by Stephanie Schiraldi | Mar 29, 2015 | News Slider
Collins Alumni Auditorium was full of life Saturday night — life that will help bring water to those in need. The 13th annual Anteater’s Ball brought incredible vocals, comical dance routines and a lip sync battle. The variety show is hosted by Alpha Phi Chi and Pi Kappa Sigma. Director of Anteater’s Ball Chris Netterville, a junior English major from Nashville, said putting the show together is a big task, but the end result is worth it. “What separates Anteater’s Ball from Singarama or anything that the performance art departments put on is that Anteater’s Ball is solely aimed towards serving,” Netterville said. “We aim to use our performance talents to directly impact the world around us by raising money for local nonprofits.” This year, all proceeds went toward the Well Coffeehouse’s Groundswell Project .95. The Well is a non-profit missional coffeehouse providing quality coffee in exchange for funds to provide clean water for people around the world. The Groundswell Project .95 is raising $38,000 to support the Well’s next well drilling project in Nairobi, Kenya. The project plans include building three wells around that area. “Project .95 is designed to be able to help an area of Kenya that has not had rain in over seven years,” said Steve Morrow, secretary of the board for the Well Coffeehouse. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to be raised in a nation that might not potentially see rain for that long.” The Well has built six wells in Africa, three wells in Haiti and five water filtration systems around the world since opening two years ago. “It’s been a thrilling ride to watch God,...
by Brianna Langley | Oct 31, 2014 | News Slider
Due to rising concerns about the Ebola virus, Lipscomb students, parents and faculty are making some difficult decisions about international travel. With Commitment Week just around the corner for Lipscomb Missions, as well as Spring Semester Study Abroad trips coming up in only a couple of months, students and parents are faced with making decisions regarding international travel through Lipscomb-run programs. Concerns are certainly elevated in regards to travel, and especially travel going to West African countries, such as Ghana. “It’s definitely something that’s been on my mind and something I’ve been praying about,” Lipscomb junior Trisha Stocker said. “It’s definitely a concern and it’s something that’s scary, but at the same time, if God wants me to go and He opens the doors, how can I say no?” Stocker has been planning on participating in Lipscomb’s mission efforts in Ghana for two years now; however, due to the unforeseen epidemic, her parents are now understandably cautious about sending her. “I am being respectful of my parents since I am still dependent on them to a certain degree, so it is hard to feel called to go and then have some doors possibly be closing, but if God wants it, it’ll happen,” Stocker said. Missions coordinator and Ghana Missions team leader Paul Stevens says he wants parents and students alike to understand the high level of security and safety Ghana has developed as a country over the years. “The thing about Ghana that makes me feel a little bit more comfortable with it is just knowing that it is the most stable, most advanced country not just in West...
by Gemikal Prude | Oct 5, 2014 | News Slider
Instead of sleeping in, many people gathered together at Lipscomb’s campus on Sunday morning to participate in the Sara Walker Run: Live For Today 5k. The walk took place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. All proceeds raised from The Sara Walker Run benefit The Sara Walker Foundation. The foundation was established to continue the ministry of encouragement and outreach that Sara Walker, a Lipscomb alumna, pursued in Malawi, Africa. Walker suffered from cancer and passed away in August 2012. Friends began The Walker Run in 2011 as a way to raise money to support the Walker family during Sara’s illness. They joined together once again following Walker’s passing to form The Sara Walker Foundation. This is the second year in a row that Lipscomb has hosted the run. “I think it’s great to really have everyone come together and see the good in what we look to accomplish in order to keep our message alive,” Jenny Whitefield, a volunteer and friend of Walker, said. Drew Davis, a Lipscomb parent who was visiting for parent weekend and heard about the event, spontaneously decided to participate. “It’s an incredible message to be a part of and to support,” Davis said. “I’m very proud to have had in investment in it all.” The foundation raised $55,000 for the year, which is a little above the halfway point for the goal in order to support Malawi and their medical...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Apr 4, 2012 | Opinion
Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series about factors that influence oil prices. The age old question about gas prices doesn’t have a simple answer. The amount you pay at the pump is influenced by classic economic concepts of supply and demand, as well as other factors like the difficulty of maintaining old refineries or opening new ones. Other issues that affect oil prices are international conflict and debate about ethics and the environment. International problems If you have been paying attention to international news at all within the past year, it is certain that you have heard about the ‘Arab Spring’ movement in the Middle East. The rebellion that started because a man immolated himself in Tunisia in response to oppressive government rule has swept across the Middle East. The oil supply is more uncertain because of government instability in the region. The U.S. is very dependent on foreign oil. Sixteen percent of U.S. oil comes from the Persian Gulf, according to Consumer Energy Report. The main countries in the Persian Gulf where the U.S. obtains its oil are Saudia Arabia, Yemen and Iraq. On a side note, 21 percent of U.S. oil comes from Africa. Nigeria and Algeria are among those nations in Africa that are major oil producers. Unfortunately, some African nations do not have much stability at the moment either. There are frequent clashes between Hausa-speaking Muslims and Christian members of other ethnic groups in several Nigerian cities such as Jos. The most recent was on Feb. 6 when a suicide bomber from the radical Islamic group Boko Haram targeted a church in...
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...
