The iconic cartoon “Doug”, created by Jim Jinkins, premiered on Nickelodeon 35 years ago. Jim Jinkins was a 1975 graduate of David Lipscomb College with a double major in speech and art.He was known on campus as “Bison Man” and even won the title of Bachelor of Ugliness his senior year. During his time at Lipscomb, Jinkins was a cartoonist for The Babbler, the student-run newspaper, and he was a member of the social club Sigma Chi Delta. He was named the Alumnus ofthe Year in 1999. Although David Lipscomb College didn’t offer an animation major when he attended, Jinkinswas still able to showcase his talent. He worked on an animation project his senior year that helped him prepare for the cartoon world. “Lipscomb provided me a space to work, wing it and figure it out on my own,” Jinkins said. After graduating, Jinkins went on to work as an animator for Nickelodeon. His creation “Doug”first aired in 1991, running for four seasons before being acquired by Disney for three more. “I didn’t wake up thinking, ‘I’m going to make a cartoon,’” Jinkins said. “At night, instead ofjournaling, I drew cartoons.” “Doug” began as simple doodles, cartoon versions of himself, that were never meant to beself-conscious. For Jinkins, doodling was a way to tell his own story on paper, long before thecharacter appeared on television. In the May 9, 1975, issue of The Babbler, an article titled “Bison Man Roams DCL Campus” describes an early version of the character he created. Inspired by Bison Day and his love for the League of Justice, Jinkins performed as “Bison Man,” even taking the stage at chapel to deliver spontaneous announcements. This was a stage where Jinkins could showcase his humor, character creation and creativity. From Lipscomb Chapel to Nickelodeon, Jinkins emphasized the importance of having a large platform to showcase creative work. “[Nickelodeon] gave us a space to share stories,” he said. “Which led us to the question, ‘What should we say?’” He took this opportunity to create a show that dealt with emotionally honest topics for children. “Iwanted to show kids a world where everyone took honesty seriously,” Jinkins told NickelodeonAnimation Studio in an interview. Today, Lipscomb University offers a variety of programs in film, animation, and journalism, including HerdMedia, where students showcase original work and stories. The question Jinkins once asked,“What should we say?” is still one that Lipscomb students consider today. “Lipscomb gave me an opportunity to dive head-first into the unknown,” said Braylee Epp, asophomore film major. “The film programs have immense opportunities to grow in learning.”
Starting July 1, 2026, the federal student loan system will change how borrowers repay their loans. While current borrowers will not see the immediate changes, students planning to borrow in the future could face fewer repayment options. “Most pieces are set, but things are still evolving,” said Assistant Director of Special Programs David Bender. “By July 1, that’s when students should expect to see everything set in stone.” For students taking out new federal loans after the changes, there will be two repayment plans. One option is a standard repayment plan with fixed monthly payments. Unlike the traditional 10-year plan, the length of repayment will depend on the total loan amount rather than automatically lasting 10 years. The second option is a new income-based plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. With RAP, monthly payments are based on income, not loan balance. Repayment can last up to 30 years, and any remaining balance after that period can be forgiven. However, that forgiven amount could be taxed. Some details are still being finalized, Bender said, and students should rely on official federal resources for updates. “StudentAid.gov is still the best resource as far as reading up on all those repayment plans and what’s changing,” he said. For many students, understanding repayment plans and long-term costs feels overwhelming. Amelie Burleson, a sophomore social work major, said tracking her loans has been difficult. “I tried to look on the website to see how much interest I’ve earned, but I wasn’t able to figure out the website,” Burleson said. “So, I kind of just gave up because I was confused.” The uncertainty around repayment makes growing balances feel intimidating. “I know I’m accumulating all this money that’s getting worse and worse every year,” she said. “That freaks me out a little bit for sure.” What this means for current borrowers Borrowers who take out loans before July 1 will not be required to change repayment plans immediately. Current borrowers can stay on their existing plan or switch to RAP when it becomes available. Borrowers enrolled in plans such as Parent PLUS, SAVE, PAYE or ICR may need to switch plans by 2028 as those options end. What this means for graduate students Students planning to attend graduate school after 2026 may face stricter borrowing limits. The Federal Grad PLUS loan program, which allowed students to borrow the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Federal loans may no longer cover all graduate school expenses, meaning students may have to rely more on private loans, institutional aid or scholarships. “Anytime you’re taking out a loan, assume that you have to pay back the whole loan,” Bender said. Featured image taken by Jacy Stricker.
