11/8/2007 - Belmont Vision

Transcription

www.belmontvision.com
The student newspaper of Belmont University
Vol. 57, No. 6
November 8, 2007
Sex: Students take it seriously
By Abby Selden
STAFF WRITER
An American college student walks into a
class of 15 fellow students. Chances are,
only four of those students have never had
sex.
According to national statistics, approximately 70 percent of American college students are sexually active.
“I don’t think that Belmont is any different from any college campus anywhere,”
said Belmont Counseling Services director
Peg Leonard-Martin. “We’re not isolated
from these issues.”
Many students at Belmont seem to agree
– and they agree in a manner that suggests
they look at human sexuality with maturity
and respect for others’ choices.
Sophomore John Roden sees sex as some-
thing Belmont “sweeps under the carpet and
keeps hidden from everybody.”
But that’s not an easy task.
“Look at the people who are going here.
We are teenagers and adults ranging from
18 to 24,” he said. “To believe
that a guy or a girl isn’t going
to be engaging in sexual
activity in a place where
they’re almost completely
out of the eyes of their parents and authority figures,
that’s just gullibility. I think
Belmont should honestly be
more open.”
According to Belmont Health
Services director Katy Wilson, dialogue about sexual issues in a college
atmosphere is important. “I think you can
teach young people a lot about their bodies
without encouraging them
to be sexually active,” she
said.
Junior Alaina Reagan
agrees that dialogue is
important, but she doesn’t
see it happening at Belmont,
where she knows many students are already sexually
active.
“I think more people are
having sex than is believed,” she
said. “I think people are hiding it because
they think they’ll be judged.”
Leonard-Martin wants to dispel that
myth. “Not one of the therapists here would
ever presume to judge a student, no matter
what their gender, sexual identity, religious
affiliation, or race,” she said.
That professional practice is also true of
Belmont Health Services, an enormously
helpful resource for sexual health problems
when students are aware of the services it
offers.
“We offer a lot of good services,” Wilson
said. “We can do STD testing, we offer the
Gardisil HPV vaccine, as well as the
Hepatitis B vaccine. We’re big on prevention here.”
According to a 2005 estimate by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
of the 19 million people newly infected with
an STD every year, nearly half are 15-24.
The health center, which saw 4,800 students last year, is equipped to test for HIV,
Hepatitis B, Chlamydia and gonorrhea. A
See SEX, page 10 ➲
College Republicans
bring ‘Minuteman’
for campus speech
By Sara Pecchia
STAFF WRITER
Adaeze Elechi
MANAGING EDITOR
“In the absence of government, we
are the government,” a founding member of the Minuteman Civil Defense
Corps told a Belmont audience
Monday.
With that statement, Chris Simcox
demonstrated a basic philosophy of the
organization
that is selfdescribed as a
“National
Citizens
Neighborhood
Watch securing
the American
border.”
Simcox is
president of the
group, which
many of its
Chris Simcox
opponents call a
vigilante organization because it places
armed citizen border patrols on the U.S.
borders with both Mexico and, to a
lesser extent, Canada.
He said he and 9,000 Minuteman
volunteers had petitioned the government to step up to the challenges of
halting illegal immigration and the government had not responded.
“Our government has failed us miserably,” he said, the Minuteman Web
site behind him showing an outline of
the United States covered with stars and
stripes. “We as citizens have not only a
civic duty but a moral obligation to
intervene.”
Simcox, who lives in Arizona but
travels nationwide for speaking engagements, said there is an orderly system
for bringing people to the United States
from other countries, “but it needs to be
streamlined. Ever since NAFTA,
they’ve turned a blind eye. We exported
manufacturing, so then we needed
cheap labor here.”
With that labor, however, came not
only people willing to do hard labor,
but also people from drug cartels who
wanted to make money off “America’s
addictions,” Simcox claimed.
“Our president, our government,
say, ‘It’s a free market,” he added.
“[The government] has left us no
choice but to go to the borders, set up
lawn chairs and use our binoculars.”
Simcox offered many numbers to
support his claims, including more than
30,000 aliens sighted by the Minuteman
volunteers and more than 13,000 apprehended. He said all observations are
reported to the U.S. Border Patrol.
“We are pro-immigration,” Simcox
said, though some audience members
pointedly disagreed with him in the
question-and-answer session that followed his address.
What the group opposes, he said, is
illegal immigration, which results in
Americans’ “citizenship being diluted.”
“While we [Americans] have to take
off our shoes at the airport, our government has left the front and back doors
wide open,” he said.
Even though Simcox met no violent
opposition at Belmont University, in
October 2006 at Columbia University,
two Minutemen speakers were violently
interrupted and banned from speaking
by protesters. The college, on the other
hand, did not officially ban the group
from the campus. Simcox said he knew
nothing about he himelf or the group
See SEX, page 7 ➲
Urban/Pop Showcase
PHOTOS BY CHRIS SPEED
The first Urban/Pop Showcase, formerly called the Pop/Rock Showcase, was on Oct. 27. It began
with a “STOMP” act, seen above, that marched rhythmically to the stage and performed a routine
void of any music, but that still had some clapping to the beat. The group also performed between
acts using trash cans, buckets and lids as musical instruments. At the end of the show, the group
stomped out of the Curb Event Center, leaving many wanting more. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS, page
15.
Page 2
The Belmont Vision, November 8, 2007
New campus chapel might nurture Christian roots
By Chansin Bird
SENIOR WRITER
Belmont is a Christian school, but it has
no chapel. Many Christian universities, such
as Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and
Dallas Baptist University in Texas, have a
building that looks much like a church sanctuary and is a dedicated space for worship.
At Belmont, the Bell Tower’s bottom
floor is used as a prayer chapel, but religion
professor Robert Byrd wants something
more.
“In committees and individually, I have
urged all the Belmont University presidents
with whom I have served to promote the idea
of building a chapel,” Byrd said.
The usual response: “There’s no money.”
Junior Scott Claybrook, a Christian
Leadership major, thinks Belmont’s master
plan should include a chapel, but feels building a residence hall, like they’re doing now,
is more important.
“I don’t think it’s a misplaced priority,
but a chapel is something I think would be a
tool to a Christian university,” he said.
A chapel at Belmont could accommodate
religious activities and convocations on campus, Byrd said. It also could become the
impetus to develop additional religious activities and conferences on campus.
“Our campus ministers, along with some
energetic faculty and student helpers, are
already doing some wonderful and exciting
things, but an appropriate chapel facility
could enhance their work,” Byrd said. “For a
school that is committed to a Christian identity, it would be a powerful symbol for the
campus and the community.”
Associate university minister Christy
Ridings loves the location of the University
Ministries office. Being in the center of campus, students can easily stop by to study on
the couches or play pingpong.
“I would not necessarily be for a building
that looks chapel-ish,” Ridings said. “I would
want to make sure it took into account students who would not be attracted to a
church-looking building. I’d want all students to feel welcome.”
Now that Belmont has split from the
Tennessee Baptist Convention, some may
believe a chapel would help Belmont stay
close to its Christian roots.
“I think it is more imperative than ever
that Belmont should continue forging its
Christian and Baptist identity and, for me, it
has nothing to do with our relationship to the
TBC,” Byrd said. “To diminish [that identity] will result in the university being something entirely different than it is.”
Challenges
of autism
don’t stop
Grandin
By Ameshia Cross
SENIOR WRITER
As one of the most well known livestock management consultants, Temple Grandin has earned
a worldwide reputation. But what is the most surprising part of Grandin’s life is that she is autistic.
Although the disorder provides its challenges,
Grandin does not let it keep her from accomplishing her goals.
“My life has been enriched and inspired by her
strength and ability to transcend the obstacles in
her life,” Dr. Mike Pinter, interim dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences, said. Grandin spoke
at a convocation event Tuesday, Oct. 30, to a
crowd of 1,500 students and community members.
Grandin describes autism as a lack of long distance cables to brain. She stressed that there are
ways of knowing that don’t involve language.
Autistic individuals view the world in a different
way than the average person, she said.
“Animals and people with autism see details,”
Grandin said. Research shows that the normal
human mind gives up on details and focuses on
the abstract. “The normal mind is top-down and
the autistic mind is down-up, but the disadvantage
of autism is that it is slow,” Grandin said.
Grandin used imagery to get her point across.
“My mind works like Google for images-pictures
narrate the things in my mind,” she said.
In order to form concepts from images, the
autistic person who is a visual thinker must sort
the pictures in the brain and put them in categories. Many autistic people are highly dependent
on images.
“If I don’t have a picture, I can’t do anything
at all,” Grandin said.
The subconscious mind that most people think
of as transmitting images in their sleep isn’t prevalent in the mind of an autistic.
“What most people consider subconscious. I
can see, but in normal people, language covers it
up,” Grandin said.
She put her mind to the test when she asked an
audience member to say a word. The word was
Nashville and instead of giving information about
the place or memories she had here, she started
naming objects, buildings and colors that she later
linked to thoughts.
“My thinking is associative, not linear,”
Grandin said.
Grandin has been featured on major television
programs such as “Today,” “48 Hours” and
“20/20.” She has also appeared in the New York
Times and Time magazine. Grandin’s book,
“Animals in Translation,” was a New York Times
Best Seller, as was her most recent book, the
“Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships.”
Page 3
Socialization on pageant circuit?
By Linda Johansson
STAFF WRITER
By attending multiple child beauty pageants across
Tennessee, Dr. Shelby Pannell-Longard examined how and
why mothers specifically teach femininity to their daughters.
The findings of her research, which was conducted during a
three-year period, will be presented at a convocation event
Friday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m. in Beaman Meeting Room A.
Pannell-Longard is an assistant professor of sociology
who chose to research child beauty pageants because she
believed the pageants are open sites where women instruct
young girls on how to be women.
“I wanted to look at a setting in which gender was treated
and performed explicitly,” Pannell-Longard said. “Pageants
are a good environment to examine how parents socialize
their daughters into very specific and idealized forms of feminism.”
In addition, she believes pageants symbolize how today’s
society views women.
“Even today we judge girls and women by their looks,
whether they are on a stage or not,” Pannell-Longard said. “I
think pageants are useful to study because they are a representation on what’s going on everyday.”
At pageants she had an opportunity to meet families and
find out why mothers choose to put their daughters –sometimes younger than the age of 2 – into pageants.
“Pageant parents don’t want anything different than other
parents,” Pannell-Longard said. “They want their kids to be
successful, gaining self-esteem, confidence, stage-presence
and interview skills.”
She also said most parents expressed that their daughters
were the ones who wanted to compete, that some young girls
seek out pageantry on their own.
In addition, Pannell-Longard found that parents see
pageantry as a form of sport for their daughters.
“It’s not uncommon they compare it to their son’s baseball,” she said. “It’s telling how we think about gender, that
we construct beauty as a sport.”
Andi Stepnick, associate professor and chair of sociology,
said her colleague’s research shows complex reasons behind
why parents want their daughters to participate in pageants.
“Those reasons are well intentioned,” Stepnick said. “We
don’t want our assumptions to lead us to judge people before
we know their reasoning.”
The intention Stepnick referred to was parents wanting
daughters to gain social skills and social capital needed to
move up the ladder. However, she stressed that she finds it
interesting that in the face of modern – and kinder alternatives – some people would prefer pageants over other
options.
