Liberty Champion April 30. 2019

‘Girl in a bubble’ shares her story

Celebrating a great year at Lawnvo

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VOLUME 36, ISSUE 20

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA

LIBERTY.EDU/CHAMPION | TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019 | LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

countdown to commencement

A degree warmer Students to hear VP Pence, Dr. Vines Jacob Couch jtcouch@liberty.edu

Liberty University will host its 46th Commencement exercise May 10-11. Vice President Mike Pence will address the class of 2019 graduates at the Commencement ceremony May 11 at 10 a.m.

Dr. Jerry Vines will give the Baccalaureate address at 6 p.m. Friday, May 10 in the Vines Center. Vice President Pence will address the largest Commencement in school history Saturday, May 11 at Williams Stadium.

Kevin Manguiob | Liberty News Service

ALL SMILES — A 2018 graduate smiled during the graduation ceremony. The 2019 Commencement will be May 11.

Graduation Prep On Friday afternoon, graduates need to check in for Commencement from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the LaHaye Student Union. There they will receive specific graduation information as well as pick up name cards and honor cords.

On May 11, gates will open at 6 a.m. for attendees to enter Williams Stadium. Graduates will need to line up at the Osbourne Stadium at 7:30 a.m. The Graduate processional will begin at 8 a.m. before the Commencement ceremony starts at 10 a.m.

New officers Rockey, Lusenge inaugurated Photo Provided COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS— Liberty Students traveled to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at Kennesaw State University.

Scholarly

Research rewarded at NCUR Will Evans wjevans@liberty.edu

The National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR), which took place this year at Kennesaw State University, highlights the research of college students that study in every type of field from campuses across the country. This year they hosted over 4,600 students, the largest turnout in over 30 years.

“It was a competitive process to be accepted at the conference,” Ester Warren, dean of the College of General Studies, said. “I was really encouraged by the number of presentations that were accepted – we had close to a 90 percent acceptance rate.”

Though this was Liberty’s first time participating in NCUR, they ranked No. 8 out of 400 schools for number of participants sent to the conference.

Warren attributes the success to the multiple faculty mentors who helped guide each research group in their work and encourage the students to reach their potential.

“I don’t know how many stu-

dents I talked to that said, ‘at first I wasn’t so sure that I could do this, but my faculty mentor instilled the confidence in me and made sure that I was prepared,’” Warren said.

Warren says there is not always a clear-cut path when getting involved in research projects. The best starting place is having a chat with a professor.

“Talk to your professors,” Warren said. “What are they teaching that gets you excited about learning? These research projects can spring from anywhere.”

Overall, Warren was impressed with the students who attended NCUR this year.

“I just want to add that I’m really proud of the students that went,” Warren said. “I would put them up against any student at any other school. … I truly mean that.”

To read the full version of this story, visit liberty.edu/champion.

EVANS is a content reporter.

Rockey and Lusenge ran on separate campaigns against one another, and their decision to run Derek Rockey and Esther together during this election came Lusenge were officially inaugu- as a surprise to many of their past rated April 24 to the positions of supporters. In the 2018 elecstudent body president and vice tion, the pair fiercely campaigned president, respectively, after an against one another for the student body vice president, with uncontested campaign.

Rockey taking the win with his running mate, Jake Page.

Rockey and Lusenge have openly admitted that their past campaigns had put a divide between them, but they were able to reconcile their relationship over the summer when the pair attended a trip to Israel through LU Send. The two had an opportunity to talk about their past campaigns when they ran against one another – once in class elections and again in student Mikaela Stiner| Liberty Champion body elections – and begin to resolve the TEAM — Derek Rockey and Esther Lusenge were problems they had. elected student body president and vice president.

“We had really, really great conversations According to Election Commis- where I started to see some of my sioner Luke Broadway, the pair walls go down and some of his won 89 percent of the votes from walls go down and really started students, with 11 percent of the to see the incredible things people votes going to write-in candidates. were saying about Derek Rockey,” Since the pair ran uncontested, Lusenge said. this election week was much different than any other campaigns Rockey and Lusenge have experienced in the past.

In two other past elections, See SGA, A8 Madison Hirneisen mghirneisen@liberty.edu

Dr. Vines and Vice President Pence

Graduation Stats The top countries represented by Liberty graduates are the United States, Canada, Korea, China, Nigeria, Vietnam, Germany, Japan, Bahamas and Jamaica. Interdisciplinary studies, business, psychology, human services counseling and masters of business administration will be the largest majors of the class of 2019.

