and SteeringCommittees. I am sure all will agreethe revised bylaws are a significantimprovement over the older edition.

One way the Senate representsand supports the fac-ulty is by meetingregularly with theMTSU president andhis staff. At thesemeetings, issues andinformation ofimportance to boththe faculty andadministration of theuniversity are dis-cussed.

In no way are these meetings uni-directional; topics originate from boththe faculty and the administration.The key objective, to maintain a dia-logue between the faculty and admin-istration, is critical to the smooth oper-ation of the university.

Many faculty members are proba-bly not aware that the MTSU facultyhas a pipeline to the Tennessee Boardof Regents through the TBR FacultySubcouncil. Over the last year, wehave been represented by Dan Pfeifer(mass communication), who has donean outstanding job of responding toproposals and raising issues to thesubcouncil that affect our daily aca-demic lives. Many of the faculty “hotbutton” issues that face us (e.g., thecommon academic calendar) areaddressed in this committee. As an ex-officio member of the Faculty Senate,the MTSU TBR Subcouncil representa-tive reports on issues raised at thesemeetings and seeks MTSU facultyissues to be raised on our behalf.

Communication between a repre-sentative body and those it representsis a constant concern, and thatbetween the Faculty Senate and theMTSU faculty is no exception. Thisyear, articles will appear periodicallyin The Record highlighting importantissues discussed by the Faculty Senate.I encourage each of you to quiz yourelected senator as to what is discussedin the Senate meetings, in addition towhat you read in The Record. TheMTSU Faculty Senate is only as rele-vant as you make it.

The Senate will focus on sevenissues this year: faculty research/workload, faculty/staff health and fit-ness, government liaison, MTSU cul-ture, retention/promotion of faculty,shared governance, and StudyAbroad. To assist in the developmentof plans to address these issues, theSenate has established committees oneach of these issues and included bothelected senators as well as volunteerfaculty members. These committees

FFOORR TTHHEE RREECCOORRDD

Faculty Senateneeds your inputto help universityby Dr. Tony Johnston

Johnston

M TSU’s Sept. 14 home game against TennesseeTech will be broadcast on ESPNU, Director ofAthletics Chris Massaro has announced, offer-

ing national TV viewers a chance to see the Blue Raiders’75th meeting with the Golden Eagles.

The development also marks theeighth televised game this season for theBlue Raiders—a record for the program.

“This is one of the oldest rivalries inthe state of Tennessee and we are cer-tainly excited to renew this game,”Massaro said of the MTSU-Tech compe-tition, which is the second home gameon the Blue Raiders’ 2006 schedule.

“It is going to be exciting to bring apart of our storied history together onnational television. It is setting up to be a great night forcollege football.”

The Blue Raiders and Golden Eagles will join theMaryland-West Virginia game as the only nationally tele-vised contests that evening.

MTSU and Tech will be meeting forthe first time since 1998 in a series thatbegan in 1917 with a 26-0 MTSU win.The Blue Raiders lead the overall series35-32-7 and have won 13 of the last 15meetings.

The storied rivalry between the col-leges reportedly began when state legis-lators picked Murfreesboro overCookeville as the home of one of thestate’s three new normal schools,according to the Albert Gore ResearchCenter.

The Blue Raiders will open their2006 season Thursday, Aug. 31, at homeagainst Florida International. The game

will kick off at 6 p.m. and will be shown on ESPNRegional. The rest of the schedule follows (with homegames in bold type and networks noted where appropri-ate):

• Sept. 9: Maryland @ College Park, 5 p.m.• Sept. 14: Tennessee Tech/Faith and Family Day,

6 p.m. (ESPNU)• Sept. 23: Oklahoma @ Norman, time TBA (Fox

Sports)• Sept. 30: North Texas @ Denton, 6:05 p.m. (College

Sports South)• Oct. 6: Louisville @ LP Field, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)• Oct. 21: Louisiana-Monroe @ Monroe, 6 p.m.• Oct. 28: Louisiana-Lafayette @ Lafayette, 4 p.m.• Nov. 4: Florida Atlantic/Homecoming and Hall of

Fame Day, 2:30 p.m. (CSS) • Nov. 11: Arkansas State @ Jonesboro, 2:05 p.m.• Nov. 18: South Carolina @ Columbia, TBA (CSS)• Nov. 25: Troy/Salute to Veterans and Senior Day,

2:30 p.m. (CSS)• Dec. 22: CUSA New Orleans Bowl, 7 p.m.For tickets, contact the MT Ticket Office at 1-888-YES-

MTSU.

Football schedule features 8 TV gamesfrom MT Media Relations

‘TOP 100’ HONOR—Kathy Musselman,assistant vice president for humanresource services, joins MTSU PresidentSidney A. McPhee and John Cothern, sen-ior vice president, in celebrating the uni-versity’s recent inclusion in the NashvilleBusiness Journal’s list of the “Top 100Employers” in the greater Nashville area.The publication recognized employers fortheir employee-friendly practices.

photo by J. Intintoli

A great place to work

E ducator, coach, referee andMTSU alumnus W.R. “Jack”Yearwood (B.S. ’48), who will

be honored Nov. 4 in the 31st classinducted into the Blue Raider Hall ofFame, died July 11 at his home inBartow, Fla. He was 81 years old.

