by LeBron Hill | Sep 7, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion
They say that a picture’s worth a thousand words. Well, in the case of Colin Kaepernick, it’s an ad and a million words. The polarizing ex-NFL quarterback teamed with Nike on their 30th anniversary campaign which features the likes of Serena Williams and LeBron James. Kaepernick can be seen in a black and white photo with the slogan “Believe in something, Even if it means sacrificing everything.” In the matter of a few hours, tons of people took to social media to speak their opinion, including President Donald Trump. Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018 Whether you agree with Colin’s protest or not, the courage that it takes a person to take a stand, especially in the height of their career, requires a lot of strength. He was just two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance and a six-year contract extension. No, he’s not in the military, but the bravery that he displayed is equivalent to those who serve. He truly sacrificed everything so that the unjust killing of unarmed black men can have a platform for America to see. He donated $1 million to various charities that range from social injustice and education within his first year out of the NFL The spotlight that this topic has gained can be...
by Quinn Gorte | Sep 7, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion
The words “healthy” and “affordable” are rarely found next to each other, but Sunflower Cafe challenges the norm by offering $5 vegan quesadillas and other appetizers every week during happy hour. Nestled in the heart of Nashville’s Berry Hill neighborhood, Sunflower is a cozy, vegetarian restaurant. But don’t let the word “vegetarian” stop you from sampling Sunflower’s numerous tasty offerings. If you hear “vegetarian,” and the first thing you picture is unseasoned tofu plopped onto a white plate, it’s time for you to embrace the new season of being a vegan. Welcome to Nashville, where select restaurants are dedicated to making vegan and vegetarian food DELICIOUS. Now, if you’re a fairly health-conscious foodie like me, you love trying new places. But not when it costs $15-$20 per plate – that’s just not realistic for a college student. However, what if I told you Sunflower Cafe offers $5 vegan quesadillas during their 3-6 p.m. happy hour from Monday through Friday? Would you start cartwheeling around your dorm room? Good, I thought so. Keep rejoicing, just as “happy” hour would have you do. Yes, at Sunflower Cafe, you can eat guilt-free without breaking the bank. One of my favorite things about Sunflower is that my non-gluten-free father loves their food. He actually chooses to go to Sunflower sometimes. That, my gluten-free/vegan community, is what we call a win. But back to drooling over Sunflower’s happy hour. You can choose from seven vegan (and mostly gluten-free) appetizers, all of which are $5. I chose my favorite: the filling Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla. Since I’m gluten-free, I subbed a brown rice tortilla in for the traditional flour tortilla (for...
by Cavin Jacobson | Aug 14, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion
Ah, summer school. The movies portray it as some kind of dungeon that sucks up your summer while all your friends who did good in school enjoy the pool. Summer school does have a negative connotation to it. Some people view summer school as a place where degenerates go after partying too much and flunking their fall and spring classes. When college students hear that the classes are typically three weeks to eight weeks long yet still jam a whole semester into them, they think only sadists would do that to themselves. Summer school, however, is not only easier than traditional school, it’s faster, and it keeps you in the rhythm of school. At Lipscomb, there are four summer semesters: Maymester, Junemester and Julymester, and also a full summer semester that stretches throughout June and July. This summer, I took two classes in Maymester that lasted only three weeks, four classes in the full summer semester that only took eight weeks and another final class in Julymester that went along with the final three weeks of my full summer classes. I took 19 credit hours in the span of 12 weeks, as opposed to a 16-week traditional semester. I still get a three-week break before classes start up again in the Fall, which is the same amount of time as Christmas break, and all the time away I need. The pacing of summer classes is fantastic. Too many times in too many classes I have spent what feels like an eternity on one chapter or one concept that I got down in the first few days. Meeting twice a...
by Charissa Ricker | Jul 21, 2018 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Sequel films rarely ever live up to expectations, but Mamma Mia fanatics will be just as enthralled with Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! as they were with the original, despite the ten-year gap between films. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! takes fans back to the Greek Islands and tells the story of young Donna (Lily James) exploring the world and finding her path alongside the modern day progression of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) as she re-opens her mother’s hotel. Donna’s story is unpacked beyond the diary featured in the first film, and fans get to see the events of the fateful summer she meets Harry, Bill and Sam, and the journey that led to her opening the hotel and raising Sophie. While diving into the adventures of 20-something Donna, the modern-day grand opening of the newly renovated hotel brings old friends and Sophie’s three fathers back together. The film explores the past that led to the original Mamma Mia! story and wraps up Sophie’s journey and the loose ends left in the first film, including her relationship with Sky. The film features a healthy mix of the old and new, showcasing the original 2008 cast plus several new talented members. Lily James holds her own as the young Donna, originally played by Meryl Streep, and she brings her own style to the beloved character. Fans will not be disappointed in the music as a few beloved ABBA songs from the first film re-appear along with a whole new soundtrack of songs from the famous band. Though some characters from the first film are not featured as much as...
by Cavin Jacobson | Jul 9, 2018 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Ant-Man and the Wasp is the first Marvel movie after Avengers: Infinity War left theater-goers speechless. Ant-Man and the Wasp is its own standalone movie that mingles very little with the other Marvel films, not confronting the cliffhangers in Infinity War. If you haven’t seen Infinity War yet, you don’t need to in order to understand and enjoy this film. Ant Man and the Wasp is possibly even the best film Marvel could have put out right after Infinity War as it allowed Marvel fans to stop stressing over the cliffhanger at the end of Infinity War and focus on another great superhero adventure that is going on at the same time. Ant-Man and the Wasp follows Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) way over on the other side of the United States in sunny San Fransisco, a place that doesn’t have much of a superhero presence (as opposed to New York City, where most of Marvel’s heroes live). Scott has been on house arrest now for two years following the events of Captain America: Civil War, and of course, he only has one week left until he is a free, non-superhero man. During his last week on house arrest, he has a dream about Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) wife, Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) who has been trapped in the Quantum Realm since before the events of the first film. Scott then gets roped into another adventure with Hank and Hope Pym (Evangeline Lilly) to rescue Janet from the Quantum Realm. This time, Hope dons the suit of the Wasp, who can fly, has laser guns and is much more...
by Cavin Jacobson | Jun 15, 2018 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
There’s nothing easy about being a child. Within only half-a-decade from birth, you’re expected to walk, talk, socialize, behave and conform to the “adult” way of your culture. Nowadays, a conversation about emotion and the nuances of life are rarely shared with children outright; instead, children are expected to just grow and guess how the adults have it figured out (we don’t). This wasn’t always the case though. Several decades ago, a piano composer named Fred Rogers became upset with the way that early television treated its child audience. He was appalled with the silly and slapstick nature of TV shows aimed at younger audiences. So he put aside his goal of being an ordained Presbyterian minister and set out to create a show that would speak to children at their level, with dignity and sincerity, while also displaying authority and wisdom. And he did exactly that. Every day, Fred Rogers would be “Mister Rogers” to the children of the Pittsburgh area, and then to the rest of the United States. Won’t You be my Neighbor is a very special kind of documentary. It isn’t a biopic on the inner workings of the man Fred Rogers, and it isn’t some history piece detailing Mister Roger’s Neighborhood and the way it came to be renowned in the United States. It’s a barely even a documentary. Really, it’s something far more wholesome. Won’t You be my Neighbor is a celebration of a time long past. It’s a presentation of ideas and ideologies of one genuinely kind man. The film does not go deep into Fred Roger’s personal life, nor does it...
