by Shelby Talbert | Feb 24, 2022 | News, News Slider
Lipscomb’s engineering college ended its Day of Giving with the second annual Rocket Car Rally. The first rally was in 2007, but the event took an extended hiatus, before reemerging last year. The tournament consisted of nine teams with 18 students participating. The event was put on by the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering and was spearheaded by Dr. Fort Gwinn Jr., associate dean. It was Gwinn who revitalized the event last year. “This year worked great,” Gwinn said, after this year’s Feb. 22 event, held in a parking garage. “It usually works better outside, but it was still good!” Originally meant to take place out front of the Fields Engineering Center, the event was moved under the cover of the nearby parking garage because of inclement weather. “The timing device made a big difference,” he said. “It eliminates any disputes, and it really made all the difference in the world.” Teams were instructed to pick team names and then begin making and decorating small cars to race during the rally that was a part of the Day of Giving celebration. The tournament worked through a bracket system until one car was awarded the grand prize. The event started strong as the eight teams went up against each other, and a surprising underdog arose in the form of Team Vector. Katie Kirby and Emilia Hook, both mechanical engineering majors, came out on top, winning their first bracket. “Well, we won our first round and we were not expecting to,” Hook said. “Usually the lighter car wins and ours is pretty heavy, but luckily that was not the deciding...
by Drew Graves | Feb 18, 2022 | News
Since the pandemic began in early 2020, masks have been commonplace. Though they’ve come and gone, the imagery of masks have been in the back of our minds since the first signs of the pandemic. Masks have been a part of Lipscomb students’ lives for nearly two years at this point in time, and it’s fair to say that we all want this to end very soon. In the span of a week, the amount of people wearing masks in Allen Arena for the Gathering as well as in my classes decreased substantially. The reason for this, of course, was February 8 marking the end of the indoor mask mandate on campus. Though it remains highly recommended that one wears a mask indoors, it is no longer enforced, and because of this a large number of students and professors have stopped wearing masks during class. Even prior to February 8 when the mask mandate was still intact – there was a decently sized number of individuals who didn’t wear masks indoors. After observing the general population on campus and mentally taking notes on how many students and faculty members wore masks for a brief period of time after the mandate officially ended, a conclusion was reached. The ratio of mask wearing students and students without masks for one day of regular classes was found to show that roughly eight percent of the students encountered that day were wearing masks after the mandate had been lifted. In speaking with some Lipscomb students enjoying dinner together at the honors house, some interesting student opinions on the subject were gathered. “…When it...
by Hamilton Jones | Feb 14, 2022 | News, News Slider, Opinion, Politics, Uncategorized
We return to another round of seeing who will become the newest member of the highest court, the Supreme Court of the United States. I use the words “another round” because, more often than not, the nominating process is literally like a prizefight. Nine justices make up the court, one being the chief justice, with eight associate justices. Their job is to ensure equal justice for all and to protect the constitutional rights of each citizen. Federal justices have no mandatory retirement and are chosen by the president of the United States, with confirmation up to the Senate. The reason for this “prizefight” is because Associate Justice Stephen Breyer announced he will retire this year after serving for 28 years. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton and is generally associated with the more liberal justices. The sitting president selects the nominee, beginning the Senate debate and confirmation or rejection. This is one of the most important jobs of the president, and it can affect theway we live for generations to come. Former President Donald Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices during his administration: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Cooney Barrett. Trump appointed more Supreme Court justices than any other sitting president since Ronald Regan, who appointed four. Trump’s confirmed nominations flipped the court to have a conservative majority, now outnumbering the liberal-leaning justices, six to three. Justice Breyer’s retirement offers President Joe Biden the opportunity to nominate a liberal-leaning justice who will help balance out the court. This also gives the Democrats the chance to claim a much-needed victory before the 2022 midterms and will help to...
