www.belmontvision.com The student newspaper of Belmont University Vol. 59, No. 8 April 29, 2010

CONTENTS Mental health issues rise on campus ...... 9 Job outlook 2010 ...... 2 Campus growth a challenge ...... 9 New bill brings changes to student aid...... 3 Belmont Bridge Builders ...... 10 Student visual art in four sites on campus ...... 3 Best of the Best 2010 ...... 11 From here to Ghana ...... 4 Rites of Spring washes out ...... 11 Social, environmental awareness at heart of pledge ....4 Rock ‘n’ Roll High School: YEAH! ...... 12 Lance Conzett: Whose voices choose the Curbies? ...... 5 Pinball Wizard ...... 13 Erin Carson: Tweets go down in history ...... 5 Somebody say ‘amen’ ...... 14 Pierce Greenberg: Bruins get it right with Ezell hire ... 6 From Brazil to Belmont ...... 15 Like students, Belmont has growing pains ...... 6 Men’s, women’s golf teams fi nish 9th ...... 15 We interrupt this life for a text message ...... 6 Ezell takes reins for women’s basketball ...... 16 Diversity at Belmont ...... 7 Training, discipline pay off for runners ...... 16 Student accommodations ...... 8

PHOTOS AND CONCEPT BY ERIN CARSON Page 2 The Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Job outlook 2010 Looking up for this year’s grads

By Jen Todd something, being prepared for my auditions, Staff Writer not just going in and winging it, but I feel Graduating seniors, there is good news – like the opportunities are limited.” the job market is improving. Seniors of varying majors feel concern “We’re coming out of a recession, the about getting jobs after graduation. More economy’s improving, and companies are graduating seniors visited the Office of feeling less uncertain and they’re starting to Career Services in 2010 than in 2009. hire again,” said Patricia Jacobs, director of “My concern is not so much that I’m not Belmont’s Office of Career Services. prepared. My concern is that there won’t Although in fall 2009 the National be a job for me,” said Cheyenne Metzger, Association of Colleges and Employers graduating sociology major. predicted a bad year for graduates entering Despite a recent improvement in the job

“My concern is not so much that I’m not prepared. My concern is that there won’t be a job for me.” Cheyenne Metzger graduating sociology major

the workplace, hiring has increased each market and Belmont’s above average hiring month in 2010, providing a more optimistic rate, some students may have to take jobs Lady Carrie view of the job outlook this year. different from what they’d planned, or take Jason Danny Alan Underwood For Belmont University, the hiring rate a bridge job and wait for a better opportu- Gokey Antebellum Tim Aldean Jackson McGraw of students continues to increase after nity to execute their post-graduation plans. gloomy prospects a year ago. Jacobs encourages students to have According to First Destination Data, multiple plans for life after graduation. which holds Belmont’s statistics for the “An individual may be taking a position percentage of employed graduates, 86 that is not specifically related to their major percent of graduates were employed six but that’s not uncommon,” Jacobs said. “It’s months after graduating in spring 2009, a 5 all about the liberal arts education – getting percent increase from the same time a year a good education to help you get your foot earlier. in the door, and then that presents opportu- “The numbers [for the hiring rate] had nities for the future.” been in the low 80s and now they’re moving Some students such as those getting up to the higher 80s,” Jacobs said. “That is degrees in business fields and medical Josh Miranda Reba Turner Keith high compared to other universities when fields are predicted to be most successful in Lambert McEntire Urban you look nationally, but Belmont has consis- finding relevant employment. tently been above the national average.” The job market may be progressing, but Jacobs believed the reason for Belmont’s Jacobs said it will still be a couple of years above average accomplishment was due to before the hiring rate returns to percentage students’ focus and preparation with intern- in the high 80s or low 90s, the rate before ships and part-time jobs, she said. the recession. Some students agree that Belmont helped them feel prepared about entering their fields, despite some concern about finding employment in a tough job market. “I feel like Belmont’s Zac Brown Easton Billy Randy Martina Rascal prepared me to be on my Corbin Currington Houser McBride Band game,” said Elizabeth Flatts Smith, a graduating musical theater major. “I’m always looking for

Justin Kellie Trace Moore Brad Pickler Blake Adkins Darius Paisley Rucker Shelton

Ticket price is per night and does not include handling fees. $14.99/ticket price valid while supplies last. Limit 4 tickets per night per purchase. Offer expires 5/23/10. Text GOBRUINS to 66937 to receive discount code. STANDARD TEXT MESSAGING RATES APPLY. All artists listed in alpha order. Artists, prices and schedule subject to change. Check CMAfest.com for updates. ©2010 Country Music Association, Inc. Organized and produced by CMA. Photos and logos used by permission. The Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Page 3 New bill brings changes to student aid By Julie Kenny simpler and more efficient. In addition to streamlining the or if they are in danger of defaulting. Staff Writer application process and loan repayment, taxpayers will save Beginning in 2014, borrowers will have more options As health care reform continues to spark heated debates approximately $68 billion over the next 11 years, according to reduce their repayment. For students who go on to work across the nation, an even more landmark legislation was to the Congressional Budget Office. As far away as it full-time in the public service sector, they will see the life of tucked into the bill as far as students are concerned. sounds, the extra money will create an additional 820,000 their loan reduced to 10 years, while borrowers who make The Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 received far Pell Grants by 2020, a figure that will be a welcome sigh of their payments on time will have theirs forgiven after 20 less media coverage than the health care bill, but greatly relief when saving for future generations to attend college. years instead of the current 25. Student loan repayment will impacts current and prospective students. With the cost The savings also make it possible to raise the maximum be capped at a total of 10 percent of the graduate’s income of college steadily rising, more students are depending on award for students with exceptional need. Currently, eligible compared to the existing 15 percent cap. financial aid to make ends meet. students can receive a maximum award of $5,550, which is “This reform of the federal student loan programs will According to The Associated Press, nearly half of all expected to increase to $5,975 by the 2013 academic year. save taxpayers $68 billion over the next decade,” said undergraduates currently receive federal student aid and Current students can benefit from the new reform, but Obama. “And with this legislation, we’re putting that money about 8.5 million students are going to college with the help not immediately. If students borrowed a federal loan prior to use achieving a goal I set for America: by the end of this of Pell Grants. to the 2010-2011 academic year it was issued through the decade, we will once again have the highest proportion of In the past, students—or their parents—applied for Federal Family Education Loan Program, or FFELP. As college graduates in the world.” loans with private lenders, including banks, credit unions of July 1, 2010, that program will be eliminated and future and loan associations. Already backed by the government, loans will be issued through the Federal Direct Student these lenders provided aid to students using federal money, Loan Program. Students graduating with an FFELP loan assuming virtually no risk themselves. In addition, they may be eligible to consolidate that debt with a received federal subsidies to essentially act as a middleman Direct Loan after graduation. in the lending process. Before applying to enroll The new legislation cuts out private lenders entirely. in the Direct Loan Program, Beginning July 1, 2010, all colleges and universities are students should attempt to required to switch to the direct lending program, in which consolidate their previous the government becomes the primary issuer of student loans with an FFEL lender loans. first, but if unable to do so “Year after year, we’ve seen billions of taxpayer dollars or unable to secure one with handed out as subsidies to the bankers and middlemen who income-sensitive repayment handle federal student loans, when that money should have terms, consolidating under the gone to advancing the dreams of our students and working new program could be benefi- families,” said President Barack Obama in a weekly address cial. Students should determine if after the bill’s signing. consolidating is in their best interest By cutting out the middlemen, borrowers will deal depending on variables such as the total amount directly with the government, making the loan process remaining to pay off, the length of time left for repayment Student visual art in four sites on campus By Lance Conzett the Leu Gallery. “It’s becoming a bigger deal as the years Vision Editor Organizers had hoped to make use of the go by which is great because a lot of people Belmont visual art majors will host Leu Gallery itself but were unable to secure don’t know much about the art department,” a Belmont-centric art crawl on May 13 “It’s like the equivalent the space due in part to a conflict with the Brown said. from 6-9 p.m. The event features work by to a music major having final days of the “American Experience” The event comes hot on the heels of final around 20 students majoring in art educa- exhibit, which has been running since exit interviews for several students, particu- tion, studio art and design communications, their senior recital. February. larly design majors who will present their including graduating seniors who will This is the ... culmination “We’re not able to use the Leu Gallery work to their professors for a grade at 9 a.m. receive their diplomas only two days later. for reasons that are out of our control,” that morning. “It’s like the equivalent to a music major of what we’ve done Brown said. “It is frustrating because that’s “That night is really kind of a party for having their senior recital,” said Emily in college.” one of the best places on campus to display us. We want it to have that very celebratory Brown, a design communications senior. art.” vibe.” Emily Brown “This is just the complete culmination of Despite being unable to utilize Leu, the And if the art offerings aren’t enough to Design communications major what we’ve done in college.” participating artists are hoping for a good bring in outsiders, the organizers hope to Belmont’s art department regularly turnout for the event, particularly family, entice people with free food. holds student exhibitions, but this is only friends and people involved in the arts “One good thing about this year is that the second year that senior art has been The art crawl spans a total of four industry. Brown also hopes that students we have an expanded food budget,” Brown organized into a “crawl” between several venues: Gallery 121, the Belmont Mansion, and other locals will take advantage of the joked. “So, come get some hors d’oeuvres different on-campus venues. the lobby of the Leu Center and the lobby of opportunity to support student art. and check out some art.”