More Information Information about parking, disability accommodation and security can currently be found at liberty. edu/commencement. In the chance of inclement weather, check liberty. edu/commencement for the inclement weather policy, which will be posted Friday, May 10.

See GRAPHIC, A11

What’s News

Liberty Liberty Law raises the bar

Liberty University School of Law ranked seventh of 203 schools in the nation for bar passage, according to data from the American Bar Association. Liberty also placed highest of all law schools in Virginia, Liberty News Service reported.

More information on A8.

High maintenance expectations

Liberty University’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Program won three awards at the 2019 Aerospace Maintenance Competition April 9-11, as reported by Liberty News Service. Twenty-eight teams competed in the school’s division of the competition, and large aeronautics organizations, such as Airbus, Boeing and FedEx, also competed.

Local Making a house a home Jefferson Street music venue The Glass House is under new ownership. Dave Henderson, co-owner of the Water Dog (a Jefferson Street restaurant), and several partners purchased the venue in February and hope to bring a variety of musical acts to the space. The group also completed about $150,000 in renovations, as reported by The News & Advance.

International Just the beginning for “Endgame” Perhaps the most anticipated film of 2019, “Avengers: Endgame” grossed more than $1.2 globally with $350 million in the U.S. and Canada during its weekend debut, shattering box office records. According to the Wall Street Journal, about half of U.S. movie screens were dedicated to the film during opening weekend.

content

A2 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Lawn Rainvo for final Convo President Falwell encourages LU students at final gathering of the year ers’ “Sucker.” Then Senior Vice President for Spiritual Development David Nasser took the stage to talk about some of LiberThe threat of heavy rain drove students ty’s highlights from the year. inside the Vines Center for Liberty Uni“We could talk all day about the different versity’s third annual Lawnvo April 26, but facilities that are popping up left and right, students still enjoyed free Italian ice and but what really matters here is what those a relaxed dress code. Some students sat facilities do,” Nasser said. “They equip the on picnic blankets on turf on the floor of saints to do the work of ministry. They raise the arena. up the next generation of leaders.”

Some of the ways Liberty has ministered this year included giving almost 500,000 hours Christian — President Jerry Falwell Jr. of Service to the community and providing local The final Convocation of the year opened businesses and organizations with almost with the Worship Collective performing 2,500 volunteers during Serve Lynchburg. some of the most popular songs of 2018 and In December, Liberty students collected 2019, including Zedd, Maren Morris and nearly 5,000 Operation Christmas Child Grey’s “The Middle” and the Jonas Broth- shoeboxes, breaking the world record.

Rachel Van Tuyl rvantuyl@liberty.edu

“

Don’t underestimate what God can do with your life.

David Eppinger | Liberty Champion

INDOORS — Despite not being able to sit on the grass outside, students still brought picnic blankets.

Nasser also mentioned notable Convocations from this year, including the April 17 Convocation with pastor and singer Travis Greene.

That evening, Greene led students in prayer for each other during Campus Community. One student, Brianna, asked for prayer that her family would not go into bankruptcy after her father’s medical bills.

Some students gave cash, while others gave through Cash App, giving so much that Nasser asked Brianna if she would be willing to give the extra money to others in need.

Allison Heise| Liberty Champion “Immediately, that gave her an opportunity to not just BONDING — Virginia Falwell played with with her grandfather at to be the biggest receiver, Liberty’s Convocation. but to be the biggest giver,” to where it is today, you’ll see how God can Nasser said. use somebody who is the most unlikely perStudents raised a total of $9,468 in cash son to do something big. That’s true for evduring Campus Community that evening, ery one of you. No matter how humble your and Greene and his band wrote a check to beginnings are, and no matter how difficult round the total up to $10,000. a period of your life that you go through afPresident Falwell and Becki Falwell ter you leave here, God can do something brought their granddaughters, Virginia and huge in the end. You have to remain faithful, Reagan, on stage with them. Falwell shared you have to work hard, you just have wisdom for students for the final Convoca- to believe.” tion of the semester. He spoke of Liberty’s humble beginnings – some of the university’s first students were housed in an old, run-down hotel downtown, with classes on the now deserted Treasure Island on the James River. Students being bussed to and from the island had to walk across an old bridge because the bridge could not support the weight of the buses with students on them.

