The STOP Hunger Scholarships recognize and reward students who have made a significant impact in the fight against hunger and its root causes in the United States. If you know of kindergarten through graduate school students who are fighting hunger in America, encourage them to apply for a STOP Hunger Scholarship. Selected students receive a $5,000 scholarship and a $5,000 grant for their hunger-related charity.

Each national scholarship recipient will be recognized at the annual Sodexo Foundation Dinner. Sodexo will pay for all transportation, meals and lodging for the student and up to two immediate family members. Applications are open through February 26 at www.SodexoFoundation.org.

Posted by April Hefner at 06:14 AM on February 02, 2010 | Permalink

The Belmont Intranet Connection (BIC) is undergoing a makeover. Starting Mon., Feb. 1, the "BIC" homepage will have a new look and a new name: MyBelmont. All current information will still be available, and log-ins and passwords for students, faculty and staff will remain the same. The new intranet home page will, however, provide greater functionality, links to Belmont’s social media pages and easier access to useful information. Plus, it looks a lot better too!

Click here for a preview of the new home page.

Posted by April Hefner at 04:47 PM on February 01, 2010 | Permalink

Scarritt-Bennett Center is hosting three upcoming events related to race issues in America. The community is invited to all of the events, and students are especially encouraged to attend. The first event is a presentation by nationally-renowned race relations expert Dr. Joe Feagin called “White Men on Race” on Fri., Feb. 5, 7-8:30 p.m. (free and open to the public). The second event is a workshop facilitated by Dr. Feagin called “U.S. History My Teacher Never Told Me About,” on Sat., Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-noon ($15 per person, which includes breakfast; teachers admitted at no cost with valid ID). The third event is a presentation by genealogy expert and author John F. Baker called “The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation: Stories of My Family’s Journey to Freedom” on Fri., Feb. 19, 7-9 p.m. (free and open to the public). For more information about any of these events, please visit www.scarrittbennett.org, and look under “Happenings” on the right. You may also contact Angela Elliot to RSVP or for more information: aelliot@scarrittbennett.org, (615) 340-7557.

Posted by April Hefner at 11:42 AM on February 01, 2010 | Permalink

On Wed., Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. in Neely, we will hear from Trey Flowers, who was in Port-au-Prince, Haiti before, during and after the earthquake, working in orphanages and schools as part of a mission team. He is receiving his Master of Public Policy and Master of Divinity degrees and will share with us not only his first-hand accounts of the disaster, but also help us think about where God is in all of this, and how we can help rebuild Haiti so that it is not doomed to another century of poverty.

Posted by April Hefner at 10:33 AM on February 01, 2010 | Permalink

Interested in working with Habitat for Humanity over Spring Break? Join us as we partner with Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, TN and help build a house! We'll spend most of the week on the construction site and will have the afternoons free for hiking or just hanging out. Housing will be in a cabin located in the Cherokee National Forest that is only accessible by boat, 20 minutes east of Cleveland. Total cost for the trip is $150 and includes transportation, food and housing for the entire week. If you are interested or would like more information, contact Steve Simpson (Stephen.Simpson@belmont.edu) or Jared Black (Jared.Black@belmont.edu). There will be an information session on Monday, February 8 at 10 a.m. in MBC 100 and Tuesday, February 9 at 3 p.m. in MBC 200A as well if you would like to learn more about the trip. This trip is sponsored by Residence Life.

Posted by April Hefner at 10:14 AM on February 01, 2010 | Permalink

Graduation Forum for all spring semester degree candidates will be held on Monday, February 15, 2010 from 10-10:50 a.m. in the Massey Performing Arts Center. Members of Belmont's senior leadership and other university representatives will discuss key information related to your final term of enrollment, academic and financial deadlines, as well as various services provided to degree candidates. Additionally, you will receive information about how to obtain tickets for family or friends who plan to attend your commencement ceremony. Please do not miss this informative meeting!

Contact the Registrar’s office at (615) 460-6619 should you have questions or need additional information about the Graduation Forum.

