Lipscomb women’s and men’s basketball took on the Belmont Bruins in a doubleheader Battle of the Boulevard, the two colleges’ historic rivalry game. Located just two miles down Nashville’s Belmont Boulevard from each other, Lipscomb University and Belmont University are the closest-by-distance rivalry in the NCAA. Each year, their sports teams face off against each other in the Battle of the Boulevard, determining who will get to “own the Boulevard” for the year. The basketball games were hosted at Belmont this year, in a doubleheader style. The Lady Bisons took on the Lady Bruins first, followed by the men. The Lady Bisons, shooting for 47.7% in field goals and 36.4% from outside the key, fell to the Lady Bruins 60-80 points on Wednesday night. Though the Lady Bruins only shot 43.5% in field goals and 29% for three-pointers, they made up for that by scoring 30 points off of turnovers and racking up 17 steals. Starting senior guard Molly Heard scored the most for the Bisons, bringing home 15 points. She also totaled two steals, five rebounds and five assists. Junior guard Elena Bertrand brought in 12 points for the Bisons, along with one steal and five rebounds of her own. The energy in the Curb Center began to rise as the men took to the court, both student sections roaring in support of their team. The Lipscomb student and fan section was packed with purple, while the Belmont sections were a sea of white. Over 4,100 people filled the seats in the Curb Center, noise and energy escalated by Belmont’s pep band and both Lipscomb and Belmont’s cheer teams. Though the Bisons held on for much of the game, at times even leading the Bruins, they eventually fell 75-68. By the first media timeout, the Bruins led the Bisons 9-5. They held onto their lead for the next several minutes, but the Bisons would answer. The two teams chased each other, leading and taking the lead, matching the score for tie after tie, drawing ahead and falling behind in a circular pattern. The Bisons took the lead, 19-17, after chasing the Bruins to pull off a tie at 16. Then they went around again, the Bruins tieing at 19, then inching forward, the Bisons following and taking the lead back. The first half closed with the Bruins just one point ahead of the Bisons, 25-24. Lipscomb had been struggling to score in the first half, shooting just 29%, although they were able to hold the Bruins defensively with 11 forced turnovers and 23 rebounds, 11 of which were offensive, in the first half alone. The second half saw the Bisons unable to shoot for the first seven minutes, but redshirt junior guard Ross Candelino was finally able to put them back on the board with a three-pointer. The team rallied from there, triples from Candelino, redshirt junior guard Ethan Duncan, senior center Charlie Williams and graduate student forward Grant Asman pulling them ever closer to the Bruins. Asman drained three in a row from outside the key in under two minutes, bringing the Bisons within just eight points of the Bruins with a little under four on the clock. The leading scorer for the evening among the Bisons, Asman brought home 13 points. The Bisons shot 32% for the game, but were able to hold the Bruins to shooting just 43% from the floor. The Lady Bisons will be on the road next, taking on Tennessee Tech on Monday, Dec. 1, at 6pm. The men will be home next, tipping off against Western Carolina at 4pm on Saturday, Nov. 22. Featured image taken by Micah Barkley.
