November 20, 2009

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

BELMONT NEWS

Belmont Students Develop Water Conservation Program for Elementary Students
Belmont students in Dr. Kim Daus’ Honors Analytics class and the University’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter developed a program for elementary students that promotes water conservation. In an effort that originated with the city of Franklin’s campaign to encourage ecologically-conscious water consumption, the Belmont students created an in-class program that implements peer-to-peer teaching to reinforce its message. The classroom program is presented in conjunction with a children’s book developed by Belmont’s SIFE students that explains to children the benefits of water conservation. This book, titled Don’t Be a Water Hog, is SIFE’s second in a series on environmentally sustainable practices and was written by Jen Hermansen and illustrated by Clare Cannon, both Belmont students.
As part of the program for elementary schoolers, 5th graders learned material relating to the project’s theme and then presented it, as teachers, to younger students in 2nd grade classrooms. The 5th graders used an experiment-style lesson to teach the 2nd graders, allowing them to be actively involved in the instruction. The program is designed to encourage this cooperation between peers in an effort to promote leadership and enhance understanding. Click here for more on this story.
Prospective Students Gather for College of Law’s First Information Session
Prospective students of Belmont’s College of Law gathered at an information session Wednesday evening that included an opportunity to meet the College’s founding dean, Jeff Kinsler. The session was met with outstanding enthusiasm, attracting nearly 120 attendees who expressed serious interest in the College of Law. The strength of this early response is promising for the College’s success as the first new Middle Tennessee law school in nearly a century.
Dean Jeff Kinsler served as Dean of Appalachian School of Law during a period of significant growth and is currently a professor of law and senior scholar at Elon University in North Carolina. Kinsler graduated first in his class from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1989 and obtained a master of laws degree from Yale University in 1996. Kinsler will be joining the preparations for the fall 2011 opening of the College of Law next spring. The College will enroll 350 students when at peak capacity.
Leading Expert Discusses History of Black Gospel Music
Dr. Cedric Carl Dent, Professor of Music Theory at Middle Tennessee State University, discussed the evolution of black gospel music Monday in a convocation sponsored the School of Religion. Dr. Dent is a leading expert in black gospel music and a member of TAKE 6, a Grammy award-winning gospel group. He is a baritone vocalist, music arranger and producer.
Dr. Dent discussed the history of black gospel music by tracing its roots back to the 1870s, when quartets formed across the country at historically black colleges and universities. Groups like the Fisk Jubilee Singers gained widespread popularity and set the tone for gospel music. The quartets often put contemporary spins on older hymns, such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “David and Goliath,” and Dr. Dent played older recordings as examples. “The period of the 1870s to 1920s established the tradition of the jubilee chorus,” said Dent. “This style of singing incorporated Negro arrangements and was characterized by the barbershop style.” Click here for more on this story.
Belmont Student-Athletes Rank High on NCAA Report
Bruins Once Again Set the Pace in Graduation Success Rate Report
Belmont University student-athletes received high marks in the 2009 Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Report released Wednesday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). By any means of comparison – to other Atlantic Sun member institutions, the NCAA national average or to the general Belmont student population – Bruin student-athletes stand tall.
The two-pronged report contained both Federal graduation rates, which are based solely on freshman scholarship student-athletes enrolling between 1999 and 2002, and a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) that takes into account transfers in and out of the institution for the same time period. Both surveys are based on the student-athletes having six years to graduate from the time of their initial enrollment. Click here for more on this story.