“Don’t underestimate what God can do VAN TUYL is an assistant content with your life,” Falwell said. “When you hear editor. the story of how Liberty came from nothing

Spark! Tank ignites Students pitch business ideas for chance to win Jaqueline Hale jrhale@liberty.edu

Five student-run companies pitched their original business ideas Thursday, April 25 at Spark! Tank, culminating with one student winning $1,000 for his idea of swimming trunks with waterproof pockets.

Alan Sexten, founder of Vortix Apparel, won the prize for best pitch. The other competitors were Eric Garland and Gage Payne with Voici, Hannah Thompson with Llamas and Lullabies, Lillian McSweeney with Happy Lilies Crochet, and Brady Bortka with Brainchild.

There was also a marketing video competition for a chance to win $500, which Maurice Victor won with his company Seven x Seventy.

These companies participated in the eight-week Spark! Incubator program, where they were able to work through their ideas and turn them into a reality.

“The key to this program is really the mentorship, and so it’s taking your ideas, it’s taking everything that you’ve learned in college, it’s taking everything as you’ve grown up and executing,” Alex Barker, the assistant director at the Center for Entrepreneurship and leader of this program, said.

This year, the incubator program began with 32 applicants and ended with 17 students in the program. The top five student-created companies were chosen at a pre-pitch event to be featured at Spark! Tank.

At the event, each company was given

five minutes to pitch their idea and five minutes to answer questions from the four judges.

Each of the companies also earned a percentage of $1,000 from a community vote, which audience members voted for using tokens.

The judges this year were Abigail Daniels of Dawn and Dusk Donuts, Jack Edma of Rendez-Vous, Rusty Goodwin of Carol’s Place and Jonathan Brake of Market Hope.

The judges chose Sexten’s company as the winner because of its scalability and the progress he has made in making the company a strong reality.

“He has taken his idea all the way from (simply) an idea to getting sourcing, manufacturing, getting everything from the ins and outs of what does the prototype look like,” Barker said. “He has created a prototype and actually demonstrated it (at the event).”

Sexten’s idea of waterproof pockets began when he was a lifeguard over the summer.

“As a lifeguard, I heard reports pretty much every day of people losing their phones or their phones being stolen,” Sexten said.

Then when his sister’s phone was stolen, he knew he had to come up with a solution.

He heard about Spark! Tank and the incubator program and got in contact with Barker in the fall. Between his initial conversation with Barker and when he joined the program, Sexten was able to develop the prototype.

Through the program, Sexten was

Bethany Kocik| Liberty Champion

WINNER — Alan Sexten won a prize of $1000 for his idea of putting waterproof pockets in swim trunks.

mentored by Edward Giard, former vice president of licensing and accessories for Under Armor, and Michael Lovell, a patent lawyer and attorney in Lynchburg. He also spoke with professors in the School of Engineering, who helped him design the prototype.

During the incubator program, Sexten performed 370 surveys around campus and back home to gauge what people would want in the product.

Working with Clothier Design Source in Minnesota, he will have a finalized prototype by Aug. 1, and will start a 90-day Kickstarter May 31.

He hopes to use the prize money for the Kickstarter for marketing, shooting promotional videos and giveaways.

In the future, Sexten hopes to incorporate waterproof pockets into fanny packs, fishing vests, adventure shorts and more.

Sexten encourages anyone with an idea to be bold and put it out there.

“A lot of people are too afraid to share their ideas, whether it be they think they are just stupid or, more specifically, they think people are going to steal their idea,” Sexten said. “So, I would just tell people to get out of their comfort zone.”

Barker has loved seeing the impact the program has on all students who take part and the lessons it teaches.

“At the end of the program, some will continue their businesses, some won’t, and that’s totally fine because at least during these eight weeks we’ve helped them grow personally, spiritually, mentally and grow the person so that no matter what they do, they will be successful,” Barker said.

The Center for Entrepreneurship encourages students of all majors and fields of studies to seek mentorship for business endeavors.

“We deal with all students across campus,” Barker said. “Whether it’s just an idea, we are here to talk with (students) and really kind of push (students) into the right direction.”

Sexten has been putting in the work, but ultimately, he is reliant on God. “If God wants me to do it, he’ll let me do it,” Sexten said.

HALE is a content reporter.

Photo Provided

CHAMPIONS — The ad team posed after winning the the District

Three championship.

Ad champs Team wins District Three Liberty University’s advertising team dominated the field at the American Advertising Federation District Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina. The ad team became the District Three champions April 13, beating top schools, including University of Virginia, Clemson University and University of North Carolina.

