Gospel Music’s return to the mainstream
Gospel Music’s return to the mainstream
Lipscomb Softball rebuilds team bond
Lipscomb Softball rebuilds team bond
Graduate Spotlight: Trey Phillips reflects on four years of ‘breaking out of my shell’
Graduate Spotlight: Trey Phillips reflects on four years of ‘breaking out of my shell’
Therapy dogs boost spirits amidst finals
Therapy dogs boost spirits amidst finals
The impact of on-campus jobs
The impact of on-campus jobs
Lipscomb’s LIFE Program: what is it?
Lipscomb’s LIFE Program: what is it?
Black Student Union’s inaugural Black Hair Expo shows live demonstrations
The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a hair show in honor of Black History Month. The officers of the club put together an event featuring celebrity barber Shawna Harrison to educate students on the history of Black hair and its different styles. Dorie Harrison, a senior marketing major from Nashville and BSU president, said the timing of the event was intentional since this year’s theme for Black History Month is Health and Wellness. “We wanted to have an event that celebrates all Black hair,” Dorie Harrison said. “Natural. Extensions. Wigs. Braids. All those things. “You know, because there are certain ways we protect our hair and certain ways we care for it that are different, and I think those ways should be highlighted and encouraged. Because everyone deserves to feel beautiful.” The event, which was held in Zebbies Lounge, was an opportunity for students to build community and show off their most confident hairstyles. Daniel Harvey, a sophomore computer engineering major, was one of the students to take to the stage for the demonstration. He said that he usually is indecisive when it comes to choosing cuts at a barbershop, but Harrison took time to educate him about different styles. “I usually just say cut it low, or high, or whatever,” Harvey said. “She (Harrison) went through the process with me. Telling me the professional terms for what I wanted beforehand. I feel like now I know exactly what I want if I were to walk into a barbershop.” Shawna Harrison also shared with the students some of her personal story and how she ventured into the world of...
Ladies Lift Night encourages female students to gain body confidence
The first Women’s Only Lift Night took place Wednesday night in the Student Activities Center. This ladies-only weightlifting night was advertised around campus for the past couple of weeks, promising female Lipscomb students a place to work out in peace. Despite it being a cold and rainy night, dozens of women showed up ready to lift and learn. What ended up being a night filled with laughter, growth, and community, began with one simple question: where can I help? This question was asked by transfer student Haley Gaines, a junior majoring in dietetics and minoring in exercise science. Gaines has been a trainer for six years, and before that was in the marine core for eight. It was in her years at the marines that Gaines realized her passion for women in fitness. She found it frustrating that she was the “only female surrounded by men that didn’t know anything about [her] body.” After years of training, she found that women would approach her in the gym and ask her questions. “I could tell that a lot of women were intimidated,” Gaines said, “and that is why Ladies Lift Night became a thing.” Gaines took her frustration around women’s discomfort in the gym and the judgment they often receive for their abilities and created the heart behind Ladies Lift Night. “I just want women to have a place where they feel confident not only on the outside but on the inside. [They should] have a place to believe in themselves.” The results are in, and the Women’s Only Lift Night did just that. The safe space Gaines tried to...
Black History Month Trivia Night ends after Double Tiebreaker
Lipscomb kicked off Black History Month by hosting a Black History-oriented trivia Wednesday night. The event, which was held at the Bennett Campus Center, had students team up as they were tested on their knowledge of various people and events throughout Black history. The Office of Intercultural Development and the Student Activities Board worked together on forming the event. The two organizations had previously collaborated on numerous cultural events on campus, such as Welcome to Our World Week and Hispanic Heritage Month. For Britany Gonzalez, a Junior Law, Justice, and Society major from Memphis and OID Intern, the trivia night was a success. Especially since it was her first time hosting the event since she’s been an OID intern. “We had a pretty good number of people show up and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves,” Gonzalez said. “I would say it was an overall success!” Britany Gonzalez & Esteban Gonzalez After four rounds of trivia, the teams found themselves competing in two different tiebreaker rounds. Finally, Team “Goo-Goo Clusters” broke the tie by answering “When did Dr. Martin Luther King deliver his ‘I Have A Dream’ Speech?” correctly. The team was comprised of Abigail Gunter, a sophomore Nursing major from Raleigh, NC, Dustyn Baker, a Junior Theology and Ministry major from Atlanta, GA, Dan DiGrazia, a Sophomore Theology and Ministry major from Elgin, IL, and Tim Earles, a Junior Mechanical Engineering major from Damascus, MD. The four students won tickets to The National Museum of African American Music and free merchandise for the museum’s gift shop. Baker, along with his teammates, was excited to win the trivia contest...