“Girls are allowed to play sports now or do a whole host
of other things,” Stepnick said.
Pannell-Longard’s research also showed that as many
pageant parents attributed their daughters’ higher self-esteem
to pageantry, the high self-esteem was mostly true for girls
who won the pageants.
“Girls who lost more than they won had lower levels of
self-esteem,” Pannell-Longard said. “Those happen to be the
girls who had it harder to fit in the social notions of beauty.”
In addition, those were the families who ended up dropping out of pageants and transitioned to other forms of competition, such as sports or music.
Stepnick explained the findings further.
“What Dr. Pannel-Longard finds is that as long as girls
meet the ‘standards’ and win competitions, they feel good
about themselves,” she said. “But for each pageant there can
only be one winner and many losers – so for most girls,
pageant participation will probably hurt over time.”
Even though Stepnick said she realizes it is important for
young girls to learn how to lose and not be devastated, she
explained there are other ways to hone skills, such as confidence, that pageants teach contestants.
“There are other ways to learn those things while developing a rich sense of who they are and why they are just as fine
as they are,” Stepnick said.
If Stepnick had the opportunity to vote for or against child
beauty pageants, she would vote against them. She believes it
is a tragedy when young women think of themselves as
worthless because they are not a size two.
“Pageants judge girls and women very narrowly,”
Stepnick said. “Those ideas are insidious and they do real
damage to real girls and women.”
Pannell-Longard shares a similar opinion and said she
would not want her children to participate in child beauty
pageants.
“I would want my daughter to involve herself in sport and
other forms of competition,” she said.
During her convo, Pannell-Longard will put faces, identities and reality to the social perceptions of what pageantry is.
She promises fun quotes and interesting stories, but most
importantly, she hopes students will learn from her research
and findings.
“I hope students will learn that gender really is a performance both on stage and off, and that women still battle
against traditional ideas of beauty,” she said.
History majors can get jobs – really
By David Bergfeld
STAFF WRITER
Be prepared to plan the rest of you life!
Those are words that send a cold shiver
down the back of students majoring in
degrees that are typically unconventional.
Yet, there is hope once again for history
majors and those interested in a degree in
history, especially here at Belmont.
Bob Beatty from the American
Association for State and Local History will
visit Belmont Nov. 14 as part of a convo by
Belmont’s History Society.
The event is set up to talk about the graduate programs and options that are available
for history majors in their near future. There
will also be information available for internship opportunities that reach beyond the history department.
“While most history majors feel an
impending sense of doom as graduation
Getting there
Bob Beatty, of the American
Association for State and Local
History, will speak about careers in
history and graduate programs in a
convo at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov.
14, in Wheeler 313.
approaches, they search for opportunities but
are often left in the dark with ideas on how
to move forward with their specialty,” Tara
Hamlin said.
Hamlin, a senior history major and current president of Belmont’s History Society,
says she feels much pressure as graduation
draws nearer. “This convocation will be a
chance for the students to find a sense of
direction and purpose in their field of study,
before it is too late.”
The convocation will emphasize the
importance of internship opportunities and
will give an overview of how to network into
the workplace.
“It will be a golden opportunity for history majors to hone in on their skills and learn
how to portray them to potential employers,”
Hamlin said.
“We want History Society to be an effective outlet for history majors and those interested in a degree in history,” Tiffany Hill
said. “It should be a club that people participate in because it is fun and connects them to
the world inside and outside of Belmont.”
Hill is the vice president of History Society
and helps to plan many of the events.
There will be emphasis on not only the
American Association for State and Local
History internship opportunities, but also on
several graduate and educational opportunities available following life at Belmont.
Beatty will hopefully clear up most of the
fallacies that surround getting a degree in
history. As mentioned, the convocation will
give majors a look into all aspects of their
future and will dismiss the common misconceptions that surround a degree in history.
“The convocation will be good for not
only history majors, but will also give those
who may be undecided in their studies a
sense of direction, as well,” Hamlin said.
The convocation is open to all of campus and
is intended to help those students who simply
do not have access or knowledge about jobs
and careers that are out there or that may be
a little unconventional to their field of study.
“This event will remove the stigma surrounding degrees in humanities and especially those stigmas surrounding history,”
Hamlin said. If this convocation doesn’t
serve its purpose then the old saying is true:
History does repeat itself.
1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville TN, 37212
Phone: (615) 460-6433
E-mail: vision@mail.belmont.edu
Editor:
Managing Editor:
Online Editor:
co-Online Editor:
Photo/Graphics Editor:
Advertising:
Faculty Adviser:
Online/Graphics Adviser:
Courtney Drake
Adaeze Elechi
Joanna Larson
Lance Conzett
Sarah Mitchell
Karen Bennett
Linda Quigley
Angela Smith
Senior Staff: Chansin Bird,
Ameshia Cross, Rachel Waller
Writers: Liz Hunton, Linda
Johansson, Sara Pecchia, Samantha
Adams, David Bergfeld, Sharde
Burkhed, Joseph Shelby, Hadley Long
Page 4
Events address ‘write’ of travel
By Liz Hunton
STAFF WRITER
Students can learn about travel writing
and earn up to 16 convocation hours at this
year’s Sixth Annual Humanities
Symposium.
Dr. Maggie Monteverde, associate dean
of the School of Humanities, helped begin
the symposium in 2002, bringing together
the English language and philosophy departments to express the importance of the study
of humanities in understanding the world,
she said.
Monteverde created this year’s theme —
Transforming Travel: Rewriting the World
as We Know It. “Travel transforms the traveler. The traveler then transforms the experience in writing. The writing then transforms the way we view the world.”
The symposium will be Nov. 11-19. It
will include several convocation events, a
few outside speakers, a writing contest and a
writing workshop. All events are on BIC,
and convocation credit includes culture and
the arts, academic lecture, personal growth,
and Christian faith development.
“We probably could have done two
weeks of programming without any doubt,
Monteverde said, “It is the tip of the iceberg,
really, what we’re able to present here.”
Outside speakers include Molly F.
Miller, a geologist speaking on Antarctica;
Alexa Smith, a reporter speaking on international conflict; Tony D’Souza, a freelance
journalist and author speaking on his travels;
and Brice Minnigh, a Belmont alumnus and
freelance writer speaking on making a living
writing about his passions.
The symposium will also offer studentinvolved events including a peripatetic reading on Sunday, Nov. 11, from 6:30-8:30
p.m. where students will walk to different
locations to hear readings. Students have to
participate for at least an hour to earn convocation credit.
The following Wednesday there will be a
study abroad art show in the Leu Center for
the Visual Arts art gallery.
Students can submit artwork including
photography, three dimensional art, scrapbook style albums or videos and writings.
Submission forms are available in Wheeler
Humanities Building Room 200 and the art
department office; the deadline is Nov. 9.
Students can also write funny travelrelated stories for an essay competition.
Winning entries will be featured in a Nov.
11 reading.
The stories must be typed, double-spaced
and titled. There is an eight-page maximum, and stories can be submitted to
Monteverde in Wheeler 207C or online to
monteverdem@mail.belmont.edu.
The symposium also offers a writing
workshop on November 16 from 1-4 p.m.
Because the groups will be limited to 10 to
12 people per session, participants must preregister online at
http://www.belmont.edu/english or by picking up a form through the English department.
Danielle Alexander, assistant professor
of English, is coordinating the workshop.
“The goal basically is to allow students
to work with nationally-known editors and
travel writers to hone their skills and know
what good travel writing is and how to publish it,” she said.
Five writers including Tony D’Souza and
Brice Minnigh, as well as Belmont faculty
members Sandra Hutchins, Thom Storey
and Linda Quigley will lead the workshops.
“From fiction and travel-related feature
writing to freelance journalism to photography and travel journalism, these leaders
have a wide range of specialty,” Alexander
said.
Participants can indicate their preferred
leader on the registration form, and requests
will try to be granted.
The writing workshop is an expansion to
the symposium. Previous topics have
included the mystery novel, story-telling and
fairy tales. Next year’s topic will be food,
fiction and film.
Study abroad offers
global experiences
By Cheryl Bak
Resources
STAFF WRITER
Nov. 15 is the last day to submit an application for some
study abroad programs. This deadline applies to a summer
trip to China and a Maymester trip to Poland, Slovakia,
Czech Republic and Germany. By studying abroad, students
can earn academic credit, two Culture & Arts convocation
credits for each academic credit and knock out a global
studies requirement for the Bell Core curriculum.
Overall the study abroad programs “are experiencing
continued, steady growth,” said Kathy Skinner, Belmont’s
director of international education. A trip to Africa last summer had “the highest interest in any study abroad program
for a new offering.”
Belmont offers many opportunities for students to study
in a foreign country. Some opportunity can usually be
found to fit any major or minor, said Dr. Maggie
Monteverde, Belmont representative for the Cooperative
Center for Study Abroad. Students can take advantage of
summer and winter programs, as well as those for a
semester and entire year.
While the numbers for some programs are increasing,
not as many students participate as Monteverde hopes.
“I would require all students to study abroad,” she said.
Despite increasing involvement, there is not enough interest
for students to travel to every available country. Trips to
several countries are only offered every other year and some
get canceled due to lack of student participation.
Many who have taken the opportunity to study abroad
are enthusiastic about their experience.
“It’s one of the best ways to step outside of yourself and
see how you really can survive when everything that you
know and love has been put at a large distance from you,”
said Kayla Lyftogt, a senior international business major
who studied in Spain.
Another benefit is meeting people from around the
world, said senior Samantha Ferguson who studied abroad
twice. She now has friends in Yugoslavia, Germany, Italy,
Japan and the Cannary Islands.
“I have a place to stay when I travel” Ferguson said.
Like anywhere else, there can be a few negative experiences. But “even when bad things are happening you’re still
laughing,” Ferguson said, who paid to use a hole in the
ground as a bathroom in France.
Belmont alum Patrick Linton could not pinpoint any bad
experiences from his study abroad trips to Beijing or Hong
Kong. He remembers climbing mountains, camping on top
of the Great Wall of China and an overnight train ride
where he stayed awake all night chatting with other passengers.
www.belmont.edu/studyabroad
www.ccsa.cc
www.iiepassport.org
www.studyabroad.com
www.goabroad.com
Belmont International Education Office:
460-5500 or InternationalEd@mail.belmont.edu
Those interested in studying abroad can also
visit www.belmont.edu/studyabroad to obtain
more information on the many opportunities.
Students can also learn more about themselves after
being immersed in another culture, said Belmont music
business professor Don Cusic.
“Once they get into another country they understand the
differences,” Cusic said, who teaches a course in London
over the summer.
Monteverde agrees that the experience can broaden a student’s perspective.
“It’s a way in which it enables them to have a better
understanding, not only of the world around them, but of
their relationship to, and place in, that world,” she said.
Her trip to England during college was such “a profoundly
life-changing experience” that her parents didn’t even recognize her when she returned home.
Not only can students become better acquainted with
other cultures, but with the ocean as well. Skinner said there
is an opportunity to study a semester at sea onboard a “floating university,” which goes ashore to at least 10 nations.
The main objection Skinner and Monteverde hear about
why students can’t study abroad is financing. But “there are
ways Belmont helps to make it more affordable,”
Monteverde said.
