One biig Check it out! Inside this edition: WOW!!,, page 2 Groundhog Day Luncheon is New group’s focus is women’s studies, page 3 chance to meet, greet, eat Home page readying for Feb. 1 relaunch, page 6 see page 6 Professor earns Grammy nomination, page 8

a biweekly publication for the Middle Tennessee State University community Jan. 25, 2010 • Vol. 18/No. 14

Treadmill study helps participants’ mobility one step at a time

by Tom Tozer [email protected]

t is a common assumption that it takes years to realize any measurable benefits I from scientific research. It’s a marvel, therefore, to see an almost immediate payoff: a dramatic upturn in a person’s quality of life. Following a plane crash, Jim Harris didn’t walk for two years. Today, with effort, he is walking. After a terrible fall, Bob Moody could only be on his feet for a couple of min- utes. Now he’s taking 20-minute walks. As the result of a horrible automobile accident, Janette Rodgers was told she’d never walk again and was nearly taken off life support. WORKING OUT—Health and Human Performance graduate student Sandra Stevens, left, works with client Jim Harris on Now she’s walking and improving her the underwater treadmill in the basement of the Alumni Memorial Gym as HHP grad student Saori Ishikawa watches. speed. Stevens is studying the effect of exercise on the treadmill on the mobility of adults with spinal-cord injuries. These recoveries and subsequent improvements have been possible, in no MTSU Photographic Services photo by Andy Heidt small part, because Sandra Stevens, a physi- cal therapist, put these people through their paces on an underwater treadmill inside a fiberglass tank that holds 270 gal- had never been used with children with CP.” lons of water—all part of her doctoral research at MTSU. Her research subjects Morgan and his students began their initial work with the underwater all have suffered severe spinal-cord trauma. treadmill thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health. Previously, graduate students in MTSU’s exercise science program utilized “After watching the kids with cerebral palsy, I thought there were a lot of the underwater treadmill to help children with cerebral palsy increase their other populations that could benefit from this kind of therapy,” Stevens said. muscle strength and improve mobility. The results were encouraging. Stevens worked with Rodgers, Harris, Moody and others for eight weeks “It’s relatively new technology,” said Dr. Don Morgan, health and human during the fall semester, meeting with each two or three times a week. performance professor, who first brought the treadmill to MTSU several years ago. “It’s been used by athletic teams and for older folks with arthritis. But it See ‘Treadmill’ page 5 President’s update outlines ideas for university’s future

by Dr. Sidney A. McPhee extremely pleased with the quality of mentation of each of the outlined mendations presented in May 2009 [email protected] feedback that I have received so far. recommendations, I want to assure were approved as a means of help- Due to the length and complexity of you that the process of positioning ing the university cut costs, others elcome back to campus as many of the recommendation reports MTSU for the future remains a very were accepted as a strategic invest- we begin the 2010 spring that have been submitted to date, it important one for our university. As ment in our future. With these W semester. This communi- is not practical for me to discuss the I indicated in a memo to faculty thoughts in mind, I would like to cation is being sent as an update on details of each report within this members last semester, the fiscal update you on the status of a few the progress of our Positioning the communication. I am providing, challenges that we continue to face critical matters that have garnered University for the Future Initiative. however, a brief update on key in Tennessee, and throughout higher the most interest over the past few In 2009, I had the opportunity to issues as well as direct links to more education, demand that we move months. provide numerous updates to many detailed reports that you can review forward with the process that we of our constituency groups, both on- at your convenience. started more than a year and a half and off-campus, and I have been As we work toward the imple- ago. While the majority of the recom- See ‘Update’ page 7

IN BRIEF Monday, Feb. 8. Forms are avail- able at www.mtsu.edu/provost/

PERMIT NO. 169 NO. PERMIT career_award.shtml and should be

MURFREESBORO TN MURFREESBORO NOMINATE HIGH ACHIEVERS sent to The Career Achievement

U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. The university is seeking Award, Office of the Executive

ORGANIZATION nominations for the 2009-10 MTSU Vice President and Provost,

NONPROFIT NONPROFIT Career Achievement Award. Attention: Faye Johnson, 111 CAB, Deadline for nominations is Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132. www.mtsunews.com FOR THE RECORD Witnessing shuttle launch certainly a ‘WOW! moment’

