The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

After leading the way for U.S. historic preservation programs, Huhta retiring

by Doug Williams

The son of Finnish immigrants, Dr. Jim Huhta always had an interest in learning more about his roots, both in his family and his community.

When Huhta moved to Murfreesboro after graduate school almost four decades ago, he became intrigued with the history and architecture of the small rural community, as well as the many stories he heard about it.

"I was always interested in learning more about the history and culture of this region, and I particularly liked to study architecture," Huhta said. "There is a unique story and charm in studying the history of older buildings. What I learned was that there were no academic programs in the country that trained people in historic preservation. I also realized it was of real value and importance to people to protect and enhance the history of an area. In addition to civic pride, it increased tourism and economic development.
"There was a real need to train people in this field. I eventually made a career of something that didn't exist before 1973."
Those were the seeds that Huhta planted. They grew into the first Historic Preservation program at a U.S. university. Now, after 37 years, he is retiring, and the program, that was unique when it began at MTSU in 1973, is a leader among the more than 50 such programs across the country.

Huhta served as director of the Historic Preservation program at MTSU from 1973 to 1990. He was director of the MTSU Center of Excellence in Historic Preservation from 1984 to the present. During that time, his program became a national resource. He traveled in circles that included a presidential appointment on the National Advisory Council for Historic Preservation, serving with the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Transportation and Agriculture as well as governors and other national figures who would report on the federal stewardship of heritage resources in this country.
Locally, he served on numerous boards, assisting local governments on projects as wide-ranging as the Stones River Greenway, Bradley Academy Project and the Rutherford Country Courthouse restoration.

For a boy of immigrant parents who were never formally educated beyond the fourth-grade, Huhta looks back at his years at MTSU as a fulfillment of the dreams he and his parents shared.
"It has been a great ride and I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time," Huhta said. "The university and the community were always very supportive of the center's efforts, and one opportunity led to another. I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Carroll Van West, Caneta Hankins, Anne-Leslie Owens, Nancy Smotherman and Tiffany Godbey to carry on the work of the center."

A native of Ashtabula, Ohio, Huhta joined the MTSU faculty in 1965 as an assistant professor in the Department of History. He was promoted to professor and held the position of assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, in addition to serving as director of the center. Three times, he won awards sponsored by the MTSU Foundation for Outstanding Teaching and Public Service.
The undergraduate and doctoral programs (started in 1981) in historic preservation were the first such programs in the United States and annually enroll an average of 30 students from 25 states. The program has 400 graduates employed in historic preservation jobs in 44 states and several foreign countries.
Huhta and his wife, Mary, plan to spend their retirement visiting their children in Florida and Washington, D.C., and babysitting the first grandchild.

He is also new chairman of the board for the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

STUDENTS ATTEND CAMP PRISM -- Mariah Bragg, right, a student at Siegel Elementary School and Wesley Stiles, a student at Cason Lane Academy, enjoy Camp PRISM.

Camp PRISM offered for the first time in city

By Randy Weiler

To see the looks of excitement on the children's faces and to hear their "ooohs," "aaaaahs" and "cools," one realizes that the work of MTSU faculty, students and staff and others was definitely a hit.
A select group of 20 Murfreesboro City Schools' rising fifth-graders recently received an opportunity to attend a unique, two-week summer camp. They attended Camp PRISM — a math, science and technology summer camp offered for the first time in Murfreesboro.
With Camp PRISM — Practice in Science and Math — the children saw cool chemistry experiments like "burning money" (a $1 bill engulfed in flames), math games and robots. They had neat trips to the Murfreesboro Airport, MTSU milk processing plant and Old Fort State Archeological Park in Manchester.

And they may not remember listening to Dr. Padgett Kelly, professor, biology, and co-director MTSU Center for Environmental Education, but they likely will remember Kelly’s inflatable whale that was almost as big as the gym floor at Hobgood School.
"It was really fun," said Mariah Bragg, who attends Siegel Elementary School. "We got to go to different places. One of my favorite things the first week was the slime (demonstration in the chemistry lab)."