The team spent eight months researching and developing an integrated marketing campaign for their client, Wienerschnitzel, a fast food hot dog company.

Research team member Emily Reidy said the team became more like family through the tears and the multiple all-nighters they pulled. The preparation culminated with the night they submitted their final pitch for competition. “(The night we submitted our pitch) was just chaos, but good chaos,” Reidy said.

Faculty advisor Dr. Kristen Hark said the competition prepares students for the work force. “(The School of Communication and Digital Content) work(s) really hard to give our students hands-on experience,” Hark said. “The (ad team) literally got to do that. …

This win gave them a real sense of clarity that the work they do is absolutely ready for the marketplace and they’re going to kill it. They won’t be mediocre entry-level employees. They’ll be really good.”

Hark said each team member knows their roles well. She attributes much of the team’s success to the hard work of Caitlyn Richard, the ad team graduate student assistant.

The ad team will advance to nationals in June, if they qualify during a question-and-answer section with the judges. Hark is hopeful that they will progress.

“I don’t see any gaps in what we’ve done,” Hark said. “That for us (means) that we could actually make it to semi-finals and then nationals.”

Emily Wood ewood13@liberty.edu

WOOD is the content editor.

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Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 | A3

Dinner is served

Falwell family, David Nasser go incognito to serve students in the Rot Former CIA Chief of Disguise, Jonna guise Jerry Falwell, Becki Falwell and Da- Thomas Dining Hall at Sparky’s Cantina, Mendez, visited Liberty’s Convocation vid Nasser as dining hall workers. They had with the goal of remaining unrecognized.

April 24. Mendez used her skills to dis- a mission to serve students in the Reber- No one saw through their disguises.

“

Undercover Boss Liberty University was a blast!

— @beckilu71, April 25, 2019

Photos Provided

INCOGNITO— David Nasser, Jerry Falwell and Becki Falwell were disguised as dining hall workers by

Jonna Mendez. They served students dinner on the night of April 23.

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion

CIA — Jonna Mendez, former CIA chief of disguise,

visited Convocation April 24.

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A4 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Fighting for justice Freedom 4/24 races for awareness of human trafficking victims worldwide Hattie Troutman hatroutman@liberty.edu

Freedom 4/24 had 460 people race for the lives of women and children forced into human trafficking in the U.S. and around the world April 27 during the annual 5K race.

The 5K event called “Run 4 Their Lives” and started at Liberty’s indoor track and field facility Saturday morning.

This local non-profit organization works to bring awareness to human trafficking and hopes to help put an end to this issue.

Throughout the year, Freedom 4/24 hosts a variety of fundraising events that allow them to sponsor their six domestic and three international partners.

According to Faith Towles, Freedom 4/24’s director of programs, the races are held in direct partnership with the partners around the country.

“Through the event, it creates more awareness to the issue of human trafficking in each community the race is held in,” Towles said. “Participants also get to learn more about what Freedom 4/24 is doing and the opportunities we have for them to further participate with the organization.”

After last year’s race, the organization fundraised over $200,000 for its partners.

Because of the money raised from the Run for Their Lives event, Freedom 4/24 is able to continue extending those grants to their domestic and international partners.

With these funds, one of their partners in Uganda, Christine’s House, can continue providing women a place for healing and a safe environment to learn new skills.

Saturday’s Run for Their Lives in Lynchburg was only one of the five races held this year. Other races took place in North Caro-

lina, Tennessee and California.

On the morning of April 27, staff members, volunteers and race participants gathered to further the mission of Freedom 4/24 to end human sex slavery. Liberty’s Freedom 4/24 club also volunteered at the race, along with Campus Serve and members of the Liberty cheerleading team.

Danica Bazilme, a member of the Freedom 4/24 club, helped with the event by writing the names of human trafficking victims on each of the runners’ wrists. Each name was that of a woman or child whom Freedom 4/24 had rescued from slavery.

“I know when I was running the race last year, seeing those names pushed me,” Bazilme said. “Three miles is nothing compared to everything those women have gone through.”

The Freedom 4/24 club on campus works directly with the organization to bring awareness to Liberty students and show them how they can get involved with the fight. The club also hosts its own fundraisers for students, giving all the proceeds to Freedom 4/24.

Towles said community involvement makes a huge difference, as it supports the organization financially.

“Volunteers from the community serving the event give us their time to help, and community sponsors help fund the expenses of the event, so the runners’ fees go directly towards supporting Freedom 4/24’s mission,” Towles said.

