by Brianna Langley | Oct 31, 2014 | News Slider
This week in Lumination News, Carly Bergthold and Cory Woodroof give you a look at the latest local, national and even worldwide updates from behind the anchor desk. Mignonne Bryant gives updates on the United States’ policies regarding Ebola victims, Sarah McGee reveals the latest drama in reality television and all things entertainment, Madeline Smith lets you in on this week’s weather forecast and Jesica Parsley gives details on all the current happenings in the world of sports. This week’s newscast also features big plans regarding changes to student financial aid forms and an inside look at some of Lipscomb’s most outstanding sports teams. Wondering how Lipscomb students are using video games for humanitarian work? Reporter Cory Woodroof brings you all the answers. If you’re curious about how Lipscomb travel programs are handling the Ebola crisis, reporter Travis Byrd gives an in-depth look at the university’s policies. Remember to check in next week for even more on the latest Lipscomb and Nashville news. If you have any story ideas or events you want covered, contact our News Director at...
by Brianna Langley | Oct 31, 2014 | News Slider
Due to rising concerns about the Ebola virus, Lipscomb students, parents and faculty are making some difficult decisions about international travel. With Commitment Week just around the corner for Lipscomb Missions, as well as Spring Semester Study Abroad trips coming up in only a couple of months, students and parents are faced with making decisions regarding international travel through Lipscomb-run programs. Concerns are certainly elevated in regards to travel, and especially travel going to West African countries, such as Ghana. “It’s definitely something that’s been on my mind and something I’ve been praying about,” Lipscomb junior Trisha Stocker said. “It’s definitely a concern and it’s something that’s scary, but at the same time, if God wants me to go and He opens the doors, how can I say no?” Stocker has been planning on participating in Lipscomb’s mission efforts in Ghana for two years now; however, due to the unforeseen epidemic, her parents are now understandably cautious about sending her. “I am being respectful of my parents since I am still dependent on them to a certain degree, so it is hard to feel called to go and then have some doors possibly be closing, but if God wants it, it’ll happen,” Stocker said. Missions coordinator and Ghana Missions team leader Paul Stevens says he wants parents and students alike to understand the high level of security and safety Ghana has developed as a country over the years. “The thing about Ghana that makes me feel a little bit more comfortable with it is just knowing that it is the most stable, most advanced country not just in West...
by Brianna Langley | Oct 14, 2014 | News Slider
The Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) is the newest extremist terrorist group that has captured our nation’s attention and injected cold fear into our society. Due to the group’s affiliation with Islam, many individuals are condemning the religion. However, a large number of Muslim people detest ISIS’s actions. “ISIS never reflected Islam and never will. These are extremist factions that don’t represent the whole Muslim community,” said Samha Siddiqui, a political science major at Lipscomb. “They don’t even make up one per-cent of the whole Muslim population, so there’s no way that we can say they do reflect Muslim opinions.” Fellow political science major Akim Smith says that ISIS is simply using religious justifications to legitimize the torture, murder and slaughter of anyone (including fellow Muslims) that does not adhere to their specific beliefs for the purpose of gaining political ground. “A lot of people say that ISIS is neither Islamic nor a state, but as a Muslim, I would say that it is Islamic and it is a state, but it doesn’t reflect Islam as a whole,” Smith said. “I want people to know that this is not a reflection of Islam as a whole, but it’s a reflection of a particular, small brand of Islam.” Exercise science major Tahreem Fatima echoed the dangers of associating the ideology preached by ISIS with the ideology of the majority of the Muslim community. “I believe that Islam values all life, so what ISIS and other extremists do is completely wrong,” Fatima said. “I hate everything ISIS stands for, and I realize how important it is to speak out...
by Brianna Langley | Oct 7, 2014 | News Slider
Many dedicated Lipscomb University students endured the long trek across campus to Lipscomb Academy’s gymnasium in order to see the esteemed guest speaking at The Gathering this week. Renowned Christian author Francine Rivers spoke about her life, her Christian journey and her career as a writer. A number of committed fans even arrived early to ensure optimal seating. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for a speaker at Lipscomb as I was for Francine,” said Lipscomb senior Hailey Parrott. “She just knows how to speak to people in different ways and put a story together that we can all understand.” Rivers, the author of Redeeming Love and The Last Sin Eater among many others, related her life story and explained how God had rescued her and given her a purpose and passion for fiction writing. She began by speaking about growing up under the guidance of church-going parents in a community that was largely non-Christian. Rivers then went on to talk about being a college student in the 60s and how she became involved in destructive practices such as free love, smoking and drinking. She spoke about undergoing an abortion at an early age, suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, marrying a young Vietnam veteran and going to work after graduation for men who had less education than she did. “I said I was fine, but I didn’t think I’d ever be fine again,” Rivers said. Rivers then began speaking about her career as an author. “I have always known I wanted to be writer, but I didn’t know what I wanted to write because I hated...
by Brianna Langley | Sep 11, 2014 | News Slider
President Barack Obama publicly addressed the nation Wednesday night regarding a Middle Eastern – and potentially global – crisis that has emerged in the form of a terrorist group known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). ISIS is a group of extremists who have been terrorizing and killing innocent people in Iraq and Syria, including Muslims. In recent days, the United States has been horrified by the direct and brazen beheadings of two freelance American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, who were inoffensively working in the Middle East. In reaction to this and many other barbaric acts of ISIS, President Obama delivered a speech to the American people in which he stated that the United States would be recruiting a coalition to “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIS. This coalition will include the deployment of 475 U.S. military advisors to Iraq, bringing the total number of American personnel stationed there to 1,600. However, the president also made it clear that “these American forces will not have a combat mission; we will not get dragged into another ground war in Iraq.” President Obama also added that this mission “will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; it will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil.” Instead, this “anti-terrorist” coalition will focus mainly on airstrike campaigns. According to Lipscomb political science professor Guy Vanderpool, the president’s speech was just what our nation needed to hear. “It conveyed a clear warning to ISIS, assured Americans that their security is his top action and emphasized that the freedom and justice and dignity of world peoples remain...