The winter storm projected for January 2026 hit Lipscomb’s campus in a far different manner than expected. Though the forecast had called for up to 15 inches of snow, the campus saw only two to three inches. The ice that followed, however, would cause a problem. Clinging to all of the trees and power lines both on campus and around Nashville, the ice wreaked havoc. Tree limbs came crashing down all across campus with crashing thuds and rending cracks. Some smaller trees were even fully uprooted by the weight of the ice. Students were advised to avoid walking underneath trees whenever possible and to stay alert when crossing beneath one. Several of the trees exploded, with booms akin to a cannon being fired. The weight of the ice also yanked down power lines across the city. Lipscomb’s power went out around 11 a.m. Sunday, plunging every building on campus into darkness. Students gathered in the Bennett Campus Center – “the Stu,” to students – as soft alarms rang out through the dark building. The Stu’s permanent generator kicked on within the hour, garnering cheers from the students packed into the cafeteria upstairs and studying area downstairs. The cafeteria and Stu remained packed the entire rest of the day, students filling every chair and sofa in the building. Every power outlet was taken advantage of, many with power strips plugged in, as students charged their electronics. Personal televisions were also brought into the Stu and students put on the AFC football championship game and the Stanley Cup playoffs, cheers – and groans – filling the area known as Zebbie’s Lounge. Some students also brought their own PCs and played video games. Toward the evening, students received word that power would not be returned to campus; therefore, heat would not be working in their dorms. They were encouraged to shelter and sleep in other buildings: women from Fanning, Johnson and Elam in Bennett; women from The Bison and The Village in the nursing building; and men from High Rise and The Village in either Shamblin Theater or Sewell Hall. Sewell, Bennett and the nursing building were the only available options on campus with generators running. Students made the most of their powerless day, playing cards in circles on the floor of the Stu, or tackle football in the Quad beside Beaman Library. Groups of students sat together crocheting, weaving friendship bracelets, knitting and painting. Some started a spontaneous worship night in Shamblin, over a hundred students gathering and sitting on the stage to sing together. Some students chose to remain in their dorms for the night, despite the lack of heat, others chose to camp out in the buildings with generators. One girl even set up a tent in the middle of the Stu, and many of the athletes brought air mattresses and set up camp in Allen. The ice is expected to remain in the area for several days, as temperatures continue to hover below freezing. As of 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Lipscomb University is still without power. Featured image taken by Micah Barkley.
The iconic cartoon “Doug”, created by Jim Jinkins, premiered on Nickelodeon 35 years ago. Jim Jinkins was a 1975 graduate of David Lipscomb College with a double major in speech and art.He was known on campus as “Bison Man” and even won the title of Bachelor of Ugliness his senior year. During his time at Lipscomb, Jinkins was a cartoonist for The Babbler, the student-run newspaper, and he was a member of the social club Sigma Chi Delta. He was named the Alumnus ofthe Year in 1999. Although David Lipscomb College didn’t offer an animation major when he attended, Jinkinswas still able to showcase his talent. He worked on an animation project his senior year that helped him prepare for the cartoon world. “Lipscomb provided me a space to work, wing it and figure it out on my own,” Jinkins said. After graduating, Jinkins went on to work as an animator for Nickelodeon. His creation “Doug”first aired in 1991, running for four seasons before being acquired by Disney for three more. “I didn’t wake up thinking, ‘I’m going to make a cartoon,’” Jinkins said. “At night, instead ofjournaling, I drew cartoons.” “Doug” began as simple doodles, cartoon versions of himself, that were never meant to beself-conscious. For Jinkins, doodling was a way to tell his own story on paper, long before thecharacter appeared on television. In the May 9, 1975, issue of The Babbler, an article titled “Bison Man Roams DCL Campus” describes an early version of the character he created. Inspired by Bison Day and his love for the League of Justice, Jinkins performed as “Bison Man,” even taking the stage at chapel to deliver spontaneous announcements. This was a stage where Jinkins could showcase his humor, character creation and creativity. From Lipscomb Chapel to Nickelodeon, Jinkins emphasized the importance of having a large platform to showcase creative work. “[Nickelodeon] gave us a space to share stories,” he said. “Which led us to the question, ‘What should we say?’” He took this opportunity to create a show that dealt with emotionally honest topics for children. “Iwanted to show kids a world where everyone took honesty seriously,” Jinkins told NickelodeonAnimation Studio in an interview. Today, Lipscomb University offers a variety of programs in film, animation, and journalism, including HerdMedia, where students showcase original work and stories. The question Jinkins once asked,“What should we say?” is still one that Lipscomb students consider today. “Lipscomb gave me an opportunity to dive head-first into the unknown,” said Braylee Epp, asophomore film major. “The film programs have immense opportunities to grow in learning.”