While all of this was going on, there was a by Eric D. Jackson gathering for the launch of about 100 Twitter space [email protected] fans who won invitations from NASA after signing up online for the first launch “tweet-up.” NASA or most of my life, I’ve been interested in sci- put up a white circus-like tent at the press site of ence fiction and space travel. As a youngster Kennedy Space Center especially for the Twitter in school, I can remember my teacher inter- crowd. F Around the T-minus five-minute mark, every- rupting class to watch a launch from the Kennedy Space Center. In later years, I would watch the one was in place. There were satellite trucks cover- launches at home on television. Although I was ing the entire property, and the MTSU production fairly young, I knew exactly where I was when crew had specific locations to get the best camera Apollo 11 landed on the moon—at home on the shots. edge of my seat in the family room. Fast-forward to When the countdown came, I saw the massive 2009, and I find myself at the place of space explo- structure lift off. The sound it made was pulsating; ration, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. I stood in awe and amazement. The ground trem- Ever had a WOW! moment? That’s what I bled, and I felt the spectacular roar of the lift-off in experienced observing the launch of the Space my body. It was nothing like being at home years Shuttle Atlantis/STS-129 in November 2009. I was ago, watching a launch on television in my family there with classmates from MTSU to shoot video room. footage and get interviews for an upcoming docu- After the shuttle reached a certain altitude, we mentary to be aired on Nashville Public Television. saw the booster rockets, which provide the main I must say, it was spectacular. Having seen launch- thrust to lift the shuttle off the pad, separate from es on television many times before couldn’t com- the craft. To say the least, I was left speechless! pare to actually being there and seeing this man- We concluded our trip the next day with a tour made structure lift off into outer space. of the Vehicle Assembly Building, where the mas- sive shuttle structures are put together and which is Our first day involved finding locations on the ON THE SCENE—MTSU grad student Eric D. property and unloading the MTSU Mobile considered one of the tallest buildings in the world Jackson pauses for a quick photo while shooting a by volume. We also toured the Kennedy Space Production Truck. This included setting up roughly documentary near the space-shuttle launch site at Center Visitor’s Complex. nine cameras and several microphones and check- NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ing batteries—pretty much an overall checklist A trip to Titusville, Fla., to visit the Kennedy before we went out and started shooting interviews photo submitted Space Center and experience an actual launch will and B-roll, or miscellaneous video footage. Since forever be a lifetime memory—and we have it on the property was located near the Everglades, we The next day we certainly had a busy schedule, video. were able to see manatees, turtles, cranes and even and the MTSU production crew was starting to feel alligators. Later that evening, along with other the buzz and excitement at Kennedy Space Center Eric D. Jackson, a graduate student in mass com- reporters and camera crews, we were taken as close because it was now launch day. One of the high- munication, works in the Office of News and Public as allowed to the launch pad to see the space shut- lights of this day was the walk over to the main Affairs and is a producer for the monthly video maga- tle Atlantis. What an AWESOME site. I figure we road to watch the Atlantis crew drive by in the zine, “MTSU Record.” Jackson is editing footage shot by were less than a mile or so from the pad; there was “astrovan” on their way to the launch pad. We all students in EMC 4940 and MRAT 6340 classes during a long row of cameras on tripods shooting video cheered and waved to the astronauts as they head- two NASA launches last fall for a documentary to air and taking still pictures of the site. ed to board the shuttle. later this year on Nashville Public Television.

Satellite webcasts reaching K-12 schools across state

from Staff Reports No student program will air March 9 because of MTSU’s spring break. [email protected] Eleven one-hour Professional Development Programs for Teachers will air live at 3:30 p.m. each Thursday. edar Glades: Rocking Out with Endemic Plants” will be one of The programs include: “Break the Silence! Reporting Child Abuse” on Jan. seven live Spring 2010 Programs for K-12 Students presented by 28; “Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources: Focus on the Civil “C the MTSU Satellite and Webcasting Center. Rights Movement in Tennessee” Feb. 4; “Why Would a Student Want to Be an The Tuesday, March 2, Cedar Glades program will be Engineer: A Teacher’s Guide” on Feb. 11; “How to Learn led by Dr. Kim Cleary Sadler from the MTSU Center for Mathematics on Your Own” Feb. 18; “Excite Your Cedar Glades Studies and Department of Biology and by Students About Science” on Feb. 25; “Watersheds and Marrie Lassater of Homer Pittard Campus School. Wetlands Galore” March 4; “Teaching with Primary All of the one-hour student programs will air at 9 Sources: Prelude to the Civil War in Tennessee” on March a.m. each Tuesday. 18; “Vocal Care for Teachers: Strategies to Maintain Other live student programs will include “Why Optimal Vocal Health” on March 25; “Discovering Would You Want to Be an Engineer?” Feb. 2; “WISE Primary Sources at the Tennessee State Library and Women Caring for Critters” on Feb. 23; “Heroes: Mortals Archives V: A Teacher’s Guide” April 1; “A Step-By-Step and Myths in Ancient Greece” March 16; “A Hole in a Guide to Modifying and Adapting Lessons for Inclusive Box Can Turn the World Upside Down! The Art and Teaching for General Educators” on April 8; and “Play Science of Pinhole Photography” on March 23; “The Symposium III-Diversity: Children’s Play and Physical Battle of Stones River” March 30; and “Discovering Activity” on April 10. Primary Sources at the Tennessee State Library and No teacher program will air March 11 because of Archives V: A Student’s Guide” on April 6. MTSU’s spring break. The prerecorded student programs will include “The In Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, the pro- Rain Forest” on Jan. 26; “Sanctuary: A Captive Elephant’s grams air on ERC@MT (MTSU Channel 9). School and Only Acceptable Alternative” on Feb. 9; and “Fueling the Future Update: center sites from Dyersburg and Memphis in West Tennessee to Knoxville and Building Engines that Run on Sun and Water” on Feb. 16. Church Hill in East Tennessee will carry the broadcasts.

page 2 The Record Jan. 25, 2010 Student organization can ‘light a spark’ for women’s studies by Gina K. Logue Shelton, a junior social work [email protected] minor, cites the Women in Leadership class she took as being s students return for the especially enlightening. spring semester, a new stu- “That helped a lot to see the A dent group will be trying to whole sphere of women who have capture their attention and their power, the obstacles they have to imagination. The Women’s Studies overcome to get in positions of Student Organization, or WSSO, wel- power and how they operate,” comes students with any and all Shelton says. majors and minors who are interested Treasurer Lisa L. Walker, a junior in gender issues. sociology major from Dyersburg, President Courtney Shelton says says she decided to come to MTSU the fledgling group will focus on aca- specifically because it has a women’s demics, not just activism. Panel dis- studies program. She says she could cussions and intellectual round tables not wait to arrive here after reading will be among the members’ activi- feminist books in her senior year of ties, along with fundraising and other high school. charitable endeavors as well as collab- “You finally are around people orations with other student groups. that feel the same way, that say The WSSO officers say that things that you can relate to, things women’s studies classes have validat- that I didn’t hear people say in my GETTING ORGANIZED—Officers of the new Women's Studies Student Organization ed what they sensed about society’s hometown,” Walker says. on campus are, from left, Courtney Shelton, junior, president; Kamryn Warren, junior, oppression of women, even though Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, vice president; and Lisa Walker, junior, treasurer. Joining the group is Dr. Newtona “Tina” Johnson, right, director of MTSU’s Women's Studies Program. their high-school classes barely English professor and director of the touched on women’s history, let alone Women’s Studies Program, sees great photo submitted the history of the feminist movement. value in the peer-to-peer mentoring “I felt like a mask had been the WSSO can provide to students of pulled off, and I became aware of all geographical areas, educational atmosphere of collaboration and part- e-mail to Shelton at [email protected], issues that I could feel but really pursuits and world views. nership, then it’s easier for students Walker at [email protected], or Warren hadn’t been able to put a name to,” “It is a way to have students light to be drawn into the field.” at [email protected]. says Vice President Kamryn Warren, a that spark in other students,” Johnson For more information about the junior sociology major from Leiper’s says. “When you have other students WSSO, contact the Women’s Studies Fork. pass on this information in this Program at 615-898-2910, or send an Bowled over Posters showcase research

