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.”

In total, three democrats and five republicans have announced plans to run for governor. Former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, attorney Mike McWherter and State Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle currently represent the Democrats, while District Attorney Bill Gibbons, U.S. Representative Zach Wamp, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey and businessman Joe Kirkpatrick round out the Republican hopefuls.

The event is hosted by the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), an organization dedicated to improving Tennessee’s educational standards for students in the K-12 education system. Appropriately, the candidates are slated to highlight their own plans for improving education in Tennessee.

The forum will be broadcast statewide by CBS affiliates, including NewsChannel5 in Nashville.

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.

Many of the seats at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center remained empty on Saturday during a public forum addressing health care, in contrast with the conversation’s emphasis on an individual’s responsibility to stay informed.

People around the world submitted questions to the forum’s panel of medical and political experts online, but as Rep. Jim Cooper, D-TN, noted, people who rely solely on the Internet for their political commentary often lack some of the facts.  “A lot of folks need to learn more about the issue so that we can all be on the same page,” Cooper said.

Robert Brook, the director of RAND Health, had some particularly strong words for uninformed students.  “You guys don’t know anything,” he said with a laugh.  “I’m all for reading Shakespeare, but if you graduate from college and don’t know the fundamentals of … the economy, you’re not getting a college education.”

Belmont freshman Tim Reitnouer, who attended the forum, agreed.  “This is eventually going to be our problem, and if we’re not aware of what the issues are now, we’re going to really struggle in the future to fix the problems that arise,” he said.

Future generations also fuel David Walker’s passion for immediate health care reform: The president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation has three young grandchildren.  “They didn’t cause this fiscal[ly] irresponsible path, but it’s their problem … not only is [that] irresponsible, it’s morally reprehensible,” he said.      “We don’t need ‘nip and tuck,’ we need total reconstructive surgery.”

Indeed, according to Dr. Elizabeth McGlynn, associate director of RAND Health, if the government does not take action soon, she believes spending on health care may overtake most other discretionary spending, including the budget for education.

Though scholars and researchers proposed many different solutions, all were quick to admit it is difficult to guarantee any one theory would be successful in the real world.  “We’re all trying in this,” said Gov. Phil Bredesen.  “It needs a national solution.”

“This is our chance in our lifetime to really, truly create change,” said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, CEO of Abraxis BioScience, Inc.

Charlie Martin, CEO of Vanguard Health Systems, agreed, stressing further emphasis on the situation’s urgency:  “A year of two from now, it may be too late to have this conversation.”

Despite a lack of concrete answers, both the audience and the panel remained overall optimistic toward the future of health care.  “It’s reassuring to see some humility in public office,” Belmont freshman Torren Nanz commented.  “It gives me some hope knowing that [experts] are trying to lay a foundation for when we’re running the country.”

“We’re the greatest country in the history of the world,” said Gov. Bredesen.  “We’ve solved all our previous problems, and we can solve this one, too.”

However, as panelist after panelist stated during the forum, the experts cannot solve this problem alone; it is up to Americans of all ages to be a part of the solution.  Dr. Soon-Shiong summarized it best: “At the end of the day, there [are] only two players in the health care system: the patient that receives the treatment and the provider that gives it.  Everything else is noise.”

Constant hard work and effort enabled Cross the opportunity to receive this prestigious job. As both a volunteer and an intern, she has prepared herself by on Harold Ford Jr.’s U.S. Senate campaign, Al Gore’s Climate Project, in Mayor Richard Daley’s communications office in Chicago, and Mayor Karl Dean’s election campaign in Nashville.

Mental preparation came as she was a political science major, a journalism minor, and president of the College Democrats.

“My journalism minor also played a role because as a minor I was allowed to explore my writing and interviewing skills as well as open my eyes to the integral role media plays within the field of politics,” Cross said.

