by Amy Estepp | Feb 22, 2011 | News Slider
For three months, the Lipscomb junior lived within walking distance of Tahrir Square, the massive traffic center of Cairo, Egypt, that served as staging ground for the revolution that is currently changing the shape of the Middle East. It was quiet when she lived there, but change was in the wind. The mostly peaceful revolt that ended in the resignation of President Mubarak after three decades in power “was kind of in-waiting,” said Kimery Cockrell, a social work major who lived in Cairo during the fall semester of 2010. The Memphis native lived just five minutes away from Tahrir Square during the semester she studied abroad in Egypt. Blue eyes shimmering, she reminisces on what Egypt was like when she was there and ponders what direction the country is taking now. “It was understood that people didn’t vote,” Cockrell said. “It was understood that there weren’t a lot of rights, and the main opposition party was the Muslim Brotherhood. They were arrested on a daily basis for any kind of protest.” Back home safely, she watched as the 18 days of protests and occasional violence played out on the television screens, culminating when President Mubarak resigned and fled Cairo. The success of that revolution has sparked similar, less-successful and more bloody uprisings in Yemen, Lybia, Jordan, Iran and Bahrain. “It is great Egypt finally stood up and stood for freedom,” Cockrell said. “It is so different from their way of thinking. They think [Americans] have too many freedoms.” There is worry in Egypt and among Cockrell and her friends about what happens next, now that the military is in control, albeit...
by Amy Estepp | Dec 9, 2010 | News Slider
Christmas and Hanukkah both are important to Lipscomb junior Leah Raich. “Each night my family gets together to have the daily prayers and to light the Menorah. Then we eat Latkes, which are like potato pancakes, and play dreidel,” said the public relations major. As Messianic Jews, the family embraces the importance of both celebrations. Hanukkah is already well under way. It began this year on Dec. 1, which this year was the 25th day of Kislev on the Jewish calendar, according to Raich. The eight-day celebration includes a number of traditions. One tradition is that on each night, one candle is lit on the Menorah (a nine-branched candelabrum) that represents each night of Hanukkah, with the ninth branch used as a light, according to Raich. “I loved celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah as a kid,” continues Raich, a native of Memphis. “Having both just made more times for us to get presents. We also loved sitting around lighting the Menorah as a family.” Raich’s favorite aspect of the holiday is eating the latkes, a part of the traditional holiday diet. Latkes are cooked in a traditional Hanukkah oil, which makes them crucial to the celebration and ritual of the season. “Although my traditions are very different from most people’s, having both Christian ceremonies and Jewish rituals, it just makes the holidays all the more...
by Amy Estepp | Nov 16, 2010 | News Slider
Lipscomb junior Jordan Lewis, a nursing major from Chattanooga, Tenn., has developed a strong friendship with one of “The Contributor” retailers. At times, Lewis’ friend, Michael “Bama” Farley, is seen selling the newspapers — that help get the homeless off the street — by the Kroger on Gallatin Pike. “The Contributor” strives to print a monthly paper that provides both a diversity of perspectives on homelessness and poverty and a source of income for homeless and formerly homeless individuals, while creating community between vendors and customers. “The Contributor” employs more than 250 vendors, some of whom are homeless, while others have managed to get off the streets. Both homeless and non-homeless people write for the paper. Lewis and Bama met at Tent City when he and his wife were living there in April 2010. Since then, they have kept in contact. Working as a vendor, Bama is now able to provide the groceries that he and his wife need. “[‘The Contributor’] gives the sellers hope,” Lewis said. “It is a job that anyone can do and it opens the door for more opportunities. They are working for the next step; they either want to be the best at selling ‘The Contributor,’ or they are trying to find another job.” Not only does the paper make an impact on the vendors, but Lewis says it’s also an eye-opener for the Nashville community. “It is reaching out to the rich people to see that there are homeless people that are working for money, not just panhandling,” Lewis said. Bama and Stacy are currently living at the Hobson House in East Nashville. They are...
by Amy Estepp | Nov 1, 2010 | News Slider
A university that has received plenty of praise for other environmentally friendly efforts finally put into effect a campus-wide recycling program last week. Students and faculty are expressing satisfaction with what they’ve seen in the first week of the expanded — and expanding — program. Click here to see a video feature on the new recycling program. “I actually recycled for the first time last night,” said Kirk Averitt, a junior music major from Decatur, Ala. “Adding this to our already LEED certified buildings will make us more sustainable.” In fact, before the recycling was put into place, there were already plenty of green initiatives, like geothermal buildings, bike racks and tray-less dining here. But students pushed hard for recycling. Before recycling was introduced, many students would take their recyclables to the drop-off located at Hillsboro High School, just a few blocks from campus. Now Lipscomb students simply must take their recyclables down the hall of their residence halls. Jackson Sprayberry, student body president and Lipscomb senior, said that because so many students made the university aware of how important recycling is to them, the administration could not ignore the need for a recycling program. Scott McDowell, vice president for student development and dean of campus life, heard that need from the students. “Jackson resurrected [the issue of recycling] with a sense of urgency,” McDowell said. “Also, I had one of my freshman students, Ellie Stimax, who brought it back to me with urgency.” After 14 months of active pursuit for recycling from the SGA, receptacles were ordered on Oct. 20 and were in place three days later. Located in every residential hall, the bins are...
by Amy Estepp | Sep 30, 2010 | News Slider
Forty trips, seven states, 21 countries. Lipscomb University’s variety of mission opportunities for its students seems endless. The Missions Fair, taking place on Oct. 5 this year, will allow students the opportunity to learn about all of Lipscomb’s mission opportunities. There are several different types of trips that are offered during the fall, winter, spring and summer breaks. Some trips are major-specific, while others are limited to gender, but the majority of the trips are open to all. An engineering trip scheduled for winter break will take 16 students to Coban, Guatemala. This year’s team will be working to build a mechanical lift system to help the community. The mission department says this batch of mission participants will be “comprised of students who will help assist training water committees as a part of the Community Water Project Plan of Action.” The trip is scheduled to take place Jan. 1-8 and will cost about $1,300. Applications are still available. Contact Kristopher Hatchell at: kristopher.hatchell@lipscomb.edu for more information. There are 22 mission trips scheduled for spring break. The Dallas/Fort Worth trip is in its third year of service to the area. The team works with a Hispanic church to provide any kind of work or fill the needs of the congregation and community. In past years, the groups have worked to renovate the church, community work and outreach and have a traditional community fiesta. “It is a small trip, so you get close to the people you go with,” says Charli Shelby, a junior English major and veteran of this trip. Shelby points out that a part of the work simply...