A graduate of Isaac Litton HighSchool in Nashville, Mr. Yearwoodwas recruited by Middle TennesseeCoach “Wink” Midgett for the fall of1942 and played in every quarter ofevery football game that season,playing both offense and defense.

He left school when World War IIbegan, proudly serving his countryas a member of the Army’s 20thArmored Division. While fighting in

southern France in December 1944,he was captured and held in aGerman POW camp for five monthsbefore escaping. He received numer-ous medals, including the PurpleHeart and Bronze Star.

Mr. Yearwood returned to MTSUto finish his education and play foot-ball and baseball. He was an all-conference performer for both of hislast two years in football and wasnamed to “Who’s Who in America’sColleges” in 1948.

He earned his bachelor’s degreein 1948 and earned a master’s degreefrom Peabody College. Mr. Yearwoodthen taught and coached in Tenne-ssee and Florida, retiring from coach-ing in 1974 and teaching until 1983.He continued to officiate both basket-

ball and baseball games on a regularbasis after his retirement.

Mr. Yearwood was a member ofthe F&A Masonic Lodge inHawthorne, Fla. He was a 32nddegree member of the Scottish RiteShriners of Tampa, the Sons of theConfederate Veterans, DisabledAmerican Veterans and the AmericanLegion Post No. 3. He also was amember of the 45th Infantry DivisionAssociation.

Mr. Yearwood, who was aBaptist, was preceded in death by hiswife, Ruth Perry Yearwood. He issurvived by a daughter, two sons, abrother and four grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to theAmerican Cancer Society, 809 S.Florida Ave., Lakeland, Fla., 33801.

Hall of Fame inductee Yearwood diesfrom Staff Reports

Massaro

M TSU vs. Tennessee Tech:It’s the Thursday, Sept.14 football game and

Sept. 12-13 blood drive!MTSU will compete against its

longtime Ohio Valley Conferencerival to see which school can“pump up” the most blood, organ-izers said.

MT Athletics and the Student

Government Association are fullybehind the Red Cross blood drive,which is scheduled from 10 a.m.until 4 p.m. both days in KUCRoom 322.

Anyone 17 and over in goodhealth with a valid ID can donate.

For more information, callJennifer Kirk, KUC event coordina-tor, at 615-898-2590.

Beat Tech in blood drive, too

See ‘Faculty’ page 6

D ue to an expanding Hispanic presence in the middleTennessee area, MTSU’s Sgt. Steve Scott recentlycalled on an old friend, Rebecca Parker, to help edu-

cate Department of Public Safety officers and others onHispanic culture.

“One of the reasons I wanted her to teach this class is thattoo often, people in law enforcement who have taken twoyears of Spanish think they can be called ‘instructors,’” Scottsaid.

“Not only do they not have the accent correct, but theyalso have the wrong interpretation.”

Parker grew up in South America and moved to MiddleTennessee at the age of 18, so there should be little questionabout her interpretation of both the Hispanic and Anglo cul-tures.

“There were no Hispanics in Tennessee when I firstarrived here,” she said. “Then the migrant farm workers camein, and boom: hospitals, doctors and law-enforcement agenciescould not communicate.”

During this time, Parker was a supervisor in the mainte-nance department at MTSU.

“Because people like Sgt. Scott started asking me, ‘How doyou say this?’ or ‘How do you say that?’, I started teachingothers about the Hispanic culture,” she recalled.

Parker then began to write explanatory notes, instructionsand reminders on napkins. Those napkins turned into papers,and those papers turned into a manual, which she now uses toteach her class, “Straightforward Spanish for LawEnforcement.”

“It’s a basic manual to teach law enforcement agencies onhow to cope with the influx of the Hispanic influence that has come within thepast five years,” said Parker. “You cannot become fluent in one week. Thisgives you the basics and deals deeply in the culture.”

During the training sessions, officers learn the basic mechanics of Spanish.Parker also teaches the officers how to handle certain situations and miscon-ceptions.

“Hispanics have a very small ‘bubble’ (of physical space),” said Parker,“meaning they like to be close to each other. Sometimes that makes manyAmericans nervous.”

Citing another example, Parker noted that “in the American culture, ‘shifty

eyes’ are a sign that someone is not paying attention or couldn’t care less whatwe are saying. Yet in the Hispanic culture, ‘shifty eyes’ are a sign of respect.”

In the training sessions, Parker covers just about everything, from conju-gating verbs to even taking the officers out to lunch and making them order inSpanish.

“The training session was not just for MTSU police. Our target audiencewas not and is not just MTSU,” Scott explained. “We host special schools hereon campus for law enforcement for other departments as well. We don’t justexist for our own well-being.

“We try to do this extra training to benefit law enforcement in Murfrees-boro, Rutherford County and surrounding counties.”

The Record Aug. 28, 2006 page 3

F ormer MTSU All-AmericanFred Niemeyer is scheduledto attend the 20th annual

Wally Tidwell Pro-Am Classic at theBuck Bouldin Tennis Center Fridayand Saturday, Sept. 8-9.

There will be men’s andwomen’s divisions with a doublesround robin format for the pro-am.All amateurs will be teamed with acurrent or former MT tennis teammember or an area teaching pro.

