Features

‘I made this thing’: How Matt Martin started building guitars
Photo Courtesy of Matt Martin Story by Tim Jenkins / Contributing Writer Guitarists have an addiction to obtaining more gear. The common answer to the question “how many guitars do you need” is something like “just one more.” MTSU student Matt Martin takes this addiction one step further and actually builds his own guitars. Martin, …

‘Certified Haunted’ Murfreesboro shop houses lively ghosts, livelier owner
Photo and Story by Andrew Wigdor / Assistant News Editor Sugaree’s is a small boutique in Murfreesboro’s public square, home to internationally designed outfits, jewelry crafted by independent artists and a rowdy group of deceased gamblers who haunt the place. Stacy Higdon is the proud owner of Sugaree’s, and its “certified haunted” status indicated by …

Essay: To be black and queer at a predominantly white institution
Photos by Nathaniel Thompson / Contributing Photographer Story by Shorin Estell / Contributing Writer To be black and queer at a predominantly white institution, or PWI, is to feel like a violin in a marching band. To be black and queer at a PWI is to feel like a Dallas Cowboys fan sitting front row …

Meet Miss MTSU 2017: Kristen Perry
Photo by Boyd Photography Just a few short days ago, Kristen Perry claimed the crown of the 2017 Miss MTSU Pageant. A lifelong resident of Murfreesboro and a graduate of Middle Tennessee Christian School, Perry will soon receive scholarships, as well as the opportunity to compete in the state pageant which will be held June 21-24 …

Tattoosday: A look at MTSU’s ink
Behind every tattoo is a story — a memory, a reason, a history or even a bad decision. With her blessing, Sidelines has decided to re-up Journalist in Residence Whitney Matheson’s weekly tattoo feature, Tattoosday. The series ran on Pop Candy, a pop culture blog she ran for 15 years at USA Today. “Honestly, I …