Campus officials continue to monitor the water pressure situation and are in communication with Metro Water in order to take appropriate actions.
As of this morning, Metro Water’s system pressure continues to be an issue on campus, and restroom facilities in campus buildings and residence halls are not functioning consistently, especially on higher floors. In an effort to improve the situation, the university will be selectively limiting or reducing some water services or directing the campus population to other restroom facilities. We ask for everyone’s help and patience as we work together to remedy the current water pressure situation within our community.
Here are some additional guidelines for dealing with water pressure issues:
1) Only use restrooms on the lowest level of any building. In residence facilities, we encourage students to use public restrooms on lower floors or share the private restrooms of lower floors’ residents. Restrooms and shower facilities on the first floor of the Beaman Student Life Center will continue to be available 24/7 to any students who would like to use them.
2) If you are using a flush-valve system (i.e. one where a tank is not present), activate the lever and hold it for several seconds three times to maximize the ability of the water to flush. If in a residence hall or apartment with a tank toilet, please allow plenty of time for the tank to re-fill before flushing again.
3) Finally, please remember that all of Davidson County is being asked by Mayor Karl Dean to use only half of their normal water consumption. Today’s Tennessean offered additional information on the water issues and ways to conserve: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100505/NEWS01/5050370/Shortage+is+likely+if+residents+don+t+conserve+water
Thank you for your ongoing patience and cooperation as we all attempt to address the impact of this weekend’s flood. This is an ongoing situation, and we will continue to update you with any new developments.
Campus Update on Water Pressure, May 5, 9 a.m.
Mayor Announces Relief Funding for Nashville, Emphasizes Water Conservation
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, along with U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, announced at a press conference this evening that Davidson County is one of four counties in Tennessee that will be receiving federal disaster relief funds to aid in rebuilding efforts from the area’s worst-ever flood.
The press conference, which was held in Belmont’s Beaman Student Life Center, also emphasized again the importance for water conservation as Middle Tennessee begins the recovery process.
Belmont is responding to the water conservation mandate by activating the following measures:
– Belmont’s cafeteria will be switching to paper products to avoid using dishwashers.
– All campus water features and irrigation have been turned off.
– Captured flood water is being recycled for use to cool Belmont’s air conditioning system.
– Residents are being encouraged to take shorter showers and to not use laundry facilities at this time.
– All students, faculty and staff are being asked to support Nashville’s water conservation efforts by making appropriate choices.
Please continue to monitor Belmont.edu and MyBelmont for additional updates.
Campus Update on Water, Power, Air Conditioning, May 4, 6 p.m.
At this time Belmont’s campus is functioning, and the scattered interruptions of power that were being experienced are being addressed. In addition, Belmont’s Plant Operations team has been hard at work today to improve the air conditioning issues across campus and have developed a process to use recycled flood water to cool Belmont’s systems. Thanks to these efforts, the temperature in most Belmont buildings should be improving.
However, the water pressure situation appears to be degrading on campus due to issues with the Metro Water system, which are impacting plumbing in many buildings particularly on higher floors. Campus officials continue to assess this situation and are in communication with Metro Water in order to make appropriate decisions.
In response to these issues we are opening the Beaman Student Life Center 24/7 so that additional restrooms and shower facilities will be available to residents. Additional security and maintenance will be present on campus to support and provide additional services.
In addition, here are some guidelines for dealing with the water pressure issues:
1) Only use restrooms on the lowest level of any building. Restrooms and shower facilities on the first floor of the Beaman Student Life Center will be available 24/7 to any students who would like to use them.
2) If you are using a flush-valve system (i.e. one where a tank is not present), activate the lever and hold it for several seconds three times to maximize the ability of the water to flush. If in a residence hall or apartment with a tank toilet, please allow plenty of time for the tank to re-fill before flushing again.
3) Finally, please remember that all of Davidson County is being asked by Mayor Karl Dean to use only half of their normal water consumption due to the flooding of a water treatment plant that services Nashville.
