“They gentrified The Well!” Lipscomb senior Diane Brown threw her hands in the air. “There’s no character.” The Well Coffeehouse off of Granny White Pike has recently fallen victim to the boring beige trend. What used to be a cozy, warm coffee shop full of wood-paneled walls and colored photographs showing people around the world that The Well has helped is no more. Now, the walls are blank and boring. The seats are stark, plain wood and the counter has been painted a bright blue. Perhaps saddest, though, is the large wooden map decorated with orange pins and small photos, showing every location where The Well has dug a well for an under-reached community, is gone. Though a new map has replaced it on another wall, it’s less fun – a more sterile version of the original, in bright white and blue. If you didn’t already know The Well’s mission, you would never know it now, looking at the decor. Where once was a map showing every location wells have been dug through The Well’s profits, there is a rack of items for sale. The new map that has replaced it is boring and “trendy,” but fails to relay The Well’s mission. The Well was founded by a Lipscomb alumni, Rob Touchstone, and it donates all of its profits to digging wells in under-reached communities. They have dug wells in countries all around the world, including those in Africa and South America. The Well’s mission statement is “turning coffee into water.” (Click this link to read more about The Well and its founder, in Herd Media Jude Henderson’s article.) All the photos of happy children and gallons provided that used to surround the order counter have vanished, as have the large prints of children with their hands under water spickets. The few photos that do remain are small, and so overwhelmed by the off-white walls and tan shelves they sit on – not to mention the white matting around each photo – that they are barely noticeable. Not even the bathrooms were spared in the remodel. Gone are the homey paintings of barns and cabins, the pictures of people helped by The Well’s efforts. Instead, simple blue and white wallpaper tops a chair rail, as bland as the rest of the cafe. One of The Well’s biggest issues is seating. Yet the new remodel did nothing to grant them any more. Instead, it decreased the available seats. Though this will change whenever The Well expands, but that comes at the loss of the Subway next door. Brown, in her fourth year at Lipscomb, has been going to The Well since her sophomore year for both coffee and concerts. “I just think it sucks that such a unique and cool space looks like everything else,” she said. I couldn’t agree more. Many other students have made comments about the remodel, as have several employees, and all are in the same vein – they don’t like it. The term “gentrified” has been used by far more than just Brown, and many have lamented its new “boring” scheme and decor. Personally, I loved how The Well felt like a European coffee shop – how it was cozy inside, and the darker colors and welcoming, friendly atmosphere encouraged relaxing and staying awhile. Now, The Well’s new stark interior feels like everywhere else; it’s too crisp, too bland, even if it does “match” the ones in the rest of the small chain. The color scheme is so brightly white and beige that it borders on annoying, and this replacing the eclectic wooden walls and warmer color scheme is a sad loss to what was a unique coffee shop. “Their original layout was really solid,” said Brown. “When you walked in, it was like ‘yeah, this is The Well!”’ Now it looks like every modern space.” Photos taken by Micah Barkley.
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.
“They gentrified The Well!” Lipscomb senior Diane Brown threw her hands in the air. “There’s no character.” The Well Coffeehouse off of Granny White Pike has recently fallen victim to the boring beige trend. What used to be a cozy, warm coffee shop full of wood-paneled walls and colored photographs showing people around the world that The Well has helped is no more. Now, the walls are blank and boring. The seats are stark, plain wood and the counter has been painted a bright blue. Perhaps saddest, though, is the large wooden map decorated with orange pins and small photos, showing every location where The Well has dug a well for an under-reached community, is gone. Though a new map has replaced it on another wall, it’s less fun – a more sterile version of the original, in bright white and blue. If you didn’t already know The Well’s mission, you would never know it now, looking at the decor. Where once was a map showing every location wells have been dug through The Well’s profits, there is a rack of items for sale. The new map that has replaced it is boring and “trendy,” but fails to relay The Well’s mission. The Well was founded by a Lipscomb alumni, Rob Touchstone, and it donates all of its profits to digging wells in under-reached communities. They have dug wells in countries all around the world, including those in Africa and South America. The Well’s mission statement is “turning coffee into water.” (Click this link to read more about The Well and its founder, in Herd Media Jude Henderson’s article.) All the photos of happy children and gallons provided that used to surround the order counter have vanished, as have the large prints of children with their hands under water spickets. The few photos that do remain are small, and so overwhelmed by the off-white walls and tan shelves they sit on – not to mention the white matting around each photo – that they are barely noticeable. Not even the bathrooms were spared in the remodel. Gone are the homey paintings of barns and cabins, the pictures of people helped by The Well’s efforts. Instead, simple blue and white wallpaper tops a chair rail, as bland as the rest of the cafe. One of The Well’s biggest issues is seating. Yet the new remodel did nothing to grant them any more. Instead, it decreased the available seats. Though this will change whenever The Well expands, but that comes at the loss of the Subway next door. Brown, in her fourth year at Lipscomb, has been going to The Well since her sophomore year for both coffee and concerts. “I just think it sucks that such a unique and cool space looks like everything else,” she said. I couldn’t agree more. Many other students have made comments about the remodel, as have several employees, and all are in the same vein – they don’t like it. The term “gentrified” has been used by far more than just Brown, and many have lamented its new “boring” scheme and decor. Personally, I loved how The Well felt like a European coffee shop – how it was cozy inside, and the darker colors and welcoming, friendly atmosphere encouraged relaxing and staying awhile. Now, The Well’s new stark interior feels like everywhere else; it’s too crisp, too bland, even if it does “match” the ones in the rest of the small chain. The color scheme is so brightly white and beige that it borders on annoying, and this replacing the eclectic wooden walls and warmer color scheme is a sad loss to what was a unique coffee shop. “Their original layout was really solid,” said Brown. “When you walked in, it was like ‘yeah, this is The Well!”’ Now it looks like every modern space.” Photos taken by Micah Barkley.
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.