by Kathryn Farris | Feb 25, 2022 | News, News Slider
At the beginning of her tenure as Lipscomb’s President, Dr. Candice McQueen mapped out three goals for her first semester: Get to know the community, discover where gaps lie in the university and start dreaming about what’s possible. “I will tell you when I started, I began a listening process,” McQueen told Lumination. “I learned some things that I didn’t already know. And then some things were affirmed that I felt like were areas that we needed to focus on or have a strategic attention to. What I have loved is hearing feedback that does now create patterns or themes that you can act on.” In tackling her initial goals, McQueen said she has discovered a few patterns in comments from the Lipscomb community. “In terms of what I’ve heard, there are things that are student-life focused,” she said. “I’ve heard some things that are focused on academics, things are focused on how we work with our community and external folks outside of the institution. “So all of those have created things that we can start executing on now. And then many will be built into a longer-term strategic plan process.” The Lipscomb Impact 360 planning process was launched in the fall, and McQueen said she plans to complete and distribute a visioning document in May 2022. The process is being conducted by a planning committee of around 50 key university leaders, faculty of various ranks, students and other key constituencies such as alumni, according to the university website. “We are beginning on that work built on the [faculty, staff and student] survey, focus group listening sessions that I’ve had and now we’re...
by Camryn Given | Feb 14, 2022 | News, News Slider
On Wednesday, Tennesse’s Court of Criminal Appeals came to campus to hold three separate appeals cases. Collins Alumni Auditorium transformed into a real courtroom for a few hours while cases were heard. The clerk opened by telling the audience that the Court was grateful for the opportunity to hold court at Lipscomb University. Although the Court of Appeals usually hears cases in specific courtrooms in Jackson, Knoxville and Nashville, they also travel in order to be more accessible to other members of the communities. The Court of Appeals differs from the court dealings one usually sees on television. Whereas typically both sides present their full case, call witnesses, and present evidence, none of that happens in a court of appeals. In fact, there is not even a decision made at the conclusion. A case goes to the Court of Appeals after it has already received a ruling from a trial court. Instead of seeking a ruling, the appellant, or the person bringing the case, is asking for something to be corrected. Most of the lawyers on Wednesday were seeking a new trial for their client, proposing that something went wrong the first time. The Court of Appeals also differs by instead of having just one judge, there are several, who have all been appointed to their position. Judges John Everett Williams, Timothy L. Easter and Jill Bartee Ayers presided over the court. It began promptly at 9 am with the clerk announcing the judges and stating the common “Oyez, oyez, oyez.” The first case, State Of Tennessee V. Vana Mustafa, dealt with a 17-year-old convicted of first-degree murder that...
by Savannah Brouwer | Feb 4, 2022 | News, News Slider, Sports, Student Spotlight
The first Women’s Only Lift Night took place Wednesday night in the Student Activities Center. This ladies-only weightlifting night was advertised around campus for the past couple of weeks, promising female Lipscomb students a place to work out in peace. Despite it being a cold and rainy night, dozens of women showed up ready to lift and learn. What ended up being a night filled with laughter, growth, and community, began with one simple question: where can I help? This question was asked by transfer student Haley Gaines, a junior majoring in dietetics and minoring in exercise science. Gaines has been a trainer for six years, and before that was in the marine core for eight. It was in her years at the marines that Gaines realized her passion for women in fitness. She found it frustrating that she was the “only female surrounded by men that didn’t know anything about [her] body.” After years of training, she found that women would approach her in the gym and ask her questions. “I could tell that a lot of women were intimidated,” Gaines said, “and that is why Ladies Lift Night became a thing.” Gaines took her frustration around women’s discomfort in the gym and the judgment they often receive for their abilities and created the heart behind Ladies Lift Night. “I just want women to have a place where they feel confident not only on the outside but on the inside. [They should] have a place to believe in themselves.” The results are in, and the Women’s Only Lift Night did just that. The safe space Gaines tried to...
by Camryn Given | Dec 1, 2021 | News, News Slider
Students, family members and Nashville residents gathered on Lipscomb’s campus Tuesday night to celebrate the 17th Lighting of the Green. It is an annual tradition hosted by Amy Grant that ushers its attendees into the holiday mood. Some family-friendly festivities began as early as 4 p.m. including a photo opportunity with Santa for the children and a holiday market with specialty vendors. When the sun went down and the many Christmas lights began to glow brighter, the concert began. The grass outside of the Student Activities Center that usually lies empty was converted into a space for hundreds, complete with a large stage, speakers and seats for guests. Since the event was entirely virtual last year, many expressed their feelings on returning in person. “Are you happy to be back live this year?” asked NewsChannel 5’s Leland Stanton, the emcee for the event. He received delighted applause from the audience. The opening act was Lipscomb Academy’s chorus followed by Amy Grant’s first appearance. Grant has been with the event since its first show almost two decades ago. “I cannot believe we’ve been doing this for 17 years,” said Grant. “It’s so wonderful that you all made the effort – I have no idea where you parked or how far you walked!” Her second song was her own classic “Tennessee Christmas.” CeCe Winans, a well-known gospel artist, performed next. “Alright, it’s Christmas,” Winans said before jumping into her upbeat performance. Let’s have some fun!” There were several other songs from the university choir and Corinna Gill, who is Grant’s daughter. Not only was there abundant Christmas music featured, but some clips...
by Lumination Staff | Nov 24, 2021 | News Slider, Student Spotlight
As the Thanksgiving holiday approached, journalist-in-residence Tim Ghianni asked students in his writing labs to reflect on their family holiday traditions. Here are their first-person remembrances: Turkey, R&B and games at the adult table During the Thanksgiving holiday break, my family loves to come together at the dinner table and play a series of three games: Spades, Dominoes and Monopoly. It’s always a good time, because all of us are competitive and hate to lose. The room is full of focus, with the only sounds coming from the R&B music and board game pieces being slapped on the table. These moments are special, because they get to bring us all into a state of togetherness and competitiveness that we all love and thrive on. When me and my brother were young, we would always watch our parents and older cousins play these games and see the fun that they were having. We would always pace around the table and ear hustle the trash talk and banter that we were probably too young to hear. Once we got to be older, we were invited to the table and got to participate in these games and conversations. The blessing was not only getting the chance to play the game with people you love and look up to, but you get the opportunity to be surrounded by people with so much life experience. The conversations were always the best part. The life lessons and stories that were told at the table were always retained in my memory. When I was young, I was simply trying to be a fly on the wall....