Bragg's mother, Dr. Belinda Traughber, professor, psychology, said her daughter wouldn't stop talking about the chemistry lab experiences when she picked her up at the end of the day.
"She loves it," Traughber said. "They have done a magnificent job."
Alex Perhac, who attends Northfield Elementary School, said he liked the field trips and chemistry experiments. "I like the chemistry experiments a lot," he said.

"They asked a lot of good questions," said Dr. Jan Zijlstra, associate professor, mathematical sciences. "They would not normally be exposed to these enrichment activities."
Dr. Rebecca Zijlstra, professor, mathematical sciences, called Camp PRISM a success.

"The children have gotten wide exposure to a lot of science concepts," she said. "Everybody — MTSU students and faculty — has been doing a little bit, and a big project has been getting accomplished."

Zijlstra added that the "students got two weeks of high-level expertise and they were not charged because of the collaboration between the gift from the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation and a grant from MTSU's Division of Continuing Studies and Public Service."

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

Oneal to address August graduates

by Randy Weiler

The summer 2002 commencement will be one that Dr. Dennis Oneal won't soon forget.

Oneal

In addition to Oneal being the commencement speaker because he is the outgoing Faculty Senate president for 2001-02, he will be centerstage when his youngest son, Timothy, walks across to receive his bachelor of university studies degree from the College of Liberal Arts.

"It's kind of special," Oneal, professor, electronic media communication, said. "To have them both happen at the same time is very rewarding. Family is a very important thing, and there's a lot of personal things that go with that."

Just being the commencement speaker for the 10 a.m. Aug. 10 graduation in Murphy Center is "quite an honor," Oneal said. "A lot of people won't run for Faculty Senate president because they have to make a speech."

"I'm looking forward to it (making the speech)," Oneal added. "Being Faculty Senate president is quite a responsibility. You are representing 800 faculty members and doing something noteworthy."
By late June, Oneal had not yet written his speech, although he said he has mulled it in his mind hundreds of times. He would rather do it more impromptu, but will have prepared remarks.
One of the key ideas Oneal will share from the podium is that the scheduled 823 degree candidates are "important ... and ready to do something.

"A lot of times, people at a regional university think that their degree isn't as valuable as one from a major university, and that's not true," he said. "People have gone on to successful careers many, many times after graduating from MTSU."

The 2001-02 academic year has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling in Oneal's career, he said.

"I served all sectors of the university, including academic affairs," he said. He served on more than 20 committees — "many very major" — that included the President's Cabinet, Academic Master Plan and Instructional Technology. He co-authored a series of three articles on communication administration while teaching each semester. His courses include a double credit introduction to electronic media, a law class and an honors section on introduction to electronic media
"Serving has been very rewarding," Oneal said. "I truly have enjoyed it."

Oneal said he takes pride in the fact that he came up with the idea to upgrade all the classroom furniture in older buildings on campus. He found support for the idea from students and other faculty and then had to sell the idea to President Sidney McPhee, who "created the way to fund it.

"By the end of summer, we will have spent $525,000 on chairs, desks, et cetera," Oneal said. Fifty-seven classrooms in Peck Hall and Kirksey Old Main had furniture replaced during spring break. An additional 46 classrooms will be upgraded during the August break between classes.
Before coming to MTSU, Oneal said he considered himself "a builder" of programs.

"I built the broadcast journalism sequence and radio station at the University of Arkansas," he said. "KUAF-FM will celebrate its 25th anniversary this next year. I built the mass comm department at Northwestern State University (Louisiana)."

A native of Gibson City, Ill., Oneal has been a faculty member since 1983. He earned his doctorate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, his bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University and master's degree from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.
Oneal and his wife, Buffy, also have another grown son, Christopher, daughter-in-law Dena and grandson Sean Porter Oneal.

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

High-tech communication getting national attention

By Dr. Connie Schmidt, director at the MTSU Instructional Technology Support Center.