Costs vary greatly, but for many programs, students pay
Belmont for one credit of tuition for every three hours of
credit — a 66 percent tuition reduction. There are also
scholarships that can help bring down the cost.
“We’ll get you over there,” Skinner said. Federal financial aid is also often available if academic credit is received.
The international education office, on the 2nd floor of
the Gabhart Student Center, can also help with choosing a
country, travel necessities, credit transfer, insurance issues
and more.
VISION
In London’s Picadilly Circus, locals and tourists line the
streets nearly round the clock, moving in and out of
theaters, restaurants and bars in this lively district.
London is the site of several study abroad options for
Belmont students.
Page 5
Page 6
ideas
News you
can use?
In a recent online article, Carl Bernstein, one of the
reporters that broke stories on the Watergate scandal,
blamed current culture for the emphasis it places on entertainment news and the lack of national/world news. At
first, I agreed without thought. It’s true most people know
more about what’s going on with Britney’s custody and
divorce battle than the latest bombing in Iraq. But it really
hit home when I looked at the links around the article:
“Racial Rants” from Dog the Bounty Hunter,
“Publicist: Bass was joking about marriage,” “Britney
spends big, court paper reveals” and so on. The sad thing
is, I wanted to click on every link to catch up on the latest
celebrity gossip. I couldn’t resist one video about Lance
Armstrong and an Olsen twin dating, which included a
full list of both celebrities’ previous relationships within
the past year. Why do I care so much? That’s what I’m
still trying to figure out.
In my Mass Communication Theory class, we’ve tried
to decipher the
same thing. Is it
COURTNEY DRAKE
the media’s fault
for emphasizing
celebrity gossip
or are they just
trying to maintain readership
by giving people
what they want?
Why are people
drawn to this
dramatic news in
the first place?
It’s like a neverending tug-ofwar game. The public wants to read entertainment news,
so the media gives them the stories. But the more people
read, the more “news” they want on those infamous people who live their lives in the limelight. So who’s really to
blame for this increasing coverage of celebrities over
world events?
According to Bernstein, “You can’t separate the
appetites and demands of the people themselves and what
they are given. The blame simply can’t all be put at the
feet of those who present news.”
I agree with this notion. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the occasional check-up on Britney and
her kids. I’m guilty of that as well; but I think as a society
we need to start paying attention to the real news, the
news that affects us. With the presidential primaries
beginning soon, it’s time for us to take advantage of being
a democracy and make informed decisions based on education, health care, economics and public safety, not the
latest Paris Hilton rumors.
That’s not to say media consumers are solely to blame,
though. I think the media also have to take responsibility
and realize they’re continuing to stoke the fire by publishing celebrity rumors and gossip. There will always be
celebrity news out there, but do we really need this much?
It’s disturbing that I can find entertainment news
everywhere. From the time I sign on to my e-mail
account, turn on the TV or even go to the grocery store,
the faces of celebrities are staring at me, enticing me to
look up the juicy details of their lives. However, when I
want to read about world or U.S. news, I have to be the
one to search for it. It doesn’t come to me as entertainment news does.
From now on, I’m going to do my part by paying
attention to world events rather than Lindsey Lohan’s
rehab trials and hair color. Will you?
Courtney Drake is a junior journalism major. Email:
drakec@pop.belmont.edu.
Let us know what you think. Send a signed letter, 400
words maximum, with your local telephone number, to
The Editor, Belmont Vision, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville,
TN 37212. E-mail submissions are also accepted; send
them to vision@mail.belmont.edu.
E
Current crisis: Who is Belmont?
Is it possible for something not quite
human to have an identity crisis? This is
the question that has plagued my
thoughts the past few weeks. I’m more
than familiar with the crises people
endure in searching for who they really
are. I’ve walked with friends through
identity crises of all shapes and sizes and
fought my way through a few myself.
What I’m experiencing for the first time,
however, is the identity crisis of a much
bigger entity – a university. Our university.
It makes sense that institutions like
Belmont must undergo significant redefinitions to keep up with an ever-changing world. It took an identity crisis on
the part of Ward-Belmont administration
and students to set Belmont on course to
where she is today. Every decision our
administration makes has an impact on
Belmont’s identity. I want to draw a distinction here between identity and
image, the heart of the crisis. I’ve witnessed in others and sense in myself a
growing uneasiness with the university’s
emphasis on her image over her identity.
Who Belmont is has slowly become
which of her graduates are making headlines, how many more students she’ll be
able to house in the coming years and
just how far she can spread herself
across our corner of Nashville. The
catch here is that all of these image
boosters are positive things for a university. National media coverage of superstar alums, a growing student body of
ever more qualified and capable freshmen and expansions of beautiful new
buildings only add to the chops of a
great school like Belmont. The question
is whether the school’s identity, what
drew us all here in the first place, is
being lost in the shuffle.
ABBY HOLLINGSWORTH
Ask a senior what Belmont they
came to and the answer will be far different from a freshmen response. Is
Belmont a Baptist school, an open but
Christian environment, or simply an
institution with a foundation of faith? Is
she a music school with a liberal arts
base or has a slew of funding for other
programs distracted her from her first
love? Would such a distraction be a bad
move or a necessary diffusion of all that
attention? As other departments sprout
wings and fly, are they redefining
Belmont’s academic identity or being
pushed under the rug even further? Will
she be able to remain the small school
her students signed up for, or will she
just continue building dorms to house
more students infinitely? These are the
questions at the crux of the crisis.
Belmont’s current and future identity
depends on the answers.
The trick here is that there are no
right or wrong answers to these questions. As a university, Belmont could
choose any combination of the aforementioned attributes. She could become
a faith-based school of 8,000 with a historically great music program but a
growing majority of nursing students.
She could gain prestige as a school that
chooses to cap her population at 5,000
and become more and more selective in
the students she admits. The point is not
to predict the future of our school; the
point is to discuss and decide what will
define her in the coming years of imminent changes.
Who is Belmont? I can’t say that
Belmont even knows. I think the only
way for our university to truly get a
pulse on who she has become and who
she should be in the future is to have an
open conversation. Students. Faculty.
Administration. Who is Belmont to you?
Has she changed her tune since you
enrolled? Who do you want her to
become? Personally, I think the best
Belmont would be one that reflects her
students well and challenges them to
reflect well on the rest of the world.
Please take a minute and let me know
what you think. On the other side of any
identity crisis is a truer self, and that is
what I want for Belmont.
Abby Hollingsworth is a junior
English writing major. Email:
abby.hollingsworth@gmail.com
Hard choices, no easy options
I’m Nigerian (West Africa) and the comment that usually follows my declaration of
ADAEZE
nationality (aside from “Your English is really
good”) is, “Oh my gosh, I’ve always wanted to go to Africa!”
When I tell people I’m from Nigeria and they tell me
they’ve always wanted to go to Africa, I usually smile and
nod. I tell them what they want to hear, “Nigeria is sunny.
Nigeria is warm. Yes there are beaches and no the lions don’t
prowl the streets. They’re in zoos.”
When people say they want to go to Africa (and I always
want to remind them that it’s not one large country), they want
to go to the Africa Disney has shown them: the one that
doesn’t really exist. They want to see Mufasa, Timon and
Rafiki romping around. But there are some things they seem to
forget: the people, their poverty and their pain.
When tourists go to Nigeria they don’t see the lepers that
line the streets or the corpses that lie under the bridges for
weeks, forgotten. They don’t see the 9-year-old children who
have to quit school to sell oranges on the street just so their
families will have somewhere to live and something to eat.
Unlike people who don’t live there, I see all these things.
Most of all, every day (whether I’m at home or not) I struggle
with the question, “Live in another country after I graduate or
return home?”
Being from a Third World country, the relationship I have
with Nigeria is a love-hate one. I love it because it is my home
and at the same time I despise it because the leaders are corrupt and almost everyone suffers for it.
But my country wasn’t always a Third World country.
There were great times when the Naira (national currency) was
stronger than the U.S. dollar, times when there were jobs available, and times when the universities were top-notch. But after
we got our independence from Britain in 1960 and fell into a
three-year civil war, things went downhill and they’re only just
getting a little better.
Because the situation at home is so bad, young people (like
me) run overseas to get some kind of a decent
education (which is one of the few differences
between me and the child selling oranges on
the street). As much as I feel that there’s nothing wrong with
that, it presents an issue: most people who get out don’t come
back.
At 11 years old, while I watched CNN’s “Exodus from
Africa,” a documentary about the African brain-drain phenomenon, I was so confused by how people would leave their
homes to live in countries where they would almost always be
second-class citizens or less. And here I am debating staying
here and working after I graduate, moving to another country
to work or going back home. When I started college I knew
the answer: “I’m going home after I graduate and I’m going to
help Nigeria get back on its feet.” Now, as I look at how broken and how permanent some of its scars have become, anywhere but home is looking more and more attractive.
I’m a journalism major and I believe that making the news
media completely independent will cure many of Nigeria’s
issues. So you see why I don’t want to leave a country that I
care about so much and live in a country that I feel doesn’t
really need me. I also know that living in Nigeria for the rest
of my life will be the bravest and hardest thing I will ever do. I
know that it will be frustrating and impossible to live a life
free of bribery and almost every known form of corruption,
but that is my home and I feel I need to be there.
When I see Belmont students living life everyday, not having to worrying about staying in this country and going
through a grueling process of getting a work visa, or going
home to a broken country, I think, “How lucky they are.”
I have less than two years to make a decision that will be
tough to deal with either way. If you are an American citizen,
be glad and appreciative that your home is not a place that you
have to run away from.
Adaeze Elechi is a junior journalism major.
Email: adaezeelechi@yahoo.com.
ELECHI
Page 7
Hispanic student wants more diversity
By Linda Johansson
STAFF WRITER
Isabel Perez, a sophomore at Belmont University, is like
any other student attending college. She lives in her own
apartment not far away from campus, she drives her own car
and she plans to graduate from college with a degree in
music business. However, Perez, seen through the eyes of
other minorities in America, is considered “fortunate.”
Perez was born in the Honduras and moved to the United
States 10 years ago. She and 72 other people classified ethnically as Hispanics represent less than 2 percent of students
at Belmont – a number Perez believes is notable on
Belmont’s campus.
“I basically know all Spanish speaking students at
Belmont,” Perez said. “That is kind of sad.”
Although she sees more Hispanics on campus than last
“A lot of my friends aren’t citizens so they don’t have the
papers to even apply to college,” Perez said. “They would
have to go back to their original country and apply from
there as international students.
Anne Edmunds, associate director of office of admissions, is aware of the diversity issue.
“It is incumbent upon Belmont and other institutions of
higher education to increase college access to students from
underrepresented populations,” Edmunds said. She stressed
that recruiting more Hispanics would benefit al students.
“It is also important for our Caucasian students to be
because they are part of a larger underserved community,”
Julseth said. “They may not be getting this type of support in
other areas.”
Julseth works with the Hispanics Achievers Program
where he facilitates the logistical arrangements during the
monthly meetings that are held on Belmont’s campus. The
meetings are for both middle and high school students seeking the right academic tools to be able to attend higher education in the future.
“We help them to choose the right classes so they will be
prepared and consider going to college,” Julseth said.