As federal SNAP benefits remain limited, the conversation about food insecurity is growing. Dr. Autumn Marshall, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Nutrition and a registered dietitian, said people underestimate how common food insecurity is on college campuses. “I was really surprised when I did some digging on this, that about 19% of college students experience some level of food insecurity,” Marshall said. “Typically, the ones who live on campus, that’s not a problem because they’re required to have a meal plan. But students who move off campus to save money or who are living at home may be experiencing food insecurity, especially if they’re not able to work as much because they’re in school.” This year, Lipscomb created the Nourish Nook, a small food resource space located in the Office of Student Success and Well-Being. It provides microwavable meals and snacks for students who don’t have easy access to food options. Students can take up to five items every two weeks, after completing a check-in form. “When you’re hungry, you can’t concentrate in class,” Marshall said. “And, you know, we’ve seen this in little kids. That was the whole reason for the creation of school lunch and school breakfast programs was to make sure that kids weren’t sitting in class, not able to pay attention because they’re so hungry. So this just kind of brings it up to the college level.” Marshall said the rising cost of groceries and limited time to work while in school creates barriers for many students who live off campus. Some juggle multiple jobs, and that reduces the time they have to study. “I’m sure that we do have students whose families have been on SNAP benefits,” she said. “They may be here on scholarship, but that means there’s no money left over for food. So that is complicated by the government shutdown and the limit to payments.” Marshall explained that SNAP benefits are based on the federal Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the lowest-cost model for feeding a household. “The thrifty food plan is supposed to be based on the Consumer Price Index, and it’s designed to provide adequate food for the least amount of money possible. So if you look at the Thrifty Food Plan, it will tell you this is the amount of money we’re going to give per week for a family of four. And then it will define the family of four as two adults and two children under the age of 18.” Lipscomb also participates in Swipe Out Hunger, a program run through Sodexo where students can donate unused meal swipes to peers who may not have enough meals. “It provides for students who can’t afford the biggest meal plan,” Marshall said. “Sodexo manages all of that and helps students who are in need get some extra meals.” Marshall said she sees a rising need both in Nashville and nationally. She volunteers regularly with Room in the Inn, where shelters and food pantries have been strained by increased demand. “If you are a college student experiencing food insecurity, please explore the options that are available through Student Life,” she said. “Education is key, and I don’t think a lot of people get the nutrition education they need.”
Over 100,000 foreign-born citizens call Nashville and Davidson County home, making up over 15% of Nashville’s population. Many are refugees who had to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict or violence. Urban Promise was founded by Jonathan Sheahen, a former Lipscomb Academy teacher and principal and his wife, Shawna. Their mission is “to show the love of Jesus to refugees by helping them heal, learn and direct their own future for good.” On Saturday, Urban Promise hosted its 4th annual “Race for Refuge,” an event for the Nashville community to experience a simulated refugee journey. Lipscomb’s Student Government Association (SGA) senators volunteered all day to help put on the event. Rachael Ferguson, the SGA Vice President, initiated a partnership with SGA volunteers and Urban Promise last year. Ferguson volunteered with Urban Promise as a high school senior and interned with them as a Lipscomb sophomore. She saw a need for volunteers at Race for Refuge and decided to get her peers involved with the nonprofit. “I thought it would be fun to get our senators involved in Urban Promise, and give them a taste of a Nashville nonprofit in a really up-close way,” said Ferguson. “It’s a big day, and there’s a lot happening. So our senators are all spread out, each manning a different station.” Ferguson was helping with the last leg of the multi-stage course, which simulated an immigrant family’s final “challenge” before entering the United States. Teams were making their way through an “airport” with signage in foreign languages, passing government interviews and dealing with law enforcement. Earlier, competitors experienced a simulated refugee camp, which included a food distribution, water purification and firewood collection station. SGA senators ran each station. “Having SGA help out has been a godsend,” said Mary Jones, one of the Race for Refuge organizers. “It helped take the event to the next level, because we have a huge bank of Lipscomb volunteers who are super reliable. It’s great.” Jones, a Lipscomb alumna, has worked for Urban Promise for four years, joining the organization after volunteering at a Race for Refuge. One of Saturday’s SGA volunteers was Katie McGinnis, a member of the Freshman Leadership Council. McGinnis had never volunteered with Urban Promise, so Race for Refuge was her first time hearing about the organization. She said the event taught her a lot more than she expected. “It’s been very eye-opening, especially the informational session at the beginning of the day, just to realize how many refugees there are in the world, and in Nashville. It’s so cool to experience firsthand, through the simulation, what they go through,” McGinnis said. After the Race for Refuge competition concluded, Urban Promise invited volunteers and participants to share a meal. They reflected on their simulated experience and the lived experiences of many refugees. For Ferguson, the day was a reminder of a lesson Urban Promise teaches its volunteers. “People I perceive as very different from me aren’t actually that different from me. There’s so much more that unites us than divides us,” Ferguson said. She encouraged Lipscomb students to look for volunteer opportunities like Urban Promise. “Nashville is so full of diverse communities, and it’s so good to get involved with a group of people that are different from you.” Lipscomb students can apply to volunteer at Urban Promise via their website: https://www.urbanpromisenashville.org/get-involved. Feature image courtesy of Rachael Ferguson.