Starting July 1, 2026, the federal student loan system will change how borrowers repay their loans. While current borrowers will not see the immediate changes, students planning to borrow in the future could face fewer repayment options. “Most pieces are set, but things are still evolving,” said Assistant Director of Special Programs David Bender. “By July 1, that’s when students should expect to see everything set in stone.” For students taking out new federal loans after the changes, there will be two repayment plans. One option is a standard repayment plan with fixed monthly payments. Unlike the traditional 10-year plan, the length of repayment will depend on the total loan amount rather than automatically lasting 10 years. The second option is a new income-based plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. With RAP, monthly payments are based on income, not loan balance. Repayment can last up to 30 years, and any remaining balance after that period can be forgiven. However, that forgiven amount could be taxed. Some details are still being finalized, Bender said, and students should rely on official federal resources for updates. “StudentAid.gov is still the best resource as far as reading up on all those repayment plans and what’s changing,” he said. For many students, understanding repayment plans and long-term costs feels overwhelming. Amelie Burleson, a sophomore social work major, said tracking her loans has been difficult. “I tried to look on the website to see how much interest I’ve earned, but I wasn’t able to figure out the website,” Burleson said. “So, I kind of just gave up because I was confused.” The uncertainty around repayment makes growing balances feel intimidating. “I know I’m accumulating all this money that’s getting worse and worse every year,” she said. “That freaks me out a little bit for sure.” What this means for current borrowers Borrowers who take out loans before July 1 will not be required to change repayment plans immediately. Current borrowers can stay on their existing plan or switch to RAP when it becomes available. Borrowers enrolled in plans such as Parent PLUS, SAVE, PAYE or ICR may need to switch plans by 2028 as those options end. What this means for graduate students Students planning to attend graduate school after 2026 may face stricter borrowing limits. The Federal Grad PLUS loan program, which allowed students to borrow the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Federal loans may no longer cover all graduate school expenses, meaning students may have to rely more on private loans, institutional aid or scholarships. “Anytime you’re taking out a loan, assume that you have to pay back the whole loan,” Bender said. Featured image taken by Jacy Stricker.
The winter storm projected for January 2026 hit Lipscomb’s campus in a far different manner than expected. Though the forecast had called for up to 15 inches of snow, the campus saw only two to three inches. The ice that followed, however, would cause a problem. Clinging to all of the trees and power lines both on campus and around Nashville, the ice wreaked havoc. Tree limbs came crashing down all across campus with crashing thuds and rending cracks. Some smaller trees were even fully uprooted by the weight of the ice. Students were advised to avoid walking underneath trees whenever possible and to stay alert when crossing beneath one. Several of the trees exploded, with booms akin to a cannon being fired. The weight of the ice also yanked down power lines across the city. Lipscomb’s power went out around 11 a.m. Sunday, plunging every building on campus into darkness. Students gathered in the Bennett Campus Center – “the Stu,” to students – as soft alarms rang out through the dark building. The Stu’s permanent generator kicked on within the hour, garnering cheers from the students packed into the cafeteria upstairs and studying area downstairs. The cafeteria and Stu remained packed the entire rest of the day, students filling every chair and sofa in the building. Every power outlet was taken advantage of, many with power strips plugged in, as students charged their electronics. Personal televisions were also brought into the Stu and students put on the AFC football championship game and the Stanley Cup playoffs, cheers – and groans – filling the area known as Zebbie’s Lounge. Some students also brought their own PCs and played video games. Toward the evening, students received word that power would not be returned to campus; therefore, heat would not be working in their dorms. They were encouraged to shelter and sleep in other buildings: women from Fanning, Johnson and Elam in Bennett; women from The Bison and The Village in the nursing building; and men from High Rise and The Village in either Shamblin Theater or Sewell Hall. Sewell, Bennett and the nursing building were the only available options on campus with generators running. Students made the most of their powerless day, playing cards in circles on the floor of the Stu, or tackle football in the Quad beside Beaman Library. Groups of students sat together crocheting, weaving friendship bracelets, knitting and painting. Some started a spontaneous worship night in Shamblin, over a hundred students gathering and sitting on the stage to sing together. Some students chose to remain in their dorms for the night, despite the lack of heat, others chose to camp out in the buildings with generators. One girl even set up a tent in the middle of the Stu, and many of the athletes brought air mattresses and set up camp in Allen. The ice is expected to remain in the area for several days, as temperatures continue to hover below freezing. As of 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Lipscomb University is still without power. Featured image taken by Micah Barkley.