“More
diversity would
enhance our learning
experience”
Isabel Perez
Belmont student
year, she believes “Belmont is lacking the diversity it should
have.” Taking into account the 12 million Hispanics around
the country, the number on campus should be larger, Perez
said.
“More diversity would enhance our learning experience,”
Perez said. “It would give us a chance to live and learn in a
place that better resembles the so called ‘real world.’”
Perez works in the Language Learning Center, also
known as the LLC, where she helps students with their
Spanish homework.
“The LLC is a fun job where I get to share my culture
with others while watching Spanish television,” Perez said.
“I’m truly getting paid to be myself.”
According to a study conducted by Excelencia, a nonprofit organization that helps with Hispanic students’ in
PHOTO BY SARAH MITCHELL
higher education, only 25 percent of college-aged Hispanics Isabel Perez, a sophomore, is a native of Honduras and is now helping students with language issues.
in America were enrolled in college in 2004. Belmont,
together with other universities in Tennessee, is trying to
change that number, which is low compared to college
Julseth also explained that the program helps Hispanics
exposed to students from other ethnic backgrounds as a part
enrollment of 42 percent of college-aged whites, 32 percent
establish goals in life by helping them figure out how to
of their educational experience,” she said.
of blacks, and 60 percent of Asians.
Edmunds referred to Belmont’s mission statement, which realize goals and giving them information and different
“The fact that we are the largest minority group in the
country is not reflected on campus,” Perez said. “Only a few declares the university is a community that provides “an aca- options about how to succeed in certain professions.
Julseth believes arranging these meetings on Belmont’s
demically challenging education that empowers men and
more Hispanics attend Belmont today compared to some
campus will inspire Hispanics to attend college in the future.
women of diverse backgrounds” Edmunds said that as
years ago.”
“They come to Belmont’s campus and they feel at
Belmont currently is in an overall enrollment growth phase,
Perez is referring to the statistics from the Office of
home,” Julseth said. “That may plant a seed with somebody
the university is targeting some of its recruiting efforts
Institutional Research at Belmont, which shows that only
and put college on the radar screen as a possibility.”
nine more Hispanics attend Belmont this semester compared toward minority students.
Another way in which Belmont is trying to recruit more
These efforts, Edmunds said, “include a Minority Student
to spring of 2004, even though the entire student population
Hispanics is by hosting Fiesta Belmont – a street fair that
Panel as a part of Belmont’s Preview Day for prospective
is up almost 18 percent. She wishes that the number would
includes Latin music, food and dance.
high school students and scholarships for students from
grow and that more Hispanic speaking students could have
David Herrera, the Fiesta event director, came up with
diverse backgrounds.”
the same opportunity she and her family have gotten.
the idea three years ago because he wanted to “encourage
The office of admissions is not the only area involved in
“I have three sisters and all of them went to college,”
recruiting students to Belmont. Faculty, staff and current stu- the Latin community to come to Belmont.” Even though he
Perez said. “All of them have master’s [degrees] and one is
does not see a great improvement statistically, he said there
dents are all involved in the process.
getting her doctorate.”
is clear visual evidence that the number of Hispanic students
David Julseth, a Spanish professor at Belmont, is active
Perez explained that some of her Hispanic friends do not
is growing.
in the local Hispanic community and tries to build bridges
attend college because they were never informed of the pro“I’ve noticed that there’s more Hispanics on campus,”
cess they would have to go through in order to pursue higher between Belmont and local Hispanics.
“I think it’s important to support the Hispanic community Herrera said. “Even in my classes there [are] more.”
education. Others face legal issues.
MINUTEMAN from page 1
being banned from any campuses in any way.
“I’ll continue to talk on campuses around the country,”
said Simcox. “Actually, I’m coming back [to Tennessee] in
the spring.”
After his address at Belmont Monday, Simcox was to go
later in the day to Middle Tennessee State University in
Murfreesboro.
At the end of the convo, Simcox felt that he had done
what he set out to do.
“What [the people] need are facts,” said Simcox. “I came
here to provide facts. Many did not hear it, but I hope I made
them think.”
Rob Martin, president of the Belmont College
Republicans, said that by inviting the Minutemen to Belmont
he was not intending on stirring up controversy.
“We didn’t realize it would be so controversial,” said
Martin. “Belmont students are open-minded… [and] we
wanted to get some talk going on campus about the issues
facing [the 2008] presidential candidates.”
Martin, however, did not dismiss the fact that there was
tension in the room during the convocation.
“Tension is good because it makes people think,” said
Martin.
Martin also stressed that he, as the president of the
Belmont College Republicans and as a person, does “not subscribe to some of [Simcox’s] beliefs.” He would not com-
ment on which of the beliefs he disagrees with.
Travis Harvey, who welcomed the audience prior to
Simcox’s address, said that in addition to the College
Republicans, the Leadership Institute also helped bring
Simcox to campus. The Leadership Institute, based in the
Washington, D.C. suburb of Arlington, Va., states that it’s
mission “is to identify, recruit, train, and place conservatives
in politics, government, and the media.”
Harvey also said he and others associated with the event
Monday “are starting a new newspaper for conservative and
libertarian voices” and asked the audience to let the administration know that diverse voices are needed.
Page 8
A fact of life
Sexual health, education critical
for today’s college students
By Abby Selden
STAFF WRITER
A student who is concerned about a pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease can get
tested at Belmont’s student health center, but
students hoping to get condoms, oral
contraceptives, or other means of preventing those conditions have to go elsewhere to obtain these services.
That policy leaves some students
offended, others pleased, and many simply confused.
Sophomore Michael Gaier fears the
university’s refusal to provide means of
preventing pregnancy and STDs may
give students a negative impression of
its own administration.
“I think it should be an option
because everyone has a right to choose
for themselves,” he said. “Without providing that service, Belmont sort of
alienates itself from its own student
body.”
Dean of Students Andrew Johnston
explained that Belmont does not provide
contraception at the health center
because doing so would contradict the
school’s Christian principles. STD and
pregnancy testing are provided because
they are diagnostic, rather then preventative.
And Katy Wilson, director of Belmont
Student Health Services, said, “I don’t see the
lack of these services as a big deficit,” especially when there are places close by that specialize in them.
Her statement is true. Students can buy
condoms at the Circle K across the street from
the Curb Café, and every pharmacy and
convenience store has a variety of overthe-counter contraceptive options.
For prescription contraceptives, however, most locations are a bit farther
away. The Vanderbilt Women’s Health
Clinic and other area clinics and gynecologists’ offices, many just two to three
miles from campus, provide appointments for pills, patches and other prescription contraceptives, in addition to
condoms and spermicides.
Some Belmont students support the
school’s stance on contraceptives, considering its sexual conduct policy as a
Christian university.
“Really it’s the school’s choice,”
junior Daniell Leipply said. “Isn’t this a
sex-free campus? Plus it’s a school with
Christian values. We have plenty of clinics that distribute [contraceptives]. A
institution of higher learning shouldn’t
have to do that.”
Many students, however, are opposed
to the lack of birth control options
offered by Belmont, citing a university’s
obligation to look out for the well-being of its
students.
“I think it’s unethical,” senior John Boan
While Sorenson does not condone sex
before marriage, she acknowledges that it happens. “I’m definitely pro-life, and it seems like
you would lose more lives by making birth
control unavailable,” she said.
Junior Carlie Rhoads expressed a
different concern.
“Since they don’t offer contraceptives it seems like they don’t look
kindly upon people who are having
sex,” she said. “So I don’t think
they’d be willing to help me if I had a
problem.”
Johnston, however, said services are
professional and the providers don’t
pass judgment or betray student confidentiality.
“Our health services and our counseling services are decidedly separate
from our student conduct processes,”
he said. Students “can feel comfortable that they can talk about these
things.”
Some students are offended that
Daniell Leipply birth control isn’t provided because of
its use in treating ailments unrelated to
Belmont junior
preventing pregnancy.
Wilson confirmed that “a whole
host of medical conditions affect the
menstrual cycle, many of which are
unrelated to being sexually active.”
Oral contraceptives, commonly called the
huge state school. Indeed, Nearly 40 percent
birth control pill or simply “The Pill,” contain
of undergraduate women use oral contracephormones often used to regulate the menstrual
tives, according to the American College
cycle, reduce cramps and heavy, long or irregHealth Association.
ular menstrual cycles, and can aid in treating
From a Christian perspective, junior Kali
polycystic ovary disease, acne, anemia and thySorenson believes birth control should be
roid disease.
available at Belmont.
Sophomore Deonte Warren gained
understanding of the other uses of the
birth control pill when it was prescribed for a former girlfriend.
“My ex had anemia really bad, and
it really helped,” he said. “Birth control doesn’t always have to go with
having sex.”
That’s a legitimate use, but
Johnston said the university does “not
want to get in the business of policing
that.”
Johnston also reminded students
that the Belmont health center is not
intended to be a student’s primary care
provider.
“We see ourselves as fitting into a
larger picture of health care,” he said.
“When you look at it from that standAndrew Johnston point we don’t provide every single
service for students period.”
Dean of students
Other students understand why
Belmont policies prohibit birth control,
but feel Belmont should change its
stance on the issue.
“I can see why they’re against it,”
“I’m on the pill, and I’m a virgin,” she said. said junior Zach Moore. “But at the same
time, I still believe they should have it as an
“I’ve never had sex. I was prescribed it just
option.”
because of another problem.
said. “I think the university has a responsibility
to recognize the truth of the matter.”
Boan and others point out that many college
students engage in sexual activity, whether
they’re on a small Christian campus or at a
“We have plenty of
clinics that distribute
[contraceptives].
A institution of higher
learning shouldn’t
have to do that.”
“We
see ourselves as fitting
into a larger picture of
health care, when you
look at it from that standpoint we don’t provide
every single service for
students period.”
Page 9
Christian morals shape
sexual conduct policy
By Abby Selden
STAFF WRITER
While the sexual code of conduct is helpful in
many ways, Stepnick said, she still doesn’t “think that
homosexuality needs to be a separate category from
sexual relations outside of marriage, because heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality are covered
under sex before marriage.”
The Bruin Guide, Belmont’s student handbook,
promises to provide “information essential for making
your way through the puzzles that college may present.”
Premarital sex
In some cases, however, the information itself is
It’s true that Belmont considers sexual relations
puzzling to students.
outside of marriage to be misconduct, but some quesAccording to the guide, specific acts of sexual misconduct forbidden at Belmont include “sexual relations tion how “sexual relations” is defined.
Sophomore Michael Gaier believes “sexual
outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, sexual
relations” is “an umbrella
harassment, rape (date,
term that can be used to
acquaintance and stranger
describe any sort of interacrape), other non-consensual
tion between two people
sex offenses and possession
that could be considered
or distribution of pornostimulating.”
graphic materials.”
But classmate Terrell
Some students expressed
Crudup believes in a narconcern over how the list of
rower definition. “Sexual
violations is phrased, assertrelations,” he said, includes
ing that the statement may
“penetration, stuff like that.
imply that criminal acts
It would not include hugsuch as sexual harassment
ging, kissing, holding
and rape and non-criminal
hands.”
acts such as homosexual
Johnston said the univerrelations and premarital sexsity is committed to the idea
ual relations are viewed and
that “sexual conduct
punished equally.
belongs within the bounds
Dean of Students
of marriage.”
