The Honors College is receiving $2.5 million and Buchanan’s Nobel Peace prize as a gift from the man whose name is on one of the most distinguished scholarship awards of the university.

“I hope that these plans underscore the fact that James Buchanan’s influence on this campus is not at the end point today,” McPhee said.

Buchanan graduated from MTSU with a degree in English, math and social science in 1940. He received the Nobel Peace prize in 1986 for his work on public choice and the influence of self-interest in politics. Buchanan died in January.

Buchanan’s nephew Jeff Whorley announced the $2.5 million award along with the donation of Buchanan’s Nobel Peace Prize. Photo by Sinclaire Sparkman.

According to university president Sidney McPhee, $2 million of his donation will add to the Buchanan Fellows scholarship program.

Students who receive the scholarship will receive a medallion in honor of Buchanan December 2013.

The medallion will be made of bronze to commemorate Buchanan’s bronze star, which he was awarded for his service in World War II. A likeness of Buchanan will be printed on the front, and the back will have a resemblance of his Nobel Prize award.

McPhee said plans for the fund also include the Buchanan Papers project through collaboration with George Mason University to create accessible and complete records of Buchanan’s work.

The donation will also fund the establishment of the James Buchanan lecture series, which will happen during the next six years and end with a video compilation on Buchanan’s 100th birthday in 2019.

“These all represent keeping the Buchanan spirit of everything is possible alive here at MTSU,” McPhee said.

Barbara Haskew and Reuben Kyle, both former university professors and friends of Buchanan, spoke in honor of Buchanan’s family history and his work in the field of economics and politics.

Jeff Whorley, Buchanan’s nephew, announced that not only would the Nobel Prize won by Buchanan in 1986 be on display at the college, but Buchanan wished the Honors College of his alma mater to have all that remained of his estate after taxes and other gifts.

Whorley said this donation is the largest ever given to MTSU by a single individual, while also acknowledging Paul and Carla Martin for their generous contribution to the Honors College.

TO STUDY OR TO SOOTHE

1. Taking Up Your Precious Time – Pretty Lights (2006).
This album is flawless. It’s a well-rounded journey that will steer your mind through subtle highs and lows of instrumental hip-hop infused with soul. It’s perfect for sparking creativity for writing or artistic manifestation. Don’t skip “Until Tomorrow” or “The Last Passenger.”

2. Cosmogramma – Flying Lotus (2010).
From start to finish, this experimental instrumental album touches bases in the hidden places of your musical mind. It features spacey synthesizers, bass solos and choppy layers of various percussion sounds, which give you the perfect amount of energy to dive into a focused mental state. Don’t skip “Zodiac Shit” or “Do The Astral Plane.”

3. The North Borders – Bonobo (2013).
The North Borders takes you to a happy place with chimes, harps and flutes. If you need to be lulled into a calm, positive state after a long study session, this downtempo album featuring soulful female vocalists (i.e. Erykah Badu) will do the trick. Don’t skip “Sapphire” or “Towers (ft. Sjzerdene).”

EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER RIDE

4. channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean (2012).
As Ocean’s first full-length album, channel Orange showcases overwhelming feelings of love and longing. Laced with everyday situations and raw emotions, there’s a track to suit every mood you feel: happy, lustful, satirical, sad or content. Don’t skip “Forrest Gump” or “Pyramids.”

5. In Rainbows – Radiohead (2007).
If you’re looking for a place to lift you up and cradle you with song, In Rainbows is your destination. It’s a powerful, eclectic collection of symphonic segments, intricate percussion pieces and incomparable vocals from Thom Yorke. Don’t skip “15 Step” or “All I Need.”

6. Wounded Rhymes – Lykke Li (2010).
Lykke Li compiled a 10-track album of swaying melodies and wounded rhymes. After all, hearts still beat even if they’re broken. Perfect for filling voids, Wounded Rhymes will help you dance yourself through a breakup and feel dignified again. Don’t skip “I Follow Rivers” or “Sadness Is A Blessing.”

PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999

7. Express Yourself EP – Diplo (2012).
Don’t be surprised if the party starts twerking when you put this on. It’s an electronic fusion of moombahton and bounce. Just prepare yourself. Don’t skip “Express Yourself (ft. Nicky Da B)” or “Barely Standing (ft. Datsik & Sabi).”

