by Lorena Coleman | Jan 31, 2017 | News Slider
Lipscomb’s Department of Journalism and Communications kicked off its first Media Masters of the semester by hosting Tom Adkinson on Monday evening in Ezell. Adkinson had a plethora of advice to offer students as he relayed his 40 years of experience in both journalism and public relations in a talk lead by Professor Jimmy McCollum. Graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Tennessee, Adkinson began his career as a copywriter for a local newspaper. After a short time in the journalism industry, which included writing for Southern Living and working as a freelance writer for newspapers, Adkinson was offered a job in public relations with Gaylord Entertainment. He worked with the Opryland Theme Park for the next 22 years, cementing his career in the PR world. After his time with Opryland, Adkinson went on to work at BOHAN advertising in downtown Nashville. “You will be astounded that the ability to write is the ticket to a job,” Atkinson said, adding that being able to write a simple, declarative sentence was the key to opening many doors for him in the communications industry. Atkinson cited observational skills, remembering to write thank you notes and owning an Associated Press Stylebook as tricks of the trade for students. He also noted that the best thing anyone can do as a journalist is to value honesty. “To tell the truth, tell all of the truth and tell it quickly,” he said. Adkinson also stressed the importance of checking facts and abstaining from speculation when releasing information to the public. Spending time in PR for both the corporate world and in an agency, Adkinson touched on the differences of working in both. He...
by Bethany Rowland | Jan 28, 2017 | News Slider
After days of chatter and a well-received video debut in chapel on Tuesday, every Lipscomb University student knows the up-and-coming company’s name: Ed Pack Global. Created by a group of Lipscomb business students, Ed Pack Global sells original backpacks and partners with Thistle Farms and Mi Esparanza to enable women to be educated, employed and empowered. The idea for Ed Pack Global first began as a vague business concept in the mind of CEO Luke Benda. As the idea grew and a team began to form, it became a vision, and it became an official limited liability company (LLC) in October of 2015. As they began to explore what their mission was and what they wanted their company’s purpose to be, Benda said right off the bat the team knew they wanted to use their business for good and to make a difference. The CEO had recently been inspired by Bob Goff’s book Love Does, and, together with his team, that inspiration grew. “We started digging into that — how can we help?” Benda said. “What would be the most effective use of our money?” After much conversation and collaboration, it was clear that they felt a call and connection to educating women around the world. Benda shared that 70 percent of people in poverty are women, and the Ed Pack Global team felt that they could do something about it. The team — made up of five members including Luke Benda, Macy Cottrell, Kayla Ford, Ansley Waller and Meg Stafford — had a Kickstarter party on January 16 at The Well Coffeehouse to promote their company and share...
by Brooke Dorris | Jan 28, 2017 | News Slider
Things are beginning to heat up around Lipscomb as Rush Week is right around the corner. Whether they are a part of a social club or not, students are preparing for one of the busiest times of the year on campus. Last night was the first official rush event of the Spring semester, and students all over campus came out to see which social club they might want to join. Many prospective students still had questions concerning rushing, such as what Rush Week is, and how they can get involved with a social club. “Rush week is a chance for prospective students to come and get to know the social clubs on campus and see what they’re about,” Claire Grissom, a senior member of Delta Omega, said, noting, “and to see if joining a social club is for them.” Jake Cartwright, sophomore and member of Theta Psi, gave a run down of just how long the rush process can be. “Last night was Greek Life’s first official prospective, where we were finally able to meet all prospective new members,” Cartwright said. “Male prospectives were split into five groups and were rotated on a fifteen-minute time limit, spending time with each guys’ social club. We spent that time sharing with prospectives who we are as a club and what we are all about. The next step is the open rush process, which begins this weekend.” Lumination also asked a few members why students should pledge their social club, and what makes their clubs unique. “Delta Omega is a great sisterhood that is based on Jesus, and we strive to minister...
