Table of Contents BU Aims for Diversity
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www.belmontvision.com The student newspaper of Belmont University Vol. 60, No. 5 January 26, 2012 Table of Contents BU aims for diversity ............................................... 2 Top dollar: wide span in campus pay ....................... 7 GOP youth push Paul for president ........................... 2 Enrollment, assets, spending all on the rise ............... 7 Ms. Shelly: ‘Momma’ to all her BU ‘babies’ ............... 3 Icebreaker: freshman Alisha Hsu No. 1 .................... 8 What’s new at Buzzy’s? ............................................ 3 Katie Greene: BU’s move to OVC ............................. 8 Don’t push your luck with Sam Katakura ................... 4 Bruins in Motion ..................................................... 9 Brian Wilson: Parking pinch needs solution ............... 5 Yes, the name is Diarrhea Planet ............................ 10 Autumn Allison: SOPA shelved for now ..................... 5 Sister act wows with a capella anthem .................... 10 Costly diplomas: student debt at all-time high ......... 6 Beat ‘n’ Track: Emily Reid ..................................... 11 Federal changes may ease debt burden .................... 6 Page 2 The Belmont Vision, January 26, 2012 GOP youth push BU aims for diversity Paul for president By Jen Todd By Heather Thompson out to do the next thing,” Searcy said. STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER and Brian Wilson While some of Belmont’s diversity goals may not EDITOR yet be within reach, the university will to work toward It’s an election year, and time again to pick the next fulfi lling its mission statement. In its fi rst two paragraphs, president. As Belmont promotes student diversity through initia- it addresses the goal of empowering “men and women of Some Belmont students, like a signifi cant segment of tives like “Welcome Home,” the school is also trying to diverse backgrounds” and having “respect for the civil young GOP voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South recruit a more diverse faculty and staff. expression of divergent perspectives.” Carolina, have turned to Rep. Ron Paul. In the Vision 2015 plan, the university lists as a goal Searcy also believes that diversity is an absolute neces- “I have more faith in him than any other candidate,” said to “increase diversity and cultural competency,” and to sity at Belmont. Her role as a liaison between Belmont and theater major Lauren Mims, who volunteered for the long- achieve it by trying to “actively and intentionally recruit the community, especially the Edgehill area of Nashville, time Texas congressman during the Iowa caucuses. diverse faculty, staff, board and students. has helped with campus diversity by creating opportu- For some students, this is the fi rst election where they The university, said provost Dr. Thomas Burns, wants nities to interact with different area communities. She can contribute both their voices and their votes. And many to attract a more representative faculty based on the believes this makes everyone richer, and Belmont stronger of them say they’re using that power for Paul. school’s characteristics and location in Nashville. as a whole, no matter how diversity is introduced into the “People buy into Ron Paul’s message because it’s consis- The school’s most recent Affi rmative Action Plan, school. tent and idealistic,” said Chase Geiser, who created the published in October 2011, gives a workforce analysis As to how diversity is being introduced into the faculty Facebook page “Belmont students for Ron Paul.” summary, which lists the statistics of minorities – gender, and staff, Searcy said fi rmly, “It has to start at the top. It’s So far, the Facebook page has 29 likes and features clips racial and ethnic – in the faculty and staff. Overall, 55.8 not just for students.” of Paul’s speeches, news pieces and even an episode of “The percent of the staff is female and 11.1 percent are listed Minority applications for Belmont positions have Daily Show.” as racial or ethnic minorities. These numbers include all doubled during the last four years and now make up around Geiser offered one simple statement to explain his regular faculty, adjunct professors and staff at Belmont. one-fi fth of all submitted applications, according to the support for Ron Paul – “Because I believe in liberty.” According to the action plan, the university’s diversity school’s affi rmative action report. Sophomore history major Seth Granda likes several of “remains an important means to enable us to more faith- However, Belmont has made clear they want steps to Ron Paul’s ideas, including fundamentally changing the fully live out our mission of providing an academically come soon to raise these numbers. For example, Burns country’s fi nancial system, basing