Belmont University men’s basketball has been named the preseason favorite to defend its Atlantic Sun Conference regular season and tournament titles. The Bruins, who have represented the Atlantic Sun Conference in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments, return nine key contributors to a team that came within an eyelash of defeating three-time National Champion Duke in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Belmont received top billing from both the conference coaches and media members. The Bruins garnered first-place votes from seven of the 11 head coaches and 25 of the 33 voting media members. Click here for more on this story.
Julseth Provides Keynote at Foreign Language Conference
Dr. David Julseth (Foreign Languages) was the keynote speaker at the West Tennessee Foreign Language Teachers Conference held at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn. on Sept. 20. His address was on “Service-Learning in the Context of the MLA Report on Foreign Languages and Higher Education.”
Debate08 Garners Extensive Media Coverage
The 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont garnered the university massive media exposure with thousands of hits on radio and television along with print publicity worth millions of dollars. Though it would be impossible to list all of Belmont’s media hits from the past two weeks, here are a few samples of interesting coverage brought about by the debate and debate-related programming:
• Belmont Vision Editor Melanie Bengtson did a number of interviews about the debate and the Vision‘s coverage, including her participation in a nationally broadcast NPR roundtable the day after the debate. Other panelists sharing opinions about the debate were Maria Teresa Peterson, executive director of Voto Latino (a voter education and outreach group), Dwight Lewis, editorial page editor for The Tennessean, and NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin. Click here to listen to the discussion.
• In addition, make sure to check out coverage from The Vision, Belmont’s student media Web site, which includes hundreds of photos as well as blogs and video segments about the debate and all the activities surrounding it.
• Last night’s special election edition of “Saturday Night Live” included an opening segment with several mentions of Belmont University and an image of the Curb Event Center. Click here to watch the eight-minute segment.
• Dr. Andi Stepnick’s “Introduction to Sociology” class was featured in a NewsChannel 5 report. Stepnick and her students were interviewed about the agents of socialization, the development of political identity, and the factors that shape political views.
• The Tennessean covered numerous local angles on the debate, including embedding reporter Colby Sledge on campus for most of the past month. Click here to see the paper’s complete coverage.
• Archived video of additional local coverage can be found on NewsChannel 5, WSMV 4, WKRN 2 and FOX-17.
• Click here to view video of students’ perspectives on Debate08 and campus preparations for the event.
Riechert Leads ‘Story’ Workshop for Metro Parks
Dr. Bonnie Riechert, assistant professor of public relations and director of the public relations program in the department of media studies, recently led a workshop session on “Telling Your Story” for 25 community center managers in the Metro Parks system. The half-day Media Training for Community Center Managers was organized by Jackie Jones, community affairs superintendent with the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation, and was held at the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center in Shelby Park.
Pharmacy Faculty Attend Workshop
Several School of Pharmacy faculty attended a workshop Sept. 22-24 in Lansdowne, Va. conducted by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. In attendance were Dr. Phil Johnston, dean; Dr. Julie Rafferty, coordinator of experiential education; and Dr. Sal Giorgianni, director of experiential education. The goal of the conference was to provide essential background information and resources to individuals responsible for experiential education programs at colleges and schools of pharmacy while creating a support network of key contacts and peers.
Debate08: A Day in Pictures
Bob Schieffer and Harry Smith do an outdoor segment of CBS “The Early Show” in front of the Belmont Mansion.
Moderator Tom Brokaw arrives at the Curb Event Center to conduct final preparations for the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate.
Though the rains made for a wet day, nothing could dampen Debate08 spirit.
Hundreds of visitors came to Belmont’s campus to express their support of the candidates.
Senator John McCain was the first to arrive at the Curb Event Center Tuesday for his walk-thru of the facility and a brief greeting of President Fisher.
Senator Barack Obama arrived on campus in early afternoon for his own Debate08 briefing and moment with the university president.
Chris Matthews kept the crowds entertained with live broadcasts throughout the day of his MSNBC show “Hardball.”
By early evening all was in place for the debate to begin.
Joined by executives from the Commission on Presidential Debates, Dr. Fisher welcomes the Town Hall participants to Belmont.
Media from all over the world watched the debate closely from the Media Filing Center on the soccer field.
The candidates tackle the issues.
Click here to view video of students’ perspectives on Debate08 and campus preparations for the event.
Bredesen, Baker Co-Host Forum on Civility in Politics
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.”
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.
