1/28/2010 - Belmont Vision

www.belmontvision.com
The student newspaper of Belmont University
Vol. 59, No. 5
January 28, 2010
Lock up!
Campus Security
adds safety
measures
See story page 2
Rose Park, page 2; Belmont Underground, page 6; Fred Gray, page 11; Life after graduation, page 5
Photo iLLustration by LancE conzEtt
Page 2
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
Campus Security adds safety efforts
By Erin Carson
Managing Editor
One year after the controversy surrounding the
removal and reinstatement of the 15th avenue gates,
Belmont University is still dealing with security issues.
The fall semester was one of the busiest
in years, with regard to the number of thefts
reported in the on campus apartments.
According to the director of Campus Security, Terry
White, the thefts occurred when individuals were able to
enter apartments through unlocked doors and windows.
“We didn’t have anybody kick in doors, and it was
happening in the apartments, not residence halls, so
we said, ‘What can we do about that?’” White said. After talks with the the offices of Student Affairs
and Residence Life, the university implemented a
program where the night shift officers check for locked
doors in the campus apartments, White said.
“The officers try the door. If it’s locked they move
on to the next one; if they find the door unlocked,
they knock loudly, identify themselves as security,
and wake up the people if they are asleep,” White
said. If possible, the officers talk with the residents about why they need to lock their doors.
So far, White says the program had been effective. The night shift officers have reported fewer
unlocked doors as the program has progressed.
“I understand that some of the students who are
being waked up, aren’t crazy about the fact that
they’re being awakened, and I can understand that,”
White said. “There’s one simple thing they can do to
keep that from happening — lock their doors.”
Apart from manually checking doors, White said that
in the past year, Campus Security has maintained the
increased patrols by Belmont officers. Cameras have also
been added at various locations, including by the gates.
“We’re not trying to push
responsibility on someone
else, but we all have responsibility for crime prevention — we can only do
so much.”
Terry White
director, Campus Security
White acknowledges, however, that with the
current number of officers, there are limitations.
“I have X number of people for our total tasking,
so if I dedicate someone to the apartments, it takes
them away from checking the classroom buildings as often, or doing other tasking,” White said.
“We are to the point of needing more people.”
At the moment, senior leadership,Residence
Life, the dean of students, and Campus Security
are looking at what they can realistically do.
The addition of the pharmacy and law schools
is also to be taken under consideration.
“It’s going to add more people to Belmont — anytime
you have a university setting in an urban area, you have
security problems, you have parking problems — you
have a lot of people in a small area,” White said.
Though there is no formal legal boundary delineating how far the university can go to protect its
students, Andrew Johnston, associate provost and dean
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of students said, “We feel it’s our role to create an environment where students can be safe and secure.”
He also expressed concern regarding the “community’s confidence in our institution’s attentiveness.”
Some students do not place much faith
in the Belmont’s campus safety.
“I feel a lot safer now that I’m not living on campus,”
senior music business major Read Davis said. “I could feel a lot safer,” senior nursing major
Kristin Kapolas said, especially in light of the incidents of the past year that included a rape. “You
should be able to have that security,” she said.
Both White and Johnston also talked about the
need to better communicate with students.
According to White, crime prevention officer
Renee Ruthven plays a large role in reaching out
to Belmont students, including through a Facebook group called Keep Belmont Safe.
“It’s just a place for people to voice any concerns they
have, a place for her to exchange information with them
and we’ve had some good success with that,” White said.
“Certainly plenty is done in terms of convos to inform,”
Davis said. “I love the text updates when they work.”
Freshman English writing major Hillary Merwin
talked about having heard of all the security warnings
throughout the semester. “I feel really safe,” she said,
also referencing seeing the Belmont security officrers
on their bikes around campus on a regular basis.
Johnston doesn’t see the task of communicating with
students as something that is ever “achieved and checked
off.” He said that the university’s efforts are continuous.
Still, “you’ve got to do some things to protect yourself,” White said. “We’re not trying to push responsibility on someone else, but we all have responsibility
for crime prevention — we can only do so much.”
Appeals court decision
advances Rose Park plan
By Brian Wilson
Staff Writer
Belmont athletics moved one step closer to
multiple new sports facilities when the Tennessee
Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the university and Metro government on Dec. 31.
The decision, which validated a 2007 lease
between Belmont and Metro Parks and Recreation, allows Belmont to renovate Edgehill’s
E.S. Rose Park by building public facilities for
baseball, softball, soccer, and track and field.
By Jan. 4, however, after the three-day holiday
weekend, the plans were put on hold again as the
Organized Neighbors of Edgehill filed a petition
asking the Court of Appeals to rehear the case.
The petition didn’t surprise Jason Rogers,
university counsel and vice president of administration, after the organization’s multiple appeals
and lawsuits following the lease agreement.
“I believe there is a small but vocal
group opposed to the project that are
willing to try anything,” said Rogers.
Rogers is optimistic the Court of Appeals
will rule on the petition quickly. If the opponents’ petition is denied, Belmont has plans
in place to begin construction quickly.
“We needed to get together with Metro Parks,
the architects and the contractors,” he said. “We’re
moving towards construction as quickly as possible.”
The lease, signed in August 2007, allows
Belmont to spend $7 million to build new baseball, softball and soccer fields as well as a new
track at Rose Park, a public park 10 blocks from
campus. While the park will host Belmont athletic
events, it will still be open to the public.
“One of the concerns is that the public can’t
use the facilities during the summer or during the
school year,” said Rogers. But Rogers suggests
that’s a non-issue. “ It’s against NCAA rules
for our teams to practice over the summer. In
soccer, our soccer teams will have to schedule
around community leagues and schools.”
Metro Parks will control scheduling
for all events, including Belmont’s.
“Metro will continue to own the park. The
lease clearly states the parties currently using
the park will have priority,” said Rogers.
Belmont will also be required to pay $40,000
annually to Metro Parks as part of the agreement. The parent-teacher organizations of two
Edgehill schools will also receive $5,000 each.
Under the lease, Belmont will also provide
eight full-tuition scholarships and two halftuition scholarships to Edgehill residents.
“From our perspective, we’re going
to make this a win-win situation for
everyone concerned,” said Rogers.
He is optimistic Belmont will work
with many Edgehill residents to improve
their community through Rose Park.
“The university is finding new ways to get
involved with the community,” said Rogers. “There
are a lot of neighbors that support the project. We are
certainly looking forward to working with them.”
Arlene Lane, the president of Organized Neighbors of Edgehill, was contacted
and declined to comment for this story.
ideas
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The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
Peace, love and the bureaucracy
a&e
The Rothbury Music Festival has been held annually in
Rothbury, Mich., since 2008. For four days spread across
July Fourth weekend, the population of Rothbury explodes,
leaping from fewer than 500 people to more than 30,000
paying fans. The festival is a massive economic boon to the
village and the surrounding area.
But, mysteriously, it isn’t happening this year.
Festival promoters announced last week that the festival
is being postponed until 2011, ostensibly because they
couldn’t book “the cutting edge roster that everyone has
come to expect.”
I’ll be the first to admit that Rothbury isn’t my thing. It,
like Bonnaroo, was conceived as a successor to Woodstock
’69—a four-day celebration of music and environmentalism, intertwining hippie music with hippie causes. There
was a time when I’d happily accept the kind of dubious
idealism that comes inherent in a music festival seeking to
change the world. But these days, I find music that places
its agenda above the craft tiresome, whether it’s punk bands
supporting long-dead anarchists or Toby Keith supporting
boots in peoples’ asses. Even at Bonnaroo, I bounce
between rolling my eyes and pumping my fist in solidarity,
depending on who’s on stage.
But, with that being said, I find the reasoning behind the
festival’s cancellation fishy at best.
For one thing, Rothbury’s line-up hasn’t exactly been
“cutting edge.” The bills for the past two years at Rothbury have been loaded to the gills with “festival safe” jam
bands—Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio, former members
of Grateful Dead and Zappa Plays Zappa chief among them.
These are the kinds of bands with fans who will follow them
along on tour without hesitation, they’re the glue that holds
music festivals together and they’re not going anywhere.
