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PROJECT HELP GENERATES ENTHUSIASM —Patricia Yeargan of Project HELP enjoys reading to Diana, Lauren and Andy, all age 2. Diana gets excited as she looks at the color pictures in the book. Project HELP was the recipient of the most designated gifts in the 2002-2003 Employee Giving Campaign. photo by Ken Robinson

Gifts ‘HELP’ others
Employee giving campaign benefits many programs

by Angela Cannon Hayes

Employees gave more money to the most recent Charitable Giving Campaign than the previous year, and in addition, employee participation increased, organizers said.

Contributions benefit not only programs in the general community but on the MTSU campus as well—programs such as Project HELP (Help Educate Little People).

The total amount given for the 2002-2003 campaign was $45,720 compared to $45,261 for the 2001-2002 campaign.

"We collected slightly more money this year than last year, even though many charitable organizations in this region and across the United States have reported a 20- to 30-percent drop in donations received this year due to the weak economy and threat of war," said Dr. Suzanne Prevost, campaign chairwoman.

The top five charities supported by MTSU employees for the 2002-2003 campaign were Project HELP, United Way, Hospice of Murfreesboro, Domestic Violence Program, American Cancer Society and Meals on Wheels (tie), according to campaign records.

"If you ever have questions as to how your contributions are being used, stop by Project HELP and spend a few minutes," said Debbie Bauder, Project HELP director. "Your faithful contributions over the past 20 years have enabled MTSU's Project HELP to give hope and a strong beginning to lifelong learning for literally hundreds of children with disabilities and developmental delays."

Project HELP is free and serves children ages birth to 3 years of age, Bauder said.

Project HELP also was one of the MTSU departments with the highest levels of employee participation for the 2002-2003 campaign as well as English, computer science and the library, according to campaign records.

"Project HELP was the top charity receiving donations from our employees, and that department also has a history of 100 percent of their staff participating in the campaign; and this year, one of their employees was the winner of our largest door prize, a $300 travel gift certificate," Prevost said.

At the university overall, 15 percent of the employees participated in the 2002-2003 campaign compared to 14.8 percent in 2001-2002.

Gifts ranged from $1 to $2,160 in 2002-2003 with an average employee gift of $175, and gifts ranged from $1 to $1,800 in 2001-2002 with an average employee gift of $165. Eight MTSU employees donated $1,000 or more for both years, according to campaign records.

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IN BRIEF

LINGUISTIC STUDIES OFFERED AS MINOR IN LIBERAL ARTS

MTSU’s College of Liberal Arts has added a minor in Linguistic Studies, which exposes students to many ways that humans interact with language.

Students gain a comprehensive view of how linguistics is examined in the disciplines of anthropology, English, psychology, communication studies, communication disorders, classical and modern languages and philosophy. Courses are grouped into three categories: required courses (descriptive linguistics, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics), guided electives and general electives. Dr. Richard E. Morris, minor adviser and assistant professor of foreign languages and literatures, reports that upon completing the minor, the student will have knowledge of linguistics, as well as specific knowledge relating to a chosen language of focus.

For more information on the 18-credit minor, contact Morris at 615-898-5902.

DR. KAYLENE GEBERT ARRIVES AS EXECUTIVE VP/PROVOST

Dr. Kaylene Gebert has assumed her duties as MTSU executive vice

president and provost after serving as provost at the University of North Alabama. Dr. Bob Eaker, who served as interim, is back in the College of Education and Behavioral Science.

CHI ALPHA EPSILON HOLDS INDUCTION ON MARCH 22

Chi Alpha Epsilon is an honor society for students who started college in an academic-assistance program and have maintained a 3.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters. There are 83 members in the Alpha Theta Chapter. At 11 a.m. on March 22 in the Foundation House, 20 new members will be inducted into the society.

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FOR THE RECORD
Nine-year wait ends March 18

Mark your calendars for March 18. That’s when our nine-year wait ends, and the future begins to unfold for the Tennessee Miller Coliseum.