8. Mom & Dad – Cherub (2012).
This album crosses so many genres of music it will surely please the party. If Justin Timberlake had a baby with Madonna, and the baby grew up listening to David Bowie and Peter Frampton, he or she would also listen to this album. Daily. Don’t skip “Doses & Mimosas” or “Hold Me.”

9. Musique Vol. 1 – Daft Punk (2006).
The genius electronic duo from France know exactly how to turn the celebration knob to the max. Practice your robot to this house album with funky beats and repetitive lyrics. It’s a classic party staple. Don’t skip “One More Time” or “Harder Better Faster Stronger.”

EVERYDAY LISTENING

10. Wolf – Tyler, The Creator (2013).
Let this album serve as a soundtrack to your self-righteousness. Old-school, hip-hop rhythms marry acid jazz to make the beats behind Tyler’s sophisticated use of expletives to channel aggression. Yes. Don’t skip “Jamba” or “Tamale.”

11. The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake (2013).
Truly a best, all-around experience, this album’s content is reflective of the title. Some tracks are classy club-bangers, and others are romantic ballads. Timberlake’s sexy falsetto vocals over Timbaland’s complex melodic beats make a beautiful creation of musical superiority. Don’t skip “Pusher Love Girl” or “Blue Ocean Floor.”

12. Born To Die – Lana Del Rey (2011).
Del Rey’s songwriting will allow you to escape, no matter where you want to go. Her vintage vocal style meets new-school, bass-heavy rhythms throughout this album, which create a unique listening experience. Don’t skip “Off To The Races” or “Diet Mountain Dew.”

These features include a virtual campus map with classroom and office locations, faculty contact information, notification of sporting events, access to student email, class schedules and a university calendar for important dates.

The Department of Computer Science’s android & java development course designed the concept in spring 2011. Some of the original students are still working for MTSU’s Information Technology Division as part-time mobile developers for the official app.

Since the application’s official release in January 2012, improvements have increased the usefulness of the app.

While most of the features are mildly helpful, one stands above the rest to make downloading the app worth it. Last month, the development team integrated a real time bus-tracking feature into the virtual map.

The bus-tracking feature allows students to instantly check the location of any bus during all routes on campus. Students can use the feature to quickly determine if taking the bus will be faster than walking directly to class.

To download the MTSU Mobile app, students can visit the Google Marketplace on Android or the App Store on iPhone and search for “MTSU Mobile.”

2. Dressing lazily shows your professors that you are lazy. This is not a good thing. Getting in good with professors helps out at the end of the semester when you’ve missed one too many homework assignments.

3. No one is the king or queen of productivity when you do not take an extra 10 minutes to dress like a productive human being. Put on real pants and kick the day’s butt.

4. Just because you can wear sweats to class every day now, doesn’t mean that you should. You also now have the option to sleep 22 hours a day or eat nothing but macaroni and cheese for every single meal. I know all these things seem like they’d be fun, but they’re all equally destructive.

5. Ladies, wearing yoga pants to class is not cute. It makes you look like every other girl who thinks wearing yoga pants to class is cute.

6. Guys, your sweats make you look like you have a poopy diaper.

7. Let me reiterate the last two points — no one looks attractive in sweats. No one.

8. I know that a lot of you have a fair amount of normal clothes that you or your parents spent money on. You’re an adult now and should know that wasting money is childish. Wear those clothes you already have hanging in your closet.

9. College is supposed to be the beginning of adulthood, not an extension of childhood. Dress like it.

10. You deserve to look and feel like the best possible version of you every single day.

However, your school activities don’t have to end the moment all of the right CRN numbers are punched in, and the syllabi are handed out on the first day. MTSU offers its students a wealth of opportunities to get involved on campus outside of the classroom.

Danny Kelley is assistant vice president for Student Affairs.  According to him, getting involved is pertinent in not only getting the most out of the college experience, but also helps students build resumes.

“The Center for Student Involvement is here to connect students to meaningful opportunities outside of the classroom, to enhance their college experience and make it more satisfying,” Kelley says. “And in many cases, we hope that it contributes to developing their skills whether it be in leadership or joining an organization that is connected to their interests.”

