by Kathryn Farris | Jan 6, 2021 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider, Politics
As Congress met the afternoon of Jan. 6 to certify the victory of President-Elect Joe Biden, thousands of pro-Trump protesters stormed past barricades and police officers in a fruitless effort to stop the certification of Biden’s victory. Four protesters died during the assault on democracy. They stormed the Capitol after a “pep talk” by Trump earlier in the day that encouraged the MAGA-hat-wearing throngs to take their protest to the Capitol, where Congress and the vice president — against Trump orders — continued to do their jobs, as defined by the Constitution. When the masses breached the Capitol by breaking windows and doors and injuring Capitol police, Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the count, was swept to a secure location alongside members of the Senate and House. Thousands of President Trump’s supporters were in D.C. for Wednesday’s “Save America” rally, objecting to Biden’s November victory. Trump, who has yet to admit that he lost by a landslide, encouraged the “faithful” to gather in Washington. He spoke to the gathering earlier in the day, his comments including attacks on Congress and on Pence, who had declined Trump’s directive to illegally invalidate votes. Nashville-Area Rep. Jim Cooper as well as Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator-Elect Bill Hagerty reported to the media, during the melee, that they were safe. My staff and I are currently safe. This is a dark day for America. — Jim Cooper (@repjimcooper) January 6, 2021 Senator Blackburn, a fervent supporter of Trump and Wednesday’s protests, has condemned the actions of the mob. At least 25 Capitol police were injured when trying to protect...
by Kathryn Farris | Dec 25, 2020 | BREAKING NEWS, News, News Slider
Early Christmas morning, many Nashville residents were awakened by the sound of an “intentional” explosion in the Broadway area. In the moments following, Metro Police and Nashville Fire Department attempted to piece together the source and reason for the explosion, which has since been tied to an RV parked near the AT&T Building. “It is hard to see so much glass, litter, damage and debris,” said Nashville’s Mayor John Cooper in a press conference to reporters. “It looks like a blast site, which is hard to see on one of our historic streets.” Investigations from local law enforcement found a recording, broadcasted from the RV, that warned of a bomb in the vehicle up to 15 minutes prior to the blast. The warning gave time for police to request a bomb squad and evacuate the area, sparing many lives. Three people were eventually hospitalized for non-threatening injuries, and possible human remains have now been discovered at the site, but it remains to be seen if these remains are those of a victim or a suspect. Mayor Cooper declared the city under a state of civil emergency in the areas around James Robertson Parkway, Fourth Avenue North, Broadway and the Cumberland River. This action enacts a curfew in the area that goes into effect 4:30 p.m. Friday and is set to be lifted Sunday, December 27 at 4:30 p.m. I have signed Executive Order 12 to issue a state of civil emergency proclaimed within the area bounded by James Robertson Parkway, 4th Ave north, Broadway and the Cumberland River. A curfew will start at 4:30pm, Friday Dec 25. and be...
by Kathryn Farris | Dec 21, 2020 | COVID-19, News Slider, Uncategorized
As the beginning of the semester looms near, Lipscomb has made adjustments to its upcoming calendar in order to maximize student and faculty safety as COVID case numbers rise. Among these changes is a delayed spring break, online final exams and three periodic “Bison Breaks”. “With another semester on the horizon, we draw upon our experiences and lessons learned in the fall that help us prepare for a spring in which the COVID-19 virus will continue to impact our community,” said Lipscomb’s Incident Management Team in an email to students on Dec. 18. “We are planning for another exceptional on-campus student experience this spring —one that will be enriching, fulfilling and life-changing as well as one for the history books.” Lipscomb’s Bison Breaks will occur on the following days: Feb. 10 March 2 March 25 Spring Break is scheduled to take place April 12-16 and is set to be immediately followed by undergraduate classes transitioning to a remote format for the remainder of the semester. These changes are being made as the CDC ranks Tennessee as one of the worst states for COVID cases per capita after the post-Thanksgiving surge. “If we have another surge over Christmas, it will break our hospitals,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercy in a news conference on Dec. 20. In response to this case surge, Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee announced an executive order limiting indoor gatherings to ten people and encouraging Tennesseans to keep holiday gatherings to just those in their household. Executive Order 70 pic.twitter.com/ly2CuE8X1Z — Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) December 21, 2020 Lipscomb’s return to campus plan states that the university will continue to...
by Kathryn Farris | Dec 20, 2020 | News, News Slider
Throughout the semester, graduates and faculty optimistically hoped for the return of an in-person commencement. However, as COVID cases spiked throughout the nation, Lipscomb made the call for December’s ceremony to yet again go full online. Through this online format, faculty congratulated students and gave words of encouragement as their time at Lipscomb comes to a close. “The world around you has been difficult: the worldwide pandemic, the disruption of your work, the transition to online learning, the greater demands of family and just getting through the day,” said Lipscomb President Randy Lowry to graduates on the livestreamed ceremony. “But in spite of all of those challenges you did it. We’ve congratulated you today because you deserve it.” Lipscomb awarded 168 undergrad and 250 graduate degrees during the ceremony that echoed past traditions, including a reading of every graduate’s name, recorded messages from Lipscomb faculty and the signature sound of Nashville Pipes & Drums. Among the names of graduates is Lipscomb’s first graduating class in the School of Physician Assistant Studies. The 33 students are making history as the first-ever graduates to receive the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from Lipscomb University. In his final remarks, President Lowry expressed his hopes for the December 2020 grads by saying “I hope you leave with a sense of compassion for the world. Understanding how privileged you are, how rich you are, how educated you are, and how compassionate you can be for those that have not had those opportunities, I hope you leave with a sense of always doing, or at least trying to do the right thing whatever your...
by Kathryn Farris | Dec 15, 2020 | News Slider, Politics
After a tumultuous election season, the country’s 538 electors met Monday to formally cast their votes for the next President. Former Vice President Joe Biden has officially surpassed the 270 votes needed to secure the presidency and is on his way to meet his projected total of 306 votes, defeating the incumbent President Trump. President-Elect Biden maintained his victory with votes from the key swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Arizona. “It was like waking up on Christmas morning!” says nursing major Sarah Feldman on the moment she realized Biden was set to become the next President. “Biden isn’t perfect, but I have a glimmer of hope for our future now, and hope he keeps his promise of uniting both parties. We are a nation divided and I believe the president should bring people together, not tear them apart.” “I’m looking forward to the next four years as a stepping-stone to more progressive policies,” says Lizzy Bailey, a member of the Lipscomb chapter of democratic socialists. Bailey is relieved for Biden’s victory over Trump but remains hesitant on his policies. She says “I don’t expect a Biden administration to fulfill the American people’s needs. But on a social level, Trumps defeat makes America feel a little safer for minorities in my opinion…and we plan on holding Biden accountable in the same way we criticized Trump.” Despite tensions throughout the country over unsupported claims of voter fraud and President Trump’s numerous court cases, the electoral process moved smoothly with little to no conflict. President Trump has yet to concede but the timer is running low for other Republicans who haven’t yet acknowledged...