The Tennessee Miller Coliseum contains a show arena that is 300-feet long and 150-feet wide with theater-type seating for 4,600 spectators. Offices and a mezzanine area will enable the facility to hold commercial exhibits that are a part of the horse events. An eating area overlooks the warm-up ring that is sandwiched between the coliseum and stall area that houses about 500 stalls. The offices will be for management and the Walking Horse Owners Association, which the Millers supported and helped establish.

I have been pleased by comments from people in the horse industry. They are excited about the design and efficiency of the facility. It has taken nine years of visiting other facilities and designing and redesigning to arrive at the final plan. A lot of people had input, and the process has served us well. I believe that, for the money, we have an excellent facility.

The adjacent Horse Science Center was actually a dream before the Miller bequest. U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Murfreesboro, had worked to secure matching funds of $2.5 million before the Miller gift. With the gift and subsequent plan for the Miller coliseum, the match for the USDA grant was made with the land and infrastructure of the coliseum.

The grand opening of the Tennessee Miller Coliseum and Horse Science Center is on schedule for March 18. The public is invited for a tour of both facilities at 5:30 p.m. The tour will be followed by a "Symphony of Horses" at 7:30 p.m. featuring Laurence Harvin and the Murfreesboro Philharmonic Orchestra and 10 featured performances from the horse world.

"I believe John and Mary Miller would be tremendously excited about the facilities they made possible with their gift," said Charlie Myatt, chairman of the Miller Trust Planning Committee. "It has been nine years since Mary’s death and the reading of her will. Their dream has become a reality, and so many people share the excitement of their gift. It will have tremendous impact on the university, the city and the horse industry."

The 154-acre site for the coliseum and Horse Science Center was purchased in 1997. The house on the property has become known as the MTSU Foundation Reception House, and each year, it serves as a meeting and social center for MTSU and Murfreesboro organizations.

The Horse Science Center is a combination of five faculty offices, classrooms, stall area, riding arena and a breeding laboratory and student locker area combination to be completed by fall of 2003. Two of the faculty offices are for the two Chairs of Excellence created through the Miller gift.

The university is now in the process of filling those chairs.

Thanks to the Millers, their gift of the Tennessee Miller Coliseum and Horse Science Center will keep on giving for years to come.

Dr. Dave Whitaker serves as director of the MTSU horse science program.

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TENNESSEE MILLER COLISEUM ENTRANCE—The public will get to see the Tennessee Miller Coliseum for the first time on March 18.

John C. "Tennessee" Miller

Dream comes true
Mary Miller wanted a horse show coliseum named for her husband

by Randy Weiler

MTSU plans a grand time for those attending the March 18 grand opening of the Tennessee Miller Coliseum.

Events will begin with public tours starting at 5:30 p.m. at the coliseum, which is located at 304-B West Thompson Lane. At 7 p.m., Charlie Myatt, who has served as chairman of the Miller Trust Planning Committee, and Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU’s president, will be among those making opening remarks about the facility and recognizing special guests.

At 7:30 p.m., conductor Laurence Harvin and the Murfreesboro Philharmonic Orchestra will be part of a “Symphony of Horses” presentation, showcasing 10 national and world champion breeds of horses.

"We are anticipating a great night and a large turnout of people for the grand opening," said Joe Bales, vice president, development and university relations. "Many people have worked hard to make this happen, and I believe the Millers would be pleased to see how their gift to the university has been utilized."

The Millers whom Bales referred to are the late John C. "Tennessee" Miller and his wife, the late Mary Elizabeth Miller.

Myatt said recently that their gift, which specifically was to be used to build a horse coliseum and the adjacent Horse Science Center, had grown to more than $25 million.

The two facilities cost approximately $21 million to build, including land acquisition, equipment, paved parking and adjacent barn stall areas.

The 222,000-square foot Tennessee Miller Coliseum features a 150-by-300 coliseum floor; a large covered warm-up area; 492 10-by-10 horse stalls; 58 camper hookups; 400 paved parking spaces; two well-equipped concession stands; state-of-the-art sound system; and much more.

