This year marked the 11th anniversary of the event, which also included the 26.2-mile Country Music Marathon. The race began at Centennial Park and ended at LP Field, with about 32,000 participating.

A handful of those runners ran with Team Belmont, led by senior exercise science/pre-physical therapy major Melissa Thomas, the Student Coordinator for Group Fitness & Freshman Fitness. Team Belmont consisted of approximately 50 runners and was open to undergraduate and graduate students alike, as well as faculty members.

“Team Belmont is the Beaman Center’s group that focuses on walking, jogging and running,” Thomas said. “Right now, we participate in one event during the fall, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, a five-mile walk, and we partner with Fleet Feet Sports to train for the Country Music Half Marathon in the spring.”

Fleet Feet Sports, a corporation that offers fitness apparel and footwear, assisted Team Belmont in designing a training plan to help students properly prepare for the race. “It is a method of training where you do two short runs during the week and do a long run on Saturdays together as a group,” Thomas said. “The mileage gradually builds up.”

Although the group trained together, members of Team Belmont were free to run at their own pace on race day, with personal time goals.

For Thomas, it was the training process – not the end result – that made her experience leading the team valuable. “It is so rewarding to hear the stories people have and the confidence that is built during training,” she said. “People far surpass their own expectations and it’s so awesome to watch.”

However, other Belmont students chose to train for the race on their own. Nick Deitmen, a student in Belmont’s accelerated MBA program, trained with close friends as opposed to a bigger, more established group.

“I totally see the value of running with a large group,” Deitmen said. “But, with having just one or two other people to run with, we were able to make sure the run was beneficial for everyone. I needed something small, but as I continue to train for other races, I may choose to expand.”

Still others trained alone because of busy schedules. “The worst part of training was the time it took,” said Brian Clark, senior English major. “I wanted to run, but after a 10-hour work day or a full day of class and homework, it’s tough because you have to account for the run, then the recovery after, a shower, then the time it takes to motivate myself to focus on homework again.”

Deitmen agreed that finding time to run can be difficult, but said that developing time management skills is the key to successful training. “It was kind of tricky to train with a full-time internship and school every night, so I took advantage of early mornings or lunch breaks,” he said. “There are hours if you’re just willing to use them.”

Reasons for using those precious hours to run – and choosing to train in the first place – were as plentiful as the variety of training methods that could be used.

Some students focused on reaching individual fitness goals and enjoying a new experience. “I ran the half marathon basically as a challenge to myself,” said accelerated MBA student Tara Shields Bryant. “I hated running growing up, and one day I realized that being a runner didn’t mean being fast; I could run at whatever pace worked for me. So, I started doing races and I’ve just been amazed at what my body is capable of. This race was just another challenge to see if I could take the next step up.”

Others enjoyed the social aspect. “It was a great way to hang out with some of my friends that were training, too,” Deitmen said. “It’s a whole different kind of bond when you’re pushing yourselves to the limit.”

Still, other students were inspired to run for more personal reasons. “I was originally motivated to train for the half marathon because of the death of my friend, Greg, but it really transitioned into a real appreciation for running and healthy living,” Clark said.

Despite differing motivations, most students agreed that training had its ups and downs. While Deitmen said running has helped him reduce his stress and assisted in a better night’s sleep, allowing him to enjoy a higher level of energy, some runs were difficult to complete. “The days when you have a long run scheduled and your mind and body aren’t connecting are hard,” Deitmen said. “Runs don’t always go as well as you would hope.”

Similarly, Bryant enjoyed training, but sometimes felt disappointment after being unable to complete her pre-scheduled mileage during challenging runs. “All you can do on those days is push through what you can and tell yourself that next time will be better,” she said.

After months of preparation, students were eager to put their training to the test.

Deitmen had his best pace time ever.

Clark finished the half marathon in two hours, six minutes and 21 seconds. “It felt good just to finish, but beating my goal by four minutes was amazing,” he said. “I’m already planning on beating two hours in the fall and running the full marathon next year.”

Selden, a senior journalism major, heard about the Lumos Student Travel Award, a grant awarded to help students volunteer abroad. Cynthia Leu, a member of Belmont’s Board of Trustees, established the award that Selden will use to allow her to serve for three months in the West African country of Ghana.

“I had an initial meeting with Dr. Maggie Monteverde and expressed my interest in the travel award and asked her what it was about,” Selden said.

She got the application from Monteverde, who serves as a professor of English, assistant provost for International Education and Programs Away and executive director of the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad.