by Randy Weiler Two Photon Pairs,” with Erenso. [email protected] “It’s open to all disciplines across each campus,” said Cheatham, who even MTSU student researchers serves as statewide coordinator for will be among more than 50 Posters at the Capitol, which started S from six Tennessee Board of in 2006. “When the whole state is Regents and two of the three taken into account, we have many University of Tennessee system uni- disciplines—it could be music, histo- versities participating in the fifth ry, art, the sciences or others—and annual Posters at the Capitol on that’s great. Certainly, science is Wednesday, Feb. 3, in Nashville. important.” The MTSU students, their presen- At least 51 students are expected tations and faculty mentors include: to transport their research projects • Shannon Murphy, “A Label- and posters to the capitol. The stu- Free Method for Detection and dents will represent TBR schools East Differentiation of Bacillus spp. Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Endospores,” with mentor Dr. Austin Peay, Tennessee State, MTSU Stephen Wright (biology); and the University of Memphis, along • Kevin W. Bonds, “Liquid with students from UT-Knoxville and Bismuth-fed Ion Propulsion Engines: UT-Chattanooga. Construction Methodology for a New “This is probably the biggest Type of Mass Flow Sensor,” with change,” Cheatham said. “This had mentor Dr. Tom Cheatham, dean for been a Board of Regents event in the the College of Basic and Applied past. We’re happy that UT-Knoxville Sciences; and UT-Chattanooga will participate • Luke Bolin, “Effects of with us.” Oxygenate Additives in Reducing Air Cheatham said students’ posters Toxics from the Exhaust Emissions of will be placed in the Legislative Plaza Generators Fueled by Diesel and hallway, and “they will share their Gasoline,” with Dr. Sing Chong research with anyone who stops by.” (chemistry); He added that those who want to • Sade Dunn, “Transformation of meet their state representatives or Tobacco Plants Using Synthetically senators are welcome to do so. Later, Replicated Antigenic Regions of a group photo will be taken with Gov. Shigella Flexneri 2a2457T,” with Dr. Phil Bredesen. Bruce Cahoon (biology); “I think the students really enjoy • Bart Morris, “Organosilicate it, being at the Capitol, around where WOO-HOO!—Head Coach Rick Stockstill is doused with sports drink by Blue Films Coupled to Puoremic Band Gap the (political) activities are … the Raider seniors Brandon Perry, left, and Chris McClover, right, and their teammates Multilayer Materials for Gas Sensing,” important business that’s taking after defeating the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 42-32 during the R+L Carriers with Dr. Andrienne Friedli (chem- place. The students are invigorated by New Orleans Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome Dec. 20. The game, which was istry); the experience.” MTSU’s first Division I bowl win, closed a season that saw the Blue Raiders become • Keaten Holley, “Effects of David Gregory, TBR vice chancel- the first Sun Belt Conference team to win 10 games. The 10-3 overall season also Refrigeration on Elasticity of Human lor for administration and facility made the team only the eighth in school history to record double-digit victories. Erythrocytes Under Shear Stress in development, and Paula Short, TBR MTSU ended the 2009 football season with its highest ranking ever in both the Human Blood Serum,” with Dr. vice chancellor for academic affairs, Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls—the Blue Raiders tied for 33rd Daniel Erenso (physics and astrono- usually attend the event. nationally in the USA Today poll and came in 37th in the Associated Press poll. my); and The public is welcome to view the Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images • Hannah Norris, “Quantum posters and talk to the researchers. Teleportation of Information with The Record Jan. 25, 2010 page 3 Campus Calendar Jan. 25-Feb. 7, 2010