The coliseum will seat 4,600 people. For special events that will require more seating, bleachers may be brought in to bring the capacity to 6,500, Bruce Currie, director, Miller coliseum, said.

Horses, riders and owners that will be participating in the “Symphony of Horses” will include:

(Flag presentation)/World’s Champion Fine Harness Horse — "Medusa," Sara Womack of Murfreesboro, rider; Dr. Bob Womack family, owner;

World’s Champion Standardbred Road Horse — "Ashland," Mike Barlow of Rockvale, driver; Dr. Howard Six of Lewisburg, owner;

Reserve World Champion Tennessee Walking Horse — "Cash In My Stock," Brett Boyd of Petersburg, rider; Charles Gleghorn of Fayetteville, owner;

Champion Arabian Dressage Horse — "Lasado +//," Darlene Bottorf of College Grove, owner and rider;

National Champion Paso Fino — "Pro Digio," Randy Wiel of Murfreesboro, owner and rider;

World’s Champion Reining Horse — "Nu Chex to Cash And Friends," Charlie, Tammy and David Hutton of Fayetteville, owners and riders;

World’s Champion Spotted Saddle Horse —"Cassius Clay," Phil Dunivan of Petersburg, rider; Jay Dickey of Adamsville, owner; Champion Grand Prix Jumper — "Step Right Up," David Wright of Murfreesboro, rider and co-owner with Lee Ann Summers; World’s Champion Racking Horse — "Unreal," Kenny Ailshie of Greeneville, rider; Terry Dotson family, owner; Roman Riding — "Silverado and Silver King," George Meek of Burns, owner and rider.

For more information about the grand opening, call Brenda Wunder, coordinator, event coordination, at 615-904-8240.

To inquire about future Miller coliseum events or to schedule an event, contact Darrell Towe, manager, at 615-898-5575.

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Rufus Reid to headline Jazz Festival

by Lisa L. Rollins

Internationally known bassist Rufus Reid will headline this year’s MTSU Jazz Festival, which will begin at 9 a.m. March 22 in the Wright Music Building.

In addition to the festival’s daylong lineup of jazz performances, Reid—who is a respected jazz educator and recording artist—will serve as a highlight of the annual event and close out the 2002-2003 MTSU Jazz Artist Series in a 7:30 p.m. performance with the MTSU Jazz Ensemble I in the WMB Music Hall.

"Rufus Reid is one of the most sought-after bassists on the international jazz scene and has played with every major jazz artist over the past 25 years," said Don Aliquo, coordinator of jazz studies at MTSU and professor of saxophone.

The evening concert will be the final of a trilogy of concerts this season known as the Jazz Artist Series.

Reid also will give a 1 p.m. clinic on March 22 in the WMB, as will Dr. John Wilson, a nationally known jazz educator, who will conduct a clinic on improvisation at 11 a.m. that day in WMB Room 173. High schools and jazz groups from MTSU will participate in the festival. Admission to the clinics is free. Admission to Reid’s 7:30 p.m. concert is $12 and available only at the door. MTSU faculty, staff and students with a valid MTSU ID will be admitted free. For more information, contact 615-898-2493.

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WINNING PERFORMANCE—Dawson Hull, 18, of Jackson performs Chopin Scherzo in B minor at the ClavierFest held in the Wright Music building as his parents and sister watch in the auditorium. The competition is an annual event to raise money for School of Music scholarships. Hull won first prize in the category for grades 10-12.

Young pianists perform during ClavierFest ’03

by Lisa L. Rollins

Young pianists from Jackson, Hendersonville and Rockvale emerged victorious at the close of competition March 1, during the 7th annual ClavierFest, held in MTSU’s Wright Music Building Music Hall.

Some 50 K-12 pianists vied in the contest's preliminary competitions. In the end, four winners—one in each of the contest’s age categories—walked away with prize money and top honors.

Those who took first prize in the 2003 piano competition were Victoria Sellers of Rockvale (K-3), Christina Ramsay of Hendersonville (grades 4-6), Brendan White of Jackson (grades 7-9) and Dawson Hull, also of Jackson (grades 10-12).