We want to change your life. The Week at Belmont New show every Wednesday

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By Jessica Walker award. She says the award is ideal for Belmont students, as and thankful that they thought that I was deserving and that Staff Writer it aligns with the university’s mission. they trusted me to use what they had given me and really go After Abby Selden decided she wanted to volunteer in “The award really gets at the heart of some of the things do something good in the world.” Africa after graduation, she began looking for ways to make Belmont is trying to achieve,” Monteverde said. “It will While she knows she will be serving for three months that dream a reality. enable students to participate in an immersion experience in – from late July to late October – as a volunteer in Ghana, Selden, a senior journalism major, heard about the a community and that, in many ways, fits Belmont’s mission Selden won’t know the specific details of her experience Lumos Student Travel Award, a grant awarded to help of engaging and transforming the world.” until about a month before she leaves the United States. students volunteer To apply for the Lumos Award, Selden had to meet a “Projects Abroad allows you to choose what category abroad. Cynthia variety of standards and was required to have a specific plan you’ll volunteer under,” Selden said. “You choose what Leu, a member of in place for what she would be doing abroad. The award interests you, and so, because of working as a children’s Belmont’s Board of may be used to cover transportation, accommodations and program volunteer at Safe Haven Family Shelter, I knew Trustees, established other costs. that I wanted to continue that and I knew that I was inter- the award that Selden Selden was required to complete two essays of 500 ested in the care category, so I’ll either be working at some will use to allow her words each, provide two letters of reference as well as sort of care center or an orphanage.” to serve for three details about her proposed travel, in addition to a break- In addition to volunteering, Selden is expected to keep months in the West down of costs. “It’s a fairly elaborate application process,” a record of her experience and present that information to African country of Monteverde said. interested students when she returns. “I know there has Ghana. Ultimately, Selden was chosen as the first recipient of to be a visual component, so I’m sure I’ll take pictures or “I had an initial the Lumos Award. “I don’t think we could have asked for video,” she said. “I also might keep a blog while I’m there.” meeting with Dr. a better first winner than Abby,” Monteverde said. “It was Both Selden and Monteverde agree that the award fills Maggie Monteverde immensely helpful to have a student who was such a good a need for Belmont students. “It’s one of the only awards a and expressed my researcher.” graduating senior can receive,” Monteverde said. interest in the travel However, Selden’s lack of travel experience abroad was award and asked her an initial concern to the committee that selected her. “There what it was about,” Abby Selden was one aspect of what we were looking for that was not Selden said. the case with Abby,” Monteverde said. “What we ideally She got the application from Monteverde, who serves as wanted was someone who had already done a study abroad Planning a trip? a professor of English, assistant provost for International program.” Education and Programs Away and executive director of the Although Selden did not meet this qualification, the Belmont’s Lumos Student Travel Award grants Cooperative Center for Study Abroad. committee agreed she was prepared to volunteer abroad. are given annually to help students embark on a “She told me that I needed to find an organization to “This is a big step for her,” Monteverde said. “But she’d travel experience that will give them a different travel with before I could apply for Lumos,” Selden said, clearly given a lot of thought to it and we were all in agree- cultural perspective of some aspect of the social “so I did a lot of research on different organizations I could ment that she’s an excellent recipient.” sciences. For more information about award, travel with. I settled on one called Projects Abroad, an orga- Selden says she is appreciative of the opportunity she nization for people who want to volunteer abroad.” was awarded. “I was incredibly excited when I found out I’d contact the Lumos Foundation at 615.460.5500. Monteverde was involved in the selection process for the gotten the Lumos Award,” she said. “I just felt so grateful Social, environmental awareness at heart of graduation pledge By Jen Todd Staff Writer The Graduation Pledge Alli- % ance values a pledge – a promise 75 for Belmont’s graduating seniors of BU students to be aware of their imprints on society and help improve society and the world through their reported that career choice. “I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of they abide by any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.” the University’s Belmont is one of about 150 colleges and universities with a Graduation Pledge Alliance. substance-free The pledge is strictly voluntary, but graduating senior Lindsay Walker is one of the four students at Belmont trying campus policy to bring awareness to the pledge. *Source: Data based on 2009 CORE Survey (N=1042.) “The main purpose is to make a commitment to be aware of the consequences of what you’re doing as a career and to bring that awareness into your job search and into your career after you graduate,” Walker said. For more information, visit The provost-approved organization started campaigning for the pledge at Belmont in the spring of 2006. The original alliance began in 1987 at Humboldt State University in www.belmont.edu/studentaffairs/btw.html Arcata, Calif. “There are over 100,000 people who have signed the pledge nationally,” Walker said. They set up tables at graduation rehearsals for those interested in signing the pledge. For more information, visit graduationpledge.org.

Let us know what you think. Send a signed letter, 400 words max, with your phone number. You have three options: go to belmontvision.com, click on staff/contact, then “write us a letter” or submit it via email to [email protected] or mail it to The Editor, Belmont Vision, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212. ideasThe Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Whose voices choose Curbies?

A few weeks ago, the Curb College of Entertainment just concerns that I had, but concerns that others voiced forum, the SLC and Belmont are helping foster the kind of and Music Business opened voting on Blackboard for the both online and on campus. “us vs. them” mentality that some artists at Belmont have recently rebranded Curb College Awards. For two weeks, After voting began adopted. As one of the banned commenters said to me, “It and a Facebook event just feeds the negative reputations that already exist about students were able to vote in a series of categories, osten- Lance Conzett sibly determining Belmont’s favorite songwriters, rock was posted, it didn’t our school.” bands, adjunct professors and everything in between. take long before some As a result, the Curbie Awards don’t feel like Belmont’s There was just one problem. I had no idea who any of students began to criti- version of the Grammys. It instead feels like an isolated these people were. cize the awards show Curb College celebrating itself. Maybe that’s overstating& it. There are certain nominees and nominee choices on I’m not suggesting that Diarrhea Planet should be who are ubiquitousa on campus—Future,e Delta Saints, the event wall. Many of showered with awards from Belmont. That will likely never Miss B, Westbound Rangers and the other usual suspects the commenters were happen. What I am suggesting, though, is that Belmont/ included. And, truthfully, they’re probably the ones who banned from posting CEMB allow discourse to run its natural path and that the are most likely to win Curbies (or any other Belmont music and all comments— SLC consider criticism as a way to engage with the entire award, for that matter). But where does that leave the other both positive and nega- campus and not just with a select group of music business 80 percent of bands and artists that I and other students tive—were purged. All majors. hadn’t heard of prior to skimming the ballot? that remains is a single Belmont is the home to a significant amount of very According to Pipeline, a CEMB affiliated blog, Student tagged post promoting talented musicians. To have an award show to celebrate Leadership Council, a “small group of students that John Flanagan. the best of those artists is a good idea, but not if it’s only represent the entire [Curb] college,” chose the nominees. I’m not going to suggest that every post was appropriate a redux of the showcases with minimal general student But on what criteria were they chosen? Why these bands or that every criticism was constructive, but that isn’t the involvement in the nomination process. and artists? Who is even on the council and why are they point. The point is that this is a conversation that students Lance Conzett, Vision editor, considered the authority on music at Belmont? These aren’t clearly want to have. By silencing the critics in a public is a senior journalism major. For better or worse, tweets go down in history

The Library of Congress announced the fun, but on the whole, it begs the question, had any idea that “D*** in a Box” was soil. The things we produce will be out there sportsdecision to preserve public tweets, as in is this really what we want our “snapshot” going to take off the way it did. Can we get for a long time. those 140-character messages sent using of history to be? a moment of silence here? The flip side to all this is that maybe micro-blogging site Twitter. The idea is to These days people are constantly This is no high art. this was the generation that totally changed save a “snapshot” of history and Twitter is producing content. We blog, we micro- Arguably not every splotch of paint that communication, that gave the world a place definitely the phenomenon of the month, so blog, we make videos to post on YouTube, found its way onto a canvas 200 years ago, to meet. Part of me would like to see the maybe it makes sense. we become our own also found its way into the next generation realize that we had our cool For anyone not on Twitter, you’re not brands and platforms for Erin Carson Louvre, but I think the moments, we had a sense of humor. When missing much and yet at the same time media delivery. We are aspirations were different. political absurdity threatened to swallow you’re missing a lot. It’s a weird place where constantly creating, but I don’t think that any given us, we fired back declaring we could see friends, celebrities, media outlets, musi- when someone threatens bored college kid who Russia from our houses. And T-Pain sang cians, businesses—essentially any user you to preserve all that makes a video is aiming at along. If no one has introduced you to The want to bring into your world—digitally creation for posterity, immortality. They’re aiming Gregory Brothers’ “Auto-Tune the News” congregate on a page that you control. It’s it should prompt us to at the quick and funny, series, search it on YouTube the first chance your own strange little news feed. look at what we create. another 13-year-old wiping you get. And the messages you tweet? Everything Shot for shot remakes out on his skateboard or a There’s no definitive answer. Prob- from biting witticisms to painfully useless of Lady Gaga music cat who does something. ably the worst thing to do is get sour about information and displays of egocentrism and videos? Digital timelines Advancements in tech- everything. There’s certainly an argument fitnesboredom. of incredibly mundanes nology have brought the for unbridled creativity. Let’s throw the Here’s an example of one of my finer activities? Documenta- equipment, the software spaghetti against the wall and see what moments on Twitter: 11:51 p.m. December tions of self-indulgence? and the delivery platform sticks. Google was invented in a garage, 12: NBC recently aired a right into the lap of the after all. “I can only watch Fight Club so many two hour-long look back on the first decade average person. It’s so easy that no one has Perhaps though, maybe the next time times.” of “Saturday Night Live” in the new millen- to consider saving resources for something you’re about to Tweet about a ham sand- This was, perhaps, not the best use of my nium. They talked about the explosion of really worthwhile. wich, remember it’ll be in the Library of linguistic ability or my potential for infor- viral video. Justin Timberlake spoke with an How do we want to be remembered? The Congress. Forever. mation dispersal, especially as a journalist. outright reverence about one particular SNL Internet is exempt from the plundering of Erin Carson, Vision managing Twitter is loaded with fluff like that. Digital Short he made with Andy Samberg rival tribes and the sinking of cities. The editor, is a junior journalism major Sure, the site can be entertaining and even and the Lonely Island crew, how nobody Internet will not get chipped and buried in in the honors program.

