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