A collection of MTSU experts has been featured on WGNS Radio’s weekly “Action Line” program discussing a variety of topics, including campus security, consumer research and Chinese language courses.

The program was broadcast live from 8:10 to 9 a.m. Jan. 23 on WGNS-FM, 101.9, 100.5 and AM 1450. If you missed the live broadcast, you can listen to the WGNS podcast at http://tinyurl.com/MTActionLineJan2013.

The guests appeared in three separate segments.

• MTSU Police Chief Buddy Peaster and Sgt. Broede Stucky, department training coordinator, used the first segment to discuss the new security guards on campus as well as recent emergency training.

In late November, the university hired two uniformed security guards to monitor high-traffic areas on campus. You can read that story here.

Earlier this month, MTSU’s Department of Public Safety officers conducted training exercises that included “realistic-looking” weapons with simulated ammunition in real-life emergency scenarios. Read that story here.

• In the second segment, Professor Tim Graeff, director of the MTSU Office of Consumer Research, discussed the most recent Consumer Outlook Index, which showed Midstate consumers were more pessimistic about the future of the American economy.

The survey of 422 randomly selected adult residents of Davidson, Rutherford and Williamson counties was conducted on the evenings of Nov. 27 and Nov. 29. The overall consumer outlook index dropped sharply to 106 from 178 in September. You can read that story here.

• In the third segment, Yiping “Paul” Cui, associate director of MTSU’s Confucius Institute, discussed the recent start of a new series of classes added to this year’s offering of Chinese language programs from the institute.

On Saturdays, the institute is providing courses for children of Chinese heritage who speak Chinese as their first or second language. Other students with compatible levels of proficiency also are welcome. Read that story here.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)