Editor: Lance Conzett Managing Editor: Erin Carson Advertising: Karen Bennett Multimedia Editor: Abby Selden The Student Newspaper of Bemont University Faculty Adviser: Linda Quigley Blogs Editor: Jessica Walker Online/Graphics Adviser: Angela Smith 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville TN 37212 Sports Editor: Pierce Greenberg Phone: 615.460.6433 E-mail: [email protected] Video Editor: Cassidy Hodges Page 6 The Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Bruins get it right with Ezell hire

The Vince Gill room was alive with buzz on April 19, “I was able to keep a great relationship with Coach land, the Bruins received more than 110 applications. But as just about everyone close to the women’s basketball Cross,” Ezell said. in addition to those applicants, Strickland targeted other program—and media—was invited to meet new head coach “He’s been very Pierce Greenberg candidates, as well. Ezell was one of those targets. Brittney Ezell. After an exhaustive search, there were prob- good to me through On March 25, Tennessean writer Mike Organ wrote an ably a few sighs of relief, as well. the years and so it’s article listing Ezell among candidates with local ties that Within a few minutes of meeting her, though, this much really an honor to Belmont should consider. At the time, Ezell said “If the was clear: Belmont got a good one. follow him and the people at Belmont wanted to talk to me, I’d be happy to talk Ezell is a bright, young, and up-and-coming coach who program that he’s to them.” has an impressive pedigree. But more than that, she will be built.” Call it a coincidence, or not—Ezell was the woman able to relate to the players. Those words posing with the basketball at the press conference. And she The connection between team and coach seemed to wane were warmer passed the ball—almost symbolically—to Organ, who was during Tony Cross’ final two years at Belmont. He openly than the “official” waiting to receive it with a grin. applied for the head-coaching job at Tennessee Tech last releases by the But regardless of how the hire came to fruition, it’s still a summer, which undoubtedly didn’t sit well with his players. university whom homerun for the athletic department. The good news is that To sum it up, just about everybody was ready for change. Cross had spent Cross certainly didn’t leave the cupboard bare. The Lady Ezell will be that change. As a former player at Alabama, decades working Bruins have the talent to succeed in the Atlantic Sun and it she’s played at the top level of college basketball and knows for. will be fun to see how they play with Ezell at the helm. what it takes to be successful. (Heck, I was ready to lace (Thank goodness Strickland reads the Tennessean.) up my sneakers after listening to her talk.) Like students, The Story Be- Belmont has growing pains hind The Story Pierce Greenberg, Vision sports editor, is a junior jour- Not only that, but Ezell showed she was a class act in So, how did Belmont come across a perfect fit in just one nalism major. how she spoke about Cross. short month? According to athletics director Mike Strick- Like students, Belmont has growing pains

We’d all like to forget those years— growing, moving away from what we once its promises delivered. Belmont can’t be somewhere around junior high—where all Cassidy Hodges were, and setting our sights on what we all things to all people, yet our university of our pictures are polluted with braces, want to be. is expanding – bringing more people and bowl cuts and glitter jeans. We tried out the I’ve heard it said by a few students that promising more things. In the end, we might sliver glitter eye shadow and the boys went Belmont tries to embody whatever you want look more diverse, more put together and a bit overboard with hair gel. They were the it to be. For prospective students seeking more established on the outside, but if we awkward years, and we’d all rather pretend a music business school, Belmont won’t can’t deliver all the things we promise to they didn’t happen. emphasize the Christian atmosphere, and those on the inside, does it even matter how Looking back, I can excuse my perfor- for those seeking a small Christian school, we appear to the world? mance fleece phase, or even my huge high- Belmont puts on its “Jesus hat.” But the I asked my mom once why she never lighted bangs, but I still can’t seem to figure end result is a chameleon identity that purged my closet of my Salvation Army out my duct tape phase. Yes, duct tape. I sometimes disappoints students. Belmont t-shirts and duct tape suspenders. She put it on everything from belts to Bibles, is growing, and in a lot of ways it seems shrugged and replied, “I was more and there is no good reason why. Now, insecure in its identity. It tries on new labels concerned with who you were than what it’s painfully obvious I must not have had and, just like my awkward duct tape phase, you wore.” It makes you wonder, at the core any friends, or else someone would have this too shall pass. In the meantime, we all of our school, who Belmont is and if it looks stopped this tragedy. But don’t worry, Polo’s must patiently wait for Belmont to come the same inside and out. and Sperry’s rescued me from my duct tape into its own. dilemma. There was always that one kid in Cassidy Hodges, Vision But whether it is fashion or just growth ways, some that will stick and others we’ll high school that tried to be everything to video editor, is a senior journalism major. in general, it takes distance to travel from take note never to do again. After three everyone. By senior year, he was nothing one place to another. Within that time, years at Belmont, I think our school might to anyone. In the same way, I think some growing pains occur and stretch us in new be experiencing these same pains. We’re students come to Belmont and never see We interrupt this life for a text message By Julie Kenny Staff Writer and colleagues to respond by the end of the day, if not a primary task while we’re constantly scanning for other within the hour. Being able to multitask or reply imme- people, activities, or opportunities.” I admit that I can be pretty long-winded at times. diately to a colleague or boss, ultimately makes me more A fairly recent trend, this constant scanning has largely Concise verbal storytelling is not my strong suit. But, I was marketable and valuable in the long run.” evaded etiquette, bypassing the social norms typically taken aback when, 30 seconds into explaining my future job The pressure to respond immediately to emails and text placed on such new-fangled ideas. There are no rules on plans and expecting a response from my fiancée, I was met messages isn’t exclusive to the business world. Growing texting in public, nor is there an agreed upon proper time with silence. Peeking around the corner, I saw him sitting up with instant messaging and the Internet has created the to update one’s Facebook status. But, having been ignored on the couch, head bowed and bathed in a blue phosphores- while my lunch date tediously replied to her co-worker’s cence that could only belong to his best friend, Blackberry. text, is rude by my standards, it may be the norm for others. He diligently typed out the memo/email/text message that Have we become so tuned in to Rebecca Ryan, founder of Next Generation Consulting, needed immediate attention. As I listened to the familiar recalls an eye-opening interview for an upcoming project tapping, I thought about this latest addiction sweeping technology that we tune out our about the future of the workplace, with LaShonda, a society. Have we become so tuned into technology that we own lives? 17-year-old girl. tune out our own lives? Ryan was interviewing her at a food court. ““She was According to a Pew Research Center survey, more than IM’ing, had her PDA on, her cell phone, the whole thing … three-fourths of Americans own cell phones, and at least same expectation among Generation Y and the younger I was so put off. I thought, ‘She’s not paying attention!’ “ one-third of them have used their phone to email, instant Millennials. But, technology continues to advance daily and Then Ryan asked, “LaShonda, what do you think will be message or search for information online. That number rises unfortunately, Miss Manners hasn’t kept up—perhaps she the impact of technology on the future of work?’” among full-time workers, as 89 percent have a cell phone didn’t get that email. She looked me in the eye and asked, “What do you mean and 19 percent have a Blackberry, Palm or other personal Regardless, chaotic connectivity is rampant. We have by technology?” digital assistant. The demand to be easily accessible has “continuous partial attention,” a phrase coined by tech- I looked at all of her gadgets on the table and said, “Like increased expectations to always “be on,” even if you’re nology consultant Linda Stone. It’s not motivated by the this stuff!” supposed to be “off.” Technology to push emails to one’s same impulse as multi-tasking, which tends to be more laid She said, ‘This is only technology for people who cell phone makes it that much harder to disconnect from the back. weren’t raised with it.’ office even while watching The Office. “When we multi-task, we are motivated by a desire to “The point that came home to rest for me is that for Jason Zarecor, whose company manages parking facili- be more productive and more efficient. Each activity has LaShonda, IM’ing and texting are like breathing,” Ryan ties downtown, said, “Do I have more demands placed the same priority—we eat lunch AND file papers,” she said. said. “Fish don’t know they’re in water.” on me today as a result of having a company Blackberry? “In a state of continuous partial attention, we’re motivated Absolutely. But in the same respect, I expect my co-workers by a desire not to miss anything.” To do that, we focus on Julie Kenny is a senior public relations major. Page 7 The Student Issue April 29, 2010 , Belmont Vision, page 7

Photo by Cassidy Hodges resident Bob Fisher paints a strong picture On the admissions end, director of undergraduate “There is, at Belmont, sort of the big elephant in of Belmont University’s thriving in terms admissions Anne Edmunds said that the admissions the room, which is, we hire Christian faculty,” Fisher academic quality, student enrollment, committee takes into account “the total picture.” said. “That’s Belmont, that’s part of who we are, and fiscal condition and campus size. Yet for In terms of diversity, “we also consider geographic I try to make that clear to students before they get all the positivity, when Fisher addressed diversity (all 50 states are represented on campus), here.” Pthe faculty and students at last fall’s Opening Convo- academic program diversity (major), religion and Similarly, Johnston said that changing and cation, he quickly cited one area as an ongoing weak classification (freshman/transfer/graduate student),” growing “does not mean that a place loses its spot in his 10 years as Belmont’s president. she said. identity.” “I have one significant disappointment to report With regard to faculty, since 2000, Belmont has Fisher, who has worked at state schools in and that is related to our diversity goals,” Fisher said. conducted hiring under an Affirmative Action Plan. the past with plenty of non-Christian faculty, “We have made what I would deem ‘acceptable prog- In an October interview with director of human acknowledged that this might “complicate ress’ in regard to the ethnic diversity of our staff (18 resources Sally McKay, she said that when an things a little,” and it does limit the interna- percent) and the ethnic and gender diversity of our institution crosses a certain threshold in terms of the tional faculty Belmont can hire. Board of Trustees (36 percent). However, the ethnic money it brings in, the government starts requiring “That keeps us from being more diverse,” diversity of our faculty seems to be stuck at about 5 an AAP to do things like keep federal grants. junior biology major Lindsey Dalton said, percent and the percentage for our students actually When Belmont is looking to hire, the university in response to learning about the Christian declined last year from 13 percent to 10 percent.” tries to create an applicant pool that is representa- requirement. Seven months later, Fisher unveiled the Vision tive (or as representative as possible) of the available Senior accounting major 2015 document, a five-year-plan for Belmont minorities based on statistics collected from the Jenna Davidson said that she covering everything from enrollment goals and Department of Education and the U.S. census. wouldn’t mind having professors potential new building projects to turning Belmont The challenge is filling that applicant pool. with different opinions. “If you into “Nashville’s university.” “We proactively try to find ways of changing let students who are non-Chris- The plan also touches on diversity among the processes and the impact of those processes to reach tians in, you should let faculty faculty and students. Under the heading “Increase better employment opportunities for those groups,” in,” she said. Diversity and Increase Cultural Competency” are McKay said. “It is an issue that we three bullet points: The 2008 AAP describes efforts taken to notify have to be alert to, but various groups that a position is open, saying that beyond that, beyond the • Create a culture of inclusion; “the university... is utilizing online advertising national implications • Actively and intentionally recruit diverse faculty, venues including The Chronicle of Higher Educa- of the predominance of staff, board, and students; tion, HigherEdJob.com, InsideHigherEdJobs.com, different religions of • Ensure learning experiences that enable the NCAA website, and the Black Coaches Associa- most countries, we’re students to gain strong intercultural compe- tion website.” open to anyone who’s tency. According to McKay though, filling out the Christian,” Fisher applicant groups is an “imperfect science.” The said. Over the past 10 years, Belmont has increased in diversity. According to the common set data from 2009-2010, there are more females than males, and the numbers of minori- ties on campus have risen from the neighborhood of 200 to close to 600. However, as Fisher said, though the numbers have doubled, so has Belmont’s enrollment. “It’s slow progress,” he said. Diversity can include a wide By Erin Carson Managing Editor range of categories, but Dean of Students Dr. Andrew Johnston Page design by Cassidy Hodges says Belmont is identifying diver- Video Editor sity in terms of race, ethnicity and gender specifically. As far as non-visible minorities, religious or economic, numbers are based on “perfect world stats,” she said, for example, Belmont does not have a plan to target meaning that the percentages “don’t always reflect these students, both Fisher and Johnston said. that because the numbers are small.” “What we want to do is create an environment However, that is what McKay says the govern- where everyone feels welcome,” Fisher said. ment is looking for in AAPs – a “good faith effort.” Meeting that goal has prompted Belmont to put a McKay said that Belmont is always vulnerable plan into place. to a random audit, but the government will not “It’s a big step to say, here’s what we’re doing intervene unless there are complaints or anything strategically,” Johnston said. Belmont is working that could be considered a lack of a “good faith with Derek Young and his wife Allison on a program effort.” To stay within that designation, practices are called “Welcome Home.” Young worked with followed, applicants are treated equally and judg- Cracker Barrel after the restaurant chain found itself ments are based on qualifications. involved in issues with discrimination. Fisher said he wants Belmont to be a place where The program in part will cover making sure people of all varieties feel welcome. Diversifying the Belmont’s hiring practices are effective and focusing faculty has been a struggle. on certain high schools in the Nashville area that “I contend that if you can’t do that, you can’t would “bring us a higher pool of minority students,” really change, you can’t bring young people here to Fisher said. There is also a plan that will be formally go to school and then look around and see who works introduced in the fall. here, what do they look like; there’s an unintended As far as where Fisher sees Belmont in the future, message there that we want to change,” he said. he draws on the current two classes enrolled in the Apart from that, Fisher sees religious roots in the school of pharmacy as examples. push for diversity. “I say just walk into a classroom when they’re He cited the story from the Gospel of John where all there and look at them and you’d see what we’re the Pharisees asked Jesus what should be done with trying to do, they’re from all over the world, they’re a woman who committed adultery. Jesus bent down from all ethnic groups, it looks like the US of A, and and drew in the sand and when they continued to the world together, it looks like the streets of New ask, he responded “let the one among you who is York City,” Fisher said. He also said he expects the without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” law school to fill in similarly. Fisher likens what he’s doing to drawing in the sand. Part of what accounts for the make up of the phar- “Jesus just opened his arms to people and loved macy school is starting from scratch, as Fisher put them, cared for them, embraced them, he didn’t turn it. For the rest of the student body, the process will anyone away,” Fisher said. be more gradual in terms of changing the ethnic and Though, while the university might be open and racial make up as well as changing attitudes about in pursuit of diversity, all faculty at Belmont must diversity. be Christian. THE STUDENT ISSUE APRIL 29, 2010 , BELMONT VISION, PAGE 8 More students, more concerns

