by Becca Risley | Oct 22, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Lipscomb resides in the heart of Music City and sophomore Nordista Freeze has single-handedly brought that music mentality to campus over the past two years. Not only is he a prominent member of the contemporary music program, but he has also taken over as host of SGA’s weekly “Coffeehaus” live music night, started an annual music festival geared specifically for college students and performs constantly in Tennessee and surrounding states. “When I make music, I want to make something that’s beautiful, something that resounds, something that people can experience in their heart,” Freeze said. “Whether it’s for healing purposes or something that inspires them, I want to be a part of that cultivation, sewing seeds in their heart of beauty, love and ideas that unify everyone and help us to all move forward as better people.” Freeze began his journey as a musician in junior high. He would make music and upload the content to YouTube before making CDs and sharing them with his friends and family. Making and sharing music always been a passion of his, and he recognizes growth in his music as he matures from a teenager to a young adult. “[My music has] evolved just from understanding it more and observing music more,” Freeze said. “I’ve definitely started to understand the the theories; I’m studying songwriting and wordplay, focusing on what makes me like a song and how I can mimic that or adopt that idea, whether its like melody or a type of song or style.” In the name of making music, Freeze has traveled cross-country, performing with friends and fellow musicians in houses, churches, dorms, coffee shops and more. Over the summer,...
by Becca Risley | Oct 2, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
The men of Tau Phi social club showcased incredible talent Saturday night for the 37th annual Cowboy Show in Collins Alumni Auditorium. This year’s lineup included songs with a Backroads theme and invited the audience on a journey with intimate country music. The evening featured performances by Ashton Montgomery, John Blake Parker, Jordan Satterfield, Rebecca Robertson, Piper Smith and many more. Collectively, the night celebrated fan-favorite country anthems and covered hit songs from Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton and James Taylor, to name a few. Senior Stephen Ingram directed the event alongside sophomore Hunter Taylor and senior Ashton Montgomery. “It was a ton of fun, but also a lot of work,” Ingram said. “Without [Taylor and Montgomery] the show wouldn’t be nearly as good as it is.” Ingram said that while listening to several men put on “musically challenged” performances provided comedy to the evening, the women really stole the show. “The talent this year has been great,” he said. “All of our ladies are incredibly talented and have been a pleasure to work with.” The annual Cowboy Show began in 1979 with the men of Tau Phi scattered across the steps of Collins with guitars in their hands. It has now grown to one of the most anticipated events on campus, as it brings current students, friends, family and alumni back to campus for a night of music and fellowship. “It’s an incredible professional production and a vital part of Parent Weekend here at Lipscomb,” Ingram said. “This show not only brings together the campus and their parents for a night of fun but also 50 years...
by Becca Risley | Sep 23, 2016 | News Slider
Story by Katie Bianchini and Becca Risley The Lipscomb Department of Communication and Journalism presented the second annual Morality and the Media conference held Friday in the Ezell building. Speakers engaged students in a variety of controversial topics such as youth violence, transgender policy and civility in public discourse. “Hearing from professionals in the field can prove to be invaluable,” junior Reese Lusk said. “Gaining wisdom from people that are currently doing what we want to do is an amazing opportunity.” Chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism Alan Griggs said he hoped the day would allow students to gain insight into the world of communication through professionals. “We really wanted to explore not only the issues, but how the media cover those issues from the viewpoint and perspective of working journalists and those who have been in journalism,” Griggs said. “There isn’t enough time given for a good, broad discussion of these topics from the perspective that we bring.” One panel discussed the ongoing, national issue of transgender bathroom usage and equal access to secure public places. A main focus of this panel was the concept of privacy for the transgender population and how journalists should navigate reporting on such sensitive matters. “There is no documentation of transgender people going into the bathroom and harassing people,” said Dr. Marisa Richmond of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition. “But we have tons of documentation of transgender people going into bathrooms and being harassed.” Another panelist, Zach Pruitt of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, argued that “the rights of some come at the expense of others,” saying that regardless of documentation, women should not be in...
by Becca Risley | Sep 16, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Presented by the Lipscomb Theatre Department, The 39 Steps opens Friday evening and stars junior Connor Weaver as the well-intentioned, although slightly misled, Richard Hannay. This Alfred Hitchcock classic spy thriller features the adventures of Hannay as he encounters double-crossing secret agents, meets incredibly seductive women and gets framed for a murder he did not commit. “The play cranks everything up to eleven and turns just about every aspect of the story into a parody of itself,” Weaver said. “The villain is delightfully over the top, the romantic interests weave in and out with little to no greater repercussion and the hopelessly complex plot details are hilariously and even blatantly glossed over at times.” Even with an increased level of satirical comedy, the play speaks volumes to strong themes and elaborate characters. The play is driven by Hannay, a depressed 30-year-old man looking to spice up his life. In the midst of the show, he is made to bite off more than he can chew while trying to balance the safety of the world on his shoulders. “Somehow he manages to grow as a person through it all,” Weaver said. “It’s a tale of intrigue, redemption, courage and lots of costume changes.” Directed by Lipscomb’s own Kari Smith, The 39 Steps is portrayed as a satire of itself. One of the most noteworthy and unconventional adaptations comes when the audience meets two clown actors who end up playing almost every character in the show. This leads to several moments that break the fourth wall, where the joke is largely on the actors having to balance everything, rather than the characters’...
by Becca Risley | Sep 12, 2016 | Galleries
After a two-day weekend intensive, this year’s cheer team has been announced. The group features 24 Lipscomb students, all of whom have demonstrated skills in tumbling and stunting. “I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful university, athletic department and the cheerleading team,” coach Pam Pearson said. “These individuals have put in so many hours this summer to improve their skills and it showed at tryouts.” Photos by Becca Risley « ‹ of 2 ›...