Schmidt

MTSU is quickly becoming a leader among universities in high-tech communications. The College of Mass Communication has received national recognition for its state-of-the-art facilities and academic offerings. MTSU was a pioneer in distance learning, and the university is now one of the top choices in the Regents Online Degree Program.
MTSU also has received national attention in satellite communications, particularly now that it has broadcast 20 sessions of former Vice President Al Gore's Family Centered Community Building course. Last October, one class session was broadcast to 30 universities from Spokane, Wash., to Orlando.

Initial funding for the satellite uplink was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of a project delivering educational programming to rural K-12 schools. Currently, schools in Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore counties participate in MTSU’s K-12 satellite network. Schools in Rutherford County, Metro/Davidson County and Huntsville, Ala., also receive MTSU programming through cooperative arrangements with local educational access channels.

MTSU has broadcast 128 live interactive K-12 programs over this network on topics ranging from math and science to foreign language and performing arts. Examples of programs from our 2001-2002 program schedule include: a virtual tour of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, six programs by social work faculty promoting tolerance for diversity and effective anger management, and a program concerning water use and pollution presented by the Center for Environmental Education.

Use of the satellite uplink is expected to increase dramatically during 2002-2003. Beginning this August, the Office of News and Public Affairs plans to transmit MTSU video highlights to the four network television affiliates in Nashville on a weekly basis. The Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia will broadcast a conference to colleges and universities statewide. Plans are under way to broadcast other MTSU conferences and events throughout the year.
Departments across campus may use the satellite facilities for either digital or analog uplinking. Digital uplinking is relatively inexpensive, costing between $300-$400 per hour, but only sites with a special digital receiver are able to receive MTSU’s digital signal. Analog transmission is more expensive, costing from $1,500-$2,000 per hour. However, most colleges and universities already have the equipment necessary to receive analog programming.

Satellite broadcasts originate from two locations on campus. A studio classroom in the McWherter Learning Resources Center is used for broadcasts involving small studio audiences. The State Farm Lecture Hall in the Business Aerospace Building is used for broadcasts that require larger studio audiences. Both facilities feature computer and audio/visual equipment that allow presenters to include PowerPoint slides, Web pages, document camera images and pre-recorded video in their broadcasts.

The satellite hardware that has been installed at MTSU is impressive. But the time, effort and teamwork of the staff and student workers involved in each satellite broadcast are even more inspiring.
During a typical broadcast from the State Farm Room, up to two dozen people provide technical and administrative support.

These support personnel include faculty, staff and student workers from the Instructional Technology Support Center, the College of Mass Communication, Student Programming, Division of Continuing Studies and the Office of the Provost.

Dr. Connie Schmidt is director at the MTSU Instructional Technology Support Center.

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

TENNESSEE CENTER FOR THE STUDY AND TREATMENT OF DYSLEXIA BENEFITS STUDENTS—Dr. M. Tara Joyce, center coordinator, talks to former student Justin Newnum. Standing is Karen Jones, the center’s interim supervisor for clinical services. Photo by Ken Robinson

Student with dyslexia gets high ACT results

By Tom Tozer

A young man, diagnosed in the eighth grade with dyslexia and monitored for three subsequent years by the professional staff at the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia, recently scored a 32 composite score on his ACT.

Now, this Eagle Scout and member of ROTC is hoping to attend the University of Central Florida and study forensic science.
Justin Newnum, a rising senior at Blackman High School, is a success story in every sense. He was already a bright young man in elementary school, but his immense frustration as a result of transposing letters in English and flip-flopping numbers in math forced him to wonder if he was dumb.

"When I got back papers with red marks, with words spelled wrong, it got a little frustrating," Justin said.

"We mainly saw it in his spelling in the third grade," said Justin's mother, Judy Newnum. "He was always a good reader. He could say the words orally, but he couldn't write them correctly."

Several flags went up throughout Justin's elementary school career, but it wasn't until seventh grade, following testing by the school psychologist at Central Middle School, that someone suggested Justin should go to the dyslexia center.

