by Emily Snell | Aug 31, 2011 | News Slider
Hurricane Irene struck the East Coast last weekend, leaving a long trail of destruction including at least 43 deaths and nearly $7 billion in damage. Days after the storm, it was estimated that almost 3 million people were still without power. Flooding remained a problem in many areas, while others have begun to clean up downed trees and other debris. Families of several Lipscomb students felt the force of Hurricane Irene. Ryan Whitley, a junior in business management from Rockland County, N.Y., said his family had some flood damage and was without power on and off for a few days. He said his relatives in New Jersey had a flood in their basement. “The whole thing was basically under water.” Whitley, whose family lives near the Hudson River, said he was relieved that the storm wasn’t worse. “I’m glad my family is safe,” he said. Other families in Whitley’s home area were not so blessed. One young boy was playing in some floodwater when a power line fell in the water, Whitley said. An adult attempted to save the boy but was killed by the high voltage. The child is still in critical condition. Whitley said he thought the storm “caught people off guard,” explaining that normally when hurricanes hit the Eastern Seaboard, his area only gets a little rain. Winter storms are usually what people in Whitley’s town prepare for, he said. “The worst we get is usually a blizzard, and we’re prepared for that,” he said. “It’s snow; it just get plowed. Something like water, you can’t do too much with.” Hannah Lavoie, a sophomore social work major...
by Emily Snell | Aug 26, 2011 | News Slider
Wind and rain generated by Hurricane Irene are already hitting the Carolinas while citizens along the east coast wait for the storm to arrive full force. The hurricane is expected to hit Saturday morning as a category 3, threatening people in at least a dozen states and forcing airlines to cancel flights. Reports warn that the storm may increase in strength before it’s expected to impact the U.S. this weekend. Officials predict that North Carolina will be hit the hardest, but states along the coast as far north as Maine may experience rain and wind from the storm. Mike Coscia, a freshman in journalism from Havertown, Penn., said some of his friends back home have been “freaking out” about the hurricane. He said one of his friends who lives near the shore in New Jersey has been evacuated from her town. Several airlines cancelled weekend flights to destinations from Boston to the Carolinas, preparing for Hurricane Irene. City officials in Washington, D.C. and New York City encouraged citizens in low-lying areas to review evacuation routes. Coscia said overall he isn’t too worried, though. He said his family’s basement floods easily, but he isn’t expecting extreme damage. “We get (a hurricane) every couple years, and there’s never been any serious damage,” he said. Caitlin Selle, a sophomore in Public Relations from Tega Cay, S.C., said she isn’t concerned about the storm hitting her home. “I’m not really nervous for my hometown because, upon research, it looks like it’s going to hit farther north,” she said. Selle called the evacuations in towns only a few hours from her home “a pretty...
by Emily Snell | May 31, 2011 | News Slider
The deadliest tornado to occur within the last 60 years, decimated Joplin, Mo., on May 22, killing 122 people, injuring hundreds more and destroying thousands of homes. Tornadoes and flooding, which began tearing into the Southeast and Midwest in April, are spurring some Lipscomb students to get involved in the recovery. Others feel personally touched or wonder how they can help. There already had been plenty of violent weather and destructive storms before April 27, when the worst tornado outbreak in decades tore into Mississippi and then cut a deadly swath across Alabama before slamming into a few counties in East Tennessee. Alabama’s destruction and death toll was the worst — a huge section of Tuscaloosa, home of the Crimson Tide — was erased from the earth. Other, smaller towns were virtually wiped out. On May 6, a group of LU students traveled to Arab, Ala., to help storm victims there. Many students in Memphis know how dangerous flooding has been and how it could get worse as it moves down through the delta and toward New Orleans. Brandy Richardson, a sophomore in missions from Memphis, said that there are shelters in several areas of the Bluff City. “My church is a Red Cross shelter right now,” she said. “There’s been lots of help with that for displaced families.” Richardson said she thinks the flooding is mainly in north and northwest Memphis but also downtown and areas outside the city. “Pray for those parts of the city,” Richardson said. “I feel like Nashville is able to recover a lot quicker. There’s a lot more means to recover. The areas [of...
by Emily Snell | Apr 29, 2011 | News Slider
Many Lipscomb students will compete in the 12th annual Country Music Marathon this Saturday. Lumination Network spoke with three of them. Katie Connell, Julia Shrewsbury and Jordan Lewis will all be running the half marathon– some as first-timers and others as veterans. Shrewsbury, a sophomore in organizational communication and public relations, said this is her first time to participate in a marathon event. “I’m very nervous,” Shrewsbury said. “I’ve never actually run the full 13 [miles] yet. The most I’ve run is 10, and at 10, I’m hurting.” Connell, a senior psychology major from Knoxville, Tenn., thinks that the training is the hardest part of running the marathon. “[Training] is definitely the hardest part, and making sure you stick to it,” Connell said. “If you don’t [train], then you won’t perform well at all in the marathon and you will be miserable.” Connell and Lewis ran the half marathon last year and are hoping to finish with a faster time this year. “I enjoy setting a goal and accomplishing it,” Lewis said. “I really just love being outside and exercising.” The two said they hope to finish the race in two hours. Shrewsbury, from Lake Placid, Fla., has a different goal in mind being a first-time half marathon runner. “I just want to be able to say that I did one,” Shrewsbury said. “I don’t have a set goal, I just don’t want to walk.” The race boasts more than 20,000 participants each year, and Lewis, a junior in nursing from Chattanooga, Tenn., said that’s one aspect she really enjoys. “It was just really beautiful to watch that many...
by Emily Snell | Apr 15, 2011 | News Slider
Nearly 700 people gathered in Allen Arena for the 37th annual Tennessee Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning. Gov. Bill Haslam spoke at the event, which was his first appearance at Lipscomb as governor. The president of World Vision, Richard Stearn, was the keynote speaker. Melinda Doolittle, a Christian recording artist and former American Idol contestant, performed, as did the Nashville Choir. “We hope this event will motivate us to pray,” said Joey Ivey, chair of the Citizens’ Committee. The committee plans everything prior to and during the breakfast. It is made up of 41 men and women—pastors, business professionals, community members and political leaders. According to the Tennessee Prayer Breakfast’s website, the purpose of the breakfast is “to seek the blessing of Almighty God for our governor, general assembly, the judiciary and others in positions of leadership throughout the State of Tennessee.” The Soul Choir opened the event by singing a song saying, “Lord, we need you to show up.” Ivey then welcomed the attendees, recognized the sponsors and said the opening prayer. The first few minutes of the meal were filled with musical performances by Dan Oxley and the Nashville Choir. Beth Harwell, Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, read from Philippians 2. Chaplain (Major) Thomas J. Faichney prayed for government leaders, drawing attention to the government’s role to humbly execute justice under God’s authority, rather than as a substitute for God. He asked for “grace, teachability, selflessness, joy, peace and love” on behalf of federal and state leaders. David Perry prayed on behalf of families, asking for “a spirit of reconciliation.” He prayed that family members would...
