by Aaron Schmelzer | Apr 3, 2012 | Opinion
Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series about factors that influence oil prices. I do not like going to the gas station. My car is one of my biggest expenses even when you discount the price of gasoline. I was nearly in pain when I saw a price of $3.61 per gallon the other day. Gas prices climbed nearly every day for the past month and a half. This nation is now nearing the infamous national average of $4.11 that was reached in 2008. To go and just say oil prices are high may or may not be a true statement. We need a level or a benchmark of economic comparison to truly say oil prices are high. According to a chart from the U.S. Energy Administration, the national gas price average has been under $3.40 for at least the past 6 years. I would say that when the price of a commodity goes above a 5-year national average it becomes ‘too high.’ It’s easy for us to discount that rising oil prices are due to speculators. It’s not just speculators, however. Speculators play a small role in determining prices when compared to the much bigger roles that supply and demand play. “Speculation goes both ways,” said Dr. Richard Grant, professor and chair of the Department of Finance and Economics, “speculators cannot drive up prices independently of real activities without risking reversal.” In other words, speculators invest to make a profit. If they expect prices to rise, they buy. If they expect prices to fall, they sell. If speculators bid prices up, they also serve to...
by Brynn Watkins | Mar 30, 2012 | Opinion
Style is found everywhere, from the hectic streets of New York City to the rolling hills of Tennessee. Style even appears at Lipscomb University. These are our stories – your stories. This is Lipscomb Street Style. Name: C A L L A N D O W N I N G Year: Freshman Style: What / I / Like Inspirations: menswear The Style Rookie Vogue 1. black shorts and demin shirt- Southern Thrift 2. shoes-Anthropologie 3. earrings-Etsy 4. brooch- Disney Store Name: E L L E N I V Y Year: Freshman Style: Simple / Quick / Comfortable Inspirations: Ruche Stylebooks 1.skirt-gift 2. shirt-Goodwill 3. shoes- Off Broadway Name: M E L I S S A W I L S O N Year: Freshman Style: Frothy / Comfy / Colorful Inspirations: Neutral Milk Hotel Colors Fairy Tales 1.shirt and skirt- Old Navy 2. earrings-Gift 3. shoes- found ...
by Nick Glende | Mar 28, 2012 | Opinion
What is your biggest fear? Personally, mine is spiders and bees. They scare the crap out of me. I would fight a bear in a fist fight in a closed off area before I willingly set foot in the same state as a beehive. Some people have more more rational fears, such as heights or death. Others may have strange fears like clowns or ghosts. Along with our personalities, our fears are unique and can shape how we live our lives. But I bet you that 99 percent of us all share the same fear: Nonconformity. Nonco-what? It means lack of, failure or refusal to conform (agree) as with established customs, attitudes or ideas. Being the odd man out. As a kid, we’re all taught to be a proud individual and to be ourselves, to avoid peer pressure and whatnot. What I realize is that, as adults, those same people who tell us to stand up for ourselves also pressure us to conform to what they or their group believe. If you grew up with a specific religious background, why do you get such hateful messages if you start thinking outside of that religion? You’re taught all through school and by your parents to think for yourself, but when you finally do, you feel the disappointment of others. That’s probably what we fear the most and why peer pressure is dangerously real. People are pressured into doing something stupid like drugs or stunts all the time but not because of their personal interest in the subject. They do it because they don’t want to disappoint their friends. I feel we may...
by Crystal Davis | Mar 8, 2012 | News Slider
With some musician friends in town for the week, I knew I’d be in charge of entertaining. Entertaining means late nights for me. I don’t do late nights well with my class schedule, but sometimes you’ve got to step out of the box and have some fun. We all went to this great little hidden restaurant called City House in Germantown. There were about 15 of us all gathered around this long table situated in the middle of the main dining floor. We jumped at the chance to order one big dinner that we would all share. After 30 seconds of contemplation we ordered 10 pizzas consisting of zucchini, hot sauce, pork and cheese. We also got five bowls of fried octopus and calamari. I know, gross! Actually, though, it was really good. The owner cooked in the kitchen, which was open for everyone on the main dining floor to see. After we ate, we sat there for about 10 minutes holding our stomachs and talking about how amazing the food was. My friend was boasting about how amazing City House was because he picked it. We nodded in sarcastic agreement. We were too stuffed to argue. After dinner, we got a few taxis into town to find a spot to hang out away from the country bars and restaurants downtown. I’m not much of a “hang out in a crowd and get pushed around” type of girl. Nor do I like having to scream at my friend to have a conversation. Therefore, we decided to go to Patterson House on Division St. in Nashville. It’s a really cool...
by Brynn Watkins | Feb 24, 2012 | News Slider
Style is found everywhere, from the hectic streets of New York City to the rolling hills of Tennessee. Style even appears at Lipscomb University. These are our stories – your stories. This is Lipscomb Street Style. Name: P R I Y A P A P P U Year: Junior Style: middle school quirky Inspirations: The Daybook Rockstar Daries J Crew 1. boots-Hunter 2. skirt-Old Navy 3. shirt- Local Honey 4. jacket-Forever 21 5. belt- J.Crew Name: A L L I S O N C O L L I N S Year: Freshman Style: whimsically feminine Inspirations: ModCloth Tumblr Ballerinas 1. dress and boots-Urban 2. necklace-ModCloth 3. jacket and tights- Target Name: M O N A I H S A M Year: Sophomore Style: Sophisticated Hip Hop Inspirations: Dwayne Wade Lebron James Kanye West 1. watch- G-Shock 2. shirt- H & M 3. pants-Karamaloop 4. hat- Lids 5. shoes-...
