by Kathryn Farris | May 14, 2020 | COVID-19, News, News Slider
Ever since the close of the spring semester, uncertainty has been in the air over the slowly approaching fall semester. Lipscomb announced its intention to move ahead on the fall semester; however, what that will look like depends on a variety of factors in the coming months. “The challenge is really how do you figure out how to bring 1,500 people back and live in dorms two to a room and use a common bathroom down the hall and take care of those that might get sick along the way,” said President Randy Lowry in a video call to faculty on May 7. A return to campus would come with potential adjustments, due to the spread of COVID-19 across the country. “The No. 1 concern will be our health security,” said Lowry, announcing his intentions to appoint a new director of Health and Wellness. Lipscomb follows in the steps of several other colleges and universities, each grappling with the impact of COVID-19. “We also are planning to be able to open not just the middle of August, but also right after Labor Day, and also the first of October,” Lowry said. “Students generally are not going to change their plans, especially if we have through the summer done all the things we’re trying to do to connect with them. They can tolerate three weeks online before we open the door.” Another possible plan mentioned by Lowry was an early finish before Thanksgiving. “Now, that may sound kind of screwy, but that’s a 12-week period of time,” Lowry said. “It’s essentially what a quarter would be in the other system....
by Kathryn Farris | Apr 13, 2020 | News, News Slider, Student Spotlight
Election season has once again made its way to Lipscomb’s campus; however, this year campaigning is being done in an electronic format. SGA is hosting their elections for the 2020-2021 school year Tuesday, April 14; polling will be conducted via email for the offices of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer as well as tenators. “I really wish I could be with you guys in person,” said Mimi Vance in her campaign video to students. Vance is running uncontested for the office of SGA president. “If I’m elected my top priority and number one goal will be to listen to you guys,” Vance said in her video directed towards students. “I think SGA can do a lot better on being transparent with our student body, to me that looks like using social media a lot better…using our blog and website better…as well as thorough recaps of all our meetings to be posted.” One commitment Vance is aiming towards is creating open-door office hours to encourage transparency, which has become a popular issue among SGA candidates. “The vice president must communicate clearly, keep discussions open and clear and be a leader on campus for those whose voices need to be represented.” Says vice president candidate Will Huff. The running for vice president is high contested this year. Alongside Huff, the candidates are Nate Messer, Patrick Smith, and Dexter Woods. The election will take place between the hours of 9 am to 3 pm CST. Students will be emailed a ballot by election day morning. For more information and campaign videos from those running for office, check out the email sent from the...
by Kathryn Farris | Apr 12, 2020 | COVID-19, News, News Slider, Politics
In an era of deadly pandemic-spurred social distancing and mandated hibernation, the 2020 presidential election seems to have been moved to the back burner. Concern over how to best campaign for national and local elections amid a global pandemic has been the subject of debate among Democrats and Republicans. Manny Sethi — a Republican first-time candidate running for Tennessee’s open Senate seat that’s being vacated by Sen. Lamar Alexander, who is retiring — said he misses the world of full-on rallies and public forums. Sethi spoke with the Nashville Scene on the loss of person-to-person style campaigning due to the virus. “What we’re trying to do is recreate that feeling through these virtual town halls,” he is quoted as telling the Scene. Virtual campaigning is becoming a popular solution for those running for office. Joe Biden — who is going to be the Democratic nominee after he overwhelmed Bernie Sanders on Super Tuesday, spurring the latter to drop out — has been implementing virtual roundtables via live streams. Each of the “roundtables” cater to specific voter demographics. They also feature guests alongside Biden via remote video calls. “In some ways, this is the world that every digital person in every digital story you’ve ever written has said would come,” Biden digital director Rob Flaherty told BuzzFeed News. “We were just focused on getting him out there as soon as we could get him out there.” For President Trump, the halt on traditional campaigning is playing to his favor. As the sitting President, Trump’s coronavirus press conferences are broadcast daily and draw high ratings (averaging 8.5 million viewers). What stands in Trump’s way is the...
by Kathryn Farris | Mar 17, 2020 | COVID-19, News Slider
Empty shelves and out-of-stock signs line the aisles of local supermarkets and stores after the coronavirus pandemic began hitting Tennessee hard, with numbers forecast to grow. And that’s not to mention special locations, like Friedman’s Army Navy Outdoor Store on Hillsboro Road, where more-serious survival items are being scooped up. At the grocery stores, items like hand sanitizer and water bottles are all but gone as soon as they are placed on shelves as consumers load up on the items when they take time from their self-quarantines. Toilet paper is almost impossible to find, and in most grocery stores, the paper-goods aisle is either empty or contains a few scattered items. At places like the Publix in Brentwood’s Maryland Farms, kitchen sanitizing wipes are only in stock for moments, although customers now are limited to just two containers per visit. “As the rise in the number of cases and deaths started happening in China, a lot of people started seeing the writing on the wall,” says Nestor Ilagan, a sales associate at Friedman’s. Friedman’s has been open in Hillsboro Village since 1972. Its combination of military surplus and outdoor recreation has made it a popular destination for the getting ready for their isolation. However, Ilagan said that the recent spike in activity has been due to “panic preppers.” “‘Preppers’ typically will piecemeal their supplies together, get all that stuff over time,” he said. “Then you get what we call ‘panic preppers’ — people who buy everything at once.” At one point, Friedman’s carried pandemic preparedness kits, each containing hand sanitizer, respirators, masks and a pandemic information sheet. However, the...
by Kathryn Farris | Mar 3, 2020 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider
Nashville sustained significant damage early Tuesday morning, as a line of severe storms and a tornado hit the neighborhoods of Germantown and East Nashville. The tornado continued eastward to hit in Donelson and Hermitage before causing major damage in Mt. Juliet and moving across to Cookeville and Putnam County, where there was a devastating loss of life. The effects of the storm are being felt across Middle Tennessee and altering polling locations for voters in today’s election. Voters who normally are assigned to Hadley Park Community Center, Robert Churchwell Elementary, Centennial Park Art Center, Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church, or Union Hall 737 may vote at Pearl Cohn High School. Voters assigned to Hermitage Presbyterian, Dupont Tyler School, Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, Hermitage Community Center, TN School for the Blind or Two Rivers Middle School can vote at Donelson Presbyterian. Those assigned to vote at Ross Elementary, East Community Center, Shelby Community Center, Martha O’Brian or Cora Howe School may vote at Cleveland Community Center. Haynes Middle School will vote at Whites Creek Fire Station 25. Looby Community Center will vote at Northwest YMCA. Lead Brick Church Middle School will vote at Bellshire Elementary. Tuesday morning, Davidson and Wilson County polls were scheduled to open at 7 a.m. but were delayed until 8 a.m. Some were staying later than the normal 7 p.m. also, meaning Super Tuesday primary results will come in later than normal. Any other Davidson County voter whose assigned polling location was impacted can vote at the Election Commission Offices at 1417 Murfreesboro Pike or 800 Second Avenue S. For a full list of information to find your...