Posted by April Hefner at 10:09 AM on February 01, 2010 | Permalink

Belmont’s main campus and the Cool Springs location will be open and classes will continue as scheduled on Mon., Feb. 1. Because weather conditions can vary greatly within our region, students, faculty and staff are urged to use individual discretion when making the decision to travel to campus in snow or icy weather.

Posted by Jennifer Wetzel at 07:45 PM on January 31, 2010 | Permalink

5 on 5 Basketball registration has begun and rosters are due Friday, January 29! The information meeting is on Monday, February 1 at 7 p.m. in the Beaman Conference Room. We will hold a self-scheduling meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, so start collecting availability from your teammates. The league will be followed with a single elimination tournament, so don’t forget to sign up your team!

For more information, you can reach the intramurals department at extension 6245 or by email at intramurals@belmont.edu.

Click here to visit the registration Web site.

Posted by April Hefner at 04:31 AM on January 29, 2010 | Permalink

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) is offering special discounts to Belmont students, faculty and staff for upcoming performances of "Mamma Mia!" "Mamma Mia!" is the ultimate feel-good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. This smash-hit musical combines ABBA's greatest hits including "Dancing Queen," "S.O.S.," "Super Trouper," "Take a Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All," with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. Your special discounted performances of "Mamma Mia!" are Wed., March 3, at 7:30 p.m., Thurs., March 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., March 7 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

How-To: To purchase discounted tickets for these productions, simply log on to www.tpac.org/corporatesaver and and select the show you'd like to see. Then choose the "Promo code? Click here" link and enter the password "belmont." Hit "Apply" and select which of the discounted performance dates you'd like to attend. Make sure to select a performance that says "eligible for promotion" to receive the corporate saver discount.

Posted by April Hefner at 05:08 PM on January 28, 2010 | Permalink

Campus-wide small groups are now forming! Groups will meet for 6-8 weeks at a variety of times during the day. Descriptions of each of the groups can be found below. To sign up for one the groups, stop by University Ministries or email um.temp@belmont.edu.

--GROUP DESCRIPTIONS--
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
Led by Guy Chmieleski
Mondays, 1 p.m.
Location: University Ministries
Cost: $5 per person (cost of text)
This group is for anyone who wonders if the Christian faith is still relevant in the post-modern culture, for anyone thirsting for a genuine encounter with a God who is real, for anyone yearning for a renewed sense of passion in life. If this is you… join us for conversation and reflection on the text Blue Like Jazz.

Serving with Meaning: Lessons from the Life of Mother Teresa
Led by Jessy Grondin
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.
Location: University Ministries
Cost: $5 per person (cost of text)
Finding Calcutta is a love story between God and two women, Mother Teresa and Mary Poplin (the author). This group will glean wisdom about love and service from the life of Mother Teresa.

Men’s Dialogue - Men Only
Led by Guy Chmieleski
Wednesdays, 9 p.m.
Location: University Ministries
A time of conversation about how to be men of faith, integrity and accountability. Join with other guys as we challenge and encourage one another.

Women, Sex and Sexuality - Women Only
Led by Christy Ridings
Wednesdays, 5 p.m.
Location: TBA
Cost: $5 per person (cost of text)
Using the text Real Sex by fellow pilgrim Lauren Winner, we will come together for honest and open conversations about sex and sexuality. This is a great place to gain understanding, ask questions and perhaps regain a healthy view of sex within the context of a gracious and loving God.

Men, Sex and Sexuality - Men Only
Led by Joshua Kerley
Wednesdays, 5 p.m.
Location: TBA
Finally a place where guys can have real discussions about how to overcome pitfalls related to sex and move toward sexual wholeness! Come with your questions or your advice about things that have helped you in this area of life!

Life Lessons from Women in Bible - Women Only
Led by Karen Bennett
Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m.
Location: University Ministries
Cost: $5 per person (cost of text)
Join us for an exciting look at the lives of select women in the Bible and make connections between their world and ours.

