by Aaron Schmelzer | Nov 12, 2012 | Uncategorized
Over the past couple of years, social media and technology have reached an all-time high in daily usage. Many forms of technology are available almost everywhere via smartphones and laptops–including school classrooms. Because of this increase, teachers are struggling to keep the attention of their tech-savy students. At Lipscomb, technology can be found in many classrooms. While some professors utilize the media in capacities like Internet searches or PowerPoint presentations, there are still some that enjoy having no media in the classroom. Alan Bradshaw, chair of the physics department at Lipscomb, prefers for students’ laptops to stay in their backpacks. “It bugs the fire out of me when people use computers and cell phones in my class,” Bradshaw said. He is not completely against using technology, though. Bradshaw explained that he uses Lipscomb’s online blackboard to send questions to students so they can prepare for the lecture the next day. “I started doing this thing this year with my college physics class where I’ll do what’s called a JIT (Just In Time) quiz,” Bradshaw said. “They’re due the night before class, and it’ll be two very simple questions about what we’re going to cover in class and then a question that says, ‘What would you like to see covered in class?’ So, I can go through those and kind of get an idea of where everybody is. I like that a lot.” Bradshaw also explained that it is difficult to use technology in his classes because physics is a hard subject to teach using media. There are plenty of other subjects that provide the opportunity to use technology. One of these...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Sep 12, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
For Kaycee Green, the Lady Bison’s volleyball game on Aug. 31 against Appalachian State was certainly one to remember. Entering that Friday’s game, Green was only two kills away from reaching the 1,000 mark. After finally reaching the milestone, Green recorded 12 more kills. Head Coach Brandon Rosenthal said he believes the achievement speaks volumes to Green’s talent. “There’s only a couple of girls at Lipscomb that have done that, and I’m happy Kaycee is a part of that,” Rosenthal said. “I love the fact that we’re able to add her to that group.” Green, a senior from Cookeville, Tenn., majoring in education, is number three in school history for the most kills in a career. “I didn’t think it’d take me this long; I was hoping I would do it earlier,” Green said light-heartedly. Green said she believes her commitment has led her to this point. “It took a lot of hard work, and I’m glad I finally got there,” she said. “I still want to get more. The work’s never done.” Statistics aren’t the only thing that has earned Kaycee Green recognition. The outside hitter is also the only senior on the Lady Bisons volleyball team. “It’s a little intimidating,” she said. “I have a lot more responsibility, and to take it on all by myself is kind of frustrating, hard at times. But I like it because all the girls respect me, so it’s not bad at all.” “I tried to take on some of it last year because I knew it was going to happen. I was a big leader in my high school team,...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Aug 28, 2012 | Opinion, Sports
Jake Locker was named the Tennessee Titans’ starting quarterback over veteran Matt Hasselbeck on Monday, Aug. 20. It was no surprise to many fans, as the Titans drafted Locker with the 8th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Many thought that Locker might oust Hasselbeck for the starting job last season, but Hasselbeck kept the job. The veteran QB had a pretty good season in 2011, so Locker had to compete for this season’s head quarterback position – unlike most first round quarterbacks nowadays. The Titans have the 28th ranked schedule in the NFL, play four playoff teams from last season and face seven potential playoff teams. How Locker will play this year is a big topic of discussion leading up to the Titans’ opener against the New England Patriots on Sept. 9. As far as making progress is concerned, Jake Locker benefitted greatly from sitting behind Hasselbeck last season. In hindsight, sitting Locker during his rookie year was probably best for the future of the Titans organization because, thankfully for Locker, he wasn’t being thrown into a fire early on in his career. The skills Locker learned from Hasselbeck definitely showed in the quarterback’s second preseason start. During last Thursday night’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, Locker completed 11 out of 20 passes for 134 yards and two touchdown passes – one to Kendall Wright and another to Nate Washington. Throughout the game, Locker showed great poise in the heat of pressure. ESPN NFL Analyst Trent Dilfer commented on Locker’s progress during the game. To paraphrase, “Jake Locker has shown a great ability in pure progression. He goes...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Apr 4, 2012 | Opinion
Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series about factors that influence oil prices. The age old question about gas prices doesn’t have a simple answer. The amount you pay at the pump is influenced by classic economic concepts of supply and demand, as well as other factors like the difficulty of maintaining old refineries or opening new ones. Other issues that affect oil prices are international conflict and debate about ethics and the environment. International problems If you have been paying attention to international news at all within the past year, it is certain that you have heard about the ‘Arab Spring’ movement in the Middle East. The rebellion that started because a man immolated himself in Tunisia in response to oppressive government rule has swept across the Middle East. The oil supply is more uncertain because of government instability in the region. The U.S. is very dependent on foreign oil. Sixteen percent of U.S. oil comes from the Persian Gulf, according to Consumer Energy Report. The main countries in the Persian Gulf where the U.S. obtains its oil are Saudia Arabia, Yemen and Iraq. On a side note, 21 percent of U.S. oil comes from Africa. Nigeria and Algeria are among those nations in Africa that are major oil producers. Unfortunately, some African nations do not have much stability at the moment either. There are frequent clashes between Hausa-speaking Muslims and Christian members of other ethnic groups in several Nigerian cities such as Jos. The most recent was on Feb. 6 when a suicide bomber from the radical Islamic group Boko Haram targeted a church in...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Apr 3, 2012 | Opinion
Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series about factors that influence oil prices. I do not like going to the gas station. My car is one of my biggest expenses even when you discount the price of gasoline. I was nearly in pain when I saw a price of $3.61 per gallon the other day. Gas prices climbed nearly every day for the past month and a half. This nation is now nearing the infamous national average of $4.11 that was reached in 2008. To go and just say oil prices are high may or may not be a true statement. We need a level or a benchmark of economic comparison to truly say oil prices are high. According to a chart from the U.S. Energy Administration, the national gas price average has been under $3.40 for at least the past 6 years. I would say that when the price of a commodity goes above a 5-year national average it becomes ‘too high.’ It’s easy for us to discount that rising oil prices are due to speculators. It’s not just speculators, however. Speculators play a small role in determining prices when compared to the much bigger roles that supply and demand play. “Speculation goes both ways,” said Dr. Richard Grant, professor and chair of the Department of Finance and Economics, “speculators cannot drive up prices independently of real activities without risking reversal.” In other words, speculators invest to make a profit. If they expect prices to rise, they buy. If they expect prices to fall, they sell. If speculators bid prices up, they also serve to...