The prize money, $850 total, was divided among the competition’s final four winners, each of whom also received a medal.

Guest judges for this year’s competition were Jama Reagan from the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and John Keene, new keyboard faculty member at MTSU. Additional judges were selected from the MTSU School of Music keyboard faculty.

This year’s ClavierFest was sponsored through the support of the Steinway Piano Gallery and the MTSU Public Service Committee. For information, call 615-898-2469.

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Visiting Artist’s Seminar features poet David Kirby

by Tom Tozer

Poet David Kirby will teach this year's Visiting Artist's Seminar (UH 3200), March 24-28, and poet Barbara Hamby (Kirby's wife) will punctuate the week with a workshop and a public reading March 25. Kirby will follow with another public reading on March 28 with students who will read their work.

Hamby's public reading will be held at 4:30 p.m. March 25 in the Alumni Center. Kirby's Friday public reading will also be in the Alumni Center. At 3:30 p.m., a reception for both poets will follow with the time and location to be announced.

"They are both amazing poets," said Dr. Claudia Barnett, associate professor of English and seminar coordinator.

This one-week workshop is sponsored by the Distinguished Lectures Series, Virginia Peck Trust Fund and the English department. Kirby is the W. Guy McKenzie Professor of English at Florida State University and has received five FSU teaching awards. The author or co-author of 21 books, his work has appeared in the Best American Poetry and Pushcart Prize series.

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Tulip Poplar Press sells student-designed prints

Tulip Poplar Press has published two illustrated letterpress printed poetry broadsides, celebrating the visit of poets Barbara Hamby and David Kirby, Dr. Janet Higgins, art professor and faculty adviser, announced. These prints will be available at the March 25 and March 28 readings for $10 each. Proceeds will go into the Tulip Poplar Press Fund in the MTSU Foundation. After March 31, each print will sell for $20.

"MTSU art students Anna Carl and Jennifer Buccaro designed and hand-printed a limited edition of 75 prints each of 'Beets' by Kirby (Buccaro) and 'The Dada of Bees' by Hamby (Carl)," Higgins said. These may be purchased by calling 615-898-2461.

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Prize-winning Austrian pianist to perform on March 26

Austrian pianist Aima Maria Labra-Makk will perform a solo concert featuring the works of Austrian composer Jenö Takács at 8 p.m. March 26 in the WMB Music Hall.

A highly sought-after soloist and chamber musician, Labra-Makk began playing the piano at age 3. "European critics described her playing as ‘peerless, marked by a highly musical intelligence,’" said Dr. Jerry Perkins, coordinator of keyboard studies and professor of piano.

Labra-Makk is the first pianist to record the complete piano works of Austrian composer Takács, Perkins adds. These recordings are contained in a four-CD set. Labra-Makk won first prize in the National Music Competition for Young Artists (Philippines), among other honors, and in 1989 she was a prizewinner at the International Competition Franz Schubert. For more information regarding the public concert, which is free, call 615-898-2493.

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Get on accelerated summer track toward M.B.A.

by Tom Tozer

Students who are faced with limited prospects in a limited job market and don't have the time to add years of schooling to upgrade their academic credentials can immerse themselves in an accelerated program to earn their master’s degree in business administration (M.B.A.).

“Immersion 2003” is an intensive summer school business program designed for non-business graduates who want an advanced degree in business. The eight prerequisite courses, which must be completed prior to entering the M.B.A. program, can be completed over the summer term. Then, after submitting an acceptable GMAT score and being admitted, they can start their advanced degree in the fall and finish in one year. That's the nose-to-the-grindstone track.

"It's similar to learning to swim by jumping into the deep end of the pool," said Dr. Troy Festervand, associate dean for graduate and executive education in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business. Forty-six students completed some or all of the program last year, the first year the accelerated track was offered.

"'Immersion 2003' has the potential to reduce the amount of time required to complete prerequisites from an academic year to one summer," he said. "Once fully admitted, students have the opportunity to complete an M.B.A. in one year.