There will be a dinner party,tennis clinic and exhibition featur-ing current and former tennis greatson Friday, Sept. 8. The doublesround robins will take place onSaturday, Sept. 9, followed by alunch and awards ceremony.

This event is the only fund-raiser for the MTSU tennis pro-gram. Anyone interested in partici-pating as a player or sponsor maycontact Director of Tennis DaleShort at 615-898-2957.

Those who cannot participatemay still donate. A minimum dona-tion of $100 to the tennis programreceives an official MT Tennis hatand t-shirt along with Blue RaiderAthletic Association membershipcredit.

Cultural training helps officers serve communityby Jamil Price

MT All-AmericanNiemeyer to join Tidwell Pro-Amfrom Staff Reports

MORE THAN ‘SE HABLA ESPANOL’—Instructor Rebecca Parker, center, shares ideas during her"Straightforward Spanish for Law Enforcement" seminar as MTSU Officer Adam Wortman, right fore-ground, and Sharon Lamberi of the Williamson County Sheriff's Department listen.

photo by Jamil Price

D r. Sekou M. Franklin, assis-tant professor of political sci-ence, recently traveled to

Venezuela as part of his information-gathering efforts for a book chapterthat he is authoring.

Franklin said his 10-day sojournyielded an abundance of data for theedited book project,which will focus onAfrican-Americans,race and theVenezuelan experience.

“My trip focusedspecifically on Afro-Venezuelan issues,”explained Franklin,who visited with lead-ers and activists of theAfro-VenezuelanNetwork, a coalition of 30 communi-ty-based groups working to intro-duce civil rights, anti-racism policiesand legislation.

In addition to attending the his-toric San Juan Festival, a three-daycultural/religious ceremony that wasa product of the slavery period,Franklin said he also met with lead-ers in the Barlovento region ofVenezuela, including two townsfounded by runaway slaves wheremost Venezuelans of African descentlive.

“The second component of thetrip focused on the social and anti-poverty reforms that are going on inVenezuela and are being implement-

ed by the Hugo Chavez administra-tion,” Franklin, a member of MTSU’sfaculty since 2003, said.

“Some of these reforms includethe cooperative movement, movingtoward a system of universal healthcare and . . . government-subsidizedsupermarkets and higher education.These anti-poverty reforms,” headded, “are being subsidized byprofits from the oil industry.”

Aside from his visits with a num-ber of social activists and communityleaders, Franklin said he also metwith an opposition group calledSUMATE, the primary groupopposed to President Chavez.

Franklin said it’s important tonote that Chavez has been “unfairlydemonized by the American pressover the last four or five years andcalled a ‘dictator.’”

He added that such portrayalsare “factually inaccurate and a distor-tion of major proportions. . . . Thereal angst about Chavez is that hehas taken the oil industry profits,which have historically served theinterests of the top five to 10 percent

in the country, and is now using[them] to serve the interests of thepoor,” a populace comprisingbetween 60 and 80 percent ofVenezuela’s citizenry.

Because Venezuela is the fifthlargest oil producer in the world andsupplies the United States with about12 to 15 percent of its oil, “there is amajor campaign to discreditChavez,” Franklin said, “as well as

fears among theAmerican foreign policyestablishment that hispolitical methodology—what Venezuelans callthe ‘BolivarianRevolution’—will spreadto other Latin Americancountries.”

To date, three majorattempts to removeChavez from office have

taken place, said Franklin, who addsthat “99 percent of the Venezuelansand many nonpartisan foreign-policyspecialists believe (these attempts)were backed by the United States.”

Franklin said his trip toVenezuela was organized by GlobalExchange (www.globalexchange.org),an 18-year-old international humanrights organization dedicated to pro-moting political, economic, environ-mental and social justice.

“In recent years, several promi-nent African Americans have visitedthe country to observe its social pro-grams, which they believe, if imple-mented in the United States, couldhelp the poor,” he remarked.

Venezuelan trip yields abundance of databy Lisa L. Rollins

‘The trip [also] focused on social and anti-poverty

reforms.’Dr. Sekou Franklin

associate professor, political science

“Middle Tennessee Record”Cable Channel 9Monday-Sunday-5 p.m.NewsChannel 5+ Saturdays-1:30 p.m.

MTSU Guys & Dolls Swing Dance ClubFree dance lessons 6-7 p.m.,open dancing 7-9 p.m.Murphy Center Dance Studio AFor information, e-mail: lindyfiend@gmail.com.

“The Upper CumberlandCollection: The Plateau Years”Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30p.m., Saturday noon-4 p.m.Baldwin Photographic GalleryFor information, contact: 615-898-2085.

Annual Faculty Art ExhibitionMonday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Todd GalleryFor information, contact: 615-898-5653.

Monday, Aug. 28Fall 2006 Classes Begin

Women’s Soccer vs. Alabama A&M4 p.m., Blue Raider FieldFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Thursday, Aug. 312006 Raider Rendezvous11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Forrest HallFor information, contact: 615-898-2470.

Blue Raider Footballvs. Florida International 6 p.m., Floyd StadiumFor information, visitwww.goblueraiders.com or con-tact: 615-898-2103.

Friday, Sept. 1Women’s Volleyball vs. Long Beach5 p.m., Alumni Memorial GymFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Friday, Sept. 1Japan-U.S. Program Reception5-6:30 p.m., BAS SunTrust RoomFree admission, casual dressFor information, contact: 615-898-2229.