Dr. Vaughn May, associate professor and chair of the political science department, states that to help students prepare for jobs in politics, “We like to combine rigorous academic classes with real world opportunities, because we realize that you can learn a great deal outside of the classroom.”

Cross got the the job after serving with the Obama campaign for a year and a half as a communications intern. Then David Axelrod, Obama’s campaign manager, offered her the job in Gibbs’ office after she served in several press corps capacities with the campaign.

“In terms of politics, Ameshia will have the opportunity to be a part of something that can change the world,” May says. “If you are given the opportunity to serve at such a high level you should always do it; Ameshia has the opportunity to be a part of something special.”

May advises students that are planning to have internships and jobs in politics that personal responsibility is important. “Having a strong work ethic, professionalism, a willingness to be punctual, and a willingness to do whatever is asked of you is very important,” he says.
Cross agrees.

“Get out and volunteer, intern, make every effort to reach people within the area of politics that you want to enter,” she said. “Also research – you don’t necessarily have to be a political science major to enter the field of politics but taking a few courses in political science, history, communications, and journalism would help a lot.”

Although Ameshia is the first Belmont student to work within the Obama presidency, there have been other Belmont students to work for the White House. Troy Senik, a 2005 graduate in political science, worked as a speechwriter during the Bush administration and Lauren Williams, worked in Special Initiatives.

“We have had several [students] end up at political firms where they do multi-media for political candidates, we have had several students serve in lobbying positions where they work with both parties and several of our students have become advisors for political candidates,” May said.

Fisher publicly led a group of other local university presidents who also oppose the action proposed by Councilman Eric Crafton.

Many at Belmont have joined Fisher, including religion professor Dr. Andy Watts. A letter signed by Watts and more than 160 others, states, in part, that they “We oppose the measure because we believe the initiative will serve to diminish the opportunities for broadening our students’ perspective, which our community now offers in abundance. We believe that the measure and the message its adoption would send to the rest of the world will create a culturally impoverished environment in our city.”

The letter, in its entirety, follows:
OPEN LETTER
FROM MEMBERS OF THE
BELMONT UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
Regarding the English Only Initiative
January 13, 2009

As Belmont educators, we pledge in our mission statement to provide an education that “empowers men and women of diverse backgrounds to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith.” As a “Christian community of learning and service,” we seek to engage our world in a spirit of humility and seek to welcome all into our community in a spirit of hospitality. We encourage our students to see themselves as global citizens who will spend their lives working in diverse settings. We teach our students to think critically about complex issues. We are certain that their active engagement with Nashville’s increasingly diverse, global population fosters the development of such understanding and skills.

For these reasons, we join our university’s president, Dr. Robert Fisher and the presidents of Nashville’s other universities, in standing against the English Only initiative. We oppose the measure because we believe the initiative will serve to diminish the opportunities for broadening our students’ perspective, which our community now offers in abundance. We believe that the measure and the message its adoption would send to the rest of the world will create a culturally impoverished environment in our city. We are concerned that it will damage our economy by making it much more challenging for our city to attract global investment and to welcome international visitors.

While proponents of the measure argue that it is an attempt to encourage assimilation, the English-Only initiative will actually act as an obstacle to the full participation of new residents in our society.  Although it has gained support from those who view it as a way of discouraging the presence of undocumented workers and families in Nashville, it will impact all who arrive here without an already developed command of English, whether they be documented or undocumented immigrants, refugees from war-torn or disaster-ravaged countries, or temporary visitors. By diminishing the ability of the city’s agencies to serve and protect all of those populations, it will endanger all who live here, citizens and non-citizens alike.