"That's virtually unheard of, but in this program it can be done," Festervand said. He cited a Forbes magazine article that states that the M.B.A. pays for itself in less than four years and generates an additional average annual income of more than $20,000 to those who hold the degree.

With an undergraduate degree in biology and a decision not to pursue pre-med, graduate business student Marc Malone took one of the eight Immersion classes in the spring 2002 semester, then took the remaining seven M.B.A. prerequisites that summer. He started his M.B.A. last fall.

"You have to work, but it's nothing that can't be done," he said. "If it wasn't for this program, I'd probably have to knock out an extra semester. 'Immersion' is the right word—you jump into it. But the professors are real understanding."

After college, Malone operated his own business for 16 years, then sold a piece of it and became a book distributor. The owners decided to close their doors.

"Now what am I going to do?, I wondered," he said. "I heard about the 'Immersion' program and I was interested. … The program is wonderful for people who didn't major in business or they're in business without good credentials. I'd been in business for 16 years but had no formal education in that area. 'Immersion' prepared me really well, because I grasp things easily and they did a good job. I've taken off in the core classes with A’s."

Malone says he plans to complete his M.B.A. and graduate this August.

The summer prerequisite courses classify for financial aid, and course offerings for the M.B.A. are available for full- or part-time students during the day, at night and on weekends, Festervand said.

For more information, contact Betty James, Office of Graduate Business Studies (BAS N222), at 615-898-2964.

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MTSU Debate Squad members claim regional championship

by Lisa L. Rollins

One month after winning the state intercollegiate debate title, members of the MTSU Debate Squad have claimed the regional championship at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

The regional championship—known as the Southeast/Southeast Central Bi-Regional Debate Championship—attracted 42 two-person teams from throughout the South during the Feb. 28-March 2 weekend, including champs MTSU.

MTSU debaters Courtney Carver of Murfreesboro, a sophomore nursing major, and Chattanooga native Allan Lutes, a sophomore majoring in political science, claimed the junior varsity championship.

Greg Simerly, director of MTSU’s debate program, said that in the preliminary competition, Carver and Lutes won four of the six debates, defeating teams from Vanderbilt, the University of Louisville and two teams from Georgia State. However, the duo lost to the University of Georgia and another team from Georgia State.

In the individual tournament standings, Carver placed second and Lutes ranked third. Carver also was recognized as the Outstanding JV Debater of the Year.

MTSU graduate student John Mast won the Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

"Coaches from debate programs across the region vote on this award," said Dr. Russell Church, chairman of the Department of Speech and Theatre.

For information about the debate program at MTSU, contact Simerly at 615-898-5607.

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Technology conference to take place on campus

by Randy Weiler

Michael Haley will be one of nine MTSU faculty/staff making presentations during the Mid-South Instructional Technology Conference March 30-April 1 at various campus sites for staff at MTSU and other universities.

Haley, specialist, information technology, and his "Developing Awesome Images with Adobe PhotoShop" will be one of the final presentations of the eighth annual conference.

Barbara Draude, director, academic and instructional technology services, said that while Haley’s workshop is a once-a-year happening for the conference, this allows MTSU faculty and staff to see what is available to them year round.

"We help faculty in whatever ways they need," Draude said. "We work with faculty who don’t know how to use technology or how it can help them in their teaching."

"That’s one of the real values of the conference," she added. "Faculty already are doing things. This is a forum to provide them with a nice way to show it off. For the second group of faculty, this is to encourage them to come to get ideas. It opens their eyes a lot. This gives them a chance to see what they’re doing."

Draude said faculty can "look and see what everybody else is doing and get some ideas so they can come to us at the telecommunications center to actually learn how to physically do it."

"We have both presentation-type sessions and workshop (hands-on) sessions,” she said.

"With Michael’s (workshop), they will learn how to create an image to put on a Web page or put on a Word PowerPoint presentation. You will see cutting edge-type things — a mechanism or skill you’ve not tried yet."

The Instructional Technology Division’s gathering has turned into a national conference. Draude said that a recent past conference drew attendees and presenters from 26 states. North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Georgia Institute of Technology, Eastern New Mexico and the University of the South in Sewanee are just a few of the schools sending presenters. "Ideas will be shared from little schools and big schools," she said.