Outside of the usual suspects, the festival has pulled a
few major acts into their
Lance Conzett
fold—Bob Dylan, The Hold
Steady and The Black Keys
for example—but they’re not
Pitchfork and no one expects
them to be.
A commenter on the news
Web site Michigan Live has
another theory. Earlier this
year, the Grant Township
Board of Trustees considered
an ordinance on “mass gatherings,” particularly aimed at
Rothbury, that could shut down the party at 1 a.m., put strict
limits on attendance and tie up venues and promoters alike
in increased bureaucratic red tape.
Music festival-goers aren’t the hardest bunch of people to
please. They’re more than happy to wallow in the mud and
enjoy sub-refugee camp accommodations if the bill is right.
At Bonnaroo last year, threat of tornado wasn’t enough
to deter music fans from huddling under tents to see their
favorite bands.
sports
The one thing that is bound to send these otherwise
supernaturally resilient fans into fits of rage is government
interference. Attendees of the Wakarusa festival in 2006
complained about increased police presences in and around
the festival grounds, including the promoter, who believed
the festival had become a “police state.” The ill will felt by
music fans nearly torpedoed the festival for good,
Governing bodies need to understand that there is a
natural risk to hosting a music festival. Strict, regimented
control runs counter to the peaceful free-for-all that
music festivals represent. Look at Bonnaroo, for instance.
Manchester’s police and government know that drug use
happens at the festival, but outside of a handful of drug
busts targeting dealers, festival-goers are largely left to their
own devices while the city rakes in millions in revenue.
I’d like to believe that we’ve learned our lesson from
Woodstock ’99, when mismanagement led to the festival
being burned to the ground by rioting fans. I’d also like to
believe that attendees have enough self-control to responsibly co-exist with tens of thousands of likeminded individuals for four days and that the residents would happily put
up with the four-day hippie invasion to reap the benefits of
economy and notoriety. But, then again, maybe I’m fooling
myself into a new kind of dubious idealism.
Lance Conzett, a senior in the
journalism program, is editor of the Vision.
Wired and wireless, technology takes over
fitness
I had a moment the other day. I was on
the phone with my dad griping about the
fact that I’m currently without a microwave.
“How am I supposed to heat up the milk
for hot chocolate?!”
My dad sort of paused and said, “You
put in a pan and heat it up on the stove.”
I don’t think I answered immediately. I
was busy staring blankly at the burner.
“Right.”
Most kids born in the ‘80s were probably
born into a home with a microwave – this
is no novel technology for us, the same way
that there’s a whole crop of kids coming up
who were born into homes with computers,
iPods, and cell phones.
These days a lot of people lament that
technological takeover, as if it’s eating away
at our souls. The truth is that technology is
like everything else. There’s good and bad,
and there’s the need for moderation. There’s
also the need for the recognition that there
are ways to function without the gadgets
and tools we’ve become dependent upon and
certainly benefits for doing so.
Half the time it’s a matter of how a
certain technology is used. Last summer
Twitter served Iran well, helping people
organize themselves and communicate with
the rest of the world when the presidential
elections in that country went awry. This
is a far cry from announcing what kind
of sandErin Carson
wich you’re
eating or
complaining
about the rain.
Likewise, texting
(which can be
super efficient)
can be hugely
annoying –
another reason
why our
generation’s communication skills are going
down the tubes, but according to CNN,
the American Red Cross pulled in around
$23 million for victims of the earthquake
in Haiti through text donations. Maybe
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E-mail: [email protected]
it’s because people were more quickly
connected to information, or maybe it was
because it was just too convenient not to
give.
Texting is a large part of the way we
communicate, college kids in particular –
phones are rarely out of our reach. Though,
if the only way to donate to the American
Red Cross was by writing a check and
mailing it, how much would have been
collected? Or maybe all details are irrelevant but the one that says that millions
of dollars were collected in support of our
fellow humans during a time of need.
Regardless, there’s a rash of passivity
that has accompanied the introduction of
technologies, practical or social. Arguably,
this is the worst part. If it’s not easy and
familiar, some folks just won’t do it – they
might not even think to do it! Convenience
should never stifle real action, nor should it
serve as something to hide behind.
Think of the things people complain
about – not long ago if a guy wanted to
ask a girl out, he had to do it by phone or
Editor: Lance Conzett
Managing Editor: Erin Carson
Multimedia Editor: Abby Selden
Blogs Editor: Jessica Walker
Sports Editor: Pierce Greenberg
Video Editor: Cassidy Hodges
in person. Now girls complain when they
get an awkward message saying something
about a movie sometime.
The Washington Post ran an article
recently saying that fewer teenagers are
getting their driver’s licenses at 16, in part
because they are too busy to learn, but also
because there’s not as much motivation
to meet up with friends somewhere. In a
way, we’re always with our friends via cell
phones or the Internet (and increasingly the
combo of the two). Who would think?
It takes some of the fun parts out of life –
experience is sweeter when you’re actually
involved in it.
That being said, once again it’s a matter
of balance. Be smart about what you’ve
come to lean on, and try to shake off the
tech stupor once in a while.
Until then, if anyone knows why Lean
Cuisine strongly discourages cooking their
pizzas in a regular oven, give me a shout. Explosions are never sweet.
Erin Carson, a junior in the honors program, is managing editor of the Vision.
Advertising: Karen Bennett
Faculty Adviser: Linda Quigley
Online/Graphics Adviser: Angela Smith
Page 4
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
From here to where?
By Amber Garner
Staff WritEr
ForAmerica’scollegeclassof2008,therecession
waspresent,butnotoverwhelming,butayearlater;
thesearchtookalittlelongerformany,butemployers
stillhadasizeablenumberofentryleveljobstofill.
Ayearlater,theNationalAssociationofCollegesand
Employersreportedthatemployersexpectedtohire
22percentfewergraduatesthaninthepreviousyear.
Another2percentdropisanticipatedfor2010grads.
Thisraisestwoquestions:WhatisBelmont
doingtoprepareitsstudents?Dostudentsfeel
readytoenteranuncertainjobmarket?
PatriciaJacobs,directoroftheOfficeofCareer
Services,offersanoptimisticlookatcareeropportunitiesforgraduates.Jacobssaysthatwiththechangingjob
marketandcurrentrecessionshechoosestotakeamore
holisticviewoffindingstudentsnotjustjobs,butcareers.
“We’refocusedonhelpingyoudiscoveryourinterest
andskillsandwhatyouwouldliketodo.Ratherthan
focusononejob,wearelookingforcareers,”shesaid.
Somestudentsareabitlesshopefulandsaytheyhave
mixedfeelingaboutgoingoutintothejobmarketforthe
firsttime.Whiletheyfeelwelltaughtbytheirprofessors,
itisthefactorsofactuallyfindingajobthatseemforeign.
Idonotfeelpreparedinfindingajob;i.e.makinga
résumé,interviewing,manipulationtechniques,oreven
howtolookforajob,saidFrancesAnderson,asenior
artmajor.Idofeelhappywithhowmyteachershave
preparedmeintheparticularsubjects,suchasmyPainting
Threeteacherteachingabouthowtheartworldreally
is,andmydesignteacherssettingupeventswherepast
graduatescomeandtalkaboutthejobstheynowhave.
Otherstudentsareequallyasworried,ifnotby
theirabilitytofindajob,thenbyhowpreparedthey
arefortheirspecificfieldandhowquicklyindustriesarechangingfromtheirtraditionalformats.
“IntheaudioengineeringprogramatBelmont,they
doverylittletoprepareyoufortherealworldofthe
recordingindustry,”saidseniorEricGreen.“Onlyacouple
selectclassesthatyoutakeasasenior,withaudioprofessionalsasteachers,shinelightontowhattheindustry
isandislike.Belmontalsofailstoteachanysortof
digitaleditingorvocaltuningclasses.Theyseemtolook
overthefactthatmostcommercialmusicthesedaysis
choppeduponcomputersandtunedtoperfection.”
SeniorcommercialvoicemajorBobbyBanister
hasanotheropiniononhowwellBelmonthas
preparedhimforthemusicindustry.