“She told me that I needed to find an organization to travel with before I could apply for Lumos,” Selden said, “so I did a lot of research on different organizations I could travel with. I settled on one called Projects Abroad, an organization for people who want to volunteer abroad.”

Monteverde was involved in the selection process for the award. She says the award is ideal for Belmont students, as it aligns with the university’s mission.

“The award really gets at the heart of some of the things Belmont is trying to achieve,” Monteverde said. “It will enable students to participate in an immersion experience in a community and that, in many ways, fits Belmont’s mission of engaging and transforming the world.”

To apply for the Lumos Award, Selden had to meet a variety of standards and was required to have a specific plan in place for what she would be doing abroad. The award may be used to cover transportation, accommodations and other costs.

Selden was required to complete two essays of 500 words each, provide two letters of reference as well as details about her proposed travel, in addition to a breakdown of costs. “It’s a fairly elaborate application process,” Monteverde said.

Ultimately, Selden was chosen as the first recipient of the Lumos Award. “I don’t think we could have asked for a better first winner than Abby,” Monteverde said. “It was immensely helpful to have a student who was such a good researcher.”

However, Selden’s lack of travel experience abroad was an initial concern to the committee that selected her. “There was one aspect of what we were looking for that was not the case with Abby,” Monteverde said. “What we ideally wanted was someone who had already done a study abroad program.”

Although Selden did not meet this qualification, the committee agreed she was prepared to volunteer abroad. “This is a big step for her,” Monteverde said. “But she’d clearly given a lot of thought to it and we were all in agreement that she’s an excellent recipient.”

Selden says she is appreciative of the opportunity she was awarded. “I was incredibly excited when I found out I’d gotten the Lumos Award,” she said. “I just felt so grateful and thankful that they thought that I was deserving and that they trusted me to use what they had given me and really go do something good in the world.”

While she knows she will be serving for three months – from late July to late October – as a volunteer in Ghana, Selden won’t know the specific details of her experience until about a month before she leaves the United States.

“Projects Abroad allows you to choose what category you’ll volunteer under,” Selden said. “You choose what interests you, and so, because of working as a children’s program volunteer at Safe Haven Family Shelter, I knew that I wanted to continue that and I knew that I was interested in the care category, so I’ll either be working at some sort of care center or an orphanage.”

In addition to volunteering, Selden is expected to keep a record of her experience and present that information to interested students when she returns. “I know there has to be a visual component, so I’m sure I’ll take pictures or video,” she said. “I also might keep a blog while I’m there.”

Both Selden and Monteverde agree that the award fills a need for Belmont students. “It’s one of the only awards a graduating senior can receive,” Monteverde said.

In 1951, the Loveless Café and Motel began as a pit stop for hungry travelers when Lon and Annie Loveless opened their home on Highway 100 to serve fried chicken and biscuits. It wasn’t long before the Loveless home became a restaurant and the menu was expanded, offering country ham prepared on the property. Since then, the café has changed hands several times, but the recipe for the famous biscuits and preserves remains untouched – and a secret, although they do say that Purity milk and Martha White flour are essential for the biscuits.

Regardless of the modernizations, renovations and general changes Loveless Café has weathered, walking into the eatery still feels like entering a cozy home. Mismatched chairs and tables tucked away on the small front porch immediately let diners know that this experience won’t be fancy – but it will be authentic. After stepping through the front door, diners are greeted by beat-up hardwood floors, autographed photos of country music stars and a smiling face that asks, “How many?”

Beyond the entryway, the restaurant includes several dining rooms, each offering bright walls decorated with paintings available for purchase, tables with checkered cloths and the pleasant sound of laughter and conversation. Waitresses move swiftly about the bustling restaurant, dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts with the question, “Got biscuits?” printed on them. The fluffy, famous treats and a variety of preserves – blackberry, strawberry and peach – are immediately served when diners are seated.

Then comes a difficult task: to choose from the mouth-watering menu, which offers breakfast all day every day and supper beginning at 11 a.m., even though it might be lunch in the city. The breakfast portion of the menu includes some predictable options, such as omelets, bacon and sausage, but also offers more specifically southern eats, like pit-cooked barbecued pork, country ham and red-eye gravy.

Those hungry for supper have an equally perplexing challenge, as they must make a choice among fried chicken, pork chops, meat loaf, catfish and more. In addition, supper-eaters have to select two side dishes to accompany the meat of choice, and with choices of macaroni and cheese, fried okra and mashed potatoes – just to name a few – the decision is even more taxing.

