by Cory Woodroof | Jul 23, 2014 | News Slider
Want to get to know Lumination’s new Editor-in-Chief Logan Butts better? Here’s a little bit more information about the site’s new head honcho. Tell us a little bit about your background. I am from Shelbyville, Tennesee, which is a small town about an hour south from Nashville. I lived there for all of my childhood until I came to Lipscomb. I was originally planning on going to pharmacy school after earning a chemistry degree in my undergrad at Lipscomb, but after two semesters I realized I was much more suited towards journalism. What made you want to be a journalist? I love telling people’s stories, especially stories that may not get told otherwise. I also love to write and to dissect things. Journalism is a way for me to practice all of those things at once. What are your favorite subject to write about? My favorite subjects to write about are sports and pop culture for sure. I love writing about basketball, soccer, movies and music, specifically within those categories. Who are some of your journalistic role models? I have so many. When it comes to sports and entertainment writing, I really look up to Bill Simmons and all the writers at Grantland, Sports Illustrated‘s Lee Jenkins and Rolling Stone‘s Peter Travers. As for hard news, I really admire anyone reporting from areas under duress, whether it be the Middle East, Crimea or wherever. I think the reporters for Vice, BBC, Al-Jazeera and Al-Jazeera America do their jobs well. And, of course, I greatly respect the journalistic work of all my professors. What is your favorite part about being in...
by Cory Woodroof | Jul 19, 2014 | Opinion
As the old cliché goes, all good things must come to an end. On Sunday, July 20, it will be time for me to say a goodbye to all of you, the readers of Lumination – at least in a sense. On that day, I will pass along one of the greatest batons I’ve ever had the chance to carry – the title of Lumination’s Editor-in-Chief. When I took over the position in December of 2012, I really had no idea what to expect. By that point, being editor of Lumination had been one of the main goals I hoped to achieve as a college student. Through all of the experiences I had while working as editor, I can safely say that the days between the one where I took over Lumination to the one where I publish this note have been some of the most important, rewarding days of my life. My time as editor has been a whirlwind of big stories, triumphant Bisons victories, crushing Bisons defeats, fascinating Lipscomb developments and mundane-yet-necessary updates. It’s consisted of late nights in the newsroom, good laughs with friends on staff, precious naps at home and hordes of emails in the inbox. I’ve had to make hard decisions in hard times and applaud brilliant work in times of great joy. Simply put, this has been one of the most hectic-yet-irreplaceable times of my life – one that cannot hold a price but would be worth its weight in gold to relive. While the time has come for me to step away from the editor’s role, Lumination’s future is as bright as...
by Cory Woodroof | Jun 5, 2014 | Opinion
The most impressive cast member of the play War Horse, now at TPAC through Sunday, is a gigantic horse puppet. While that might not sound as glamorous as some of Broadway’s most memorable leading characters, the beating heart of the solemn, inspiring show lies directly with Joey, the horse with hooves of gold. Adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s book of the same name, War Horse is a devastating-yet-triumphant look at the horrors of war and the bond that can develop between a man and his trusted animal companion. Taking place in across Europe in the 1910s, the story follows Joey, a young horse who is sold into the care of the Narracott family. Throughout Joey’s days in the foal stage, the horse develops a strong relationship with Albert, son of the Narracotts. Like all great boy-and-his-dog relationships, Albert and Joey become an inseparable pair. But, when World War 1 begins, Joey is sold into the army without Albert’s knowing, and the young man begins a dangerous journey through the battlefield to find his galloping friend. Similar to Steven Spielberg’s 2011 film adaptation, the play primarily follows Albert and Joey’s journey through the war with various characters popping up at times, most representing different aspects of war and the toll it can take on a civilization. The play has a bleak picture to paint of war, and that image is skillfully woven into the narrative. The show also features one of this critic’s favorite scenes in fiction – one that finds two opposing soldiers in a climatic game of heads-or-tails that beautifully illustrates the good of humanity in one of life’s...
by Cory Woodroof | Jun 1, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
To those only familiar with Don Meyer’s on-the-court accomplishments, the coaching titan will be remembered for his striking column of wins and his steadfast love of the game. But, to the members of the Lipscomb community and others who gathered to celebrate the coach’s life Sunday in Allen Arena, Meyer will be remembered for far, far more than his legacy of hoops. “[Meyer] used basketball as such a great ministry,” said Richard Taylor, a former Bison and member of the 1986 NAIA National Championship squad. “He changed the lives of thousands and thousands of people, and his life was such a great example for all of us.” Meyer died May 18 after a lengthy battle with cancer. To honor his legacy of excellence, Lipscomb hosted the Don Meyer Memorial Celebration Service, one of two major public services that celebrated the coach and his life. The first one was May 24 at the campus of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. During Sunday’s service at Lipscomb, G. David England led two songs, “To God Be the Glory,” and “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” Lady Bisons basketball head coach Greg Brown, also one of Meyer’s student assistant coaches, read Meyer’s obituary and led a prayer. A video was shown that featured an interview with Meyer . Tom Kelsey, a former player of Meyer’s from 1982 to 1986 and the director of basketball operations at Louisiana State University (LSU), read a letter from the coach’s family. Martha Ann Hawkins also sang two songs, “My God and I” and “Peace, Perfect, Peace,” at the opening and close of the service, respectively. She was accompanied by Phil...
by Cory Woodroof | May 29, 2014 | Opinion
Hello, Lumination readers, Cory Woodroof here. Over the summer, we here at Lumination want to keep you tuned in on everything that’s going on with campus, but also, we’ll throw some other information your way that may be beneficial to you as you enjoy a summer that may not be too close to campus. With the ‘Arts Update,’ we will periodically update you with different opinions that could be beneficial, no matter where you are, to your time off. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER Cap is back, and he’s better than ever. Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the latest Marvel Studios venture, is as successful of a follow-up to both the 2011 stand-alone film starring everyone’s favorite patriotic superhero and 2012’s monolith blockbuster hit The Avengers, which brought Cap along for the ride alongside other Avengers Initiative heroes. With Winter Soldier, Steve Rogers (Cap’s other name) begins to investigate a mysterious plot unfolding within SHIELD, the top-secret government agency that serves as the Avengers’ parent company, so to speak. What unfolds after, best left unspoiled, brings back some of Rogers’ past into the spotlight. The film works simply because it’s Marvel Studios at its most competent. Marvel has had their own minor bumps and bruises along the way of creating one of the most expansive film series to date, but with Winter Soldier, the studio has produced a surefire hit with depth, emotion, jaw-dropping action set pieces and a page-turning plotline. Evans shines with his take on Rogers – the most underrated casting choice in the Marvel universe, and Scarlett Johansson is as good as ever as Natasha Romanoff. This...