As academics, we are committed to creating a university community that fosters open dialogue on difficult issues. In such dialogue, we turn to the Scriptures cautiously, knowing that people can disagreeon their interpretation in good conscience. As Belmont educators committed to our university’s mission, vision and values, however, we are Christians who do turn to Scripture for guidance. On this issue, we cannot help but be reminded of the admonition to welcome charitably the strangers and to treat them    as our own native born (Leviticus 19:33-34) and to practice hospitality as Paul urged the early Christian communities to do (Romans 12:9-13). In our view, by placing barriers to the ability of our visitors to participate in our community, especially when they are first arrived and not yet proficient in our language, the English Only measure is both uncharitable and inhospitable.

Finally, we believe that the vagueness of this measure’s language will mean difficult and costly implementation. It is likely to lead to an extended series of court battles. It will almost certainly prove to be a wasteful and shortsighted hindrance to the proper functioning of government.

We submit this letter with humility and with the recognition that people within the Belmont community and elsewhere may in good faith disagree with the perspectives outlined in it. We wish to make clear that all of us who sign this letter do so as individuals, not as university officials declaring an institutional position on this issue. We have, however, decided to stand strongly against this measure. For those who wish to join us, we encourage you to find more information and join with others to educate the community by visiting the Nashville for All of Us Coalition found at www.nashvilleforallofus.org. Most importantly you can support a welcoming Nashville by voting against the initiative  during the early voting period (January 2-17) or on Election Day, January 22.

Glenn Acree
Assistant Provost
Danielle Alexander
Assistant Professor of English
Chris Algren
Associate Dean, Nursing, Executive Director, Partners in Nursing
Edward Allen, Jr.,
Collections Supervisor, Office of Student Financial Services
Linda G. Allison
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice, Belmont School of Pharmacy
Kate Al-Shamma
Assistant Professor Theatre and Dance
Nanci Alsup
Teaching Center Program Assistant
Mike Awalt
Professor of Philosophy

Krystal Barclay
Office Manager, University Ministries
Sally Barton-Arwood
Chair, Department of Education
Deborah Nunn Baruzzini
Director of Organizational Development
Kathy Baugher
Associate Provost and Dean of Enrollment Services
Cathy H. Beahan
Budget/Finance Coordinator
Maren E. S. Bishop
Admissions Assistant, School of Nursing
Douglas R. Bisson
Professor of History
Devon Boan
Professor of Honors
Director, Honors Program
Paulo J. Boero
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Director of the Language Learning Center
Kim Boggs
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Director, Teaching Center
Gary Boling
Assistant Director, Office of Career Services
Sarah Bowles
Assistant Professor of English
Madeline Bridges
Professor of Music
Micaela Brown
Administrative Assistant, Office of Sponsored Programs and Institutional Review Board
Vicki Bourne
Program Assistant/School of Occupational Therapy
Noel Boyle
Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Carolyn Burress
Administrative Assistant, Advising Center
Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business
Gail Bursch
Director of Clinical Education, School of Physical Therapy
Robert O. Byrd
Professor of Religion, H. Franklin Paschall Chair of Biblical Studies and Preaching

Michelle Campanis
Horticulturist and floral design
Patricia Chaffin
Lottery Transfer Tracking Coordinator
Harry Chapman
Director of Development and Major Gifts
Paul M. Chenoweth
Web Services Manager
Brad Childs
Associate Professor of Accounting
Kristin Clark
Administrative Assistant, School of Humanities
Landon Clark
Residence Director
Amy Coles
Director of Student Activities
Russ Cornwall
Graduate Secretary/Scheduling Coordinator – School of Music
Cynthia Cox
Associate Professor of English
Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder
Assistant Professor of Religion
Joyce Blair Crowell
Professor of Computer Science
Ben Curtis
Professor of Religion
Cynthia Curtis
Dean, School of Music
David E. Curtis
Chair, Department of English
Don Cusic
Professor of Music Business