The CSIL is the one place students learn about the 280-plus student organizations on campus. The center oversees leadership development, fraternity and sorority life, multicultural and diversity programming and community service. It not only provides a link for students hoping to get involved, but also for those who wish to be leaders.

“We have a retreat for them right before classes start in the fall, and then we have a leadership conference called ‘True Blue Traditions Day’ to kind of get freshman students acclimated to the university, the traditions, all the ways that they can get involved,” Kelley says.

Jackie Victory is the director of Leadership and Service in the CSIL. Her job is to work with clubs and organizations to plan yearly events.

“For freshman specifically, we have our traditions day, we have our freshman day of service, we have Raider Outdoor Lightning Leadership. Those are things geared towards the incoming students,” Victory says. “But outside of that, we have our Blue Raider Leadership summit and several of other workshops and retreats that connect with our clubs and organizations.”

Photo by Jay Powell.

Another organization that is based in the CSIL is the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students. Barbara Scales, director, says the center’s purpose is to not only celebrate the accomplishments and historical significance that women played throughout history, but also to focus on the sect of students that most probably don’t think about – the nontraditionals.

A nontraditional student is typically someone who is more than 25 years old or has the extra responsibilities that a traditional, fresh-out-of-high-school freshman doesn’t have to worry about yet.

“We have a large percentage of students that aren’t like traditional students, and they are single parents, they are married or divorced or taking care of a parent. Some of the services that we provide is to help enhance your pursuit of academic excellence,” Scales says.

MTSU hosted a preview day for graduating high school seniors and their families this spring. Many attended to learn information about the school, take a campus tour and hear from the different organizations the school offers. The CSIL held a special session where students and leaders from each of the organizations shared with the audience how getting involved has benefited them.

The session included representatives from Student Government Association, The June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students, The Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs and Greek life members.

Coby Sherlock spoke about his experiences as a freshman, traveling all of the way from New Orleans, La. He went from knowing one other person to becoming student body president.

“When I first came to MTSU, the first thought I had was, ‘Man, this place is huge,’ and I knew one person, and I was excited to talk to my friend, and then that friend left school after December. I decided to join a Greek organization … it gave me so many open doors to different parts of campus.”

It was in getting involved and meeting others through the Greek organization that Sherlock was able to participate in mock trial, pursue a leadership minor and  become student body president. But he says that none of this could have been possible had he not stepped out and seen what his school had to offer for people like him.

“It’s probably the best thing I’ve done in college, for sure. This last year has been something that I will always remember. The track up to that was really interesting, exciting, things I learned, cultural boarders that had to be broken.”

Sherlock said he believes getting involved in an organization is critical to how successful students want their college career to ultimately become. They can be fun, a great way to meet people and a way to make sure that students not only stay in school but also finish.

“The impact that Greek life has on your studies and academics is amazing. It helps you to keep that GPA up,” Sherlock says. “We strive to make sure all of our members are working together and working hard to push themselves forward and to be the best person that they can be. Actually, right now, the GPA for the Greek life as a whole is higher than the average GPA of MTSU as whole, so it’s interesting to think of it that way.”

To students who are unsure about what their role is, a number of different opportunities exists. The CSIL can provide a good source of information to find out where and how to get started, but none of it will be possible unless the student takes the initial first step in seeing what’s out there.

“Involvement is also going to increase the likelihood that you’ll stay in school and that you’ll actually finish,” Kelley says. “So involvement is as critical as is obviously attending classes and getting great grades.”

Austin Heithcock, director of Campus Bellhops at MTSU, said the mission of the company is to help their peers move in and out of dorms, apartments and houses so families feel more comfortable about moving day.

“The tradition in the past was that parents help students move in, and no one’s happy,” Heithcock said. “We let parents do what they want with their students.”

Students will always need to move, and the program creates an economy on campus, he said.

“I personally am doing it because I have friends where it’s hard for them to work during school,” Heithcock said. “This creates jobs for students at our school.”

Bao Nguyen, sophomore business major, joined Campus Bellhops because his income wasn’t meeting his needs, and he was tired of the routine.

