Lumination News, April 4, 2014

This week’s Lumination News features a special report from international reporter Brianna Langley on the 8.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile.  We also keep you updated with events on campus. Martin Baker gives you a look inside Bison Brawl, based off the ABC show Shark Tank. Savanna Schubert tells you all about a new bill concerning religious freedom that could affect public and private schools. Do you have story ideas? An event you want us to cover? Email our News Director...

Lipscomb group abroad in Chile safe from earthquake

Lipscomb students living in Chile this semester were far from the danger zone when the deadly 8.2-magnitude earthquake violently shook the country Tuesday. The university confirmed the group’s well-being in a press release from Assistant Vice President of Communication and Marketing Kim Chaudoin. “Lipscomb University students who are studying abroad in Santiago, Chile are more than 1,000 miles away from an earthquake that struck off the coast of northern Chile …,” Chaudoin wrote. “University officials have confirmed the safety of all team members.” Theology and ethics professor Lee Camp is leading the group while they are away, and he provided insight into the situation for the university in an email at 10:20 p.m. CST. “All is well here,” Camp wrote in the email. “No effects of the earthquake in Santiago.” A 7.6-magnitude after-shock hit the region less than 24 hours after the quake. The after-shock itself is reportedly stronger than any quake to hit the U.S. since the 7.8-magnitude 1906 San Francisco earthquake.     Photo courtesy of...

Earthquake may be unlikely, but university is ready

Lipscomb students are prepared mentally for tornados, floods and fires — but  perhaps only recently began wondering about earthquakes. The recent earthquakes in Japan have rattled many Tennesseans, especially in the western part of the state, which rests on the New Madrid fault line. Though disaster from a quake in West Tennessee is unlikely to reach Nashville, but Lipscomb is ready anyway. It has been around 200 years since Nashville’s last earthquake. Kathy Hargis, Lipscomb’s Director of Risk Management, said that “by all predictions, we are long overdue one.” Hargis said Lipscomb has an “all hazards approach” to handling any type of disaster, including an earthquake. This means that the university would be self-sufficient for a period of seven days if a natural disaster were to occur. “We are prepared to sustain around 1,500 students,” Hargis said. “We have bought bottled water, which would last about two days and large bulk water for the remainder of the week. We looked at Sodexo for food, along with purchasing dried fruit, oatmeal, peanut butter crackers and 2,400-calorie bars.” All of these emergency items are dispersed around campus in places like Allen Arena, the Student Center and in surrounding storage sites.  That way if one building collapses, all is not lost. Allen Arena would be used as an emergency shelter where an assortment of medical supplies would be available. A medical clinic could also be set up in the Baptist Sports Clinic underneath the arena, so cuts and broken bones could be treated and IV bags could be administered. Lipscomb has partnered with Red Cross and has plans in place with a trauma doctor...