Please keep in mind that this is an ongoing situation, and we will continue to update you with any new developments.
Campus Update on Water, Power, Air Conditioning, May 4, 10:30 a.m.
Campus Update, May 4
Parts of Nashville have been devastated by recent floods, and many people have lost their homes and livelihoods. We are grateful that Belmont’s campus has escaped the worst of these destructive storms, but we are experiencing a series of inconveniences that have occurred since our last communication yesterday. These include interruptions in power, water pressure and air conditioning at some locations across campus.
The health and safety of Belmont students continues to be our highest concern and has not been compromised at this time. Nashville’s water supply is currently safe for drinking, and we remain in contact with city officials about the condition of the water supply. Here’s an update on each of the issues Belmont is now working on:
Water
Campus is experiencing water pressure problems. The source of the problem is in the Metro Water services system, and we’re working with them to address this issue. However, in the meantime, the campus community is asked to follow these guidelines when flushing campus toilets. 1) Only use restrooms on the lowest level of any building you are in. 2) If you are using a flush-valve system (i.e. one where a tank is not present), activate the lever and hold it for several seconds three times to maximize the ability of the water to flush. If in a residence hall or apartment with a tank toilet, please allow plenty of time for the tank to re-fill before flushing again. 3) Finally, please remember that all of Davidson County is being asked by Mayor Karl Dean to use only half of their normal water consumption due to the flooding of a water treatment plant that services Nashville.
Air
The lack of water pressure is also affecting air conditioning Jack and Barbara Massey, Freeman, Fidelity, Maple, Wheeler, Hitch and the library. Though air handlers are continuing to circulate air, they are not cooling these buildings.
Power
Since yesterday’s restoration of power across campus, there have been scattered interruptions in power service have emerged and are being addressed.
Campus officials are continuing to monitor the situation and will update the Belmont community later today with any new developments. Please keep in mind that Nashville is experiencing a disaster of unprecedented proportions. This situation is changing on an hourly basis, and Belmont is working hand-in-hand with Metro officials to stay on top of the issues as they arise. While our campus is certainly facing certain inconveniences at the moment, Belmont’s campus is safe. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we all do our best to recover from the floods.
Office of Emergency Management Establishes Information Center at Belmont
Per a memorandum of understanding established between Mayor Karl Dean and Belmont University President Bob Fisher last year in preparation for a major disaster in Davidson County, the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management is establishing a Joint Information Center (JIC) in the Curb Event Center on Belmont’s campus.
The JIC opened to media at 10 a.m. CST today and will be the primary location for Metro Government officials to disseminate emergency information to the public through the news media. The first media briefing at the JIC took place at 11 a.m. CST. Mayor Dean and other government officials gave an update on the disaster response and recovery efforts.
Media covering the flooding disaster in Davidson County are encouraged to setup a work station at the JIC, which will be in the Beaman Student Life Center adjacent to the Curb Event Center. The media briefing and workstation room will be setup in rooms Beaman A and B. Satellite truck parking is available at the Curb Event Center loading dock.
Belmont University has agreed to provide Metro an on-campus location to establish a JIC at no cost to the city, as well as the necessary equipment and work space to support the operations.
Belmont Classes to Resume on Tuesday
Message from Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher
I am glad to report that power, telephones and internet service are now fully restored to all areas of Belmont’s campus.
Belmont’s campus will be open on Tuesday, and all classes, convocations and co-curricular activities will resume as scheduled. In addition, all exams will be held as scheduled. Monday’s cancelled classes will be held on Wednesday, May 5, which was previously Academic Preparation Day. Students, if you have questions about your schedule or individual classes, please contact your instructor or the dean of your college.
Students and employees who are unable to get to campus due to the impact of flooding should contact their respective instructors and/or supervisors. Faculty will be working with students who have been affected by the recent floods to ensure everyone has an opportunity to complete all work for the semester.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has requested that all Davidson County residents reduce water usage by one-half. We encourage all Belmont students, faculty and staff to observe this request. This will help all of us preserve the availability of water through this crisis.
