CNN’s Shaw Moderates Discussion as Prelude to Belmont Presidential Debate
Gov. Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte, former Sen. Howard Baker and the University of Tennessee’s Baker Center for Public Policy, Belmont University, the Tennessee Business Roundtable and the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center hosted a forum Monday on civil discourse in American politics as a prelude to the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate.
Former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw moderated the one-hour forum assessing this year’s presidential race, posing the key question: “Is Uncivil Discourse Sabotaging American Politics and Governance?” The event featured a panel discussion with nationally known media and political experts at Belmont’s Troutt Theater. Participants included Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee; Politico managing editor Bill Nichols, a veteran journalist who has covered six presidential elections; former Democratic Congresswoman Pat Schroeder, now president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers; and Mark Whitaker, senior vice president and Washington bureau chief for NBC News.
“We’re in the homestretch of one of the fiercest and hardest-fought presidential elections in American history,” Bredesen said. “On the eve of Belmont’s Town Hall Presidential Debate, it’s appropriate to hit the pause button to examine the tone and tenor of these campaigns, and hopefully set the tone for a civil conclusion.”
Baker added: “Without civility, without a decent respect for different points of view, our style of government simply will not function. I am proud that the Baker Center is a partner in this important effort to discuss and promote civility.”
Bredesen, Baker Co-Host Forum on Civility in Politics
Governor, First Lady, Dr. Fisher Welcome Declaration of Independence to Tennessee
Cricket Communications Sponsors Visit of Historic Document on Display at Downtown Library Oct. 4-6
Governor Phil Bredesen, First Lady Andrea Conte and Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher welcomed a rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence to Tennessee during a press conference today in the Grand Reading Room of the Nashville Public Library’s downtown branch.
The document – on public display through October 6 in the library, 615 Church Street – was brought to Nashville by Cricket Communications Inc, a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, in association with Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan youth voter initiative. The arrival in Nashville of America’s founding document has been timed to coincide with the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont University on Tues., Oct. 7.
“I am honored to welcome the Declaration of Independence to Nashville for public display,” said Bredesen. “With the 2008 Presidential Election drawing closer and the Presidential Debate at Belmont University just days away, I hope the presence of this historic document will help stir our patriotic spirit and inspire all Tennessee voters to let their voices be heard in November.”
“These are the kinds of things we were dreaming about when we first heard that the debate was coming to Belmont, a celebration of democracy. It’s an honor for Belmont University to be included in such a historic event,” said Dr. Bob Fisher, Belmont University president. “The Declaration of Independence reminds us of the noble principles our country was founded upon and puts in perspective the many reasons why the Presidential Debate at Belmont University on Oct. 7 is so meaningful.”
Nashville is the final stop of the Cricket Wireless Declaration Road Trip 2008 on a nationwide tour stressing the importance of exercising the right to vote. It will be on display in the art gallery of the Nashville Public Library’s downtown branch the following dates and times. Admission is free.
• Sat., Oct. 4: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT
• Sun., Oct. 5: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. CDT
• Mon., Oct. 6: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT
Belmont Hosts Vesper Service in Preparation for 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate
Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., is hosting a Vesper Service at Christ Church Cathedral on Sun., Oct. 5 at 4 p.m., two days prior to the Town Hall Presidential Debate in the Curb Event Center on the Belmont campus. President Robert Fisher of Belmont will be presiding. Reverend David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, will deliver the homily on Poverty & Debate08. Bread for the World is a citizens’ anti-hunger movement that focuses on education about hunger and influencing public policies on hunger and poverty.
Also officiating at the service are:
• Reverend Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
• Very Reverend David R. Perkin, Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Nashville
• Reverend Dr. Todd Lake, Vice President for Spiritual Development at Belmont University
Reverend Anne Stevenson of Christ Church Cathedral is serving as host. Music will be provided by Belmont’s College of Visual and Performing Arts under the direction of Dr. Jane Warren.
Belmont to Feature Noted Commentators in Interview
Matalin, Carville on www.belmontdebate08.com
Well-known political commentators Mary Matalin and James Carville are set to be Belmont University’s final guests in its “Behind the Scenes at the Presidential Debates” interview series on the official 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate Web site, www.belmontdebate08.com.
The interviews are part of Belmont University’s series of educational programs and events in conjunction with the debate on Oct. 7, 2008, in the Curb Event Center on the Belmont University campus.
Matalin and Carville, who are husband and wife, are best known for their work as political analysts and consultants for some of the most powerful political figures of the last 25 years. In the interviews to be featured exclusively on Belmont University’s Debate08 Web site, Carville and Matalin reveal little-known details and gaffes that happen during preparations for and during debates.
Matalin and Carville worked on opposing political sides during the 1992 campaign in which Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton defeated incumbent President George H.W. Bush and Independent candidate H. Ross Perot. Carville was Clinton’s campaign manager while Matalin served as deputy campaign manager for political operations on Bush’s staff. Matalin has recently served as an assistant to President George W. Bush and as counsel to Vice President Dick Cheney. She was the first White House official to serve in the roles simultaneously. Matalin is a contributing writer for media outlets like Newsweek and the Los Angeles Times. Carville currently works as a consultant on foreign political campaigns. Both Matalin and Carville currently serve as political commentators for various media outlets.
