Event Calendar

Campaigns and Copyrights

September 7, 2020 – 10:00am

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

Music moves, motivates, and sometimes it may even manipulate us. Because music is impactful, politicians from President George Washington to President Trump have utilized music in their campaigns. The use of music in campaigns, however, does not come without risk. As the 2020 campaign gets into full swing, it is important for students to understand the legal requirements of copyright law, as well recognize other available claims that musicians and artists may assert when the campaign clashes with their character. Dr. Amy Smith of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will discuss all of this as part of a special debate-themed WELLCore event.

Freedom of the Press: Scott Stroud, Associated Press News Editor for Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia

September 9, 2020 – 4:00pm – 5:30pm

PUBLIC EVENT

The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business presents “DEBATE 2020: Freedom of the Press.” Associated Press News Editor Scott Stroud presents a historical look of press freedom issues dating as far back as Watergate leading up to present day.

Raise Your Voice

September 9, 2020 – 5:00pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

In these divisive political times, all voices need be heard as part of our national dialogue. As a Korean American, Kathy Khang has struggled to find her place and her voice in America. The reality of power dynamics and struggles can keep people marginalized, but what would it look like if we understood that we are created by God to speak both for ourselves and on behalf of others? In her books More Than Serving Tea and Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up, she shows that because God created us in our ethnicity and gender, our voice is uniquely expressed through the totality of who we are. This event organized by University Ministries.

How the Kingdom of God Transcends Politics

September 16, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

At a time when bipartisanship can seem to belong to an earlier era, Dr. Cecilia Nyamwandha’s life shows how engagement in a time of divisiveness can transcend partisan politics. Born and raised in an impoverished community in Kenya, she was a participant in Compassion International’s child sponsorship program and has experienced firsthand how people can work together to help create the kind of future that fulfills God’s hopes for the world. Dr. Nyamwandha earned her PhD in Geophysics from the University of Memphis, where she served as a geophysicist research assistant at the Center for Earthquake Research and Information. This event organized by the Office of Spiritual Development.

TEDx Nashville: We The People

September 17, 2020 – 7:00pm – 9:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

TEDxNashville will host a collection of talks on Belmont’s campus that are streamed—$10 tickets are available on Eventbrite. Join us virtually on September 17 as we dig into topics including civil engagement in a time of divisiveness, using our differences as our strengths, the impact of a new era of media and more in this historic TEDx event, brought to you by the TEDxNashville team and presented by Belmont University’s Executive Learning Network.

Who Will Be a Witness? Seeking God’s Justice in America

September 22, 2020 – 5:30pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

Dr. Drew I.G. Hart, a pastor and professor of theology, has become a national leader in anti-racism education, with a focus on how white supremacy is entangled with western Christianity. In his latest book, Who Will Be a Witness?: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love, and Deliverance (September 2020), his hope is for all of us to “strive for the flourishing of all people by doing justice and the things that make for peace…We identify and stand with those that Jesus did in his own day. We gladly link arms with those that are impoverished, vulnerable, oppressed, and marginalized.” He challenges all of us to meaningful engagement across party lines, so that we move from political divisiveness to God-empowered love for all. This event co-sponsored by the Welcome Home Diversity Team and Office of Multi-Cultural Learning and Engagement.

Rock the Vote at Belmont University: Nashville Colleges Celebrate Democracy

September 22, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

In collaboration with Rock the Vote, Belmont’s Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business is hosting a virtual event featuring performances from Belmont and other area universities, along with voter registration information and promotion.

Culture Care with Renowned Painter Makoto Fujimura

September 23, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

Culture Care is an alternative to the “culture wars” that have characterized politics in recent decades. It is a philosophy born of Makoto Fujimura’s art and Christian faith that offers the creation and conservation of beauty as an antidote to cultural and political brokenness. Fujimura was a presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, and two of his books, Refractions and Culture Care, were written during that time. He is one of the premier living abstract painters, and his works have been exhibited on four continents. This event organized by the Office of Spiritual Development.

Global Issues: Global Trends, International Perspectives and Climate Change

September 24, 2020 – 5:30pm – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

In a panel hosted by the Tennessee World Affairs Council and the Belmont University Center for International Business, panelists will discuss key trends that will impact globalization over the next decade, review the current state of global opinions on U.S. policies, and examine key business issues regarding climate change. Belmont’s Dr. Jeff Overby will moderate the panel. Panelists will include:

• Gary Garfield [Climate] former CEO Bridgestone Americas (Confirmed)
• Dr. Richard Wike, PhD, [Globalization/Trade] Director Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Center (Confirmed)
• Mary Latimer, [Trade] Corporate Head, International Trade and Investment, MARS, Inc.; former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (Invited)

White House Style: Setting the Scene—Life at the White House (Part 1 of a 4-Part Series)

September 24, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

About the series: The design of the White House and the style of its occupants have been a source of public fascination for the past 220 years. This four-week virtual program led by Nashville-based creative consultant Libby Callaway features a national slate of historians, designers and cultural critics exploring how First Couples, from the Kennedys to the Trumps, have left their personal mark on the People’s House, through how they eat, dress, decorate and entertain. This series is organized by The O’More College of Architecture and Design.

