Civil Rights

MTSU honors university’s first African American athletes and trailblazers
Story by Megan Tracy / Contributing Writer Photo courtesy of Middle Tennessee State University On Thursday afternoon, Middle Tennessee State University honored eight former Raider athletes with a public forum discussion panel before being honored during that night’s basketball game. Jerry Singleton, Art Polk, Lonnell Poole, Terry Scott, J.W. Harper, Raymond “Ray” Bonner, Ed Miller …

Q&A: MTSU President Sidney McPhee reflects on life, legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Photo by Meagan White / Sidelines Archive As Martin Luther King Jr. Day arrives, men and women across the United States reflect on the life and legacy that the civil rights titan left behind. Although King died 50 years ago, the words he spoke still echo throughout cities, towns and college campuses. MTSU President Sidney …

MTSU Athletics Department under federal investigation following Title IX complaint
Photo by Chris Curtis The MTSU Athletics Department is under federal investigation after a complaint was filed with the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on November 19, 2015, alleging “discrimination on the basis of sex.” On March 8, president Sidney McPhee received an email from Brian Gnandt, the acting compliance team leader for the …

Buffy Sainte-Marie talks free speech in music with RIM students
With MTSU’s recent Constitution and Civil Rights events on campus, it’s only fitting that renowned singer-songwriter and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie discussed free speech, inspiration and songwriting with recording industry students on Sept. 17. Sainte-Marie, 74, was awarded the Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music Award by the Americana Music Association in Nashville on Sept. 16. Much of …