[video] Lowry, students address homosexuality, issues at Harding and Belmont

by | Mar 10, 2011 | News Slider

Harding University attracted national media attention last week when it blocked a website created by gay students. But Harding, affiliated with the churches of Christ and located in Searcy, Ark., isn’t the only Christian university to be confronted with the issue of gay rights in the last few months. Belmont University in December terminated the contract of the head women’s soccer coach, who is a lesbian; last month the university changed its non-discrimination policy to include “sexual orientation” and has officially recognized the first gay student organization. The issue has prompted discussion of homosexuality, sexual behavior and tolerance among the student body and even in the president’s office at Lipscomb. “Even though we want to be a Christian university, and we seek to be and we are, that doesn’t mean that topics like [sexuality] are inappropriate,” President Randolph Lowry told Lumination. “In fact, they’re very appropriate. And we believe that, in the context of a faith environment, they must be held.” Lipscomb’s student handbook points out that sexual contact, including but not restricted to intercourse, between students is a moral violation and is subject to discipline. Lowry emphasized that this code applies to any behavior—heterosexual or homosexual—and that all sexual contact outside the marriage relationship of husband and wife is “inappropriate and inconsistent with the community we seek to be.” The president said he does not foresee a change in policy but expects that the university will continue “being gracious, being in conversation, being of help and assistance.” Patrick McAnally, a law, justice and society major, said he thinks dialogue about the topic is one benefit of the Harding...

Sanderson, Bisons set for rematch at Mercer

by | Mar 2, 2011 | Sports

The Bisons opening round matchup in the A-Sun tournament is a familiar one– the host team, the Mercer Bears. Mercer comes off a season finale win over the Bisons 68-67, but the Bisons got the better of Mercer on Dec. 4 in Allen Arena with a 77-65 win. Each team won the regular season matchup on their home court, but Coach Sanderson knows there is much more to winning than just home court advantage. “It’s more about us,” Sanderson said. “It’s not necessarily about Mercer, it’s more about what we do. I think we have won the last four times at Mercer besides our last game in which we were only beat by 1, so I think it’s more about what we do and how we prepare. “We just have to be more focused and know that we have been successful down [at Mercer] before.” Seniors Josh Slater and Adnan Hodzic get much of the attention from opposing teams, and rightfully so. Adnan leads the team in points per game (18) and rebounds (7.5). While Slater leads the team in assists per game (4.7) and is second in points per game (16.5). A big key to the game and tournament is balance. “We just need to be more balanced,” Sanderson said. “If those two guys (Hodzic and Slater) have career nights there is a chance we still may not win, so we have to have balance throughout our roster. We have to have everyone step up and do the things we ask them to do, both offensively and defensively, to take the pressure off of Adnan and Josh as...
Lipscomb overcomes 18-point deficit, beats Belmont 73-64

Lipscomb overcomes 18-point deficit, beats Belmont 73-64

by | Jan 26, 2011 | News Slider, Sports

Respect, bragging rights, an undefeated record and an entire boulevard were at stake on Tuesday night when the Battle of the Boulevard went down inside Allen Arena. Coming off of a big win against USC Upstate, the Bisons had all the confidence in the world that they would be able to improve since the last time they faced the Bruins. The Bisons lost that game 88-52 less than two weeks ago. With the deck stacked against them coming into the game and for much of the first half, the Bisons were able to rally from an 18-point deficit with 24 minutes left in the game. “For the first 16 minutes, we were not very good,” Coach Scott Sanderson said. “We didn’t do anything we wanted to do offensively and defensively. I was extremely aggravated at our players.” In the last four minutes of the first half, the Bisons started their run. Trailing 38-20, the Bisons cut it to 40-31 with an 11-2 run that re-energized not only the team but the fans as well. Luckily for Sanderson, the Bisons did not stop their scoring when the half ended. The Bisons came out red-hot and outscored their cross-town rivals 42-24. “To come back from an 18-point deficit says even more about the resiliency of our players,” Sanderson said. “But it is one game with nine more games to go. We have 32 days to keep getting better until March gets here.” After the game at Belmont earlier this month, some questioned if Lipscomb center Adnan Hodzic was outmatched by Belmont big men Mick Hedgepeth and Scott Saunders. The Bosnian native...