Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, spoke in MPAC Wednesday, explaining the impact of poverty on America’s children and asking the crowd to become advocates for change in transforming the lives of a generation. Wright Edelman, pictured with Belmont Vice President for Spiritual Development Dr. Todd Lake (l) and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Bryce Sullivan, represents the first in an ongoing series of lectures on Christian Faith and the Liberal Arts and Sciences that will be co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Spiritual Development.
Speaking from the text of an editorial column she wrote called “America’s Sixth Child,” Wright Edelman said, “Imagine this rich family giving five of its children nourishing meals three times a day, snacks to fuel boundless energy, but sending the sixth child from the table to school hungry, with only one or two meals and never the dessert the other children enjoy… This is our American family today, where one in six of our children live in poverty in the richest nation on earth, more than 40 percent in extreme poverty.”
Referring to what she calls the “cradle to prison pipeline,” Wright Edelman argued, “The most dangerous place for a child to grow up today is that intersection of race and poverty.” She went on to note that U.S. states currently spend on average three times as much money per prisoner as per public school child.
Wright Edelman Speaks on Children and Poverty
Alumna Joins ‘Survivor’ Cast
Tamara “Taj” Johnson-George, a 2004 alumna of Belmont’s College of Business Administration and a new Alumni Board member, will be a contestant on “Survivor: Tocantins the Brazilian Highlands.” The 18th season of the popular CBS reality show premieres Thurs., Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. CT. If she wins the $1 million “Survivor” grand prize, Johnson-George says the money would benefit her foundation, Visions of Infinite Possibilities, which supports female victims of domestic violence and their children.
In addition to her new role, Johnson-George is a Grammy-nominated singer with her group SWV (Sisters With Voices), which has sold more than six million records. She is also a successful author, wife of former Heisman winner and Tennessee Titan star Eddie George and mother of two boys.
Wicke Named as Finalist for Lowe’s Senior Class Award
Belmont University men’s basketball senior Andy Wicke (Hendersonville, Tenn.) has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2008-09 Lowe’s Senior Class Award for men’s basketball.
One of only seven players in all of college basketball this season with the opportunity to earn a fourth consecutive automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, Wicke has been a leader on and off the court for the Bruin program. The 6-2 guard is on pace to finish his career as the fourth leading scorer in the Bruins’ NCAA era. Moreover, with 269 career three-point field goals, Wicke is threatening to become the Atlantic Sun Conference’s career leader in makes from behind the arc.
Wicke’s passion, intensity and consistency on both ends of the floor is a major reason why Belmont continues to be a force at the mid major level.
“At Belmont, we have been fortunate to have some quality student athletes over the past several years, and Andy Wicke is as good a representative of our basketball program as any in my coaching tenure,” Belmont head coach Rick Byrd said. “Andy excels on the floor, in the classroom and in the community, and being a top 10 finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class award is a fitting tribute to his career.” Click here for more on this story.
Less than 24 hours after earning this honor, Wicke (Hendersonville, Tenn.) garnered more recognition, being named to the ESPN The Magazine College Sports Information Director of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team. Click here for more on this story.
Inaugural Community Day Set for Feb. 14
Initiating the first official Community Day, Belmont University recently invited businesses, churches and families in the neighborhoods surrounding campus to attend the Sat., Feb. 14 men’s basketball game for free. In addition to reserving seats at the game, Community Day will include special half-time refreshments for the attendees. Belmont officials plan for Community Day to become an annual event.
Belmont’s Vice President for Presidential Affairs Susan West said, “It’s appropriate that our first Community Day falls on Valentine’s Day because we see this as an opportunity to show appreciation to our neighbors. We want to be an involved member of this community, and at the same time we hope to have the community involved in the life and culture of Belmont University.”
The 7 p.m. game in the Curb Event Center will feature the Belmont Bruins taking on Atlantic Sun Conference rival ETSU. For additional information or to reserve seats at the game, contact athleticmarketing@mail.belmont.edu or 460-8027.
Doolittle’s Debut Scores Rave Reviews
Alumna Melinda Doolittle (’99), who was the third-place finisher on the 2007 season of “American Idol,” released her first CD, Coming Back to You, this week to rave reviews locally in The Tennessean and nationally in USA Today.
Doolittle signed a recording contract last year with independent label Hi Fi Recordings, which is also the current home to Todd Rundgren.
Scarlett Leadership Institute Hosts Judy Woodruff on Campus
The Scarlett Leadership Institute at Belmont University recently hosted esteemed broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff on campus to speak to members of their Executive Learning Networks. Speaking Thursday morning in the Frist Lecture Hall, Woodruff tackled the topic “Inside Politics 2009: The New President’s First 100 Days.”
A long-time Washington, D.C. and White House correspondent, Woodruff congratulated the university on successfully hosting the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate but also admitted to knowing about Belmont well before Oct. 7. “Belmont came on my radar screen last March when my alma mater Duke was scared within an inch of its life by your basketball team.”
She opened her talk with an analysis of how the United States is currently experiencing both “the best of times and the worst of times.” Though journalists covering the political arena are notoriously jaded and cynical, Woodruff commented that she and her colleagues have never seen such excitement and hope surrounding a new administration. However, the country is also experiencing an economy in shambles and numerous international concerns.
