University wind ensemble fires up crowd for spring concert

The University Wind Ensemble played with fire in Collins Alumni Auditorium on April 21 with a professional Dixieland Jazz Combo for the ensemble’s spring concert.  The seven-piece jazz combo, along with the University Wind Ensemble, performed a set of pieces called “Playing with Fire.” The pieces were “A la Bauduc,” “Shades of Blue” and “Polyphonies and Riffs.” The Dixieland Jazz Combo was made up of Sam Levine on the clarinet, Alan Suska on the cornet, Creighton Miller on the trombone, G.R. Davis on the double bass, Chris Nelson on the drums, Mark Godwin on the banjo and Kevin Madill on the piano. The wind ensemble prepared all semester for the show; however, the students were only able to rehearse with the jazz combo the night before. Despite the adversity freshman trombone player Robert Glenn said the experience was a good one. “Playing with a Dixieland Jazz Combo is fantastic. They’re just great musicians, and I’m very glad I got the opportunity to play with them,” Glenn said. The wind ensemble opened the night by preforming “Lassus Trombone” by Henry Fillmore, then followed that with “Watchman, Tell Us of the Night” by Mark Camphouse. The first two songs were conducted by Dr. Stephen L. Rhodes. The final piece before the jazz combo played was the “English Folk Song Suite.” The first piece, “Seventeen Come Sunday,” was conducted by J. Elliot Bowman. The second piece, “My Bonny Boy,” was conducted by Bailey Werner. The third and final piece, “Folk Songs from Somerset,” was conducted by Grace...
Baseball great Ernie Banks advocates learning, friendship at Don Meyer Evening of Excellence

Baseball great Ernie Banks advocates learning, friendship at Don Meyer Evening of Excellence

Just because someone is king of his craft doesn’t mean he’ll ever stop learning, and for one of sports’ most respected and successful individuals, learning is something that never ceases. At the sixth annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence, Baseball Hall of Famer and legendary Chicago Cub Ernie Banks taught all in attendance at Allen Arena the values of the learning process. “I’m just a learning person,” Banks said. As a part of the event, attendees got the chance to learn a little bit about Banks’ past, hear about his interactions with some of baseball’s great players and take to heart some of the wisdom he shared in a conversation with Jonathan Seamon. Banks, 83, is one of baseball’s most admired individuals. An icon in Wrigley Field on Chicago’s north side, the man beloved as “Mr. Cub” has amassed a large number of honors. Not only is he a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. His Cubs’ jersey number was retired and there’s a statue in his honor at Wrigley Field. He’s also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – an award given him by President Barack Obama, another well-known Chicagoan, in 2013. Banks shared ballfields with such baseball legends as Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Ron Santo and Roberto Clemente. Banks shared an anecdote about a time he encountered the legendary Robinson during a time out at the plate. The two met, and Robinson offered him sage words that impacted Banks – the importance of being silent and learning. “That’s what Jackie [Robinson] told me, you know, ‘just listen and learn,’ and that’s what I did,” Banks said. “For the young people today, that’s...

Lumination News, April 18, 2014

The 2013-2014 school year is almost over, and LUmination News brings you, for the last time this semester, the latest news.  Caitlin Selle and Savanna Schubert, both graduating seniors, led the news from the anchors desk one last time. During this week’s installment, Madeline Smith covered a big night for greek life on campus: fight night. We’ll show you who the winner of the night is and how much money was fundraised for Y.E.S, the non-profit organization that strives to enrich children in inner city Nashville. LUmination News also talked to Jenny Randolph, the assistant track coach who participated in the 2013 Boston marathon. A year later, she remembers what happened and awaits eagerly for this year’s marathon, which she will be attending again. Heartbleed is a computer bug that has been around for a couple of years, but now it might affect Lipscomb students. LUminations’ Joe Sanderson gives tree quick tips to deal with this bug. Safety is an important issue virtually and most and physically. Watch LUmination News to know what the assistant director of campus security Patrick Cameron has to say about Lipscomb’s security. Tune in next year  for a new edition of LUmination...

Pi Delta helps send young boy to Disney World through Make-A-Wish Foundation

Three-year-old Rayan Abidi’s wish of going to Disney World was granted thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the members of Lipscomb social club Pi Delta. Abidi, his parents and his brother will all be going to the popular Orlando, Fla., destination. The project was headed by recent Lipscomb graduate Camille Fraser. Fraser was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13 and also received a trip to Disney World with her family through Make-A-Wish. Fraser said she was excited to see her project help grant Abidi’s wish just as her wish was granted. “It’s so exciting, and having a similar experience myself just a few years ago made it emotional,” Fraser said. “Getting to see the joy in another family’s eyes and knowing that their one true wish is coming true and getting to share in that is awesome.” Pi Delta members worked throughout the 2013-14 school year to raise the money needed to fund Abidi’s wish through events like Cocoa and Carols in December, a first for a Lipscomb group. The group raised the goal of $7,500 to fund the trip. Wednesday, the group led Abidi on a Disney-themed scavenger hunt across campus. The scavenger hunt began in the Swang Business Center and concluded in Allen Arena’s Hall of Fame Room with the surprise of a trip to Disney World hidden, appropriately, in a treasure chest. The members of Pi Delta dressed up as various Disney characters to help Abidi find clues at each of the stops in the scavenger hunt. “My sisters in Pi Delta worked so hard.” Fraiser said. “Seeing the joy that they had as...

Final round of elections sees senators at-large added; King, Hogan given prestigious honors

In the final round of elections held for the upcoming school year, a new class of senators at-large has been selected, and two students have been given the prestigious Miss Lipscomb and Bachelor of Ugliness titles.  For the senators at-large, Hannah Passamonte, Kimberly Keen, Julia Allen, Lauren King, Ezra Fritz, Margaret Rox, Caroline Hensley and Ben Ashley have been elected into those roles. King was also selected to be Miss Lipscomb. Matt Hogan was chosen to be the Bachelor of Ugliness. This follows last week’s election results, which saw Drew Watson elected as the SGA president and Seth Carey voted to the VP role. Jamie Keiser was voted as secretary, and Melissa Parrish was voted treasurer. For the full list of senators elected last week, visit our results...

Darrin Bellows named new director of security and safety

The empty position of director of security and safety has been filled by campus’ Darrin Bellows. The change came about a month after the former director, Jim Humphrey, went to pursue another job away from the university. At the time of his promotion, Bellows had been working as a security officer for the Lipscomb Security and Safety department. He took that job in July 2012. Before then, he worked as an air traffic controls systems maintenance officer in the Marine Corps. Bellows said that the position is an honor. His goal is to not only keep working at the routine tasks of a security office, but also focus on being service oriented. “The goal of the university and the security and safety department is that we provide a safe and secure environment, that everybody that comes upon the campus has a pleasant experience,” Bellows said. “That is going to be my focus. “I want security to do more than just the conventional security and safety functions, but to be service oriented and to help out however we can.” He said that the biggest change he will make to the department is to improve the customer service. “I think sometimes the officers need to know that it’s okay to do more than the conventional stuff, and I’m here to let them know that it is okay and highly encouraged,” Bellows said. Bellows said that he and the security and safety department also wants to continue building the relationship with students, with hopes to increase the safety of the campus. He said further that he wants to serve the Lipscomb community...