I have heard stories of many in the Belmont community who have suffered serious property or other losses. I ask all those who have suffered loss to please let us at Belmont know by contacting the Provost’s office at 460-6400 or the Office of Student Affairs at 460-6407.
Most of us were incredibly blessed to be spared injury and significant property damage. Now it is time for us to reach out and help support members of our community and of the larger Nashville area who have been impacted by the floods. We plan to help with the recovery efforts, and you will be hearing more about Belmont’s involvement in those efforts tomorrow in an email from Vice President of Spiritual Development Todd Lake.
In addition, Belmont has partnered with the Office of Emergency Management and Metro to provide a Joint Information Center in Beaman A&B until the crisis is resolved. You can see more information about that partnership on Belmont News.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we navigate the impact of this past weekend’s storms. Please remember all of those affected in your thoughts and prayers in the coming days.
Bob Fisher
Classes, Activities Cancelled Monday; Classes Re-scheduled for Wednesday
Belmont University has experienced minor flooding from this weekend’s severe weather, which has affected electrical, phone and internet service on campus. Due to these issues, all classes and co-curricular activities scheduled for Monday, May 3 are cancelled. Monday classes will be re-scheduled for Wednesday, May 5.
Belmont University offices will be open on Monday, but faculty and staff are encouraged to use their best judgment regarding travel to and from campus.
Giorgianni Elected Vice-Chair, Chair ELect of APHA Caucus
Dr. Sal Giorgianni, director of Experiential Education & Development for the School of Pharmacy, was recently elected Vice-Chair and Chair elect of the American Public Health Association’s newly formed Caucus On Men’s Health. In addition, Giorgianni will be teaching an elective on men’s health for the Fall 2010 semester, one of only a few such classes currently offered in the U.S.
George Marsden Headlines 20th Annual Research Symposium
Dr. George Marsden, acclaimed author and professor, served this week as the keynote speaker for the 20th Anniversary of the annual Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium (BURS). Each year BURS provides undergraduates an opportunity to conduct independent research and present it to a community of peers. More than 100 student presenters from fields across campus offered glimpses of their research in sessions held yesterday. Click here for a listing of all the presentations.
Marsden, a leading scholar in the area of the history of religion in America, spoke at a keynote address Thursday evening in Troutt Theater as well as at a Friday morning convocation in Neely on the topic “The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship.” At the convo Marsden opened by asking what difference it makes that Belmont is a Christian university. “There are opportunities in a Christian university to find coherence between the spiritual center of your life and the intellectual subjects you are studying. But this doesn’t happen automatically. It’s something you have to look for, something you have to do.”
Marsden then analyzed three different approaches to a Christian university with the first two representing the extremes of separatist indoctrination versus an attitude that Christianity and the surrounding culture can comfortably co-exist without interference. However, he argued on behalf of the third type in which faith and learning are integrated. “The most basic question to ask in trying to have a more integrated view is, ‘Is God in the picture when I think about things?'”
Marsden not only wrote the widely acclaimed 2003 biography Jonathan Edwards: A Life, he also authored another 15 major books, over 35 book chapters, over 30 scholarly articles and numerous book reviews. Dr. Marsden graduated from Haverford College with a bachelor of arts degree and honors in History, he received his bachelors of divinity at Westminster Theological Seminary, and both a masters and PhD in American Studies from Yale University. He taught at Yale, Calvin College, Duke Divinity School, and the University of Notre Dame. He held a visiting professorship at Harvard Divinity School after retiring from Notre Dame and is currently teaching at Calvin College.
Perry to Compete May 16 for Miss USA
Tucker Perry, a junior commercial music major, was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2010 in October and will compete in the Miss USA pageant on Sunday, May 16. The show will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on NBC.
Perry said, “Belmont has been so dear to my heart since the moment I stepped foot on this campus almost three and a half years ago. I feel so honored to be able to represent not only the state of Tennessee, but also Belmont University, and most importantly, the School of Music. I am so excited about this opportunity.”
