by Katie Underwood | Feb 24, 2012 | News Slider
Lipscomb University is filled with students with poetic voices and passions to perform. And that’s what inspired the Student Government Association to establish the Coffee House series. After students arrive at Lipscomb, they discover this unique “study break” opportunity. Every Thursday night starting at 10:30, a student, or a group, performs for an audience of fellow students. Their set lasts for about an hour, and the entertainers have the freedom to play original songs, covers or a combination of the two. The student performers provide the entertainment and SGA provides the coffee. The event is held in the Starbucks on campus. During the hourlong performances, SGA picks up the tab for the students’ drinks. However, if they want to enjoy a free drink they are limited to a tall-sized coffee, hot chocolate or caramel apple spice. The SGA created Coffee House for a number of different reasons. They wanted to provide a free outlet for students to express themselves, but also wanted to encourage on-campus community and support for fellow students. Sophomore Brandon Carver has attended many of the events and will be performing with a friend later in the semester. He with many other students, regularly attend Coffee House because of the inviting atmosphere. “I go to Coffee House to support my fellow Lipscomb students,” he said. “I love the casual, easygoing atmosphere and listening to good music. You can’t refuse free coffee either.” Zach Brantley, a junior at Lipscomb, performed at Coffee House recently with two other students, Lincoln Mick and Ethan Johnson. Brantley always has been involved in music, but Lipscomb has provided him with the opportunity to bring his talents to...
by Emily Snell | Feb 23, 2012 | News Slider
The engineering department will serve free popcorn and drinks to any Lipscomb students who attend a showing of “Wall-E” Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Ezell 301. After the movie, there will be a panel discussion with Dr. Lee Camp and Dr. Steve Nordstrom about “engineering gone wrong.” The movie and discussion are just one aspect of this year’s Engineering Week, which is themed “God: The Ultimate Engineer.” Kirsten Heikkinen, student chair of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, said Engineering Week, or E-week, is a nationwide effort to recognize engineers and their work. “It really just gets what we do out there, broadcasts what we do and brings interest into the field,” said Heikkinen, a senior double majoring in mechanical engineering and applied math. “A lot of professionals participate, lots of schools, and we also do a lot of things with grade school kids too.” Heikkinen said the organizers of Lipscomb’s E-week decided to show “Wall-E” in order to facilitate discussion about how to use technology responsibly. “Technology is a part of all our lives, it’s not just engineers,” she said. “We want to discuss how you should use technology in an ethical manner. ‘Wall-E’ kind of shows how, if you don’t use technology responsibly, it could have a huge effect on how we live. We just want to get that message out there.” Levi Hobbs, vice chair for Lipscomb’s chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, agreed, saying the movie provides a comical illustration of what happens when people don’t use technology appropriately. “With our theme about God as the ultimate engineer, it’s really important...
by Hunter Patterson | Feb 22, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Don’t stop at calling Met’s pitcher R.A. Dickey a mountain man just because of his long hair and trimmed beard. He actually is a mountain man. Known now for his knuckleball, the pitcher that called Brentwood home for most of his life was the featured speaker at the annual Leadoff Luncheon sponsored by Jeff Forehand and the Lipscomb Bison baseball team. Listen below for Dickey’s conversation with the team and several supporters. Dickey highlights his experiences as a major leaguer, his knuckleball, his home in Nashville and why he was in the headlines this offseason. Photo taken from R.A. Dickey’s twitter feed. Follow him...
by Sydney Poe | Feb 22, 2012 | News Slider
It may seem like a nuisance, but tornado warnings are meant to be anything but annoying. While students may be accustomed to wintertime classes being canceled for snow days, this semester they’ve been waiting out tornado warnings in basements across Lipscomb University’s campus. It may seem overdone and unnecessary, but the Lipscomb Crisis Center takes every threat very seriously. “We try and really monitor tornado activity,” said Kathy Hargis, the director of risk management. “We have several people who keep up with that so that we can give everybody an advance warning, specifically through LU alert.” While some students may find the alerts excessive, the crisis team tries their best to keep the campus informed. Hargis says when the Crisis Center sends out an LU alert there should be an action on the other end that ultimately keeps the person out of harm’s way. And it is especially important as Nashville enters into what has typically been the most intense part of the tornado season. Every spring, cities in the South and throughout the Midwest are wiped out by tornados. Last year, storms ripped through Alabama and southern Tennessee. Also, who can forget the powerful tornado that virtually wiped Joplin, Mo. off the map. While the storms themselves are somewhat predictable, tornados can pop up within a moment’s notice, not giving people in the area time to take cover. “There have been a lot of schools in the South that have had [tornados] hit their campus,” Hargis said. “So we really feel this type of thing will save lives if they take it [seriously],” said Hargis. It may seem ridiculous...
by Kelli Blackshear | Feb 22, 2012 | News Slider
Slavery. It’s a term that may remind some of their middle school social studies class, the Civil War, or figures like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman. What may shock people is that slavery still exists. Not only that, but there are more slaves today than ever in history. People all over the world, including in the United States, are victims of slavery in its various forms including domestic slavery, bondage slavery and sex slavery. Lipscomb students interested in exploring this issue and helping eradicate slavery have the opportunity to get involved. Every Thursday night at 7:30 a group that ranges from five to 15 people meets to discuss this very question. They are known as the International Justice Mission, a chapter of the Washington-based IJM. This is the third year IJM has been on campus and is being led by Cooper McCullough. His time as IJM president has had ups and downs. “My stint as president has been both encouraging and discouraging. Some of the ideas that we’ve brainstormed, as well as the genuine passion I’ve seen in people, has been amazing,” he said. “Discouragement can creep in, though, when I feel like I’ve done a poor job providing people an outlet to combat injustice or when people make it clear that their passion for justice won’t translate into action.” Among the successes are IJM fundraisers. McCullouogh said that some of the organization’s big past events have included a dance party, bake sale, prayer vigil, student recorded album, concert and several chapels/documentaries. He said the meetings begin with “good news,” which is usually a story of rescues by IJM, and a prayer to...
