by Bridgette Begle | Sep 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
With his own song on iTunes and a mother who is known as “the queen of Christian fiction writing,” sophomore Ty Russell is ready to be a bright light for the entertainment industry. Russell’s mother, Karen Kingsbury, has written over 50 novels appealing to all ages. Russell said his mother travels a decent amount for book signings and conventions. And although some people may think that would have a negative effect on the family, Russell insists that it’s not a factor. “She puts family first. … Even if she is on a deadline and someone needs help with homework, she helps with the homework because she is a mom first,” he said. Russell said he looks up to his mother as his role model in many different ways. “It’s cool that she has a platform but is still so humble.” Transferring from a bigger campus in Virginia called Liberty University, Russell said he is ready to see what a small campus in a big city has in store for him. “I like to get plugged in and know the faces around me every day,” Russell said. Even though his family moved to Nashville in the summer of 2011, Russell still attended Liberty for the 2011-2012 school year. “It was weird coming home from school for Thanksgiving break to a new place,.” he said. Music City seems to be a central location for Russell and his plans for the future. After asking around to try to find a smaller Christian school, Russell said Lipscomb was the most popular response. “Everyone is so nice, warm and welcoming,” he said. “Everyone is...
by Emily Snell | Sep 10, 2012 | News Slider
In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week, Dr. Paul Cates, director of the Lipscomb counseling center, offered some advice for students who may be struggling or know someone who is struggling with emotional issues. To learn more about what Dr. Cates said and to gain more information from organizations like To Write Love on Her Arms and The International Association for Suicide Prevention, read the article “Dr. Paul Cates shares advice for students during National Suicide Prevention Week.” Statistics from the International Association for Suicide Prevention: Selected Global World Suicide Prevention Facts and Figures: Data from the World Health Organization indicate that approximately one million people worldwide die by suicide each year. This corresponds to one death by suicide every 40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined. Suicide attempts and suicidal ideation are far more common; for example, the number of suicide attempts may be up to 20 times the number of deaths by suicide. It is estimated that about 5% of persons attempt suicide at least once in their life and that the lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation in the general population is between 10 and 14%. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among the young. Suicide is estimated to be under-reported for multiple reasons including stigma, religious concerns and social attitudes. The psychological and social impact of suicide on the family and community is enormous. The economic costs associated with self-inflicted death or injuries are estimated to be in the billions of US dollars a year. Documented rates are...
by Nick Glende | Sep 9, 2012 | News Slider
Responding to the lack of men’s chapel on Thursdays this semester, the Men of Sewell Hall began hosting their own church every Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. for just the guys. This year, as with every new school year, breakout chapel options have changed. But some men on campus have noticed a problem with the changes. Even though women’s chapel still exists, there is no longer a chapel just for men. To make up for the absence of men’s chapel, Sewell resident assistants Hunter Wright and Farron Sutherland got together and decided to create their own non-mandatory, non-credit chapel called Bro Church. “Basically the goal of it is to get community within Sewell,” Wright said. “And just provide that place where brothers can come together and just have that fellowship.” Every Bro Church meeting has a theme, which most of the time relates to Christianity in the modern world. For example, the Sept. 4 meeting was about politics, with emphasis on this question: can a Christian be a political representative? The men who were there said it was a good meeting because everyone was able to share their thoughts and ideas in a really relaxed and open-minded setting. Wright said the best part of Bro Church is not only that every meeting is very informal, but the guys get a chance to express themselves. “A lot of times at Lipscomb, with chapel, bible class, etc., we’re always given input,” he said. “We can’t output, we can’t talk back. This is a place where you’re with brothers who aren’t going to criticize your opinion, who aren’t going to attack you. You...
by Emily Snell | Sep 5, 2012 | Uncategorized
After leaving Zimbabwe, a small country in Southern Africa, and teaching at two other Church of Christ universities for several years, Dr. Florah Mhlanga came to Lipscomb in August 2011 as a biology professor. Mhlanga, one of nine children, earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Zimbabwe before obtaining her master’s and doctorate degrees at Michigan State University. She has two children, Carl, 15, and Craig, 10, and her husband, Fortune, is director of Lipscomb’s School of Computing and Informatics. Mhlanga said she came to the United States from Zimbabwe with her husband and their two sons in 2002 because the political and economic climate in Zimbabwe was beginning to “deteriorate.” “We never thought we would leave Zimbabwe,” she said, noting that she was a professor and chair of her department at the University of Zimbabwe. An opportunity arose at that time, Mhlanga said, for them to teach at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala., and she said she believes it was a blessing from God. “We thought it was a God-sent opportunity to shield us from some of the problems that really we were experiencing — the political and economic problems in Zimbabwe,” she explained. “We thought it was really God’s call or a blessing, in a way, from God that he opened this avenue for us to leave Zimbabwe and to go to Alabama to work there.” Mhlanga said the condition of the political and economic system in Zimbabwe gave her concern for her children and their ability to have opportunities. “It was going to be very difficult to educate them, to find a good educational system...
by Michael Fox | Sep 3, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Some people are tired of the lack of spirit visible at Lipscomb athletic events, but this year a few students are stepping up with a new student-fan organization called Stampede. T. J. Ojehomon, a Lipscomb junior, proposed and received approval for a business plan to start a new student-fan organization that is entirely student-run. Older Lipscomb students might remember the short-lived success of the LUnatics, but this new organization has its sights for a long-lasting impression on Lipscomb’s campus. Stampede “seeks to be the student leaders of support for Lipscomb sports while continuously developing audience participation strategies for home and away sporting events.” Lipscomb’s culture has been shifting over the years including changes to academics and spiritual development. And some people think athletics needs a change as well. “The university is definitely heading into a new era with academic progress, spiritual development among the student body and overall campus growth,” Ojehomon said. “Athletics is making the same efforts to keep the pace, and Stampede will be a huge part of how far athletics can thrive.” Stampede is a members-only club with special benefits for joining. For $25 per semester, members receive exclusive T-shirts and hats, reserved seating at basketball games, travel costs covered, food and an experience they’ll never forget. Students are not required to attend every sporting event on campus, but this organization means business when it comes to raising team morale. Ojehomon said being a part of Stampede is one way that students can make their college experience more memorable. “You only get four years of a true undergraduate experience, and it shouldn’t be wasted,” he said....