"They did different exercises with me in spelling and breaking up words," Justin said. "They recommended a modified program for me at school, and I returned to the center periodically for check-ups."

"The center went through an evaluation process with us, then made recommendations to Justin's school," his mother added. "They put us on the right track on how to teach him spelling."

There were some teachers who pegged Justin as lazy, his mother said. They viewed her son as intelligent, but his work wasn't matching his aptitude.

"We were fortunate that no one ever labeled him as slow," Mrs. Newnum said. "So many kids are beaten down at a young age, or they are channeled in one direction and can't get out."

"On the recommendation of our staff, Justin did receive some accommodations in class, such as not counting spelling in his writing, being granted extended time to complete work, receiving the teacher's notes and keyboarding," said Dr. M. Tara Joyce, coordinator of adolescent and adult dyslexia at the center. "That made a huge difference."

Justin was certified for both giftedness and for a learning disability by his school, Joyce said. He will likely need those kinds of accommodations in college. Justin himself admits that he still struggles with spelling. The last time he was tested at the center, he said he was reading on a college level, but he was spelling on a fifth-grade level.

The center is located at 200 N. Baird Lane on campus.

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

MTSU/UTSI agree to work together

By Randy Weiler

Officials from MTSU and the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma signed a memorandum of understanding July 1, developing a "more formal working arrangement to pursue their common or complimentary missions in higher education research."

MTSU President Sidney McPhee and Dr. John Caruthers, chief operating officer, UT Space Institute, signed the agreement in a ceremony that was part of a luncheon held in the SunTrust Room in BAS.
Also taking part was U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon of Murfreesboro, who has been instrumental in establishing this and other higher education scientific collaborations.

"This is one more step to creating a high-tech corridor between NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Tech, UT Space Institute and MTSU," said Gordon, who is the ranking member of the science committee that oversees NASA and has worked with the Oak Ridge project.

"I think this will be a synergy to enhance all the institutions, and certainly the students will be the biggest winners in having the access to enter more diverse programs," Gordon added. "We will use this as an umbrella to bring all these institutions together. This is one more step in bringing greater cooperation in the future."

McPhee considers this a key partnership that will benefit the university and its aerospace and computer science programs.
"This agreement between the University of Tennessee Space Institute and Middle Tennessee State University is a real advantage for our students and for Tennessee," McPhee said. "This groundbreaking partnership between two institutions of higher education, working with the support of Congressman Bart Gordon, offers our students opportunities to take classes and work with faculty experts in aerospace and computer science at a state-of-the-art facility with state-of-the-art equipment."

"This is an excellent example of universities jointly leveraging their resources to provide the best possible learning experiences for their students," McPhee added. "This is the kind of partnership that brings to the table the resources we need to offer our students a competitive edge in today's job market."

Dr. George W. Garrison, professor, mechanical and industrial engineering at UTSI, said the MTSU/UTSI agreement will "provide access to both (UTSI and MTSU) graduate programs to students in the state of Tennessee.

"The reason we started this conversation is that we have a master's in aviation systems at UTSI and MTSU has a similar master's program," Garrison added. "It's a natural synergism because a lot of things we teach are taught at MTSU."

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

SEEING ALLIGATORS -- These alligators that are inside a fence are some of the many Florida Keys attractions viewed by class members.

Dr. Padgett Kelly’s class explores Florida Keys

By Randy Weiler

MTSU undergraduate and graduate students and teachers from area counties recently had a hands-on educational experience while visiting the Florida Keys.

STUDENT FINDS SHELL -- Megan Norton, MTSU biology major, displays a conch shell she found during a hands-on class in the Florida Keys.

This summer, they are taking the course "Biome Analysis" offered by Dr. Padgett Kelly, professor, biology, and co-director of the MTSU Center for Environmental Education.

Five teachers, three senior elementary education majors and four biology majors made the trip with Kelly, whose group departed June 17 and returned a week later. MTSU alumnus David Moore, who is a doctoral student at Florida International University in Miami, did much of the lecturing.

