Editorial: Texting and driving – don’t let temptation defeat good judgment

You’re driving down Woodmont Boulevard, heading back to campus. As you pull up to the traffic light at Granny White, you look up and slam on your brakes, realizing the car in front of you is just a few inches away. You let out a sigh of relief and finish the text you were just sending.  I would bet almost all of us have been guilty of texting and driving. Most people say they know it is unsafe, but an unfortunately high number of them admit they do it anyway. Until last Thursday, I was one of those people. On Thursday in women’s chapel, a former Lipscomb student shared her testimony about how she killed a man because she was driving drunk. She spent three years in prison because of it. Now she’s just 23 years old and has to live with the fact she took someone’s life. No, texting and driving isn’t the same thing as drinking and driving. It’s actually worse. Did you know that some studies show it’s even more dangerous? Think about that next time you see someone who you believe is obviously under the influence and is drifting across lanes. Then realize that what you are doing when texting and driving is probably even more hazardous. That means you could be forced to live life knowing that you took someone else’s … because you just had to send that text. Rolling your eyes about this? Stop and pay attention. This is serious stuff. Just last Wednesday, I read an article by Lipscomb’s own Professor Debi Tate about the prevalence of texting and driving and...

[video feature] Deborah Taylor Tate on Education Nation

She’s a former Federal Communications Commission Commissioner and now she’s an Executive in Residence in the Department of Communication and Journalism here at Lipscomb. Deborah Taylor Tate also recently attended Education Nation, a conference hosted by NBC in New York City confronting issues faced by our nation with regards to educating its students. To hear about her trip and how Education Nation is affecting Tennessee, Nashville and Lipscomb, watch below. Please upgrade your...

[video] The First Amendment is affecting you right now

A few big names have graced the the Department of Communication and Journalism’s classes this semester. One of those names is Gene Policinski. He is a founding editor of USA Today and has been in journalism since 1969. Currently, he is the vice president and executive director of The First Amendment Center, which seeks to build a better understanding of the First Amendment amongst the people it affects directly every day. Policinski spoke to the Communication Law & Regulation class Monday evening in Ezell about the First Amendment; its implications and its requirements. Watch below for more. Please upgrade your...