MTSU on WGNS: Gang symposium, Confucius Day, ‘Bleed Blue’ drive

MTSU faculty and staff took to the radio recently to share information about an upcoming blood drive competition, gang symposium and celebration honoring one of the world’s great philosophers.

The details were shared during the Sept. 19 “Action Line” program with host Bart Walker. The live program was broadcast on FM 100.5, 101.9 and AM 1450 from the WGNS studio in downtown Murfreesboro. If you missed it, you can listen to a podcast of the show here.

Guests included:

• Ray Wiley, associate director of MTSU Campus Recreation and longtime Red Cross volunteer, and Patti Wright, senior representative for the American Red Cross’ Tennessee Valley Region, discussed the “Bleed BLUE, Beat WKU Blood Drive” set Oct. 3-5.

The Blue Raider community will again be competing against supporters of our fellow Conference USA member Western Kentucky University. Last year, MTSU’s drive resulted in 517 pints of blood to WKU’s 436 during the three-day annual event. This year’s goal is collecting 700 more pints during the three-day drive in MTSU’s Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center.

From left, Ray Wiley, associate director of MTSU Campus Recreation and longtime Red Cross volunteer, and Patti Wright, senior representative for the American Red Cross’ xTennessee Valley Region, at WGNS Radio in downtown Murfreesboro. (MTSU photo)

• Dr. Michael Sherr, professor and new chair of the Department of Social Work, and Dr. Barbara Turnage, a social work professor, discussed the Symposium on Gang Violence set for Sept. 21.

MT Engage, a program focused on enhancing student engagement, is sponsoring the symposium on gang violence reduction hosted by the Department of Criminal Justice Administration and the Department of Social Work from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, in the Student Union’s Parliamentary Room. The symposium is free and open to the public.

Read more here.

From left, Dr. Barbara Turnage and Dr. Michael Sherr at WGNS Radio in downtown Murfreesboro. (MTSU photo)

• Dr. Mei Han, director of the Center for Chinese Music and Culture at MTSU and a master of the “zheng” Chinese instrument, discussed the Confucius Day Celebration set for Sept. 21 at MTSU’s Wright Music Building.

Dr. Mei Han, director of the Center for Chinese Music and Culture at MTSU, at WGNS in downtown Murfreesboro. (MTSU photo)

The Center for Chinese Music and Culture will host the celebration at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Hinton Hall. Center music instructors will perform on a variety of Chinese musical instruments and accompany traditional dance and poetry.

Meanwhile, the Center for Chinese Music and Culture continues to develop its programs since its March 2016 grand opening as the first and only center of its kind in North America. Located on the first floor of the multipurpose Miller Education Center at 503 Bell St., visitors to the 3,200-square-foot center will see a library, an archive, classrooms and a musical instrument gallery.