Women’s Soccer vs. Evansville7 p.m., Blue Raider FieldFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Saturday, Sept. 2Volunteer State PintoAssociationTennessee Livestock CenterFor information, contact: 615-644-2131.

Sept. 2-3Tennessee State CowboyMounted ShootingChampionship ShowNoon daily, Miller ColiseumNo admission chargeFor information, visit:www.tncmsa.com.

Sunday, Sept. 3Women’s Volleyball vs. St. Mary’sNoon, Alumni Memorial GymFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Women’s Soccer vs.Jacksonville State4 p.m., Blue Raider FieldFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Sept. 4Labor Day HolidayNo classes; all offices closed

Sept. 6-10Cowboy Mounted ShootingEastern U.S. Championship 10 a.m. daily, Miller ColiseumFor information, visit:www.tncmsa.com.

Thursday, Sept. 7“College of Basic and AppliedSciences: State of the CollegeMessage”3 p.m., KUC TheaterFor information, contact: 615-898-2613.

Sept. 8-9

20th Annual Wally TidwellPro-Am Tennis ClassicBuck Bouldin Tennis CenterFor information, contact: 615-898-2957.

Friday, Sept. 8Women’s Soccer vs. Mercer4:30 p.m., Blue Raider FieldFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Women’s Volleyballvs. Miami of Ohio7:30 p.m., Alumni GymFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Sept. 9-10Tenn. Pony of Americas ShowTennessee Livestock CenterFor information, contact: 615-896-8728.

Saturday, Sept. 9Women’s Volleyball vs. Illinois-ChicagoNoon, Alumni Memorial GymFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Blue Raider Footballat University of Maryland5 p.m., College Park, Md.For information, visitwww.goblueraiders.comor contact: 615-898-2103.

Sunday, Sept. 10Women’s Volleyball vs. Creighton1 p.m., Alumni Memorial GymFor information, contact: 615-898-2450.

Calendar Items WelcomedSubmit your campus events (atleast three weeks in advance ofthe event, please) to gfann@mtsu.edu or via fax to 615-898-5714.

CalendarAug. 28-Sept. 10

TV Schedule

Aug. 28

page 4 The Record Aug. 28, 2006

Familiar scene

STUDY TIME—Kelley Tarwater, a sophomore Dean’s List student from Sevierville,studies in Walnut Grove, a pastime that will again be popular as the weather cools.

photo by J. Intintoli

Through Sept. 8

Sept. 1

Sept. 7

Sept. 8

Sept. 4

Sept. 6

Sept. 3

Every Monday night

Aug. 31

Sept. 2

Sept. 9

Sept. 10

Austin explained.She said the EXL Program and the Learning, Teaching and Information

Technology Center also will sponsor several activities in the fall semester toassist faculty in learning more about EXL.

The “Faculty Showcase Series” features three seminars for faculty interest-ed in teaching in the EXL program or discovering more about experientiallearning as an approach to student learning. All sessions will be held in theLT&ITC office, Peck Hall 106. Dates and topics for the Showcase Series are:

• Thursday, Sept. 14 (11:30 a.m.–12:45p.m.), “General Experiential LearningConcepts”—This session will include a panelof five faculty members and a moderator.Faculty members will provide informationabout their EXL experiences and offer sugges-tions for implementing EXL projects intoclasses.

• Thursday, Oct. 12 (3-4:30 p.m.), “Experiential Learning: Best Practices inTeaching with the Use of Integrative Technology”—Three faculty members willprovide short demonstrations of their use of technology in experiential learn-ing class projects, along with information to assist participants in effectivelyintroducing technology in their classes through experiential learning.

• Thursday, Nov. 9 (11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.), “Assessing ExperientialLearning Class Activities”—Two faculty members will provide information

about assessment of experiential learning class activities. General discussionwill include options for assessment (test questions, rubrics, surveys, focusgroups, etc.) and the advantages to student learning through use of EXL activi-ties.

Austin said that interested faculty also can work toward the designation of“EXL Mentor” by completing several activities. To earn the designation, thefaculty member must:

• attend two of the three Showcase Series seminars in fall 2006;• attend the one-day MTSU seminar to be

held in spring 2007;• develop plans for an EXL project for one

of his or her courses; • present the EXL project at the LT & ITC

Share Fair in fall 2007; and • help lead the fall 2007 panel discussions

for the Showcase Series.“The mentor program is an opportunity for faculty to implement experien-

tial learning in their classes and to provide their expertise to other interestedfaculty,” Austin said. The EXL Program and LT&ITC will provide $500 to eachfaculty member for course development costs.

The EXL Mentor program will be limited to 12 participants in fall 2006.Faculty interested in becoming an EXL Mentor or with other questions aboutthe program should contact Austin at jaustin@mtsu.edu.

EXL from page 1

The Record Aug. 28, 2006 page 5

WOW! from page 1until 2 p.m. in the Keathley University CenterCourtyard.

In between, there will be plenty of fun to givestudents a break as studies get serious.