BREAKING: Mask mandate extended until Feb. 7
While other schools delayed the return to in-person for remote learning, Lipscomb returned to school with an indoor mask mandate that has been extended from Jan. 21 to Feb. 7. “Currently, our overall number of COVID-19 cases in the Lipscomb community remain fairly consistent. We also had a significant increase in the number of cases among faculty and staff this past week,” Dr. Matt Paden, executive vice president, said in the email Thursday. Positivity rates on campus have been increasing steadily since the start of 2022, and on Jan. 4, Lipscomb reached its highest rate so far. According to the Campus COVID Statistics, more than 40 positive tests occurred on Jan. 18. The majority of the positive tests were from students. Maggie Bradford, a junior marketing major from Onekama, Michigan, is in quarantine after testing positive last Wednesday. Bradford originally went into quarantine with her roommate in their dorm room Monday after showing symptoms. After receiving her positive test results, she was moved to the quarantine floor Wednesday. “I feel like it might go up a little bit more just because of how contagious the Omicron variant is and just with how many people are (together) all the time in class and things,” Bradford said via Zoom. “…With this [variant] especially, it’s easy to have and not realize you’re sick with it until you come down with symptoms. You can be contagious before you have symptoms.” Despite the cases on campus possibly going up, Bradford said Lipscomb has done a “good job” in keeping their students safe through protective efforts, such as encouraging students to wear masks. The mask...
Classes remain in-person, on schedule; masks required indoors through Jan. 31
As the upcoming semester gears up, questions have been circling over the current rise in COVID cases across the state and postponements of in-person learning for other area universities. Lipscomb notified students and faculty via email on Tuesday morning that the university will welcome back students for in-person learning as previously planned. “We continue to believe that it will take every member of the Bison Herd doing their part to ensure we can have a productive and engaging semester,” said Dr. Matt Paden, executive vice president, in his email to students. “An effective way to mitigate the spread of the virus is to wear a mask.” Lipscomb is “temporarily” reinstating the indoor mask mandate for students, faculty and guests regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be required indoors through Jan. 21. Lipscomb has since updated the policy and extended the mask mandate to Jan. 31. “The CDC, as well as state and local health officials, recommend wearing an N95 or KN95 mask if possible,” Paden said. “These masks provide the greatest protection of everyone against the virus. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust as appropriate.” Vaccinations are additionally being encouraged by the university. Free COVID vaccine and booster drives are scheduled to take place this semester on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. in Bennett Campus Center. University faculty (including student workers) are “currently required to comply” with the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) federal vaccine mandate for employers with 100 or more employees. This means, before Jan. 10, Lipscomb employees will be required to receive the COVID vaccine to adhere to federal guidelines. “The U.S. Supreme Court has...
Softball wins back-and-forth contest behind big batting
NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb softball team beat the Chattanooga Mocs 11-10 Wednesday afternoon at Draper Diamond in a nine-inning thriller. The bats were quiet early but sprung to life as the game came to a close, with both teams matching offensive outputs to keep the game going well beyond the standard seven innings. Redshirt freshman pitcher Laine Barefoot picked up the win, improving to 5-5 on the season. Hailing from Louisburg, North Carolina, Barefoot allowed just one hit and collected 2 strikeouts. Offensively, the Bisons were led by right fielder Presley Leebrick, who picked up two runs and four hits, including a double. The junior’s .349 batting average leads the team. Barefoot’s first strikeout helped the Bisons to a scoreless top of the first defensively. Chattanooga picked up a hit early with a single and advanced to second on a steal, but that was as far as the visitors got in the opening frame. On offense, Lipscomb grabbed two quick hits from senior Amy Vetula and Leebrick, respectively. Junior Maci Cunconan was walked on a 3-2 count to load the bases, and a Kamrie Rich single brought home the first point of the game. Two straight outs put the inning in jeopardy, but Rich stole home a single pitch before the inning ended on a strikeout. Barefoot continued her strong start by going three up, three down and sending things straight to the bottom of the second. On offense, the bats kept swinging. Senior outfielder Jessie Brown scored on Leebrick’s RBI to extend the Lipscomb lead to 3-0 after two innings. Neither team could capitalize on having multiple runners...
