by Marlee Vogel | Mar 23, 2011 | News Slider
Tornado season in Middle Tennessee means increasing threats from the skies here at Lipscomb. In fact, the university has continued to hone its security plans, even going so far as to install a new warning system that was tested out during spring break. So far, this campus has been lucky over the years.But others haven’t been. For example, just two years ago Union University, in Jackson, Tenn., sustained severe tornado damage: roofs torn off, dorms destroyed, buildings flooded. Fortunately, no lives were lost at Union due to the university’s tornado preparedness. Being safe during a tornado is crucially important, and here at Lipscomb it is taken very seriously. Recalling the recent hazardous weather conditions, do you remember the obnoxious siren that continued blaring even when Lipscomb had cleared the tornado warning? Whenever the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Davidson County, the city of Nashville activates the countywide sirens. However, Davidson County covers a very wide area, and the alarm is sounded when there is a tornado warning anywhere in the county. This can be confusing and misleading. Fortunately, Lipscomb is taking action to halt confusion and notify students of any immediate danger. That’s where the new warning system comes in. Lipscomb has installed an emergency tower and outdoor warning system on top of the Bennett Campus Center. If there is a tornado warning in the immediate area, there will be a recorded message notifying those on campus to seek shelter immediately. You will hear a siren and then the message notifying you of the emergency. This system was tested during spring break and is ready to help keep students...
by Marlee Vogel | Feb 9, 2011 | News Slider
The temperature may be dropping, but classes at Lipscomb are still hopping. Despite the snow and ice interruptions of the past two months – including the storm forecast to slam into Nashville today and tonight — Lipscomb rarely cancels classes and does not have an official snow policy. Instead, individual class cancellations are decided by professors. Some student say that no classes should be held if the conditions outside are hazardous. Some teachers may be able to tough out the storm, but the icy roads and dangerous precipitation may give some commuters a more difficult time. Students may have to choose whether to drive in hazardous conditions or risk falling behind in class. But, according to one top faculty member, there is no reason for students to risk harm. “Don’t put yourself in any danger,” said Steve Prewitt, literature professor and associate provost for Academic Affairs. “If you live off-campus, you should not try to get to my class if you don’t like driving on snow or ice or if you don’t feel confident.” In the faculty handbook, faculty members are given several methods of recapturing the material for students who are unable to make it to class. With all the different outlets of technology available to faculty and students, conveying information to students should not be a problem. However, the amount of faculty using these outlets is unknown. (Take our survey and let Lipscomb know about effective communication between professors and students.) When a snowstorm hits suddenly, communication has to be done in haste. Emails notifying students about class cancellations are usually sent the morning-of, which can cause much confusion for students....