Week 1 WOW highlights will include:• The Aug. 28 “Nashville Star” Tour and

appearance by Chris Young, a Murfreesboro nativeand former MTSU student who won this year’sUSA Network performance competition, at 8 p.m.in Murphy Center;

• The Blue Raider Bash/Big Fat Blue RaiderBake-Off, which will start at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday,Aug. 29, beside Cummings Residence Hall;

• A Murphy Center appearance by comedianSeth Myers, “Saturday Night Live” cast member, at8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30; and

• MTSU vs. Florida International in a 6 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 31, Sun Belt Conference seasonopener for both teams (and the debut of new BlueRaiders Coach Rick Stockstill).

“The Blue Raider Bash/Big Fat Blue RaiderBake-Off will be geared to spotlight athletics,” saidRob Patterson, coordinator for new student andfamily programs. “All the teams will be in town.There will be tailgating with ribs and barbecuechicken and baked beans, and a DJ (via StudentProgramming).

“This will be a chance for everybody to meetthe teams and make a connection to encourage stu-dents to attend the ball games.”

Patterson said there will be various games andgiveaways, where autographed footballs and bas-ketballs will be awarded to students.

He added that there will be a “big push” madefor the MTSU-Florida International game, whichwill air on ESPN Regional.

“I definitely plan to go to some of it,” said jun-ior Brittney Robertson, a 2004 Blackman High grad-uate and transfer from Columbia State CommunityCollege, where she played softball. “These activitieswill help you become more familiar with the

school.”While attending CUSTOMS

earlier this summer, freshmanVashay Conley of Johnson Citysaid he would join the Band ofBlue for band camp. He addedthat he was looking forward toseeing Myers, who is “one ofmy favorite ‘Saturday NightLive’ characters.”

Aleah Alexander, a fresh-man from Lebanon HighSchool who plans to be atheater major, said the6 p.m. Aug. 26 Dinner andStreet Fair “sounds good”to her.

Freshman politicalscience major LaqueshiaJones of Memphis, aMillington Central Highgraduate, said she willattend the Blue RaiderBash to “get to seewho’s on the teams.”

Ann-KirbyBurchett of Knoxville,a 2006 Karns Highgraduate who saidshe plans to majorin psychology orbusiness, said thecombination ofattending theDinner and Musicon the Quad(with the Floydthe Barber Band), thefootball game, the Myers comedyshow and Student Organization Fair were “interest-ing” to her.

M TSU is among 17 NCAADivision I member institu-tions to again receive certi-

fication for its athletics program.Meeting in Indianapolis, the

NCAA Division I Committee onAthletics Certification announceddecisions Aug. 1 on universities thathave undergone the association’ssecond cycle of athletics certification.

“You always expect for your ath-letic department to gain certificationbut it is not a given,” said MTSUDirector of Athletics Chris Massaro.“We are extremely pleased with thisnews because it shows the manner in

which we run our athletic depart-ment is in NCAA accordance andalso demonstratesthat we have every-thing in place to giveour student-athletes thebest experience possi-ble in all facets oftheir college educa-tion.”

The purpose of athletics certi-fication is to ensure integrity in theinstitution’s athletics program and toassist institutions in improving theirathletics departments. NCAA legisla-tion mandating athletics certification

was adopted in 1993.The certification process, whichinvolves a self-study led by an

institution’s president orchancellor, includes areview of the followingprimary components:

governance and commit-ment to rules compliance, aca-demic integrity, equity andstudent-athlete well-being.

A designation of certified meansthat an institution operates its athlet-ics program in substantial conformi-ty with operating principles adoptedby the Division I membership.

“We take the certification processvery seriously at Middle Tennessee,”said President Sidney A. McPhee.“This process is so importantbecause certification by the commit-tee demonstrates that we are operat-ing within all of the guidelines setforth by the governing body of inter-collegiate athletics.

“We have always taken greatpride in the certification, as well asthe process, and while this news isnot at all surprising, it is affirmationthat we are doing things right andproviding our student-athletes withthe total collegiate experience.”

MTSU earns new Division I athletic certification from NCAA

N atural disasters: We’ve witnessed them withHurricane Katrina, tsunamis and earthquakesthat have killed thousands of people in recent

years.Now, students taking the Fall 2006 Honors Lecture

Series “Natural Disasters” can glean firsthand a widerange of ideas about the subject.

The “Natural Disasters” lectures, which will startMonday, Sept. 11, with geosciences associate professorDr. Clay Harris discussing “Angry Earth: Waiting for theBig One, will be held from 3 until 3:50 p.m. on Mondaysin the amphitheater (Room 106) of the Paul W. Martin Sr.Honors Building.

All lectures are free and open to the public.“It’s a topic that’s on the minds of people,” Dr. Phil

Mathis, dean of the University Honors College, said inreference to natural disasters. “It’s on TV screens regu-larly.”

Mathis said Harris proposed the idea for natural dis-asters at an Honors Council meeting.

“The Honors Council discussed it. They had a posi-tive reaction,” Mathis said, adding that Dr. Jill Hague,English professor and former interim associate dean forthe Honors College, identified and arranged for all thespeakers after they adopted the theme.

Dr. Scott Carnicom, newly named associate dean forthe Honors College and associate professor of psycholo-gy, will oversee the series. He began working at MTSUAug. 14, coming here from Marymount University inArlington, Va.