"It was an awesome experience," said Debbie Seigfried, a third-grade teacher at Campus School. "The one thing that stands out is that every day was a full day.

"We studied different kinds of coral and sea life," she added. "We learned that coral and mangroves are what stops the waves. There was so much we learned."

"This class is hands-on," said David Palmer, a McMinnville nurseryman and graduate student in biology. "We attended lectures, but what sets this class apart is that after each lecture, the students were given the opportunity to go out and physically see the aquatic plant and animal life that were discussed.

"There's a great deal of difference between actually seeing a live plant or animal in their natural environment and looking at a photograph in a book. It's an excellent way to learn and have a lot of fun. I'm a hands-on teacher. This type of course is not what you get at the university level. This is how people learn and retain," Palmer said.

Kelly said the June 18 activities included Moore's lecture about mangroves and seagrass — what holds the islands together. Then Moore touched on coral reef ecology and fish identification. That afternoon, the students went out on a coral reef.

The following day, the group went snorkeling on the reefs all day. On the third day, they traveled to Key West, but stopped at the Pigeon Key Environmental Education Center along the way.
"We looked at tide pools, looked at the facilities and learned what to do to get student groups there," Kelly said.

On the fourth day, highlights included more snorkeling. Kelly said their boat captain, Don Kincaid, "was one of the original members of Mel Fisher's team that found the shipwreck of the Atocha that was the greatest treasure ever found."

On the fifth day, they visited the Dry Tortugas National Park, a series of islands about 80 miles west of Key West.

Part of this trip included visiting Fort Jefferson, which was built before the Civil War.

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

JANET ESTES HONORED—Janet Estes, left, executive secretary, Division of Development and University Relations, receives the Quarterly Award for Exemplary Performance recently during a reception in her honor in the Alumni Center. Presenting the award is Susan Barnes, assistant vice president, development and university relations. Photo by Ken Robinson

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

Mock trial teams still excel

By Lisa L. Rollins

If one were to ask those in the know at other U.S. universities which mock trial teams were among the country's best, it's likely MTSU would be mentioned at the top of their lists.

Vile

Locally though, one of MTSU's best-kept secrets is its nationally ranked mock trial and mediation teams, and Dr. John Vile—a co-founder/coach for the 13-year old mock trial and new mediation team—is doing his level best to change that fact.

Virtually since its inception, MTSU Mock Trial has made its presence felt in championship circles on the national level. The team won the American Mock Trial Association's (AMTA) "Best New Team" honors its inaugural year, and for the past 11 years, it has consistently been among the Top 10 nationally.

"My guess is that there are no more than three or four schools other than us that have that record," said Vile, regarding the championship streak the mock team has managed to maintain.

This year, MTSU Mock Trial was ranked eighth in the nation at the close of the competitive season—a not-too-shabby feat when one considers that 440 teams from 225-plus schools are in the running at the start of each contest year.

"I don't know of any other state-funded school that has a better record," said Vile, chairman of MTSU's Department of Political Science. "All of the Ivy League schools are up there [in the national rankings for mock trial], but the MTSU team is always up there in the top tier. For a public institution, our team is one of the very best in the country."
In addition to its impressive team record—which is one that Vile said "only a handful" of other schools can match—MTSU Mock Trial has a unique boast that, so far, is its alone.

In addition to naming top-10 teams at the Des Moines-based championship each year, the AMTA also bestows "Top 10 Witness" and "Top 10 Attorney" awards, and it is from this pool that competitors are chosen for the national championships "All-American Round" of competition.

"This year, we got both a 'Top 10 Attorney' and a 'Top 10 Witness,'" Vile said. "And this year marks the first time that we ever had a freshman get a top 10 award at nationals, which is quite impressive."
MTSU's Alisha Walker, a freshman pre-law major from McKenzie garnered a "Top 10 Witness" award during the 2002 championship, while graduating senior Douglas Sadler of Cordova nabbed a "Top 10 Attorney" prize.

