Due to weather and road conditions, exams scheduled for 8 a.m. will be given at 11 a.m. in two locations on campus: all College of Business and Curb College exams will be given in the Massey Business Center and all others will be taken in the Maddox Grand Atrium. Business students should report to the MBC lobby for their exam room assignment. Students scheduled to take both 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. exams on Monday should contact their professors directly to arrange plans to take the final exam.
Because weather conditions can vary greatly within our region, students, faculty and staff are urged to use individual discretion when making the decision to travel to campus in snow or icy weather. Students unable to get to campus are responsible for notifying their professors and arranging a mutually agreeable plan to take the final exam.
BELMONT EXAMS TO BEGIN LATER MONDAY, DECEMBER 13
Dr. Fisher’s Statement to Media, Dec. 8, 2010
Click here to view Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher’s press conference with media. Below is a complete transcript of the event.
Belmont University has been the subject of much media and community scrutiny in the past week. In retrospect, I realize that we have not done a good job in communicating. I am sorry for that and I take full responsibility.
My job as president is to lead in a manner that brings people together—even if it involves difficult issues. In this case I would give myself very low marks. And it is not just a matter of grading myself – the real issue is the pain, hurt and fear that some are feeling.
The triggering event for this attention was a personnel action. Belmont, like any other responsible organization, has strict policies regarding the discussion of personnel matters and I will not be addressing any issues regarding this specific case or any “hypothetical case” that might be comparable.
The purpose of my statement is to address the much broader issue of sexual orientation and Belmont.
Last spring, as an alternative to creating a student led organization, a university conversation about gay and lesbian issues and the Christian faith issues was initiated. This group has met twice monthly since then with an average attendance of about twenty. That group discussion is on-going and met as recently as last week.
More recent events have focused attention on Belmont’s employment practices. Because of Belmont’s aspirations to demonstrate Christian character it is a safe and welcoming place for all.
The Belmont family, like any large family, comprises a rich and diverse mix of people. Within our student community there are many gay and lesbian students as well as gay and lesbian faculty and staff.
In the ten years that I have served as Belmont’s president, sexual orientation has not been considered in making hiring, promotion, salary, or dismissal decisions.
I need for you to hear that clearly—sexual orientation is not considered in making hiring, promotion, salary, or dismissal decisions at Belmont.
Neither is it considered in student admissions.
We are committed to working with our faculty, students, alumni, board, and community-at-large to dialogue about our policies and practices to ensure that our actions are consistent with the values stated above.
I have received about 400 communications regarding these issues and while it will take several days to get back to everyone, I will continue to make personal responses to each individual.
I end this statement with a story about our students.
Last year I was attending a Belmont sporting event when I was approached by the parent of one of the players and asked, “Which member of the team is your daughter?”
After a brief reflection I said, “All of them!” To which he replied, “Oh, you must be the president.”
And yes, I am the president of Belmont and that is the way I feel about every single student at our university!
Pharmacy Students Collect Food for Second Harvest
Students in the School of Pharmacy recent held a three-class competition to collect canned food items for Second Harvest Food Bank. The food drive took place Nov. 8- 19, and the students collected approximately 2,200 food items. The food drive was run as a competition between the first, second and third year classes in the School of Pharmacy with each cohort aiming to collect 300 non-perishable food items. The P3 class raised just over 300 items, the P1 class raised over 600 items, and the P2 class won the contest with just over 1,000 items.
The items collected by the students were donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. The students also incorporated a “Faculty Challenge” in the contest, and the faculty donations were donated to St. Luke’s Community House.
Belmont Hosts Forensics and Debate Tournament
Belmont University and Carson Newman College recently co-hosted the Tennessee Porch Swing, a collegiate forensics and debate tournament, on Belmont’s campus Nov. 19-21. Twenty colleges and universities from all over the United States competed in public address, oral interpretation and parliamentary debate. The Porch Swing included entries from several top-ten speech and debate schools and is one of the largest tournaments Belmont has hosted.
Listed below are the awards won by Belmont:
Debate:
Eric Schoen / Bethany Miller – Semi-Finalists, Varsity Debate
Sash Blevins / Matthew Roberts – Semi-Finalists, Novice Debate
Individual Events:
Anna Carroll: Top Novice & 4th place, Poetry Interpretation; 4th place Duo Interpretation (with Nicole Bright)
Matthew Roberts: Top Novice, Extemporaneous Speaking; Top Novice & Semi-Finalist, Impromptu Speaking; Top Novice & 5th place, Informative Speaking
Nick Yacksich: Top Novice & 6th place, Dramatic Interpretation; 5th place Duo Interpretation (with Nicole Bright)
Nicole Bright: 4th place After Dinner Speaking; 5th place Duo Interpretation (with Nick Yacksich); 4th place Duo Interpretation (with Anna Carroll); 3rd place overall individual competitor
Holly McKee: Top Novice, Programmed Oral Interpretation
Sash Blevins: 6th place, Duo Interpretation (with Erich Schoen)
Eric Schoen: 6th place, Duo Interpretation (with Sash Blevins)
McGrew and Neuroscience Students Present Research Papers at Neuroscience 2010
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) met in San Diego, California this year to provide a venue for investigators from around the world to share emerging science and to foster new collaborations. Over 35,000 neuroscientists registered to attend the conference.