Lipscomb women’s and men’s basketball took on the Belmont Bruins in a doubleheader Battle of the Boulevard, the two colleges’ historic rivalry game. Located just two miles down Nashville’s Belmont Boulevard from each other, Lipscomb University and Belmont University are the closest-by-distance rivalry in the NCAA. Each year, their sports teams face off against each other in the Battle of the Boulevard, determining who will get to “own the Boulevard” for the year. The basketball games were hosted at Belmont this year, in a doubleheader style. The Lady Bisons took on the Lady Bruins first, followed by the men. The Lady Bisons, shooting for 47.7% in field goals and 36.4% from outside the key, fell to the Lady Bruins 60-80 points on Wednesday night. Though the Lady Bruins only shot 43.5% in field goals and 29% for three-pointers, they made up for that by scoring 30 points off of turnovers and racking up 17 steals. Starting senior guard Molly Heard scored the most for the Bisons, bringing home 15 points. She also totaled two steals, five rebounds and five assists. Junior guard Elena Bertrand brought in 12 points for the Bisons, along with one steal and five rebounds of her own. The energy in the Curb Center began to rise as the men took to the court, both student sections roaring in support of their team. The Lipscomb student and fan section was packed with purple, while the Belmont sections were a sea of white. Over 4,100 people filled the seats in the Curb Center, noise and energy escalated by Belmont’s pep band and both Lipscomb and Belmont’s cheer teams. Though the Bisons held on for much of the game, at times even leading the Bruins, they eventually fell 75-68. By the first media timeout, the Bruins led the Bisons 9-5. They held onto their lead for the next several minutes, but the Bisons would answer. The two teams chased each other, leading and taking the lead, matching the score for tie after tie, drawing ahead and falling behind in a circular pattern. The Bisons took the lead, 19-17, after chasing the Bruins to pull off a tie at 16. Then they went around again, the Bruins tieing at 19, then inching forward, the Bisons following and taking the lead back. The first half closed with the Bruins just one point ahead of the Bisons, 25-24. Lipscomb had been struggling to score in the first half, shooting just 29%, although they were able to hold the Bruins defensively with 11 forced turnovers and 23 rebounds, 11 of which were offensive, in the first half alone. The second half saw the Bisons unable to shoot for the first seven minutes, but redshirt junior guard Ross Candelino was finally able to put them back on the board with a three-pointer. The team rallied from there, triples from Candelino, redshirt junior guard Ethan Duncan, senior center Charlie Williams and graduate student forward Grant Asman pulling them ever closer to the Bruins. Asman drained three in a row from outside the key in under two minutes, bringing the Bisons within just eight points of the Bruins with a little under four on the clock. The leading scorer for the evening among the Bisons, Asman brought home 13 points. The Bisons shot 32% for the game, but were able to hold the Bruins to shooting just 43% from the floor. The Lady Bisons will be on the road next, taking on Tennessee Tech on Monday, Dec. 1, at 6pm. The men will be home next, tipping off against Western Carolina at 4pm on Saturday, Nov. 22. Featured image taken by Micah Barkley.
