by Kelli Blackshear | Feb 22, 2012 | News Slider
Slavery. It’s a term that may remind some of their middle school social studies class, the Civil War, or figures like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman. What may shock people is that slavery still exists. Not only that, but there are more slaves today than ever in history. People all over the world, including in the United States, are victims of slavery in its various forms including domestic slavery, bondage slavery and sex slavery. Lipscomb students interested in exploring this issue and helping eradicate slavery have the opportunity to get involved. Every Thursday night at 7:30 a group that ranges from five to 15 people meets to discuss this very question. They are known as the International Justice Mission, a chapter of the Washington-based IJM. This is the third year IJM has been on campus and is being led by Cooper McCullough. His time as IJM president has had ups and downs. “My stint as president has been both encouraging and discouraging. Some of the ideas that we’ve brainstormed, as well as the genuine passion I’ve seen in people, has been amazing,” he said. “Discouragement can creep in, though, when I feel like I’ve done a poor job providing people an outlet to combat injustice or when people make it clear that their passion for justice won’t translate into action.” Among the successes are IJM fundraisers. McCullouogh said that some of the organization’s big past events have included a dance party, bake sale, prayer vigil, student recorded album, concert and several chapels/documentaries. He said the meetings begin with “good news,” which is usually a story of rescues by IJM, and a prayer to...
by Lacy Pack | Jun 8, 2011 | News Slider
Lipscomb University hosted Volunteer Girl State (VGS) for the second year, and hopefully not the last. For the past 59 years, VGS was held at MTSU, but LU hosted the 2010 session. That session was deemed so successful that the VGS returned this year.Kathy Issaacson, Co-Director of VGS, is uncertain about whether next year’s session will be held at Lipscomb, but she says it is definitely a possibility. “We certainly enjoy it and we have been more than happy with all the accommodations here at Lipscomb,” says Issaacson. “We really appreciate the intimacy of the campus, its smallness, and its beauty and we think it really adds to the Girl State experience.” Wrenne Bartlett, a junior from Brentwood says she loves everything about Lipscomb and has enjoyed having Girl State here, even with all the cicadas. “You get around them… you avoid them,” laughs Bartlett. “You learn just to step around them or kinda wack them out of your face and get over them the best you can.” VGS is a one-week program offered to young women who are rising high school seniors. Girls from high schools all over Tennessee spend the week learning about state government, citizenship and how they can positively affect their communities by forming and running a mock government. Jordan Jowers, a junior from Lexington, TN, explains that all 550 girls or “citizens” are divided into two political parties and 12 cities to help them learn about government. “We get to elect mayors, a governor, and a Supreme Court, and we just go through all the roles of government,” says Jowers. “We develop a respect...