Dr. Lori McGrew, associate professor of biology, attended the conference along with her research students: Taylor Andrew, Steven Avers, Taylor Beazley and Katy Parsley. The meeting kicked off with a session titled “Dialogues Between Neuroscience and Society: Bringing Change to Mind on Mental Illness” which was led by actress Glenn Close. Dr. McGrew presented a poster titled “Motivating Students to Take Responsibility for Their Own Learning by Giving Them a Role in Course Design.” This presentation was part of the “History, Teaching, Public Awareness and Societal Impacts” theme. The students presented the results of their senior research projects (“Studies of Dopamine, Testosterone Working Memory and Vision in Danio rerio”) at the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience poster session.
Political Science Majors Selected to Intern at Tennessee General Assembly
Political science majors Katie Morse, Amber McCullough and Elizabeth Landolt were recently selected to serve as interns in the 107th Tennessee General Assembly. The Tennessee Legislative Intern Program was established in 1972 to provide Tennessee College and University students with an opportunity to work and learn in a hands on legislative environment. Each year, 70 to 80 students from around the state participate in this program to learn about leadership responsibilities as well as develop legislative process skills. Among other responsibilities, the interns assist legislative offices with their legislative activities and work functions. The Tennessee General Assembly convenes January 11, 2011.
Biology, BMB, Physics Students and Faculty Present at Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting
Twelve Biology students, two Biochemistry and Molecular Biology students, and Biology Professors Steve Murphree, Jennifer Thomas, Nick Ragsdale, and Darlene Panvini attended the 120th Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science in Cookeville, Tenn. on Nov. 19. Emeritus Biology professor David Hill also attended the conference. The students presented posters of their senior research projects in the areas of botany, cell and molecular biology, microbiology and zoology. Biology students presenting were Sarah Ayers, Julianna Bejma, Lindsey Dalton, Brittney Everhart, Amy Fehrmann, Julie Malkowski, Ariel Ouellette, Katie Rice, Jessica Rix, Kathryn Roach, Emily Smothers and Matthew Turner. BMB student presenters were Gabrielle Facey and Luke Starner. Dr. Panvini gave an oral presentation on “Trends in Assignments and Exams in Biology Courses.” Dr. Murphree, treasurer of TAS, was involved in conference planning. Dr. Thomas chaired the Science and Math Teaching section.
In addition, Physics students and faculty presented at the Annual Meeting. Senior Physics major Phil Feurtado and Physics Professors Scott Hawley and Steve Robinson also attended the 120th Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science in Cookeville. Phil Feurtado’s presentation was titled “Kick Drum Tunnels: A Physical Analysis of a Recording Technique.” Dr. Hawley gave an oral presentation on “Spin-Spin Effects In Models of Binary Black Hole Systems,” and Dr. Robinson presented “A Simple And Effective Method to Predict Seeded Tournament Outcomes.”
Biles Publishes Article
Dr. Daniel Biles, associate professor of mathematics, recently had an article accepted for publication in The PanAmerican Mathematical Journal. The title of the article is “The Stochastic Ito Integral on Time Scales,” and it is co-authored by Ferhan M. Atici and Daniel C. Biles.
Riechert Re-Elected to Nashville PRSA Board of Directors
Bonnie Riechert, director of the public relations program, was recently elected to a second term on the board of directors for the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She will serve a three-year term as national leadership assembly delegate for the local chapter; she has served as an assembly delegate for the last two years. Riechert also serves as the faculty advisor to the Belmont Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
Senior Presents at ACM Mid-Southeast Conference
The 2010 ACM Mid-Southeast Conference was held in Gatlinburg Nov. 11-12. Belmont senior Cameron Behar gave a presentation on “Visualizing Graphs through Software.” Dr. William Hooper and Dr. Joyce Crowell gave a talk titled “An Applet Package for CS0.” Cameron’s presentation earned him Honorable Mention honors. His presentation was fourth out of the 23 undergraduate student presentations from institutions such as University of Alabama, Austin Peay, UT Martin, Tennessee Tech, Furman University, East TN State, Jackson State, Columbus State, Samford University and MTSU.