by Camryn Given | Feb 14, 2022 | News, News Slider
On Wednesday, Tennesse’s Court of Criminal Appeals came to campus to hold three separate appeals cases. Collins Alumni Auditorium transformed into a real courtroom for a few hours while cases were heard. The clerk opened by telling the audience that the Court was grateful for the opportunity to hold court at Lipscomb University. Although the Court of Appeals usually hears cases in specific courtrooms in Jackson, Knoxville and Nashville, they also travel in order to be more accessible to other members of the communities. The Court of Appeals differs from the court dealings one usually sees on television. Whereas typically both sides present their full case, call witnesses, and present evidence, none of that happens in a court of appeals. In fact, there is not even a decision made at the conclusion. A case goes to the Court of Appeals after it has already received a ruling from a trial court. Instead of seeking a ruling, the appellant, or the person bringing the case, is asking for something to be corrected. Most of the lawyers on Wednesday were seeking a new trial for their client, proposing that something went wrong the first time. The Court of Appeals also differs by instead of having just one judge, there are several, who have all been appointed to their position. Judges John Everett Williams, Timothy L. Easter and Jill Bartee Ayers presided over the court. It began promptly at 9 am with the clerk announcing the judges and stating the common “Oyez, oyez, oyez.” The first case, State Of Tennessee V. Vana Mustafa, dealt with a 17-year-old convicted of first-degree murder that...
by Jayme Foltz | Feb 12, 2022 | News, News Slider
The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a hair show in honor of Black History Month. The officers of the club put together an event featuring celebrity barber Shawna Harrison to educate students on the history of Black hair and its different styles. Dorie Harrison, a senior marketing major from Nashville and BSU president, said the timing of the event was intentional since this year’s theme for Black History Month is Health and Wellness. “We wanted to have an event that celebrates all Black hair,” Dorie Harrison said. “Natural. Extensions. Wigs. Braids. All those things. “You know, because there are certain ways we protect our hair and certain ways we care for it that are different, and I think those ways should be highlighted and encouraged. Because everyone deserves to feel beautiful.” The event, which was held in Zebbies Lounge, was an opportunity for students to build community and show off their most confident hairstyles. Daniel Harvey, a sophomore computer engineering major, was one of the students to take to the stage for the demonstration. He said that he usually is indecisive when it comes to choosing cuts at a barbershop, but Harrison took time to educate him about different styles. “I usually just say cut it low, or high, or whatever,” Harvey said. “She (Harrison) went through the process with me. Telling me the professional terms for what I wanted beforehand. I feel like now I know exactly what I want if I were to walk into a barbershop.” Shawna Harrison also shared with the students some of her personal story and how she ventured into the world of...
by Savannah Brouwer | Feb 4, 2022 | News, News Slider, Sports, Student Spotlight
The first Women’s Only Lift Night took place Wednesday night in the Student Activities Center. This ladies-only weightlifting night was advertised around campus for the past couple of weeks, promising female Lipscomb students a place to work out in peace. Despite it being a cold and rainy night, dozens of women showed up ready to lift and learn. What ended up being a night filled with laughter, growth, and community, began with one simple question: where can I help? This question was asked by transfer student Haley Gaines, a junior majoring in dietetics and minoring in exercise science. Gaines has been a trainer for six years, and before that was in the marine core for eight. It was in her years at the marines that Gaines realized her passion for women in fitness. She found it frustrating that she was the “only female surrounded by men that didn’t know anything about [her] body.” After years of training, she found that women would approach her in the gym and ask her questions. “I could tell that a lot of women were intimidated,” Gaines said, “and that is why Ladies Lift Night became a thing.” Gaines took her frustration around women’s discomfort in the gym and the judgment they often receive for their abilities and created the heart behind Ladies Lift Night. “I just want women to have a place where they feel confident not only on the outside but on the inside. [They should] have a place to believe in themselves.” The results are in, and the Women’s Only Lift Night did just that. The safe space Gaines tried to...
