by Hunter Patterson | Mar 12, 2012 | News Slider
Soulforce members are trained to face hate and discrimination when they arrive on a Christian campus. However, they were met with optimism and gratefulness during their three sessions with the Lipscomb community on Monday. Soulforce is a “national non-profit that works nonviolently to end the religious and political oppression of LGBTQ people.” Since 2006, Soulforce has used their Equality Ride to initiate conversations and promote dialogue on Christian college campuses that “discriminate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals and their allies.” On Saturday, the Equality Ride bus rolled into Nashville. Since then, members of Soulforce have met with students, faculty and administration from Lipscomb as well as other faith-based universities in Nashville such as Trevecca and Belmont. Soulforce said the university has been very hospitable to its group. This is not always the case for the LGBTQ organization when they approach a campus asking for dialogue and discussion. Last week in Atlanta, the group encountered resistance from Carver Bible College when trying to establish a dialogue on their campus. On its blog, the group says they were forced to stay on the sidewalk outside the gate. Because of the decision to lock them out, their communication with students was limited to singing and holding up signs that could be seen through the windows of Carver’s chapel. Attending Monday’s event at Lipscomb came with strict guidelines. All attendees were told to arrive at least 10 minutes early and to have their Lipscomb IDs in hand. The doors closed on the hour, every hour, to prevent any sort of interruption during the session. Students and faculty who arrived late...
by Hunter Patterson | Feb 10, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
NASHVILLE (Feb. 10, 2012) – Senior guard Jordan Burgason has been dismissed from the men’s basketball team for violating team rules, Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson announced today. The violation has also led to his dismissal from the university. “I love Jordan and wish him nothing but the absolute best,” said Hutcheson. “But he broke university rules that he knew he was breaking. We had clearly advised him, and he was aware of the consequences of making a bad decision.” A 6-foot-3 guard from Ames, Iowa, Burgason owns Lipscomb’s NCAA-era record for three-pointers with 282. This season, Burgason averaged 16.4 points and made 71 of 135 three-point shots for a 52.6 percent shooting average, making him third in the nation in this category. He led the Bison in three-point shooting, having made nine three-pointers in games against Iowa State and ETSU this season. Burgason finished with 1,132 career points and ranked No. 35 on Lipscomb’s all-time scoring list. Burgason was named the preseason No. 24 shooter in the nation by CBSSports.com. “I want to thank Lipscomb for the unbelievable opportunity that it has given me,” said Burgason. “The whole university has showed so much grace to me. But despite that, my actions have not shown a respect for the university and its policies, and for that I am sorry. I’ll never forget the memories that I’ve made here. Thank you for the love and support that everyone has shown throughout my time here. You will always be family to me.” Burgason was suspended earlier in the season for conduct violations and missed the first two weeks of the regular season schedule. When Burgason rejoined...