Please note: Jan. 29 Feb. 2 Thursday, Feb. 4 MT Men’s Basketball vs. Troy Event dates, times and Friday, Jan. 29 Tuesday, Feb. 2 7 p.m., Murphy Center locations may change after MTSU School of Music Groundhog Day Luncheon For information, visit press time. Please verify Audition Day No. 1 benefiting MT Baseball www.goblueraiders.com. specifics when making plans. For information, visit 11:30 a.m., Hale Arena floor, www.mtsumusic.com Murphy Center Feb. 5 TV Schedule or contact: 615-898-2493. Tickets: $20 per person For information, contact: Friday, Feb. 5 Jan. 30 615-898-2103. MT Women’s Tennis vs. Chattanooga Saturday, Jan. 30 LT&IT Workshop: 1:30 p.m., Nashboro Village MTSU Flute Festival “Developing Your Course as Indoors For information, visit an EXL” For information, visit “Middle Tennessee Record” www.mtsumusic.com led by Drs. Jill Austin and www.goblueraiders.com. Cable Channel 9: or contact: 615-898-2493. Deana Raffo Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m., 5 p.m. 11:40 a.m.-1 p.m., Room 100, First Friday Star Party NewsChannel 5+: MT Women’s Basketball JUB 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wiser-Patten Sundays, 1:30 p.m. vs. North Texas For information, visit Science Hall 102 Visit www.mtsunews.com 2 p.m., Murphy Center www.mtsu.edu/ltanditc For information, contact: for other cable-outlet airtimes or e-mail [email protected]. 615-898-2483. or www.youtube.com/mtsunews MT Men’s Basketball for a complete show archive. vs. North Texas Feb. 3 Feb. 6 7 p.m., Murphy Center Radio Schedule For information, visit Wednesday, Feb. 3 Saturday, Feb. 6 www.goblueraiders.com. Black History Month: MT Track: Middle Tennessee “MTSU On the Record” Unity Luncheon Invitational 8 a.m. Sundays, Feb. 1 11 a.m., Tennessee Room, JUB Murphy Center WMOT 89.5-FM Tickets: $20 adult, $10 student For information, visit Podcasts available Monday, Feb. 1 For information, visit www.goblueraiders.com. anytime at Red Cross Blood Drive www.mtsu.edu/~aahm www.mtsunews.com. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tennessee or contact: 615-898-2718. MT Women’s Tennis Room, James Union Building vs. UT-Martin Through Feb. 9 For information, contact: MT Women’s Basketball 1:30 p.m., Nashboro Village 615-898-2590. vs. Troy Indoors Art Exhibit: 7 p.m., Murphy Center For information, visit “Ramblings and Dwellings: Learning, Teaching & For information, visit www.goblueraiders.com. Ken and Libby Rowe” Innovative Technologies www.goblueraiders.com. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday- Webinar: “Collaborating to MT Women’s Basketball Friday, Todd Gallery Develop an Open-Source Feb. 4 vs. South Alabama For information, contact: Platform for the Delivery of 2 p.m., Murphy Center 615-898-5653. Rich Media for Teaching and Feb. 4-6 For information, visit Jan. 27 Learning” Wind Band Conference www.goblueraiders.com. noon-1 p.m., Room 475, Walker 8 p.m. Thursday: Tennessee Library Valley Winds Concert Wednesday, Jan. 27 For information, visit 8 p.m. Friday: MTSU Wind MT Women’s Basketball www.mtsu.edu/ltanditc Ensemble Concert vs. New Orleans or e-mail [email protected]. 1 p.m. Saturday: Honor Bands 7 p.m., Murphy Center Concert For information, visit Spring Honors Lecture Series— All events in Hinton Music Hall Get noticed in The Record ! www.goblueraiders.com. Dr. Karen Petersen, “Problem For information, visit Solved? The Political www.mtsumusic.com Jan. 28 Implications of Palestinian or contact: 615-898-2493. ubmit your Campus Statehood” Calendar items and Jan. 28-30 3-3:55 p.m., Room 106, Honors Thursday, Feb. 4 other news tips to MTSU Theatre: “Ladybug” S Amphitheatre LT&IT Workshop: [email protected] by 3 p.m. 7:30 p.m., Tucker Theatre For information, visit “Mobile Learning” Wednesday, Jan. 27, for the For information, visit www.mtsu.edu/~honors led by Dr. Steve Jones Feb. 8, 2010, edition of The www.mtsu.edu/~theatre or contact: 615-898-2152. 11:40 a.m.-1 p.m., JUB 100 Record or 3 p.m. Wednesday, or contact: 615-494-8810. For information, visit Feb. 10, for the Feb. 22 Stones River Chamber Players www.mtsu.edu/ltanditc Thursday, Jan. 28 Record. Make sure your news 7:30 p.m., Hinton Music Hall or e-mail [email protected]. gets noticed in plenty of MT Men’s Basketball For information, visit vs. New Orleans time: bookmark The Record's www.mtsumusic.com 2010 deadline schedule at (Mardi Gras Night) or contact: 615-898-2493. 7 p.m., Murphy Center http://frank.mtsu.edu/ For information, visit ~proffice/rec_deadlines.htm. www.goblueraiders.com. page 4 The Record Jan. 25, 2010 Treadmill from page 1

“I looked at leg strength, balance, daily walking way. After trying initially [to walk], they say, “She’s doing great at walking in the tank. It’s pretty behavior, walking speed and endurance,” Stevens ‘What’s the point? I won’t be able to walk any- exciting.” said. “Some of these folks could only walk for a way.’” Stevens said she has given each participant an minute, then they would have to sit. When they Toward the end of the study, Stevens said her exercise regimen that they can continue at home. started walking in the tank, the minimum time I set volunteers were walking up to four trials at eight “I think as they gain confidence, they’re chang- was five minutes of walking. They all were able to minutes each. “So they’ve gone from four or five ing how they do everything in their daily life. As do that.” minutes of walking to 32 or 34 minutes. That’s a big they challenge themselves everyday, it contributes Walking in water is ideal for people with improvement.” to their improvement,” she said. spinal-cord injuries because they have a blunted When Moody started, he was walking at 1.5 In addition to serving as an adjunct instructor cardiovascular response to any exercise, Stevens miles an hour in the tank. Now he’s up to 2.5 miles in exercise science at MTSU, Stevens is a temporary explained, adding that the nerves that trigger the an hour, which is just about a normal gait pattern, faculty member at Tennessee State University in the heart to beat faster are also the nerves that trigger Stevens said. College of Health Science. walking. The low muscle tone in their legs and Harris started at .33 miles an hour, and “he’s She earned her bachelor’s degree at the their inability to increase their heart rate resulted in over a mile per hour now, so he’s more than tripled University of Kansas and a Master of Science very poor endurance, creating a repetitive and non- his speed. … Jim (also) was not able to stand inde- degree at MTSU. She is continuing her research productive cycle. Walking in water produces pendently at all. Now he can stand alone for almost project this spring and hopes to complete her doc- greater blood flow, which increases cardiovascular a minute without holding onto anything,” she said. torate in human performance this summer. activity, she said. Rodgers went from a wheelchair to a walker “They experience a real psychological boost,” with a seat, “so she can push it or sit down and Stevens said. “At first they feel like they’re in the scoot or have somebody push her,” Stevens said.