As federal SNAP benefits remain limited, the conversation about food insecurity is growing. Dr. Autumn Marshall, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Nutrition and a registered dietitian, said people underestimate how common food insecurity is on college campuses. “I was really surprised when I did some digging on this, that about 19% of college students experience some level of food insecurity,” Marshall said. “Typically, the ones who live on campus, that’s not a problem because they’re required to have a meal plan. But students who move off campus to save money or who are living at home may be experiencing food insecurity, especially if they’re not able to work as much because they’re in school.” This year, Lipscomb created the Nourish Nook, a small food resource space located in the Office of Student Success and Well-Being. It provides microwavable meals and snacks for students who don’t have easy access to food options. Students can take up to five items every two weeks, after completing a check-in form. “When you’re hungry, you can’t concentrate in class,” Marshall said. “And, you know, we’ve seen this in little kids. That was the whole reason for the creation of school lunch and school breakfast programs was to make sure that kids weren’t sitting in class, not able to pay attention because they’re so hungry. So this just kind of brings it up to the college level.” Marshall said the rising cost of groceries and limited time to work while in school creates barriers for many students who live off campus. Some juggle multiple jobs, and that reduces the time they have to study. “I’m sure that we do have students whose families have been on SNAP benefits,” she said. “They may be here on scholarship, but that means there’s no money left over for food. So that is complicated by the government shutdown and the limit to payments.” Marshall explained that SNAP benefits are based on the federal Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the lowest-cost model for feeding a household. “The thrifty food plan is supposed to be based on the Consumer Price Index, and it’s designed to provide adequate food for the least amount of money possible. So if you look at the Thrifty Food Plan, it will tell you this is the amount of money we’re going to give per week for a family of four. And then it will define the family of four as two adults and two children under the age of 18.” Lipscomb also participates in Swipe Out Hunger, a program run through Sodexo where students can donate unused meal swipes to peers who may not have enough meals. “It provides for students who can’t afford the biggest meal plan,” Marshall said. “Sodexo manages all of that and helps students who are in need get some extra meals.” Marshall said she sees a rising need both in Nashville and nationally. She volunteers regularly with Room in the Inn, where shelters and food pantries have been strained by increased demand. “If you are a college student experiencing food insecurity, please explore the options that are available through Student Life,” she said. “Education is key, and I don’t think a lot of people get the nutrition education they need.”
Over 100,000 foreign-born citizens call Nashville and Davidson County home, making up over 15% of Nashville’s population. Many are refugees who had to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict or violence. Urban Promise was founded by Jonathan Sheahen, a former Lipscomb Academy teacher and principal and his wife, Shawna. Their mission is “to show the love of Jesus to refugees by helping them heal, learn and direct their own future for good.” On Saturday, Urban Promise hosted its 4th annual “Race for Refuge,” an event for the Nashville community to experience a simulated refugee journey. Lipscomb’s Student Government Association (SGA) senators volunteered all day to help put on the event. Rachael Ferguson, the SGA Vice President, initiated a partnership with SGA volunteers and Urban Promise last year. Ferguson volunteered with Urban Promise as a high school senior and interned with them as a Lipscomb sophomore. She saw a need for volunteers at Race for Refuge and decided to get her peers involved with the nonprofit. “I thought it would be fun to get our senators involved in Urban Promise, and give them a taste of a Nashville nonprofit in a really up-close way,” said Ferguson. “It’s a big day, and there’s a lot happening. So our senators are all spread out, each manning a different station.” Ferguson was helping with the last leg of the multi-stage course, which simulated an immigrant family’s final “challenge” before entering the United States. Teams were making their way through an “airport” with signage in foreign languages, passing government interviews and dealing with law enforcement. Earlier, competitors experienced a simulated refugee camp, which included a food distribution, water purification and firewood collection station. SGA senators ran each station. “Having SGA help out has been a godsend,” said Mary Jones, one of the Race for Refuge organizers. “It helped take the event to the next level, because we have a huge bank of Lipscomb volunteers who are super reliable. It’s great.” Jones, a Lipscomb alumna, has worked for Urban Promise for four years, joining the organization after volunteering at a Race for Refuge. One of Saturday’s SGA volunteers was Katie McGinnis, a member of the Freshman Leadership Council. McGinnis had never volunteered with Urban Promise, so Race for Refuge was her first time hearing about the organization. She said the event taught her a lot more than she expected. “It’s been very eye-opening, especially the informational session at the beginning of the day, just to realize how many refugees there are in the world, and in Nashville. It’s so cool to experience firsthand, through the simulation, what they go through,” McGinnis said. After the Race for Refuge competition concluded, Urban Promise invited volunteers and participants to share a meal. They reflected on their simulated experience and the lived experiences of many refugees. For Ferguson, the day was a reminder of a lesson Urban Promise teaches its volunteers. “People I perceive as very different from me aren’t actually that different from me. There’s so much more that unites us than divides us,” Ferguson said. She encouraged Lipscomb students to look for volunteer opportunities like Urban Promise. “Nashville is so full of diverse communities, and it’s so good to get involved with a group of people that are different from you.” Lipscomb students can apply to volunteer at Urban Promise via their website: https://www.urbanpromisenashville.org/get-involved. Feature image courtesy of Rachael Ferguson.