by Kahwit Tela | Aug 1, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Since The Avengers first assembled on the silver screen in 2012, audiences have been clamoring for certain members of earth’s mightiest heroes to have their feature films. Fans have been especially eager for the Russian femme fatale, Natasha Romanov, aka Black Widow, to have her turn in the spotlight. After spending more than 16 years in development and numerous delays, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Widow finally was released this summer in theaters as well as premier access streaming via Disney Plus. The film’s setting is a mixture between sequel and interquel as it takes place between Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Following the events in Civil War, Romanov (Scarlett Johansson) is a fugitive and unexpectedly reunites with her estranged younger sister-figure/fellow assassin, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). The tense yet touching reunion is short-lived as a conspiracy involving the Black Widow program — a syndicate that trained female assassins including Romanov and Belova — arises. After spending countless years apart, Natasha and Yelena must put aside their differences to take down General Draykov and his army of Black Widows once and for all. The two sisters can’t do this task alone as they need to form a makeshift team with some of the toughest soldiers Russia has ever known: Their adoptive parents, super soldier Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) and veteran Black Widow, Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz). As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)’s first venture into the espionage film genre, Black Widow does an excellent job of recognizing its influences, such as the 007 films, all the while maintaining a slick and...
by Lumination Staff | Aug 1, 2021 | News, News Slider
Nashville journalist and former longtime WSMV anchor Demetria Kalodimos will be joining Lipscomb’s School of Communication during the incoming school year. Through her role, Kalodimos is expected to share her experiences and expertise alongside developing “digital media ethics” workshops and programming. In addition, Kalodimos will co-teach a class with Chair Alan Griggs. “She [Kaladimos] is one of the best journalists I have had the honor and privilege to know,” said Griggs in a press release issued by the university. Griggs and Kalodimos worked together at WSMV for 20 years. “With her experience and knowledge, our students will benefit significantly, and so will I.” Kalodimos has been a trusted and recognized figure in Middle Tennessee media for nearly 40 years, receiving 16 Emmys, three Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) National awards, three Edward R. Murrow Awards for investigative reporting and the Gracie from American Women in Radio and Television. As well as being inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame and the NATAS Silver Circle. Recently, Kalodimos has produced award-winning documentaries, music videos and other visual content through her company Genuine Human Productions. Her songwriter series, Barnegie Hall, aired nationally on PBS stations across the country. “Educating future journalists about the state of the industry and how to navigate that well while training them to be good storytellers, utilizing the many tools they have available to them, is critical,” said Kalodimos. “While content delivery methods continually change, the fundamentals of good storytelling will never cease to be important. So, I am excited to be able to share my knowledge and experiences with students and to have an impact on the next...
by Kathryn Farris | Jul 27, 2021 | COVID-19, News, News Slider
As summer’s end steadily approaches, low vaccination rates and the rising transmission of the COVID Delta variant are sparking concerns for colleges across the country. “We’re monitoring cases on and off campus that affect our community right now. The Delta variant seems to be a much more aggressive type of the virus,” said Kevin Eidson, Lipscomb’s Director of Health and Wellness. “We want as many people to be vaccinated as possible… getting the vaccine allows you to have some more freedoms that you really don’t have without the protection of the vaccine,” Eidson said. In a video sent out to faculty and staff, Susan Galbreath, Lipscomb’s senior vice president for strategy, shared the results of a campus survey revealing 55 percent of Lipscomb’s total population is vaccinated. Full-time employees are at a 74 percent vaccination rate. While higher than Tennessee’s vaccination rates, Lipscomb still falls behind reaching herd immunity. According to Yale Medicine, COVID variants could indicate 80 percent of a population would need to be vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity. The CDC updated its recommendations on July 27 to encourage indoor mask use for vaccinated individuals in COVID “hot spots.” Earlier this summer, the center had rolled back all restrictive recommendations for vaccinated people (except during travel). Davidson County falls under the CDC’s rating of “high” for transmission levels. In response to the new CDC recommendation, Lipscomb says it will “continue to monitor local, state and federal guidance as we get nearer to the beginning of the semester.” Current policy dictates unvaccinated students are encouraged to practice mask-wearing and could be placed in quarantine if exposed...