Part One: When a President and their family move into the White House, they aren’t given carte blanche. Historian Lina Mann of the White House Historical Association will discuss the guidelines that govern the decoration of and decorum within the country’s most famous residence, drawing from specific events and using historical imagery.

“The Role of Social Media in a (Mis)Informed Electorate” with John M. Seigenthaler

September 24, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

John M. Seigenthaler, former weekend anchor and correspondent for NBC and MSNBC and current partner of Nashville-based PR firm, DVL Seigenthaler, provides insight into how social media impacts political views. This program is presented by the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont in partnership with the student-based American Marketing Association campus chapter.

The Value of the Vote: Pressing for Freedom

September 25, 2020 – 7:00pm – 8:30pm

PUBLIC EVENT

This program will start with a special presentation from C-Span entitled “Make Up Your Own Mind” highlighting how the non-partisan organization is a window into Washington. Afterward the panel of distinguished journalists will address some of the most pressing issues surrounding the Election, voter suppression, fake news and more. This session is offered in partnership with the Nashville chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Participants include: Belmont Senior Marissa Avnaim, Freelance Journalist, Belmont alum Ameshia Cross, Producer & Host, “Cross Point, “Sinclair Broadcast Group and Retired Veteran Gannett Tennessean Columnist, Dwight Lewis.

Politics and Country Music

September 28, 2020 – 10:00am

PUBLIC EVENT

Country music and politics have been linked since the 1800s. There have been country performers who have been elected to office, and country artists have lent their talents to politicians running for office. Historian, author, songwriter, record producer and Curb College Professor Don Cusic will discuss several moments throughout history where country music and politics have been linked.
Screen reader support enabled.

Humanities Symposium: The Weight of the Past: Engaging Legacies of White Supremacy and Racial Injustice

September 29, 2020 – 2:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

This is a featured event of Belmont’s 19^th annual Humanities Symposium, which has the overarching theme “A More Perfect Union: Dialogue & Democracy.”. The Symposium is organized by faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Washington University sociologist David Cunningham will explore the dimensions of division and dialogue, place and space in relation to historical and contemporary racial violence. With an eye on ongoing struggles over the memorialization of the racialized past through monuments and the commemorative landscape in America, Dr. Cunningham will discuss how the legacies of racial injustice continue to invade and inform our spaces, discourses, and worldviews.

Humanities Symposium: Learning from the Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil

September 29, 2020 – 3:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

This is a featured event of Belmont’s 19^th annual Humanities Symposium, which has the overarching theme “A More Perfect Union: Dialogue & Democracy.” The Symposium is organized by faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

In her recent book Learning from the Germans, philosopher Susan Neiman explores the story of the halting, difficult and ongoing steps Germans took and are taking in their efforts to acknowledge and atone for the crimes of the Holocaust, relating their experience to the challenges and actions of American social justice advocates confronting our own violent history and the legacy of slavery. In a conversational format moderated by Belmont Assistant Professor of Religion and the Arts David Dark, Neiman will explore some of the central ideas of her book.

Humanities Symposium: “A Mother’s Advice Is Always Safest:” The Woman Who Wrote the Letter That Changed American History

September 30, 2020 – 2:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

This is a featured event of Belmont’s 19^th annual Humanities Symposium, which has the overarching theme “A More Perfect Union: Dialogue & Democracy.” The Symposium is organized by faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

When the fight for ratification moved to Tennessee, many suffragettes were ready to write off the amendment. They believed there was no hope for victory in the South. Then Febb Burn, a widowed mother in Appalachia, sent an eight-page letter to her son Representative Harry T. Burn, flipping his vote. Febb Burn’s story reminds us that world-changing reform doesn’t happen because famous people behave heroically; change occurs when thousands of ordinary people living in quiet backwaters decide to fight for the American dream. Writer Dr. Rachel Louise Martin, who earned her doctorate in women’s and gender history, will lead this talk and Q&A.

Lee C. Camp: Politics and Christianity

September 30, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

Lee C. Camp’s Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians makes the case that a renewed Christian politics is more essential than ever, one that is “neither left nor right nor religious,” but a prophetic way of life modeled after Jesus of Nazareth. Christian identity is in moral and political crisis, scandalized by the many ways in which it has been co-opted and misrepresented. This event is presented by the Office of Spiritual Development.