Other MTSU presenters will include Drs. Maria Clayton (English), "Effective IT Integration in the Composition Classroom: Instructor and Student Perspectives;" Jun Da (foreign languages), "The Use of Online Courseware in Foreign Language Instruction and Its Implication for Classroom Pedagogy;" Tom Brinthaupt (psychology), "Providing a Realistic Course Preview to Online Students;" Larry Burriss (journalism), "The Internet as an Information Source: Potentials and Perils;" Susan Myers-Shirk (history) and Maria Smith (nursing), "Why Go Wireless? A Faculty Perspective;" and Suann Alexander and Diane Baird (Walker Library), "The Wrinkle in Your Research and Teaching: Copyright, DMCA, Guidelines and Public Domain." For information, call Robin Jones at 615-904-8111.

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Alzheimer’s disease discussed at elderly caregiving meeting

by Tom Tozer

Alzheimer's disease, which affects more than 25,000 Tennesseans and 65,000 caregivers, will be the topic of discussion at the ninth annual Dynamics of Elderly Caregiving conference, April 4, at the St. Clair Street Senior Center in Murfreesboro.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. The cost will be $45 per person, $15 for students, which includes lunch, material and continuing education credits.

Dr. Peter Rabins, author of the best-selling book, “The 36-Hour Day," will present "What We Know and What We Can Do."

Other experts will include Dr. Jim Powers, Sheryl Ludeke-Smith, Chaplain Jeff Fryer, Michelle Fowler and Ernestine Bowers.

Participants can choose from several topics such as challenging behaviors, creating safe environments, the spiritual aspects of Alzheimer’s, senior care in Tennessee, local care options and resources, and current research.

Alzheimer's costs American businesses more than $60 billion every year, according to center information. The conference is being sponsored by area health-care providers and agencies. For information, call 615-849-4813. To register, call 615-898-5950.

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Insurance chair, industry promote scholarships

by Tom Tozer

The MTSU Insurance Liaison Committee, composed of industry professionals throughout the Mid-state area, has met several times this year to discuss the growth of the endowment of the Tommy Martin Chair of Insurance, award scholarships and plan the annual spring invitational golf tournament.

The chair's combined endowment accounts total more than $1.12 million.

There are 135 students enrolled in insurance classes and 118 students have declared majors or minors in insurance, Dr. Ken Hollman, Martin Chair of Insurance, recently reported to the committee. There were 24 insurance internships in 2002, and the chair has awarded 28 scholarships so far in 2002-2003.

During the past 18 years, the Tommy Martin Chair Invitational Scramble Golf Tournaments have netted more than $300,000 for the chair's endowment, operating expenses and scholarships.

This year's golf outing will be held April 22 at Champions Run Golf Course located between Rockvale and Eagleville. Last year's tournament netted about $25,000. Hollman says he hopes that this year's event will do even better.

Those interested in participating in the tournament or purchasing a hole sponsorship should contact Hollman at 615-898-2673.

The MTSU Omega Chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, the national insurance fraternity, is another facet of the insurance program at MTSU. The chapter has twice been recognized as the most outstanding chapter in the nation. The organization recently conducted the election of the "Most Outstanding Professor in the MTSU College of Business."

In addition, the chapter sponsored the annual Scotty M. Tucker Quiz Bowl with Phi Kappa Phi, which was held Feb. 25. The bowl was named in honor of a chapter alumnus who died in a car accident in 1998. Tucker himself competed in and emceed many bowls.

This year's winning team was the Intercollegiate Quiz Bowl Team represented by Wendy Caldwell, Patrick Chinnery, Matthew Parriott and Dennis Thibodeaux. The team received $80. The runner-up team was the History Club ($40), followed by the Campus Freethought Alliance team ($20) in third place. Team advisers were Drs. Mark Byrnes, Amy Staples and Will Langston, respectively. Eleven teams in all competed.