Sarah Davis
Director of PR/Advancement, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Jimmy T. Davis
Dean, University College
Jane Dillard-Eggers
Associate Professor of Accounting
Anne Edmunds
Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Kris Elsberry
Professor of Music
Jennifer Ervin
Systems Coordinator
Alan Fey
Assistant Supervisor, Library Media Circulation
Jane B. Finley
Deloitte and Touche Professor of Accounting
Kelly B. Fish
Associate Director, Office of Alumni Relations
Ruth Ford
Associate Dean, School of Occupational Therapy
Stephan Foust
Instructor, The New Century Journalism Program

Becky Gann
Program Coordinator, Center for Entrepreneurship
Jose Gonzalez
Instructor of Entrepreneurship and Management
Cheryl Geer
Professor of French
Sharon Gregg
College of Visual and Performing Arts Admissions Director
Steven R. Guthrie
Assistant Professor of Theology / Religion and the Arts
Darrell Gwaltney
Dean, School of Religion
Marjorie Halbert
Associate Professor of Music
Deborah M. Hayden
Executive Assistant to the Provost
Amy Hodges Hamilton
Assistant Professor of English
Ernest Heard
Director, Library Services
Sharon Hiett
Executive Assistant
Leslie Higgins
Director, Graduate Nursing Program
Linda E. Holt
Associate Professor of English
Sally Holt
Assistant Professor of Religion
William H. Hooper
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Pamela Howell
Call Center Director
David Humphrey
Federal Work-Study Counselor, Student Financial Services
Gary B. Hunter
Telecommunications Manager

Brenda K. Jackson-Abernathy
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of History
Patricia Jacobs
Director, Office of Career Services
Aaron Jerome
Ticket Office and Business Operations Manager
Andrew J. Johnston
Associate Provost and Dean of Students
Caresse John
Assistant Professor of English
Philip E. Johnston
Dean, School of Pharmacy
Linda Jones
Associate Professor of Psychology
Kelly Moreland Jones
Training Coordinator and Advancement Banner Functional Analyst
Administrative Computing and Instructional Technology
David C. Julseth
Professor of Spanish
Chair, Department of Foreign Languages

Kelly Kane
Account Analyst
Allison Kee
Collection Management Assistant, Lila D. Bunch Library
Colette Keyser
Assistant Director of Compliance & Academic Support Services
Office of Athletics
Jennifer Kiev
Marketing Coordinator
Merrie King
Associate Professor of Education
Director, Montessori Program
Kristian Klefstad
Assistant Professor of Music
Terry Klefstad
Assistant Professor of Music
Peter Kuryla
Assistant Professor of History
Todd L. Lake
Vice President for Spiritual Development
Kristine LaLonde
Assistant Professor of Honors
Peter Lamothe
Assistant Professor of Musicology
Steven Lasley
Vice President of Finance and Operations
Peg Leonard-Martin
Director of Counseling Services
Shelby Longard
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Lauren Lunsford
Assistant Professor
Karen Luter
Academic Support Assistant, School of Nursing
Kayla Lyftogt
Admissions Assistant, College of Health Sciences

Jenni H. MacLean
Assistant Supervisor for Day Services, Lila D. Bunch Library
Vaughn May
Associate Professor Political Science
John Malone
Senior Accountant, Office of Finance & Accounting
Dan McAlexander
Provost
Marcia McDonald
Associate Provost
Mark McEntire
Associate Professor of Religion
Andrew Miller
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Margaret Pyne Monteverde
Associate Dean, School of Humanities
David J. Moser
Associate Professor, Entertainment & Music Business
Douglas Murray
Professor of English
John Niedzwiecki
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
Myron Oglesby-Pitts
Assistant Professor of Education
Jeffrey W. Overby
Associate Professor of Marketing
Director of International Business Programs

John Paine
Professor of Literature
Darlene Panvini
Associate Professor of Biology
Natalia Pelaz-Escribano
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Mike Pinter
Professor of Mathematics
Robbie C. Pinter
Professor of English
Patrick Raines
Dean, College of Business Administration
David Ribar
Professor of Art
Jason Rogers
Vice President for Administration and University Counsel
Elizabeth Rogers
Systems Analyst
Jenny Rushing
Reference Librarian

