by Leslie Newman | Jul 6, 2015 | News Slider
Lipscomb’s three swings and a ring saying likely grew because there are so many swings on campus and so often passers-by see couples sitting on the swings. The basic premise of “romantic” myth is that if a couple is spotted swinging three times, then the woman will get a ring. Sometimes love does spring from those swings, other times not. “My brother and his girlfriend used to sit on the swings on campus all the time and they did get married,” 2010 grad Rachel Stevens said. “He even built a swing just like the one on campus in their backyard.” Beaman Library Archivist Marie Byers added another detail to Lipscomb students’ pursuit of a college-romance-turned-lifelong-commitment. Byers said before there were swings there were signature green benches all over campus which were known as “office spotlights.” The benches were placed in very public areas to make sure modesty was a part of any heterosexual seating. The swings of love didn’t even arrive on campus until the spring of 1989, when students spied them upon returning from spring break. The swings accompanied plans for some major buildings on campus. The new library, athletic facilities, an addition to Johnson Hall, more parking spaces and a new baseball field were all to begin construction that July. To make room six run-down houses — they must have been, as students referred to them as “the ghetto” — were demolished. That neighborhood stood where the baseball field is now. Ronnie Farris, head postmaster for The Connection, used to live in the old neighborhood that was displaced for the baseball field. He remembers having a picture of his son on a...
by Erin Turner | Jun 17, 2015 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
The sounds of Bison Square ranged from children bowing their first note on a violin to professional musicians playing overtures and dances from composers all around the world Tuesday night. The Nashville Symphony visited Lipscomb for “Symphony Under the Stars” as a part of the free community concert series. John Lowry, executive director of Spark: Lipscomb’s Idea Center, said the last time the Nashville Symphony performed at Lipscomb was in 2010 with Martina McBride in Allen Arena. “If you remember back in 2010, Lipscomb was honored to serve as a host of the Nashville Symphony for many of their concerts as they were reacting and responding to the flood — they made their home,” Lowry said. “We’re excited to have them back.” Although he’s relatively new to Music City, Nashville Symphony conductor Vinay Parameswaran said that the Nashville Symphony has collaborated with Lipscomb many times before he joined, and that all of the community concerts are important to the symphony. “I really love doing these concerts,” Parameswaran said. “It’s fun for me and I know it’s fun for the orchestra. As someone who’s kind of new to Nashville, it’s cool — I get to see new people and different places.” Parameswaran said that many of the program attendees may be symphony subscribers, but the unique thing about the summer community concerts is that they reach a new audience. “For us, we’re able to reach thousands of people through community concerts like this,” Parameswaran said. Symphony Under the Stars even brought along some little musicians who visited the instrument petting zoo, a symphony education program that allows children to get their hands on instruments...
by Brianne Welch | Apr 1, 2015 | News Slider
The paintings done in Bison Square during resurrection week are a Lipscomb tradition, but for senior Shelby Smith there is more to enjoy than just the paintings. The tradition began during her freshman year when she didn’t even think she was supposed to be involved. “I actually thought they had the wrong person when Jake [Burton] asked me to do it,” Smith said. “I was like, ‘I’m not an art major. My last name’s Smith. You may have the wrong person.’ I was a freshman so I was second guessing everything.” Smith said she quickly realized that she loved doing the paintings — so much that she has done it each year. One of Smith’s favorite parts of participating is getting to interact with the student body in the square. “I paint once a year, for this,” Smith said. “When I’m out in the square people start talking to me, which is one of my favorite parts, which is funny because I’m an introvert, but I like getting to see all the people I know and meet new people who just come up and say nice things.” Four painters, including Smith, gather in the square at Lipscomb each year during the week of Easter to paint what this time means to them. Campus Ministry chose the 2015 theme to be “Journey to the Cross.” “The theme has something to do with [the paintings] every year,” Smith said. Smith said that in past years, she, along with campus ministry, have normally chosen artists just from people they knew, but this year they widened the search. “This has been the easiest year, because as I’ve come back to...
by Erin Turner | Mar 5, 2015 | News Slider
Almost two inches of snow covered campus early Thursday morning. Classes have been canceled for Thursday, as the snow has quickly accumulated, in addition to low wind chills. Davidson County has been issued a Winter Storm Warning that began at 6 p.m. Wednesday and will be in effect until noon today. The Campus Service Operations team has worked on clearing snow from Bison Square and major sidewalks throughout the morning. University offices are closed, except for those essential to the safety and welfare of campus residents. The dining hall is open as usual, but other dining options will open based on the availability staff. This second slap of ice and snow may look a little like Lipscomb did two weeks ago, as the temperatures are predicted to remain below freezing until mid-day Friday. Photos by Erin...
by Kage Sanderson | Oct 8, 2014 | News Slider
The first outdoor jazz concert in years will be something special, according to Lipscomb director of instrumental ensembles and music professor Dr. Stephen Rhodes. “The combo soloists are outstanding local musicians who I guarantee will entertain the audience,” Rhodes said of the show that begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 3 in Bison Square. Rhodes will be directing an outdoor performance of a seven-piece Dixieland Jazz combo. Local jazz musicians will join the University Wind Ensemble for the special performance on the Collins Alumni Auditorium steps. “This will be the first outdoor concert in many years, so we are looking forward to providing some special music late in the afternoon in Bison Square, just before supper,” Rhodes said. “Among our selections we will feature a special piece called ‘Playing With Fire’, written by Frank Ticheli.” Rhodes says that ‘Playing With Fire’ is a very exciting piece that “harkens back to the style made famous in New Orleans a hundred years ago before jazz spread throughout the country.” After the outdoor concert on Monday evening, there will be 10 more concerts throughout the rest of the fall semester including a Faculty and Friends concert, Chamber Orchestra performances, a Jazz concert series and more. Don’t miss these special performances, which are free to Lipscomb...