ACHIEVERS

Click here for stories on the recent accomplishments of Belmont’s students, faculty, staff and alumni.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Belmont FYI
There will be no Belmont FYI next week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. The next issue will be published on Fri., Dec. 4.
Belmont Ambassadors Angel Tree
The Belmont Ambassadors are currently sponsoring the Salvation Army Angel Tree on Belmont’s campus (November 9-December 2). Angels are located on trees in the Massey Business School Lobby and the Beaman Student Life Center Lobby. You may pick up an angel at either location. Unwrapped angel gifts are to be returned to Fidelity 103 by Wed., Dec. 2. We hope you will remember those less fortunate during the holiday season and support the Salvation Army Angel Tree through the Belmont Ambassadors!
Christmas Toy Drive

COMING UP

Friday, November 20, 4 p.m.
Strengths Exhibition in Gallery 121 Opening
The Strengths exhibition includes more than 300 photographs of students faculty and staff from across campus holding something that makes them feel strong. The images range in size from 8×10 inches to 4×6 feet. This project is the result of the Department of Art Senior Capstone class in conjunction with the Strong Program sponsored by Residence Life.
LCVA Art Gallery
Friday, November 20, 7:30 p.m.
Musical Theatre Presents Urinetown
Urinetown: The Musical is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny. Additional performances will be held Sat., Nov. 21 and Sun., Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Massey Concert Hall (MPAC)
Friday, November 20, 8 p.m.
bobrauschenbergamerica
Bringing the paintings of one of America’s greatest artists, Robert Rauschenberg, to the stage results in a collage of people, places, music, dancing, love stories and the sheer exhilaration of living in a country where people make up their lives as they go. Tickets are $4 for Faculty, Staff, Alumni and non-Belmont students, and free for Belmont Students. Additional performances will be held Sat., Nov. 21, and Sun., Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.
Troutt Black Box Theater
Saturday, November 21, 5-9:15 p.m.
Basketball Doubleheader
Come support Belmont’s basketball teams for the first home doubleheader of the season. Women’s basketball will host Alabama, and men’s basketball will take on Alabama State.
Curb Event Center Arena
Sunday, November 22, 6 p.m.
Benefit Show Featuring Ginny Owens Aids Local Families Fighting Cancer
As a part of a concert promotion course within the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, Belmont University students have organized “Care 4 Kids,” a concert that will benefit five Mt. Juliet children battling cancer. Doors open at 5 p.m. The concert will feature alumna Ginny Owens. Tickets for the concert are $10 per person. For more information, please contact Dr. David Herrera at 460-6908.
The Rutledge (410 4th Ave. S.)
Monday, November 23, 10:30 a.m.
Water for the World Press Conference
U.S. Senator Bob Corker will hold a press conference to highlight efforts to give millions around the world access to clean water. Corker and Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, are sponsors of the Water for the World Act, S. 624, which sets a goal of reaching 100 million people with first-time, sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2015. Corker will be joined by Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher, Jars of Clay, Dave Barnes and EMI CMG President/CEO Bill Hearn.
Inman First Floor Lobby
Monday, November 23, 7:30 p.m.
Percussion Ensemble
Massey Concert Hall (MPAC)
Monday, November 30, 5 p.m.
CFO Ethics Panel
Four area CFOs from Tractor Supply, Thomas Nelson, Sony Publishing and Genesco will offer a panel presentation on how they ethically present their companies’ financial results to the public marketplace. Moderated by Belmont SIFE students, this panel will explore how a public company and its investors can suffer when financial results are intentionally and unintentionally misrepresented.
Massey Boardroom
Monday, November 30, 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball vs. TSU
Curb Event Center Arena
Tuesday, December 1
Healthy Holidays Fair
Join Senior Exercise Science majors along with the Cafeteria for a day full of healthy holiday treats. Test your food knowledge with a “Taste Test” challenge and an “Eat this Not that” holiday display. Tasty treats, nutrition and exercise information, as well as personal growth convocation will be available.
Cafeteria
Wednesday, December 2, 10 a.m.
Exonerated Death-Row Inmate Ray Krone & Rev. Stacey Rector
Ray Krone was the 100th death row inmate exonerated thanks to DNA evidence, which is only available in about 15% of cases. He says, “I would not trust the state to execute a person, because if it happened to me, it can happen to anyone.” Rev. Stacey Rector is a leader in The Moratorium Campaign and directs anti-death penalty efforts in Tennessee.
Neely Dining Room
Thursday, December 3, 4-9 p.m.
Science Undergraduate Research Symposium
The sixth annual Science Undergraduate Research Symposium (SURS) will begin with the keynote address given by Dr. John Wikswo, a Professor of Physics at Vanderbilt University. The title of his talk is “The Challenges of Controlling Living Cells.” Following the talk, there will be a student poster session from 5-6 p.m., and presentations of student papers will begin at 6:15.
Beaman Meeting Rooms A&B
Thursday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.
Lisa Klein Professional Author Talk/Q&A
Lisa Klein, author of the Shakespeare-based young adult novels Ophelia and Lady Macbeth’s Daughter, will give a professional talk and answer questions about her work and the world of publishing.
LCVA 117
Friday, December 4, 10 a.m.
Chapel
Neely Dining Room
Friday, December 4, 7 p.m.
Annual Nashville Children’s Choir Christmas Concert
Belmont Heights Baptist Church Sanctuary
Now through Dec. 30
“Eclectic, too” Art Show Featuring Works by Dr. Ginger Osborn
Dr. Ginger Osborn of the Belmont Philosophy department has five works of art on display in the art gallery meeting room of The University Club. There is no admission charge. The best time to see the works is daily between 2 and 5 p.m. For more information or to confirm gallery hours, call 615-322-8564.
The University Club, 2402 Garland Avenue