Every Day Faith: Practical Spiritual Practices for the Ordinary Christian
Led by Julie Hunt
Mondays, Noon
Location: University Ministries
Cost: $5 per person (cost of text)
Grab your lunch and join us for a time of centering at the beginning of the week. We will discuss the reflective book, Living Prayer, and hopefully challenge each other to consider how we might live a Godward life of prayer, discipline and grace.

Faith Exploration: Asking the Hard Questions about Christianity
Led by Dr. Todd Lake
Thursdays, 2 p.m.
Do you have some tough questions about the Christian faith that you’d like to explore? Maybe you grew up as a Christian, perhaps you want to try and figure out who Jesus really is, or you might have some very deep doubts but no place to talk about them. If you want a place for open dialogue and wrestling with difficult issues, please join us!

Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner
Led by Dane Anthony
Monday OR Tuesday Evening (TBD)
Location: Home of Dane Anthony (10 minutes from campus)
Cost: $5 per person (cost of text)
I venture to say that spirituality is about relationship, one that takes place in the context of conversation - with God (duh), me and community. Are there times you wonder what it is you’re even talking about? I do! Mudhouse Sabbath is a conversation with Lauren Winner, a Jewish convert to Christianity. Together we will attend to her story as we attend to our own, asking, “What does practicing faith look & sound like if we’re actually awake to it?”

Posted by April Hefner at 10:00 AM on January 28, 2010 | Permalink

Effective Mon., Jan. 25, an extra car will be added to the Music City Star for your convenience due to increasing ridership. The car will be added to the train that departs Lebanon at 6:40 a.m. en route to Nashville and the train that leaves Nashville at 5:05 p.m.

Since 2005, Belmont has offered free transportation to campus for students, faculty and staff thanks to a partnership with Nashville’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).

BUS:
Any student or employee with a Belmont-issued ID card can ride to and from the campus without charge simply by swiping a Belmont ID through the magnetic strip reader on the top right corner of the bus’s fare box when boarding. The university is then billed for the bus trips.

TRAIN:
Belmont offers free train transportation on the Music City Star rail system, operating from Lebanon to downtown Nashville's Riverfront Park. Train tickets can be acquired at Belmont Central.

Both of these services are intended to improve the environment and relieve traffic congestion on campus, but please use these free privileges for commuting to and from campus only. Click here for more information. In addition to the bus and train options, Belmont also offers Zipcars for reservation to students, faculty and staff. Visit www.zipcar.com/belmont for more information.

Posted by Jennifer Wetzel at 01:10 PM on January 26, 2010 | Permalink

Students with a Belmont Dining Plan can enjoy a dinner of Bison Burgers in the lobby of the Beaman Student Life Center from 4-5:15 p.m. Tuesday evening (Jan. 26) in preparation for the night's huge Battle of the Boulevard men's basketball game. Dining in the Cafeteria for Tuesday night will begin at 5:15 p.m.

Doors to the Curb Event Center open at 5 p.m., and Code Red Battle of the Boulevard T-shirts will be given to the first 1,000 students to enter the arena. Pick up your T-shirt at the table in the Maddox Grand Atrium--first come, first serve. This game is expected to sell out so get there early and claim your spot in the student section. Go Bruins!

Posted by April Hefner at 01:33 PM on January 25, 2010 | Permalink

Tuesday, January 26 will be a busy day on campus. The Topping Out Ceremony for the new residence hall will be held at 1:30 p.m., and the annual Battle of the Boulevard men's basketball game between Belmont and Lipscomb is set for 6 p.m. in the Curb Event Center. In preparation for these events, several areas on campus will be reserved. Specific locations and dates of reserved areas can be found on the Office of Campus Security’s Web page at www.belmont.edu/ocs/EVENT%20PARKING%20NOTICE/index.html. Any time 10 or more spaces are reserved on campus, a notice is listed on this site.

Additional parking is available behind Belmont Heights Baptist Church and Troutt Theater on Compton Avenue, the fenced-in gravel lot on 12th Avenue, behind the Security Operations Center on 12th Avenue, and in the Thrailkill Garage located in the Bruin Hills/Hillside Apartment Community on 15th Avenue.