“IthinkthethingwithBelmontisyougetwhatyou
putintoit,”Banistersaid,“Youcangetagreateducationoryoucancoast,butIdofeelreadytoenterthe
‘realworld’becauseIhavespentcountlesshourspracticingwhatIwanttodoforacareerandmeetingpeople
whoknowmoreaboutwhattheyaredoingthanIdo.”
OthersfeelthatBelmonthaspreparedthem
welltotackletheirchangingfieldofchoice.
“NotonlyhasBelmontgivenmeawellrounded
experienceinthemedicalfieldbyprovidingmedifferent
clinicalrotations,butIhaveprofessorswhokeepus
currentonthechangesinthefieldasfarasthingslike
insuranceandgovernmentpolicy,”saidseniornursing
majorHeatherRattigan.“Ifeelveryequippedtoenter
theeverchangingworldofmedicineasanurse.”
Withallofthechangestakingplaceinsomany
careerfieldsandCNNmoney.comreportinganother
1-2percentdropinhiringratingsfor2010graduates,
collegestudentsneedresourcesfortheirjobsearches.
CareerServicesoffersinterviewtraining,résumé
help,alumninetworkingandjobsitesjusttonamea
HeLP FoR tHe JoB seARCH
The Career Services team at Belmont provides
individual help as well as a number of convos
and other events that highlight topics from
resumes to interviewing. Among those coming up soon are:
• Feb. 1, Interviewing Strategies for Success,
10-10:50 a.m, Massey Board Room.
• Feb. 10, Confessions of a Hiring Manager,
5-6 p.m., Massey Board Room.
• Feb. 15, Graduation Forum (seniors only),
2-5 p.m., MPAC.
•Feb. 22, Jumpstart Your Job Search, 10-10:50
a.m., MPAC.
For more information and a complere listing
of convos, job fais and other events, drop by
Career Services, 2n floor, Gabhart.
few.Furthermore,theyplantoholdajobfairatthe
TennesseeFairGroundsthisspring.AnothervaluableassetisCareerConnector,aBelmontWebsitethat
linksstudentswithinternshipsandjobopenings.For
moreinformationonCareerServicesortomakean
appointment,visithttp://belmont.edu/careerservices.
economy drives rush to graduate schools
By Upasana Pandya
Staff WritEr
Slowdownintheeconomy,acompetitivejobmarket,undergraduateloansand
otherfinancialandeconomicreasons
areprovokingundergraduatestudents
toimmediatelygotograduateschool.
“EnrollmentsallacrosstheUnitedStates
aregoingupinbusinessgradschools,”said
JoeAlexander,AssociateDeanofJackC.
MasseyGraduateSchoolofBusiness.
Beforetheeconomicmeltdown,students
preferredtoworkafterobtainingtheir
undergraddegreesandperhapssavedup
somemoneytogotograduateschool.
Agraduatedegreeoffersspecializedtraining,whichisarequirementformanypracticeslikelawand
psychologyandcangiveindividualsa
goodadvantageinfieldslikebusiness.
“Inthiskindofachallengingeconomy,
studentsdon’twanttositstillwhilefacing
thechallengetogetajob,”Alexandersaid.
Thedecisiontogotogradschool
israrelyaneasyone.Thecostscanbe
anywherefrom$20,000to$55,000,andit
canvaryconsiderablydependingonthefield
apersondecidetodohisorhermastersin.
“Studentsatourschoolpayapproximately$810perhour,andourmost
populargradschoolprogramistheBusiness,andtheypayabout$2,290per
course,”saidDavidHumphrey,acounselorinStudentFinancialServices.
Ontheotherhand,manystudents
believetheirinvestmentingraduate
schoolwillbeworthit,sincetheymay
getmoremoneyintheircareers.
“I’mgraduatinginMay2010andhave
decidedtogotogradschoolrightafter
becausetherearehardlyanyjobsavailable,”saidKatieBateman,aseniormusic
majoratBelmont.“IknowIwillgetabetter
payingjobwhenIgetoutofGradSchool.”
StudentswithaMBAoramaster’s
degreegethiredquickerinthecompetitivejobmarketthanthosewithoutit.The
U.S.CensusBureaureportsthatthose
withamaster’sdegreecanexpecttomake
almost$200,000moreintheirlifetime
thanthosewithabachelor’sdegree.
“Amaster’sdegreegivesyoua
spruceupinthejobmarket,”saidRuchi
Kapadia,accountingmajoratBelmont.
“Ihaveinternedwithdifferentcompaniessincejunioryearandhopeoneof
themcanprovideajobopportunitywhile
Icontinuestudyingformymaster’s
programinaccounting,”sheadded.
Theloanfromundergrad
andgradschoolcanbequitea
burdentopayoff,however.
“Iamagainsttheentireideaof
takingloans.Ibelieveinsavingmoney
anddon’tlikespendingmoneyIdon’t
have,”saidShazmaAli,whowillgraduateinMaywithanursingdegree.
Gettingsomeworkexperience
beforegoingforanextensiveprogram
likeanMBAcanmakethelearning
processingradschoolsimpler.
“Itisidealtogetsomeprofessional
experienceforprogramslikeMBA,
whileamaster’sinaccountingdoes
notrequireanyexperience—students
candirectlygiveanexamforCPA
aftertheirmasters,”saidAlexander.
Studentsjumpingintoagradprogram
shouldresearchjobdemandsandtalk
toafewprofessionalsintheindustry,
tohelpmaketherightdecision.
“Beforethisyear,Iwasjumping
togotogradschoolandthen,after
gettingmoreexperienceinclassesand
speakingtoadvisorsatVanderbilt,I
realizedIhadtogetsomeexperience
andthengotogradschool,”saidAli.
Alihasdecidedtodoresidencyandthen
applyforgradschool.“Bydoingthisthe
wholeprocessofbecomingawellqualifiednursebecomeseasier,”sheadded.
Afterfouryearsofobtaininganabundanceofknowledgeindifferentsubjects,
studentsmaystillnotknowwhatexactly
theywanttodoasacareer.Oncestudents
entertheworkfield,theymaynotlike
thejob.Interestsandchoicestendoften
changeovertime.Gradschoolsunaware
ofwhattheylikeanddislikecanbea
wasteoftime,moneyandeffort.
Additionally,theagerecommended
forattendinggradschoolusuallyvaries
dependingonthetypeoffieldstudents
choose.MostMBAprogramspreferthat
studentshaveatleasttwoyearsexperiencebeforeenrollingintoaprogram.In
theendit’samatterofchoice;thedecisionofgoingtogradschoolimmediately
caneitherbeagoodorabadone.
gRAdUAte sCHooL
Admissions FACtoRs
1. GPA
2. Test scores
3. Workor volunteer experience
4. Personal statement essay
5. Letters of Recommendation
6. Application
7. Interview
Career Services is offering
a graduate school prep test
workshop on Feb. 26, 2 p.m. - 5 p.
m; MBC 103. Go to 1-800-kaptest
or www.kaptest.com to register.
CHoosing A
gRAd sCHooL
❑ Price and Scholarships
❑ Location
❑ Size and Environment
❑ Reputation/Rankings
❑ Job Market
❑ Teaching Methods
❑ Faculty
❑ Long Term Goals
a&e
Top Five Albums on iTunes
1. Hope for Haiti Now by Various Artists
2. Contra by Vampire Weekend
3. The Fame Monster by Lady GaGa
4. Animal by Ke$ha
5. 2010 Grammy Nominees by Various Artists
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
Michael Huff
charts own course
with ‘Other Hearts’
sports
By Erin Carson
Managing Editor
C, G and D. Artists have built careers off those
three simple chords, and here in Nashville, Belmont
senior Michael Huff looks to start something of his
own with the release of his debut EP, “Other Hearts.”
The record comes after a summer recording
session in Smyrna, Ga. Huff contacted producer
Randy Bugg and for the first time left the familiarity and comfort of friends’ porches and small local
audiences for the professionalism of the studio.
“It was just a big jump, and it was kind of frightening at
first, but exciting at the same time,” Huff said describing
from there I found a
lot of inspiration.”