currency by the value challenging education in a Christian community,” Presi- said, when a teaching or administrative position opens, the of gold, and having a peace-oriented foreign policy against dent Bob Fisher said in the report. university will want to ensure they are “conscious” of a unnecessary wars. The university called on Belmont’s current underrepre- variety of factors during the advertisement of the position “A lot of people fi nd that [foreign policy] to be the most sented faculty to help with strategies to recruit new faculty and the hiring process. dangerous aspect of his campaign, but I really fi nd it to be that add to the diversity, Burns said. This plan will include Dr. Cathy R. Taylor, who will become dean of Gordon the most convincing for me,” Granda said. a website that will link potential candidates with current E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing on Feb. Mims had a more personal reason for her support. professors at the school. 1, brings more gender diversity, and former U.S. Attorney “The most important thing for me is he is a champion “As candidates are recruited, they will be directed to General Alberto Gonzales, joined the College of Law of civil liberties,” Mims said. “I’m a musician and an actor this page to see what faculty are saying about Belmont and faculty Jan. 1. The law school, which opened with its and being able to pursue my freedoms through music and about Nashville,” Burns said. “They would be encouraged fi rst class last September, has a relatively diverse staff through acting is incredibly important to me.” to contact faculty they wanted to know more from.” consisting of four women and two ethnic minorities out of During her time in Iowa, she went door to door gathering Awareness and recruiting minority faculty will also be eight total, full-time professors. Gonzales joins eight other votes, answering phones and acting as a spokesperson for major goals within the plan. Hispanic professors working at Belmont, four of whom are Paul. She’s been following him for fi ve years. There will be a focus to ensure that potential minority adjuncts. “He’s the kind of candidate that doesn’t fl ip-fl op,” she candidates are aware of the process and to encourage them The world outside Belmont is changing and the school said. to apply, as well as to be aware of the diverse candidates is striving to keep up with the community that is always Mims also pointed to the biggest age group for Paul’s during the recruiting process. “They are not the over- in motion. Businesses are working more to bring multiple supporters is that of young, college-aged adults. arching goal,” Burns said. “Our goal at Belmont is to hire perspectives and ideals into their work environments, “Based off of what we’ve seen so far in Iowa and New the absolute best person we can to teach students and just Burns said. Hampshire, well over 40 percent of each state has voted for be part of our community.” “Ultimately, you leave Belmont and go out and get a him that was between the ages of 18 and like 26,” she said. The university also has hiring goals in place for the next job,” he said. “When you do, it would be best that you get So why are young people supporting the oldest candidate fi ve years to address current imbalances among admin- the chance there to explore and discuss different thoughts, in the race? Geiser and Granda think it has a lot to do with istration, faculty and staff. For example, the action plan ideas and approaches to things. So we think it’s appropriate his personality. specifi es a university goal of hiring an additional female in that we’re not seen or perceived as being of one mind or of “I think that the young people really appreciate his senior administration around the 2014-15 school year. one set of focus, but rather seeing the ideas that can come honesty because when you’re younger, you tend to be more Joyce Searcy, the director of community relations at from different lifestyles and from different people, places idealistic,” Geiser said. Belmont and an African-American, said that Belmont is and culture.” Granda agreed. defi nitely making steps in the right direction to improve Belmont is supposed to help create an environment for “When he’s speaking to you, there’s no sense that he’s these numbers. However, she acknowledges that there is students, Searcy said, and if the school wants to keep up, trying to mislead you or beguile you,” he said. never any one goal to achieve a perfect level of diversity. then it is important to include diversity in all aspects of the Mims thinks the trend is more about one of his policies “A goal is like when you get there, you still see further school – students, faculty and staff. in particular. “Honestly, it’s the drug thing because Ron Paul would still legalize marijuana and a lot of the younger population wants to legalize marijuana,” she said.