Baseball completes midweek double over Governors
NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb baseball team beat the Austin Peay State Governors 5-3 Wednesday afternoon at Dugan Field. Six hits in the first three innings carried the Bisons to a victory despite a slow finish offensively. Graduate pitcher Jared Shemper endured an up-and-down first inning, giving up three walks and an unearned run but using two strikeouts to escape with one run. Sophomore Chandler Giles replaced Shemper in the second inning and earned the win, going 1-0 on the season. Giles got the Bisons out of the second after Shemper gave up his second run of the day. In the bottom of the second, Lipscomb got on the board with a solo home run from senior infielder Malik Williams. The Toronto, Canada native put the Bisons within one on his third homer of the year, but his was the only hit of the inning, leaving the score at 2-1 in favor of the visitors. Giles continued his solid play at the mound with Lipscomb’s first run-free frame on defense. Despite second and third being reached by APSU runners, the right-handed pitcher kept the Governors off the scoreboard. That opened the door for a four-run bottom of the third for the Bisons. Austin Haymaker, Caleb Ketchup, Trace Willhoite, and Willhoite all scored in a five-hit inning. From there, Lipscomb stayed off the scoresheet, using resolute defense to hold onto the lead. The outfit from Clarksville did pull one run back in the fifth, but that was the last of the scoring on the afternoon. Logan Van Treeck, Hayden Frank, Will Newell, Gavin Grubbs, Tyler Legere, Connor Witzke, and Trey Nordmann...
Summarizing transfer activity for women’s basketball
Like most programs across the nation, the Lipscomb women’s basketball team has been active on both sides of the transfer portal ahead of the upcoming 2022-23 basketball season. After the Bisons’ season came to an end at the hands of North Florida on March 2, head coach Lauren Sumski’s crew can now look forward to next season with undivided attention. As of now, one player has joined and one has left via transfer. After freshman guard Katherine Weakley quietly left the program this winter, Aleah Sorrentino was announced in early February as a transfer into Lipscomb from Ole Miss. Weakley, from Worthington, Ohio, will move back to her home state to play with Division II Cedarville. Weakley averaged 4 points in 9.8 minutes per game, appearing in eight contests before making the decision to leave. Sorrentino will join the Bisons with three years of eligibility remaining after spending half a season with the Rebels of the SEC. The Palm Bay, Florida native also played eight games this year, averaging 5.9 minutes a game and putting 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds on average. The 6’3″ forward will add much-needed size to the Bisons’ lineup and could see a role in the starting lineup from day one. A product of Florida Prep, Sorrentino becomes just the second listed forward on Lipscomb’s roster. The Bisons will also get help at the forward spot from their incoming freshman class. Kamil Collier of Nashville will bring her 10.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game to Lipscomb next year and will be joined by Taylor Bowen, a native of Carmel, Indiana. The third member of...
BREAKING: Men’s basketball players enter transfer portal, Johnson signs with Lions
This post has been updated to reflect KJ Johnson’s announcement on March 20 that he has signed with the North Alabama Lions as a transfer. Lipscomb men’s basketball players KJ Johnson, Kaleb Coleman, and Tanner Shulman have put their names into the transfer portal, signaling their intent to play with a new school next season. The entries come as transfer moves have increasingly become the standard in collegiate sports, especially at the Division I level. All three players are believed to be entering the portal in search of more playing time in their final two seasons. Johnson, Coleman, and Shulman are all members of the 2019 recruiting class at Lipscomb, head coach Lennie Acuff’s first year at the helm. Johnson and Coleman were recruited by former head coach Casey Alexander before his hire at Belmont. If the three do transfer out of the program, there will be no players in the eight-man recruiting class still playing for the Purple and Gold. Johnson, a defense-first point guard from Lewisburg, is the first to decide on a new home, signing with ASUN Conference rivals North Alabama. Johnson, who finished his third season with Lipscomb in March and has two years of eligibility left with the Lions, will now face the Bisons in conference play next season. North Alabama went 2-14 in the ASUN last season, the worst record in the conference, and exited the 2022 ASUN Tournament in the first round. Johnson was one of three players to play in all 33 contests this season for the Bisons, averaging 6.7 points in 21.2 minutes per contest. The Marshall County High School...
