by Hannah Cron | Dec 30, 2020 | Arts and Entertainment, News, News Slider
They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but for Taylor Swift, it most certainly does. A mere five months after releasing her critically acclaimed surprise album folklore, Taylor Swift returned with another surprise album, evermore. Much like folklore, evermore was created in collaboration with Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner of the band The National and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Additional writing on both albums is credited to William Bowery, which was revealed to be a pseudonym for Swift’s boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn. The album is a continuation of many of the themes and musical styles featured prominently on folklore. Standout Tracks: “champagne problems” Like many of the songs on evermore, “champagne problems” sees Swift craft an intricate fictional narrative rather than recount a personal experience. This piano-driven track takes on the perspective of a character who has just rejected a proposal and laments all of the hurt this has inevitably caused their former partner, despite believing it best in the long run. I love the way that the lyrics of the last chorus change to explain all of the ways that someone else will succeed in all of the places the narrator failed. Taylor Swift’s writing is often most effective in the simplest form, led by just guitar or piano, and “champagne problems” is no exception. I have seen others compare this song to Swift’s fan-favorite track “All Too Well,” but it reminds me more of the piano ballad “New Year’s Day” off of her 2017 album reputation. Regardless, “champagne problems” is simultaneously modern and classic, further ensuring that Swift’s work will last the test...
by Mckenzi Harris | Dec 27, 2020 | BREAKING NEWS, News, News Slider
UPDATE: Authorities have identified a suspect of the bombing on Christmas Day in Nashville — Anthony Quinn Warner of Antioch, Tennessee. “There’s no indication presently that anyone else was involved,” said Metro Police Chief John Drake. Christmas in Nashville isn’t as residents expected. Many residents woke up to an explosion at 6:30 am. Police were called to check out a suspicious RV parked outside a nearby AT&T building near Second Avenue and Commerce Street before 6 a.m. The Nashville police department put out this release this morning. There have been three minor injuries reported, but no major injuries or fatalities. The FBI has now taken over the investigation. “Were putting everything we have into finding who is responsible for what’s happened here today,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt Foster in the first Metro Police Department briefing. There have been an estimated 20 buildings damaged from the explosion. “MNPD, FBI, and ATF are investigating today’s intentional 6:30 a.m. explosion of an RV outside 166 2nd Avenue North downtown. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic downtown is restricted as the investigation continues. Officers responded to shots fired call on 2nd Avenue at approximately 5:30 a.m. The department’s Hazardous Devices Unit was called to check the RV. As those officers were en route, the vehicle exploded outside an A-T-&-T transmission building. Multiple buildings on 2nd Avenue were damaged, some extensively. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.” Lumination will continue to update you as more information is released. Photo courtesy of...
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 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 Lumination Staff | Dec 18, 2020 | News, News Slider, Opinion
Tim Ghianni, adjunct professor/journalist-in-residence, asked his Multimedia Storytelling class to choose one word that best described this unusual semester and then explain it. Some needed more than one word. Other students may see a bit of themselves in the following short essays: Unmotivating & Exhausting Don’t get me wrong, this semester has definitely not been all bad. But I think we can all admit, COVID sucks! It has been hard to focus on school work with everything going on, and a lot of times I have felt completely drained. Sometimes I even get the “what’s the point attitude?” Which really sucks. I have had ups and downs with motivation— some days I’m eager to work, and on others work is the last thing on my mind. It feels like we were go-go-going without being able to take a break or even a breath. Pretty much all of my teachers have been understanding, which I really appreciate. This semester has not been an easy one… But it has been one to appreciate the smaller moments of joy in between all the doom and gloom stuff. Hopefully, this will be a season of being more grateful, humble, and understanding than ever before! I like to think something good will come out of all this. -Josephine Ballard Blessed When I think of the semester that is coming to a close in hindsight, my word is blessed. When I think of the moments that were difficult, I would say overwhelming, but when I think about how those two things work together, I think that I feel lucky. At the beginning of the semester,...
by Camryn Given | Dec 18, 2020 | News, News Slider
Earlier this semester, an email went out to all students planning to study abroad next semester as part of Lipscomb’s Global Learning program. Although disappointing, the announcement it contained may not have come as a surprise to all. The email stated that global learning will be canceled for next spring, given a couple of different reasons. In the statement Provost, W. Craig Bledsoe said, “all of our semester-long study abroad host countries are limiting or restricting entrance from residents of other nations and have Level 3 US Department of State travel advisory status.” Costa Rica, London, Vienna, and Florence are the locations available for semester-long study abroad, which are the locations referred to. The next ground for calling off Global Learning was the other risk factors that have arisen out of the global pandemic and the numbers not yet dropping. “I know this is disappointing to you as it is to all of us at Lipscomb,” said Bledsoe. This may have been the second time that some students have gotten this news, considering that Global Learning was already canceled for the fall of this year. For the students who are worried about what the next semester will look like now, Bledsoe states, “we have a dedicated team to work with you to help you register for spring classes and to reserve appropriate dorm space, if needed.” As for the students who were the recipients of this news, they will be able to remain in their current housing location and keep their meal plan, as well as priority for the next group of global learners. Bledsoe added, “We have some...