Drs. Jim Henry and Mark Abolins (geosciences), Anantha Babbili (Collegeof Mass Communication dean), Cheryl Ellis (health and human performance),Gloria Hamilton and Terry Whiteside (psychology), Kevin Smith (sociologyand anthropology), Will Brantley (English) and Lt. Col. Mike Walsh (militaryscience) will lead other lectures.

The class begins Aug. 28 with study-abroad presentations. Classes will notbe held Sept. 4 because of Labor Day or on Oct. 16 because of fall break.

For more information, contact Carnicom by calling 615-898-7611 or via e-mail at carnicom @mtsu.edu.

page 6 The Record Aug. 28, 2006

‘Natural Disasters’ are Honors Lecture Series focusby Randy Weiler

by Lisa L. Rollins

Public health, media, military roles are topics

Professors from across the education spec-trum will address the impact of natural disas-ters in the Fall 2006 Honors Lecture Seriessponsored by the University Honors College.Their topics and presentation dates are:

Aug. 28—Introduction to class,study-abroad presentations

Sept. 4—No class (LaborDay)

Sept. 11—Dr. ClayHarris (geosciences),“Angry Earth: Waiting forthe Big One”

Sept. 18—Dr. Jim Henry(geosciences), “GlobalWarming: The Facts and theFiction”

Sept. 25—Dr. AnanthaBabbili (dean, mass communica-tion), “New Media and NaturalDisasters: Freedom and Responsibility”

Oct. 2—Dr. Cheryl Ellis (health andhuman performance), “Natural Disasters: APublic Health Perspective”

Oct. 9—Dr. Gloria Hamilton (psychology),

“Immediate and Delayed PsychologicalResponses to Natural Disasters”

Oct. 16—No class (fall break)Oct. 23—Dr. Terry Whiteside (psycholo-

gy), “How Do We Decide Who Is to ‘Blame’ forTragedies and Disasters?”

Oct. 30—Dr. Kevin Smith(sociology and anthropology),

“Catastrophes and CalamitiesARE Ancient History:Cultural Change, Collapseand Transformation in theFace of Natural Disasters”

Nov. 6—Dr. MarkAbolins (geosciences), “TheThreat of Urban Earth-

quakes in the SoutheasternUnited States”

Nov. 13—Lt. Col. MikeWalsh (military science), “The Role

of the Military in Natural Disasters”Nov. 20—Dr. Will Brantley (English),

“Celluloid Disaster in the 1970s”Nov. 27—Thesis presentationsDec. 4—Thesis presentations

Fall 2006 Honors Lecture Series schedule

T he “Magnificent Seven” and their teammates in the Department ofEngineering Technology and Industrial Studies earned their nicknamebattling rough water, rocky terrain and rugged mudbogs in a series of

amazing races known as the North American SAE Mini Baja competitions.This year, MTSU participated in all three U.S. Mini Baja races. Each fea-

tures a slightly different challenge: the Westincorporates a rock-crawl event and the Eastrequires vehicles to be amphibious, whilethe Midwest, the largest of the three compe-titions, features a mud bog.

2006 was an excellent year for the MTSUMini Baja team, as well as a rookie year forthe East and West competitions. The teambuilt two vehicles and raced both in the Eastand West; the best vehicle was then selectedto take to the Midwest competition.

“We finished within the top 15 percentileof 142 teams in the Midwest competition,”said Dr. Saeed Foroudastan, ETIS professorand team adviser.

“The MTSU student competitors notonly established a victory, but they alsocooperated well as a team, working diligent-ly day and night to fix problems and pro-duce innovative new ideas. The studentswere able to discover the true meaning ofteamwork as they stayed together day andnight to perfect the Mini Baja.”

Many students participated in the proj-

ect, Foroudastan said, “but the ’Magnificent Seven’ emerged as leaders andcompleted the project and went to the competitions—team leader JohnWinker, co-captain Nathan Wells, manager Mickey Anderton and team mem-bers David Frost, Jason Schneider, Patty Liebig and Kenneth Gahan.”

Sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers and supported byBriggs & Stratton, the competitions simulate real-world engineering designprojects and their related challenges.

The object of the Mini Baja is to provideaspiring engineers with a project that incor-porates the skills needed in the workforce:project management, decision-making, lead-ership, critical analysis and problem-solving.Teams compete to have their design accept-ed for manufacture by a fictitious firm. SAEstudent members must function as a team todesign, build, test, promote and race a vehi-cle within the limits of the rules, as well asgenerate financial support for their projectand manage their educational priorities.

The amphibious competition in the MiniBaja East Competition required the vehiclesto not only perform on land, but also containa flotation device for water that was six feetdeep.

“The moment of satisfaction reallycomes from watching the pride and confi-dence the students gain as the final projectcrosses the finish line,” Foroudastan said.

ETIS ‘Magnificent 7’ bring home Mini Baja honorsfrom Staff Reports

will meet throughout the year, explore the issues and all their implications,and present recommendations for full Senate discussion toward the end of thespring semester.

Finally, a comment on the concept of “shared governance”: As previouslyindicated, one of this year’s Faculty Senate committees is charged with defin-ing this concept as it applies to MTSU. Although I don’t want to define theconcept, “sharing” implies a community and communication. As a communityof scholars, we must share our thoughts, concerns and ideas to help guide the

university. Do not assume someone else will express your thought, concern oridea—use the Faculty Senate to amplify your voice and affect the life of MTSU!