by Camryn Given | Jul 21, 2021 | News, News Slider, Politics
Sparked by the headlines about the murder of George Floyd as well as other Black men killed by police officers and a growing awareness of racial injustice, Lipscomb’s Black Student Union is among the citizens and organizations that nationwide are putting a fresh spotlight on issues too often ignored. Lipscomb’s BSU President Dorie Harrison said the tumult of the past year has offered her an incentive to reflect upon the past injustices and set goals for the betterment of the future. Last semester, Harrison, a senior marketing major from Nashville and a center on the Lady Bison basketball team, had a unique experience. In her Legal Aspects class, students watched the video of the death of George Floyd and were instructed individually to decide the sentence of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin (the suspect in Floyd’s murder trial). Harrison said she recalls feeling shocked as several students didn’t seem to see any wrongdoing in Chauvin’s actions: “To see so many of my classmates say that Chauvin was completely innocent and to go back and justify the death of George Floyd. My hands were shaking.” As a person of color at a school with a historically high population of White students, Harrison said she often feels put on the spot in these types of situations. “I was the only Black person in the class, so everyone was looking at me like, ‘Oh, what is she gonna say?’” Harrison said. Harrison said she has seen a lot of groupthink in her classes. She said people seem to fall in with the majority opinion, leaving little room for those with different viewpoints...
by Kahwit Tela | Jul 15, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Country star and former Lipscomb student Thomas Rhett will be among a star-studded bill of young country hitmakers for “Together: Feeding Nashville,” a benefit concert targeting food insecurity that will be staged August 3 at FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin. The benefit concert, presented by Bussin’ With The Boys — the podcast featuring Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan and linebacker Will Compton — will be a one-night event to raise funds for the nonprofit that focuses on food availability for those in need. The show will feature performances from modern country artists, including superstars Rhett, Maren Morris and Florida Georgia Line. Rhett, who studied communications at Lipscomb before putting his studies away to focus on his music career, landed his first No. 1 single with 2013’s “It Goes Like This.” Since then, Rhett has released five studio albums, headlined four tours, and was nominated for several music awards from the Billboard Music Awards to the Grammy Awards. Other hits have included “Look What God Gave Her,” “Marry Me,” “Crash and Burn” and “Die a Happy Man.” Morris has had such hits as 2016’s Grammy-winning “My Church” (best country solo performance), “I Could Use a Love Song” and “The Bones.” She also is a member of country/americana supergroup The Highwomen along with Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby. FGL recorded the best-selling digital country single of all time, according to SoundScan, with 11-times platinum breakout “Cruise.” Tyler Hubbard and Bryan Kelley — the members of Florida Georgia Line — have been on a hot streak since their 2012 debut. Their collaboration “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha spent 50 weeks on Billboard’s...
by Danny Kotula | Jul 15, 2021 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb volleyball team is coming off one of their more impressive seasons in recent memory, rattling off 17 wins and reaching the NCAA national tournament in Omaha, Neb. last spring. Head coach Brandon Rosenthal’s side rarely rests on its laurels, however, the upcoming 2021-22 season is no exception. As the new season inches closer every day, what can Bisons volleyball fans expect this winter? One area to watch in particular will be how effectively Lipscomb fills the gaps left by graduating players. The Bisons lose the services of four fearsome seniors from their ASUN title-winning squad, including 2-time All-Conference selection and 2021 All-South Region honoree Megan Kuper. The outside hitter from Olathe, Kan. was undoubtedly the team’s strongest source of offense, averaging over 3.3 kills per set. Her attacking prowess will be missed, especially considering that 2.84 more kills per set are also departing with middle blocker Samantha Rubal. Rubal and Kuper often combined for a lethal 1-2 punch around the net, and their combined experience will not easily be replaced. Rubal, a native of Lewis Center, Ohio, also played in every single set for the Bisons last season. On defense, the losses to graduation are just as significant. Libero Alyssa Zwolensky and defensive specialist Ashley Maher combined for a whopping 6.28 digs per set, often keeping points alive with impressive displays of athleticism. Zwolensky’s 4 digs per set average led the team, as the Rockledge, Fla. native led the back line for the Bisons. All the departures paint a bleak picture for Lipscomb’s upcoming season, but don’t feel discouraged yet. For all the stars leaving, Coach Rosenthal...