In addition, Belmont offers Zipcars (www.zipcar.com) and has secured partnerships with Nashville's Metro Transit Authority (MTA) to provide all students, faculty and staff free transportation on MTA buses and the Music City Star rail system.

Posted by April Hefner at 10:13 AM on January 25, 2010 | Permalink

Did you know that 50 percent of the victims in Haiti are children? In this time of desperate need, many individuals have sought ways to help the people of Haiti. As a community, Belmont University can come together to help provide aid to those directly effected by this catastrophe.

UNITED: FOR CHANGE will be assisting students with the donating process and for the next week will be using all funds collected in donation boxes around campus to directly support relief efforts in Haiti through World Vision and Global Outreach. If each student gave $5 dollars this week, we would raise $25,000 in aid! Help us reach this goal and save countless lives.

Donate at the following locations:
• Beaman Student Life Center
• Campus Residence Hall Lobbies and Club Houses
• The Corner Court
• What's Bruin?
• The Curb Cafe
• Massey Business Center Lobby
• The Cafeteria

If you are interested in volunteering at collection tables or for more information, contact Joshua Maisner at maisnerj@pop.belmont.edu or at (602)-410-4958.

Posted by April Hefner at 10:03 AM on January 25, 2010 | Permalink

Dear Fellow Students, My name is Keaton Belcher, and I am a member of the men's basketball team here at Belmont. My teammates and I would like to invite you to come out and support us at the "Battle of the Boulevard" this Tuesday, January 26 at 6 p.m. in the Curb Event Center. This is a huge game not only because of the rivalry between us and Lipscomb, but because it is important for the conference championship race.

Because of this, we need your presence and support at Tuesday’s game. We need to show Lipscomb fans why the street is named “Belmont Boulevard.” I hope to see many of you at the game next Tuesday as well as our remaining home games the rest of the season.

Sincerely,
Keaton Belcher

Click here to order tickets.

Posted by April Hefner at 01:07 PM on January 22, 2010 | Permalink

Please join us Jan. 25-29 for the Sex & the Soul convocation series! We'll spend the week exploring the significant connections between sex, sexuality and our faith with special guests Anne Jackson, Mike Foster and more!

Click here to download the poster with more details about the week's events.

Posted by April Hefner at 01:06 PM on January 22, 2010 | Permalink

Campus Security's Renee Ruthven is hosting a benefit concert Jan. 30 in the Curb Cafe for a homeless ministry she founded. Former Belmont student Nikki Goodrich Baltusis will be one of the performers.

Click here for more information about the ministry, and see the poster for information on the concert.

Posted by April Hefner at 01:02 PM on January 22, 2010 | Permalink

Tickets for students, faculty and staff to the January 26 Battle of the Boulevard men's basketball game versus Lipscomb are now available. Get yours now as this game will sell out!!

Student Tickets:
• Limit one ticket per student
• Students can pick up their tickets at the Box Office during normal business hours or click here to reserve your tickets online and print at home.
• Cafeteria Ticket Pickup - Tables will be set up in the cafeteria every day Jan. 19-22 to pass out tickets (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
• Residence Hall Ticket Pickup – Students can pick up tickets at any of the front desks located in each residence hall (12 p.m. – 11 p.m.)
• Residence Hall Table Setup – On top of tickets being available at the front desks of each residence hall, we will also set up tables throughout the week during the evening hours so students can pick up tickets.
o Tuesday – Wright Maddux (6-8 p.m.)
o Wednesday – Pembroke / Herron (6-8 p.m.)
o Thursday – Kennedy (6-8 p.m.)
o Friday – Maple (6-8 p.m.)
o Saturday – Thraillkill (6-8 p.m.)
o Monday – Wright Maddux/Thraillkill (6-8 p.m.)
• Beaman and Massey Table Setup – Tables will be setup during the week in the Beaman Student Life Center and Massey to pass out student tickets.

