Dr. Joan Lind, assistant professor, Mathematics & Computer Science Department, gave an invited talk to a joint Analysis and Probability Research Seminar at the University of Tennessee on Oct. 21. The title of the talk was “Fractal Curves and Phases of the Loewner Equation.” In the talk Dr. Lind showcased pictures created by the computer program BLEAT(Belmont Loewner Equation Analysis Tool). BLEAT was developed by Belmont students Andrew Hill, Matt Lefavor and Ben Stein to simulate solutions to Loewner’s differential equation.
Lind Gives Talk at Analysis and Probability Research Seminar
Magruder Publishes Paper
Dr. Robert Magruder, professor and chair of the Chemistry & Physics Department, recently had a paper accepted for publication. The paper is titled “Structure and Properties of Nanoparticles Formed by Ion Implantation” and was published in Topics in Applied Physics, Volume 116, October 2009. Click here to view the paper.
Buffington Presents Talk at ACM Conference
On Nov. 13, Belmont senior Ross Buffington will present a talk on “Game Implementation for Increasing Mental Engagement of Security Professionals” at the 2009 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Mid-Southeast Conference in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In addition, Dr. William Hooper (Math/Computer Science) will be giving a talk on assembly language programming with the Sony PlayStation 3.
Buffington, a computer science major, spent this past summer conducting research at the University of Houston, Texas that was funded by the National Science Foundation. He worked in the University of Houston’s Computational Physiology Laboratory with a number of master’s and post-doctorate students. This experience allowed Ross to further his understanding and competence in developing applications for the iPhone. Prior to the Houston research experience, Ross had spent the entire school year independently learning how to write software for the device.
Through his research he created “The Sky is Falling,” a computer based, two-dimensional, game which overlays on top of the live video feed of a security camera. The purpose of the game is to increase the cognitive engagement of a security guard when charged with the task of monitoring video feeds for hours on end. A secondary purpose of the application was to promote physical activity of the security guard. This was accomplished by incorporating the iPhone as a game controller-device, allowing a user to wirelessly interact with their computer using the iPhone.
Hachtel Approved as Mediator
Dr. Yvette Hachtel, professor in Belmont’s School of Occupational Therapy, has been approved as a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator and will begin work as a mediator in civil cases in conjunction with Tennessee’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) proceedings. After years of work in Sumner County’s Victim and Offenders Reconciliation Program, Hachtel qualifies for Rule 31 status and will work on cases judges assign to Tennessee’s ADR program. Through her position as a mediator, Hachtel will be an impartial aid in helping parties involved in civil cases to resolve their disputes outside of the courtroom.
Speech and Debate Team Continues Winning Streak
Belmont’s Speech and Debate Team competed at the Berea/Cumberland swing tournament Oct. 23-30 in Berea, Kentucky. With 27 universities in attendance, Belmont won first place in the individual events division at both tournaments and placed second in the debate division (fourth overall).
Individual awards included the following:
Debate Awards
Andrew Bishop – 2nd place Overall Novice Speaker
Andrew Bishop / Mike White – 1st place Novice Debate Team
Wesley Rainer / Tyler Kimbro – Varsity Debate Quarter-Finalists
Team: 2nd place, Small School Division
University of the Cumberlands Events Tournament
Eric Schoen: Dramatic Interpretation, 4th place; Communication Analysis, 5th place; Duo Interpretation, 4th place; Pentathlon Competitor, 4th place
Kate Tully: Programmed Oral Interpretation, Top Novice; After Dinner Speaking, 5th place
Jaiden Phelps: Persuasive Speaking, Top Novice; Impromptu Speaking, Top Novice
Nicole Bright: Duo Interpretation, 4th place
Team: 1st place, Small School Division
Berea College Events Tournament
Nicole Bright: Programmed Oral Interpretation, 5th place; Duo Interpretation, 6th place
Jessica Plowman: Extemporaneous Speaking, Semi-finalist
Haley Wilson: Extemporaneous Speaking, Top Novice
Bethany Miller: Impromptu Speaking, Semi-finalist
Eric Schoen: Duo Interpretation, 6th place
Kate Tully: After Dinner Speaking, Top Novice
Team: 1st place, Small School Division
Hoogestraat Presents at TAHPERD
Dr. Fran Hoogestraat (Sport Science) recently made a presentation at the meeting of the Tennessee Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The presentation was titled “Worst Practices for Coaches and WHY!”
