by Erin Turner | Apr 1, 2014 | News Slider
April Fool’s Day usually calls for a plethora of pranks and jokes. Lipscomb’s annual talent show, entitled Shenanigans, was no joke, though. Held in Shamblin Theatre on Tuesday evening, this free event showcased a variety of students’ talents, ranging from singer-songwriters to dancers. The event was hosted by Kappa Iota Theta and sponsored by SGA. President of Kappa Iota Theta and junior Mariah Lester served as the evening’s emcee. To Lester, the talent show is important to bring more community to Lipscomb. “We hope the talent will bring more of a student engagement for the whole student body,” Lester said. “It’s open to all students, all majors, anyone can participate, and anyone can come. “We open it up to the whole Lipscomb community to support and experience. It’s our job to showcase the students. This is our family. Look what they can do.” Before the show’s intermission, duo sophomore Cedric Duncan and sophomore Samantha Seifert performed the Rihanna and Mikky Ekko song “Stay.” “When I get on stage, all my nerves go away,” Duncan said.“Just like last year, it’s a lot of good competition this year.” The first and second place winners, who received a $100 and $50 prize respectively, were freshmen Rodra Allen, who sang a cover song, and Anna Bray, who performed an Irish dance. “I was super nervous; my hands were so shaky,” Allen said. “I was going to snap my fingers, but I couldn’t even do that.” Allen says she plans to put her prize to good use. “Me and my friends are going on a road trip, and before, I was kind of wondering...
by Logan Butts | Mar 31, 2014 | News Slider
Bennie Harris, Lipscomb’s Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations,will be leaving the university to join Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga. On June 1, Harris will be taking over the role of Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Morehouse. “Bennie led us through two highly successful campaigns,” said university president Randy Lowry in a press release from the school. “He assembled an excellent team of development professionals to undertake a major capital initiative which many schools shied away from in the depth of the economic challenges the country has faced in recent years. “Bennie and his family are an important part of the Lipscomb community and he will be greatly missed.” Harris has been at Lipscomb since 2007, and in his time with the school, he has overseen multiple projects concerning the betterment of the campus. Harris speaks highly of the Lipscomb community, but he said he looks forward to the next step in his career. “My family and I have cherished the supportive, loving and Christian community we have been a part of here,” Harris said in the press release. “But, this is a very unique opportunity to for me to have a new experience in higher education that fits with my long-term career goals. I am excited about this new chapter in our lives.” In 2010, Harris was the leader of the $54 million overhaul project of Lipscomb’s campus that included the construction of The Village, the Thomas James McMeen Music Center and the establishment of the school’s College of Pharmacy, the first of its kind in Middle Tennessee. The 2010 project also involved major...
by Janice Ng | Mar 29, 2014 | News Slider
Campus Ministry held a dialogue session in Swang Center’s Stowe Hall on Friday following the events that transpired at the most recent Wednesday Night Devo. The speaker for the night, a Lee University graduate, shared his opinions of salvation and his missionary aspirations, which sparked a response from Samha Siddiqui, an audience member of the Muslim faith. Siddiqui was part of a panel at the dialogue session, which included Campus Minister Jake Burton, Tom Seals, an associate professor in the Bible department and the staff sponsor of Aurora Interfaith student group, and SGA President Andrew Hunt. Students who attended also had a chance to pose questions anonymously to the panel. Burton headed the discussion with a few words on campus ministry’s approach to issues of faith. “Conflict isn’t a bad thing, in my opinion,” Burton said. “It provides an opportunity for dialogue. That even though we disagree, we can still love one another.” Siddiqui said she felt that speaking out during Wednesday night’s devotional became necessary when the speaker’s message wasn’t in line with what she believes to be true. “I feel like missionary work requires a lot of knowledge,” Siddiqui said. “Knowledge of your own faith, knowledge of the people you’re trying to explain your message to. “It’s because I felt that the speaker didn’t have enough knowledge about the community he spoke about that I felt motivated to speak up.” Siddiqui said she’s happy to be at the university, and that learning from this event can be the best way to move forward. “I’m glad I made the decision to come to Lipscomb University,” Siddiqui said. “I’m glad I...
by Jael Teme | Mar 28, 2014 | News Slider
The latest edition of Wednesday Night Devo has sparked a conversation about the religious diversity on Lipscomb’s campus. A Lee University graduate, whose name Campus Ministry does not want to disclose, was invited as a guest speaker on Wednesday at Lipscomb Academy’s Acuff Chapel. The speaker talked about his ministry and his plans to travel to North Africa to share the gospel with those in the Muslim community. The message, featuring the speaker’s opinions of salvation, founds its detractors in the audience, particularly by those who profess Islam as their religion. Samha Siddiqui, a senior of Muslim faith, was part of the audience and decided to raise her voice. She stood up and expressed her disagreement with the statements provided by the speaker. “I spoke up because I felt the speaker was not right to call the Muslim world as ‘hostile, dark and oppressed.’ Using that description is neither factually correct, nor politically correct. I respect all missionary groups, regardless of which religious doctrine they preach, but maintaining respect for people is a must,” Siddiqui responded via text to a question from Lumination Network. Others supported Siddiqui with applause. In a Thursday email sent to students who attended Wednesday night’s devotional, Campus Ministry apologizes for the events that transpired, saying that the group hopes to show Jesus in all they do. “Last night was unusual for our Wednesday Night Devo in that there were many students who walked away hurt, offended, and confused,” the email said. “The heart and vision of Campus Ministry is to provide opportunities for all our students to encounter the love of Jesus. “We believe Jesus of Nazareth is...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Mar 26, 2014 | News Slider
Lipscomb’s Pre-Pharmacy Society will hold a special fundraiser to benefit the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 28, in Shamblin Theatre. The fundraiser is a showing of the hit blockbuster The Dark Knight. There is a $2 ticket price, and popcorn and drinks are $1 each. Homemade desserts are also $2. All of the proceeds go toward Live Beyond, an organization started in 2005 that provides medical care and other services to victims of natural disasters. Live Beyond is going on two missions to Haiti in the near future, and the money raised by the fundraiser will provide necessities and medical supplies for the trips. Brandon Beers, the society’s vice president, said that there were many “hurdles to making the event a reality,” but an initial investment by Dr. Roger Davis, dean of the college of pharmacy, helped the society pay the movie licensing. The movie night will not only benefit the victims in Haiti, but Beers expects the event to draw a variety of groups together for the fundraiser, including students from across Lipscomb’s campus and even some Belmont pharmacy students. Beers hopes that the fundraiser will become an annual event. Donations are also welcome, and the money will go straight to Live...