Andrew Johnston assured
that the list of offenses is
Pornography
not meant to imply equal
While the Bruin Guide
severity among any of the
doesn’t define “sexual relaviolations.
tions,” it does provide a def“The notion that those
inition for “obscene materithings are of equal magnials.” Those materials that
tude wasn’t in the intent of
would subject a student to
that statement,” Johnston
discipline by the university
said. “It’s more or less
must, the guide states, “be
mentioning things that
(1) materials in which
might occur and what we
Joy Kayser both
a reasonable person, applymight view as falling under
Belmont sophomore ing contemporary Belmont
sexual misconduct.”
community standards, when
It is perhaps that broad
considering the contents as
scope that leaves students,
a whole, would conclude
when considering the rules
that they appeal to prurient
on sexual conduct, unable to
sexual/physical interests or violently subordinating
determine campus myth from reality.
behavior rather than an intellectual or communicative
purpose, and (2) materials that, taken in to regarding
Homosexuality
their content and their particular usage or application,
“In Belmont’s ruling, if they find out that you are a
lack any redeeming literary, scientific, political, artistic
homosexual, they can exercise the right to expel,”
or social value.”
sophomore John Roden said.
In Gaier’s mind, that definition is still lacking.
Not so, according to Dean of Students Andrew
“That is such a vague statement,” he said. “There
Johnston. “We have no policies about your sexuality,
are so many implications literature makes. And social
we have a sexual conduct policy. If you asked, ‘If I’m
values? Whose values?”
gay I’ll be kicked out?’ I would say, ‘This policy
Despite some student and faculty objections to
relates to your conduct, that’s why it’s a sexual consome of the content in the sexual conduct section of
duct policy.’”
the Bruin Guide, others agree that the section is approIn other words, a student can be punished for
priate considering the heritage of the school founded
engaging in heterosexual or homosexual premarital
as a Baptist institution in 1951.
relations, either on campus or off-campus at universi“As a religious institution I would say those behavty-sponsored events. A student cannot, however, be
iors are very much in line with what Scripture teaches
punished for homosexual orientation unless it is
on the sacredness of sex,” junior Jon Young said. He
accompanied by sexual activity in violation of the
explained that all Belmont students have the right to
guide.
choose for themselves what morals to uphold sexually,
Andi Stepnick, chair of the sociology department,
but “since they chose to come to this institution they
argued that some homosexual students still feel out of
have to abide by the rules of it.”
place at Belmont, and the policy does little to encourSophomore Joy Kayser feels that if students have a
age their acceptance.
major problem with the Bruin Guide, they should have
“When at the informal level it’s true that you can’t
reviewed it before attending Belmont in the first place.
be kicked out for being gay, my impression is that
“People who go to Belmont should have read this
some students are gay and do not feel welcome here,”
before they came here,” she said. “Whether you agree
she said.
with it or not, you go to this school, and you sign stuff
Stepnick said she has witnessed first-hand the
struggle homosexuals can face at a Christian university that says you’ll agree to the Bruin values.”
Johnston said that while Belmont is “not a narrowwhere the code of conduct discourages homosexual
minded, arbitrary, judgmental place,” the institution
behavior.
still has a definite commitment to its moral standards,
“Gay students have come to my office at least a
dozen times in the last six years I’ve been here saying, which the university is “going to live out in every circumstance.”
‘I feel like I’m suffocating here,’” she said.
“People who go to
Belmont should
have read this
before they came
here. Whether you
agree with it or not,
you go to this
school, and you
sign stuff that says
you’ll agree to the
Bruin values.”
Page 10
Sex before marriage: right or wrong?
By Abby Selden
STAFF WRITER
Almost all Americans have sex before
marriage, and nearly half of 15- to 19-yearold Americans have had sex at least once.
As a largely Christian population facing
these facts from numerous national studies,
what do Belmont students have to say about
sex before marriage?
More than you might think.
“Arbitrary sex before marriage I don’t too
much care for, but if you’re in a monogamous relationship with someone you care
about, then it’s all right,” junior Daniell
Leipply said.
Leipply has been in a serious relationship
for one year with a fellow Belmont student.
“I used to think the other way, but then I
realized it’s a changing world,” he said. “A
lot of people today are having sex, and as
long as they’re monogamous and not orgyaddicted polygamists, it’s fine.”
Is Leipply’s approval of premarital sex in
a monogamous relationship an unusual opinion at Belmont, a vocally Christian university? Not at all, even among students who personally plan to save sex for marriage.
“It’s fine as long as you feel that sort of
connection toward a person,” agreed sophomore John Roden. “All a wedding is is saying that you love somebody in front of a
bunch of people and whatever religious deity
you believe in. You’ve decided a long time
before then that you really love somebody.”
According to Belmont’s mission and values statement, “students encounter Christian
values relevant to personal growth and spiritual maturity and are expected to commit
themselves to high moral standards.” It’s no
surprise, then, that many Belmont students
say they are choosing to save sex for marriage.
“It makes marriage more special if you
save sex for it,” sophomore Erin Ayers said.
“It just makes the marriage more sacred.”
Dr. Todd Lake, vice president for spiritual
development, defends the Christian perspective on saving sex for marriage.
“When [Christ] condemns sexual sin, he
says it’s because you’re looking at someone
with the ultimate goal of getting them in
bed,” Lake said. “There is a world of difference between being in a dating relationship
and making a lifelong commitment to your
partner.”
Other students fear the emotional issues
and potential regret that may result from
engaging in premarital sex.
“Anything good you might think will
come out of it in the short term is going to be
complicated by longer term problems,”
“That’s a big thing: the whole reconciliation with
yourself and with God and rationalizing your decisions. I think that today’s concept of marriage has
changed from what God originally intended it to
be.”
Allora McCullough
Belmont freshman
freshman Jonathan Cullifer said. “There’s
always the emotional issues that go with it.”
According to a study featured in “Sexual
Regret in College Students,” a 2005 article
from Archives of Sexual Behavior, a sociology journal, many college students experience
regret following sexual activity, with 38 percent of the sample saying their sexual decisions conflicted with their personal morals
and values.
The same study showed 54 percent of
women and 16 percent of men who had consensual sex said they should have waited
longer, whereas only 11 percent of men and
1 percent of women regretted waiting as long
as they did.
Conversely, some
college students who
resist an overwhelming urge to have sex
within the context of
a committed relationship may face equally
serious issues of
regret from choosing
to abstain from sex.
Freshman Allora
McCullough planned
to save sex for marriage, until she
became engaged and
realized she might
regret that decision.
She said she’s aware
the relationship could
end, but she has
accepted her decision
to engage in a monogamous, sexual relationship.
“I always wanted
to save myself for
marriage,” she said.
“It didn’t end up that
way [but] he’s the
first and last person I’ll ever have that experience with in my life.”
Junior Alaina Reagan warned of the problems that might result from refraining from
sex until marriage.
“If you haven’t had any experience before
you get married, and your experience is bad
in the beginning, you think it’s going to be a
big problem for you,” she said.
Despite the argument that saving sex for
marriage may cause problems in relationships, couples who abstain until marriage
have lower divorce rates.
“It just happens not to be the case that it
is helpful to have sex prior to marriage in
order to establish a solid marriage,” Lake
said. “In fact, statistics show absolutely con-
and the American College Health
Association Web site for more accurate sexual health information.
The health center is also able to make
referrals for a number of issues, including
sexual problems.
“We have come to know lots of people in
the medical community, so we compiled a
list of people to refer to in all specialty
areas,” Wilson said. “We will help you get
through the red tape and facilitate those
appointments the best we can.”
Wilson said she also refers students struggling with the emotional aspects of sexuality
to counseling services.
Leonard-Martin is accustomed to providing advising to any Belmont student confronting sexual issues.
“We have a fair amount of students who
really struggle with values in sexual experiences,” she said. “They leave home with a
certain set of values, come to college, and
sometimes it feels like everything’s turned
upside down.”
Counselors at Belmont are prepared to
help students with issues including relationship violence, confusion over sexual identity,
facing an STD diagnosis and coping with a
first sexual experience.
“Individuals who’ve had their first sexual
experience and end up with HPV or another
STD, they’re devastated, they’re terrified,”
Leonard-Martin said. “I really collaborate
with the health center on these cases.”
Counseling services also regularly help
students facing instances of date and
acquaintance rape.
“We’ll support them through any stage of
that,” she said. “We see a fair amount of
students who struggle.”
Some Belmont students express concern,
however, that their sexual issues with
Belmont counselors may not remain confidential, especially if they mention a policy
on sexual conduct they have violated, such
as homosexual behavior or pre-marital sex
clusively that people who have sex with their
future marriage partner before marriage are
more likely to be divorced than those who
don’t.”
Lake attributes this phenomenon to the
idea that couples that have sex before marriage often have a difficult time adjusting to
the idea of genuine commitment.
“If you don’t view sex as a total lifelong
commitment, once you’re married, it’s kind
of hard to flip the switch,” he said. “If
you’ve established prior to marriage that sex
is not so much tied to commitment as it is
tied to passion, what if you start feeling passionate toward someone who isn’t your
spouse?”
Some Belmont students, however, have
achieved what they believe is a personal reconciliation between their sexual activity and
their Christian beliefs.
McCullough is one of these students.
“That’s a big thing: the whole reconciliation with yourself and with God and rationalizing your decisions,” she said. “I think that
today’s concept of marriage has changed
from what God originally intended it to be.”
The only truly consistent opinion among
Belmont students, however, is the commitment to remain non-judgmental of other students’ decisions, no matter what their personal beliefs on sex.
Sophomore Kyle Paxton is opposed to
premarital sex for religious reasons, but
refuses to judge others.
“I guess I would say, ‘Wait,’ but at the
same time I wouldn’t want to judge [those
who have sex before marriage] or condemn
them,” he said.
From a Christian perspective, Lake supports this non-judgmental outlook as one of
the most important traits a Christian can possess.
“Jesus said ‘Judge not that you not be
judged,’” he said. “Not being judgmental is
profoundly Christian.”
Whether a student is sexually active,
staunchly opposed to sex before marriage or
somewhere in between, dealing with sexual
temptations is an issue students face no matter what their views are.
“I think that when you’re away from
home you’re away from your comfort zone,
and there are a lot of temptations you’re
going to face, especially without parents
around,” freshman Will Young said.
Most Belmont students seem to agree that
the best way to avoid unwanted sexual temptation and pressure is to surround themselves
with people who will respect their views.
“You just have to be able to stand up and
say no,” sophomore Mike Gaylord said.
“Real friends shouldn’t pressure you to do
things like that.”
SEX from page 1
blood and lesion test for herpes and a test for
syphilis are also available, but Wilson said
these tests are rarely done.
“We also do pregnancy tests,” Wilson
said. “People who are pregnant and don’t
mean to be – that’s an emotional issue –
need a lot of support.”
The health center does not write prescriptions for birth control pills or provide any
contraceptives, but Wilson still stresses the
importance of sexual education among college students.
“I see lots of students who just need a
consult visit,” said Wilson, explaining that it
is not unusual for students to make appointments to ask about health issues they are
confused about.