by Erin Franklin | Jan 27, 2017 | News Slider
Lipscomb student Phillip Jones was just playing around with Adobe Illustrator to make himself a T-shirt design when he simultaneously crafted the graphic for the newly-found element 117 Tennessine, named after Tennessee. The sophomore mechanical engineering major was invited to attend the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s recognition of the discovery and naming of the element today because of his contribution. Jones said he didn’t anticipate his design being chosen as the official graphic for the element since he originally just made it for himself to put on a T-shirt, and there wasn’t a call or competition for the element’s graphic. “When they named it [Tennessine], I thought it would be really cool to have a shirt with the design of the element — just a basic symbol and then have colors of the Tennessee flag on it,” Jones said. “I designed one draft, and then another, until I was satisfied with the colors and the border I wanted and everything like that.” After he finished his design, Jones said he had the idea to send it ORNL’s Public Relations director to see what would happen. “I didn’t really even expect a response,” Jones noted, “but a few days later, I got a response back from the same person saying that they were really interested and excited, and they would like to use it.” Jones said he didn’t even get to the T-shirt part of his project, but after he gave the ORNL permission to use his design, they offered to give him free T-shirts, pins and other items the design will be printed on. “It’s not an extremely complex design,...
by Joel Clinger | Jan 27, 2017 | News Slider
At the dawn of the spring semester, room registration has been a hot topic for many Lipscomb students thanks to a game called Lord of the Keys. During the fall semester of 2016, Lipscomb began construction on a new residence hall on the north side of campus. It will have hotel-style rooms for both male and female juniors and seniors during the school year. The Office of Student Life needed a way to get students excited about the new building. After some brainstorming, they came up with the idea for a scavenger hunt. Five keys were hidden on campus at various locations. The first five eligible students to find them received priority room registration in the new dorm. Hidden locations included the fountain, on the cross next to the Bison and inside a flowerpot at the entrance to Fanning. “We knew that if we could get our students involved in a hunt like this, then the event would be much more effective than simply hanging posters and sending emails,” Dean of Student Life Sam Smith said. “We’ve had students spending all of their free time looking for keys. Students were constantly stopping by my office begging me to provide them with a hint.” Another person involved in the creation and promotion of Lord of the Keys was Student Activities Director Louis Nelms. He said he was unsure how to generate interest in the new residence hall. “How am I supposed to get people that excited about dorm registration” Nelms said. “I maybe had my doubts that people were going to get this excited. It honestly took off a lot better than I thought it was going to.” Junior...
by Ellen Butterfield | Jan 27, 2017 | News Slider
President Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, has yet to be confirmed, due to comments she has made about education policies in her confirmation hearing on Jan. 17. Title IX is set up to create a mandatory safe space for any student who has been assaulted with unwanted sexual conduct but is unsure of how he or she desires to proceed or what to do from there. Since she has not openly declared whether or not she will uphold Title IX on college campuses, Kathy Hargis, Lipscomb’s own Title IX coordinator and Vice President of Risk Management elaborated what this could mean for Lipscomb’s future. “We want to do the right thing,” Hargis said, “and I don’t think even if the mandate goes away, [Lipscomb] wouldn’t [respond saying] ‘we don’t have to do this anymore.’ I still think in some element, we would keep some of this intact. In my opinion, it’s the right thing to do.” If Lipscomb didn’t claim to subscribe to a Christian code of morals, Hargis thinks the situation would be quite different. “It comes down to funding,” Hargis said. “There will be some schools who probably just don’t want to fool with it just because of the money, and they’re going to put it in their student handbook.” The Title IX Compliance offices investigated the situation to ensure that a situation most likely occurred based on a preponderance of evidence. They then proceed to look out for the students’ physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Lipscomb’s Title IX coordinators offer physical help, safety plans, guidance, therapy and, potentially, no-contact orders to keep students safe. “[Title IX’s influence] has a huge ripple...