These days, Huff
plays songs steeped in
folk and Americana.
Part of his approach lies
in not only listening to
artists like Fleetwood
Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, Leonard Cohen
or, more recently,
Hank Williams, but
in tracing back the
roots of songs and
absorbing the rhythm,
language and style.
“Style is a weird
thing that I’m still
trying to figure out,” he
explained. “For me, it’s
more about writing the
song, and the songs sort
of dictate the genre.”
The result is that Huff’s
music seems to flow in
a very natural direction, and “natural” is a
word well suited to the
album and the artist.
“Other Hearts”
comes off sincere
Photo by Drew Maynard
Michael Huff, a Belmont senior, has a debut EP, “Other Hearts.”
and earnest, the
product of “heart on
sleeve” songwriting,
range. Uncertainty for the future, framed with the advice
informed by “absorbing” influences instead of mimicking,
to “stop looking forward and start living.” The song’s
and delivered by a voice, both clear and warm.
imagery works well against the solitary strumming.
Huff writes, in part, about his own experi“Song writing is something I’m doing all the time,”
ences. “Little Birdie,” for example, stems from one
Huff said, “so I often have songs that I’ve finished all the
day when some birds built a nest by his window.
words and then I’m reworking the melody for a couple
“At first I was kind of annoyed because they would
months, or there are some that come all together at once.”
be singing all the time when I was trying to sleep, or in
Since coming to Belmont, Huff has found commuthe early mornings, but then I decided ‘OK, this could be
nity with his friends and fellow songwriters.
kind of cool, I’ll watch it be alive and hatch its eggs’.”
“Sometimes, a group of us get together, and just insist on
Subject matter like this accounts for an intrinwriting a song and say, “OK, by Thursday, you have to bring
sically hopeful and positive air to the EP,
a song to our house and we have to play them for each other
although those vibes are not exclusive.
even if they’re terrible, and often times half of them are and
“Then one day [the nest] was gone,” Huff continued.
half aren’t, and we know it, but we did it-- we wrote a song.”
He never saw the eggs hatch and never found out
As Huff continues to look beyond the “smaller
what happened to them. “Hope and disappointcommunities” he has enjoyed, playing house
ment, and the kind of strain between them-- I think
shows or just “huddling around couches,” his post
that’s the tone that lots of the EP strikes,” he said.
“Other Hearts” seems to say that all is never lost. Perhaps graduation plans revolve around his music.
Though he’s only played in Nashville, Oklathe balance between the good and the bad is exactly what
homa City, and a few other cities around his home
makes up a life. “Blues Man” is an acknowledgment of this
dichotomy. While there is cause for sadness, the sadness can state, Huff has his sights set on touring.
“I want to tour and take this thing anywhere
manifest itself in something richer and more meaningful.
that has a stage and a microphone,” he said,
Huff also leans toward story songs. “Fortune Teller,”
“anywhere with people who listen.”
is tale whose sentiment is familiar, especially for this age
fitness
Listening in
Other Hearts is available at Grimeys,
Cosmic Connections, CDBaby.com,
and directly from
Huff. Look for a release show in early
spring.
For a free download
of “Little Birdie,” go to http://www.box.net/
shared/tkgfjsy33x
Find more at:
Myspace.com/michaelhuff
or
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MichaelHuff/114880901163?v=wall&ref=ts
the recording experience. He spoke of the sense of accomplishment. “To be doing this thing that I’ve dreamed of
all my life, to say this isn’t ‘someday I’ll get to record
these songs in a studio-- that day was yesterday, and it
happened;’ it was just overwhelming, but it was wonderful.”
Though, getting to this point came only after eight
years of writing songs and ditching nap time as a child.
“My sister was taking piano lessons while it was
my nap time, so I, beginning to connive as a little kid,
thought ‘I’m going to finagle this and I’m going to get into
piano’.” Luckily, Huff said, piano turned out to be something he enjoyed instead of just a trick to stay awake.
From there, Huff turned to the guitar after learning
a few choice chords from his dad – C, G and D.
Initially, he started out writing and playing within the
church genre but eventually found what was outside of
that, namely Sufjan Stevens’ album, “Seven Swans.”
“[He] was the first artist who ever showed me that he
could do whatever he wanted with songs,” Huff explained.
“I put it on, and I didn’t get what was happening, but I knew
it was beautiful. He kind of blew the doors wide open and
Page 6
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
BUMSAP promotes underground music scene
By Lance Conzett
Vision Editor
Spider-Friends. Dipset Taliban. Diarrhea Planet. These
aren’t the names people typically associate with Belmont
University. But Belmont’s music scene is of two worlds.
The showcase circuit is the public face of the school—the
suggested path to collegiate stardom, beginning with classes
and ending with Best of the Best on stage at the Curb Event
Center. But there’s a burgeoning underbelly, existing at the
corners of Belmont’s music scene in nearby basements and
warehouses, slowly gaining attention in Nashville.
At the forefront of the underground movement is the
Belmont Underground Music Scene Awareness Project.
BUMSAP was started in late November 2009 by sophomore
Trent Houghton with the intention of promoting the local
music community by exploiting social networks like Facebook and MySpace.
“I would say that you’ve got this aspect of Belmont that
promotes the showcase music, they promote you to get into
big, major labels and to sell yourself. To me, the showcase is
all just an image. There’s great artists that get turned down
by the showcase because they don’t have an image,” said
Houghton. “I think there’s so many damn kids at Belmont
that don’t relate to that.”
Houghton’s goals for BUMSAP are simple: set up
shows, promote bands and, ultimately, “bring about a local
music community within the bands that no one hears at our
music school,” according to the project’s Facebook description. But because these bands often can’t or won’t rely on
Belmont for support, they’re forced to get creative.
Diarrhea Planet, a punk band formed by Jordan Smith
and Evan P. Donohue, is one band in the scene that can’t
perform in the Belmont system.
“They probably wouldn’t even listen to our recording if
we turned it in. I don’t think we would be allowed to play
in [Curb Café] even,” said Smith. “That’s another problem
with Belmont, they have too many conservative limitations on what they accept and allow here. Which is weird,
because it’s a music school.”
Despite the barriers preventing the band from
performing at Belmont, they have developed a name for
themselves by performing in houses and smaller venues like
The End and Little Hamilton. Their debut EP, “Aloha,” was
released for free and was covered positively in local music
blogs Nashville Cream and We Own This Town, who rarely
devote space to Belmont artists.
“I think there’s that slight prejudice of Belmont music
because of the Belmont music that’s known,” Houghton
said. He also said that some bands declined to participate in
BUMSAP because of the reference to Belmont in the title,
1
Photo by Lance Conzett
Junior audio engineering technology major Evan P. Donohue plays with Diarrhea Planet at their CD release show at The End.
even though the project is unaffiliated with the school, its
music program or any faculty or staff. Houghton argues that
the entire mindset of underground bands is different from
what could be considered Belmont’s mainstream.
“I think the mindset of the kids in the showcase scene,
the kids who want to conquer the world, is different from
those people that know this is what we do for fun because
this is what we love,” Houghton said.
The underground has professed a do-it-yourself ethos
that traces back to previous independently minded companies and projects. Dirty Eye was founded by Belmont grads
Bo Brannon, Edwin O’Brien and Matt Johanson to promote
talented artists like Darla Farmer and Andrew Combs who
didn’t necessarily fit the mold of their genres. Although they
started booking shows at Douglas Corner, eventually they
moved on to booking bigger events in downtown warehouses.
“I would really like to maybe teach one day at Belmont
in 10 or 15 years, if I can make [Dirty Eye] work the way I
see it, because I didn’t feel like the professors at Belmont
really encourage [you to] ‘do it differently, do it creatively,
do it yourself’,” said Brannon.
Despite the differences in ideology between Belmont
and BUMSAP, most of the participants in the scene under-
2
stand why Belmont
professors teach
Hear More
the way they do
and have had posiAlthough Belmont’s undertive experiences
ground music scene is still
with some forwardgaining steam, several bands
thinking classes.
have signed on in support of
But the ultimate
BUMSAP’s goals, including:
goals of the music
Indo Ghost Club, Reid Magbusiness program
ette, Spider-Friends, Trigwill always conflict
german, Vinyl Thief, Seth
with the goals of
Reeves, Spanish Candles and
the underground,
Diarrhea Planet.
according to
Houghton.
