Posts from — March 2009

The DNJ sits down with Parking & Transportation Services Director Ron Malone to discuss MTSU’s parking dilemma post-garage fee vote.

MTSU officials are rethinking the future of parking and campus transportation after students turned down a referendum that would have raised fees to build a parking garage and improve campus streets.

In a 1,888 to 1,508 vote, students rejected a move to raise the program services fee incrementally by $60 beginning in 2013-2014 to build a $20 million parking garage and make $12 million worth of improvements to MTSU Boulevard and an extension of Blue Raider Drive to connect to Wiles Court.

MTSU students can thank several informed students who mounted a campaign against the garage fee several weeks ago.

According to House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner, the Democrat Caucus will not be taking a position on gun bills.

“We are going to let those bills, let the people in the caucus vote their own convictions, on those bills. Gun bills will be done the same way. We don’t have a particular caucus item. Most of our people will probably vote for most of the gun bills; There are some that have concerns about others, but that’s an individual choice thing, that the people are going to make up their minds about.”

This is just another example of why “it matters who governs” – a suggestion popularized by Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey.

The State House has already seen the effects of this governance with a recent vote to end mandatory fingerprinting by gun dealers of buyers at the time of purchase. From an article in The Tennessean:

Tennessee firearms dealers would no longer have to take the thumbprints of people buying guns under a bill passed by the state House on Thursday.

The measure sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada was approved on an 82-11 vote, with four members abstaining. The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

(RT: Kleinheider)

From the National Student News Service: check this out.

Matthew Hurt[t], a student at Middle Tennessee State University, is gaining national coverage for his blog’s critique of how MTSU’s administration is spending student money. 

Neat. I just wanted to point that out.

Inside Higher Ed covered the story, as well.

This is an interview I did with Christian Grantham on his online morning show – “Morning Browser” – concerning MTSU’s budget woes. Enjoy!