By Erin Carson MANAGING EDITOR be at the top of everyone’s list, “with the Belmont’s Vision 2015 plan outlines a current building that we have, we just don’t number of future bulding projects, including know where we would put it. We’re just residential space, dinning facilities, general trying to be very, very creative and work classrooms, and a mall/plaza development. with what we have.” Even before those projects go forward, The library itself was re-purposed from today’s students are expressing concerns its original construction as a classroom about the state of student facilities at building. From the student perspective, Belmont. Namely, the issue is condensed junior Erin Cleary put it like this: “At to this question: As Belmont shoots toward college, the library should be the best an enrollment of 7,000 students, where will building on campus.” current students study, eat and sleep? This past year, the Student Government Association worked with administration to Student housing extend the hour of the Beaman Student Life Another point Center until 3 a.m. Outgoing SGA President of concern for D.J. King said he saw this as “hopefully a students is step towards getting a common location 24 housing. Over hours for students.” the past three years Belmont built two new freshmen dorms and this year Bunch Library announced that Wright/Maddox—women’s The and men’s dorms with a common lobby – staff will shift to housing upperclassmen. of the In the housing crunch of the past few library, years, Wright hall was tripled for several another years. In Maple Hall this academic year, on popular study spot, certain fl oors there were three women to a said that despite the room. Beaman’s extended hours, Anthony Donovan, director of residence students still express concern life, discussed the series of residential facili- about a lack of late night study spaces, ties built over the past 10 years that include PHOTO BY HANNAH HYDE and safe ones at that. Maple, as well as Kennedy Hall, Thrailkill Students use the Beaman for studying, socializing and passing time in between classes. Although the library offers extended Hall, and the second phase of the Hillside hours from after mid-term through fi nals, apartments. junior Sukhbir Grewal said, “I think their Many students though, say they feel that biggest problem is they’re not open late campus housing could be better. enough.” Hail Hall resident Aaron Espiritu said Reference librarian Rachel Scott said maintenance is an issue, from leaky pipes to they’ve discussed the option of longer hours spotty electricity. throughout the semester, but there are some Similarly, freshman Maple Hall resident obstacles. Danielle Hollis appreciates that there are “We’ve talked to a lot of different people always people in the lobby of Maple Hall, about expanding library hours, including but wasn’t thrilled about having two room- security,” she said, “and they don’t think mates. “It’s tough, it’s hard to just in there they can keep this part of campus safe at by yourself, there’s always someone else night. They don’t have the personnel to do there. There’s not enough room to do that.” it.” “We’ve tried to build as our demand Scott also explained that it is not viable has occurred,” Donovan said, “and that can to keep the library open because they do not often make it tough from one year to the have the staff and budgets have been fl at for next.” The university has a certain ratio of a while. students who live on campus. Donovan said “I do like the fact that there’s usually an that if the university wants to maintain that, open computer and it provides a quiet place more residence halls will probably have to to study without distractions,” Grewal said. be built. Two years ago, the library added study “Everybody who needed housing – who desks and opened up the layout to try and is a current student of ours – we were able accommodate more group study areas. to provide them an opportunity for that,” he “Probably the biggest concern is study said with regard to the recent housing draw space,” said Jenny Rushing, coordinator of for fall. Reference Services. The library has four As for keeping up facilities, Donovan study rooms for a student body of around said buildings are on a rotation for renova- 5500. tion and maintenance. He said that over the According to the records the library years students have taken better care of the PHOTO BY HANNAH HENDRICKS All freshmen and older students living in dorms are required to have meal plans, providing the keeps, the 2008-2009 school year saw a facilities, so there has not been as much of a cafeteria with a steady stream of traffi c three times a day. 13 percent increase in study room usage. need to do major work. Traffi c through the front door was at 89,348 “Each year we take a series of buildings the same thing everyday; a sandwich and for the same period, an 18 percent increase. in Hillside. We do roughly 12-20 apartments The Caf pizza, it never lets you down. I like it,” said “We do need to expand to provide the in Bruin Hills and the Commons. We do When not freshman Zach Witcher. services that we would like to and that a those with carpet and paint.” Donovan said. in class, in Others have a differing view about what lot of Belmont students have expressed Upkeep for residence facilities comes the dorms, or the cafeteria provides for its students who interest in,” Scott said. “We don’t have a out of the university’s maintenance budget. studying, the rely heavily on eating there. lot of the other services that a university “Students have to remember that there are cafeteria is a “The caf has leftovers almost every day. library might offer like a copy center, media lots of university priorities,” Donovan said. pretty good shot They repeat a lot of the food they have on a spaces, more computer labs.” “Classroom buildings need attention, dining when it comes to weekly basis,” said freshman Jared Oban. Recently the library conducted a survey halls need attention, other facilities that places where students “It needs to start focusing on what students to fi nd out what students would like, things the university has, have to compete with spend time. want. I do think their mac and cheese is such as longer hours, free printing and a housing priorities as well.” Many students have mixed feelings great, however.” café, but feasibility is an issue. Free printing He noted that housing facilities probably on the cafeteria’s ability to provide food can lead to large amounts of wasted paper, get the most war and tear, but other facilities for everyone. “It’s pretty good for what it Additional reporting by Robert Duke and Jen and although Rushing said that a café would cannot be neglected. is, for being caf food and all. I really eat Todd THE STUDENT ISSUE APRIL 29, 2010 , BELMONT VISION, PAGE 9 Mental health issues rise on campus

By Dustin Stout STAFF WRITER But the ones that come to me who are help. A circumstance like this, Leonard- in student crises, Counseling Services has taking full-course loads, working two Martin said, occurs when the trained profes- already updated its website with informa- A spike in mental health part-time jobs, taking voice lessons or sionals in Belmont’s counseling network tion for family and friends who may be issues at Belmont has resulted doing an internship – they sacri- determine that using additional resources worried certain students who are experi- in 12 psychiatric hospital- fi ce their nutrition and sleep to can help the student. encing a mental health issue. izations in the fall of 2009 keep going. I see it as a really “We have a number of doctors and Additionally, STARS – Students at alone, an increase of more huge problem.” psychiatrists that we refer to in the Nash- Risk – each semester asks faculty members than 500 percent from the But it’s not just a Belmont ville area,” she said. “Feedback from to be attentive to noticeable changes in semester before. problem. students has been consistently positive.” any student’s behavior that might indicate Peg Leonard-Martin, Leonard-Martin contacted Counseling Services at Belmont is emotional hurdles that they need help with. director of Counseling surrounding universities, and always busy. They’re “fi lling every hour, STARS can bridge those concerns and help Services, believes the they’ve all seen an increase in every day, every week,” said Leonard- to direct them to professionals on campus reason behind the increase mental health issues on their Martin. who can assist them. is obvious: the added campuses. Asking for help early in times of stress college students “We’re not alone. It is a struggle is imperative. To the director of experience every day. national phenomenon right Counseling Services, it’s a sign of strength. “One of the things now, but we had a very “Anyone who ever comes to ask for help Counseling Services that was a shock to me horrifi c problem in the fall,” always thinks they’re the only ones going was the pressure that a lot Leonard-Martin said. through it,” Leonard-Martin said. “But it’s Phone: 615-460-6856 of Belmont students are Counseling Services can part of being a human being. You’re not under,” Leonard-Martin treat severe psychological alone. You’re never going to be judged here. Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm said. “Mind you, I don’t problems, but some cases, You’re only helped, and we are sacredly Located in the lobby of Wright Hall see the students that like each of the 12 in the confi dential.” just breeze on through. fall of 2009, require outside Because of concern about an increase Growth quite a stretch for Belmont

