by Kelsey Durnin | Mar 28, 2011 | News Slider
The second annual Operation Yellow Ribbon event will be this Tuesday, Mar. 29 at 7 p.m. in Allen Arena. “We hope this inspiring evening of stories and songs will do three things,” said David Hughes, assistant dean of students and director of the Yellow Ribbon Program. “We want it to raise awareness about the Yellow Ribbon Program, honor the military and veterans and help raise funds to support Yellow Ribbon.” General Tommy Franks, who is also the author of New York Times bestseller American Soldier, will be the keynote speaker again this year. General Franks spoke at last year’s Operation Yellow Ribbon on the importance of family, faith and flag and will be delivering a message just as strong this time around. Hughes describes him as a dynamic speaker who can “have you in stitches one minute, then crying the next.” The event’s evening benefit concert has been arranged by the Charlie Daniels Band production team absolutely free of charge to show their support for the military. “Without the Charlie Daniels Band production team this event would not happen,” Hughes said. “They are that integral to this.” The benefit concert will feature acoustic performances by Charlie Daniels, Wynonna Judd, Montgomery Gentry and the Grascals. Hughes says, however, this will be much more than a concert as each performer will also be telling stories. Funds raised by the event will go to support the Yellow Ribbon Program, which has been established at Lipscomb since on Aug, 1, 2009. This program is part of a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs which allows veterans to pursue an education at public or private...
by Kelsey Durnin | Mar 25, 2011 | News Slider
The second annual Operation Yellow Ribbon event will be this Tuesday, Mar. 29 at 7 p.m. in Allen Arena. “We hope this inspiring evening of stories and songs will do three things,” said David Hughes, assistant dean of students and director of the Yellow Ribbon Program. “We want it to raise awareness about the Yellow Ribbon Program, honor the military and veterans and help raise funds to support Yellow Ribbon.” General Tommy Franks, who is also the author of New York Times bestseller American Soldier, will be the keynote speaker again this year. General Franks spoke at last year’s Operation Yellow Ribbon on the importance of family, faith and flag and will be delivering a message just as strong this time around. Hughes describes him as a dynamic speaker who can “have you in stitches one minute, then crying the next.” The event’s evening benefit concert has been arranged by the Charlie Daniels Band production team absolutely free of charge to show their support for the military. “Without the Charlie Daniels Band production team this event would not happen,” Hughes said. “They are that integral to this.” The benefit concert will feature acoustic performances by Charlie Daniels, Wynonna Judd, Montgomery Gentry and the Grascals. Hughes says, however, this will be much more than a concert as each performer will also be telling stories. Funds raised by the event will go to support the Yellow Ribbon Program, which has been established at Lipscomb since Aug, 1, 2009. This program is part of a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs which allows veterans to pursue an education at public or...
by Kelsey Durnin | Mar 21, 2011 | News Slider
A recently increasing level of violence at Middle Tennessee State Unievrsity has resulted in injuries, deaths and growing concern among students. Lara Kaplan, a senior from Brentwood majoring in foreign languages at MTSU, has been attending the school since 2006 and, initially, did not feel unsafe on campus. However, the school began the Rave Emergency Alert System that notifies students of potential safety threats via text messages and e-mails, consisting of everything from false alarm reports to the recent stabbing of Tina Stewart. This program has created awareness of the violence that has become more and more apparent. Former MTSU student Josh Gross, who attended the university from 2009-2010 says he received these violence alert messages about once a week. “It was somewhat comforting because the messages were pretty specific about the what, who and where,” Gross said. “But there seemed to be a lot more issues off campus in the student apartments.” Kaplan finds it hard to believe the violence didn’t exist prior to the program, but does believe it has definitely instilled more fear in people knowing that these things were going on. “There has always been violence to some degree in Murfreesboro,” Kaplan said. “But now there have been two shootings, a stabbing, a burglary and shots fired all within a month.” Former Lipscomb student and current MTSU student Anna Taylor doesn’t feel nearly as safe on the campus in Murfreesboro as she did when she attended school in Nashville. “At MTSU, I feel as though I am constantly checking my surroundings while making my usual 15 minute walk to class,” Taylor said. “I could probably...
by Kelsey Durnin | Mar 7, 2011 | News Slider
This year’s Singarama production holds promises of measurement-inspired music and dancing. Themed For Good Measure, the three groups performing are individually were given the measures of Distance, Time and Temperature. Distance is a show made up of members of Delta Xi, Delta Nu, Delta Omega, Delta Tau, Pi Delta and friends. Group director Emily Sullivan, a junior social work major from Franklin, Tenn., says she couldn’t be more excited about her team. “They are making me so proud,” Sullivan said. Practices began this past Monday and so far the group has been working primarily on dance routines. “Once we get our leads and solos figured out, we’ll be running lines and practicing singing, too,” Sullivan said. “But for now we’re just dancing.” Their part of the production will feature a Gilligan’s Island shipwreck-type plot and feature songs by everyone from the Beatles to music from Glee. Although, as director Sullivan must be able to coordinate schedules, manage budgets and many other tasks, she loves multitasking and has been able to keep everything together. “I’m expecting my limits to be pushed,” Sullivan said. “But I am blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful team who are all putting forth a 100% effort. I couldn’t ask for more!” Time is the show with probably the most students participating– possibly over 100– including members of Gamma Xi, Phi Sigma, Sigma Iota Delta and friends. Morgan Philley, group director, is a senior marketing major from Pope, Miss. Philley says Singarama is one of the most unique experiences she has had at Lipscomb. “No one is required to be a part of it,...
by Kelsey Durnin | Feb 24, 2011 | News Slider
The co-founder of a Cambodian development center will be speaking in women’s chapel on Thursday. Nguon Chancha will be speaking in Shamblin Theater about the challenges, successes and future plans of the Stung Treng Women’s Development Center (SWDC) and its nonprofit organization Mekong Blue. For the past nine years, the Stung Treng Women’s Development Center (SWDC) and its nonprofit organization Mekong Blue have directly aided over 800 men, women and children. Over 80 percent of Cambodia is impoverished and living without adequate access to clean water, education, health facilities or employment opportunities. Further, the SWDC and Mekong Blue website states that 37% of Cambodians are illiterate. However, the women of SWDC have made a big difference in the Stung Treng region and particularly the Sre Po village with their efforts to fight illiteracy and poverty. The Mekong Blue non-profit organization started making scarves in 2002 and has allowed many to use their talents and traditions, work in fair labor and provide a better life for their families just by weaving scarves from silk. According to BlueSilk.org, the scarves are individually hand-woven, “singular works of art.” They are constructed from 100% pure silk and then dyed from an assortment of bright colors, each scarf taking up to three weeks to complete. The website regards these scarves as “fashion statements of courage.” They are available in 15 different designs that range from casual to chic, although all are of high quality. This variety allows Mekong Blue to accommodate most customers, as the scarves make great accessories for almost any occasion. While scarves will be available for viewing on Thursday, and are...