After making final selections on eats, diners are free to let their eyes and minds wander, observing the atmosphere of the restaurant. Folks of all ages are enjoying meals, including a pair of elderly men in the corner, a trio of college-aged girls chatting nearby and a large party composed of a family, with a young boy celebrating a birthday, contemplating dessert after their waitress asks, “Y’all want pie?”

However, finding room for dessert at the Loveless Café is another trick to the dining experience. After multiple biscuits slathered in preserves – because no one can eat just one – and a meal so large one wonders if the cooks even consider the idea of appropriate portion sizes, one more bite of food might prove to be impossible. The options are tempting, though, and include a variety of pies and cobblers, in addition to banana pudding and homemade vanilla ice cream.

While some customers are eager to eat and run, others take full advantage of the Loveless experience and wander into the shops next to the restaurant, which used to serve as the rooms of a ‘40s style roadside motel. The Loveless Motel Shops are locally owned, offering merchandise such as paintings, gadgets and handmade pottery. In addition, the Hams & Jams Country Market is open to the public, and customers can purchase the ever-popular preserves, as well as other Loveless food and gift items.

It’s true that the idea of tasty biscuits and home cooking may originally lure first-time-folks to the Loveless Café, but the warm, inviting atmosphere keeps them coming back, enticing city slickers to leave the bright lights of downtown Nashville and enjoy a more rural experience. The pull of the eatery stems from more than the promise of grandma’s cooking; it’s the comforting aromas, the friendly faces and the reminder of simpler times.

Four Republican candidates were in attendance, including Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Current Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Congressman Zach Wamp. Democratic candidates present included State Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle, former State House Democratic Majority Leader Kim McMillan and Jackson businessman and son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, Mike McWherter.

SLIDESHOW: Gubernatorial candidates speak out on education.

Each candidate was allowed one minute to answer questions, with one minute and 30 seconds allotted for final statements. While all of the candidates said they were passionate about Tennessee’s education system, their opinions differed on some issues.

Ramsey emphasized the need for competition in schools, while McMillan focused on offering teachers and those involved in school leadership the tools they need to successfully impact children. “I think it’s important to set up some professional learning academies,” McMillan said.

In addition, Wamp called attention to the importance of early childhood reading proficiency, while McWherter said he believes the Basic Education Program, started by his father, should be “fully funded.”

Gibbons said that schools should do a “better job of recruiting professionals” and that higher expectations should be set. Kyle emphasized a need for “professionalism in the classroom,” and Haslam focused on the need for each child to have qualified teachers and principals.

When asked if they supported continued Pre-K funding, answers varied. McWherter, Wamp, Kyle and McMillan were in full support, while Ramsey, Haslam and Gibbons said they believe the program should be voluntary. “Every dollar we put into Pre-K is a dollar we take away from K-12,” Ramsey said.

Opinions also differed when discussing how to increase the number of individuals enrolling in higher education. McWherter said high schools should more adequately prepare students, while McMillan emphasized the need for partnerships between “educational systems and work management systems.”

Wamp said he supports “online and distance learning” and Haslam discussed Project GRAD Knoxville, an organization focused on encouraging students to enroll in college or technical school after high school graduation.

The event concluded with candidates offering their final statements, summarizing their viewpoints and asking voters for support.

While several members of the Nashville community were present, Belmont students were also encouraged to attend and could receive convocation credit after the event. However, it was more than convocation that freshman biology/pre-med major Jamie Allen was interested in. “Since I do live in Tennessee, it was really important for me to be here,” he said. “This is the first election for governor that I can vote in.”

Allen also appreciated that the event took place at the Curb Event Center. “I was really excited that the forum was at Belmont,” he said. “People can see what a great place it is.”

“This will be a rare chance to gain insight about why Coach Byrd runs certain plays and his thoughts on the team while they play,” says Greg Sage, director of broadcasting and media relations.

In addition to seeing the male Bruins in action for the first time this season in the one-hour scrimmage, spectators can expect free T-shirts and prizes.

“As attendees arrive to the event Thursday night, they will be given either a blue or gray Belmont Basketball T-shirt, representative of support of either the Belmont ‘Blue’ Team or Belmont ‘Gray’ Team in the scrimmage,” says Sage. “Fans with the same color T-shirt of the winning team will receive a special prize from Pepsi.” Fans will also have an opportunity to shoot hoops with the team, as well as attend an autograph session after the scrimmage.