By Brian Wilson STAFF WRITER Ryan Combs, one of the fi rst students to learn about Vision land. Lasley is certain, however, that Belmont will continue 2015. “One of the biggest things they have going for them is to try to buy more land around the area, including property Construction won’t stop anytime soon at Belmont, their smallness.” on Ashwood, Delmar, Compton and Bernard avenues. according to the university’s Vision 2015 plan. Drake is also concerned about the university’s size, but “There’s a lot of stuff we don’t have in the area,” said The plan calls for continuing construction on and off doubts it will be an issue while he is on campus. Lasley. “But it’s a real slow process to acquire property. It’s the main campus, including everything from building new “I guess in the long run it will be good, but now it’s hard to come by.” athletic facilities in Rose Park and renovating the Belmont going to just be a pain,” he said. Combs said he believes that if the school does expand, it Heights Sanctuary to restoring the historic bell tower and Some of the construction, including the pharmacy will need even more land on which to build. possibly redoing the cafeteria. building and the new freshman residence halls, will be “I think Belmont has to make a decision. If they want to Most of the construction will occur on the northwest completed when students return to campus in August. expand, they’re need to expand with land and not just build corner of campus near 15th and Wedgewood Avenues, said The psychology building – the red brick building north of on what we have,” he said. Steve Lasley, vice president of fi nance and operations. the soccer fi eld, will be gone, and that department will be The decision would have its share of consequences to The land will be home to the new School of Law sched- housed in the pharmacy buiding. many, Combs said. “You’re going to lose the community uled to open to its fi rst class of students for the 2011-12 Land shouldn’t be an issue with this phase of construc- feeling if it happens though.” academic year, as well as new conference center, which will tion, as Belmont already owns more than 80 percent of the also provide additional classroom space. Later, the area might also house a new science and religion building. The plans also call for a revitalization of the soccer fi eld. By fall, the fi eld is expected to be a park-like plaza open to students. “It’ll be like the National Mall in Washington,” Lasley said. Concrete benches curving out from the new pharmacy building will surround the mall. A 1000-car parking garage behind Belmont Heights Baptist Church is also planned. A connecting pathway will connect the main campus and the proposed garage. But after years of construction in the middle of campus, many Belmont students say they are concerned about the ongoing building and the noise, dust and frequent street and sidewalk detours on campus. “I’m all for Belmont trying to expand and improve everything, but it shouldn’t interfere with people studying or sleeping. When it does, it goes too far,” said Ian Drake, who has lived next to the new dorm construction for the last two semesters. The new construction should also avoid affecting student life as much as possible, Drake said. “It depends on where it’s at and where it’s going to be close to,” he said. “But if it’s far enough away, it won’t have much of an effect, which will be good.” Lasley is optimistic that what’s ahead may be better for students. “I think this construction will be much less disrup- tive than the previous ones,” Lasley said. “It will run a lot smoother than other projects.” More buildings will house more students, and many current students express concern that the small community PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL KROUSKOP feeling that brought them to Belmont is in jeopardy. Construction has become a constant fi xture at Belmont. Current on-campus construction projects include a new dormatory, the “They need to ask students how they feel about it,” said pharmacy building and the law school, with even more developments expected by 2015. THE STUDENT ISSUE APRIL 29, 2010 , BELMONT VISION, PAGE 10 Proposal for student organization prompts Belmont dialogue group on LGBT issues By Abby Selden STAFF WRITER “I think if you’re going to say that this issue is divisive, kind of sounds like you’re shoving it to the side as opposed Belmont University recently made a decision not to it should apply to all issues that are controversial,” Verzon to an organization,” said sophomore neuroscience major charter Belmont Bridge Builders, a proposed student orga- said. “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous for them to have a Roxy Musharrafeia. “I think the organization would be very nization to foster dialogue about the intersection of lesbian, double standard.” worthwhile because these issues need to be discussed.” gay, bisexual and transgender – LGBT – issues and the Johnston said another reason Bridge Builders was not Sophomore biology major Sylvia Chac said the dialogue Christian faith. chartered was because “it was the type of organization that group seems like it was created to “appease the public.” Instead, the university is sponsoring a dialogue group, we have not found appropriate for the campus community in “I feel like the students are a lot more liberal than the which has already met several times, on many of the issues the past.” people in charge, and I feel like we have a lot of different set forth in the Bridge Builders proposal. But Dr. Bonnie Smith, who serves as an informal “Given the history of the type of campus that we are, adviser to the group, disagrees that historical prec- we didn’t want to create a group to start a campus-wide edent should factor in the decision. “If we truly are organization around things that could be potentially divisive student-centered, then we need to acknowledge that or diffi cult for the institution at this point,” said Dr. Andrew our students may bring things to us that make us Johnston, Belmont University’s Dean of Student Affairs. slightly uncomfortable or that might not jive with our Junior Robbie Maris, who is now Bridge Builders’ history,” she said. president, fi rst started Bridge Builders as a Facebook group. Maris thought Bridge Builders could serve as a After that group gained members, he and other students held medium to dispel stereotypes about the gay commu- interest meetings to gauge student interest in turning Bridge nity. Gay people, Maris said, are widely perceived Builders into an offi cial organization. as being promiscuous and rarely Christian. “We’re Last semester, Maris and others began the process of not the stereotype,” he said, noting that Bridge trying to get this recognition, offering in their rationale that Builders includes many students who are both gay and Bridge Builders would strive to: Christian, but welcoming to any interested Belmont students. • foster examination of the intersection of According to the group’s rationale, diverse opinions Christian faith and LGBT related issues on LGBT issues within the Christian community, and in the wider culture, necessitate “fair, loving acknowl- through group discussion, use of diverse edgment of LGBT individuals, their supporters, and guest speakers, and possible convocation their dissenters.” events on Belmont’s campus; As an alternative to chartering Bridge Builders as a • promote healthy, respectful exchange student organization, Belmont is sponsoring a dialogue between the Christian and LGBT communi- group to discuss issues in the group’s proposal. Partici- ties present on-campus. pants include those who helped create the proposal, as well as other students, faculty and Johnston himself. “While we didn’t want to charter an organization Earlier this semester, the Student Life Council recom- or to have a campus-wide conversation on that run mended approval of Bridge Builders. While the council by just a student organization, we did recognize that makes recommendations for chartering potential student the conversation was important,” Johnston said. “We organizations, the decision ultimately falls on the offi ces of wanted to give that a place to occur.” the provost and student affairs. Belmont Provost Dr. Marcia So far, the dialogue group is not open. “To have the kind goals than the people in charge,” said freshman music busi- McDonald decided to take the proposed organization “under of candid conversation we hope to have, we try to develop a ness major Ale Delgado. Sponsoring the dialogue group review.” relationship with one another,” he said. instead of chartering the organization, she said, seems “not Ultimately, the university decided not to charter Bridge The dialogue group is not designed to forge a consensus so much hatred as disapproval, shoving it under the rug.” Builders, and instead to sponsor the dialogue group. or answer a question, but “to produce a rich conversation, so Verzon said that, ideally, “students should be able to have “My decision was to respond to a student need for that’s what we’re all working on,” Johnston said. their own sovereignty” to discuss these issues “without other talking about some of the issues that were raised in McDonald said the dialogue group provides a struc- people supervising it.” the Bridge Builders proposal, and we have done that,” tured environment for a conversation to ensure that diverse Smith said she respects the people in the administration McDonald said. “I think it’s a responsible place for us to be perspectives are recognized. “A student organization is who made the decision, but she thinks that to charter an as a university, given our broadly ecumenical community.” not necessarily committed to a range of perspectives,” she organization such as Bridge Builders is not out of step with According to Johnston, the potential for Bridge Builders explained. University-sponsored dialogue groups, however, Belmont’s mission. “We are a Christian university, and we have to be “attentive to the are a student-centered university, and we say that we care broader university community.” about courage and compassion and faith,” she said. “Because “If we truly are student-centered, then we Dr. Andrea Stover, another I want to embody courage, which is part of our mission informal adviser to Bridge statement, I am not afraid to help that along.” need to acknowledge that our students may Builders, said she believes there Maris specifi cally pointed out sections of Vision 2015, are good intentions behind the a document that outlines Belmont’s goals for the next fi ve bring things to us that make us slightly dialogue groups, and she hopes it years and how, to him, not chartering Bridge Builders is not will eventually lead to the orga- consistent with these sections. “If the administration wants uncomfortable or that might nization being chartered. to create a ‘culture of inclusion,’ they need to start owning not jive with our history.” But Stover said she thinks up to what they preach,” he said. there is uncertainty about the As Belmont reaches out to enroll 7,000 students by 2015, Dr. Bonnie Smith ultimate purpose of the dialogue Maris said, “there’s obviously going to be more gay, lesbian, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH group. bisexual students on campus. If we grow more, Belmont is “I don’t think there really going to need a home for those students.” is a common goal among the But some students say the decision not to charter Bridge to be divisive was one reason the group was not chartered. members of the dialogue group, and I think that may be a Builders should not come as a surprise. Senior mass commu- “Given our own history and the fact that we are a broadly source of confusion and frustration for people,” she said. nications major Ebony Cosby said she had no problem with ecumenical institution with all sorts of perspectives on the That different people involved have different views on the the group existing, but felt the decision was understandable topic, we recognize that it’s potentially provocative or even purpose of the dialogue group makes it “a very curious at a “school that’s openly Christian.” divisive,” he said. “We don’t want it to distract or become establishment,” she added. And sophomore audio engineering technology major a problem, and most of all we don’t want it to prove to be Maris commended Johnston for the way he is conducting Jeremy Quarles said the dialogue group seemed like “a good something that’s divisive to our university community.” the groups. “I think he was happy to take on this. It’s more solution” if the goal was to discuss how the group could In the past, however, Belmont has chartered at least one focused, we can probably get more done.” eventually become a student organization. student organization that centers on an issue – abortion – Some, however, are not content with a dialogue group Johnston said choosing not to charter Bridge Builders as that has long been volatile in society. Belmont’s Students alone and believe the organization should have been char- a student organization was not a simple decision. “We want for Life strives to “educate the campus, students, and faculty tered. to be sensitive not only to … the number of people that are regarding abortion and infanticide” and “to put the abortion Stover said she was disappointed when the proposal interested but even those that might not be speaking up or issue out front, promote a pro-life culture and serve local was not chartered, but she said the fi rst dialogue group was alternative perspectives on either side,” he said. crisis pregnancy centers.” supportive and respectful. But she also said, “If it had been Whether or not Bridge Builders is ever chartered in the Sophomore Pomai Verzon, a political science and inter- in student hands, I don’t think it would have been any less future, Maris thinks it is important to clear up confusion national economics major, became involved with Bridge successful.” about LGBT issues and Christianity. “For any dissenters out Builders shortly before the group learned it would not be Some students felt that approving the organization there, you really can be gay and Christian,” he said. “If those chartered. She questioned labeling Bridge Builders as would have been a better choice than choosing to hold the in the divide actually opened their minds, it would benefi t potentially divisive while chartering Students for Life. university-sponsored dialogue group. “A dialogue group this campus, this country and above all themselves.” ideas

The Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Page 11

Top Five Albums on iTunes

1. Glee - The Music - The Power of Madonna by Glee Cast 2. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum 3. Raymond v. Raymond by Usher 4. Congratulations by MGMT 5. Animal by Ke$ha a THE BELMONT& VISION, APRILe 29, 2010 Best of the Best 2010 Belmont’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business hosted the fi fth and fi nal showcase of the season on Apr. 24 in the Curb Event Center. Best of the Best featured the winners of each individual showcase including Cheryl LuQuire (country), Miss B (urban/pop), The Delta Saints (rock) and Joshua Eric Wright (Christian), along with the winners of the ASCAP Writers’ Night showcases: Clare Dunn, Hailey Faith, Hailey Steele, Josh Johnson, Greg Bates and Jordan Kyle Reynolds. Also honored was country music hall-of-fame inductee and longtime Belmont supporter Vince Gill. sports

PHOTOS BY BRETT PIERCE Vandy’s Rites of Spring washes out By Lance Conzett what was to come. The Delta Saints, who won the coveted “battle of the EDITOR Saturday morning, the National Weather Service issued bands winner” slot scheduled for Saturday afternoon, was A series of band cancellations, rain and the looming several advisories for Tennessee, including a “particularly the fi rst band to have its set cancelled as weather conditions threat of a tornado watch marred Vanderbilt’s Rites of dangerous situation” tornado warning for western counties, deteriorated. The Belmont blues rockers, who were featured fitnesSpring music festival last weekend. early in thes morning. in the Best of the Best showcase on campus later that night, The festival offi cially kicked off on Friday afternoon, As the storm progressed east, Middle Tennessee fell won a competition Thursday to secure the slot. with performances by soul band Lubriphonic, Sierra under the same watch advisory at 1 p.m., causing festival “It was an honor to be selected out of so many talented Leone’s Refugee All Stars and indie rock stalwarts Cold organizers to delay the 3 p.m. opening until the advisory bands that auditioned, and it was a huge disappointment War Kids. As French indie pop band Phoenix began to set ended at 9 p.m. The delay resulted in many bands having to have our set canceled,” said bassist David Supica. “The up their equipment, clouds gathered for an ominous sign of their sets called off. most frustrating thing was that the storm let up during our set time (3:30), so we would not have had any issues with rain or lightning.” A total of four bands were waylaid by the weather, including New Orleans jazz musician Trombone Shorty and Salvador Santana, son of guitarist Carlos Santana. Another, Two Door Cinema Club, was forced to cancel their perfor- mance earlier in the week due to volcanic ash shutting down European air space. The most disappointment from ticket holders, however, came from the announcement that Passion Pit, a popular electronic act known best for their song “Sleepyhead,” would not play the festival due to illness. Response on Twitter and Facebook refl ected signifi cant disappointment, with one user half-jokingly asking for “a doctor’s note confi rming [their] ‘illness’.” “Good lord, I am so glad I didn’t pay for my Rites tickets this year,” wrote junior music business major Emily Harris on Facebook in response to the announcement. “I’m bummed I didn’t get to have a Rites experience at all this year.” Despite the cancellations, Supica understands the predicament that festival organizers were put in. “Regardless, I can only imagine how hard coordinating an event like that must be, so there’s obviously no hard feel- PHOTO LANCE CONZETT ings,” Supica said. Parisian indie pop band Phoenix performed on Friday night, narrowly avoiding the storms that pounded Vanderbilt’s “We’re looking forward to trying out again next year.” alumni lawn on Saturday. During “Fences,” singer Thomas Mars leapt into the audience, bidding them to sing along. Page 12 The Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll High School YEAH! brings arts education and all-ages music to Murfreesboro youth

By Lance Conzett Vision Editor programming was built on the Middle Tennessee is home to dozens of back of what had already been music venues, some of them iconic pieces of accomplished with Southern local history. That number explodes into the Girls Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp. hundreds if bars, coffee shops, band shells, SGRRC is a summer camp record stores and anywhere else where founded in 2003 where girls guitars are strummed are considered. But between the ages of 10 and 17 despite Music City USA’s musical economy are able to learn instruments, Photos by Lance Conzett most music venues in the area bar minors form bands, write music and from entry, including local live music eventually perform for an audi- Between a barber shop and cornerstones Mercy Lounge and Exit/In. ence. a law office is YEAH!, short “Youth Empowerment thru Arts Between the years of for “Youth Empowerment thru Arts and Humanities,” and Humanities” (or, more familiarly, 2003 and 2009, the program Murfreesboro’s only all-ages “YEAH!”) intends to fill the void of all ages continued to grow without a music venue. The build- music venues in the area. building. YEAH! was officially ing is split into two halves, Sandwiched between “Pastime Barber formed as the umbrella under a lounge and study area in Shop and Pool Hall” and the law firm of which SGRRC and programs one side and, down a flight Kidwell, South and Beasley on the square held during the year, like of stairs (right), a music venue and recording studio. in Murfreesboro, YEAH! is a combina- School of Recording, operated. For $20 per month, teens tion community center and music venue Without a central location, are given full access to the established for the benefit of Boro teens. For however, the staff held classes facilities, including classes $20 per month, teenagers have full run of wherever they could secure on subjects like screenprint- space—MTSU classrooms, ing and access to weekly empty properties on the market, shows featuring local bands anywhere the low-budget effort like Daniel Pujol, Heypenny, YEAH! Wants You Caitlin Rose, The Features could pitch their tent in. and Glossary. With more than seven rock ‘n’ “The idea was, ‘we’ve got roll camps being held in Tennes- this art program. Let’s do some- see this summer, YEAH! director thing a little more permanent,’” Ryan York stressed the need for York said. In 2009, the staff negotiated a space including occasional Kings of Leon backs up to a business boasting the title volunteers to work with teenage deal to lease the 6000 square-foot building openers The Features, hip psychedelic “Nashville’s Biggest Adult Bookstore,” sells campers. Volunteers in the past and establish the programs in a single place. punks JEFF the Brotherhood and Murfrees- beer and was briefly shut down in 2008 after have managed bands, taught Down a flight of stairs is the second half boro alt. country stalwarts Glossary. Metro Code Enforcement discovered code classes and otherwise helped of YEAH!, the music venue and recording “The phrase we always hear is ‘Wow, I violations as well as an illegal business. keep the camp running smooth- area. wish this was here when I was a kid’,” York “I appreciate the Muse having a positive ly. For more information on York, a Murfreesboro native and Middle said. perspective toward all ages shows,” York Tennessee State University graduate, has Other bands like Shoot the Mountain said, “but, at the same time, you have to donating time, money or musical first-hand knowledge of how difficult it is and Kindergarten Circus are more directly keep it appropriate. The reason why we’re equipment, see: http://yeahinthe- for minors to see live music in the area. involved, with band members serving as able to accomplish what we do is because boro.org “Even when I was a kid, it was the tradi- volunteers or, in the case of 18-year-old the older kids instantly take to mentorship tional pedagogy,” York said. “You never Kindergarten Circus singer Dillon Watson, with the younger kids.” really had a place. We’d sneak into the Red board members. Because YEAH! is now secure in a the facilities, which is split into two halves: Rose for shows sometimes and get kicked “We sat around and tried to think about permanent building, the staff have been 114-A and 114-B, the community center and out. Even then, that wasn’t your place.” what it’s like to be 15, and for some of us able to devote more time to developing the venue. YEAH! is the only all-ages music venue that wasn’t too long ago,” York said. “We the program and engaging in community 114-A opens into a large lobby with in Murfreesboro. The other venues like basically let the kids run it.” outreach. musical instruments scattered around a few Wall Street, The Boro, Liquid Smoke and The community center/music venue “The thing we all fall victim to is that we chairs and tables. One wall is nearly filled Temptation Club have strict age limits for combination has been championed as a just can’t say ‘no’ to kids,” York admits. On by a mural painted by members. According legal and financial reasons. Many of these potentially successful alternative to finan- top of the workshops and classes running in to publicist Meredith Kotas, the wall gets venues, in reaction to the smoking ban in cially risky businesses that only operate as the Maple St. building, volunteers have also repainted monthly, with the kids taking bars and restaurants passed in 2007, opted music venues. been holding free programs in the commu- control of the process. to raise the age limit to 21 in order to retain Earlier this year, Bon Iver singer Justin nity centers built into Murfreesboro’s Upstairs is a reading/study room, where the smoker crowd. Vernon and brother/tour manager Nate Section Eight housing. several members are camped out, working “When you’re looking at businesses built Vernon announced intentions to build a YEAH! has also expanded the Southern through their homework. The room also acts on entertainment, it’s no secret that alcohol music venue called “Union College” in Girls Rock & Roll Camp concept into two as a small library, with the shelves offering is how you make your money,” York admits. their hometown of Eau Claire, Wis., which sister camps. “Rock Blok,” which started as titles like “Matilda,” “A Raisin in the Sun” “The sales win, the kids lose.” would, like YEAH!, marry live music with a series of eight-week courses based on the and “Punk Marketing: Get Off Your Ass Keeping with its mission of supporting workshops and classes. SGRRC program, has expanded outside of and Join the Revolution,” along with a rack young people in a safe environment, YEAH! Similarly, Rocketown in Nashville is Murfreesboro into four new summer camps of locally produced zines. Down the hall doesn’t offer any alcoholic beverages one of only two all-ages music venues in in McMinnville, Gainesboro, Smyrna and is a computer lab, where some classes like outside of specific fundraiser shows closed Nashville that have survived the economy, Woodbury. In Na shville, “Tennessee Teens website design and self-publication may be off to the usual younger clientele. increased governmental pressure and the Rock & Roll Camp,” will hold its inaugural held. In order to stay competitive and to constantly shifting attitudes of teenagers. camp at University School of Nashville in More than 40 volunteers teach classes, remain affordable to teens, YEAH! charges Although the music venue is the focal point June. work with kids and help with other tasks in only $5 for cover to shows. of the space, Rocketown also offers a skate Because of the amount of work involved and around YEAH!. The staff is constantly “Concert ticket prices are the only thing park, a coffee bar, pool tables and areas for in putting these camps on and keeping costs reviewing applications for more volunteers, that haven’t gone up with inflation,” York studying and small community groups. low for interested teens, York stresses that particularly college students interested in joked. The venue is a stark contrast to The volunteers are always welcome and needed. helping out at the venue’s affiliated summer Local musicians have enthusiastically Muse, an older all-ages venue that has “We definitely rely on our volunteers. rock camps. embraced the venue. A litany of popular earned a reputation for being unclean and The $20 membership barely covers our According to director Ryan York, the local artists and bands have played in the potentially dangerous. The venue, which expenses,” York said. The Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Page 13 Pinball Wizard With apologies to The Who, ‘From Soho down to Bucksnort, I must have played them all’ By Will Hoekenga Staff writer makeshift kitchen, let Interstate towns are not often my destination. They are me in on the legend waypoints, signs and reminders of how much farther I have of Bucksnort, which to navigate around incompetent drivers and cope with the alleges that the ever-growing presence of tractor-trailers bearing down in community got its my rearview mirror. Occasionally, if the length of the trip name during prohibi- warrants it, an exit can act as bathroom break providence. tion when a local man Other than that exception, my motto is to keep on truckin’. named Buck started But when I’m driving down I-40 in between Nashville and running moonshine. Memphis, how can I do anything else but stop when a sign Thirsty travelers and points to “Bucksnort”? locals would stop in Off the ramp, a small cluster of three or four buildings at Buck’s to “have a hardly resembles a town. A roadside sign welcomes all snort.” Conversation comers to Hickman County, home of the 1997 Class AA falls back onto the state basketball champion Lady Bulldogs. Aside from a pinball machines and gas station and a Travel Inn, a few points of interest are not Kathy informs me that quite as standard: a trout fishing ranch, an adult superstore all the machines on the and a pinball museum. wall behind me still With only enough time to visit one of these attractions, function, one of them I pull into the parking lot at Yesterdaze Pinball Museum free of charge. I can since it also houses a restaurant called The Snack Shack have my names written (even though the sign for the trout fishing ranch tempts on a card attached me with its cowboy hat-wearing rainbow trout and down- to the machine if I home promise of proximity: “You’re About There!”). The achieve the high score. building, off-white stucco trimmed in teal and topped off My plate is clean, and I with a tin roof, reminds me that although I am staring at a know what must be done. stucco building containing a pinball museum, I am still out I pay for my lunch and down in the country. I am still in Bucksnort, Tennessee. amble over to the Williams into the I walk in and a mounted deer head stares down at me. It Lucky Ace machine. Beneath middle one wears a red bandana and is adorned with Mardi Gras beads the previous player’s score, a lumi- … two … three around its neck and antlers. “WELCOME TO BUCKS- nous Jack and Queen stare at each other with times. And just like NORT TN.” is spray painted in red block letters on a yellow sultry eyes. I press the start button and the machine that, it ends. I will not be memorial- sign beneath the plaque that holds the head. All around the whirs to life with beeps and buzzes and flashing lights and I ized as a Bucksnort pinball champion today. Instead, I settle trophy head are wall-mounted pinball backglass displays, feel as if I’m in the middle of a carnival midway. The silver for signing my name to the Yesterdaze Pinball Museum the artwork that surrounds the slots where the score rolls up. ball drops, and I quickly pull on the plunger and launch it guest sheet that will be taped to the wall, along with the Most give off a retro/futuristic vibe, like something out of with a clang from the spring. Although I work the flippers others, once it is full. the Jetsons. One depicts a Grand Prix scene, with Indy cars valiantly, the ball eventually bests my reflexes and plunks racing down a bright yellow track and a city full of sharp- angled buildings that reflect the cerulean sky in their many windows, all rising up on a hill behind the cars. For 25 bucks, it could be mine to take home. The museum itself is in the adjoining room, which also serves as The Snack Shack. Brightly colored pieces of paper covered in the signatures and parting messages of visitors are taped to the wall by the cash register. Rock ‘n’ roll from the ‘50s and ‘60s is playing from a jukebox in the far corner and bouncing off the cinderblock walls that are painted with a Tennessee Volunteer orange checkerboard trim and littered with old 45s. And, yes, the jukebox does have The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” in its repertoire. The whole place smells like home cooking—the plate lunch special is ham with scalloped potatoes and minced vegetables. I sit down on a stool along a wooden bar that seems more appropriate for slinging beers than plate lunches. Vintage board games are on display on the wall behind the bar. Pit and Clue are the only familiar titles. While I wait for the special I chat with the proprietress, Kathy, and stare at the vintage pinball machines along the opposite wall in all their bleep-bloopy, Technicolor glory. Gottlieb or Williams made them all; I know this because the manufacturer’s name usually prefaces the title of the game—Gottlieb’s Ice-Revue or Williams Lucky Ace, for instance. Kathy and her husband, Doug, decided to start collecting vintage machines after finding a nice deal on one in a thrift store. They eventually came across a seller willing to part with his whole collection for a reasonable price, but they still haggled and got it for less. My ham is taken up, dripping and steaming, out of one of three Crock-Pots behind the long bar. Instead of a proper kitchen, there is just an assortment of things along the counter that one might find in Mom’s kitchen: the aforemen- tioned Crock-Pots, a George Foreman grill, a deep fryer, Photos by Will Hoekenga and a brick oven. The plate lunch special is brought to me. It A collection of vintage pinball machines reminiscent of a carnival midway or a pre-Pac-Man arcade is installed off the beaten tastes like home. track in Bucksnort, Tenn., west of Nashville just off 1-40. As I eat, Kathy and her mother, who helps tend to the The Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Page 14 It’s fun and it’s free Somebody say ‘amen’