To hear a digital mixtape of
“Belmont
underground Belmont artteaches kids to
make money and
they teach artists to
sell themselves to make money and that turns off so many
people, including myself, that we faction off into our own
little underground community,” Houghton said.
But while dismissing some of the classes, Houghton and
others within the scene expressed pride in the creativity
coming from the students. Many of these student-musicians
come to Belmont seeking a kind of community that does not
inherently exist on campus. Houghton hopes that through
the efforts of BUMSAP and other similar projects, they can
change that.
“That’s all that BUMSAP is, it’s an effort to build a
community,” he said.
4
3
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
Page 7
‘Content rider’ shapes events
By Lance Conzett
Vision Editor
When the cast of Fall Follies took to the Massey
Performing Arts Center stage in October 2008, they had no
clue how the audience, which included students, faculty and
parents, would take their sketches. The live variety show is
known for pushing boundaries, but one sketch in particular
may have crossed the line.
The sketch involved a couple students cracking “that’s
what she said” jokes. The punch line, popularized by
“Wayne’s World” and, more recently, “The Office,” is typically a response to an accidental double entendre spoken by
someone else. In the case of the Follies sketch, one student
kept getting it wrong, using the phrase after any statement,
not just ones with sexual double-meanings.
“I think the problem with that sketch was that it got
carried away on stage,” explained Program Board president
Amber Garner. Complaints about the sketch led to it being
removed from the Follies DVD, but further sanctions were
possible because of the student affairs content rider.
The rider, titled “Belmont University Standard Rider to
Agreement for Speaker/Artists’ Services” is a page-long
document outlining what cannot be said or done while
on stage at a Belmont sponsored event. The list includes
“actions demeaning the dignity and beauty of human sexuality,” blasphemy, profanity and promotion of drug, alcohol
or tobacco use. According to Henderson Hill, assistant
director of student activities, the rider was created to make
outside speakers and artists aware of Belmont’s standards.
“When I bring outside people on campus, this is the stuff
they have to adhere to,” Hill said. “Our university makes no
apologies for who we are and what we stand for.”
In terms of student performances, Hill considers these
events to be “learning labs” where students are given experience in dealing with the legal and ethical standards of the
venue.
“For me it’s not so much of micro-managing or not
wanting students to have the freedom to be creative, it’s you
need to learn to be accountable to something,” he said.
“For me it’s not so much of
micro-managing or not wanting
students to have the freedom to be
creative, it’s you need to learn to be
accountable to something.”
Henderson Hill
Office of student affairs
University counsel Jason Rogers and representatives of
the Office of Student Affairs wrote the rider. According to
Hill, it has not been updated since 2003. Some references
in the rider, particularly the inclusion of “homosexual acts”
in the sexual conduct section, have since been excised from
the student code of conduct. It is unclear if the rider will be
revised to reflect those changes.
For Belmont students, breaking the terms of the rider can
mean disqualification from a competition like the showcase series and perhaps even judicial sanctions based on
the disciplinary section of the Bruin Guide. Although Hill
admits that punishment depends on how far a performer
goes and that he relies on complaints by audience members
or student leaders for many performances that don’t fall
under Program Board or SGA.
Musicians and speakers aren’t the only performers
required to sign the rider. Films and theater performances
also fall under the purview of the contract, but, according to
Garner, are given some educational and artistic leeway.
At least one recent play, “Arabian Nights,” included a
disclaimer to warn audience members about language and
sexual situations that would otherwise be banned by the
rider.
Similarly, Health Services screened the movie “Thank
You For Smoking” despite frequent profanity and sexual
situations without complaint because it was part of The
Great American Smokeout, a week of anti-smoking events
tied to the American Cancer Society’s national program to
bring awareness to the health risks of smoking.
Movies that are purely for entertainment, however, are a
different story.
“We showed ‘Casino Royale’ and things like that,”
Garner said. “It’s a movie, so we can push it a little more,
but we’re not going to show an ‘Rated R’ movie.”
Despite the rules, both Hill and Garner stressed that their
goal isn’t to hamper students’ creativity. In the case of the
“that’s what she said” sketch, Garner brushed it off as an
overreaction.
“My favorite part of the mission statement of Belmont
is ‘student centered’,” Garner said, “When we start caring
too much about that one parent who gets offended or that
one staffer that doesn’t understand the joke, then I think it
maybe gets taken too far.”
Delta Saints on the ‘Road to Bonnaroo’
By Lance Conzett
Vision Editor
Delta Saints
5
Photo by Lance Conzett
6
7
Belmont blues rockers the Delta Saints are
among 32 local bands vying for an opportunity
to perform at this year’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts
Festival in Manchester, Tenn., according to an
announcement from Mercy Lounge on Monday.
The “Road to Bonnaroo” series was established last year as a coproduction between
Mercy Lounge and BMI. The Cannery Row
music venue will host four free showcases—one
per month until May—with eight bands in each
showcase.
Fifty percent of the vote comes from ballots
deposited by audience members while the
remaining half is put in the hands of a panel of
judges consisting of music journalists, bloggers
and previous 8 Off 8th hosts. The combined vote
determines the winner of each showcase and who
will be granted the opportunity to play at one of
the nation’s biggest music festivals.
The dates for this year’s Road to Bonnaroo
are Feb. 22, Mar. 22, Apr. 19 and May 17—all
Mondays. The shows are strictly 21-and-up only
and only those who see every band in the night’s
line-up are eligible to vote. The line-ups for each
show have not yet been announced. The Bonnaroo
Music & Arts Festival will take place June 10-13.
8
Belmont Underground
Photos by Lance Conzett
1) Jordan Smith of Diarrhea Planet; 2) SpiderFriends EP release at the End 3) Spanish
Candles; 4) Trent Houghton; 5) Triggerman;
6) Amr Ali; 7) Seth Reeves 8) Casey
Weissbuch
Page 8
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
Leu Gallery: a Belmont secret?
By Will Hoekenga
Staff writer
Belmont University’s Leu Art Gallery will host Elyse
Luray of the PBS television series “History Detectives” as
part of its American Experience exhibit, which will be open
through May 14. The exhibit will showcase a variety of
antique items owned by Belmont alumni, including furniture, photographs and even silverware.
According to the PBS Web site, Luray specializes in
American cultural history and collectibles and is an expert
in art history. Naturally, she should fit right in as a guest
speaker for an exhibit featuring American antiques.
The question, however, is whether or not the Leu Art
Gallery is well-known enough to draw a crowd to support a
nationally-recognized television personality.
“The Leu isn’t treated like a big deal,” Belmont senior
Brian Clark said. “I never know when it’s open or if they
have new stuff. There seems to be no publicity whatsoever.”
Victoria Boone, director of the gallery, admitted that
getting publicity for the exhibits can be a challenge, especially when trying to publicize outside the university. She
cited the gallery’s trouble getting publicity in the Nashville
Scene, a free local weekly paper, as an example.
“We have a very hard time getting coverage in the
[Nashville] Scene,” Boone said. “[They] are an old boy
network to me. … It’s a tight-knit group of young men in
their 20s and they all kind of pat each other’s backs.”
However, things may be changing, as the gallery did
receive coverage from The Tennessean when the Nashville
paper decided to run a story about one of its exhibits last
August.
In fact, Boone said that things have changed quite a bit
for the gallery since she was hired as director five years ago.
She was able to start organizing convocation events at the
gallery three years ago, which she said has added tremendous visibility to the gallery for students.
The gallery, housed within Belmont’s Lila D. Bunch
library, features four exhibits each year, and each opening
also serves as a convocation event for students. The openings currently average between 200 and 250 students, which
Boone said is a dramatic increase from when the events first
started.
“It’s definitely increased over three years, but I would
love to have more students and teachers show up,” she said.
Clark said that, other than one time when he went to the
gallery out of curiosity, these convocation events have been
his only reason for going.
