[Editorial] Mascot name change necessary, student says

by | Jan 14, 2012 | News Slider, Opinion, Sports

The first in a series, Lumination asks Lipscomb students what their thoughts are about the mascot change. This will be an ongoing series until the decision is made final. The following is written by senior American Studies major Grant Winter. We are Lipscomb.  This has been our university’s mantra ever since L. Randolph Lowry became president.  It is a phrase that could be heard every time he spoke, coupled with the latest statistics or rankings for a little school bragging rights.  While I soon grew tired of the continual usage, one thing about the phrase provided solace.  It did not include the name of our mascot, Bisons. Don’t get me wrong.  I have as much school spirit as the next.  There is nothing I enjoy more than heckling an opposing player to the point of frustration.  Yet, every time I hear “Bisons” in a cheer, I cringe. There is a reason that every time I type the word “Bisons,” a little red squiggly line appears underneath.  Our beloved mascot is a falsehood.  A fantasy.  It doesn’t exist.  It belongs only in an imaginary land with deers, gooses and mouses. I know there are many who are holding on for dear life to the consonant in question. There have been arguments of tradition.  I call it more of a bad habit. Some think that it will cost too much money to rebrand everything on campus.  Look around.  “Bisons” is not displayed many places.  It would seem the athletic department has long been ashamed of the name. Others say “Bison” sounds weird or that keeping the current spelling sets us apart. ...

Taylor Swift joins The Civil Wars for live song debut

by | Jan 13, 2012 | News Slider

Met by a cheering crowd, Taylor Swift joined The Civil Wars Jan. 12, at the Ryman Auditorium for a surprise appearance, debuting their new song “Safe and Sound.” The Staves opened for The Civil Wars. The sold-out show’s audience was enthralled with The Civil Wars, giving them a standing ovation after the song ‘Barton Hollow.’ Before the event, Nashville was buzzing with rumors about a possible Swift appearance during the concert. After performing several of their songs, the duo began joking that they like helping other artists and asked the audience to be nice to their guest because she was new and wasn’t well known. As soon as she stepped onto stage, the audience welcomed Swift with a long and loud cheer. The song “Safe and Sound” was written by all three artists for the “Hunger Games” soundtrack. It mashes together their talents for a folky, harmonious and mellow ballad. The Civil Wars are on the rise in the indie music scene, and Swift by all nature is a hit country music star. The musical duo has a natural talent for this type of song, but Swift was surprising in her mature lyrics and soothing voice. After another standing ovation at the end, The Civil Wars performed two encores, the latter one being all...

[Editorial] No name change needed for Bisons, says one student

by | Jan 13, 2012 | News Slider, Opinion, Sports

The first in a series, Lumination asks Lipscomb students what their thoughts are about the mascot change. This will be an ongoing series until the decision is made final. The following is written by senior biology major Alexander McMeen. Lets Go Bison. The Bison played great today. We are the Lipscomb Bison. Sounds strange doesn’t it? For all of you grammatically correct people out there, there is your correct usage of the word “Bison”. For all of us with feeling, the S is what adds the extra magic. We are the Lipscomb Bisons! Long before I was born we have been the Lipscomb Bisons. Some say it is incorrect. Others say it sounds funny. Some (Belmont) make fun of it for being different, but I find that more than ironic. For a University that prides itself on setting itself apart from others, giving in and changing our name to the Bison is crazy. Some say setting ourselves apart with the wrong form of the word is ignorant. I disagree. The word Bisons is being more and more recognized as a correct usage of the word. Even ESPN recognized it as a now correct usage of the word. Next year, it will be in the Merriam Websters dictionary, AS A WORD. What schools change their nicknames!? Some might say it is only an S, but to those who have been around Lipscomb, it is more than just an S. It is who we are. It is who our alumni are. It is whom I have grown up as. We are the Lipscomb Bisons. If you actually think about it, Bisons...

Professors advocate to end modern slavery

by | Jan 11, 2012 | News Slider

Nearly 2 million children are exploited each year in the global sex industry. Statistics like this are “staggering” says Dr. Randy Spivey, academic director of Lipscomb’s Institute for Law, Justice and Society. Jan. 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and people across the United States are recognizing those innocent men, women and children who are bought and sold into slavery worldwide. Studies show that 27 million people are enslaved today. Spivey, who taught a course last semester about human trafficking, said the U.S. is one of the greatest consumers of the “product” of modern slavery. Spivey noted that a police officer that took his class used the information he gained during the semester to recognize a human trafficking incident, rescuing a woman who had been held captive for a year and who had been transported across several states. Dr. Cayce Watson, assistant professor of social work, also teaches students about human trafficking so they are prepared if they encounter it in their careers. “Part of social work’s core values is to fight for social justice,” Watson said. “Human trafficking happens everywhere and nowhere. Everywhere because it’s happening and nowhere because people don’t talk about it.” Please upgrade your browser “Some folks have a notion that it happens far away, that it doesn’t happen here,” Watson said. “But we’re kind of a hotbed for that because of our interstates and being close to Atlanta.” According to a 2011 report by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 85% of counties in Tennessee reported at least one case of human trafficking within the past 2 years. “You have to be able to recognize...