by Emily Snell | Aug 14, 2012 | News Slider
Students who complained about leaving too many flex dollars unspent at year’s end along with a survey that showed a desire for more options are in part responsible for Sodexo’s big changes planned for the new school year. “It was actually a collective decision,” said Wolcott Fary, Sodexo general manager, explaining that the changes “came partially from a survey that was done last year…the result being the addition of unlimited options and redirecting of the flex money and adding the dining dollars to get to a point where you had more options…that most likely would fit a broader range of students.” Students who are willing to sacrifice some of their flex dollars can sign up for one of three “Bison All Access” meal plans, which offer unlimited meals in the dining room along with flex dollars in the amount of either $400, $200 or $0, with the cheapest option. “The unlimited meal plans give students more flexibility in the dining room, thinking that the dining room is the primary usage area, and that’s where they’re going to take the bulk of their meals,” Fary said. “The dining dollars then, in place of the flex, give the students the opportunity to supplement their late hour needs for food and their Saturday needs for food when the dining room would either be closed, after hours, or typically on Saturday’s is not open at all.” Elizabeth Wilson, Sodexo’s marketing coordinator, said students, university officials and Sodexo were displeased with the old system which left students with too many unspent –and wasted – flex dollars at the end of the year. “That was...
![[Photos] Student center, other renovations almost complete](http://luminationnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG_0341-300x2241.jpg)
by Emily Snell | Aug 8, 2012 | News Slider
Renovations to the student center, including adding Auntie Anne’s and Zebi along with new tables, chairs, booths and flooring, are almost complete. As previously reported by Lumination, the university bookstore and Uncle Dave’s have moved to the lower level of the student center in the old Arlo’s location. Auntie Anne’s and Zebi, pictured below, are in the former bookstore space. There will also be a lounge area with new carpet, booth seating, extra tables and chairs, and a small performance stage in one corner. According to Tom Wood, director of campus enhancement, the food court area will have new floor tiles, and new tables and chairs by the time classes start. Wood said the changes will give “a wow effect.” “There’s a lot of interior improvements to the student center,” he said. “I think it will be something they will really enjoy. I think there are some great things happening in the student center.” Numerous changes have occurred on campus during the summer, including improvements to McFarland, the Student Activities Center, McQuiddy and Elam. Also, a new track, located at the high school football field, is almost complete, and according to Wood, it will fulfill NCAA requirements. Changes to the track included putting in drainage systems, new asphalt and even reconfiguring the track. The track’s new asphalt was poured about a week ago and has to sit for 30 days before the track surface can be put in place. “We had to reconfigure it because the previous track did not meet NCAA standards, so we changed some slopes and changed some lengths and things like that,” Wood said. “It’s been a pretty...
by Emily Snell | Aug 3, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Matthew Deery, an All-Atlantic Sun honoree for track and field who died Aug. 1, in a car wreck near his hometown, was remembered as “an incredible guy” by his friends and coaches at Lipscomb. “He’s the kind of guy that, if everybody was a little more like him, the world would be a better place,” said Houston Ward, Deery’s friend and a fellow rising sophomore, who participates in discus, shotput and hammer-throw on the track team. “Matt was a really great guy,” Ward said. “He was the kind of guy that would give you a ride to the airport, and you’d offer him cash and he’d turn it down. He always had a huge smile on his face. He was a goof ball, but he worked incredibly hard. He just had so many great qualities about him. It’s such a shame to see him go at such a young age.” Deery, a Phillipsburg, N.J. native, was killed Wednesday, Aug. 1, in Upper Nazareth Township, Penn., when his Jeep swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid a turning vehicle, colliding head-on with a tractor-trailer cab. Upper Nazareth Township Police Chief Alan Siegfried told Lumination the accident occurred when a Nissan Altima in front of Deery’s Jeep stopped to wait for an oncoming semitrailer to pass before making a left turn. Siegfried said it seemed apparent that Deery didn’t see the semitrailer and swerved to avoid the car in front of him, hitting the eastbound truck. Track and field Head Coach Bill Taylor said, according to Deery’s parents, the young athlete was on his way to practice pole vaulting, in preparation for...
by Emily Snell | Aug 2, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
It is with deep sadness that the Lipscomb University athletic department announces that rising sophomore Matt Deery, a track and field standout, lost his life in an automobile accident in Upper Nazareth Township, Pa., on Wednesday afternoon. An All-Atlantic Sun Conference honoree for the Bisons in just his first season of competition, Deery was honored by his teammates and coaches as “Freshman of the Year” and as the “Fightin’ Bison” award recipient given to the toughest competitor on the team. “Matt was an incredible athlete and an even more incredible person,” Lipscomb track and field Head Coach Bill Taylor said. “Everyone loved him. He was a smart, caring, likable guy. He was a gifted athlete, yet he was so humble. “It’s really hard to comprehend this right now. Matt was a wonderful person with a gigantic future. He is going to be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. I know our entire team is praying for his family, his friends and each other.” Deery became the first Lipscomb field athlete in school history to earn second-team all-conference honors at the A-Sun indoor championships this past season with a second-place pole vault of 4.55m (14’ 11”). The Philipsburg, N.J., native went on to earn a bronze medal in the heptathlon at the A-Sun meet earning 4,889 points that set a school record. “We are obviously heartbroken for Matt’s family and friends, and I ask that you please be in prayer for comfort and peace all of those who will be grieving over his loss,” said Lipscomb Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson. “Matt was a very special student athlete and...
by Emily Snell | Jul 30, 2012 | News Slider
Students will notice some obvious changes to campus when they return in August, as most of the summer enhancement projects wrap up in the next few weeks. Tom Wood, director of campus enhancement, said he thinks the improvements will have “the wow effect.” Besides the addition of Lipscomb’s nursing building on the north side of campus, transformation of the student center will be one of the most major changes students may notice. The university bookstore and Uncle Dave’s have moved to the lower level of the student center in the old Arlo’s location. Auntie Anne’s and Zebi will be in the former bookstore space. There will also be a lounge area with new carpet, booth seating, extra tables and chairs, and a small performance stage in one corner. According to Wood, the food court area will have new floor tiles, and new tables and chairs by the time classes start. “There’s a lot of interior improvements to the student center,” he said. “I think it will be something they will really enjoy. I think there are some great things happening in the student center.” The nursing building is on schedule to be ready for the fall semester, Wood said, and will be an “exciting” thing for the university and the nursing program. “It’s really going to enhance our nursing program tremendously,” he said. “We have 120 nursing students who will be studying in there this fall, so that’s a big improvement over last year’s enrollment in nursing. I think that will continue to grow.” Students living in Elam can look forward to renovations in that dorm. Wood said the rooms...
