by Bridgette Begle | Jan 27, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
On Saturday, Jan. 26, in Allen Arena, the Lady Bisons basketball team played a game to improve their record in conference play. They also held an event to honor women’s basketball legend Pat Summitt. Pat Summitt was the head coach of the Lady Vols of the University of Tennessee for 38 years and is the overall winningest NCAA coach of men’s or women’s basketball on all levels. Last week (Jan. 13-20) marked the second “We Back Pat” week. Throughout the SEC, every women’s basketball team has played one home game that is dedicated to raising awareness and recognition for the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund. This foundation was founded on Nov. 27, 2011, launched by Summitt after she was diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type at the age of 59. The funds raised are sent to nonprofits that provide support to those suffering from Alzheimer’s. The overall mission is to advance research for preventing and a cure. Senior basketball player Hannah Phillips said that Pat Summitt was a childhood inspiration of hers. “Pat Summitt was my idol growing up,” Phillips said, “I wanted to be a Lady Vol.” Attendance to this event was crucial for raising the necessary funds. According to freshman Alex Banks, each women’s basketball player penned hand-written letters to alumni inviting them to come to the game. She also mentioned utilizing social media sites as a promotion tool. The final tally of those in attendance was 1,434. The shirts that were given out at the game to the first 300 fans are ones that look very familiar around the SEC. Colors and logos change from school...
by Bridgette Begle | Jan 14, 2013 | News Slider
Former Lipscomb professor Dr. Axel Swang died Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the age of 91. Students who did not know him can get a hint of his importance and impact on those he taught by simply walking across campus: Home to most business and accounting classes, the Swang Center for Business and Administration was named after Dr. Swang in 1984, after his former students raised more than $2 million to dedicate a building in his honor. Swang not only had knowledge of the business and accounting worlds, he preached for more than 50 years. The funeral was at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at Hillsboro Church of Christ. Professor Charles Frasier, a former student, co-worker and friend of Dr. Swang, was asked to speak at the funeral service. He shared what it was like to be in Dr. Swang’s presence on an everyday basis and shared numerous stories, inspiring and funny. “Dr. Swang loved to teach. He was devoted to his students. He was devoted to the accounting profession,” Frasier said during the funeral. “But what I appreciated most was his genuine interest in people.” Even now, 20 years after Dr. Swang left the Lipscomb classroom, students who were told of his death felt a connection. Although most did not ever even have a conversation with Dr. Swang, they knew who he was. Former students of his reacted by writing and sending personal reflections to the university. For example, Lipscomb received an email the day before the funeral from Roy Wagers, a former student of Dr. Swang’s. Wagers wrote that “Dr. Swang was an awesome FRIEND, MENTOR AND PERSON. This world has lost a real treasure. I...
by Bridgette Begle | Dec 6, 2012 | Uncategorized
This fall at the multiplex, we have seen relationships between mental illness patients in Silver Linings Playbook and sexually abused children growing up and limping through high school in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but Hollywood kicks back to the simplicity of cute romance and predictable plots in Playing for Keeps. Just because a movie is predictable does not make it bad. I mean, Gerard Butler uses a Scottish accent, and Jessica Biel and Catherine Zeta-Jones are gorgeous — it’s hard to go wrong there. Butler plays George, a former soccer star, who ends up coaching his 9-year-old son’s soccer team. He is faced with the challenges of divorced soccer moms throwing themselves at him, while he tries to cope with his ex-wife’s (Jessica Biel) upcoming marriage. In the process, George learns responsibility and tries to become an adult, hoping it will be enough to win her back. Directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness), Playing for Keeps is definitely a movie that hits home with the issue of divorce. George’s son, played by Noah Lomax, portrays the innocence of a little boy dealing with the emotional journey of his dad coming home while he has a future stepfather pushing his way in. The film definitely hits home with serious topics like divorce, so bring your tissue box. Something that might surprise you watching this movie is Dennis Quaid’s role. He is not the sweet, fun-loving dad of twin daughters that were separated at birth any more. Quaid plays a money-loving manipulator, which, of course, he does so well because of his acting abilities. Butler is a good-looking man. I get it....
by Bridgette Begle | Nov 27, 2012 | News Slider
The McCaleb Mission Center in Ezell was a place of remembrance Monday, Nov. 26, as it hosted a small gathering for prayer for those who knew senior Kelcy Smart, who died over the weekend. Jackie Halstead, sponsor of Delta Xi and licensed therapist, spoke to the group of more than 60 about this death and the grieving process. Halstead related the grieving process to waves in the ocean. She said it will be like standing with your back to the water, and just like a wave hitting you out of nowhere, the pain of the loss will hit you when you least expect it. Halstead encouraged students to continue talking about Smart in their everyday lives. “Talk about her as much as you want,” Halstead advised. “Even when people think it may be awkward, talk about her.” After offering her own memory about Smart, she opened the floor to those who wanted to share their personal memories. Many of Smart’s sisters in Delta Xi shared stories and kind words. Teachers, counselors and other friends on campus did not hesitate to relive the memories of Smart and the impact she left on the campus and community. “She is one of the kindest people I have ever met,” one Delta Xi member said. “I felt like I really knew her from day one, and she loved me from day one,” said another member of Delta Xi. “She was the sweetest person ever,” another added. “She never judged anyone,” Halstead said. Scott McDowell also spoke to the group about being present in each other’s lives in this time of mourning. “You can...
by Bridgette Begle | Oct 31, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Campus ministry came together before the semester started to find a way to work with “two groups of people that are smaller to campus but also contain a lot of leaders,” according to Lauren King, a campus ministry intern. Once a month, athletes and social clubs will have a designated Thursday for a breakout chapel specifically for them. However, these chapels are not limited to just these groups; anyone can go to either chapel. King is a sophomore member of Pi Delta who also works with the campus ministry staff. King and the rest of the ministry team wanted to give athletes and those in Greek life the opportunity to learn and grow together in a chapel-like setting. Junior Erin Gupton, a member of Phi Sigma, said she loves the idea of the new Greek chapel. She said she wants people to feel welcome and not like socials clubs are private. “I hate when Greek life comes across as exclusive because that is not the point,” Gupton said. There have been three Greek life breakout chapels so far this semester, and they’ve been going very well, according to King and Gupton. The idea is to include multiple clubs in each devotional, Gupton said, explaining that one club will lead the singing, one will lead the prayer, one will do the message and so on. Athletes are also breaking in a new breakout chapel this semester. Those who have attended athlete’s chapel have now heard from two different speakers. The first was Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson and second was Brent High the associate athletic director for spiritual formation. It has been...
