by Brianna Langley | Nov 13, 2013 | News Slider
LIS is officially known as “Lambda Iota Sigma,” but group president Shilpa Naruka tells us that the organization prefers to be called by LIS’ more descriptive and fitting name, “Lipscomb International Students.” “Anyone can be a member,” Naruka said. “Basically, it’s a cultural awareness group and more of an open group. I would not say it’s just a social group.” People of all backgrounds, ethnicity, gender and religions can become a part of LIS without having to go through the pledging process that most service and social clubs require. “We do have some rules,” Naruka said. “But, we do not have any pledging, and we do not have any restrictions on who can enter the group.” When a few of the international students on campus came up with the idea of doing an international fashion show last year, they also decided to create a more solid, organized culturally-aware group within Lipscomb before attempting such a large undertaking of a show. “The fashion show was the first big event we really thought of,” Naruka recalled. “But, before doing that event, we wanted to start the group, so we did quite a few little events like movie nights.” And so, LIS began. As a Lipscomb University club, the numbers reveal it’s not-so-humble beginnings. Over 25 members joined LIS during its first year, which is more than most social clubs achieve after their first several years. LIS has adopted the week of the upcoming and much-anticipated Stomp Fest as International Education Week. This means that, aside from the club being showcased as a part of Tuesday’s Stomp Fest, they will be hosting...
by Ariel Jones | Nov 13, 2013 | News Slider
Eight social clubs. One crowd. Three judges. One winner. Kappa Iota Theta once again sponsored the ever-popular Stomp Fest event, which drew a large crowd to the sold out show. From top to bottom, Collins Alumni Auditorium was filled to the brim with Lipscomb students, faculty, parents and alumni. Lipscomb’s own TJ Ojehomon hosted the event, adding energy to the already energized group. Ojehomon went on to introduce the social clubs competing for the Stomp Fest 2013 title after an opening number where two members from each social club were represented. The first set of social clubs then performed their rehearsed routines. After a 10 minute intermission and performance by Michael “Mic O” Oruma, another one of Lipscomb’s own, the second half of the show began. The remaining social clubs closed out the night with cheers and applause, leaving the crowd to wonder who would be champion. Three judges, Shirley Bailey, Krystal Brown and Jessica Rich, who have over 20 years of combined experience in stomping, decided the winner of the competitive step show. Ojehomon called all participants to gather on stage for the announcement of the runner up and winner of 2013 after the judges tallied their scores. Pi Delta claimed second place while Sigma Iota Delta won the title as the 2013 Stomp Fest winners. Anthony Strode, a member of Sigma Iota Delta, shared how it felt to be the 2013 Stomp Fest winner by saying how surprised he was about being proclaimed champion. “I was so surprised. It was a last minute thing,” Strode said. “ We didn’t come in feeling confidant, but we all prayed about...
by Cory Woodroof | Nov 8, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
A big storyline coming into tonight’s 133rd annual Battle of the Boulevard was the dawn of Casey Alexander’s era of Lipscomb men’s basketball in a season-opening game that pitted him against his old friend and new on-court competitor Rick Byrd. After the game, though, it’s pretty apparent that everyone will now be talking about how a group of Bisons under new leadership nearly toppled an Ohio Valley giant. Unlike last December’s demolishing 100-66 loss at the Curb Event Center, and last November’s 89-60 walloping at home, the Lipscomb men’s basketball team went blow for blow with the rival-down-the-road Belmont Bruins for forty minutes Friday night in Allen Arena, nearly upsetting Belmont in a close contest. In one of those games where it truly depended on who was holding the basketball last, a crowd of close to 5000 watched the Bruins emerge from the brawl victorious, winning 87-83 and notching a second consecutive ‘Battle’ win at Allen. From the get-go, Lipscomb and Belmont didn’t budge on letting either team take a wide margin lead. The Bruins were the first to get close, going up 20-10 at 11:06 in the first half with a potentially tone-setting dunk from redshirt senior Blake Jenkins. But, the Bisons remained persistent, chipping away at Belmont’s lead. At the half, Belmont led 35-32. In the second half, redshirt freshman J.C. Hampton and redshirt junior Carter Sanderson began to get open from the arc, knocking down key three-pointers that helped the Bisons go up by eight with 13:02 left in the game. However, the Bruins continued to capitalize on Lipscomb fouls from the line, never allowing the...
by Bridgette Begle | Nov 7, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
Thursday, Nov. 7, the head basketball coaches of the Boulevard, Casey Alexander and Rick Byrd, met in the Hall of Fame room at Lipscomb University for the Golden Bison Luncheon. With the upcoming Battle of the Boulevard, both coaches sat down to talk about their connected past and how the future would look. Lipscomb coach, Casey Alexander, says that “[Byrd’s] greatest attribute to me is that he clearly knows what he wants and he won’t compromise anything to get there.” Quick recaps of both school’s programs were mentioned, all the way back to Lipscomb winning the NAIA National Championship in 1986. When both teams made the switch to Division I, Lipscomb took a head start as the team to beat between the two. Both coaches say they respect each other’s program and feel like they are heading into a situation similar to those days, but roles are reversed. “We are in a situation right now where the Belmont program is literally, if you look at the last five or ten years- it’s the best. This is who we are comparing ourselves to. So it is similar in that way,” Alexander said. With a rebuilding couple of years on the horizon for the Lipscomb team, Casey Alexander would rather jump start that with a win over Belmont. “It’s gonna be hard to find anyone that wants to win this game more than I do,” Alexander said. Battle of the Boulevard starts at 6 p.m. in Allen Arena Friday Nov....
by Brianne Welch | Nov 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
Lipscomb president Randy Lowry sat down with Tom Ingram for the newest installment of the “Now That You Ask…” series Tuesday night, shedding light on his time as president of the university. President Lowry is the 17th president of the school. He has been the president for the past seven years, and in his tenure, student enrollment has increased by 82%. Before coming to Lipscomb, Lowry had only visited once before. “I had heard of it, but I really didn’t know much about it,” Lowry said. Since Lowry became the president at Lipscomb, there have been many changes to the way things are done. Lowry was asked how he has succeeded in making so many changes to the institution. “Well, enrollment had been down for several years, the budget had been adjusted for each of those years, and what I think we found was a community that was really hungry for a new future, a new level of engagement, a sense of success,” Lowry said. “So, a little bit of hunger gives you the opportunity as a leader to move things fairly quickly.” Lowry went on to talk about some of the changes he is the most proud of and what else there is to do at Lipscomb. “I’m proud of our engagement with the community. When I arrived it seemed to me we were a little comfortable in Green Hills and a little removed from whatever was going on in the life of the city,” Lowry said. “People encouraged me to engage, and the city has been so responsive to us.” Lowry said that while he believes that...