Cheatwood cherishes playing childhood sport for one more season
Baseball is known as America’s Game, and graduate student John Cheatwood’s life can back that statement up. The relief pitcher for the Purple and Gold has seen the sport take him across the country, carry him through difficult moments, and help mold him through diverse experiences and continual change. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t always a pitcher. “I was a catcher all my life,” Cheatwood said. “I had wanted to be a catcher; [two-time MLB All-Star and longtime manager] Mike Scioscia was a catcher for the Dodgers, a longtime Dodger. I was always a catcher and I loved it. It was the unsung general, basically. The best seat in the house–that’s what I called it.” “When I got to college, though, [my coaches] were like, ‘Hey, you’re pretty big. We’re going to put you on the mound.’ I’m grateful for the change, but pitching is one of those things where… not only do you get to control the game, but you control the whole time of the game, so it’s amazing. I fell in love with it immediately.” Cheatwood’s love of baseball came early, and it all started in the City of Angels–emphasis on Angels. “I’m a [Los Angeles] Angels fan, so I loved that Anaheim wasn’t too far [from home growing up],” Cheatwood said. “I loved going to Angels games.” It didn’t take long watching one of Los Angeles’ two professional baseball teams for a young Cheatwood to find a passion for his team. “You can ask my mom this–it was my lifelong dream to take Mike Scioscia’s job. Mike was a longtime manager for the...
Gallery: Students celebrate finishing the first week of classes with Retro Sno Cones
Last Friday, to celebrate finishing the first week of classes, students were treated with Retro Sno Cones. The snow cone truck drove onto campus, right in front of Johnson Hall, making it difficult to miss as students came from classes or dorms. The truck attracted quite the crowd and created a great time for students to gather together and enjoy a cold summer treat on a hot...
Gallery: Hot weather and COVID doesn’t hold back fall semester launch
As the school year officially kicked off at Lipscomb, students did not let summer heat or “temporary” COVID restrictions get in the way of campus fun. In the coming week, the university is expected to announce the continuation or dismantlement of its indoor mask mandate. This comes as Lipscomb’s daily positive tests peaked Wednesday, with 10 university students testing positive for COVID. Gallery by Cora Coletti ...
Gallery: Greek Life kicks off semester with rush fair
The days of “open rush” and “bid day” are coming upon the Lipscomb campus. Thursday afternoon, new students and prospective pledges filled the square with hopes of finding community in one of Lipscomb’s social clubs....
Gallery: New students settle into campus life
Lipscomb’s incoming class of freshmen and transfers has officially begun its journey on campus. On Monday the new students unloaded boxes, mini-fridges and even guitars into residence halls. Greeted by residence life staff, these new students are navigating relaunched COVID restrictions as they trek through their first week at the university....
12 South Farmers’ Market returns to Sevier Park for its tenth season
Fresh produce, food trucks and music have returned to Sevier Park, offering one more destination for those who have felt locked up during lockdown for the last year. The local favorite 12 South Farmers’ Market has just reopened for the summer of 2021. Established in 2011, the Farmers’ Markets 10th-anniversary season is sponsored by local independent radio station Lightning 100 and features vendors from around Middle Tennessee. Nashville favorites such as Amelia’s Flower Truck, Music City Popcorn and The Peach Truck often make appearances as well as many other local businesses and farms. Located just down the road from Lipscomb in Sevier Park, the 12 South Farmers’ Market is a convenient option for off-campus entertainment. In addition to fresh produce and handmade goods, the 12 South Farmers’ Market hosts events each week for visitors of all ages. The Farmers’ Market has live music each week from a local act for shoppers to enjoy. This season, Outdoor Voices will host a free outdoor workout class for attendees. Visitors will also have access to a variety of local food trucks offering anything from snow cones to grilled cheese sandwiches. The 12 South Farmers’ Market is open from 4-7 p.m. every Tuesday from May to October in Sevier Park. For information on vendors and events, visit the 12 South Farmers’ Market website, Instagram or Facebook page....
Spring has sprung at the Gaylord
“Once Upon A Spring” is Gaylord Opryland’s new Easter-themed celebration. It features an array of family-friendly activities including boat tours, scavenger hunts and carriage rides. The event takes place from now until May 2 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Stefanie Ball, public relations manager for the resort, said, “Basically, the resort’s going to be decked out and transformed into a spring oasis. You’ll see lots of flowers, giant Easter eggs, things like that.” “Everyone’s favorite furry friend, Easter Bunny, will be at the resort,” she added. The resort offers three different spring-inspired Delta river tours inside the resort. These include the Spring Riverboat Ride, EGG-stra Fun Cruise and Bloomin’ Boat Ride. On the Spring Riverboat Ride, visitors can relax and cruise along the scenic river surrounded by the resort’s spring blooms. For the younger set, there’s the EGG-stra Fun Cruise Easter egg hunt. Finally, an evening tour on the Bloomin’ Boat Ride gives guests the opportunity to learn more about the resort’s tropical plants and fish. The Spring Family Fun Zone offers visitors to the Water’s Edge for activities such as decorating cookies and other crafts, said Ball. The interactive Paint Me a Fairy Tale interaction includes Mother bringing storybook favorites to life on the bridge level of the Delta Atrium. The Spring-A-Long Scavenger Hunt is an adventure that takes guests throughout the resort, from the waterfall in the Cascades to the reflecting ponds in the gardens. “Guests are sent on a mission to solve clues and puzzles to win a prize,” Ball said. “And then we have our spring carriage rides, so guests can take...