Harris: ‘Always push a little harder’ Moody: ‘Can train on my own’

by Megan McSwain been an increase in stability and control. by Drew Dunlop business without him. [email protected] In (the tank), you don’t have the fear of [email protected] Before he was paralyzed falling over and breaking a hip, or doing after falling in a hotel in Hong alking underwater has physi- something that you’d be in a hospital ometimes appearances can Kong two years ago, Moody was cally and mentally affected for a long period of time.” be more than deceiving. extremely active and traveled W partial paraplegic Jim Harris, Gerry Harris, Jim’s wife, said she S They can outright lie. around the world. a participant in MTSU doctoral student thinks his increase in mobility helps his Watching Bob Moody pre- It is his personal philosophy Sandra Stevens’ underwater-treadmill mental state, too, and he likes coming to pare for his underwater-treadmill of turning obstacles into oppor- therapy program. the therapy sessions for more than just treatment, under the direction of tunities that has enabled his In July 2005, Harris, 57, was injured exercise. MTSU doctoral student Sandra body to respond positively to the in a plane crash and suffered a spinal “He enjoys interacting with other Stevens, might lead one to think underwater-treadmill therapy. burst that severed pieces of his spinal people, talking,” Gerry said. “He’s a big that he is a hopelessly broken “When I first started the pro- cord. He has some movement in his talker. That’s an incentive to come—to man. gram, I could barely get around legs, but his doctors said he would be around people.” He struggles to sit down on when I went shopping,” he said. never walk again. The Harris said his ultimate goal is to be the bench out- “Now I can go 20 minutes before underwater treadmill able to fly planes again. A year after his side the treat- I need to sit.” has helped him defy plane crash, he flew with another pilot, ment tank, to In the first 10 weeks of treat- those doctors. and he said it felt good to be back up in adjust his ment, he has improved his over- “Even though the the air. shoes and, ground walking speed by 20 per- medical professionals One of his more immediate goals is occasionally, to cent and increased his workout at the time, said, to be able to feel more comfortable draw a breath. walking speed by 50 percent ‘Well you’ll never get walking with a walker, with which the He takes over- while also bolstering his up and walk again,’ underwater-treadmill therapy has ly careful steps endurance. every time I get up, helped. Stevens said she thinks it’s pos- to enter the His overall heightened phys- I’m reminded, ‘Ha ha, sible for Harris to eventually be able to tank. ical activity has improved the Harris Moody proved you wrong,’” walk again unassisted, but there is no When the mobility of his arms and hands. Harris said. certainty as to when. treadmill Only recently, for example, his Harris heard about the underwater Harris said the physical exercise he begins to move, however, the ability to grip and open jars has therapy program when Stevens gave a gets from walking on the underwater truth about him and the strength returned. presentation at Vanderbilt Stallworth treadmill has helped make him less fear- of his body become apparent as At this point, no one knows Rehabilitation Center, where Harris ful about doing other tasks. he pushes himself to walk faster the limitations or potential of attends a monthly spinal-cord injury “You feel good. You feel comfort- and longer against the resistance spinal-cord healing. In Moody’s peer-support group. able. You feel like you can handle what- of the water. case, no one knows what it Harris said he had tried walking ever it is you’ve got to deal with. As Moody is a self-made man in would take to make him give up only a few times before starting the pro- long as you just have something that the truest sense. When he trying to improve his mobility. gram in October 2009. Walking was a you’re reaching for, you always push a launched his own window- “The therapy has made it so challenge at first, he said, but now he’s little harder.” installation business several that I can go to the recreation- more comfortable walking in the tank years ago, his independent spirit center pool in town and train on that contains the underwater treadmill. Megan McSwain, a December journal- infected the workplace to the my own,” Moody added. “I’m “At the beginning, I’d get my feet ism graduate, was a practicum student in point that even today, his strong enough to go it on my crossed up frequently, and I don’t do the Office of News and Public Affairs dur- employees jokingly tell him to go own and work out.” that anymore,” Harris said. “So there’s ing fall 2009. away, that they’ll take care of Rodgers: ‘If you don’t keep moving ... it’ll quit working’

