Spencer Barnes and Andrew Kennedy, Belmont economics majors in Belmont’s College of Business, recently attended and presented their paper, co-authored by fellow Belmont student Gaëlle Deslandes, entitled “Viva La Gini Revolution: An Empirical Consideration of a Maximum Wage Policy to Help Battle Income Inequality” at the Issues in Political Economy (IPE) 22nd Undergraduate Research Conference in Economics. The 2015 conference was recently held at the Eastern Economic Association Annual Meetings in New York City. The conference brings together undergraduates from across the country to present and share their research with peers. Students also serve as session chairs and discussants.
In their paper, the students used data from the March 2013 U.S. Consumer Population Survey to examine the potential effect of a maximum wage on wage inequality. They also explored how current measures of the Gini coefficient in the U.S. compares with other nations during historic revolutionary periods.
Their findings revealed that while income inequality is an important factor for revolutions, the role of government appears to be more influential in citizen revolts. The study also concluded that a maximum wage can be an effective tool for lowering income inequality. These results shed some light on non-conventional approaches to addressing income distribution and achieving socially desirable outcomes.
The students were accompanied by Research Advisor and Faculty Member Dr. Colin Cannonier.
Belmont’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business conducted its 4th Entertainment Law & Professionalism Clinic earlier this month. Originally implemented in 2009, the clinic was developed to expose Belmont students to the practice of professionalism while serving entertainment industry legal needs at no cost to participating students.
Four doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students attended the AACN Student Policy Summit held in Washington, DC March 22-24. The students were immersed in program sessions focused on the federal policy process and nursing’s role in professional advocacy. 
On March 3, more than 50 Belmont Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students attended Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association’s (TNOTA) Day on the Hill.
Belmont English Department Lecturer Charmion Gustke recently wrote an article entitled “The Trafficking of Mrs. Forrester: Prostitution and Willa Cather’s A Lost Lady” that will appear in “Cather Studies 11: Willa Cather and Modernist Crux,” a collection of essays published by the University of Nebraska Press.
Members of Belmont University’s Xi-Alpha Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society) recently presented papers at the organization’s 2015 Tennessee Regional Conference held at Austin Peay State University.
Assistant Professor in Belmont’s Department of Philosophy Mélanie Walton, recently presented a paper at the 39th annual Midsouth Philosophy Conference at Rhodes College in Memphis.
Twenty-four graduates and soon-to-be graduates of Belmont University’s College of Pharmacy have been selected for pharmacy residency programs following the annual match process conducted for the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP). About 4000 residencies are being offered in 2015 through the ASHP Match, a competitive application process.