From page to screen: The popularity of comic-book films
Characters swooping off the pages of comic books and onto the silver screen is a major genre in Hollywood, with the latest being “The Batman” directed by Matt Reeves. It’s hardly the first time onscreen for The Caped Crusader, but the audiences keep coming back for him and similarly heroic colleagues. “It’s an inspiring story, but it’s also a story about how far the human condition can go,” said film major Alex Eaton. “I think that’s why we keep coming back,” said the student from Atlanta of billionaire Bruce Wayne’s latest turn in his bat costume. Superhero films have become a large part of the movie industry, with several of the highest-grossing movies from the last 15 years being Marvel properties. Of course, COVID closed theaters and has otherwise affected the box office, but that didn’t stop the superheroes: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” made over a billion dollars globally and is the biggest domestic debut since the pandemic began over two years ago. Comic book rival DC has not surrendered the box office to Marvel. Justice League, Wonder Woman, Superman and, of course, Batman, aka The Dark Knight, keep returning to the screen and streaming services for DC. Audiences are looking for heroes, according to Eaton. “These are characters who stand for justice in the right way,” Eaton said. “I think the success of characters like Batman and Spider-Man ties back to the idea of normal people taking it upon themselves to help the innocent.”Dr. Christopher Bailey is a professor in the College of Entertainment and the Arts who last month released his own superhero film “Incognito.” Bailey said he was...
Full Moon Festival raises $5,000 with night of fun
While students sang and cheered during the Full Moon Festival, Delta Omega and Theta Psi raised almost $5,000 for charity. There were more than 15 musical sets with a variety of artists and genres during the annual celebration of songs, dancing and community. “Riley Moore in Phi Sigma was my favorite! She’s in my social club… I love when she sings, and it is so fun to support the girls!” said Allison Parks, a sophomore education major of the March 8 event. Some Full Moon Festival crowd favorites were covers by artists such as Tyler Childers, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift. “The country set was probably my favorite- some people were getting rowdy to those songs.” said Levi Bennett, a drummer at the show and commercial production major. When one band played “Sparks Fly” by Taylor Swift, the crowd’s energy swelled. There were also acoustic sets played by individual artists. “It was just her and her guitar,” said Parks of Moore’s performance. “It was so fun and groovy!” Mallory Nunley, a Delta Omega member, said, “Although it was free for the first 250 students, we sold T-shirts, stickers, and took donations to raise the $5,000,” Delta Omega’s Mallory Nunley said. “We are so thankful for all the students who supported us in our cause.” In between the fun of live music and free food, Delta Omega announced that the $5,000 they made will go directly to support YES (Youth Encouragement Services). This Church of Christ non-profit serves the academic, physical fitness, social and spiritual needs of Nashville’s under-served...
REVIEW: ‘The Batman’ is best for comic-book fans
“The Batman” has finally been released to overall positive but also some mixed reviews. I’ve heard this film heralded as the legendary superhero’s best film adaptation yet – and others saying that it didn’t hold a candle to Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy. As a longtime fan of Batman and the universe presented in the comics, I thought the movie looked promising from the first trailer. First things first, this movie differentiates itself from previous Batman films in one key way: a heavy emphasis on the “detective element” of Batman’s character. The movie almost felt more like a crime/psychological thriller than a superhero flick. This was a welcome change for comic fans, such as myself, who have always known Batman to be a detective, but this change was understandably quite disorienting for a lot of Batman fans who were introduced to the hero through the “Dark Knight” trilogy. Another big difference I noticed in this version of “The Batman” was that Gotham felt more developed as a setting. In the other films, I was a bit disappointed in how the city was essentially just a backdrop for the action. Gotham has always been a huge part of what I love about Batman – and this movie absolutely did the city justice. The cinematography was amazing throughout the film. There were a lot of gloomy, rainy scenes but I feel it certainly fit the darker atmosphere Matt Reeves was going for. Another polarizing element of the film is its extremely long runtime at almost three hours. I personally know quite a few people that aren’t able to sit through movies...