André Waller and Terrell Crudup, to meet those people at their needs. He both Belmont religion students, joined was not one that sat around saying “some- five other Nashville college students in a thing needs to be done,” but he was a man diverse worship service just before Easter, of action and took the steps to make that focusing their sermons on the topic, “An community a much better and safer one. Attempt to Silence the Lamb: Seven In remembering all that Pastor Royston Last Sayings of a Crucified Christ.” had done, it is easy to know why and under- They came together to offer a stand that Greater Salem had a huge impact worship experience with the African- on me becoming the man that I am today. American preaching style. The seven Not only am I a minister, but I transitioned come from many different backgrounds into the Marine Corps out of high school. and have been in ministry from two to I knew then that the Lord had placed 10 years and range from ages 18-35. a calling on my life, but it was that time “The black church has a focus that I ran away from the will and call of on music but a higher focus on the God. I tried to hide, but everyone around preached word,” Crudup said. “The me could see the Jesus in me. I was always rhythmic style, the call and response appointed to lead my platoon in devotions that go back to the days of slavery.” and bible study. I know that since I was Although the congregation may not heavily involved in the church and all of the always agree with what the minister things that were going on, I kept them near says, they will still respond with to my heart. When I was away from home, “Amen” if it is the truth, he said. I still had the desire to go to church and Crudup said that in the present day, this keep up with my studies of the word of God. “is their way to reach out into the crowd and I was trained at Greater Salem and that is touch the hearts and minds of the people.” something that I will always remember. It’s a style that is familiar to both Crudup and Waller. What follows, in Terrell Crudup their own words, are their individual I grew up in the suburbs of Austin, stories of the churches and pastors that Texas. My mother, Helen Crudup, made were their examples and inspirations. sure that my siblings and I were always in school. I never saw too much trauma, but I André Waller did see drunks and crackheads in my own As I grew up in Louisville, Ky., I family. My mother and father separated File Photo/Vision was a member of the Greater Salem and divorced during my third-grade year. Baptist Church. My grandmother Kath- I learned to find God in my distress The 5th annual Fiesta Belmont will be held Saturday, May 1, at the center of campus. Nashville’s longest running Latin street fair will feature food, live music, games, and cultural erine Waller was very instrumental in and troubles. My mother never expected displays.Volunteers can earn culture and arts convocation credit and the festival is free to all. me being in church. This was a church anything less than godliness from her that sat in the middle of inner city children. She trained us to fear God and housing, also known as the projects. to study the word. She spoke life over LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO WORSHIP CLOSE TO SCHOOL? What I can remember most about the our broken family and held it together. church is that we were full of outreach My father gave me a work ethic. Satur- and always going out into the community. days and Sunday evenings were desig- PLEASE JOIN US AND COME LIVE LIFE AT FIRST EVANGELICAL There was nothing too big or too small that nated for the family business of cutting LUTHERAN CHURCH. WE’LL EVEN PICK YOU UP! did not get addressed. The church knew grass. Between the two of them, I that the surrounding community, its youth developed into the person I am today. Location: 113 8th Avenue South, Downtown Nashville, half block south of th and adults needed help and the pastor, God began to call me when I was 6. Broadway on 8 Avenue South. Claude Royston, and members were ready I believe in God, the devil, his minions, to respond to the needs of the community. and God’s angels. Simply, I believe in the There was a significant differ- workings of the spiritual realm, and I was ence in the community once Greater able to recognize the workings of God and Salem became involved. Killings, the devil in my life and quickly chose God. shootings, addictions and many other God has a way of talking that soothes the corruptions began to decrease. spirit. He continued to call me until I finally What I admired about Pastor Royston said yes when I was 18. I was at Belmont by was that he was not afraid of the community that time trying to enter the music industry. at all. He knew the needs of the people and When I accepted my call, I switched my trained the congregation of Greater Salem major to religion. The rest is history.

Worship Times: 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.

Shuttle Schedule for Sunday Mornings

For those attending Education Hour 9:00A Leave the Aviary 9:05A Leave Hail Hall

For those coming for Worship 10:00A Leave Aviary 10:05A Leave Hail Hall

There will be time for Christian Fellowship and Refreshments Following Worship

Return Schedule; Approximately: 12:15P Arrive at Aviary 12:20P Arrive at Hail Hall

Join us this Sunday! Bring a Friend!