Other members of this year's MTSU team included graduating seniors Virginia Vile of Murfreesboro, the team's "All-American" captain, James "Adrian" Shaffar of Eads, Katie Williams of Fayetteville, Matt Pauley from Franklin and junior Erin Bumbalough of Manchester.

In addition to MTSU's winning mock team, its mediation team, too, has begun to yield recognition nationally. Now in its second year of existence, MTSU Mock Mediation placed third at the championships this year.

"The national mediation tournament has been around only two years," Vile says of the contest, which also is sponsored by the AMTA. " During the first year, our mediation team won first-place in the nation and this year we were third."

About 30-40 teams from throughout the country begin each mediation contest season, but only 18 advance to the Iowa-held national championships.

"Because mediation is a newer activity than mock trial, judging is not as refined as it is for mock trial," Vile notes. "But it's hard to complain either way when you finish in the nation's Top 10."

No matter what ranking MTSU's mock and mediation teams are assigned when all is said done, "There's no denying that we've got a great bunch of kids and they work real hard," he affirms. "You can't ask for more than that."

Students interested in mock trial may register for a one-hour course, Political Science 2100, which will meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the fall semester.

For more information on mock trial or mock mediation at MTSU, contact Vile or co-coach Dr. Clyde Willis, associate professor, political science, at 615-898-2708.

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

INROADS STUDENT LEARNS WITH ASSISTANCE FROM MENTOR— Jerry Gentry, right, of the Information Technology Division is an advisor for Janina Overton, who is participating in the INROADS program this summer at MTSU. Photo by Ken Robinson

INROADS intern learning in ITD

By Tom Tozer

Janina Overton, an INROADS intern who is working in the Information Technology Division this summer, is a graduate of Oakland High School in Murfreesboro.

This fall, she will attend MTSU and pursue study in computer engineering.

Both a Martin Luther King and Kroger Scholar, Overton is also a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Beta Epsilon, Excalibur, Mu Alpha Theta and Business Professionals of America. She received the Band Award, Latin III Award and is listed in both "Who's Who Among American High School Students" and "Who's Who Among African-American Students."

Among her other awards are the Scholastic Achievement Scholarship, James E. Addison Scholarship, Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarship and the Holloway Alumni Association Scholarship.
Her parents are Tim and Diane Overton of Murfreesboro.

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

McPhee plans lunch with Bedford County alumni

By Angela Cannon Hayes

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee is going into communities across Tennessee and gathering alumni support for the university through formal luncheon meetings.

The Lunch with the President program is coordinated through the MTSU Office of Alumni Relations, and the next luncheon with the president is scheduled for July 30 from noon-1 p.m. at the American Legion, 623 Kingree Road, in Shelbyville. A fee of $8 will be charged, and all Bedford County area alumni are welcome to attend. Reservations should be made by July 25 by calling the alumni office at 1-800-533-MTSU or RSVP online at www.mtalumni.com.

"The luncheons generate alumni support for MTSU as well as an overall interest in the university," said McPhee.

"I enjoy going to the communities and meeting the alumni. The luncheons provide an opportunity for me to share my vision for the university with those who attend each event," the president said.
The purpose of the ongoing program is to educate, inspire and connect alumni to MTSU so they can become more involved in all aspects of the university.

The luncheons began in the spring, and the president has visited four communities in East Tennessee and Middle Tennessee since that time, said J. Steven Barnes, program coordinator in the alumni relations office. The president customizes a presentation for each community he visits.

"Dr. McPhee’s passion about the university is evident with each presentation," Barnes said. "The president does a wonderful job of relating the mission of the university to alumni.

"The response has been great because of the intimate setting which provides good interaction between the president and alumni in attendance," Barnes said.