Freida Sage
Admissions Visit Coordinator
Daniel E. Schafer
Professor of History
Lorraina Scholten
Associate Professor and Chair, Social Work Department
Renee Schultz
Academic Coordinator
Richard C. Shadinger
Professor of Music
Jane Shelby
Associate Professor of Nursing
Debbie Simpler
Professor of Social Work
Director of Field Education, Social Work Department
Steve Simpler
Professor of Religion
Annette Sisson
Professor of English
Judy Skeen
Professor of Religion
Bonnie Smith
Associate Professor of English
Rodney D. Smith
Associate Director of Annual Giving & Special Gifts
Tina Soo
Administrative Assistant , International Education
Tim Stewart
Director, Service-Learning
Steven P. Stodghill
Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Assessment

Thom Storey
Associate Dean, School of Social Sciences Chair, Department of Media Studies
Andrea Stover
Associate Professor of English
Bryce F. Sullivan
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Michael P. Sullivan
Associate Professor of Psychology
Susan Taylor
Associate Dean, College of Business Administration
Bethel “Bo” Thomas
Vice President for University Advancement
Jonathan Thorndike
Professor of Honors
Bernard Turner
Assistant Professor of Social Entrepreneurship
Director, Center for Social Entrepreneurship & Service-Learning
Karen Lee Turner
Adjunct Faculty, University College
Meredith Kendall Valdez
Admissions Coordinator, Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business
Teresa Van Hatten-Granath
Associate Professor, Art Department
Cliff Vaughn
Adjunct Instructor, Media Studies
Mary Vaughn
Associate Professor and Chair of Communication Studies
Marieta Velikova
Assistant Professor of Economics, College of Business Administration
Debbie Von Nieda
Assistant to the Dean, School of Religion

Kevin Walker
Belmont Training Specialist
D. Lee Warren
Associate Professor of Accounting
Andrew Watts
Assistant Professor of Religion
Micah Weedman
Director of Outreach, University Ministries
Susan H. West
Vice President for Presidential Affairs
Cynthia White
Director, Office of Sponsored Programs
Chris Wilcoxson
CEMB Computer Technician
Judy Williams
Reference Librarian
Susan Williams
Professor of Management
Katy Wilson
Director Belmont University Health Services
Lonnie Yandell
Professor of Psychology
Sehyun Yoo
Assistant Professor of Finance

Four years later, I’m still plenty invested, but a little less cranky. The difference, I think, is getting to vote. Yell as much as you want at the screen, the pundits can’t hear you and even if they could it’s not like there’s a thing they can do. Vote, on the other hand, and there’s the distinct feeling that no matter how things turn out, at least you spoke your piece.

In an election the size of this one, with all the social/political/historical/international implications, a little town like Nolensville, Tenn., seems like barely a wrinkle in a very wide world. Like a million other small towns, it’s a changing place stuck somewhere between progress and “the way it used to be.”

And yet, it was in the basement of the tiny Nolensville United Methodist Church that I felt like the votes cast here really do count.

Of about 3,000 people registered to vote, about 2,500 had decided to vote early, one of the women working the polls commented to my dad. This meant that there were all of 10 people there first thing in the morning when the polls opened and I had the pleasure of being a line of one while waiting on a voting machine.

Most of the cars in the parking lot probably belonged to the gray-haired ladies inside, at least two of whom were wearing American flag sweaters. The woman working the A-D portion of the table yawned and commented to another woman on the wave of people who had just come in (the parents, me, plus maybe two others).

“So, has it been like this all day?” I asked her.

“Yeah, it’s been slow.”

“No big mobs?” I asked dryly.

“No,” she chuckled. The contrast of all the news footage with the reality in my hometown was comical. Under seven voting stations were set up behind red guide tape on the floor; given the fact there was a bake sale going on outside,
there were more cupcakes than volunteers or voters.