“But I do think it’s a very cool opportunity for students,”
he added.
Boone has been able to create a unique opportunity for
students and the Nashville community by bringing in a
variety of art from established professional artists that can
be viewed free of charge.
Boone served as director of the Tennessee Arts Commission Gallery for 13 years, during which she got the opportunity to meet many established artists throughout middle
Tennessee and the Southeast. She is able to draw from the
knowledge and network yielded from this experience to
select artists to display in the gallery.
The last exhibit featured at the gallery consisted of
pieces by artist Gary Monroe that portrayed fairly provocative religious scenes of snake handlers.
“Everybody was very supportive,” Boone said when
asked about the potential controversy involved with any art
treading religious waters.
“It was very provocative and there were a lot of good
debates and conversations, but no one thought it should be
censored. At all.”
She was quick to commend Belmont for never censoring
any of her selections for the gallery.
“They’ve never censored me, which I think is a very
important point. … The administration has never put me in
a compromising position,” Boone said.
Both Boone and Dr. Judy Bullington, chair of Belmont’s
art department, consider the gallery to be quite a nice space
for art exhibits.
“We have a very nice, decent gallery space. The lighting
is great, which is very important,” Bullington said.
Within the past year, the gallery has had brand new
flooring, walls, and lighting installed.
Bullington also mentioned that the university has added
signage in order to attract more visitors and increase
visibility.
“There’s a humongous sign on the library. I don’t know if
people don’t see it or what,” Bullington said.
Boone is confident that a fair amount of students will
show to see Luray and the American Experience exhibit,
as it will be an opportunity for them to receive convocation
credit.
However, beyond these convocation events, there is
uncertainty as to what can be done to further publicize the
gallery and bring in more students and, especially, nonstudents.
“It would be a nice thing for tourists to see,” Bullington
said. “But whether they know about it or not and are going
to take the time to find parking begs another question.”
Among the items
in the “Amrican
Experience” exhibit
now at the Leu Gallery are, from top, a
patriot quilt; a tiffany
bonbonierre; and a
sterling silver cherry
fork. These items
and other objects
from the early 1800s
to World War I, are
on loan from Belmont alumni and on
display at the gallery
through May 14. An
opening reception
will be held at 5
p.m. Feb. 3, followed by a lecture at
7:30 p.m. in MPAC
featuring Elyse
Luray, one of the
“History Detectives”
from the TV program.
Made in the U.S.A.
‘History Detective’ opens art, antiques exhibit
Key American fine and decorative art objects from the collections of Belmont alumni are on display at the Leu Art
Gallery, and guest lectures will offer presentations on collecting art and antiques.
Guest curator Mark Brown, Belmont Mansion executive director, who has pulled together the exhibit that explores
a wide range of American antiques from the collections of alumni.
The exhibit, “The American Experience: Collections from Belmont Alumni in the Leu Gallery,” is open at the
gallery, which is in Bunch Library, until May 14. The lectures and reception are Wednesday, Feb. 3, and are free and
open to the public.
• Elyse Luray, one of TV’s history detectives, will talk about what takes place behind the scenes of the popular TV
series in a presentation at 10 a.m. in LCVA (the art building).
Luray, an appraiser and a historian of popular culture, initially became interested in old architecture when she
was studying at Tulane University in New Orleans. According to her Web site, “Soon I was spending all my time
researching the home’s architecture, former owners, and even the furnishings. Eventually my interest turned to objects
and how they reflect people’s passions for the past.”
• A reception to highlight the display of Southern furniture, paintings, engravings, a slave quilt and other objects
will be held 5-5:30 p.m. in the Leu Art Gallery (library). The objects date from the early 1800s until World War I.
• Luray will present another lecture complementing the exhibit at 7:30 p.m. in MPAC. As one of the hosts of
“History Detectives,” TV’s popular show on tracing antiques and historical items to their original makers and owners.
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
Page 9
Optional chapel Fridays at 10
By Amanda Stravinsky
Staff Writer
You’re on track with convo, and it’s too
early for a nap, so at 10 a.m. on a Friday,
you amble over to Massey to sit in the
courtyard and just be. As you walk up
to the courtyard, you hear something.
Music flows from the Neely Dining
Hall. The glass doors are wide open and
a handful of students are congregated
inside Some stand and sing, following the
words on the projector screen. Others sway
with the guitar and vocals. The lights are
dimmed; Neely has the feel of an indie
coffee shop, but without the coffee and
the plush furniture. Instead, chairs are
lined up in neat rows from the stage to
the back of the room, as if the planners
expected them to be filled. As the vocal/
guitar duo sings, you take one of the empty
seats but remain standing, respectfully.
Chapel has returned to Belmont.
“It’s a chance for faculty, staff, students
in the middle of the morning to worship,
to fellowship, to feel that sense of unity
and connectedness under Christ,” said
Guy Chmieleski, Belmont university
minister. He oversees the chapel services.
It’s not required for students to
attend. It is a voluntary worship service
held Friday mornings at 10, one of the
slots always open for convocations.
Belmont did away with required chapel
and replaced it with the current convocation
“It’s a chance for faculty, staff, students in the middle of the morning to worship, to fellowship, to feel
that sense of unity and connectedness under Christ.”
Guy Chmieleski
Belmont university minister
program in 1994. According to Chmieleski,
the students had become very resentful of
the idea of being forced to go to chapel.
He also said most speakers thought of
Belmont’s chapel services as the worst
speaking gig in Nashville and requested
that Belmont not ask them to return due
to typically disrespectful audiences.
“It is a bad idea in itself—forced
worship,” Chmieleski added.
Belmont, long affiliated with the
Baptist church, was accepting students
from different religious backgrounds. The
board realized that because of the growing
diversity, they couldn’t “force” students to
go to chapel, a Christian event. That was
when the board decided to get rid of chapel,
which had been required with the aim of
putting students in a setting that could
lead to spiritual and personal growth.
“The program’s history dates back
to the former chapel program, in which
students were required to attend weekly
85%
of BU students
do not believe
alcohol makes
men sexier
*Source: Data based on 2009 CORE Survey (N=1042.)
services,” according to Belmont’s Web site.
When Belmont eliminated chapel, the
new convocation program was established.
It was built so that the students, while
still having to learn outside of the classroom, were not confined to participate
in Christian denominational services.
Chapel as a voluntary event was
in discussion in 2007, according to
Chmieleski. There wasn’t any opposition to the return of chapel for
Belmont, considering it’s solely a student’s decision to skip or attend.
“[Chapel] is for members of the
campus community as a whole – faculty,
staff and students – to come together
in the midst of the academic day to
pause, to worship, to fellowship [and]
be together,” Chmieleski said.
The weekly speakers are teachers,
staff and students who believe they
have something compelling to share
that will benefit not only them and those
who hear it, but, through action, those
who hear it can benefit others and cultivate a better college community.
Students find the chapel services to be
very convenient. Kathleen Wells, senior,
loves that the chapel hour is the same as
convo hour because she doesn’t have class
during that time or work after class.
“It’s a good place to hang out with
people that I know,” Wells said. “I get to
start the day off fresh with worship, and
it starts my weekend off really well.”
The fellowship and worship is what
brings Alyson McHargue to chapel services.
“It’s awesome worship and a great way
to meet with God,” McHargue said. “I
love being with fellow Christ-followers
and learning more about his word.”
Chapel started Sept. 4 and is slowly
growing in numbers. However, that’s not so
important to Chmieleski. Eastern University, a Christian college in St. Davids, Penn.,
got rid of mandatory chapel and replaced
it as voluntary. The numbers started out
small, but then it grew to about 1,000
students weekly, according to Chmieleski.
His hope is that Belmont’s chapel
services will bring students not because
they have to but because they want to.
“[I hope] because God is doing
something, it just draws students
to it,” Chmieleski said. “It will
become a very real significant time
for our campus community.”
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO WORSHIP CLOSE TO SCHOOL?
PLEASE JOIN US AND COME LIVE LIFE AT FIRST EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH. WE’LL EVEN PICK YOU UP!