Seigenthalers Share Thoughts on Media Ethics in Election08
The Center for Business Ethics and the New Century Journalism Program hosted a full house today in the Frist Lecture Hall as a dialogue between respected journalists John L. Seigenthaler and his son John M. Seigenthaler attracted a standing room only crowd of students, faculty, staff and community members. Pictured (l-r) at right is New Century Journalism Director Dr. Sybril Bennett, John M. Seigenthaler, Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher and John L. Seigenthaler.
Dr. Fisher welcomed attendees and guests, noting that the younger Seigenthaler had long been his favorite broadcaster during his stints as an anchor for NBC and MSNBC. Fisher added, “Nashville’s a great community of people, but there’s nobody I respect more than John [L.] Seigenthaler. There are going to be more than 3,000 distinguished journalists on this campus soon but none are more distinguished than the two sitting here right now.”
Seigenthaler Sr., pictured at left with Director of the Center for Business Ethics Dr. Harry Hollis, opened the discussion with an analysis of the current election coverage. “Through primary debates and media coverage of those debates, we’ve come to know more about the two presidential candidates than ever before. The media has helped us know these candidates and what they’re about. On the other hand, there’s been an aggressiveness in this campaign [among the networks] that I think has not been helpful.”
Regarding the intense competition between FOX News, MSNBC and CNN, John M. Seigenthaler added, “For cable channels, opinion is king and not the news. There’s become a merging now of news content and commentary.”
Dr. Bennett has posted clips of the Seigenthalers’ conversation on her blog, which can be accessed by clicking here.
Chemistry Society Chapter Receives Award
The American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Affiliates chapter at Belmont University has been selected to receive a Commendable Award for its activities conducted during the 2007-08 academic year. For the 2007-08 academic year, more than 330 reports were submitted and The Society Committee on Education presented 40 Outstanding, 71 Commendable and 96 Honorable Mention awards. Lists of award winning chapters will be published in Chemical & Engineering News and in Chemistry, the Student Affiliates magazine. The award-winning chapters will also be honored at the 237th ACS National Meeting in Salt Lake City on March 22, 2009. Assistant Professors of Chemistry Alison Moore and Rachel Rigsby deserve special commendation as they serve as faculty advisors for the chapter.
Tabar Recognized as a Leading Collegiate Entrepreneur
Senior entrepreneurship student Andy Tabar has been named one of the Top 20 collegiate entrepreneurs in the country in this year’s StartupNation Dorm-Based 20 Rankings for his business, Bizooki.com. Entrants were judged on a variety of criteria, including innovativeness of business concept, potential for growth, cutting-edge business practices, demonstration of business fundamentals, degree of talent exhibited by the founder, potential for overall impact and financial performance. Tabar, winner of the “Huge Upside Potential” group for Bizooki.com, said, “I realized the importance of talent not only locally but globally and how the economy is shifting that way.” His business-networking site aims to connect people around the world on projects. Click here to read the full StartupNation article.
Belmont Debaters Land Significant Tournament Titles
This past weekend the Belmont Speech and Debate team traveled across town to TSU for an annual speech/debate tournament. With only three debaters competing , Belmont still secured the title of second place university in the overall debate division. Sophomores Tim Smith and Tyler Kimbro (their first tournament) qualified for quarterfinals. George Shifflett, who partnered with a debater from Carson-Newman College, was the second place team at the tournament (and was undefeated until the final round, leaving them an 8-1 record). Also, George was declared the first place individual debater out of the 52 competing. Thus, out of the 26 teams in attendance both Belmont teams ranked in the top eight.
Celebration Held for Scholar Communities Summer Research Program
On Sept. 6, a Celebration Dinner was held in the Massey Boardroom for the Scholar Communities Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Presentations were given by 24 students from seven research teams, the largest program to date, representing the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Sociology. This is Scholar Communities’ sixth year during which students and faculty in the areas of Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, History, Journalism and English have participated throughout the summer in collaborative research experiences. In addition to their research projects, the participants enter into an ongoing dialogue about what it means to do research in the various disciplines represented.
Voight Presents at Two Major Conferences
Dr. Mike Voight, professor of physical therapy, offered the keynot lecture this summer for the International Federation for Sports Physiotherapy Symposium (IFSP) in Zurich, Switzerland. He presented on analyzing biomechanical performance in golf and developing a fitness program around the findings. He also presented on the anatomy and clinical examination of the hip as a part of a symposium on hip pathology at the National Athletic Training Association Annual Conference held in St. Louis. This is the largest meeting of the year for athletic trainers with more than 8,000 attending the conference. Once all invited programs were submitted, the conference committee selects the best program and gives it the designation of being the Johnson and Johnson Distinguished Keynote Lecture Symposium and does not schedule any other programming opposite this presentation. Voight’s Hip Symposium was selected this year for that honor and more than 4,500 people were attendance at the lecture. Finally, he was also recently published in the North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy for an article he co-wrote titled “The Chop and Lift Reconsidered: Integrating Neuromuscular Principles into Orthopedic and Sports Rehabilitation.”
