Belmont University | FYI


October 24, 2008

BELMONT NEWS


Debate08 Shines International Spotlight on Belmont
Town Hall Debate scores highest viewership, more than 5,200 media hits

candidatesgreet9.jpgWhile the physical signs that Belmont University hosted the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate disappeared last week, the impact of the international spotlight continues to be overwhelmingly positive. According to Nielsen Media Ratings, more than 63.2 million homes nationwide tuned in to view the Town Hall debate on Tues., Oct. 7, the largest television audience of the three presidential debates held this fall. In addition, the university received more than 5,200 media hits Oct. 3-10, the days leading up to and following the debate. Television broadcast coverage alone brought in an estimated $21 million of publicity value for Belmont University, according to media tracker NewsPowerOnline.com.

Belmont University President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “I am thrilled that Debate viewers were able to see— and visitors to our campus were able to experience—the capability, dedication and spirit that Belmont students, faculty, staff and alumni possess. The public perception and reputation of Belmont has risen to a new level, and now the world knows the kinds of things to expect from Belmont University. We were honored to have this opportunity to participate so directly in such a vital element of our nation's governing process, and we know that the benefits to the university of hosting the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate will be both immediate and long-lasting."

FisherMediaTent.jpgThe smallest university to host a presidential or vice presidential debate this year, Belmont is currently celebrating a record enrollment of 5,023 students this fall as compared to the more than 11,000 at Ole Miss, Washington University in St. Louis or Hofstra University, the other debate sites. USA Today political writer Chuck Raasch noted, “Belmont University in Nashville proved that small places with big ambitions could be world-class stages.”

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, who served as an honorary chair for the debate’s host committee, said, “Belmont served as a perfect venue for the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate, and the university’s army of volunteers gave the candidates, campaign guests and visiting media a glimpse into the best of what Tennessee has to offer.”

Also serving as an honorary chair for the debate’s host committee, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said, “The debate was a great success for Belmont and our city. It gave us an opportunity to send a letter to the rest of the world about how Nashville is a vibrant, diverse city. I think I can speak for all of Nashville in expressing gratitude to Belmont University for doing such an excellent job in hosting this event and bringing so much positive attention to Nashville. Credit is also due to the Metro employees who worked on the day of the debate and the months leading up to it to ensure the debate and all the surrounding events went smoothly.” Click here for more on this story.


WorldCom Whistleblower Cooper Addresses Ethics
JMK_2055.jpgCynthia Cooper, author of 2007 book Extraordinary Circumstances: The Journey of a Corporate Whistleblower, spoke on campus this week, offering her personal insights on ethics in business. In 2001, Cooper discovered and reported that her company, WorldCom, had used phony bookkeeping to hide billions of dollars in losses, what was then the largest fraud in corporate history. The following year she and two other whistleblowers were named Time magazine's 2002 Persons of the Year for their courageous actions.

In her talks Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at Belmont, Cooper addressed "WorldCom: What Went Wrong and What Lessons Can We Learn?," noting that misguided loyalty, pressure from supervisors and fear of losing a job are a few of the many factors that can lead regular citizens to participate in fraud. In fact, several of the people involved in the cover-up at WorldCom were individuals Cooper knew well and respected, people who later said that once the first false accounting entry was made, it was difficult to stop.

"We need to know what we stand for--there is a true north," Cooper said. "[WorldCom] is really a story about people and choices... Every one of us has a tremendous opportunity, a tremendous obligation, to instill values."

Cooper serves now as the chairperson of the Louisiana State University Center for Internal Auditing Advisory Board and speaks frequently across the country to students and professionals on ethical and moral leadership.


Goldsmith Presentation for Scarlett Leads to Charity Donations
Goldsmith0.jpgLast Thursday, the Scarlett Leadership Institute hosted internationally-renowned executive coach Marshall Goldsmith on campus for a special presentation to 13 local senior executives on the topic of leadership and coaching. Goldsmith, who is the author of best-selling business book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, works primarily with high profile organizations and individuals.

Through his relationship with Scarlett, Goldsmith donated his time to work with the executives and CEOs, who each paid $1,000 to attend. All of the proceeds from the event are being donated to charity along with some additional dollars which were raised in the course of the presentation. Of the money raised, $12,000 was sent to the American Heart Association and more than $1,000 went to Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. Click here for additional information on Marshall Goldsmith and free access to his articles, videos and podcasts.


School of Nursing Hosts Simulation Conference
The Belmont University School of Nursing hosted nursing faculty and hospital educators for a special training conference in hands-on simulation Oct. 9-11. The First Annual Simulation Conference: Empowering Nurse Educators in Tennessee was sponsored by a grant from Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future (PIN), a national initiative to address the nation’s nursing shortage. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and The Tennessee Center for Nursing also partnered with Belmont to create the conference. Click here for more on this story.


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