by Brynn Watkins | Jan 15, 2013 | Opinion
Are you looking for a coffee shop with some elbow room? Barista Parlor, a new coffee shop in the heart of East Nashville, may be the solution. Barista Parlor is great for people who want to really enjoy their coffee. The staff focuses the art of coffee making and the quality they can give their customers. With an array of coffees available from artisans around the world, the choices are vast and endless. Not sure which coffee you prefer? Not a problem. A trained staff of baristas is behind the counter to help determine the perfect blend for each individual customer. Barista Parlor makes coffee with beans from around the country. Portland’s Stumptown, North Carolina’s Counter Culture, Michigan’s MadCap, Illinois’s Intelligentsia, and California’s Sightglass are all different types of coffee you can try. With it’s spacious seating and quiet atmosphere, clumping it with other coffee houses like Starbucks seems almost unnatural. Kevin Mac Erwin, a junior at Lipscomb, explained how the Barista Parlor is rapidly gaining fans and national prestige. “The Barista Parlor provides a handcrafted and aesthetically pleasing experience to its ever growing group of followers,” Mac Erwin said. “With an emphasis on quality coffee and collaboration with local merchants, The Barista Parlor is quickly becoming a Nashville classic.” Lipscomb sophomore Allison Kate Collins said she believes Barista Parlor is the perfect early morning or late afternoon coffee break. “Barista Parlor is perfect if you want to get way off campus. Its spacious atmosphere is a welcome contrast from cramped classrooms and the campus Starbucks. If you’re not a coffee connoisseur (as I’m not), one of the friendly...
by Brianne Welch | Jan 9, 2013 | Opinion
After The University of Alabama blew out the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame Monday night 42-14, the Southeastern Conference claimed its seventh straight National Title win – not to mention its eighth win in the past ten years. This game helps support the fact that the SEC is the dominant conference in NCAA Division I college football. Seven years ago, during the 2006/2007 college football season, The University of Florida was scheduled to play Ohio State University for the BCS National Championship. Florida embarrassed Ohio State by winning 41-14. At the time, very few commentators, analysts, fans or coaches believed that the SEC was anything special, but with the blowout of the Ohio State Buckeyes came the dynasty of the SEC. Professionals and amateurs alike have all been debating whether or not the SEC is the most dominant conference for years, and now it is safe to say that the SEC is indeed the most powerful conference in college football. After the National Championship game on Monday night, the AP and Coaches polls released their postseason rankings. Seven SEC teams landed in the top 25, five in the top 10 and three in the top 5. The SEC is the strongest conference in college football also due to the incredible athletes it recruits. Over the past 20 years, the SEC has sent over 550 players to the NFL draft. The Big 10 has sent 396, and the PAC-12 has only sent 250. Not only does the SEC have the most teams in top 25 rankings, but it also has the most difficult schedules. According to teamrankings.com, teams in the SEC...
by Cory Woodroof | Jan 7, 2013 | News Slider, Opinion
Well, folks, the spring semester is upon us. With the mentioning of spring comes the thoughts of newness. New flowers grow in the wake of winter’s barren landscape, heavy coats are tossed aside in favor of lighter apparel and the joys of pollen return to torture those of us with allergies. While we’ve got a ways to go until March weather, the spring semester takes on that idea in the world of academics and social surroundings. We here at Lumination are experiencing our own changes, so to speak. Since our beginning in 2010, the official student news service of Lipscomb University has seen new redesigns, new writers, new readers and of course, new editors. Ever since I got here in 2011 (well, technically I’ve been here since 1997 since I’m a lifer – fun fact!), I’ve had the chance to work with two different editors – two people with tremendous talent and vision. Hunter Patterson ran the site from the time I arrived at the university until May of last year, and Emily Snell was the editor from then until just a few weeks ago. Both individuals have helped make this website a cornerstone of the Lipscomb experience – a source of vital information for students whenever news needs to be shared. I was blessed to have the chance to learn from both of them on how to be a good editor. Now, I get the chance to put those lessons to work. For the foreseeable future, I’ll be the guy making sure Lumination continues to be your number one source of news as a Lipscomb student. My two...