Sage says that although five seniors graduated last year, this season’s team is strong. “The Bruins possess size, quickness as well as their usual outside shooting prowess,” he says. The team will debut eight new members, including five freshmen.

Several hundred people are expected to attend this year’s event, and Sage predicts that additional students and faculty might come out as on-campus promotion has “significantly increased this year.” Future plans include a possible “Meet the Bruins” night for the women’s basketball team, which Sage says “has been discussed and will be reevaluated for next year.”

This D.C. connection comes in the form of Joshua DuBois, the director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He is scheduled to speak at a Christian Faith Development convocation at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in MPAC.

DuBois, who grew up in Nashville, is a Pentecostal minister who managed the religious aspects of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. According to Time magazine writer Alex Altman, DuBois led as many as eight campaign staffers and hundreds of volunteers during Obama’s presidential bid.

DuBois earned an undergraduate degree in political science at Boston University in 2003 and a master’s in public affairs from Princeton in 2005. The 26-year-old was working on a Juris Doctor degree at Georgetown University until 2008, when he became apart of the Obama campaign.

That’s right – he’s 26. He’s young, and according to Altman, Obama took a “gamble” when he appointed DuBois to his position. Altman says Obama “risks lending ammunition to critics who say religion remains a secondary issue for the Democratic party.”

Apparently, to our president, DuBois is worth the risk.

For more information on DuBois’s visit to Belmont, contact Benita Walker in the Office of Spiritual Development at (615) 460-6628.

To see a schedule of other programs coming up this fall, click here.

Commonly called “swine flu,” this strain is different from the seasonal flu. “It (H1N1) is a pandemic, which means it’s all over the world at one time,” says Katy Wilson, director of Health Services. “It’s non-seasonal and affects a totally different population, targeting children and young adults.”

While H1N1 is unique, its symptoms are not. Affected individuals typically suffer from seasonal flu symptoms, ranging from fever and body aches to a sore throat and coughing.

Sounds pretty harmless, right?

And it may be. “I think most cases of H1N1 are fairly mild, at least in this area,” Wilson says.

But she is careful to emphasize that children and young adults – including college kids – may be more affected than other age groups. “In a regular flu season, you get deaths in the very old and young,” Wilson says. “But that’s not the case with this one.”

Even though the media has heavily covered this information, many Belmont students are laughing, scoffing and rolling their eyes when H1N1 is mentioned.

“I don’t think students are taking this seriously enough,” says Dr. Ginger Osborn, Belmont philosophy professor. “Even if they get it, they won’t take it seriously. That’s the invincibility of youth.”

While some students may feel invincible, others are simply not convinced that H1N1 is worth worrying about. “I’m not concerned about the swine flu because the normal flu kills more people each year than the swine flu has killed so far,” says Erik Unger, senior mass communications major.

Still, other students are heeding warnings and taking the threat of H1N1 seriously. “It seems foolish to pretend it’s not a real thing,” says Mary Love Bennett, senior English major. “I don’t think it would be raised to a pandemic level if it wasn’t serious.”

And it’s certainly a serious matter to Wilson and the rest of the Health Services staff. They’re doing their part to keep students healthy by offering 30 hand sanitizing stations, set up in high-traffic areas around campus, in addition to seasonal flu vaccines which are available in the Health Services office on the top floor of Gabhart (right above the cafeteria).

While the shots won’t protect against H1N1, Wilson says it’s still a good idea to get one. “We’re encouraging people to get a seasonal flu vaccine,” Wilson says. “If you got the regular flu, you would be more prone to other illnesses.”

An H1N1 vaccine – consisting of two shots, given three weeks apart – may be coming to Belmont in mid-October or early November, but Wilson cannot promise it will be available. “We can’t guarantee anything, but we are in line to get the vaccine,” Wilson says.

Other than getting a flu shot, Wilson recommends washing your hands, eating well, sleeping seven to eight hours each night and exercising to stay healthy. “It’s a great time to be taking care of yourself,” she says.
Wilson encourages students, faculty and staff to visit Health Services if they feel ill or have questions. “We’re trying to do all we can to keep people on Belmont’s campus healthy,” she says.

And what do they do if, despite one’s best efforts, they find themselves sick? “Take something for fever, like Advil or Tylenol, and stay in your room until 24 hours after the fever is gone,” Wilson says.

For more information on H1N1, visit www.belmont.edu/H1N1.