by Claire Rogers don’t keep moving something, it’ll were doing research at MTSU and if I water helped her form better steps. [email protected] quit working.” was interested, I should check on it. I She has had to wear a brace on her Six months later, called, and we came over to talk with left leg since the accident to keep her anette Rodgers suffered a broken Rodgers is able to Sandy and look at the tank and then foot in proper walking position. neck and spinal-cord damage walk with aid, and we just started,” said Rodgers. “I Despite the hardships she has J after a car accident in May 2009. her injury continues thought this will help me get better faced, Rodgers maintains a positive She was rushed to Vanderbilt to show improve- faster.” outlook on her future and says the University Medical Center, diagnosed ment during her Rodgers had done pool training exercise has increased her feeling of with a complete spinal-cord injury participation in as part of her physical therapy but well-being. After completing her role and told she would never walk again. Sandra Stevens’ had not seen results as drastic as in Stevens’ research, Rodgers plans to “If I were to listen to what they underwater-tread- those in Stevens’ study. resume her traditional physical- had told me, I’d still be lying in the mill study at MTSU. Rodgers “I’ve noticed more of an improve- therapy schedule and possibly begin hospital bed or in a nursing home,” Rodgers learned ment in my walking since I’ve been water aerobics at the YMCA. Rodgers, 52, said. “With spinal-cord about Stevens’ research study while doing the treadmill underwater than I injuries, you’re like a child; you have at Donnelly Physical Therapy Center. have anything,” she said. to learn to do everything again. If you “One of the ladies there said they Rodgers said walking in the The Record Jan. 25, 2010 page 5 UT’s Peterson is WISE speaker Don’t hide away! Come join from Staff Reports MTSU Department of Chemistry and 37th Groundhog Day Luncheon [email protected] faculty adviser for WISE. “She and I met and talked at a ne of the University of NSF (National Science Foundation) MT Athletic Communications Athletic Association as an opening Tennessee’s leading joint annual meeting. She learned www.goblueraiders.com pitch to the 2010 season. researchers will address about GRITS (Girls Raised in O All tickets for this year’s event MTSU’s Women in Science and Tennessee Science) and our Women in onday, Jan. 25, is the are $20 per person, or you can Engineering group and also spend Science program, and she wants to deadline to buy tickets reserve a table for 10 for $250. time with faculty and administrators. learn more. We’re building a strong for the 37th Annual Reservations may be made for the Dr. Cynthia Peterson, who is a network of collaboration for women M Groundhog Day Luncheon to ben- Groundhog Day professor in and in science throughout Tennessee.” efit Blue Raider baseball. Luncheon by calling head of the Peterson is expected to talk to The event, set for Tuesday, the Middle Tennessee Biochemistry and WISE about graduate and profession- Feb. 2 at 11:30 ticket office at 615- Cellular and al school opportunities and careers in a.m., will have 898-2103 or 888- Molecular Biology science, technology, engineering and its traditional YES-MTSU (888- department at UT- mathematics, Iriarte-Gross said. menu of ham 937-6878) or Knoxville, will speak Iriarte-Gross said she’s also hope- hocks, white the BRAA to WISE on ful that Peterson will address faculty, beans, tomato office at Wednesday, Feb. 3, at administrators and undergraduate salad, green 615-898- 6 p.m. in the and graduate students who choose to onions, 2210. Monahan Hall class- attend the weekly chemistry seminar Peterson corn 2010 base- room. The event is at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, in bread, ball season open to the public. Room 100 of the Davis Science chocolate tickets are now on Peterson’s expertise lies in blood Building. cake and sale through the clotting and vascular disease, cellular Peterson’s appearance is being ice cream. ticket office at Floyd aspects of cancer and protein function funded by the American Chemical For the third straight year, Stadium. Fans can buy and structure, according to the Society national organization, Iriarte- the Groundhog Day Luncheon will a Season Family Bleacher Pass for Tennessee Today Web site, which pro- Gross said. take place in the Murphy Center $60 and/or a Season Single vides news and information for the For more information about on the Monte Hale Arena floor on Bleacher Pass for $45. UT community. Petersen’s visit, call 615-904-8253 or the MTSU campus. The luncheon For questions about chairback “We’re delighted to have Dr. e-mail [email protected]. Peterson speak to WISE,” said Dr. is hosted by the Blue Raider base- seating at Reese Smith Field, con- Judith Iriarte-Gross, professor in the ball team and the Blue Raider tact the BRAA at 615-898-2210. Home page redesign readying for Feb. 1 launch date

by Randy Weiler Communications and a member of Draude said the “I’m [email protected] the redesign committee. “Through One” aspect of the current January, people will be able to see the home page and a two-year TSU is “counting down to new look through the blog.” MTSU marketing campaign the new look” for its The blog can be found at “will still be a component of M Internet presence, universi- www.mtsu.edu/newdesignblog. Students, the new site, but not as ty officials said, noting that the faculty, alumni, university friends and prominent. And we’ll be change will be a new look for the first literally anyone in the world can view able to expand to other time in three years. the blog there, Draude said. areas on campus. We University officials are hopeful “The blog is open to the world for feature five students (and the new design at www.mtsu.edu will viewing, and comments can be sub- students who became be unveiled Monday, Feb. 1, Tonjanita mitted to [email protected],” she alumni) now.” The L. Johnson and Barbara Draude said. said. “We’ve received several postings redesign “will feature one “By mid-January, we hope every- about what’s gone on with this.” person, but it can spot- thing’s on track (for the Feb. 1 unveil- The committee still is seeking light more than just stu- ing),” said Draude, assistant vice input from people, Draude and dents.” president for academic and instruc- Johnson said. Maine-based tional technologies, adding that a An improved search mechanism CampusTours Inc., an “T-minus X days and counting” will be one of the many features of interactive media and countdown has been in place on the the redesign. software company that Web site since Jan. 4. “The search mechanism will be created the virtual tour unveiled “We’re pretty much on schedule,” licensed through Google and offer in August, is working again with the said Johnson, associate vice president better search capabilities,” Johnson committee on the redesign of the for the Office of Marketing and said. MTSU home page. NSF workshop offers tips on writing successful grants

by Megan McSwain of the presenters at the workshop. NSF held a simi- Another thing Wilson said NSF looks for in [email protected] lar workshop at MTSU in 2003, Wilson said, but it proposals is a well-developed, cutting-edge idea. wasn’t as large as this one. Proposals also should be a persuasive document, he National Science Foundation held a work- Dr. Rebecca Moore from Tennessee State not a scientific paper, he said. shop at MTSU for researchers and educators University said being awarded funding for research The best advice Wilson said he thinks NSF T on Dec. 18 to educate attendees about NSF helps meet the academic and social needs of stu- gives is for researchers and educators to contact and writing grant proposals. dents and faculty. She said the workshop was infor- their program officers before they start writing a Dr. Michael Allen, MTSU vice provost for mational and a way for her to make connections proposal to find out if their ideas will fit a certain research and dean of the College of Graduate with other people. program. He added that only a handful of propos- Studies, said MTSU is focusing more on developing Wilson said that nearly half of the proposals als are funded the first time they are submitted, but and improving its research department. NSF receives are good enough to be funded, but he said that shouldn’t stop you from resubmitting. “During weak economic times, it is very impor- because of NSF’s budget, only one out of five is “If you take your reviews, look at your reviews tant to get additional research funds for science, actually awarded funding. Wilson offered tips to and resubmit it, taking into account what people engineering and education, because (NSF) funds a attendees on how to better prepare their proposals. have suggested to you, your chances of getting lot of educational programs now,” Allen said. “It’s “The biggest problem, really, with (the propos- funded actually go up to 50 percent,” Wilson said. very important for faculty and for the students to als) is the quality of the writing,” Wilson said. “You have to be persistent. If you just get your first have the funds to be able to conduct research.” “Mistakes in the writing ... or give reviewers the denial and say, ‘Oh, I’ll go someplace else,’ you’ll George Wilson, NSF’s legislative specialist in idea that maybe you’re not as meticulous as they never get funded. You have to keep pushing it.” the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, was one want you to be.” page 6 The Record Jan. 25, 2010 Update from page 1