Wilson is designing an updated health
center Web site, which will include a page of
links to informational articles on every
aspect of health. It will also include a section with printable information pamphlets.
Wilson suggests WebMD.com, CDC.gov,
on campus.
“Everything is absolutely confidential,”
countered Leonard-Martin. “The only time
confidentiality has to be broken is if a student is a danger to themselves and possibly
to others.” All students are given a sheet
explaining their rights before their first counseling services.
Johnston confirmed this confidentiality
policy, noting that health services and counseling services are entirely separate from student conduct processes.
The first responsibility of Belmont counselors is the well-being of Belmont students.
“Whatever they are struggling with, we
are going to help them,” Leonard-Martin
said. “I cannot imagine abandoning a student
dealing with a possibly controversial issue.
“Someone’s sexual history or sexual
experience is protected right along with any
other aspect of a human being’s life.”
Page 11
Mark your Calendar…
fitness
November
November
November
November
November
November
Excercise: triceps dips
Triceps dips are great for, you guessed it, triceps. But they also provide
some action for the muscles in your abs, back and shoulders.
Here’s the way to do it:
1.Sit on the edge of your bed or sturdy chair, arms close to you sides,
fingers towards your hips.
2.Slide your bottom just off of edge of the chair, and keeping your
elbows pointed straight back, lower your body down until you upper
arms are parallel with the floor.
3.Try to keep your body close to the chair, and keep your elbows pointed back.
4.Hold at the bottom for 1-2 seconds then push yourself back up.
*You may either have straight legs or bent knees to make it a little
easer.
First position
Second position
7 ..................
9...................
10.................
12.................
13 ................
14.................
Zumba 10 a.m.
Turkey Trott Rosters due
2 on 2 Dodge Ball Tournament
Turkey Trott Info Meeting
Freshman Fitness Convo.
Turkey Trott 5K Race
Cock-a-noodle casserole
Cook 1 ½ cups of egg noodles according to package directions. In a 2-quart casserole dish, combine one can low-fat cream of mushroom soup,
1/2 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese, 1/2
cup of skim milk, and 1/2 cup fat-free sour
cream. Mix well. Stir in noodles, thawed frozen
vegetables, and canned chicken. Mix well.
Microwave, covered, on high for 10 minutes, or
until heated through, stirring once. Sprinkle 1/2
cup of cheese on top. Microwave on high for 2
minutes or until cheese has melted.
Cross training, tennis
good workout choices
Trainer Tip
By adding weight training to you workout you will continue to
burn calories up to three hours after your workout. Keep it simple at first, only lift enough weight to feel resistance, but not
pain and only do exercises you are comfortable doing. Start out
by doing one exercise for each major muscle group, chest, back,
shoulders, arms, abdominals and legs. Do 8-12 repetitions of
each exercise.
Julie Hullett
For students and staff, for teens and those well beyond the teen years, contemporary life
is a busy time. Scheduling appointments is critical and for many, that extends to time to do
something healthy – whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood or a workout in the gym.
Here are two “B Fit•BU” practitioners:
Fitness profiles
Music can make or break a workout
It is no secret that music can make working out more enjoyable. One would be hard pressed
to find someone who does not enjoy having a soundtrack to their fitness endeavors. However,
not all songs can make the cut. The background noise has to be upbeat and catchy. It must
motivate the workout, not slow it down. Here are a few top choice picks.
1. Watch Me Shine- Joanna Pacitti
From the eternal classic “Legally Blonde” soundtrack, this tune is played while Elle is
preparing to kick some butt. Listening to it, you will feel like you can too.
2. Umbrella- Rihanna
Ella. Ella. Just the mere mention of this song will get you moving. And it is completely
acceptable if one sings during a workout. Just not too loud.
3. Gone Daddy Gone – Gnarls Barkley
This tune has all the makings of an exceptional song. A good beat. Crazy lyrics. The
amazing artist who sings it doesn’t hurt either.
4. It’s not right (but it’s okay)- Whitney Houston
Another classic song by a classic artist, this song is timeless. The beat alone is enough to
make you want to run laps around campus.
5. Fidelity- Regina Spektor
Music and non-music majors alike will appreciate the staccato beats of this tune. Her
soothing voice will also help you forget about the fact that you are sweating and aching.
Kearney Gay
Julie Hullett
coordinator for graduate admissions, recruitment, promotion, College of Arts and
Sciences
What is your favorite type of exercise? i.e. Group
Fitness Cardio or weight training.
Actually I do a lot of cross training: running, weights, kickboxing, yoga and walking. I guess running would be my favorite
of these.
Have you noticed a difference in yourself?
I go to school and work full time and try to
maintain a social life. I’d say the exercise
makes the difference in my energy level.
Working out regularly gives me much
needed stamina.
With such a busy schedule how do you fit healthy living in?
I work out early in the morning so I get it
knocked out first thing and then enjoy the
effects all day long.
Kearney Gay
masters of sports administration
What is your favorite type of exercise? i.e. Group
Fitness Cardio or weight training.
My favorite type of exercise is either
weight lifting or playing tennis. I played
tennis in college and it’s a great cardio
work out. I also do some running with
my dog. Helps keep her in shape, too.
Have you noticed a difference in yourself?
I am always in a great mood after I work
out; it gets those endorphins flowing. I
don’t lift weights for looks; it makes me
happy and keeps me healthy. I believe it
will keep me healthy as I get older.
With such a busy schedule how do you fit healthy
living in?
It’s all about a routine. I go to work till
about 4ish, go home and change and
check on my dogs, go to the gym, and
then I go straight to class. It gets tough
sometimes, but if I don’t work out, my
day feels worthless to me. Lazy in a way!
On top of that, I try my best to eat
healthy. I never eat fast food or anything
fried, the only bad thing I let myself eat
every now and then is pizza. I love
pizza!
Page 12
sports
Belmont senior basketball player, Justin Hare, was one of
25 players named to the 2007-8 Preseason Mid-Major AllAmerican Team by CollegeInsider.com. Hare is the leading returning scorer with 1,275 career points and earned
MVP honors in 2006 and 2007, also leading the Bruins in
back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
Runners get
wins, supports
It’s time to tip off!
By Shardé Burkhead
STAFF WRITER
Men’s, women’s basketball to build on stellar season
By Rachel Waller
SENIOR WRITER
It’s the beginning of the end: Justin Hare’s
senior year. The two-time Atlantic Sun Most
Valuable player will started his final season on
Nov. 3.
“Justin’s had a great career,” said Coach
Rick Byrd, but Hare’s career isn’t over quite
yet. He still has this season; one that the Bruins
hope will be a historic one.
“We have a banner in our locker room that
says ‘make history,’” said junior guard Andy
Wicke, who is also Hare’s roommate. “No team
has ever won the A-Sun tournament three years
in row. Our goal is to make history.”
The team is well on its way. This past summer, the Bruins completed a four-game
European basketball tour.
“Athletics can add to the educational experience,” said Byrd. “Some players wouldn’t have
been able to go to Europe otherwise. We played
games but didn’t practice.”
The relaxing atmosphere of a European
adventure does not correlate with their regular
season travels.
“When we are on the road, we are there to
play basketball,” said Byrd.
Wicke agrees. “On away games we are
either at the gym, the hotel, or a restaurant.”
The Bruins will have to get used to gyms
and hotels as only four of their 14 non-conference games are at home. They are also against
strong competitors such as Alabama and
Xavier.
“We purposely chose harder teams to play.
We want to get better,” said Byrd.
This desire to improve also reveals any areas
where the team or individual players are vulner-
able.
“We deal with players individually on any
problems and … we work on improving.”
The players have noticed a difference since
they began practicing for this season, a good
start for fans rooting for the Bruins.
“We’ve been practicing for two weeks and
we’ve been improving,” said Hare.
How does the senior feel about his final season as Bruin?
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Hare. “It
hasn’t sunk in… I have mixed feelings about
it.”
There are no mixed feelings about the goal
for this season. Byrd, Wicke and Hare all said
they would like to return to the NCAA tournament. Wicke also mentioned he would like to
see redemption for last year’s homecoming
defeat to Lipscomb.
One thing is for certain. Basketball season
has begun.
Women’s team has big task
Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, the members of the women's basketball
team would also like a repeat performance in
the NCAA tournament. However, the team may
not have to purchase quite as many airline tickets.
“We’re a little shorthanded,” said coach
Tony Cross. As a result, the three incoming
freshmen will have to play this season “ready
or not.”
“We thought we would have five starters but
we really only have three,” said Cross.
One explanation for this shortage is the
injury of sophomore Tereva Moore.
2007-2008 Women’s Basketball Scedule
2007-08 Belmont Women's Basketball Schedule
Date
11/1
11/9
11/11
11/15
11/18
11/20
11/23
11/25
11/28
12/1
12/4
12/14
12/18
12/19
1/5
1/7
1/12
1/19
1/21
1/26
1/28
2/2
2/4
2/9
2/11
2/16
2/18
2/23
2/28
3/1
3/5-8
Day
Thursday
Friday
Sunday
Thursday
Sunday
Tuesday
Friday
Sunday
Wednesday
Saturday
Tuesday
Friday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Saturday
Monday
Saturday
Saturday
Monday
Saturday
Monday
Saturday
Monday
Saturday
Monday
Saturday
Monday
Saturday
Thursday
Saturday
Wed.-Sat.
Opponent
LINCOLN MEMORIAL (Exhibition)
at TAMU- Corpus Christi
at Texas-San Antonio
MISSISSIPPI STATE
BOWLING GREEN
at Tennessee Tech
1- vs. Vanderbilt
1- vs. Iowa State/Michigan
ALABAMA
at Tennessee State
MONTEVALLO (DH)
at Memphis
2- vs. USF
2- vs. Tulsa
* at Campbell
* at Gardner-Webb
* at Lipscomb
* USC UPSTATE (DH)
* ETSU
* at Mercer
* at Kennesaw State
* FLORIDA GULF COAST (DH)
* at Stetson
* NORTH FLORIDA (DH)
* JACKSONVILLE
* at USC Upstate
* at ETSU
* LIPSCOMB
* CAMPBELL (DH)
* GARDNER-WEBB (DH)
3- at A-Sun Tournament
Location
Time
Curb Event Center
7:00 pm
Corpus Christi, Texas 5:00 pm
San Antonio, Texas
2:00 pm
Curb Event Center
7:00 pm
Curb Event Center
3:00 pm
Cookeville, Tenn.
7:00 pm
Nashville, Tenn.
2:00 pm
Nashville, Tenn.
12:00/2:00 pm
Curb Event Center
7:00 pm
Nashville, Tenn.
6:00 pm
Curb Event Center
5:00 pm
Memphis, Tenn.
7:00 pm
Cancun, Mexico
5:30 pm
Cancun, Mexico
5:30 pm
Buies Creek, N.C.
12:00 pm
Boiling Springs, N.C. 7:00 pm
Nashville, Tenn.
TBA
Curb Event Center
5:00 pm
Curb Event Center
12:00 pm
Macon, Ga.
4:00 pm
Kennesaw, Ga.
6:00 pm
Curb Event Center
5:00 pm
DeLand, Fla.
6:00 pm
Curb Event Center
4:15 pm
Curb Event Center
7:00 pm
Spartanburg, S.C.