Humanities Symposium: Unearthing the Past, Rebuilding the Present: the Role of Fiction in Addressing History, Re-Imagining Human Community and Enacting Change

October 1, 2020 – 10:30am

PUBLIC EVENT

This is a featured event of Belmont’s 19^th annual Humanities Symposium, which has the overarching theme “A More Perfect Union: Dialogue & Democracy.” The Symposium is organized by faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

In this interactive session, we will look at several examples of novels in classic literature concerned with social justice and how they attempted to bring about seismic change—or at least a shift in readers’ perspectives.

Designing a Democracy Gallery Talk

October 1, 2020 – 5:00pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

Leu Gallery in the Lila D. Bunch Library

Collector and local politician Ronnie Steine, along with exhibit co-curators Belmont University Professor of Graphic Design Dan Johnson and Director of Galleries Katie Mitchell, speak on the creation of Designing A Democracy, an exhibit boasting a survey of graphic design as experienced through the political poster. This exhibit is presented by the Watkins College of Art at Belmont.

White House Style: Department of the Interior—Designing the White House (Part 2 of a 4-Part Series)

October 1, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

About the series: The design of the White House and the style of its occupants have been a source of public fascination for the past 220 years. This four-week virtual program led by Nashville-based creative consultant Libby Callaway features a national slate of historians, designers and cultural critics exploring how First Couples, from the Kennedys to the Trumps, have left their personal mark on the People’s House, through how they eat, dress, decorate and entertain. This series is organized by The O’More College of Architecture and Design.

Part Two: Redecorating the White House at the start of a presidency is not as easy as ordering a new kitchen table and replacing a few slipcovers. Tonight, Los Angeles-based interior designer Michael Smith shares his experience working with President and Mrs. Obama to redesign the White House during their eight years in residence. Featuring outtakes and anecdotes from Smith’s news book on the same subject, Designing History: The Extraordinary Art & Style of the Obama White House.

The American Experience: Engaging with Democracy

October 5, 2020 – November 20, 2020

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

Gallery 121 in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts

* The Leu Center for the Visual Arts is currently open only to Belmont students, faculty and staff due to COVID-19. This information will be updated if conditions change.

A celebration of democracy as an essential component of the American experience, this professionally adjudicated exhibit will feature work from the students of Watkins College of Art and the O’More College of Architecture & Design and invites students to consider the power of visual language as a means to open meaningful dialogue and unify a nation.

Seeking Truth in an Age of Misinformation

October 6, 2020 – 5:00pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

In a panel discussion, we will explore the relationship between democracy and media. As we seek truth, in what many call a post-truth world, the panel will discuss the role of social media as a dominant force in the delivery and consumption of information. How can we better assess and process the news that we read and watch? How can we better discern opinion from fact and additionally, better discern bias from perspective? How should the Christian faith shape our civic responsibility to be informed and engaged? Panelists include Historian and Author Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel from Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education (Belmont), Journalist and Media Literacy Scholar Jennifer Duck from Curb College (Belmont), Interpersonal Communications Scholar Dr. Mary Vaughn from the Department of Communications Studies (Belmont), and Outreach Librarian for Religion and Theology Kashif Graham (Vanderbilt).

Can Voters Make Sense of Presidential Character?

October 7, 2020 – 4:00pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

Join Dr. Vaughn May from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences as he discusses the distinctions between scholars who highlight the importance of individual-level factors in voter behavior (e.g. the person shapes what happens in the White House) versus those who highlight environmental factors (e.g. The White House environment shapes the person). We’ll study scandalous examples of political intrigue and how voters have reacted. We will also look at Barber’s classic study of presidential character, more recent attempts to understand presidential character and finally explore the body of research which rejects the study of character completely. This event is sponsored by the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

Unity Flag Project Presentation

October 8, 2020 – 5:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

Lobby of the Leu Center for the Visual Arts

Belmont Assistant Professor of Art Dr. Meaghan Brady Nelson of the Watkins College of Art at Belmont and several participating artists will come together for a virtual event to discuss the Unity Flag Project.

White House Style: Head of Plate—Inside the White House Kitchen (Part 3 of a 4-Part Series)

October 8, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

About the series: The design of the White House and the style of its occupants have been a source of public fascination for the past 220 years. This four-week virtual program led by Nashville-based creative consultant Libby Callaway features a national slate of historians, designers and cultural critics exploring how First Couples, from the Kennedys to the Trumps, have left their personal mark on the People’s House, through how they eat, dress, decorate and entertain. This series is organized by The O’More College of Architecture and Design.