FREE parking in the lot across McGavock St. Photo courtesy of Terrell Crudup Please call 256-7580 for more information, Belmont students Andre Waller, center, and Terrell Crudp, right, join in enthusiastically in a traditional African American church service which they planned in order to promote both wor- or visit www.first-lutheran-nashville.org Come Live Life! ship and diversity. ideas a&e

Bruins basketball signs center Belmont mens basketball announced the signing of 6-11 center Chad Lang from Marietta, Ga. Lang averaged a double-double in high school and blocked an average of five shots per game. Lang joins fellow Georgian J.J. Mann and local talent Holden Mobley as part of the Bruins’ incoming freshman class. sportsThe Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 From Brazil to Belmont Recruiting service spots South American players for men’s tennis By Brian Wilson tennis court, are still able to take that value to the classroom. Staff writer The team has one of the highest combined grade point aver- When fans go to Belmont men’s tennis matches, they ages of any Belmont team. better get their Portuguese ready, as the eight-man team “They’ve come so strongly recommended to the service. consists of six Brazilians and two local players. And they stay. No one has transferred. They’ve all done The rest of the Atlantic Sun has eight Brazilian players well in school, which is mostly in part to these guys,” combined. Madrigal said. Coach Jim Madrigal has always had a large number of The team also keeps a sense of community with each South American players during his tenure. After having other, even off the court. When this spring’s season ended, fitnessplayers from Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, he didn’t see a they stuck together afterwards and won this year’s mens’ real issue with recruiting players from Brazil. intramural soccer tournament. Group efforts like that help “It seemed pretty natural to develop a relationship,” he the players become a team while transitioning to the U.S., said. Matos said. The team currently collaborates with Dequipafora, Most players have had to adapt when moving to the U.S., a sports recruiting service in Brazil, to help find future like the weather and certain parts of culture. Most of the players. The organization does multiple things to market transition, though, occurs on the tennis court and with the potential recruits, including filming videos and helping team mentality college tennis requires. recruits improve their English skills. “A lot of what has changed is the responsibility,” Matos Sophomore Rafael Matos is one of the Belmont players said. “Since I’m playing for a team now, I’ve got to keep who worked with Dequipafora while recruiting. He signed practicing and staying fit. I have to give my best effort every with Belmont despite never visiting the campus beforehand. time.” “I chose Belmont because it was the best option I had Matos, with the rest of the tennis team, also had to adjust with academics and for tennis,” he said. to more negative parts of college tennis. At nearly every The number of Brazilians on the team also influenced match, Brazilian members of the team are heckled because why Matos came to Belmont. of their nationality. “We’re like a family,” Matos said. “They picked me up at “It’s part of it. But I understand why it happens. They the airport and showed me around the first day. It’s easy to want their team to win. They do it so I can lose my focus,” hang out with them.” Matos said. Madrigal has specific reasons why he constantly recruits The experience is something players have to adapt to in South America. quickly, said Madrigal. “When you recruit American kids, for the most part, the “That’s pretty common. When you have the experience, opportunity to go to college is an entitlement,” Madrigal you realize it’s part of the college game,” he said. said. For Matos, he has to adjust to keep one thing only: his “To a South American kid, the opportunity to go to focus.

Photo by Brian Wilson college is a blessing. The value of it isn’t taken for granted at “Sometimes you have to be strong about it. Sometimes Sophomore business administration major Renato Atun lived all.” you have to ignore it. But you can’t let it influence you and in São Paulo, Brazil, before he was recruited by Belmont. The athletes, even with the effort put in on and off the let it lose your focus,” he said. Men’s, women’s golf teams finish 9th By Robert Duke Staff writer This years women’s team, in contrast to the men’s, is a young group consisting of five freshmen, two sophomores and one junior. Belmont ‘s eight-man golf team has five seniors, which sends an obvious message to “As young as we are we really played well; we’ve been scoring well and posting good next season’s young team. numbers,” freshman Megan Murphy said. “I’m looking forward to how the team improves, Freshman Elliott Wickenden gets that message. winning some tournaments, and developing into a better golfer and person.” “What I like about college golf is the competitiveness,” he said. “I like the pressure of Murphy also led the team in the tournament, shooting an 80 on the third and final day to having to hit the shot when my team needs it.” finish in 32nd place with a tournament total of 233. The men’s team wrapped up their season, which spans both fall and spring, placing 9th in Without a senior on the team the Lady Bruins return with all of their talent and look to the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in Braselton, Ga., giving them their sixth top-10 compete high in the conference ranks over the next few years. compete high in the confer- finish in the 2009-10 competition after a total of 12 tournaments. ETSU finished with a ence ranks over the next few years. 54-hole score of 859 to take the No. 1 spot, and Belmont finished at 901. “Our team has the potential to get much better,” Wickenden said. “We have played good rounds and bad rounds, and the bad ones are harder to bounce back from.” In the conference tournament, two Belmont seniors finished in the top 30. Scott O’Brien tied for 19th with a 54-hole score of 222 and six over par, while Stuart Ashwood tied for 26th with a 224 finish. And while the team’s 9th-place finish means only two conference teams fell below them, the numbers show a big difference: At 9th, Belmont’s team finished with at 37 over par. But just two spots down at 11th, neighborhood rival Lipscomb finished 92 over. Pressure surely does come into play on the college level for both men’s and women’s teams. During the round each team is able to take the top four scores and use that toward that day’s total, and many days are decided by one- or two-stroke margins. Those 3-foot par putts seem much longer than they really are when the match is on the line. Women’s golf Belmont’s women’s team enjoyed a similar season with five top -10 finishes and a 9th-place overall in the A-Sun in the conference tournament at the Venetian Bay Golf Club in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Page 16 The Belmont Vision, April 29, 2010 Ezell takes reins for women’s basketball By Pierce Greenberg Sport s Editor After conducting a national search for more than a month and sifting through 110 appli- cations, Belmont didn’t have to look far from home for a new women’s basketball coach. On April 19, Belmont Athletics hired former Franklin resident and Belmont recruit Brittney Ezell. Ezell is 79-61 in her career, which includes a three-year stint at Okaloosa-Walton Junior College and two years at Montevallo University in Alabama. She was recruited by longtime Belmont head coach Tony Cross and frequently attended Belmont basketball games at Striplin Gym, where Belmont played until 2001. She ended up playing point guard at University of Alabama where she led the Crimson Tide to four straight Sweet 16 appearances. “When you meet her, she’s got this tremendous grasp for the game and a tremendous enthusiasm—and she’s infectious,” Belmont athletics director Mike Strickland said of Ezell. “She wins you over with a great personality. And when you put her background together with her enthusiasm and foresight, she’s just a great fit for everything we look for.” Ezell plans to capitalize on the new excitement surrounding the program, which went 15-15 in the 2009-10 season. “Hopefully I’m bringing a sense of enthusiasm and renewed energy for [the team] and the program,” Ezell said. “We’re going to try to get this turned around pretty quickly and Belmont basketball will be back.” But at the same time, she also addressed the challenges that come with change. “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. That’s what we’ve got to establish with them,” Ezell said. Even though she was only a few short hours into her Belmont coaching career, Ezell was quick to lay out a game plan. “We’ve got three main goals: they’ve got to be better women when they leave us, they’ve got to be better students and they’ve got to be better basketball players,” Ezell said. “If I Photo by Lance Conzett do those three things, then I’ve done my job and cared for them the way I’m supposed to. New Lady Bruins head coach Brittney Ezell poses with Belmont athletics director Mike Strickland at the press conference announcing her hire. Hopefully, they’ll buy into that and trust us with that philosophy.” Training, discipline pay off for runners By Jessica Walker focuses on walking, jogging and running,” Thomas said. after, a shower, then the time it takes to motivate myself to Staff Writer “Right now, we participate in one event during the fall, focus on homework again.” For some Belmont students, the pain of running 13.1 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, a five-mile walk, Deitmen agreed that finding time to run can be difficult, miles was worth the pleasure of crossing the finish line and we partner with Fleet Feet Sports to train for the but said that developing time management skills is the key during the Country Music Half Marathon. Country Music Half Marathon in the spring.” to successful training. “It was kind of tricky to train with a This year marked the 11th anniversary of the event, Fleet Feet Sports, a corporation that offers fitness full-time internship and school every night, so I took advan- which also included the 26.2-mile Country Music Marathon. apparel and footwear, assisted Team Belmont in designing a tage of early mornings or lunch breaks,” he said. “There are The race began at Centennial Park and ended at LP Field, training plan to help students properly prepare for the race. hours if you’re just willing to use them.” with about 32,000 participating. “It is a method of training where you do two short runs Reasons for using those precious hours to run – and A handful of those runners ran with Team Belmont, during the week and do a long run on Saturdays together as choosing to train in the first place – were as plentiful as the led by senior exercise science/pre-physical therapy major a group,” Thomas said. “The mileage gradually builds up.” variety of training methods that could be used. Melissa Thomas, the Student Coordinator for Group Fitness Although the group trained together, members of Team Some students focused on reaching individual fitness & Freshman Fitness. Team Belmont consisted of approxi- Belmont were free to run at their own pace on race day, goals and enjoying a new experience. “I ran the half mately 50 runners and was open to undergraduate and with personal time goals. marathon basically as a challenge to myself,” said acceler- graduate students alike, as well as faculty members. For Thomas, it was the training process – not the end ated MBA student Tara Shields Bryant. “I hated running “Team Belmont is the Beaman Center’s group that result – that made her experience leading the team valuable. growing up, and one day I realized that being a runner “It is so rewarding to hear the stories people have and the didn’t mean being fast; I could run at whatever pace worked confidence that is built during training,” she said. “People for me. So, I started doing races and I’ve just been amazed far surpass their own expectations and it’s so awesome to at what my body is capable of. This race was just another watch.” challenge to see if I could take the next step up.” However, other Belmont students chose to train for the Others enjoyed the social aspect. “It was a great way to race on their own. Nick Deitmen, a student in Belmont’s hang out with some of my friends that were training, too,” accelerated MBA program, Deitmen said. “It’s a whole different kind of bond when trained with close friends you’re pushing yourselves to the limit.” Belmont students, from left, Danielle Wisse, Jenny Westbrook and Emily as opposed to a bigger, Still, other students were inspired to run for more Peacock, are among about 50 Team more established group. personal reasons. “I was originally motivated to train for the Belmont runners participating in the “I totally see the value half marathon because of the death of my friend, Greg, but Country Music Half Marathon. of running with a large it really transitioned into a real appreciation for running and group,” Deitmen said. healthy living,” Clark said. Photos Courtesy of Jenny Westbrook “But, with having just one Despite differing motivations, most students agreed that or two other people to run training had its ups and downs. While Deitmen said running with, we were able to make has helped him reduce his stress and assisted in a better sure the run was beneficial night’s sleep, allowing him to enjoy a higher level of energy, for everyone. I needed some runs were difficult to complete. “The days when you something small, but as I have a long run scheduled and your mind and body aren’t continue to train for other connecting are hard,” Deitmen said. “Runs don’t always go races, I may choose to as well as you would hope.” expand.” Similarly, Bryant enjoyed training, but sometimes felt Still others trained disappointment after being unable to complete her pre- alone because of busy scheduled mileage during challenging runs. “All you can do schedules. “The worst part on those days is push through what you can and tell yourself of training was the time that next time will be better,” she said. it took,” said Brian Clark, After months of preparation, students were eager to put senior English major. “I their training to the test. wanted to run, but after a Deitmen had his best pace time ever. 10-hour work day or a full Clark finished the half marathon in two hours, six day of class and home- minutes and 21 seconds. “It felt good just to finish, but work, it’s tough because beating my goal by four minutes was amazing,” he said. you have to account for “I’m already planning on beating two hours in the fall and the run, then the recovery running the full marathon next year.”