by Lumination Staff | Dec 28, 2018 | Arts and Entertainment, Fashion, News Slider, Opinion, Sports
Editor’s Note: Click title to view each story 2018 was an exciting time to be a Lipscomb student. The year came with both celebratory and controversial moments. Lipscomb’s athletic teams reached new heights, the administration made steps toward connecting with LGBT students, Allen Arena hosted the GMA’s Dove Awards for the sixth year in a row and a recent alum joined Kelly Clarkson’s touring band. But amid the positive news, there were also times of controversy and frustration. A Trump cabinet member spoke at a private healthcare event in Shamblin in September, firing up students on both sides of the aisle. 21 Fast-Track MBA students were found cheating on a final exam. Hurricane Florence ravaged the homes of several students. Lumination journalists were there to cover all of this — plus more. By combing through Google Analytics and our social media platforms, we determined our top 10 stories of 2018: No. 1: Lipscomb basketball NCAA tournament coverage, by Erin Franklin, Cole Gray & Russell Vannozzi Lipscomb men’s basketball made school history by winning its first-ever ASUN tournament title and advancing to the NCAA tournament thanks to a 108-96 victory at FGCU on March 4. There were several top stories that emerged from the Bisons’ tournament run, including: – In their own words: Lipscomb students react to historic win, by Cole Gray – Column: Lipscomb finally breaks into NCAA tourney after long, disappointing road, by Russell Vannozzi – A look back: the rich history of Bisons basketball, by Erin Franklin – Lipscomb falls to UNC in first round of NCAA Tournament after historic run, by Cole Gray No. 2: Students cheat...
by LeBron Hill | Dec 27, 2018 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Aquaman first lashed into theaters last year in Justice League, giving us a glimpse into Jason Momoa’s portrayal as the future king of Atlantis. Fast forward one year, and Momoa has made this character into his own with his unique formula of charm and wit. Director James Wan has made a name for himself with films like Saw and Fast and Furious franchises but outdoes himself with Aquaman. After the events of Justice League, Arthur Curry (a.k.a Aquaman) is contacted by the underwater princess Mera (Amber Heard) about his half-brother Atlantean Orm’s less-than-nice plans. A reluctant Curry joins Mera on a quest but along the way becomes what the kingdom of Atlantis needs. The concept of Aquaman — a superhuman who can talk underwater, swim at high speeds and communicate with sea creatures — is the first of its kind to be captured on film. Wan’s capturing of his powers makes it easy for the viewer to understand how they can actually work. Underwater scenes looked too unrealistic, which, admittedly, is the hardest task that the visual crew had to do. The fight scenes are well choreographed, and the camera angles during the fights help to make the action more dynamic. The makeover given to Arthur Curry adds to what makes the movie so well done. Most people who follow the character know him as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed hero who gets mistaken as Mermaid Man from the popular cartoon series Spongebob. Casting Momoa, a Hawaiian native, gives the role a more authentic portrayal. The role wouldn’t have been half as good if Momoa wasn’t casted. He’s the coolest guy...
by Russell Vannozzi | Dec 25, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Jeffrey Passantino spent his minor league baseball season living out of a suitcase. In a span of three months, he moved from Arizona to Indiana to Oregon and, finally, back to Indiana. “One side is dirty, one side is clean,” he said of the makeshift dresser on wheels. His former Lipscomb teammates Brady Puckett and Lee Solomon had more stable living situations, at least by minor league standards. Puckett was with the Greensboro (N.C.) Grasshoppers for one month before he was promoted to the Jupiter (Fla.) Hammerheads, while Solomon headed west to Peoria, Arizona, after being selected by the San Diego Padres in June’s MLB Amateur Draft. “There are no complaints whatsoever,” Puckett said. “It was really hot [in Florida], and I sweated through like three shirts every day, but I had a good time.” All three players had standout seasons and are now one step closer to becoming Lipscomb’s next crop of talent to reach the big leagues – a group that includes Caleb Joseph, Rex Brothers and Josh Smith. Cheap hotels, long bus rides and fast-food meals aside, each of the former Bisons said they are thrilled to be chasing a dream that so few are afforded. “It’s hard to beat,” Solomon said of minor league life. “Our manager is always reminding us that we’re making money by hitting batting practice and taking ground balls instead of living in an office.” Passantino logged the most miles of the trio this season. He began the year in the Chicago Cubs’ extended Spring Training, but he was added to the Class-A South Bend Cubs for 10 days in June....