In addition to surrounding himself with “smart stars,” Woodruff noted that President Obama himself exudes a confident calm in the midst of crisis though he and his counterparts must avoid the temptations of arrogance. “He by all accounts is an exceptionally secure man: no drama Obama,” she said. “Writing his first book, Dreams From My Father, may have been a kind of catharsis, enabling him to overcome any self-doubts from his history.”
Woodruff has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS. Most recently, she signed on as a senior correspondent and 2008 political editor for the “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.” “After four decades in journalism, I can’t recall a time more exciting or more perilous, and I can’t wait to cover it.”
Belmont Senior Prepares for White House Job
Senior political science and journalism major Ameshia Cross received an unexpected but extraordinary gift the week before Christmas: an offer to work in the White House.
Cross, a Chicago native, admits her lofty political aspirations started at an early age, but she never anticipated having them realized so soon. In fact, she planned to continue her education in the fall at the University of Chicago Law School, where she was recently accepted. All that changed when David Axelrod, a senior advisor to President Barack Obama and chief strategist for his campaign, called in December to offer Cross a job working in the West Wing as an assistant to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
“At first I didn’t believe it was him,” Cross said with a laugh. “I hadn’t applied for a position at the White House or with the new administration so the call was completely unexpected.”
An Engaged Scholar who is involved in numerous organizations across campus, Cross caught the attention of Axelrod and others through her experience to date. She first interned for Barack Obama when he ran for Senate in 2004, and she was chosen as one of 35 university fellows to travel the country campaigning for Obama last summer. As president of Belmont’s College Democrats, Cross met briefly with Obama during his campus visit for the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate. The new president and his road to the White House are also the subject of Cross’ senior thesis.
Bennett Publishes New Children’s Book, Appears on ‘Talk of the Town’
Dr. Sybril Bennett, director of Belmont’s New Century Journalism program, has recently published a children’s book through lightningsource.com. The Color-Full Alphabet Book is dedicated to the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. Each letter shares a positive word from: Amazing to Zippy with a Believe, Change, President and a Winner between. Bennett notes that all children need to learn how to read and all deserve to hear positive words to inspire them to realize their dreams. The book is available now at Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
In support of her new book, Bennett will be appearing on WTVF’s midday show, “Talk of the Town,” on Mon., Feb. 2. The show airs at 11 a.m. on NewsChannel 5.
Renfroe Named A-Sun Player of the Week, Featured on WSMV
Men’s basketball senior Alex Renfroe (Hermitage, Tenn.) has been named Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. Renfroe continued his stretch of remarkable all-around play, averaging 19 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game as Belmont defeated Kennesaw State and Mercer this past week.
The 6-2 point guard scored a team-high 24 points, had a career-high 18 rebounds and five assists in Belmont’s emotional 86-82 overtime victory over Mercer. Not only was Renfroe’s 18 rebound performance the most rebounds ever by a Belmont player at the Curb Event Center, but it tied the NCAA single-game high for rebounds by a guard this season. Click here to read more on this story.
Renfroe was also profiled this week in a feature story by sportscaster Rudy Kalis on local NBC affiliate WSMV-4 . Click here to watch the interview.
Women’s Basketball Celebrates 40 Years
From Striplin to the Curb Event Center, Belmont College to Belmont University, Rebels/Rebelettes to Bruins and NAIA to the NCAA, it’s been quite a 40-year ride in Belmont’s women’s basketball program.
Women’s basketball’s history and growth were recently celebrated at a Jan. 24 reunion in the Maddox Grand Atrium that found 81 former players from 12 states in attendance along with their families and Belmont’s current team.
Betty Wiseman, assistant athletic director and senior woman administrator, established one of the first women’s basketball programs in the state at Belmont in 1968. At only 23, she entered then-President Herbert Gabhart’s office and pleaded for a women’s basketball program. He not only approved her idea, but he put her in charge. “Thinking now about 40 years, I ask myself, ‘Can it be?’ It is!!”
Wiseman (pictured in the middle of players from Belmont’s first women’s basketball team) and current head coach Tony Cross both entertained the more than 200 individuals at the reunion with stories and highlights from the program’s 40 years. During her 16 seasons as head coach, Wiseman compiled a record of 248-152 and led the team to four consecutive berths in the NWIT from 1973-1977. Wiseman recalled how the early teams ate sack lunches for pre- and post-game meals and traveled in used station wagons. Not all of her memories were humorous, however, as she also noted how one team faced segregation when a restaurant refused to serve the team’s black players. “We all got up and left, didn’t eat and I didn’t pay.”
Cross, who has been at Belmont since 1984 and has more than 500 wins with the program, joked about his own dedication to winning, remembering how one former team feared they might not get dinner after a particularly bad loss. He also talked about the long history and tradition of Belmont’s women’s basketball, praising the alumnae for their role in building such an exceptional program. “Take pride and honor in what you’ve added to this program. Your presence is still being felt.”
Former players enjoyed the reunion as well, mingling with old friends and telling stories from their college days. Dianna Burton Lewis (’71), who brought with her to the reunion the Chuck Taylor athletic shoes from her playing days, said, “What I remember most about Belmont’s first year of women’s basketball is the fun we had! I remember how we got ‘trampled’ by Midwestern in Iowa but then improved so much together as a team that we beat them by three at our place. We didn’t realize then what an important journey we were helping to start. The reunion was wonderful! As I sat in the gym watching the games with friends from Belmont days, I really felt at home.”
