Belmont University students Richard Swor, Jamie Brown, Alexandra Haass and Catherine Hill, accompanied by Dr. Susan Jellissen (Political Science), received high praise at the American Model United Nations conference held in Chicago recently. This conference—which involved 1,500 student-delegates from more than 150 schools—was Belmont’s first foray into the world of Model UN. Belmont’s Model UN organization was founded in September 2009 by Jellissen and 15enthusiastic students from an array of disciplines. Because the purpose of Model UN is to simulate the real United Nations, each school that attends the conference represents a particular country, and students thus act as delegates, or representatives, for their assigned country. Belmont students were very excited to be representing the small Christian country of Armenia at this year’s Chicago conference. The four students that represented Armenia served on committees that replicated, in form and substance, real UN General Assembly (GA) Committees.
Each General Assembly Committee focuses on two issues of international concern. Jamie Brown (junior, international politics) served on the GA First Committee, which deliberated over “The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons” as well as the seemingly daunting problem of “Preventing the Acquisition by Terrorists of Radioactive Materials and Sources.” Richard Swor (freshman, audio engineering technology, and president of Belmont’s Model UN) served on the GA Second Committee, which discussed the issue of “Preventing and Combating Corrupt Practices and Transfer of Assets of Illicit Origin,” as well as the “Convention on Biological Diversity.” Catherine Hill (senior, political science) served on the GA Third Committee and debated the “Rights of People to Self-Determination” and “The Improvement of the Situation of Women in Rural Areas.” Finally, Alexandra Haas (sophomore, political science) represented Armenia on the GA Sixth Committee, which focused on the “Criminal Accountability of United Nations Officials and Experts on Mission” and the “Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Convention of 1949.”
Students Participate in Model U.N. Conference
Barnes Joins Public Relations Society of America Foundation Board
Susan Barnes (Media Studies) has been named to the Public Relations Society of America Foundation Board. The Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Public Relations Society of America that funds scholarships, scholarly research and career development in public relations. The board raises funds, reviews applications and makes funding decisions on behalf of the Foundation.
SCORE, Partners to Host First 2010 Gubernatorial Forum at Belmont University
Forum will kickoff statewide gubernatorial campaign and focus solely on education
On Thurs., Jan. 14, the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), along with Nashville’s NewsChannel5 and Belmont University, will host the first major gubernatorial forum of the 2010 election year. The Gubernatorial Forum on Education will be the first time all the main candidates for governor from both the Democratic and Republican parties will be on the same stage, sharing their ideas and plans for education and economic development in Tennessee.
The forum will be held at the Curb Event Center at Belmont University in Nashville at 7 p.m. (CT). It will also be broadcast on all of the CBS affiliates across the state and broadcast live in most markets (check local listings for details).
Co-Sponsors for this forum include:
Stand for Children
Tennessee Business Roundtable
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee County Commissioners Association
Tennessee Education Association
Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents
Tennessee School Boards Association
This is a ticketed event, and tickets are allocated on a first-come, first serve basis. To request tickets for the forum, please e-mail tickets@tennesseescore.org. For more information, click here.
Giordano Writes Article for Brentwood Home Page
Pete Giordano (Psychology) has written an article for the Brentwood Home Page titled, “Making the Most of College.” Click here to read the article.
Griffith Interviewed on ‘Inside Politics’
Nathan Griffith (Political Science) was interviewed on Dec 11 by Pat Nolan on a political show for NewsChannel5+ called “Inside Politics. Click here to view the episode.
Parry Receives Research Grant
Pam Parry, associate professor of journalism, received a grant from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Foundation to conduct research at the presidential library in Abilene, Kansas. The research is for her dissertation, “Re-chiseling Mount Rushmore: Eisenhower’s Use of Public Relations as Political Strategy.” Parry is working on her doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Her two areas of specialization are media history and public relations.
Reed Wins Miss Memphis Pageant
Belmont freshman Ashley Reed, from Germantown, took the title of 2010 Miss Memphis during the Miss Memphis Pageants held Nov. 28 at St. Mary’s Buckman Performing and Fine Arts Center. Reed will soon begin preparations for the Miss Tennessee Pageant in June and will spend the year as an ambassador for the city of Memphis where she will promote her platform “Promoting Community Service Among Today’s Youth.”
Belmont to Hold Winter Commencement Friday
Belmont University will hold its Winter 2009 Commencement ceremony on Fri., Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Curb Event Center. The university will award 356 bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Dr. Robert C. Fisher, president of the University, will preside over the event and present the graduates with their degrees as well as provide commencement remarks. Bachelor of Arts candidate Brandon Maxwell, a double major in management and Christian leadership, will offer the Student Reflection for the ceremony. Bachelor of Arts candidate Heather Pierce, a political science major, will read Scripture. President and Mrs. Fisher will host a reception for the graduates and their guests at the conclusion of commencement in Belmont’s Beaman Student Life Center.
Biology professors, Students Study Local Wetlands
Belmont biology professors Drs. Steve Murphree, Darlene Panvini and John Niedzwiecki enjoy being outdoors and slogging around in mud so the trio jumped at the chance to study a wetland on the Nissan North America campus in Franklin, Tennessee. David Withers, staff zoologist with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Natural Heritage, had suggested the Belmont field biologists to Chris Fleming, a senior project scientist with BDY Environmental who had overseen work to develop the wetland.
After visiting the wetland in July 2009, the professors submitted a grant proposal to Nissan for equipment to work with Belmont biology students to monitor the flora and fauna for the next few years and create lists of the species observed. Rob Traynham, Nissan’s director of corporate services, has funded the grant and assisted in arranging access to the wetland for Belmont faculty and students. An ecology class led by Panvini visited the wetland in October to learn plant sampling protocols and explore concepts related to biodiversity assessment. Future visits will involve Belmont students and faculty inventorying vertebrate and macroinvertebrate animals, photographing flora and fauna for educational use, and raising awareness of the ecological importance of wetlands.
In addition to class visits, biology and environmental science majors will find the wetland to be a valuable resource for undergraduate research projects. Belmont students often explore local wooded areas, cedar glades, and streams during labs; the Biology professors expect that exposing students to another habitat type in the Nashville area will also increase students’ appreciation and awe of the natural world. Nissan’s employees will also benefit from this partnership through a planned educational kiosk and boardwalk in the area.
Madison Academy Retires Kerron Johnson Jersey
Belmont freshman guard Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) had his No. 3 jersey retired by Madison Academy. Johnson, who delivered clutch plays down the stretch in wins over Mercer and Middle Tennessee as part of Belmont’s six-game winning streak, was on hand for the jersey retirement ceremony Monday night.