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Criminal justice students honored
MTSU association gets awards during conference

by Lisa L. Rollins

Ten first-place ribbons, three second-place ribbons and two third-place ribbons now belong to MTSU’s American Criminal Justice Association-Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-LAE), thanks to the determination of seven MTSU students who attended the organization’s regional conference.

Held in Tallahassee, Fla., the Region 5 event played host to about 100 students and professional members from the ACJA-LAE’s southeast region, including representatives from Florida Atlantic University, Barton College, North Carolina Wesleyan, University of Central Florida, Florida State University and MTSU, among others.

The MTSU chapter of ACJA-LAE, known as Delta Omicron Alpha, was represented at the conference by students Shane Ervin of Smyrna, Guy Conquest of Goodlettsville, Brentwood native Amilea Raborn, Murfreesboro’s Rachael Williams and Dawn Wolkens, Stephanie Franks of Rockvale and Lebanon resident Drew Parrish.

In addition to its overall team win of 14 ribbons, the Delta Omicron Alpha group also captured its 10th blue ribbon—the conference’s Spirit Award—which was presented for best overall chapter representation. The students won this honor by a unanimous decision of the event’s judges.

Among the MTSU chapter’s upper-division awards were first place in firearms team, firearms individual and criminal law. Also, a second-place award was earned by the team for the students’ knowledge of LAE. In the lower division, the team took first place in the categories of corrections, police management and firearms individual. The second-place awards in this division were garnered for criminal law and juvenile justice, respectively, as well as a third-place ribbon for criminal law.

Additionally, in the category of physical agility, MTSU’s Delta Omicron Alpha members took first in the male (ages 26-35) group and third in the female (ages 25 and under) group.

Dr. Bill Shulman, associate professor of criminal justice administration, says, "I have been faculty adviser to the club for over 10 years, and from time to time, we have a core group of dedicated students who, for various reasons, focus a lot of time and energy into making MTSU's chapter a national power in academic, firearms and crime-scene competitions.

"This year's club," Shulman adds, "is such a group. (Student) Shane Ervin has provided exemplary leadership as president, and much of the club's success goes to his continuous efforts to lead this group of students to excellence."

According to its literature, CJA-LAE is dedicated to furthering professionalism in all areas of criminal justice and its members strive to encourage greater cooperation among criminal justice agencies, as well as promote greater understanding between communities and the profession. Its membership is drawn from the full criminal justice spectrum, including law enforcement, prosecution, defense, courts and corrections.

For more information on Delta Omicron Alpha at MTSU, including membership information, please contact chapter president Ervin via e-mail at dse2d@mtsu.edu.

For more information on ACJA-LAE at the national level, visit www.acjalae.org.

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Scientia opens to university

by Randy Weiler

The Latin word for knowledge or science is “Scientia.” Scientia also is the name for MTSU’s electronic journal featuring scientific and technological research by MTSU students.

The e-journal was the first of its kind among Tennessee colleges and universities, and now, among a handful in the nation. After being mainly a College of Basic and Applied Sciences concept, Scientia now wants to open itself to the entire university community.

"Our board of facilitators voted to open it to all departments," said Dr. John DuBois, professor, biology, and faculty adviser. “We wanted to open it to other sciences — such as sociology, psychology, geosciences — and areas like the kinesiology aspect of physical education, possibly political science and history if it was being looked at from a scientific perspective."

Begun in spring 1997 by founding editors Drs. Phil Mathis, professor, biology, and Judy Hankins, professor, computer science, Scientia will embark on volume No. 7 this spring.

Through six volumes, DuBois said student research has led to 18 full-length articles and 157 abstracts. He said spring issues typically are abstracts from the graduate and undergraduate research symposia, and fall issues contain full-length research articles.

Scientia features an 11-member, student-run editorial board that conducts a peer review process, DuBois said. Biology major Eric Freundt serves as editor, with computer science majors Brad Rudnik and Peter Speltz serving as the Web site manager and associate manager, respectively.

Eleven people currently serve as faculty representatives.

For more information, visit www.mtsu.edu/~scientia, e-mail to scientia@mtsu.edu or call DuBois at 615-898-2040.