Reorganization of college structure bilities as well as what the anticipated loss of stimulus funds will mean to our faculty’s workload, the quality of academics and our institutional operations. The reorganization of the MTSU college structure has generated a consid- Without the temporary stimulus funding, MTSU would have suffered irrepara- erable amount of conversation and debate among our faculty and academic ble damage to our operations. Prior to being informed of the availability of administrators. I am well aware that some faculty members are concerned stimulus funds, we were exploring options related to dealing with immediate about the purpose of this restructuring and what we hope to accomplish as a and drastic cuts in personnel, significant reductions in our day-to-day opera- university as a result of making adjustments in this area. In order to address tions and what we knew would be the resulting inability of the university to many of these concerns, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. maintain a number of critical programs and services for our students and our Diane Miller has responded in writing to many of the questions related to community. The stimulus funds have provided a much-needed window of restructuring that have been posed by faculty, staff and students. opportunity for us to strategically make the required reductions in our budget As you know, we initially planned for academic officials to submit an with the least amount of disruption to our students and personnel. But make appropriate model for this restructuring by the beginning of December, but no mistake about it—the loss of stimulus funds will have an impact on every after receiving requests from faculty for additional time to discuss this matter, I facet of our university, and we are working diligently to ensure that we are decided to extend the deadline for the provost to submit a viable restructuring prepared for a significantly reduced state budget in 2011, which will not be model for my consideration until the end of this academic year. This will allow supported by stimulus dollars. the academic leadership and faculty more time to address critical concerns and The university is working toward implementing those recommendations, explore a variety of models. I encourage those of you who are interested in this which will help us to meet a significant portion of our anticipated budget issue to continue to share your constructive feedback with the appropriate aca- reduction by the end of this fiscal year. This will help us remain on track for demic administrators so that we may have as much input as possible before reducing our budget by the full $25 million by July 1, 2011. In addition, the making any final decisions about the best model for MTSU. Tennessee Higher Education Commission recently informed the university that the governor and the Legislature are considering an additional $6 million Stimulus funding reduction from MTSU’s budget, which, if approved, would be set for July 1, 2010, and would bring the total budget cuts to $31 million. We are committed Another issue that continues to spark a great deal of discussion has been to making these reductions in a calculated, strategic manner, but as I have said that of stimulus funding. MTSU recently was featured in a Daily News Journal time and time again, this process will not come without pain and sacrifice. article on this topic, which has generated a considerable amount of spirited Everyone will be affected in one way or another, but I am confident that we faculty commentary. The university has been active in its efforts to address the will emerge from this period of crisis with positive results. resulting inaccurate perceptions related to MTSU faculty salaries and responsi- Voluntary Buy-Out Program

In the Kremlin Since we began this process, our primary concern has been how these cuts would affect our personnel. As indicated in previous updates, the normal process of attrition and the success of the university’s recommended Voluntary Buy-Out Program are still critical factors relating to the pending budget cuts might affect university employees. The MTSU Office of Human Resource Services accepted applications through Jan. 15 from eligible employees who were interested in signing up for the VBP. It is important to keep in mind that additional reductions in personnel may be required if we do not experience the level of participation in the VBP that would result in our savings goal of $4.7 million. Without a doubt, the loss of personnel, whether through the Voluntary Buy-Out Program, a reduction in force or attrition, will have an impact on many of our administrative operations and academic programs. Each division is working to minimize the amount of negative impact that such losses would have on their departments and the university as a whole.

Divisional recommendations

As I share with you links to the latest status reports from units all across the campus, I would like to thank everyone who has worked so diligently to keep us on time and on task as it relates to the recommendations presented in my May 21, 2009, report. As you will see from each of the updates, a consider- able amount of work and thought have gone into helping us to work through the fine details of many of these recommendations. You will also see that there is yet a lot more work to be done. For your convenience, you may go to www.mtsu.edu/strategic/division_ updates.shtml, the Positioning the University for the Future Web site, to find updates to recommendations from each of our five divisions—Academic Affairs, Business and Finance, Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, Development and University Relations, and Information Technology. As you read through the updates, I encourage you to share your feedback with the FROM RUSSIA WITH EXPERTISE—Dr. Andrei Korobkov, MTSU professor of appropriate divisional leaders so that your ideas and suggestions may be con- political science, pauses in the czar’s throne room in the Kremlin during a recent trip sidered as our planning efforts continue. to Moscow. Korobkov was a panelist at the Nov. 3-4 international assembly conduct- ed by the Global Institute for Support and Development of Russian Language and Culture, a nonprofit foundation. Korobkov delivered a presentation on “Russian Conclusion Brain Drain—Myth and Reality” at the institute on Nov. 4. Please know that as president of MTSU, I take seriously the charge of pro- photo submitted viding visionary leadership for this outstanding institution, especially during these very difficult economic times. I remain committed to furthering the mis- sion of the university and maintaining the kind of dynamic academic environ- ment that supports the goals and objectives of our long-term academic master Faculty from page 8 plan. Furthermore, I firmly believe that the investment of time and resources that we have and will put into our efforts to position MTSU for the future will the dinner keynote speaker for the lished her memoir, To Kill A Tiger not only help us in addressing the significant budget cuts that we are facing Ontario Nurses’ Association on Oct. (The Overlook Press, New York), but also provide us with a strategic advantage over our competitors in provid- 5, presenting a discussion on “Self which is the story of her childhood in ing quality programs and services that meet the needs of today’s students. Care and Stress Management for South Korea and five generations of Despite the difficulty of the task before us, with your active involvement Nurses” in Fort Frances, Ontario, Korean history. and support, we will continue Middle Tennessee State University’s long- Canada. standing tradition of offering our students outstanding academic programs in Get noticed in The Record ! the kind of nurturing environment that addresses their needs on an individual Publications basis. While it is not likely that we will all agree on every minute detail related to how we implement each of these recommendations, it is my hope that we Drs. Mark Anshel (health and ubmit your Faculty/Staff will strive to share a single focus: making sound decisions that will enhance our university and the quality of education for our students for generations to human performance) and Jwa Kim Update items, Campus come. (psychology) published their study, S Calendar contributions and “Reconceputualizing indicants of other news tips to [email protected] This is a reprint of recent e-mail communications from Dr. McPhee to the univer- sport perfectionism as a function of by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, for sity community. gender,” in the December 2009 the Feb. 8, 2010, edition of The Journal of Sport Behavior, pp. 395-418. Record or 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, for the Feb. 22 Record. Dr. Jid Lee (English) has pub-

