Just a few weeks ago, Belmont University announced a 52 member, honorary host committee for the impending town hall debate on campus. The Tennessean grabbed the low hanging fruit of stereotyped, county-music-Nashville and headlined their story Kix (Brooks), Vince(Gill) on Belmont debate host committee. Interesting that former Vice-President Al Gore receive only a passing mention at the end of the article and that 12+ CEO’s, (start singing now)…4 US senators, 3 Tennessee legislators, 2 prominent attorneys, and a partridge in a pear tree received no mention at all.
Marty Dickens tells the Tennessean that the 52 people on the committee will serve a primarily ceremonial role…and that even though the school may look to some of them for fundraising, that did not impact the member’s selection. With apologies to Shakespeare, Mr. Dickens doth protest too much, methinks.
Meanwhile, back on campus, Belmont-the-student-centered campus, has posted volunteer opportunities for students on the www.belmontdebate08.com web site. I trust that these positions will not be ceremonial and that an individual’s selection (as a contributor to the coffers of the university) will impact their selection.