Pinter Serves as Editor of a National Problem Solving Competition
During 2009-10, Dr. Mike Pinter, professor, Mathematics & Computer Science Department, will be serving as Editor of a National Problem Solving Competition. Three times in the fall and three times in the spring, Dr. Pinter will send mathematical problems to the director of the competition who in turn e-mails the problems to participating high schools and colleges around the country. Each high school mailing includes two problems, and each college mailing includes two problems.
Dr. Pinter creates many of the problems that are used, while some of the problems come from others who contribute them for consideration. The problems cover a wide array of mathematical topics in order to have the problems be accessible to students with varying math interests and backgrounds. Nearly all of the problems can be solved without calculus (and often without very much algebra). In recent years, several of Dr. Pinter’s problems have been used by the National Competition.
This work is an outgrowth of Dr. Pinter’s efforts with Belmont’s Mathematics Problem Solving Competition which has taken place for the last 15 years. Two problems per month are posted on a public bulletin board in Hitch and on the Mathematics & Computer Science Department Web page and all interested students are encouraged to participate.
Tarr Selected A-Sun Freshman of the Year
Belmont freshman Brandon Tarr (Knoxville, Tenn.) was named the 2009 Atlantic Sun’s Freshman of the Year in men’s soccer. He was honored by being selected onto the 2009 A-Sun’s Second-Team All-Conference and All-Freshman Team. Tarr is the first Bruin to have been awarded Freshman of the Year. Click here for more on this story.
University College Celebrates National Adult Student Appreciation Week
On Nov. 1-7, Belmont University’s University College celebrated its second annual Adult Student Appreciation Week. Designed to recognize non-traditional students on campus, as well as highlight efforts that have improved the adult student environment at Belmont, Belmont’s Adult Student Appreciation Week coincided with National Adult Student Appreciation Week, which is coordinated by the Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education.
Highlights of the week included Adult Student Art Show at Belmont@Cool Springs, Late Night Academic Advising, Walk-in tea and treats at several locations on campus prior to evening classes, Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee Food Drive and making thank you cards for those who support Belmont’s adult students. In addition, several convocation events were held including Making an Effective Career Transition as an Adult led by Gary Boling in the Office of Career Services and a Stress Management Workshop Session led by Director of Counseling Services Peg Leonard-Martin.
To cap off the week, University College recognized several adult students in the program based on nominations received from their instructors and University College staff. Individual awards were as follows:
Henri Burton, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Academic Excellence
Janice Malone, RN-BSN program: Certificate of Academic Excellence
Karen Elizer, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Remarkable Perseverance
Kim Lewis, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Personal Achievement
Ronshea Clark, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Excellence
Robert Blake, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Dedicated Involvement
Lakota Author Challenges Audience to Broaden Perspective
Lakota author Richard Twiss visited Belmont this morning, bringing with him a personal mantra that he asked the full Neely Dining Hall audience to repeat: “I am ethnocentric, narrow-minded and have limited vision.” (Click here to view the photo gallery from this event.)
Twiss is the co-founder of Wiconi International, a nonprofit Christian organization that seeks to provide assistance to Native Americans, as well as the author of One Church, Many Tribes, a book that examines how studying First Nations Christ followers can teach new ways of living with nature and one another. His “mantra” seeks to challenge individuals to recognize their own cultural biases and to open their minds to seeing God from Native perspectives.
Twiss shared the story of his own transformation from a drug user who hated Christians to a man who “experienced peace that can’t be humanly comprehended.” After overdosing on mushrooms in 1974 while living in Maui, Twiss noted that God was made known to him one day on the beach. “Even though Jesus looked a lot like Captain Jack Sparrow at the time, I’m pretty sure it was still Jesus.”
Inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, Twiss began to realize that God wasn’t represented by the Christians he had formerly encountered or that his family had suffered from on the reservations and in boarding schools. Instead, he began to see God through the eyes of his own cultural background. “The Bible gives him all kinds of Indian names: Bright and Morning Star, Lily of the Valley, Chief Cornerstone… God was speaking to the Lakota, the Cherokee, Shawnee [and other tribes] long before we discovered Christopher Columbus drifting around in the ocean.”