Dr. Tony Johnston, an associate professor of food science and agribusiness, is the2006-07 president of the MTSU Faculty Senate. For more information on the organi-zation, visit its Web site at www.mtsu.edu/~facsen.

Faculty from page 2

WATER WINNER—Senior ETIS major Nathan Wells emerges from thewater in MTSU’s amphibious vehicle during the SAE Mini Baja East.

photo submitted

Reburial ceremony

The Record Aug. 28, 2006 page 7

A FITTING MEMORIAL—Wilson’s Allen, the Tennessee WalkingHorse considered by experts like MTSU’s Dr. Bob Womack as the truefather of the breed, is finally at rest after his reburial at the HorseScience Center on Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. During the Aug. 3ceremony, Womack, above right, author of the definitive Walking Horsehistory, The Echo of Hoofbeats, noted that the new site, shown top left, is“very appropriate.” The horse, shown above with his owner, Mr. FrankWilson, was the sire of five World Grand Champions and was firstburied in 1938 at trainer Steve Hill’s stables in Beech Grove, Tenn. Hisremains were moved to MTSU in 1975 for a reburial, shown at right,near the Stark Agribusiness and Agriscience Center. Expansion work atthe Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building required the second move to thesite near the Tennessee Miller Coliseum.

‘Truly a Great Horse’

photo above by News & Public Affairs

photo at right by J. Intintoli

photo below courtesy Dr. Bob Womack

photo below right courtesy Womack Stables/Glen Oaks Farms

ASCAP is a strong and capable part-ner.”

“Many of our recent graduateshave secured publishing deals andseveral have had hit songs on thecountry charts,” added Dr. TomHutchison, coordinator of the depart-ment’s music business program.

Alumni who have found successin songwriting include Erin Enderlin(“Monday Morning Church,” record-ed by Alan Jackson), and AdamDorsey (“Old Green Tackle Box,”recorded by Craig Morgan).

“With all the success we’ve hadwith our alumni songwriters, it wastime to formalize our efforts so we

can provide this specialized programto more up-and-coming writers,”Hutchison said.

ASCAP Vice Presidents RalphMurphy and JohnBriggs worked withNewman andHutchison to developthe new program.

“Education isNo. 1 at ASCAP,” saidMurphy. “Mentorswho work with MTSU students havereported that the students are consis-tently super-talented.”

ASCAP will continue to providementors to guide Partners in Craft

students through the songwritingprocess. Past mentors have includedsongwriters Fred Knobloch (“If MyHeart Had Wings,” recorded by Faith

Hill), Bonnie Baker(“Ordinary Life” byChad Brock), MarkIrwin (Jackson’s“Here in the RealWorld”), LowellAlexander (“TheSong is Alive,” Point

of Grace), Mark Beeson (“When SheCries,” Restless Heart), Casey Kelly(“The Cowboy Rides Away” byGeorge Strait) and Walt Aldridge(“Some Things Never Change,” Tim

McGraw). ASCAP also hosts a yearly show-

case called “Hot on the Row” at DanMcGuinness Pub, and each December,they feature MTSU student songwrit-ers. Music industry publishers attendthe event to hear—and potentiallysign—the best student songwriters.This successful annual event willexpand under the Partners in Craftprogram.

“In Nashville, it’s all about thesong,” said Hutchison. “We hopethat many of those songs will nowbegin with the Partners in Craft pro-gram.”

ASCAP from page 1

Dr. Anantha Babbili (dean, masscommunication) received the Associa-tion for Education in Journalism andMass Communication’s leadershipaward for “innovative leadership andcontributions to the field of interna-tional communication” at AEJMC’sannual convention Aug. 2-5 in SanFrancisco.

The Bristol Sessions: Writings Aboutthe Big Bang of Country Music, co-edit-ed by the late Dr. Charles Wolfe (pro-fessor emeritus, English) and Dr. TedOlson (East Tennessee StateUniversity), has been named the 2006Appalachian Book of the Year forNonfiction by the AppalachianWriters Association.

Dr. Kathy Burriss (elementaryand secondary education) was invitedto participate in a conference ondesigning and evaluating the educa-tional and physical aspects of play-ground equipment sponsored byPlayCore (based in Chattanooga), thenation’s leader in the design andmanufacture of playground equip-ment. She will be part of an ongoingstudy on integrating playgrounds

and playground equipment intoschool curricula.

Dr. Larry Burriss (journalism)headed a panel discussion, “Law,Ethics and Creativity: What Are theLimits,” at the SigGraph 2006Conference in Boston. The conference,attended by some 30,000 computergraphics professionals, is consideredthe premier technology conference inthe world.

Drs. Curtis Church and DonHong (mathematical sciences) organ-ized a mini-symposium on“Mathematics and Statistics in CancerResearch” for the Society of Industrialand Applied Mathematics 2006Conference on Life Science inRaleigh, N.C., July 31-Aug. 4. Hongspoke on “A Novel Algorithm forProteomic Cancer Data ProcessingUsing Wavelets,” and Dr. ZachariahSinkala (mathematical sciences) pre-sented a paper on “Simulation ofSolid Tumor Growth” at the meeting.

Dr. Larry Burriss (journalism)graduated from Concord Law Schoolwith a law degree.