Part Three: Presidential style encompasses more than just the visual aspects of the White House: how First Couples eat and entertain says as much about them as their wardrobes or interiors. James Beard Award-winning food journalist Adrian Miller will explore the historical goings-on in the White House kitchen, including a number of significant Nashville chefs preparing a multi-course meal inspired by the favorite meals and recipes of our presidential families. Recipes will be shared in advance of the event, and viewers can prepare the dishes along with the renowned Nashville chefs.

“Paper, Ink, and Politics: Catching Your Eye to Win Your Vote and Maybe Your Heart” with Dr. Hal Elliott Wert

October 13, 2020 – 5:00pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

Dr. Hal Elliott Wert is a professor emeritus of history at the Kansas City Art Institute. A published and award-winning author, his passion for history led him to become a leading expert on the American campaign poster. Join us as Dr. Wert considers the importance of design in the identity of a political campaign. This event is sponsored by the Watkins College of Art.

To Engage or Not to Engage? How Christians Approach Politics

October 13, 2020 – 5:30pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

In a panel discussion hosted by University Ministries we will explore how Christians are called to engage in the political process. The discussion will focus broadly on how faith informs the political process and political engagement and how we can engage in a way that moves beyond partisan divides.

White House Style: First Couple Style—Dressing for the White House (Part 4 of a 4-Part Series)

October 14, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

About the series: The design of the White House and the style of its occupants have been a source of public fascination for the past 220 years. This four-week virtual program led by Nashville-based creative consultant Libby Callaway features a national slate of historians, designers and cultural critics exploring how First Couples, from the Kennedys to the Trumps, have left their personal mark on the People’s House, through how they eat, dress, decorate and entertain. This series is organized by The O’More College of Architecture and Design.

Part Four: There have been millions of words written about the cultural significance of the wardrobes of our First Couples. In this program, host Libby Callaway will be joined by Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan and fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg to explore the parameters — many of them unspoken — that dictate how the President and First Lady dress on every occasion.

Exercising Citizenship for an Authentic Life

October 16, 2020 – 9:00am

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

Honors students from the course HON 2120, “Living Authentically in a Virtual World,” will present various perspectives on what it means to be engaged, authentic citizens in a technological world. Their presentation focuses on two books that examine how authentic living depends on our cultivation of intentional choices and willingness to make thoughtful decisions about technology, its uses, and its limits. Given that technology enables and empowers our capacities at the same time that it diminishes and interferes with them, the students will explore how citizens can make informed decisions that enrich the individual and collective human experience, that result in deep and meaningful relationships, and that steward the planet and sustain the many forms of life that depend on it. Moderated by Dr. Annette Sisson of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Habitat for Humanity: A Home for Everyone

October 21, 2020 – 7:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

Jonathan Reckford has served as the CEO of Habit for Humanity International since 2005. He has led the global nonprofit’s tremendous growth: from serving 125,000 individuals a year to helping more than 7 million people last year alone. Jonathan is deeply influenced by his parents who were active in the civil rights movement, and by his grandmother, U.S. Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick, widely known for her commitment to justice. Jonathan seeks to follow in their footsteps by leading Habitat’s efforts to help create a world where everyone has a decent place to live. This event is presented by the Office of Spiritual Development.

Integrity in Journalism During an Election Year

October 27, 2020 – 12:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

Belmont’s Kennedy Center for Business Ethics, part of the Jack C. Massey College of Business, welcomes NPR National President and CEO John Lansing for a conversation about integrity in journalism.

A Conversation with Carl Bernstein: From Watergate to 2020, Making Sense of Media Past and Present

October 27, 2020 – 4:30pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

The Curb College welcomes Pulitzer Prize Winning investigative journalist and author Carl Bernstein for a conversation about the current state of investigative journalism and a historical look back at Watergate and “All the President’s Men.”

“All the President’s Men” the Film: Adapting the Book for the Screen

October 28, 2020 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm

STUDENT ONLY EVENT

A Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business sponsored series. This political film series event features Belmont Professor Stephen Hauser as he looks at All the President’s Men from the cinematic view. Moderated by Prof. Sara Wigal.

One Vote Won: A Roundtable with the Producers

October 29, 2020 – 1:00pm – 2:00pm

PUBLIC EVENT

“One Vote Won” is a contemporary video opera that tells an African American’s woman’s story of voting. Produced by the Nashville Opera Company, the opera was composed by Dave Ragland, libretto written by Mary McCallum, and artistic direction by John Hoomes, CEO and artistic director of the Nashville Opera. Participate in a Roundtable with these panelists, moderated by Prof. Cheryl Carr, Associate Dean of the Curb College, for a discussion of the opera and its historic impact. Viewing the opera prior to the discussion is not required. Information about how to view the opera will be provided during the Roundtable.