The luncheon for Bedford County area alumni will provide another opportunity for alumni to meet and hear from MTSU’s president.
Jug Landers, past MTSU National Alumni Association president and Distinguished Alumnus added, "With 1,500 alumni from Bedford County, the university sees us as a viable force in supporting its quality programs. I hope alumni and friends in this area come out and support this event. "

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

WMOT wins top award

By Laura Dunn

The Tennessee Associated Press Broadcasters Association recently announced its top accolades across the state for broadcasters, and WMOT-FM, MTSU’s jazz station, received top honors for Best Series/Feature in the Large Market Radio Division.

Produced and reported by WMOT news producer Shawn Jacobs, the top award was cited for a two-part series that aired last April on Historic Falcon Manor located in McMinnville. The 1896 Victorian mansion nestled in the Warren County community was built by entrepreneur Clay Faulkner. The solid brick 10,000-square-foot mansion is a National Trust Award-winning property that is filled with museum- quality Victorian antiques and is rich with history and local tales—along with being presided over by the friendly ghost of "Little Clay Faulkner," or so the stories go. The audio tour included walking through the mansion recording historical accounts of the mansion, descriptions of the premises and tales from the manor.

The award-winning series also aired on the Associated Press Network program "Portfolio" on AP stations across the nation. In fact, because of the popularity of the segment, it was repeated nationally on "Portfolio" over the Christmas holiday season. In response to this recognition, WMOT’s General Manager and Director of Broadcasting John High said: "WMOT’s mission statement notes that the station should reflect credit upon the university by being known to professional peers and the local community as a radio station that exhibits outstanding performance in every facet of its activities. This most recent award is yet another string of awards WMOT’s staff has received over the past three decades of service to Middle Tennessee.
More than 60 national and regional awards hang on the walls of WMOT. Information on historic Falcon Manor may be found at www.falconmanor.com.

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

Summer Stock Theatre debuts with ‘Bus Stop’

By Lisa L. Rollins

Performers in MTSU's Summer Stock Theatre helped theater fans make a connection to a play recently at the Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Center for the Arts.

An all-student cast delivered a production of "Bus Stop" June 29-30 and July 5-6 on the stage of the Murfreesboro arts center, 110 W. College St.

"It is about Americana and about who we would be if we didn't recognize the good in ourselves and others," remarked Deborah Anderson, the play's producer.

Penned by William Inge and made famous by Marilyn Monroe's film depiction, "Bus Stop" is a poignant study that Anderson hand-picked to be the first production of MTSU's debut Summer Stock Theatre.
A professor in MTSU's speech and theatre department, Anderson said she gravitated toward the work not only because she considers it to be Inge's best, but for other reasons as well.

"I believe that realism is a necessary 'ism' for young students to study because it's like baby steps only very hard," she said. "If they can do realism well, they can do anything.

"Also, the characters are so well drawn and if cast well, (they) can be so endearing that the audience will think about them for a long time. The relationships are so involved and portray so many different types of love, 'from the innocent to the depraved,' that we can see a little of ourselves in every relationship, and that's really what people want to see, I guess," Anderson said.

The student players participated in the "Bus Stop" production as part of a course they are taking in the university's Department of Speech and Theatre.

The cast was made up of all students who performed in the play as part of a class, Anderson said. They were all in one or two of four shows, and they all had to be on a technical crew.

Anderson said she acted as technical director and a friend built the set, she continued.

The experience was "quite grueling, but it's even more rewarding for all of us," she said.

"The students are very good and have worked very hard. We have put this production together in 21 days, working every afternoon or evening, including weekends."

The Record, July 22, 2002, V11.01 >>Top of Page

JENNINGS AND REBECCA JONES FOUNDATION READING ACADEMY KICKOFF—Attending the kickoff for the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation Reading Academy at Bradley Elementary School are, from left, Dr. Robert Glenn, MTSU vice president of student affairs and vice provost for enrollment management; Rutherford County Executive Nancy Allen; Paul Vaughan, Jones foundation executive director; Jennings Jones; Dr. Nancy Crews, elementary and special education/event coordinator; and Linda Gilbert, associate director of instruction and professional development, Murfreesboro City Schools. Photo by Jack Ross