by Monaih Sam | Sep 19, 2013 | News Slider
Working with inmates is a natural fit for Lipscomb alum Scott Pieper. After graduating in 2012 with a degree in social work, Pieper is now working to help former inmates integrate back into society. “Dismas is family.” This is the slogan residents, staff members and volunteers live by at the Dismas House. The Dismas House is a transitional housing program on a mission to facilitate the reconciliation of former prisoners to society through supportive communities. That community consists of students and former prisoners living together in a family setting. Pieper interned with the Dismas House while attending Lipscomb University. After graduation, Pieper became the Executive Director. “Former inmates were one of the populations that I had identified with wanting to work with,” Pieper said. “It was a natural fit.” “My most important job is keeping everything we do focused on accomplishing the mission – organizing volunteer opportunities, arranging in-house programming and developing partnerships or fundraising efforts,” he said. “Everything is in the spirit of working towards the Dismas House mission.” The name “Dismas” comes from the “repentant” or “good thief” who was crucified with Christ on Calvary in the Christian tradition. The late Father Jack Hickey and a group of Vanderbilt students founded the Dismas House in 1974. Student residents are still a big part of the Dismas community today. “Father Hickey recognized the similarities between college students and individuals exiting incarceration as sort of being in the same transitional period of entering into society,” Pieper said. “Student residents present a constant presence of the supportive community in our mission.” “Student residents are living in the house – they...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Sep 19, 2013 | News Slider
Since the beginning of the semester, there have been three occasions of early morning money thefts in High Rise that occurred in unlocked rooms. “The community that encroaches on us isn’t necessarily the most favorable, and a good example of that is the High Rise theft,” said Jim Humphrey, the Director of Campus Security. To Humphrey, dealing with theft at school makes dorm life uncomfortable, and it forces students to take precautionary measures. Humphrey said that the rooms were occupied when their money was stolen. “You assume everybody in your dorm-space is like you and they’re going to be respectful of what’s yours. You’re respectful of what’s theirs, but sometimes, that’s not the case. It could be someone within the dorm, or it could be someone from the outside. “Most of the crimes that happen on campus – a fair portion of those are from someone off campus, but they look like a student. They just see an opportunity, take it and leave.” Whoever the thief is, Humphrey explained, he/she has plenty of practice in theft. Going into occupied rooms a few hours before the occupants wake up takes “boldness” and the thief is ‘not worried about being caught” and “they are going to do whatever it is they want to do, regardless if someone’s there or not.” Humphrey’s biggest fear is what happens if a student wakes up while they are being robbed. “In those situations, the majority of the time, if someone wakes up, the thief is going to leave as quick as possible because they don’t want to get caught. As soon as a person is able...
by Cory Woodroof | Sep 17, 2013 | News Slider
Amy Grant and Kirk Franklin will co-host this year’s Dove Awards, set to be held at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena next month. Grant, a multiple Dove Award-winning artist, is no stranger to campus. She joins the Lipscomb community every holiday season for the annual Lighting of the Green concert. Grant released her seventeenth album, How Mercy Looks from Here, in May. Franklin is a renowned gospel artist and multiple Dove winner. He won the Grammy for Best Gospel Album in 2012 for Hello Fear, his eleventh album. Franklin also currently hosts the reality singing competition show Sunday’s Best. “There are not too many names more synonymous with Christian and Gospel music than our hosts Amy and Kirk,” GMA Executive Director Jackie Patillo said in a press release. “We are so grateful for their contributions to the Dove Awards throughout the years and we’re excited to have them as the co-pilots of what is turning out to be one of the most compelling nights of music ever on the Dove stage.” The first wave of presenters and performers were also announced. TobyMac, Tamela Mann, Michael W. Smith and Gaither Vocal Band will all be taking the stage to perform. Lecrae, Pastor Rick Warren, Jaci Velasquez, Dr. Bobby Jones and Isaac Carree are set to present awards. More talent will be announced soon. The awards will be handed out on Tuesday, Oct. 15, starting at 7:30 p.m. The show will air on the UP network on Monday, Oct. 21, at 8...
by Sydney Poe | Sep 17, 2013 | News Slider
The Contributor, a local non-profit newspaper, is currently in a financial bind after reports of the paper shutting down surfaced at the end of last month. Vendors across the area rely on the paper for a major source of income. Vendor George Woods stands at the corner of Glen Echo and Belmont Boulevard greeting drivers and Lipscomb students as they walk to class each morning. He’s been selling The Contributor for four years and chose his location because he heard about the generosity of Lipscomb students. Woods kept it simple when asked about how to help the paper. “They’d have to make donations. The only thing they need is money” Woods said. Down by Music Row, drivers are referred to as kings and queens by vendor Sean L. He sells The Contributor seven days a week, eight hours a day, rain or shine. He makes sure to treat people with respect and is quite the popular individual with his customers. Many drivers shout greetings as they drive by like they’re talking to an old friend. By selling The Contributor, Sean is able to pay for a weekly motel room, put food on the table and help his mother each week. He’s close to getting his own apartment, but losing The Contributor would set him back. “The paper means that I can support myself, that I have a life […] and that I can do better for myself, save money and help others besides myself,” Sean L. said. Both Woods and Sean L. say it’s not difficult to help The Contributor. Any donation is welcomed and will go a long way to help the paper. Donations...
by Logan Butts | Sep 16, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
Before the semester becomes too overloaded with events and calendars gets completely booked, Lumination would like to offer a handy guide to all of the events coming up during the fall semester. September looks to bring a full slate of men’s and women’s soccer games. Pledge week also kicks off in September as Bid Night took place Sept. 12. Some of Lipscomb’s most anticipated events begin in October starting with the Tau Phi Cowboy show on Oct. 5, Paint the Herd on Oct. 30 and Haunted High Rise scaring students on Oct. 30. The women’s volleyball schedule kicks into high gear during October as well. Lipscomb’s annual Dodgeball tournament will start November off with a bang. The men’s basketball team will open up their season against Belmont with the Battle of the Boulevard against rival Belmont on Nov. 8, followed by the women’s Battle less than a week later on Nov. 14. Everything from sporting events across all sports to special Student Activities Board sponsored events, to usual favorites like Wednesday Night We Eat are taking place throughout the next few months, making Lipscomb’s campus a busy place. All sporting events take place at Lipscomb University unless otherwise noted. September: 16 Women’s Soccer Battle of the Boulevard vs. Belmont at 7:00 18 Wednesday Night Devo/Wednesday Night We Eat 19 SGA Coffeehouse Maggie Moo’s 9:45 p.m. Bison Square 20-22 Men’s Tennis MTSU Fall Tournament 20 Men’s Soccer vs. Appalachian State 7:30 p.m. Fun in the Square 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Almost Golf 20-21: Midnight Movie: Space Jam at The Belcourt 21 Volleyball vs. Kentucky 2:00 p.m. 22 Men’s Soccer...