12:00 pm
Johnson City, Tenn. 6:00 pm
Curb Event Center
7:00 pm
Curb Event Center
5:00 pm
Curb Event Center
7:15 pm
Nashville, Tenn.
TBA
Home games are in CAPS and bold.
* Atlantic Sun Conference game.
1- Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Classic (Nashville, Tenn.)
2- Caribbean Classic (Cancun, Mexico)
3- Atlantic Sun Tournament (Nashville, Tenn.)
All times are Central.
“Tereva is a versatile player. Its more like
losing two players,” Cross said.
Moore will be sitting out this season due to
her torn ACL – the anterior cruciate ligament in
the knee that is often a problem for both college
and pro players. However, the team has four
new players.
One new player is transfer student Shardé
Burkhead from Alaska – North Pole, Alaska.
“We only bring in transfers when there is a
gap to fill,” Cross said. “There was a particular
need in [a] position.”
Another formerly injured player will again
be making an appearance on the court. Senior
guard Laura Cowley has been given permission
by doctors to start playing again.
“Laura has worked harder than anyone I’ve
ever seen,” said Cross. “She will play this season.”
The team also has another thing working to
their advantage. They have not lost a home
game since November 2005. Cross attributes it
to having to good players.
“We expect to win,” he said. “We gotta get
something done every practice or game and we
have.”
Cross said that his expectations are created
through experience. They have to be healthy
because the league will be tougher this season.
“Our non-conference games are tougher
than our conference games,” said Cross. “But
we need the challenges. We have the toughest
schedule ahead of us that we’ve had so far. We
are going to be learning lessons.”
Cross referred to it as a work in progress.
The work is just about to begin.
“It’s the beginning of the season. Take a
deep breath. Here we go.”
2007-2008 Men’s Basketball Scedule
2007-08 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Date
11/9
11/10
11/11
11/15
11/17
11/19
11/26
12/1
12/4
12/12
12/17
12/19
12/29
12/30
1/3
1/5
1/12
1/17
1/19
1/24
1/26
1/31
2/2
2/7
2/9
2/14
2/16
2/22
2/28
3/1
3/5
3/6
3/7
3/8
Day
Fri
Sat
Sun
Thurs
Sat
Mon
Mon
Sat
Tues
Wed
Mon
Wed
Sat
Sun
Thurs
Sat
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Fri
Thurs
Sat
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Opponent
1-Cincinnati
1-Bowling Green
1-Western Carolina
Samford
Austin Peay
Alabama
Middle Tennessee State
Xavier
Fisk (DH)
Middle Tennessee State
Tennessee State
Austin Peay
2-Wright State
2-Murray State/Chattanooga
Gardner-Webb
Campbell
Lipscomb
East Tennessee State
USC Upstate (DH)
Kennesaw State
Mercer
Stetson
Florida Gulf Coast (DH)
Jacksonville
North Florida
East Tennessee State
USC Upstate
Lipscomb
Campbell (DH)
Gardner-Webb (DH)
Atlantic Sun Quarterfinals
A-Sun Quarterfinals
A-Sun Semifinals
A-Sun Championship
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Birmingham, Ala.
Clarksville, Tenn.
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Curb Event Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
Curb Event Center
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Curb Event Center
Curb Event Center
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Boiling Springs, N.C.
Buies Creek, N.C.
Nashville, Tenn.
Curb Event Center
Curb Event Center
Kennesaw, Ga.
Macon, Ga.
DeLand, Fla.
Curb Event Center
Curb Event Center
Curb Event Center
Johnson City, Tenn.
Spartanburg, S.C.
Curb Event Center
Curb Event Center
Curb Event Center
Nashville, Tenn.
Nashville, Tenn.
Nashville, Tenn.
Nashville, Tenn.
1-Peggy Cronin Classic (Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio)
2-Dr. Pepper Classic (McKenzie Arena, Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Home Games in Bold
All Times Central
Time
7:00
3:00
4:00
7:00
7:00
6:00
7:00
6:00
7:15
7:00
7:00
7:00
5:00
5:00/7:00
6:00
3:00
TBA
7:00
7:15
6:00
6:30
6:00
7:15
7:00
2:00
6:00
3:00
6:30
7:15
5:00
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
Being a student athlete at Belmont
University always consists of working hard on and off the court or field,
but one thing that always gives athletes a burst of energy is their fans.
During the men’s and women’s
cross country meet on Oct. 27 at the
Vaughn's Creek Cross Country
Course, Belmont’s school spirit came
running as well.
Every one of the Belmont Bruins’
sports teams were there cheering and
supporting their fellow Bruins, along
with many other students, friends, and
family.
“I am a fan of all Belmont sports,
but sometimes I tend to be a fanatic,
and I like giving the best support I
can,” said Whitney Seal, of the
women’s basketball team.
Both the men’s and women’s
cross country teams dominated, winning the Atlantic Sun Championship
and many other awards.
Belmont’s men cross country
team has now won a record six consecutive A-Sun conference championships and the women have also
won their sixth in seven years.
Junior Kipkosgei Magut won the
men’s individual Runner of the Year
award with a time of 25:10 in the 8K
run. Magut became the first runner to
win consecutive A-Sun championships since former Bruin William
Kemey in ‘01-’02.
Senior Lauren Weaver won the
women’s individual Runner of the
Year award by posting an amazing
time of 17:51.
“Seeing, knowing, and hearing all
the support from our fans, was one of
the greatest feelings,” Magut said.
“Being a student athlete at Belmont is
great and the more support we
receive, I believe the better we all
perform.”
The Belmont Bruins’ pride was by
far the loudest, the largest, and the
most spirited as the fans out-shouted
supporters of 11 competing teams.
“Being there to support our
Bruins is a good thing because I
know when I play I love it when our
fans are loud it just makes playing
our game fun,” said Shane Dansby, of
the Belmont men’s basketball team.
But it wasn’t just athletes supporting each other.
President Bob Fisher’s recent
announcement that he would give an
annual spirit award brought scores of
other supporters out. Some arrived in
costumes and all came with colossal
spirit, to shout both for the cross
country teams and against their rivals
for the spirit award.
Teams vying for the award included Alpha Tau Omega, Phi Mu,
Belmont Softball, Belmont Track and
Field, Athletic Department student
workers, Phil Delta Theta pledge
class, Hail Hall and Belmont baseball.
Fisher has chosen the winner,
which he’ll announce Nov. 26 at
halftime of the Belmont men’s game
against MTSU.
Page 13
‘Knocked Up’ loaded with laughs
By Brian Clark
STAFF WRITER
BUY IT? | RENT IT? | LEAVE IT?
For the last few years, the amount of good
comedies released has been few and far
between. That is why we all should thank Judd
Apatow for finally giving us consistently
Movie:
Knocked Up
funny, well-written comedies; this is especially
true for his newest comedy, “Knocked Up.”
Genre:
Comedy/Drama/Romance
Following a string of underrated television
Starring:
Seth Rogen
shows and a comedy hit in “40-Year-Old
Katherine Heigl
Virgin,” Apatow proves once again why he is
Paul Rudd
setting a new standard for comedies that few
other writers or directors can reach.
Leslie Mann
“Knocked Up” tells the story of a one-night
Director:
Judd Apatow
stand between stoner-bum Ben Stone (Seth
Producers:
Clayton Townsend
Rogen) and E! anchor Alison Scott (Katherine
Released:
June
1, 2007
Heigl). After going their separate ways, Alison
DVD release: Sept. 25, 2007
reluctantly contacts Ben when she discovers
she is pregnant. Ben decides that he wants to
be a part of her pregnancy, and from then on
ing the audiwe see the highs and lows of their relationship as Ben “tries” to shape up and Alison tries to
ence in the end,
decide if she really needs, or even wants, Ben in the picture.
a tight hour and
What makes “Knocked Up” so different from so many other comedies is the authenticity
40 minutes
in Apatow’s writing. He rarely uses physical humor, but relies on dialogue and interaction
would have
between characters as the basis for the humor. It makes the humor more easier to relate to,
Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen star in “Knocked Up,” a
been perfect. romantic comedy about a one-night stand that leads to much
thus more effective. “Knocked Up” succeeds where other movies fail because it takes a real
One major more than anticipated.
life situation and uses real life humor within it.
aspect of the
The major component of “Knocked Up” that separates it from other comedies is the way
movie that everyone needs to be forewarned about is the content. A majority of the scenes are
in which Apatow focuses on giving the audience intelligent humor as well as a well-congenuinely funny, but there is also some heavy sexual dialogue and some sexual situations that
structed story. So many movies try to provide humor through outrageous situations. But
“Knocked Up” works because it has a very serious storyline through the situation with Alison definitely deserve the R rating. If you can stand some adult content, “Knocked Up” has a little
something for everybody that will have you laughing during the movie and smiling at the end.
and Ben, and at the same time, scenes between Ben and his friends and Alison and her sister
provide some very funny moments.
Buy it, Rent it or Leave it: Definitely rent it, but I’d buy it.
The one minor downside of “Knocked Up” is that Apatow didn’t want to sacrifice any of
his story to save running time, but that didn’t mean the movie needed to be two-plus hours. I
Brian Clark is a sophomore English writing major. Email: clarkb@pop.belmont.edu.
applaud him for giving us more than 90 minutes of laughs with no plot, but to keep from los-
X
Country event rocks
By Courtney Drake
EDITOR
Break out the fiddles and acoustic guitars – it’s time for the Country Music
Showcase once again. This year, it will be
7-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, in the
Curb Event Center.
Nick Novak, a senior music business
major who is also the producer of the showcase, said this year the show will be more
visually appealing, incorporating unique
lighting and 3-D physical elements.
Thirty-five people turned in application
packets and CDs of their recorded music.
from that number, industry judges chose
eight, who then performed in live auditions
on Nov. 3.
Parker Welling, Eden’s Edge, Courtney
Blair and Shea Raye were the four artists
chosen to perform.
“They have to perform two original
songs, but that doesn’t mean they have to
write it themselves,” said Novak.
Performers in the showcase must also perform one cover song and the lead singer
must be a Belmont student, as well as twothirds of the band.
The winner of the showcase will perform
in the Best of the Best Showcase at the end
of the school year and will also have the
opportunity to record their music at
Belmont’s Ocean Way Studio.
This semester is the first in which convocation credit is not offered for the showcase.
“Convocation events are supposed to be
held in a place where attendance can be
monitered,” said Mark Bryant, associate
dean of Student Affairs. But [showcases]
have gotten so big, it’s hard to keep track.”
Consequently, the office of Student
Affairs decided to remove convo credit
from all the Mike Curb College of Music
Business showcases.
“I thought it would hurt attendance, but
I’ve noticed it hasn’t hurt it at all [in the
previous showcases],” said Novak. “I still
think they should get [convo credit], but
I’ve adjusted, and it’s not as big of a deal as
I thought.”
Convo credit or not, the showcase will
spotlight Belmont’s finest country singers of
the year. As Novak said, “You don’t want
to miss it.”
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person. Inside-Out Home Furnishing, 149 Wilson Pike, Brentwood.
Page 14
:
When Ken Spring walks into
his sociology class, most think
he’s another student, not the professor. Complete with nose ring
and tattoos, Spring is not your
typical college professor.