I looked around at the white walls. It seemed smaller than it had back in 2000 when I begged to skip class to go with my parents. A quilt portrait of the church hung on the wall behind a row of empty chairs whose purpose remained unfulfilled. I tried my best to take it all in, but the calm was infectious. Much like the volunteers who were standing around, I glazed over momentarily.

My folks went ahead of me and I made small talk with some of the poll workers. They joked about the “long wait” and said they liked my canvas tote purse.

“Did you paint that yourself?” one asked in her comfortable southern twang.

“Actually, yes.”

“That’s very pretty. Did you do it freehand?”

“I drew it in pencil and then just went for it.” They gave the product of my arts and crafts prowess nods of approbation.

Someone finished up and one of them led me over to the station and explained the ballot, which included all the usuals plus a liquor-by-the-drink referendum.

Having researched my candidates, I only paused to wipe a ridiculous grin off my face after checking the box for president.

It was one of those “here we go!” moments. A rite of passage, an event that is relatively common, especially in the realm of suburban adults, yet loaded with meaning for a college student and political junkie.

So, here’s why I felt like maybe my vote really meant something. I hit “confirm,” stepped away and someone called out “first-time voter!”

They clapped for me. The entire place burst out in applause. Obviously public recognition shouldn’t be an incentive for doing your civic duty and I didn’t expect it at all, but it felt like it came from pride, pride and relief. It really doesn’t matter if people like to say that a state is already in the bag for one candidate or the other. Voting is a matter of principle.

Outside the church Nolensville resident Cindy Gadd sat in a chair next to an Obama sign, hardly more than inches from the 100-foot boundary marker.

“How did you get out here?” she asked with surprise when I said I was from the Belmont Vision. We made a deal; I could take her picture if I’d also take one with her Blackberry so she could send it to her son in California. She thanked me for voting about three times.

I marched around for a few minutes with my camera and headed back over to where my folks were.

“Can you take my picture?” I asked my dad. For the past few weeks I’d had something in mind like the kind of picture people take in the driveway leaning on the hood of their first car.

So, how I should I look? Happy? Proud? Serious? Sophisticated? Awed? I opted for satisfied.

In the end that’s all I could ask. This country just witnessed the most important election in decades, maybe even ever depending on whose view you take, and by the universe’s ever-complicated Mouse Trap game board-style of operation, I was legal to vote.

Perhaps Senators McCain and Obama were the ones running, but for all of us heading to the polls for the first time or putting in the effort to secure an absentee ballot, this was our election.

NBC’s Tom Brokaw moderated the debate and described his role as “not just a journalist, but… a citizen.”

The candidates fielded questions from an audience comprised of local undecided voters selected through the Gallup Organization as well as from people who submitted questions via the internet.

The answers to each questions were to be limited to two minutes with a one minute follow up, though the time constraints were pushed by both candidates despite Brokaw’s repeated admonishments.

The first question of the night was decided by a coin toss and went to Obama. Like many of the questions to follow, it had to do with the economy.

Obama outlined his plan involving making sure the rescue package works properly, enacting tax cuts for the middle class, and fixing the health care and energy situations. McCain’s answer focused mainly on energy independence, cutting spending in Washington, stabilizing home values and creating jobs.

Brokaw used the one minute discussion period to ask who each candidate would appoint to replace treasury secretary Hank Paulson. Both floated Warren Buffet’s name.

Economic issues dominated the next four questions from the participants as well as from Brokaw.

When the economy had been all but exhausted, Brokaw asked Obama and McCain to prioritize health care, energy, and entitlement reform. Besides the economy, entitlement programs were another frequently discussed topic. McCain’s view was that all three could be handled simultaneously saying, “we have to do them all at once.”

Obama on the other hand put energy at the top of the list followed by health care and education instead of entitlement reform. Brokaw followed up shortly after, asking if either would impose a deadline on congress to reform entitlement programs within two years. Neither answered in the affirmative with regards to the deadline.