Location: 113 8th Avenue South, Downtown Nashville, half block south of
Broadway on 8th Avenue South.
Worship Times: 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
Shuttle Schedule for Sunday Mornings
For those attending Education Hour
9:00A Leave the Aviary 9:05A Leave Hail Hall
For those coming for Worship
10:00A Leave Aviary
10:05A Leave Hail Hall
There will be time for Christian Fellowship and Refreshments Following Worship
For more information, visit
www.belmont.edu/studentaffairs/btw.html
Return Schedule; Approximately:
12:15P Arrive at Aviary 12:20P Arrive at Hail Hall
Join us this Sunday! Bring a Friend!
FREE parking in the lot across McGavock St.
Please call 256-7580 for more information,
or visit www.first-lutheran-nashville.org
Come Live Life!
Page 10
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
Veggie options?
Amanda Stravinsky
Staff Writer
Approximately 0.5 percent of Americans classified themselves as vegans in 2008. and another 7.2
million people or 3.2 percent were on a vegetarianbased diet, eating no meat or fish. Some of those
people have found their way to Belmont University.
To cater to the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, Belmont’s
dining service, Sodexo, has formed a section to their
catering called “Balance Body, Mind and Soul.” The
catering is well-balanced, carbohydrate friendly and
provides vegetarian and vegan options. Soy milk and some
vegetarian-friendly dishes are prepared in the cafeteria.
“The nutrition criteria are based on the recommendations of many of the largest health organizations in North
America,” according to the Belmont Sodexo dining Web
site. “Guidelines put out by the American Heart Association, American Institute for Cancer Research, National
Research Council, National Cancer Institute, Canadian
Scientific Review Committee, American Dietetic Association and Dietary Guidelines Consortium [were] reviewed.”
There is a difference between vegetarians and vegans.
Vegetarians are more lenient in what they eat. They
don’t eat shellfish or meat but they may drink milk and
eat eggs. Ovo-lacto-vegetarians make up the majority
of the vegetarian population. Vegans take a harder look
at what they eat. They don’t eat meat, shellfish, milk or
eggs. Honey and yeast may also be on the avoidance list
of some vegans. Clothing made from animals isn’t worn,
and other products made from animals are avoided.
Imania Freeman, a sophomore at Belmont, has
been a vegetarian since October 2006, when she was a
sophomore in high school. After doing research on fast
food, she thought meat was really bad for her. Also,
she didn’t like the idea of animals being mistreated.
“It is possible that the lack of meat eaten can make
a difference in an animal’s life. There might be one
less animal slaughtered today,” Freeman said.
Despite her reasons, she says being a vegetarian is
difficult, especially when she goes out to restaurants.
“Although many restaurants have things like veggie
burgers or black bean burgers, there are still restaurants that still do not have veggie alternatives, Freeman
said. “So basically all I can eat is salad, which stinks
because I do not like salad.”
Julie Kenny, a senior, was
a vegetarian for five years
of her high school and early
college career. She “relapsed”
during Thanksgiving one
year and began eating meat
again for a few years. It was
after she watched the movie
“Food, Inc.” a documentary by
Robert Kenner examining food
production in America, that
she returned to the lifestyle.
“I saw how horribly the
animals are treated that I
Fresh greens and other vegetables and legumes are mainstays of vegetarian and vegan
walked out of there swearing to
diets. Belmont’s cafeteria has begun to offer more choices that don’t include meat or
not eat meat ever again,” Kenny
animal fats.
said. “I’ve always had a vague
years old, he became vegetarian. He didn’t have any
idea about the cruelty animals endure before they become
problems with being a vegan, as far as having cravdinner, but seeing actual video of how they are treated and
ings and such, because he was used to the lifestyle.
the inhumane conditions they live in broke my heart.”
“It has moral benefits to someone who has a
Aside from vegetarians’ beliefs on cruelty to animals,
problem with the killing of animals; it also has dietary
there are some health benefits with going on a vegebenefits, even if one doesn’t particularly try to be
tarian diet. Heart disease and blood pressure can be
a ‘healthy’ vegan or vegetarian,” Bodayle said.
reduced with a vegetarian diet. Because vegans don’t
He had some suggestions for the cafeteria. While
drink milk, soy is a healthy alternative as well as eating
the caf has soy milk and some vegetarian dishes, the
dark green vegetables like spinach and broccoli.
cafeteria workers make the sandwiches using the
“Research has also shown that a plant-based diet can
same gloves they handle meat products with. In order
improve the health of people with type 2 diabetes,” said
to be a vegetarian, there shouldn’t be any contact
webmd.com, a medical Web site that answers everyday
of meat with what sandwich they want to eat.
questions about health and reports new medical research.
“There are options for vegetarians, but there
With benefits come concerns. Kenny worries about
seems to be very little effort to accommodate it.
getting enough protein because she’s not eating meat.
The possibility of making one’s own sandwiches
Also, the thought of weight gain is a concern for her.
in the caf would be ideal,” Bodayle said.
“I think I have gained weight since vowing off
With the rise of vegetarians in America, Belmont
of meat again and wonder if it’s because I substimay begin to see an increase in the population
tute things like pasta that will fill me up rather than
of student vegetarians increase. With Belmont’s
some lean protein like chicken,” Kenny said.
Balance Body, Mind and Soul program, the univerHer main drive for staying vegetarian is the thought
sity tries to accommodate all students.
of preventing another animal slaughtered. “I feel
“[The program’s] messages and offerbetter just knowing that I didn’t hurt any animals or
ings were developed with college students in
contribute to their pain in any way,” Kenny said.
mind,” Belmont’s Sodexo Web site says.
Sophomore Colin Bodayle was raised vegan by
his parents. After drinking milk when he was 14
Change is coming on the Boulevard
photos by Lance Conzett
The face of Belmont Boulevard changed slightly since the end of last semester. The Mediterranean eatery and hookah bar Tabouli’s closed down and reopened as a Mexican
restaurant called La Fiesta on Jan. 18. Fresh Blends, the smoothie bar located next to Subway, closed its doors for good after only eight months in business on Jan. 10.
Finally, the space formerly inhabited by This & That (which followed Reverb Media) has been transformed into Buzzy’s Candy Store. For more information on Buzzy’s, check
our website at http://belmontvision.com
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
Page 11
Working together
Civil rights attorney tells audience
‘each one of us can do something’
By Abby Selden
Multimedia Editor
Civil rights attorney and minister Fred Gray, whose clients included Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. and Rosa Parks, discussed his role as a pioneer in the civil rights movement and
challenged his Belmont audience to keep the unfinished battle going.
Gray stressed the importance of individuals working together to solve the nation’s
problems. “It’s going to take all of us working together,” he said. “Each one of us can do
something.”
Well known for serving as the attorney for King and Parks, and also for the victims
of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, Gray spoke as a part of “Diagnosing Our Future,” a
speaker series organized by the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing at
Belmont.
Gray’s appearance included a panel discussion followed by
a keynote address and a question-and-answer session. During
most of the event, Gray was accompanied on the by Dr. Henry
Foster, Jr., professor emeritus and former dean of the Meharry
School of Medicine, Dwight Lewis, member of The Tennessean editorial board and John Seigenthaler, founder of the First
Amendment Center and founding editorial director of USA
Today.
When discussing the Tuskegee syphilis study, Gray stressed
the connection between what transpired decades ago and what
still occurs today. The 40-year Tuskegee study began in 1932
when the U.S. Public Health Service identified nearly 400
African-American men with untreated syphilis and followed
Dr. Henry Foster
them – without treating them – until 1972 even though doctors
knew by 1947 that syphilis could be cured with penicillin. Of
modern doctors and scientists, Gray said, “Sometimes they forget
that the persons they’re dealing with have certain rights.”
When asked about his own involvement in the civil rights
movement, Seigenthaler, who served as an assistant to Attorney
General Robert Kennedy from 1960-62, said it is important to
first acknowledge Gray’s role. “Fred Gray was there a long time
before I was there,” he said. Seigenthaler later acknowledged the
danger Gray had to face as a civil rights attorney. “As the lawyer
for the movement, he walked every day in the shadow of death.”
