by Emily Snell | Aug 27, 2012 | News Slider
Two armed Campus Security and Safety officers are on patrol during every shift this semester. Brad Wyatt, director of security, and Phil Ellenburg, Lipscomb’s general counsel, said the university has been working on the arming process for a few years. “For the last five years, we’ve been really intentional about upgrading all of our security and safety, emergency planning, everything across the board for the institution,” Ellenburg said. “We’re trying to improve and increase our professionalism. Over the last five years a lot of improvements have been made, but over the last two years, we’ve had a very intentional process where we’ve done several things, and the arming component was a part of that whole process.” Ellenburg said there weren’t specific events that prompted the decision to begin the armed patrols over the summer, rather it was “a normal step in enhanced service.” Wyatt said Lipscomb’s security and safety department, in recent years, intentionally has been hiring officers who would fit the qualifications for an armed officer. The department created a “Security Officer II” position, which requires an advanced security background for example as a police officer, military police officer, armed hospital or prison security officer. Wyatt and Ellenburg said all of the university’s security officers are licensed with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, which handles both unarmed and armed security licensing. “Our internal policies as far as training and standards for officers are a lot higher than the baseline for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance,” Ellenburg said. In addition to licensing, Lipscomb hired a security expert from the Boston area to analyze the campus...
by Nicci Carney | Aug 25, 2012 | News Slider
Record-setting enrollment, the start of a new semester and changes to overflow parking have students concerned about the on-campus parking situation. Most of the overflow parking lot at Stokes Elementary School has been closed for Lipscomb parking, and the closest parking lot near the campus is at Lipscomb Academy’s football field, 10 minutes away from campus. Students affected the most by this change are the upperclassmen, commuter students. Lipscomb senior Gillian Pulley said she is not happy about how parking has been managed since she has been a student here at Lipscomb. “I feel like parking should not be as bad as it is,” she said. “As an upperclassmen, I don’t want to park 10 miles away or 10 minutes walk away from campus.” Students say parking far away from campus is not only inconvenient, but at night, it can become an issue of safety. “When I leave campus and come back late at night, I can’t find parking near my dorm, and I have to park very far away,” said freshman Michaela Canter. Junior Daniel Cal said the move from Stokes to the high school football field could result in even more difficulty getting to school on time. “We already had a far walk [from Stokes],” he said. “Now that we are at the football field, it’s that much farther. If you’re already late, then it makes it that much harder.” Kim Chaudoin, director of University Communication and Marketing, sent emails to students and faculty announcing the sudden changes to parking and updating the Lipscomb community mid-week. “Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we...
by Emily Snell | Aug 24, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
In the semester’s first installment of Lumination News, Caitlin Selle and Nick Glende are behind the news desk to update you about what’s happened on campus over the summer and during the first week of classes. Madeline Smith shares what’s new in entertainment news, while Kelly Dean brings you up to speed with Lipscomb sports. Jeremy Keck offers a look at the weather forecast. Videos feature comments from friends of Matt Deery, whose memorial service took place on campus Thursday; a recap of QuestWeek; details about changes to campus buildings, meal plans and parking; and information about the Joshua Project, a mentoring program started by the Campus Ministry...
by Cory Woodroof | Aug 23, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb’s baseball, softball and women’s basketball programs have brought on new personnel to help coach their respective teams in preparation for their upcoming seasons. Baseball head coach Jeff Forehand announced the hiring of former MLB player Paul Phillips as an assistant coach, replacing Chris Collins, who accepted a job with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in June. Phillips is a veteran backstop, having played for the Colorado Rockies, the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox during his 15 years in professional baseball. Having played in over 900 games, Phillips will end his time with the Las Vegas 51’s (of the Pacific Coast League) before joining the Bisons’ staff. Coach Forehand told athletics that he believes Phillips will be a great addition to the program. “The amount of knowledge and experience that Paul is going to bring to our team after 15 years in professional baseball and parts of seven seasons in the big leagues is huge,” Forehand said. “It will be a tremendous asset to not only our catchers but our pitchers and hitters as well. He’s going to be a great addition to our staff.” Phillips also seemed enthusiastic about being hired. “I’m really excited to start a new chapter in my life after 15 years of pro ball,” Phillips said. “Being able to stay at home with my family more so than I am now, being able to be in Nashville full time and being at Lipscomb is something that I’ve waited for, for a long time.” Phillips joins assistant coach Tyler Shrout. New women’s basketball Head Coach Greg Brown has hired Cara Hyatt as an...
by Cory Woodroof | Aug 20, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
A trip to Rupp Arena, Oxford, Miss., and Memphis are just a few of the highlights on the Lipscomb men’s basketball schedule for the 2012-13 season that was unveiled today. The Bisons are set to take on a few big-name teams this season, including the defending National Champions, the Kentucky Wildcats. Outside of conference games, the men’s team will play Kentucky, Ole Miss, Memphis, Gardner-Webb and Austin Peay at their respective stadiums. At home, the Bisons will play Freed-Hardeman, Maryville, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin and recent NCAA tournament participants Murray State in their non-conference match-ups. The annual Battle of the Boulevard series against Belmont will take place at Allen Arena on Friday, Nov. 9, and at Belmont on Tuesday, Dec. 4. This is the first series in which the Bruins are competing outside of the Atlantic Sun Conference, as the team moved into the Ohio Valley Conference earlier this year. Coach Scott Sanderson, entering his 13th season as head coach of the men’s basketball team, told Lipscomb Athletics that he believes having home games against notable, non-conference opponents is very significant for the team. “Those games are important to us,” he said. “Having a couple of marquee games at home like Belmont and Murray State, who will be the first top-25 team to ever come in here and play, is huge.” Sanderson also believes that the lofty schedule might be one of the team’s toughest in recent years. “This is probably one of the most challenging schedules we’ve had,” Sanderson said. “With Memphis, Kentucky and Ole Miss, who I think is going to be a really good SEC team, along with...