CONGRATULATIONS

Wedding Announcement
Congratulations to Sally Mann (’04, Bookstore Associate Manager-Textbooks) who married Buddy Dodd on Sat., Nov. 7. Sally’s new email address is sally.dodd@belmont.edu.

BIRTHDAYS

If you notice an incorrect or missing birthday, please e-mail the update to communication@belmont.edu.
November 20
Jimmy Davis, University College
November 21
Kenisha Rhone, Athletics
November 22
Gregory Faulk, Business
Richard Hoffman, Music
Benita Walker, Spiritual Development
November 23
Renee Schultz, Athletics
November 25
Mike Awalt, Philosophy
November 27
Vernona Elliott, Philosophy
Pamela Johnson, University Marketing and Special Initiatives
Debbie Simpler, Social Work
November 28
Kevin Robinson, Physical Therapy
November 30
Kris Elsberry, Music
December 1
April Hefner, Office of Communications
John Paine, Literature and Languages
Natalia Pelaz, Foreign Language
December 3
Ronnie Littlejohn, Philosophy
December 4
Jennifer Baker, Pharmacy
December 5
Karen Bennett, Social Sciences
Pam Parry, Media Studies
December 6
Josh Wilkerson, Office of Communications

November 13, 2009

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Belmont’s School of Nursing Hosts 83-Year-Old First-Time Student for ‘Second Wind Dream’
Belmont University’s School of Nursing made the dreams of an 83-year-old woman come true. Ruth Ramsey, a resident at Morningside of Belmont Assisted Living, always dreamed of attending nursing school, but her parents refused to let her go once the U.S. became involved in World War II. More than 50 years later, Ruth joined Belmont nursing students in an “Introduction to Nursing” lab and participated in their practice procedures for the day taught by Dr. Lynne Shores and Martha Ezell.
This opportunity was made possible to Ramsey through Second Wind Dreams, a national non-profit organization that focuses on senior citizens in assisted living or nursing homes and helps them achieve what they never had the opportunity to do in their lives. Ramsey, who spent her career as a school teacher, often talked with Morningside Program Services Director Jana Pistole about how her lifelong desire to become a nurse never diminished.
“When Morningside connected with Second Wind, I immediately thought of Mrs. Ruth’s unfulfilled dream of becoming a nurse,” said Pistole.
Morningside staff surprised Ramsey with the news that she would be attending nursing class just minutes before her departure for Belmont. Belmont provided Ramsey with a lab coat monogrammed with her name, white surgical scrubs and an official badge to wear for her “nurse for a day” experience. The labs were set up much like a hospital room, and she and the other students were taught how to dress wounds with glue, steri strips, sutures and staples. She was able to practice the techniques she learned in class on mannequins in the lab.
“Ruth smiled the whole way through her class,” said Pistole. “She will tell the story [of coming to class at Belmont] over and over.”