Next, talk turned to environmental issues. McCain hit hard on nuclear power, citing his experience with it on Navy ships saying “nuclear power is safe, it’s clean, and it creates hundreds of thousands of jobs.”

Obama’s plan made nuclear power a part of the solution along with “investments in solar, wind, [and] geothermal” options.

After another round on health care, as in if it should be treated as a commodity or if it is a right, privilege, or responsibility, foreign policy finally came up.

One particular point of contention between the candidates had to do with Pakistan and what the U.S. would do if Osama bin Laden’s location was nailed down but the government was uncooperative with the U.S.

“We will kill bin Laden; we will crush Al Qaida,” Obama said, inviting rebukes from McCain for “telegraphing” a threat to Pakistan.

The exchange was one was several moments when the candidates traded swipes. McCain earlier said that pinning down Obama’s tax policies was like trying to nail jello to the wall, while Obama remarked that the Straight Talk Express had lost a wheel.

Both tried to address the other’s previous comments. McCain said that Obama will not acknowledge that the surge worked. Obama brought up McCain’s comments from the first debate that he didn’t understand anything by saying what he didn’t understand was the situation in Iraq, among other things.

After discussing Russia, the last question of the night was, in Brokaw’s words, “zen-like.” Peggy from New Hampshire asked, “What don’t you know and how will you learn it?”

Neither candidate really addressed the question but did go into some biographical information about themselves. Obama joked that his wife might be better suited to answer the question. McCain stated, “What I don’t know is what the unexpected will be.”

With that, Brokaw brought an end to the debate and reminded the audience of the next debate at Hofstra University, then saying “Good night everyone, from Nashville.”

Students were asked to play the roles of Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain, NBC’s Tom Brokaw and even the audience members.

“I got called by Anne Edmonds in admissions and she said ‘I think that you would make a great Tom Brokaw,’” senior Chase Neely said in regard to how he became involved.

Sophomores Steven Martin and Brett Parker received phone calls and were tapped to play Obama and McCain, respectively.

“They just told us we’d be helping out with the debate, they didn’t say how,” Parker said. ”It’s definitely surpassed all my expectations.”

Neither Martin nor Parker are political junkies, but rather “casual follower[s],” as Parker put it.

“I put on my nice suit. That was pretty much it,” Martin said about preparing for the rehearsal, but later explained there was a certain level of common knowledge as well as the timeliness of discussions in his macroeconomics class that aided him.

Neely joked that he didn’t exactly review any Brokaw tapes.

Neely and the volunteers got to make up the questions they asked the faux candidates. Of course that meant Parker and Martin had to make up their answers.

“We didn’t know the answers we’d be getting asked so we just kind of had to answer on our feet,” Parker said.

There is another rehearsal scheduled for Tuesday, but beyond that nothing is certain.

“I think I will be watching [the debate] on my TV at home which is going to be a lot of fun. I can get out of this suit, relax a little bit,” Neely said about where he will be Tuesday night.

“It would be very nice if we could watch it in here,” Martin said. All three made it clear that they will definitely be watching the real version.

Neely commented on the experience saying that it was not only humbling but “it was just a lot of fun to be able to put on that hat and play that role for one day.”

That said, Death Cab for Cutie has teamed up with The Ultimate College Bowl in the quest to get “every U.S. college student to register and vote in the 2008 election.” When they say “ultimate,” they mean it.

The former is a band from Seattle, WA, currently signed to Atlantic records, an “indie” band, if the term applies anymore. They released their sixth album, Narrow Stairs, in May and in a very non-indie manner, it went to no. 1.

The latter is the largest voter registration drive—ever, apparently. It’s an amalgam of several non-partisan organizations such as HeadCount, Why Tuesday?, MySpace and Rock the Vote, to name a few. The gist is to award a Death Cab for Cutie concert to the university or college that registers the most students for the 2008 election.

