MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University faculty and staff recently provided the media with their perspectives on various issues, including politics in the pulpit, gang violence, free speech and finances.

Dr. Sandra Poirier, food science professor, talked with WalletHub Sept. 5 about personal injury insurance. Read her commentary.

Dr. Elizabeth Whalen, associate professor of tourism and hospitality, talked with WZTV-TV Fox17 Sept. 9 about the university’s plans to build a hotel on campus. Watch the segment.

Dr. Benjamin Jansen, assistant professor of finance, shared tips with WalletHub about the best personal loans. Read his commentary.

Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center, talked about the importance of the First Amendment in a Sept. 4 article by the Christian Broadcasting Network. Read the article.

Paulson shared his opinion with High Plains Public Radio/KGOU-FM on Sept. 16 regarding an Oklahoma teacher’s right to free speech following a social media post. Read the article.

Dr. Alanna Vaught, professor in the School of Agriculture, talked with Main Street Media Sept. 11 about her family’s restored event center in Milton, Tennessee. Read the article.

Kent Syler, political science professor, talked with The Tennessean Sept. 17 about the Democrats’ bids in state and presidential elections in November. Read the article.

Syler and Honors College Dean John Vile co-authored a commentary that appeared Sept. 20 in The Tennessean on Pope Francis’ equivocal stance on the U.S. presidential election. Read the article.

Syler talked with the Tennessee Lookout Oct. 14 about the U.S. Senate race between Gloria Johnson and Marsha Blackburn. Read the article.

Syler talked with The Tennessean Oct. 18 about partisan politics and gerrymandering. Read the article.

Vile talked with ABC affiliate WOOD-TV on Oct. 10 about politics in the pulpit. Watch the segment.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives at the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center at MTSU, was featured Sept. 24 by The Associated Press for presenting an award from the center to Premise Health for the company’s commitment to hiring veterans. Read the article.

MTSU Police Chief Ed Kaup talked with WKRN-TV News 2 on Sept. 25 about the new weapons detection system at the university. Watch the segment.

Dr. Hanna Terletska, associate professor of physics and astronomy, was spotlighted Oct. 9 by Vanderbilt University News for launching the STEM with UKRAINE Initiative. Read the article.

Dr. Murat Arik, associate professor of management and director of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, was interviewed Oct. 11 on NewsChannel 5+ “Openline” about the state of Tennessee’s housing market. Watch the segment.

Ed Arning, market development director, was featured by In-plant Impressions Oct. 15 after speaking at the Southeastern University Print, Digital and Mail Conference. Read the article. 

Dr. Carter Smith, criminal justice professor, was interviewed by WKRN-TV News 2 on Oct. 15 about gang violence in Middle Tennessee. Watch the segment.

Smith talked with WTVF-TV NewsChannel 5 about area gang violence on Oct. 16. Watch the segment.

Beverly Keel, College of Media and Entertainment dean, was a featured guest at the Save the Music’s fifth annual “Hometown to Hometown” event. Read the Oct. 18 article.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)