The Record Jan. 25, 2010 page 7 People Around Campus Recording industry professor’s work garners Grammy nod by Gina K. Logue [email protected]

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

Faculty/Staff Update

Tom Tozer Director, News and Public Affairs Editor: Gina E. Fann, [email protected] Elections Church, which she loved. An alumna 1969 until his retirement in July 1996. of Ohio State University who earned In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Contributors: Gina K. Logue, John C. Lynch, Paula Dr. Marisa Richmond (history) her master’s degree at the University you consider contributing to your Morton, Lisa L. Rollins, Randy Weiler, Eric was elected as an at-large director of of Memphis and a doctorate in educa- favorite charity. Jackson, Claire Rogers, Drew Dunlop, Sydney the Davidson County Democratic tion from the University of Tennessee Hester, Lindsey Austin, Bridget Buckles and Personnel Changes Elizabeth Warren. Women’s Organization board for at Knoxville, Dr. Martin joined the 2010. MTSU family in September 1968 and was a professor in the College of Travis Tipton (admissions) Winner, 2009 Gold Award, Electronic Newslet- Honors ter, and Silver Award, Printed Newsletter, Education for 13 years at MTSU and became the adviser for the College of Tennessee College Public Relations dean of the university’s Graduate Basic and Applied Sciences Jan. 11. Association. Coach Steve Peterson (baseball) School before retiring in October The MTSU alumnus (B.S. ’06, M.Ed. received the South Central Region 1994. Memorials honoring the former ’09) had worked as a counselor in the Coach of the Year award Jan. 8 from MTSU Teacher of the Year may be Office of Admissions since 2006. Photos: MTSU Photographic Services, made to the American Heart except where noted. the American Baseball Coaches Association. Peterson was honored Association or to the Chester R. and Presentations Printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. for his team’s 44-18 overall record in Mary E. Martin Graduate Scholarship 2009. at MTSU. Dr. Wandi Ding (mathematical Phone: 615-898-2919 sciences) presented “Control for a Web site: www.mtsunews.com Passages Dr. William R. Wolfe (English), Tick Disease Model Using Hybrid MTSU’s Office of News and Public Affairs 75, passed away Jan. 6. Dr. Wolfe was ODE Systems” at the Second publishes The Record every two weeks Dr. Mary Ethel Freida Williams the son of the late Roland Corrington International Conference on and distributes 3,500 copies free to Martin (education), 83, passed away and Mary Agnes McConnell Wolfe Mathematical Modeling and Analysis faculty, staff, friends and media outlets. Dec. 24. A native of St. Louis, Mo., and is survived by his younger broth- of Populations in Biological Systems Dr. Martin was the daughter of the er, Donald Thomas Wolfe of in Huntsville, Ala., Oct. 9-11. Address all correspondence to: late Edward and Bertha Louise Murfreesboro. He was preceded in Gerberding Williams and was pre- death by two older brothers, Roland Dr. Debra Rose Wilson (nursing) The Record ceded in death by her husband, C. Wolfe Jr. of Nashville and John presented “Stress Management for Office of News and Public Affairs Chester Robin Martin, and her sib- McConnell Wolfe of Chattanooga. Dr. Nurses: Remembering Self Care,” a MTSU P.O. Box 72 lings Cissy, Lee, Roy, Edna, Louise Wolfe attended the Overbrook School juried national presentation, at a con- 1301 E. Main St. and Bill. Dr. Martin is survived by and Father Ryan High School in ference at the Mayo Clinic in Murfreesboro, Tenn. 37132 her daughters, Mary Barone Martin Nashville. He attended Vanderbilt Rochester, Minn. The Oct. 1-4 confer- MTSU, a Tennessee Board of Regents of Murfreesboro and Cheslynn Ann University, where he was a member ence, “Forging the Future through Institution, is an equal opportunity, non- Martin of Winston Salem, N.C.; a of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and held Continuing Education,” was spon- racially identifiable, educational institu- brother, Edward Williams of degrees from Saint Ambrose College, sored by the Mayo Clinic in coopera- tion that does not discriminate against Phoenix, Ariz.; and grandchildren Marquette University and the tion with the Professional Nurse individuals with disabilities. Kristin, Jessica, Joy, Andrew and University of Virginia. He was a vet- Educators Group. Wilson also was Kate Martin. Dr. Martin was an eran of the U.S. Army and was UR055-0110 active member of First Presbyterian employed by MTSU from September See ‘Faculty’ page 7 page 8 The Record Jan. 25, 2010