Faculty and Staff Tickets
Faculty and staff may click here to reserve and print out tickets to the Battle of the Boulevard. You may also reserve seats by calling the Ticket Office at 460-2255, emailing Aaron Jerome or stopping by the Curb Event Center Box Office (Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.).

Posted by April Hefner at 05:27 PM on January 20, 2010 | Permalink

You're invited... to the topping out ceremony for the new freshman residence hall. Topping out will be held Tues., Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m. Enter the construction site from the north entrance between Inman and Massey.

Posted by April Hefner at 02:10 PM on January 20, 2010 | Permalink

Whether you had a great Tower Team experience and want the same for others, or found yourself thinking "this could be better" and want to make that so, you should consider applying to be a Tower Team Leader this fall. The Office of New Student Programs and the 2009-2010 Orientation Council will host an information session for all interested students on Friday, January 22 at 10 a.m. in the Vince Gill Room. Applications are available online (www.belmont.edu/tt/tower_team_leaders/index.html) and will also be available for pick-up at the information session. They are due Friday, January 29 so don’t delay!

Posted by April Hefner at 11:08 AM on January 20, 2010 | Permalink

The first Intramural Event of the semester is here! Dodgeball rosters are due Fri., Jan. 22, and the information meeting will be held on Mon., Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. The tournament will begin on Sat., Jan. 30. Round up your friends and come duck, dip, dive and dodge with us!

Posted by April Hefner at 10:46 AM on January 20, 2010 | Permalink

Serve Nashville's most diverse and underserved neighborhood district, South Nashville, by being a Recreational Soccer Coach. Requires a commitment of one weeknight and Saturdays March 6 thru May 8. The Synergy Soccer League (SSL), a program of Ultimate Goal Ministries, is in need of caring, responsible students to instruct and love on its players as league coaches. Kurds, Latinos, Sudanese refugees, Koreans, Caucasians and African-Americans are all members of our highly diverse and multiethnic neighborhoods. Join us to reach out to offer kids ages 4-13 an opportunity to play the game they love: soccer. Please contact Kyle at (615) 354-3565 or kylefrohock@ultimategoal.net to sign up and make a lasting impact in kids’ lives this semester!

Posted by April Hefner at 04:52 PM on January 19, 2010 | Permalink

The Belmont Writing Center opens Wednesday January 20. The Belmont University Writing Center exists for students, faculty, and staff--all members of the Belmont community. We provide individual instruction, convocation sessions, outreaches to individual classes and instructional materials. Of course, no one can learn all there is to know about writing from just one visit to the center or from just one composition course; writing is a complex process, and we’re committed to helping writers as they compose in different genres, for diverse audiences, and in all sorts of academic disciplines. Our spring hours are as follows:

Monday: 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

This semester the Writing Center will be staffed by Sarah Bowles, Wyeth Burgess, April Hefner, Charmion Gustke, Gregg Hubbard, Jennifer Bostwick-Owens, Eric Detweiler, and Mark Sursavage. Denise Mabry is our wonderful administrative assistant.

A couple of reminders: We are not an editing service, and we will not do you students’ reading, writing, or thinking for them. We ask that instructors not demand or require entire classes to visit the Writing Center for a particular assignment. To schedule a 30-minute session, please call Denise Mabry at x6241. Students should bring a copy of written assignments with them to their session.

Posted by April Hefner at 10:44 AM on January 19, 2010 | Permalink

Are you looking for an internship, part-time or full-time job? Then log into CareerConnector, your online job site. The site is available to Belmont students and graduates. Go to www.belmont.edu/careerservices, click on CareerConnector and use your BUid to log into the site. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Career Services at careerservices@belmont.edu or call ext. 6490.

Posted by April Hefner at 09:30 AM on January 19, 2010 | Permalink

If you enjoy children and want to provide childcare services, or you enjoy tutoring students who need extra assistance, then stop by the Office of Career Services (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) and sign the Childcare and Tutor lists. Career Services is located in the Gabhart Student Center, 2nd floor, above the Bookstore and next to Health Services.

Posted by April Hefner at 09:28 AM on January 19, 2010 | Permalink