by Mckenzi Harris | Oct 13, 2020 | COVID-19, News Slider
This week Lipscomb University saw an increase in positive COVID-19 cases. The school reported 85 tests were administered by the Lipscomb Health Center, and there were 13 positive tests with zero hospitalizations. Of the tests administered, 29 were employees, 57 were university students and 41 were academy students. The University website states that “the increase in the number of COVID tests this week is due to testing over 40 student-athletes in accordance with an NCAA COVID testing requirement.” “Last week we shared with you that while our fall semester started strong, we have been carefully watching our trends increase in the wrong direction in the last few weeks,” stated President Lowry in an email to the Lipscomb community this morning. “And, over the weekend and even into Monday’s daily reports, we have seen a continued and marked increase in the COVID-19 statistics among our community. As a matter of fact, we have seen a doubling of our total number in isolation and quarantine in the last three weeks.” As the weeks continue, the Lipscomb staff hopes for the number of COVID-19 cases to go down and continue efforts to manage the illness on campus. “While the Lipscomb community numbers are not a large percentage of our community, they are a concerning trend that if left unaddressed can very quickly result in the need for larger community-wide actions,” said Assistant Vice President of Public Relations and Communications, Kim Chaudoin. “Our goal is to take serious note of the increases on our campus and address them now while they are still manageable and generally a situation that we all can help...
by Mckenzi Harris | Oct 3, 2020 | COVID-19, News Slider
President Donald Trump announced from his social media that himself and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19. This happened shortly after white house advisor Hope Hicks tested positive, which is the reason that the President and First Lady were tested for coronavirus. The White House chief of staff confirmed that the President has mild symptoms. Joe and Jill Biden had themselves tested and both tested negative. The President has also stated that he will not continue campaigning at this moment. Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020 pic.twitter.com/B4H105KVSs — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020 This could mean a lot of things for the election trail as it is getting closer to November. Lipscomb Professor and Chair of History, Politics, and Philosophy Marc Schwerdt said that this could “potentially have a very negative impact on his re-election.” “If President Trump becomes incapacitated, it could be devastating for his election,” said Schwerdt. “The campaign would try to compensate with Vice President Pence. I suspect he will make as many virtual appearances as possible.” These appearances would most likely be done through various rallies, news conferences, speeches, or interviews. The current line of succession in the white house could also be affected by the President’s absence with the 25th amendment coming into play — which states who would fill in for the President if they are unable to perform their duties. This would be the first time the amendment is used since the Nixon...
by Mckenzi Harris | Aug 27, 2020 | COVID-19, News, News Slider
Lipscomb’s weekly COVID tracker indicates that seven of the 56 people tested last week by the campus health center were positive cases. None resulted in hospitalization. The New York Times College Tracker reported Wednesday that Lipscomb has had 60 cases of COVID-19, though that number is a bit deceiving, according to a university spokesperson. The Times had not contacted Lipscomb for its numbers, Kim Chaudoin, assistant vice president, public relations and communications, told Lumination Network. “We do not have 60 active cases of COVID,” Chaudoin said. “Because colleges report data differently, and because cases continued to emerge, even in the months when most campuses were closed, the Times is counting all reported cases since the start of the pandemic.” Chaudoin said she updates the campus COVID stats each Monday morning. The current page states that 37 Lipscomb students are in quarantine/isolation. That figure does not refer to the number of positive COVID cases, Chaudoin said. “Nor should the 37 number be construed to assume positive cases,” she said. “It refers to the number of students in either isolation (they have tested positive) or quarantine (they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive).” She added that the number of positive tests recorded each week is a combined total that includes academic and university employees and students. Chaudoin said that of the Times‘ cumulative number of 60 positive cases, 48 of those were from March 25 through Aug. 8, and 31 of that number were outside vendors working on-site in May. The week of Aug. 8 had five positive cases; adding the current listing of seven brings the total to 60 since...
by Mckenzi Harris | Aug 13, 2020 | Galleries, News, News Slider
While the focus has been on adapting to the challenges brought on by COVID-19, Lipscomb also has been plenty busy this summer with more construction than in the last 15 years. The campus has a new parking garage, updated residence halls, a new turf football field at the Academy, updates to academic buildings and there’s even a new Chick-fil-A. August 2020 was the deadline for a new “200-spot parking garage,” announced by President Randy Lowry in the 2018-19 convocation. “The parking garage will be finished on time,” said President Lowry in a recent interview with Lumination. And no only will it be done in time, but it has 400 spaces instead of the previously mentioned 200 spaces. “Most of the parking done by residential students in the Stokes area, behind Stokes School will be able to happen on campus,” said Lowry. “That’s a huge step forward in convenience and also maybe in security, although we don’t have major problems over there (at Stokes). “I hope that people like the looks of it, and if you don’t look twice, it looks like an academic building,” said Lowry. The outdated freshman women’s dorm, Elam, has been updated to bring it up to modern times. “It was built about 60 years ago. It was in need of not just a little fix-up, but we took it down to the concrete and built the entire thing back,” Lowry said. Students living in Elam will no longer have the traditionally styled community bathrooms but now have private communal baths. “We built back a series of private baths,” said Lowry. “You’ll have your own shower, sink,...
by Mckenzi Harris | Jul 14, 2020 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb men’s soccer has announced a new roster for the coming season, and the eyes of the coach were focused on ability to attack offensively. “We’ve historically been known as a team that has a really potent offense and some really dynamic attacking pieces,” said head coach Charles Morrow. The coaches were looking for more of that attacking force with this signing class, with high hopes to improve that sting in their offense. “In addition to filling some key positions like Ben Loche as our holding midfielder, that we lost last year, really the focus of this group was finding attacking players that could give us more of a threat in the attack and scoring goals,” said Morrow. “We’re really happy with the group that we got and the quality they bring as players and really excited with the quality of people that we’re seeing so far,” said Morrow. Here is more on the signing class and some of their notable achievements. Gerik Jakubowksi is a forward from Phoenix, Arizona. 1st-Team All-Region at Sunnyslope High School. He Led TSV Allershausen in assists, second in goals for a season. Won U16 State Cup Championship with Real Salt Lake AZ and he will be joining his brother Zarek Jakubowksi, an upcoming junior, on the Bisons roster. Austin Marfell is a winger from Warner Robins, Georgia. He is a first-team advanced to ECNL National Championship Final and a Team MVP for Houston County High School. Marfell is a two-year team captain and won the regional championship with HCHS. Marlon Grossman is a forward from Schwaebisch Gmueno, Germany. Grossman made 26 appearances in...