by Russell Vannozzi | Dec 22, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb and Vermont both entered Friday’s contest at Allen Arena ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The No. 23 Catamounts (9-4) were riding a six-game winning streak that included victories over George Mason, Harvard and St. Bonaventure. No. 11 Lipscomb clearly didn’t want to join that list. The Bisons (9-3) delivered perhaps their most complete performance of the season to down Vermont, 91-66. “That was as good as we’ve played against a good team since I’ve been here,” Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander said. “I’m really proud of how our team played on both ends of the floor.” Lipscomb shot 58 percent (34-of-59) from the field and only missed six total shots in the first half. The Bisons also limited Vermont to its second-lowest scoring output of the season and held the Catamounts well below their average of 77.2 points per game. “Our huge emphasis this year has been defense,” Lipscomb guard Garrison Mathews said. “If we can hold people down, we can score more than [them].” Mathews led the Bisons with 22 points, while Rob Marberry added 21. It was the 46th time in Mathews’ career that he has scored 20 or more points, the most of any current ASUN player. Six of his seven field goal makes came from beyond the arc. “Rob’s a great player, and I enjoy playing with him so much,” Mathews said. “Everyone has to pay a lot of attention to him. When you have a post like [Marberry], it’s easy to get stuff outside.” Vermont showed signs of fatigue after narrow wins over Northeastern and St. Bonaventure earlier in the week, while...
by Lumination Staff | Dec 20, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion
What are your favorite holiday traditions? Journalism adjunct professor Tim Ghianni asked that question to Lipscomb students in his multimedia story-telling lab before Christmas break. Turns out, the answers range from going to the Waffle House after Christmas Eve service to watching the artificial tree get more barren each year. For others, it’s Grandma’s house, the familiarity and the green china. Enjoy these first-person tales and enjoy your own holidays and blessings. Merry Christmas from Lumination. Peytan Porter: Christmas is hands-down my favorite holiday. It shifts people of all backgrounds to a season of love, celebration, gratefulness and happiness. My traditions aren’t anything super special; we usually just enjoy being able to spend time together as a family without as many distractions. One thing in particular I always look forward to, however, is opening presents with my sisters and parents on Christmas morning. We throw the wrapping paper across the living room into a big trash bag my dad holds open while my cat tries to deflect it in the air. Perhaps my favorite part of the morning is when my dad brings out his “special gift for mom.” We wrap presents for each other, but my dad somehow manages to surprise my mom with a “special gift” each year. It’s always a highlight because it’s usually something he wanted that he knew mom wouldn’t buy him. For example, one year it was Guitar Hero. Dad was so excited – mom was not – but us girls thought both reactions were hilarious. I think a few years later he got her a virtual reality headset which is still something my...
by Spencer Boehme | Dec 18, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
The bench showed up, and the sophomore walk-ons produced 30 points as Lipscomb’s men’s basketball team blew out the Division III Covenant Scots (5-3) on Monday night. The Bisons (8-3) stormed the court with a 119-48 win at Allen Arena in front of a sparse, 1000-member Christmas-break audience. While Lipscomb improves its record, Covenant’s schedule had Lipscomb as an exhibition opponent. “[A] lot of guys got to play, and guys were ready to play when their number was called,” Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander said. “That’s all that you can ask for as a coach.” Although senior guard Garrison Mathews tallied a team-leading 22 points, it was sophomore guard John Matt Merritt who stole the stage. The former walk-on posted 21 points off the bench, all of which came in the second half. From the three-point range, Merritt went 3-of-4. Coming into the game, Merritt had managed just five points all year. “I would not hesitate to put him in any game, any time, because I trust him, and he’s worked really hard,” Alexander said. “And…he deserves it. He’s just had other people in front of him.” Lipscomb’s bench ended up with 69 points total. Zach Flener, another walk-on sophomore guard, put up nine points as well after having two all year. Freshman guards Alex Jones and Jake Wolfe scored ten points apiece. “[I’ve] got really good teammates, they’re very unselfish,” Merritt said. “They put the ball in the right place.” It was a great showing from a unit that will have to step up in place of five current solid seniors when the season ends. Meanwhile for the Scots,...
