SGA debate set for Monday evening, elections begin Tuesday

The Student Government Association Presidential Debate is set for Monday, April 6 at 5 p.m. in Shamblin Theater. Elections will be held on Tuesday, April 7 in Bennett Campus Center. Students will be able to vote for executive positions and senators from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Runoffs will be held Thursday, April 9. Students will only be able to vote for the senators in their class. Five senators are chosen for each class. Elections for Senator-at-large will be held Tuesday, April 14. To ask the presidential candidates questions, students can Tweet using the hashtag “LUdebate.” The following students are candidates in the 2015-2016 SGA election: President: Julia Allen Jordan Beale Margaret Rox Vice President: Ezra Fritz Lauren Gardiner Hannah Passamonte Jackson Smith David Villacorta Secretary: Jamie Keiser Treasurer: Adrian Ricketts Senior Senator: Zach Clemens Stephen D. Grady Brennan Johnson Cole Meador Anne-Claire Smith Kendall Young  Junior Senator: Anna Cannone Philip Grimsley Caroline Hensley Carter Hilliard Grant Mathis Megan Neuenschwander Katie Scholl Sophomore Senator: Sinney Chan Brandon Cunningham Matt Gibson Luis Hernandez Destiny S. Mhishi Megan Roberts Alleah Thompson Grayson Webber Senator-at-large: Rachael Langston Caleb...

‘Ready’ takes Singarama Sweepstakes Award

Ready or not, Singarama has come to a close for 2015. Ready or Not was also the group that stole the show this year, winning the Singarama Sweepstakes Award Saturday night in Collins Alumni Auditorium.  “We started working on the show before Christmas break,” script writer Craig Harwell said. “It has been a gradual process working out the kinks of everything, and we’re so pleased with how everything worked out. We feel like our script, music and dancing really came together in an amazing way, and that we told a great message to the crowd.” The story of Ready or Not was centered around Caroline, a girl who was getting prepared to move to New York to attend NYU. She was unsure if she was ready, along the worry of her father not ready to let her go. Despite winning, the show had some setbacks during its preparation phase. “Our original actor who played the father broke his back last week, so we randomly brought in someone completely new,” director Anne-Claire Smith said. “It took us forever, but we worked so hard these past couple days and it has for sure been proven since we won.” “Ready” consisted of the social clubs Phi Sigma, Sigma Iota Delta and friends. Among the group of friends was IDEAL student A.T. Banks. The IDEAL program has become an important feature on campus, and one that was made even more clear during the IDEAL tribute at Singarama. In between every show, a tribute video for the IDEAL program played, accompanied by the voices of the hosts and hostesses. It was shown to honor the students and...

‘Ready’ wins theme category, ‘Set’ wins music category in opening Singarama show

Though snow and ice scattered the ground, Lipscomb students glided across the stage in Singarama’s opening night.  The 52nd anniversary of Singarama kicked off in Collins Alumni Auditorium on Friday following a cancellation of Thursday’s original opening night. Because of the cancellation on Thursday, the teams, following the themes of “Ready,” “Set,” and “Go,” were judged in the categories of theme and music during the same night. The three shows were Ready or Not, directed by Anne Claire Smith, Back on Set, directed by Carolanne Deaton and Go For Your Dreams, directed by John Alex Foster. Ready or Not and Back on Set won the awards for best theme and best music respectively. Deaton said that Thursday’s cancellation actually helped the group. “We got more time to practice, so I think it got us better prepared for tonight,” Deaton said. Savannah Pickens, a member of the group Ready or Not, also explained that, at first, the cancellation was a “bummer,” but the group was able to work on small details of the show during the extra time. She also said that the crowd had more energy. “It ended up being good because the crowd had more energy tonight, and we did too,” Pickens said. The next show will be a matinee on Saturday at 2 p.m. followed by the final show at 7:30 p.m. Photo gallery by Erin...

Thursday Singarama show canceled due to winter weather

Thursday night’s Singarama show that was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Collins Alumni Auditorium has been canceled due to road conditions and snow accumulation. Thursday’s showing of the highly anticipated event — that many students have worked on since January — will not be rescheduled. But Friday’s show at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday’s 2 and 7:30 p.m. showings remain on schedule as of today. Meanwhile, the Singarama groups “Ready,” “Set” and “Go” will continue working on their performances. “Another day of practice never hurt anyone,” sophomore Zack Eccleston said. While more practice time is helpful for the teams, Eccleston said he is still eager to perform the show for an audience. “We’re all ready for people to see it,” Eccleston said. “Hard work might be an understatement. “We had a month less to work on our shows this year compared to last year, so everyone’s been really great about learning everything in half the time we got last year,” Eccleston said. “Our directors have been incredible in creating this show, and everyone participating in it has put in so many hours to get these dances down, learn the music and still put a focus on school work at the same time.” This year’s Singarama production is Ready, Set, Go! featuring groups led by student directors Anne Claire Smith, Carolanne Deaton and John Alex Foster. Despite the weather, Singarama participant and freshman Eliza Claire Neese is ready to perform. “Our energy is high and I feel we are ready to perform,” Neese said. “If the weather is too dangerous [Friday] I encourage people to attend a different night, as the shows have been rigorously created...

52nd Singarama to hit Collins this Thursday

Months of hard work will soon pay off for students involved in Lipscomb’s 52nd annual Singarama, which opens this Thursday in Collins Alumni Auditorium. This year’s Singarama production is Ready, Set, Go! featuring groups led by student directors Anne Claire Smith, Carolanne Deaton and John Alex Foster. This year’s hosts and hostesses are Delaney Brown, David Austin Lowery, Michael Oruma, Caitlin Phelps, Tyler Russell and McKenna Smith. Aaron Sain is the host and hostesses director. “Go” is the story of a window washer who wants to enter the world of business. It features songs such as “Status Quo” from High School Musical, “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake and “You Can Go Your Own Way.” Clubs participating in “Go” include Delta Omega, Delta Sigma, Kappa Chi, Sigma Omega Sigma and Tau Phi. Delta Sigma member Laney Overton has especially enjoyed bonding with students from other social clubs. “Being in a social club you sometimes are confined to your social club, and Singarama’s a really great opportunity to branch out and meet new people from other clubs,” Overton said. Students have been working on their shows since January, often practicing five days each week. Frequent practices do not bother Singarama first-timer Tiffany Best, though. “Whenever I’m stressed or busy or upset I can just take my mind off of it and sing my heart out,” Best said. Anna Grace Wolfe of Delta Sigma has also enjoyed the practices but is especially enthusiastic about taking the stage at Singarama for the first time. “I’m excited to be on stage and the moment where we first walk onto the stage,” Wolfe said. Overton, who participated last year, is looking forward...