by Priya Pappu | Dec 11, 2012 | Opinion
Christmas lights are going up, student productivity is going down, as of Dec. 6 finals are underway. But Dec. 6 is a special occurrence for another reason… it’s St. Nicholas Day. Everyone has heard of St. Nick, aka Santa Claus, but most don’t know he began what became a glorious symbol of Christmas as a Grecian priest. The guy in the mall or landing reindeer on the rooftop on Christmas Eve actually began his career by being St. Nicholas, a priest who was generous, especially to children, even throwing gold coins into open windows (that sometimes landed in stockings…). Christmas traditions, whether based on folklore, or just on your crazy family, bring something special to the holiday. Like most, Lipscomb students are full of special Yuletide plans, but how do they compare with classic Christmas traditions? After presents, there’s not a doubt the next best part of Christmas is the food. Lipscomb junior Tim Mueller says, “We eat Monkey Bread every Christmas morning; it’s a cinnamon-roll type thing.” While in America, Christmas Day usually features ham and potatoes, around the world taste is a bit varied. Japan is full of special holiday orders for Kentucky Fried Chicken, while the British meal centers around “Christmas pudding,” similar to fruitcake and doused in brandy. Senior Colby Shaw describes his family’s delicacy: “My (grandpa) spends all day making prime rib, and we have it for dinner.” Keeping in with the Latin America tradition, junior Andrea Robleto says, “We eat dinner at midnight on Christmas Eve, and then open presents right after.” Pastors and parents alike always stress “the true meaning of Christmas,”...
by Rachel Billingsley | Dec 10, 2012 | Opinion
Starbucks is getting around-the-clock business. The library is packed at all hours of the day and night. Quiet hours are being enforced in dorms. Upperclassmen already know the drill when it comes to finals, but freshmen are experiencing college finals for the first time. In order to help out those stressing about finals (especially first semester freshmen), we decided to get some study tips from seniors. “You should study alone and not with other people,” said Lipscomb senior Kimberly Richardson. Study groups have their advantages, but in most situations other people are more distracting than they are helpful. Amber Hammond emphasized the importance of study guides. “Make flashcards and study guides and make sure to take short breaks so you don’t burn out,” she said. Take advantage of any study guides professors give you, and if they don’t give them to you, make your own. You will save yourself so much time later if you make study guides and flash cards ahead of time. Before you sit down to study for a long period of time, it might be a good idea to get something to drink. Water will keep you hydrated, and if you need a caffeine boost, a tasty Starbucks drink is always a good choice. “If you need coffee to stay awake, that’s good. But don’t drink too much,” said Kayleigh Butterfield. “You’ll be too hyper to get your papers written.” “Make a schedule where you break up the studying with other stuff that you have to do,” said Samantha Billingsley. “If you’re going to alternate with television, fine, but watch a comedy, not a drama.”...
by Anne Paquin | Dec 4, 2012 | Opinion
Finals are right around the corner. As a senior, I understand the pressures of finals on the new freshmen and how time to study can easily slip away from you. So, to help those who are stressing out about this crucial week, I have compiled a list of DOs and DON’Ts from my own experience. DO make time to sleep. It’s not worth it to stay up all night studying if you’re tired in the morning. I recommend at least 5 hours. DO eat well. Always remember: breakfast is the most important meal of the day, even if it’s just a breakfast bar! Pizza and Monster Energy drinks are not a healthy diet for finals week. (Take it from me.) DO break up the information into “bite size” chunks, and begin studying a week in advance. (That means now.) Repetition makes information stick. DO study with classmates. Just make sure that you stay on task! DON’T neglect your social life. Manage your time wisely and make time for yourself between study sessions. Mini golf or bowling are my activities of choice. DON’T stress. The finals aren’t as hard as you think they’re going to be (unless you’re nursing or pharmacy). DON’T ignore any material not on the study guide. Study what your teacher tells you to, but go back and look at everything else, just in case. DON’T neglect your projects. You should have been working on them already, but if not, get crackin’! Projects take more time than just studying. Make it worth your time and something you’re proud of presenting to your teachers. I hope that these...