“When I heard about the description of the job and how much I could have possibly made, I was in,” Nguyen said. “I got to be active and get a good workout in, and I would be able to stay in shape.”

The campus already has a program, We-Haul, that moves students into dorms in the spring for free, but Heithcock said it only focuses on about four centralized dorms. Campus Bellhops will help the other student housing complexes. They will also move anybody within a 10-mile radius of campus.

“It’s good to have someone who already knows the school help you move in,” said Stephen Lessard, a sophomore criminal justice major. “It’s a good way to start a friendship or relationship.”

Lessard said the program is especially good for freshmen, because the first year of college can be hard, especially if they don’t know anybody.

Heithcock further explained that the main purpose of Campus Bellhops is to promote student involvement. He has been involved with the Student Government Association, Blue Crew, fraternities and Presidium. However, he wanted another way to help on campus.

“I did all this and didn’t feel like I was helping people,” Heithcock said. “This is a way to reach out to more students … This is how we can bridge the gap to get more students involved. We have an hour and a half to tell students about clubs and activities on campus.”

Campus Bellhops is a three-year-old company with established programs in 50 college towns across the country. Heithcock said he heard about it while visiting the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, so he worked to establish one here. The MTSU Campus Bellhops had the 10th most hires in its first semester out of all other programs. Heithcock said he has 40 bellhops, mostly from fraternities.

If students need to move in or out of their dorms, off-campus houses or apartments, students can log on to campusbellhops.com and follow the instructions. All products and prices are available on the website.

“We want to make the client’s experience with campus bellhops one that they won’t expect and definitely one that they won’t forget,” Nguyen said.

Next time you head out for a shopping trip, do not dismiss local fashion in the ‘Boro. Thanks to these local shops, fashion-conscious and money-conscious college students can express themselves with the latest and vintage trends as they head to class and campus events.

Altar’d State
Prices: Clothing $25-$75, Accessories $5-$30, Shoes $50-$75
Location: The Avenue–2615 Medical Center Parkway

Buy one Get One, Toms shoes at Alter’d state. Photo by Kati Baird.

Based in another Tennessee college town of Knoxville, this store is redefining the shopping experience. On what is dubbed “Mission Mondays,” 10 percent of the stores net proceeds go to support various charitable organizations. The shop carries a wide selection of TOMS shoes. From dresses suitable for sorority events, to ’70s inspired attire for music festivals, a chic college gal is sure to find style to spare at this shop. Accessories at Altar’d State are abundant and ensures no one leaves without the perfect head-to-toe ensemble.

Bella’s Boutique and Trendy Pieces
Prices: Clothing $15-$50, Accessories $5-$30, Shoes $30-$75
Location: 111 Church St. 

Bella’s Boutique purse selection. Photo by Kati Baird.

Nestled side by side in the historic downtown square of Murfreesboro, these two shops are minutes away from campus. Owner Judy Goldie is focused on bringing big-city fashion to a college town without the outrageous prices of most boutiques. At Bella’s Boutique, shoppers find classic pieces with a modern twist that fit a wide range of body types. Do not leave without checking out the purses and accessories, including Lucky Brand shoes. Those looking for sophisticated style will not be disappointed with the options available. Trendy Pieces offers exactly what their name implies —  pieces that add flair and uniqueness to every wardrobe, even men’s. Offering reasonably priced men’s suits, it is the place to go before an interview. The shop also carries a supply of Miss Me and Silver brand jeans.

Sugaree’s
Prices: Clothing $30-$50,  Accessories $5-$30
Location: 122 South Maple Street

Photo by Kati Baird.

Across from Bella’s Boutique and Trendy Pieces is a quaint shop that carries vintage and vintage-inspired clothing. Staci Higdon welcomes customers with a smile and endearing hospitality. She attends estate sales where she finds vintage clothing and accessories that are truly one-of-a-kind. The brands available in the shop include B.B. Dakota, Jack and Tulle. The styles offer classic silhouettes at affordable prices.

During a stretch from 2009 to 2012, Blue Raider teams experienced arguably their best run since the program joined DI in 2000 and took home four consecutive Bubas Cup trophies, an all-sports award given to the top team in the SBC according to a points system that accounts for each sport. In each of those four seasons, as one team struggled, another stepped up on the field, court or track in order to assure the four-year streak would continue.