Gray spoke at length about the extensive planning that went
into organizing the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott. He specifiDwight Lewis
cally discussed his meetings with Rosa Parks leading up to her
refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, an action that
incited the boycott. “She knew what to do because we had talked
about it,” he said. Gray explained that he was a good friend of
Parks, and they met to talk on a regular basis. “We talked about
everything from segregation to youth,” he said.
Gray also gave advice to the audience. He urged people to
identify problems in their own communities and to work toward
solving them. He did this in his own life, he explained. Once
he observed the blatant racial segregation as an undergraduate
student at Alabama State University, he resolved that he would
become a lawyer and “come back to Alabama and destroy everything segregated I could find.”
Gray also discussed the importance of the Christian church in
John Seigenthaler
Photos by Lance Conzett
Fred Gray, civil rights attorney whose clients have included Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and
Rosa Parks, speaks to a Belmont audience as part of a week’s celebration of King’s life.
the civil rights movement, as well as its continuing influence. He pointed out that, historically, the church was one of the only places African Americans could meet to express
themselves openly, which was instrumental to the evolution of the civil rights movement.
Recognizing that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a reverend, Gray said, “The role of the
church and the role of the clergy is very important.”
The panel discussion and keynote address were followed by a question and answer
session. One person asked how people could take the fight for equality to the next level,
while another asked about the commitment one has to return to his or her home community
after receiving an education. One man brought mixed reactions from the audience when he
pointed out that the panelists were all men, and that gender inequality is a major problem
today.
Others took the time to express their gratitude. One young woman began to cry as she
told the men on stage, “I have had so many beautiful experiences, and I know it’s because of
you.”
Gray has written two books, “Bus Ride to Justice” and “The Tuskegee Syphilis Study:
The Real Story and Beyond.”
Education focus of state’s first 2010 gubernatorial forum
By Jessica Walker
Blogs Editor
Seven candidates campaigning to be
Tennessee’s next governor will push for
better schools and better teachers, according
to their statements in the year’s first major
gubernatorial forum.
The event, held Jan. 14 in Belmont’s
Curb Event Center, was co-hosted by
SCORE, former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist’s State
Collaborative on Reforming Education, and
Nashville CBS affiliate WTVF-TV. News
Channel 5 anchor/reporter Rhori Johnston
served as moderator, asking each candidate
education-related questions.
Four Republican candidates were in
attendance, including Shelby County
District Attorney General Bill Gibbons;
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam; current Lt.
Gov. Ron Ramsey; and Congressman Zach
Wamp. Democratic candidates present
included State Senate Democratic Leader
Jim Kyle; former State House Democratic
Majority Leader Kim McMillan; and
Jackson businessman Mike McWherter and
son of former Gov. Ned McWherter.
Each candidate was allowed one minute
to answer questions, with one minute and
30 seconds allotted for final statements.
photo by Abby Selden
Jim Kyle speaks in gubernatorial forum.
While all of the candidates said they were
passionate about Tennessee’s education
system, their opinions differed on some
issues.
Ramsey emphasized the need for competition in schools, while McMillan focused
on offering teachers and those involved
in school leadership the tools they need
to successfully impact children. “I think
it’s important to set up some professional
learning academies,” McMillan said.
In addition, Wamp called attention to the
importance of early childhood reading proficiency, while McWherter said he believes
the Basic Education Program, started by his
father, should be “fully funded.”
Gibbons said that schools should do a
“better job of recruiting professionals” and
that higher expectations should be set. Kyle
emphasized a need for “professionalism
in the classroom,” and Haslam focused on
the need for each child to have qualified
teachers and principals.
When asked if they supported continued
Pre-K funding, answers varied. McWherter,
Wamp, Kyle and McMillan were in full
support, while Ramsey, Haslam and
Gibbons said they believe the program
should be voluntary. “Every dollar we put
into Pre-K is a dollar we take away from
K-12,” Ramsey said.
Opinions also differed when discussing
how to increase the number of individuals
enrolling in higher education. McWherter
said high schools should more adequately
prepare students, while McMillan emphasized the need for partnerships between
“educational systems and work management
systems.”
Wamp said he supports “online and
distance learning” and Haslam discussed
Project GRAD Knoxville, an organization
focused on encouraging students to enroll in
college or technical school after high school
graduation.
The event concluded with candidates
offering their final statements, summarizing
their viewpoints and asking voters for
support.
While several members of the Nashville
community were present, Belmont students
were also encouraged to attend and could
receive convocation credit after the event.
However, it was more than convocation
that freshman biology/pre-med major Jamie
Allen was interested in. “Since I do live in
Tennessee, it was really important for me to
be here,” he said. “This is the first election
for governor that I can vote in.”
Page 12
The Belmont Vision, January 28, 2010
A different kind of sport: Quidditch
By Anika Dartsch
STAFF WRITER
The rumors have been “flying” around campus:
Is Belmont starting its own Quidditch team? Or
not? Kate Waters and Kelly Harlan, creators of
the Belmont Quidditch Facebook group, clear
up the rumors for all curious Muggles.
Not familiar with the sport called Quidditch? If not,
you have some serious catching up to do. Quidditch is the
fictional game played in the popular “Harry Potter” series.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you are interested in
learning more about the
progress of the Belmont
Quidditch team, join
the “Belmont Quidditch
Team” Facebook group
and e-mail Kate Waters for
more information.
To catch a real glimpse of college Quidditch in
action, check out this CNN news story: http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UfPij5ABdo
But what does that have to do with Belmont’s campus?
“I decided to form the Quidditch team because
the frisbee team had been disbanded,” explained
Waters, who was the first to propose that Belmont
have its own Quidditch team. “Also, it’s an easy
way to meet fun people who love Harry Potter.”
“Muggle Quidditch” plays out like a mix of lacrosse and
dodgeball, with three to four
members acting as “chasers,”
scoring points by throwing the
ball (the “Quaffle”) through
one of the opponent’s goals,
guarded by a “keeper.” Also
attempting to prevent goals
are “beaters,” who attempt to
hit chasers with balls known
as “bludgers.” Each goal
scored is 15 points, and the
game ends when the “seeker”
captures the “snitch,” usually
a neutral player roaming off
the playing field, earning
his or her team 150 points.
The team has not been
given the official green
light from Student Affairs,
but students are already
teaming up on the FacePHOTO BY KATIE CHOW
book group, which has
attracted the attention of more Members of the Belmont Quidditch team practice at Centennial Park.On the field, from left,
are Abbey Francis, Kelly Harlan, Kate Waters and Joanna Fidel.
than 150 Belmont students.
thinking we probably will start practicing by the end
“We wanted to create
of the semester when it starts getting warmer, and
a Facebook group before we moved forward, to see
hopefully be competing in the fall,” Harlan said.
how many people – if anyone – would be interested
As for now, the group members hope to get a
in having our own team on campus,” Harlan said.
fundraiser together to purchase team equipment,
More than 200 schools have joined the Intercollegiate
the most vital item of course being broomsticks.
Quidditch Association, which was founded at Middle“I really can’t think of a better way to work out. There
bury College in Vermont. Several local schools are
will be lots of running around. Plus, if Frisbee has become
listed as having clubs for the fantasy intramural game,
a little boring, this is the perfect next step,” Waters said.
including Vanderbilt and University of Tennessee.
“I would love to just start now, but realistically
Strayhorn on the court
$10 AND $25 TICKETS!
Show your college ID at the box office for any Thursday
Preds game and receive a Lower Bowl ticket for $25 or
an Upper Bowl ticket for $10.
HOCKEY HAPPY HOUR!
Half price drinks through the first
intermission.
February 4 vs. Colorado
march 4 vs. Los Angeles
march 18 vs. Minnesota
march 25 vs. Phoenix
april 1 vs. St. Louis
PHOTO BY COOPER NEILL
Bruins guard Shaundra Strayhorn dribbles down the court during the Jan. 21 game
against the Campell Camels. The Bruins lost 74-67. The team will face Campell again,
this time on the road, Saturday, Jan. 30.
nashvillepredators.Com/College
615-770-pUCK
#33 Colin Wilson