Dr. Clarence S. Johnson (philos-ophy) presented a paper, “Asante andDu Bois on Race(ism) and theProblem of Double Consciousness,”at the Third Annual CaribbeanPhilosophical Association ConferenceAug. 1-3 in Montreal, Canada.

Dr. Dovie Kimmins (mathemati-cal sciences) attended the FourthInternational Conference onEducation and Information Systems,Technologies and Applications inOrlando July 20-23. She presented apaper, “Technology and ProfessionalDevelopment: Integrated Strategiesfor Delivery,” which was written byDr. Mary Martin (mathematical sci-ences), Ray Phillips (TennesseeMathematics, Science and TechnologyEducation Center) and Kimmins.

E-mail your faculty/staff accom-plishments to gfann@mtsu.edu or faxto 615-898-5714, Attention: The Record,Faculty/Staff Update. If your depart-ment isn’t receiving enough copies ofThe Record, please e-mail gfann@mtsu.edu with “Record Circulation” inthe subject line.

page 8 The Record Aug. 28, 2006

Faculty/Staff Update

UR009-0806

Events Around Campus

S ome of the biggest “steps”toward construction of a veter-ans’ memorial on campus will

be taken at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17,when the MTSU Veterans Memorial5K Run/Walk gets under way.

The purpose of the event is toraise enough money to build a per-manent structure in honor of faculty,administrators, staff and studentswho perished or went missing whilein military service from 1911 to thepresent.

“The concept is to have a livingmemorial, a space for reflection and aplace for classroom instruction,” saysDerek Frisby, a history professor andU.S. Marine sergeant who served inOperation Desert Storm.

“We’ve proposed an amphithe-ater-type model that creates usableoutdoor event space.”

Dr. Andrei Korobkov, political sci-ence, was inspired to formulate adatabase of names by the death of

1st Lt. Ken Ballard, who was killed inIraq in 2004. Ballard was a student inthree of Korobkov’s classes.

To date, the Veterans MemorialCommittee has collected more than 50names to be engraved on a wall that

will be part of thearea. Also, the publicwill be given anopportunity to pur-chase walkwaybricks engravedwith the names oftheir fallen lovedones.

“We’ve madesignificant progressin the design

process,” Frisby says. “This is thebeginning of our push to turn thoseplans into a reality.”

To contribute tothe MTSU VeteransMemorial, go towww.mtsu.edu/~veterans and clickon “Contribute to theMTSU VeteransMemorial.”

In addition, the278th TennesseeArmy NationalGuard, which is deployed toAfghanistan, will collect old, usedand new shoes and sneakers forAfghan children and teenagers onSept. 17. Donors can bring shoes tothe National Guard booth under PeckHall next to the 5K registration area.

The 5K run/walk course, whichwill extend in and around campus,will be marked with water stationsand security throughout the route.

Entrants may run competitively,

run at their ownpace or walk.

Awards andprizes will beissued for teamentries of regis-tered groups offive or more andindividuals ineach age divi-sion.

Drawingswill be conduct-ed for doorprizes totalingmore than$1,000 in value.

T-shirts areguaranteed toall preregistrantson a first-come,first-servedbasis on raceday.

Sponsors ofthe MTSUVeteransMemorial 5KRun/Walkinclude AEDCFederal CreditUnion,Applebee’s,Bridgestone/Firestone, MTSUAlumni Association, NashvillePredators, Norris Hall Studios,Signature Homes, Tennessee NationalGuard, Tennessee Titans and The VeryIdea.

Registration fees are $15 per per-son if postmarked by Sept. 10 or $20per person after Sept. 10, includingthe day of registration.

Make checks payable to MTSUVeterans Memorial 5K, c/o DerekFrisby, MTSU Box 23, Murfreesboro,Tenn. 37132, or register online atwww.active.com.

For more information, contactMaj. Chuck Giles at 1-888-682-7682 orcgiles@mtsu.edu.

Remembering veterans, a step at a time

by Gina K. Logue

Tom TozerDirector, News and Public Affairs

Editor: Gina E. Fanngfann@mtsu.edu

Contributors: Doug Williams, Lisa L.Rollins, Randy Weiler, John Lynch, Gina K.Logue, Paula Morton, Seth Alder and JamilPrice.

Photos: MTSU Photographic Services,except where noted

Printed by Franklin Web Printing Co.

Phone: 615-898-2919 Fax: 615-898-5714

The Record Editorial Board:Dr. Anantha Babbili, J. Steven Barnes, Dr.Preston MacDougall, Dr. Rebecca “Becky”Seipelt, Molly Culbreath, John Harris, Dr.Don Roy, Angie Ray, Dr. Alexis Miller, Dr.Kathleen Burriss and Linda Puckett.

The Record is published every two weeksby the Office of News and Public Affairsat MTSU. It is distributed free to faculty,staff, friends and media outlets.

Attention Postmaster:Address changes andother correspondence shouldbe addressed to:

The RecordOffice of News and Public AffairsCAB 209, MTSUMurfreesboro, Tenn. 37132

MTSU, a Tennessee Board of RegentsInstitution, is an equal opportunity, non-racially identifiable, educational institu-tion that does not discriminate againstindividuals with disabilities.

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Ballard

5K run/walkwill raise fundsfor memorial

Frisby