“We try not to make the valleys too low,” said Chris Massaro, athletic director. “For the most part, we’ve been able to do that in our individual sports. They’ve all been pretty consistent. There have been a couple of exceptions, but when one’s down, others have arisen.”

MT squads took home more than 20 regular season and postseason conference titles and posted record-setting seasons in football, baseball, basketball, track and field and volleyball.

In fall of 2009, junior quarterback Dwight Dasher burst onto the scene to help the football team reach new heights under MT Head Coach Rick Stockstill. The team set a new conference record with 10 wins that year and defeated Southern Miss in the New Orleans Bowl.

When Dasher was suspended to begin the next season amid NCAA allegations, a newly transferred Logan Kilgore helped fill the gap until Dasher’s suspension was served. The pair took the Blue Raiders to two of the three bowl games that the school has attended during its time in Division I.

Baseball also saw a record-setting 44 win season and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009 behind future pros Bryce Brentz, Rawley Bishop, Justin Miller, Tyler Burnett, Kenny Roberts and Coty Woods, who now count themselves among the professional ranks.

The majority of the batting order was back in 2010 to contribute to the highest-scoring season in program history as encore performance. Even in the debacle that was the 2011 season when the team won only 18 games, fans such as “Rabbit” Victory and the “Railbirds” section still paraded into Reese Smith Jr. Field every other weekend to see how far Will Skinner could launch a baseball.

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams picked up the slack left at times by football and baseball during the stretch in 2010 and 2011.

Kermit Davis etched his name into Murfreesboro basketball lore after his team broke through into the upper echelon of the SBC standings and reached win totals not seen since the days of Jimmy Earle, who graces the walls of Murphy Center.

The 27-win 2012 season gave fans a reason to wait in eager anticipation of Selection Sunday, and even when relegated to the National Invitation Tournament, Tennessee fell to the Blue Raiders in Knoxville just one week later.

Rick Insell and his Lady Raiders went to four NCAA Tournaments during the four-year stretch. Alysha Clark transferred from Belmont to become arguably the greatest player in program history on her way to All-American status and a Women’s National Basketball Association. The 2011 team also grieved the death of a teammate with only days to prepare for the Sun Belt Championships.

Dean A. Hayes’ track and field teams won SBC Championships at a pace that reminded fans why the  stadium adorns its still-active coach’s name.

Matt Peck and his volleyball team racked up more Bubas Cup points than any other program on campus.

In-state rivals were defeated. SEC foes fell. A city began to see more blue and less orange adorning bumper stickers, T-shirts and shop windows.

“The culture and the expectation is that it’s important. The Bubas Cup is important to us,” Massaro said. “But it’s important that all our sports compete for championships. We may not win it every year, but we should be competing for it every year, and that’s the expectation. That’s the culture.”

The program’s new home of C-USA does not have its own all-sports trophy, but Massaro said that he will gauge fellow administrators’ interest once MT is firmly in its new conference home.

Until then, success may have to be measured through other dimensions, whether that will be wins on the field or fan support off of it. The Blue Raiders are on a collision course with new opponents and some old conference mates this fall.

“We’re just excited to play them to see where we stack up, learn from that and go forward,” Massaro said.

According to Dennis Mullen, biology professor and member of the science building committee, the building is nearing the “dried in” phase of construction, which means the frame of the building (windows, roofing, and exterior walls) is set up so weather no longer hinders construction.

The new space will meet the needs of a growing demand for chemistry and biology labs and classroom space. The class space will meet the needs of upper division science majors and general education coursework for incoming freshmen.

University officials speculate that 80 percent of all students will take at least one class in the new building upon its completion.

“We’re sort of multitasking now with space and making rooms do a lot more than they’re intended to do,” said David Powell, biology lab coordinator. “It just puts a damper on everything, so it’ll be nice to be able to spread out and be more effective that way.”

In fall 2010, more than 13,000 students were enrolled in biology, chemistry and physical science courses. Mullen said that nearly 40 faculty teach and perform research in a space originally built for 15 faculty.