While it wouldn’t seem that Belmont would stand a chance due to small size, in a separate race for highest percentage, Belmont has the top spot. Though Death Cab will not be gracing the Curb anytime soon, the winner of this contest will receive a concert by a yet-to-be announced artist.

In the midst of all this activism, Death Cab guitarist Chris Walla braved a conference call with at least ten college journalists on Wednesday morning to give an update on the contest and answer questions about anything from The Ultimate College Bowl to his own political inclinations and opinions.

“[Ultimate College Bowl] was one of those things presented to management,” Walla explained with regards to how the band first became involved roughly two months ago. “We jumped on it right away.”

Back in 2004, Death Cab went on the Vote for Change Tour with the likes of Bright Eyes and Bruce Springsteen and in many ways it made them want to do more, to find a way to “insert [themselves] into the election cycle without being a nuisance or pain in the ass.” Walla expressed repeatedly that the fit with The Ultimate College Bowl was perfect.

“Death Cab for Cutie has never been a political band,” Walla said discussing their relative discomfort in “stumping for a candidate.”

“We’re entertainers, we’ve always been sensitive to that,” he said making the point that when people go to a concert, it’s their Friday night, it’s their escape from whatever is going on in their lives as it was for Walla in his pre-Death Cab days and remains now that he’s the one playing the shows. Death Cab is mindful not to infringe upon that musical sanctity, though many a picture has been taken of lead singer Ben Gibbard sporting an Obama sticker on his guitar. At the same time, Walla acknowledged that “when you feel strongly it’s impossible to keep your mouth shut.”

“Musicians have a really unique role in all of this—there’s something about music, live performance. There’s a built-in spokesmanship with musicians and performers,” Walla said. He was reluctant to admit that Death Cab for Cutie could have enough pull on fans to mobilize them, but did speculate as far as that connection. Maybe it’s a matter of expectation, maybe it’s a matter of trust.

Walla leaned on the idea that their involvement had to do mainly with being “concerned citizens” rather than celebrities wielding any power. “It’s nice for us to feel like we’re doing something. I feel like it’s going to work.”

“It’s about the candidates this time.” Walla stressed. The band’s agenda is not to recruit voters to one side or another but to get people “involved in the process, to vote.”

“Voting is real, it’s the one thing that will actually get things done” Walla said emphasizing the importance of taking some ownership in one’s world. “Any change you want to levy can start in your own town.”

Reflecting on the difference four years can make, Walla marveled at the change in attitude among the youth. Just 4 years ago, raising awareness and registering voters felt like “pulling teeth,” this time around, there is an abundance of enthusiasm generated by both candidates. Personally, he’s become a “real political junkie.”

“It was disheartening to find out more people voted in American Idol than in the election,” Walla said voicing one of several frustrations. Another of said frustrations is the media.

“I’m really happy if the media can get back to some real journalism at some point,” he said, describing how media coverage is “either stenography or a pair of perceived experts.”

Then there’s the war in Iraq. Walla is greatly concerned by the lack of coverage, saying that regardless of personal beliefs about the war, there’s “barely a mention” of it and how “outside of military towns and families, these people [soldiers] are largely out of sight, out of mind.”

A mix of exasperation and frustration snuck through his otherwise calm speech as he talked about how this is an issue that should not only be remembered but should make headlines daily, across media. “Media coverage has been so monolithic and absolute,” he stated.

Speaking of happier topics, Walla is hopeful and positive. Referencing the approximately twenty-three tours Death Cab has been on, Walla said, “you can’t help but be really changed by the country.” He expressed wonder in the idea that places as different as Mobile, AL and Juno, Alaska could be voting in the same election.

“If people could come from this election cycle with a sense of community and a sense of involvement with the inner machinery of the country…” he didn’t really finish the sentence. Walla didn’t really have to.