He has a master’s from the
University of Toledo and
obtained his doctorate from
Vanderbilt. Currently researching popular culture and the
music scene, he has been interviewed for documentaries dealing with culture which have
aired on Bravo!, Current TV and
PBS. He is an assistant professor of sociology at Belmont.
Spring classified the music he would need on a deserted
island into five genres that “instill certain feelings in me,”
choosing one band/artist to represent each. However, he left
out of the mix a few of his favorite or “comfort” bands,
including the Pixies, Nirvana and the White Stripes.
Also taking into account the setting, here are the five
albums that would represent his life on a deserted island.
In a crisis, Spring abandons Nirvana
for Flogging Molly, Johnny Cash
Hip-Hop
Moment of Truth, Gang Starr, 1998
“I’ve listened to Hip-hop since 1982. Gang Starr isn’t
really ‘old school’ but certainly not ‘new school’ either. They
pay homage to hip-hop’s past, but are more complex musically and lyrically than the early artists. Gang Starr’s lyrics
are intelligent and this selection has enough variety throughout the whole album that I wouldn’t get bored. Also, Guru’s
voice is soothing.”
Punk
Drunken Lullabies, Flogging Molly, 2002
“Punk has an equal place in my heart. I used to listen to
punk before BMX races when I was 8. It would get me in the
right mental place to really step up and get things accomplished. I debated long and hard as to whom I would choose
and while I recognize the Clash, MC5, the Misfits and Social
Distortion have all played a bigger part in my past, the context of location played a role in this decision. I consider
Flogging Molly more on the spectrum of ‘soft punk’, or punk
for old people. It still offers a bit of the attitude, but rage
won’t do much for me when I’m alone on an island.”
Country/Rock
At San Quentin. Johnny Cash, 1969
“I would prefer the box set ‘Love, God, Murder.’ Ten
years ago this would have never made my list, now I can’t
imagine him not being on the list. This punted Bob Dylan
and the Beatles, as there is more grit, as well as struggle, with
a dash of hope. There is nothing like a little growl to get the
day started.”
Singer/Songwriter/Easy Listening
Concert in the Park, Paul Simon, 1991
“Each place that I have moved and faced that initial isolation I have found a bit of solace in this album. It allows me
to think and reflect without getting too deep into my head. I
remember getting in trouble in church when I was 3 or 4
because I wanted to sing like everyone else. The problem
was that they were singing hymns and I was singing Paul
Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” I mean, ‘Get on
the Bus, Gus.’”
Gospel
Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama, 2000s
“A little gospel goes a long way when you are spending
the rest of your days on a deserted island. Nobody brings
more sunshine to the soul then this pairing.”
– Courtney Drake
4V]PUN(OLHK
^P[OH
4(**
Are you interested in the accounting profession
but don’t have an undergraduate business or
accounting degree? Belmont University’s Summer
Accounting Institute will prepare you to start the
12-month Master of Accounting program at The
Massey Graduate School of Business, accredited
in accounting by AACSB International.
The next course begins summer 2008.
615-460-6480
www.belmont.edu/business/graduatebusiness
Bill Baker, Jr., MACC 2004
Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Audit in Charge
www.belmontvision.com
‘Two Rooms’
PHOTO BY JOSEPH SHELBY
In this scene from Lee Blessing’s “Two Rooms,” characters enact a
hostage drama written in 1988 but still timely. Here, pushy reporter
Walker Harris (Benjamin Reed), left, makes demands of State Department
liaison Ellen Van Oss (Brittany McManus), while Lainie (Liz Young), the
grieving wife of a professor who is being held hostage in Beiruit, kneels in
the spare room where she spends her days, trying to imagine what her husband is going through at the hands of his captors. The production of the
Belmont Theatre Company opens Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Troutt Black
Box Theater. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8-10 and
Nov. 14-16, and at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 11, 17 and 18. Admission is free for
Belmont students.
Page 15
PHOTOS BY CHRIS SPEED
The four acts that
made it to this year’s
Urban/Pop Showcase
were Alvin Love, bottom
left; Brett McLaughlin,
left; and, not shown,
Steve Moakler and
Stephen Fryrear. The
showcase encompassed
a diverse range of talent,
from Love’s song comparing the taste of strawberries to love and
Fryrear’s rendition of
Justin Timberlake’s
“What Goes Around” to
Moakler’s acoustic
sound and McLaughlin’s
rock vibe. And, of
course, a showcase with
Alvin Love wouldn’t be
the same without some
of his signature dance
moves, which he offered
with a group of backup
dancers during his last
song. Each act performed three songs
before giving up the
stage to the “STOMP”
group, top, that performed at the beginning
and end of the showcase, as well as between
each act. Love was the
winner of this year’s
Urban/Pop Showcase
and will return to the
showcase spotlight when
the 2007-08 series ends
with the Best of the Best
Showcase April 5.
Page 16
a&e
Billboard’s Pop 100 Airplay
1. Apologize, Timbaland Feat. OneRepublic
2. Stronger, Kanye West
3. The Way I Are, Timbaland Feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E.
4. Who Knew, Pink
5. Bubbly, Colbie Caillat
Mute Math: Catch ‘em live
By Lance Conzett
ONLINE EDITOR
Mute Math is one of those bands that I just have never paid much attention to. I listened to
their album a couple of times when it came out earlier this year but quickly tossed it aside for
bigger and better things. It’s not that I thought that their self-titled debut was bad, but I didn’t
hear anything special or different that I hadn’t heard in Minus the Bear records or any of the
other electronic/rock fusion groups that have sprouted up lately.
With this in mind, you can understand how surprised I was when Mute Math put on one of
the best shows I’ve ever seen. I had a basic understanding of the band’s wilder moments—
when they played “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Break the Same” went from an average
rock song with a keytar in it to utter chaos. Singer Paul Meany did handstands on his piano
while the others members abandoned their instruments to thrash several bass drums littered
around the stage. That half of the performance alone sold me on the Mute Math live show.
The band played City Hall to a sold-out crowd Oct. 28. The club was fuller than I had
ever seen it, although not everyone was there
strictly for Mute Math. Littered throughout the
crowd were diehard Eisley fans. In fact, many
people I talked to in line and inside were there
just to see the opening act and were hoping that
Mute Math would be just as good.
Eisley is like the Partridge Family, if the
Partridge Family was inspired by OK Computer
and named themselves after a wretched hive of
scum and villainy. However, the Radiohead
influence wasn’t recognizable in their music at
all. They played decent pop/rock that you
would expect from a band who frequently tours
with inoffensive pop/rock bands like New
Found Glory and Taking Back Sunday. The
first half of their set proved to be visibly problematic, plagued with problems afflicting the
lead guitarist. Over the course of the set, however, the band warmed up enough to put on a
good show. It wasn’t particularly spectacular,
although their louder songs were much better
than the twangier tunes that they trotted out in
the beginning and end of their set. The Eisley
fans were pleased and those who never heard of
them at least went home without anything bad
to say about the band, which doesn’t sound posPaul Meany “surfing” on his piano
itive, but it beats people going home and trashing
them on the Internet. Over time, Eisley may
grow into a band that has a better grip on their sound, but as of now they’re just alright.
Eisley’s stage show may have been sparse and nothing to speak of, but Mute Math takes
stage presence to entirely new levels. The exact same thing happened in most of Mute Math’s
PHOTOS BY LANCE CONZETT
Mute Math’s Paul Meany takes time out from vocals to do a handstand on his
piano at the band’s sold-out show Oct. 28 at City Hall.
songs that happened on “Conan.” The songs were decent, but the energy behind those songs
elevates them into an entirely different game. It wasn’t uncommon for Meany to suddenly
leap onto his piano and ride it like a surfboard, which was already impressive without the
knowledge that he was suffering from laryngitis all evening. Now that’s devotion.
Going to a Mute Math show is something of an experience. Aside from Meany’s antics,
the band excels at building a song to a climax and smashing it into pieces in a chaotic mess of
percussion and synth effects. They’re the only band I’ve ever seen that needed to take an
encore break because the stage was in such disarray that it would have taken a while to reset
anything anyway. The percussion section is the strongest part of the band, particularly drummer Darren King, who is one of the best rock drummers playing today. There’s a reason why
he’s at the front of the stage instead of banished to the back like most drummers. Meany may
be the front man, but King steals the show every time. Especially when he rode a bass drum
supported by the audience, although it wasn’t quite as impressive as when Eugene Hutz from
Gogol Bordello pulled the same stunt at Bonnaroo.
Mute Math is one of the rare bands where their live show is infinitely better than their
recorded album because the record can’t relate the energy of the band. Aside from the multimedia experience consisting of bizarre video clips of old movies and collapsing bridges being
broadcast on massive screens behind the band, the actual performance of the band is so hypnotic that even people who aren’t interested in their albums will be impressed.
Feist at the Ryman
‘I swear the rest of the album is as good as the iPod song’
By Lance Conzett
ONLINE EDITOR
There’s something to be said about having your song featured on one of the
omnipresent iPod commercials. Apple has a
knack for finding the most infectious songs
being ignored by the general public and turning them into money in the bank. Before
“1234” by Feist was tossed into the national
spotlight by Apple on recent iPod Nano commercials, she was only doing moderately
well in the United States. The single was sitting at a comfortable 2,000 downloads per
week and the album, “The Reminder,” had
reached No. 36 on the Billboard 200 chart, a
personal best for the Canadian singer.
But, after the commercial hit the airwaves, all of those numbers skyrocketed.
Weekly downloads of “1234” tripled and the
record has since jumped to No. 16 on the
Billboard charts. She appeared on “The Late
Show with David Letterman,” accompanied
by an indie all-star choir featuring members
Getting there
Feist performs at the Ryman
Auditorium, her first appearance at
the venue since she opened for
Bright Eyes in 2005 on Nov. 21.
Tickets: $25-$32 for main floor
seats and $25 through
Ticketmaster or the Ryman boxoffice. Jason Collett, a fellow member of Broken Social Scene, opens.
of bands like Broken Social Scene and Mates
of State, and “Saturday Night Live” as a
direct result of the ad’s success. The recent
success is well deserved, because “The
Reminder” is easily one of the best records
released in 2007.
“The Reminder” is a lush dream of an
album. Although much of the subject matter – love, loss and the emotions associated with both – has
been well explored over the years
by countless other singers, the way
Feist performs the songs makes
them feel fresh and new. Songs
like “The Water” and “Intuition”
let Feist’s sultry, echoing voice
lead you through a fog of cleverly arranged jazzy melodies
laden with piano and brass
instruments, not to mention the
occasional well-placed hand
claps.
One of album’s the
strongest points is the arrangement and how the use of odder instruments
doesn’t feel forced. Flourishes of glockenspiel and banjo act as nothing more than subtle touches, instead of taking over to say
“look how delightfully strange we are!” No
matter what, the songs always place Feist’s
voice at the focal point. She no doubt
faces comparisons
to similar
indie darlings like
Regina
Spektor
and Chan
Marshall
from Cat
Power, but
her voice is
distinct
enough that I
don’t feel like
I’m listening
to a retread of
all of those
other singers. Even
when performing a cover song, as she often
does, Feist offers something new, as subtle
as that enhancement may be, and that’s why
she’ll head to greater and greater popularity.

11/8/2007 - Belmont Vision

Transcription

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