“It limits the students, and it limits the teaching,” Mullen said. “Most of our teaching labs are operating from 8 o’clock in the morning till 9 o’clock at night, and they’re full, and we have demand that we just can’t meet. We just don’t have the physical space for it.”

Once chemistry and biology move out of the Wiser-Patten Science Hall and the Davis Science Building, the physics department will take most of its facilities. Labs and classrooms in these buildings will still be used for any necessary science classes and other departments.

The university knew it needed more space for its science program in 1998, but funding was an issue – the project costs $147 million.

In early 2012, Governor Bill Haslam announced to MTSU officials his plan to include $126.7 million for the project in his 2012-2013 budget proposal. This money left MTSU with $18.7 million to put toward the project, according to a post by university President Sidney McPhee on the MTSU website.

Arthur Reed of campus planning said the new building will enable the university to fulfill the America Competes Act by “creating additional science graduates to fill high-tech jobs.”

Reed also said the new building will add about 230,000 square feet of instructional and research space to the science program, dwarfing the combined 75,332 net square feet of the Wiser-Patten Science Hall and Davis Science Building.

The building will feature 36 teaching labs, 29 classrooms, two lecture halls, three interdisciplinary suites for Ph.D students and one conference room. This equals about 1,500 new seats for students in chemistry and biology, agriscience, aerospace, wellness and exercise science, nursing and teacher licencor in science education.

This building also seeks to ‘go green’ through certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building green program.

To increase sustainability, the building will use 30 percent less water because of high efficiency plumbing fixtures and use 10 percent less energy than a standard up to code building. Ninety percent of the space will have a view to the outside.

Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law April 12 the Senate Bill 93, colloquially called the “Jacob Nunley Act,” which will require meningococcal disease immunization for all incoming freshmen at state colleges.

The “Jacob Nunley Act,” named for the Dyersburg native who died September 2012, passed the Tennessee State Senate unanimously 30-0 and the Tennessee State House of Representatives 94-1. Nunley, a freshman member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, succumbed to meningococcal meningitis, caused by the particularly deadly bacterium, Neisseria meningitides.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all college students, particularly freshmen, receive meningococcal vaccinations.

“Any time a case of meningococcal meningitis occurs on a college campus, we’re concerned, since this infection can strike quickly and is sometimes fatal,” said Alison Patti, CDC spokeswoman. “We don’t panic, though, since the bacteria that cause this infection are not easily spread. In general, teenagers and young adults are at increased risk for meningococcal disease, especially freshmen living in college dorms.”

Nunley attended a party at the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity house before being taken to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was pronounced dead Sept. 10, 2012 at 8 a.m. almost immediately after arrival.

“I can’t remember if it was the next day or a couple of days later, but someone told me that a guy [Jacob Nunley] was at the party we were at and had died of meningitis,” said Lauren Shaw, sophomore organizational communications major.

Shaw and all other attendees were then told to take medicine to prevent contagion following that early September weekend. She proceeded to a gym where anti-meningitis pills were being distributed.

Students walk into Health Services for their meningitis antibiotic. Photo by Matt Masters.

“I think it is a good idea for all incoming freshman to get vaccinated,” Shaw said. “Someone can have meningitis and not display any symptoms, but they could be spreading it to others.”

It’s a good step in the right direction, ideally for anyone who is coming to live on campus and in close proximity to other students, said Lisa Schrader, director of MTSU Health Promotion.

According to Dr. Kelly Moore, director of the Tennessee Immunization Program, Nunley died of Neisseria meningitidis, a specific type of bacterial meningitis. Any other kind of bacterial meningitis poses no risk to other people, and antibiotics are unnecessary, she said.

Meningococcal disease is extremely rare, but there’s no way to predict whom it will affect.

“It’s unpredictable. It comes on so suddenly without warning, so vaccine is absolutely the best tool and I think this act will definitely help protect the health of students on campus,” Dr. Moore said.

In general, people support the vaccination requirement; though some have religious reasons for opposing vaccination or problematic medical conditions, Dr. Moore said. According to the bill summary, valid medical or religious reasons exempt certain individuals from vaccination.

“Meningitis vaccinations are proven to reduce the rates of infection on our campuses,” said state Sen. Lowe Finney,  sponsor of the act. “We should do everything we can to protect our college students from this dreaded disease.”