Liberty has sponsored the event the last four years by providing Freedom 4/24 event support. This includes access to Liberty’s events team and sound crew, along with a contained area to hold the race. Towles said the resources saved from location expenses

Photo Provided by Stella Elizabeth Photography

RUNNING — The Freedom 4/24 race saw 460 people April 27. allow them to give more to their partners.

Representatives from the Junior League of Lynchburg, along with the University of Lynchburg’s (UL) volleyball team, also came out to support Freedom 4/24.

The UL volleyball team’s Head Coach Elizabeth Ellinger said this year would be the fourth year the team has been a part of Run for Their Lives. As a team, they frequently volunteer with Freedom 4/24, helping with their annual gala and volunteering for the race.

“We asked the girls to look around the community and find a need, and Freedom 4/24 is what they found,” Ellinger said.

“We have a very altruistic heart as a program and Freedom 4/24 is just a cause that touched our hearts.”

All the players ran as a team for the race, and Ellinger said she was proud of them for coming out and giving their time for this mission.

The founder of Freedom 4/24, Christine Gelatt, a Liberty alumna, created the

organization 11 years ago during her junior year of college after interning in Thailand and seeing the effects of human trafficking first-hand. Gelatt came back to the States changed and motivated to do something to help put an end to sex trafficking. What started as T-shirt fundraisers soon became the organization it is today, reaching girls all around the world to bring freedom and justice.

The current president of the organization, Joy Cover, challenged participants before they started the 5K race to be thinking about all the women and children who are still in a place of darkness.

“We hold events like this to shine light on the darkness and bring awareness and education about the issue,” Cover said. “If people are aware of it, the more we can bring an end to it.”

TROUTMAN is the assistant feature editor.

Taking down the pros Liberty's Cyber Defense club places third in Mid-Atlantic competition Logan Smith lcsmith@liberty.edu

When junior Charity Barker became Liberty University’s cyber defense club president in the fall of 2017, she never imaged the success that would follow only two years later.

First, Barker’s team finished in the top eight in a crowded 35-team preliminary round.

After advancing to the MidAtlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (MACCDC) March 29, 2019, Barker’s team of eight Liberty students snatched third place.

“We’ve done so many crazy and amazing things that I never thought we’d be able to do,” Barker said. “The rankings are cool, but it’s really all about learning. I hoped we would do well, but we’ve definitely surpassed my expectations.”

Barker’s team is more than a group of random computer geeks grinding cyber defense competitions. The team functions like a family.

You may find them at the gym together, or at the movies. They occasionally play games as a collective group, and they can easily demolish an entire Benny’s pizza.

“The team is a pretty solid friend group,” Barker said.

Many members carry heavy academic loads as computer science majors, but they still squeeze time for collegiate cyber security competitions that demand more than 200 hours of practice each semester.

This semester, those long hours escalated to MACCDC, where Barker’s team demonstrated their skills amidst sponsors, vendors and potential employers.

“Getting the real-life practice of defending a network for two days, … it looks wonderful on your resume, and it’s a really solid experience,” Barker said.

At the beginning of the event, the students were given a network of computers with systems and applications to defend. They spent two eight-hour days hardening and defending those systems against professional, ethical hackers

(known as the Red Team) sitting in a different room.

The event, although competitive, teaches the next generation of cyber defenders how to handle terrifying cyber situations under extreme stress. MACCDC intentionally simulates horrendous cyber situations that could potentially occur at corporate offices.

“MACCDC is definitely a nightmare scenario,” Barker said.

“Right before the competition, we were kind of nervous, but because we put so much time into preparation … it wasn’t so bad. It’s such a fast-paced and high-energy environment that once you get started, you don’t have time to worry.”

Other schools, including the University of Virginia (UVA) and George Mason University, also participated.

According to Richard Bansley, a Liberty computer science professor and faculty coach, the expe-

competition is an excellent opportunity to do that. It is a pretty realistic experience for what you would see in the professional world.”

Although the team’s efforts did not result in a first-place finish, they are content with the successful results and optimistic about the future.

The UVA team, who placed first at MACCDC, continued to nationals and won. It was the third consecutive year a team from the MidAtlantic claimed a national victory.

“We’re right there with some high-powered schools,” Bansley said. “We’re rapidly improving our cyber security academic programs and competition involvement. I don’t know where it will go, but we’re getting pretty good.”

According to Barker, predicting the Red Team’s cyber-attack methods proved challenging.

Throughout the grueling 16-hour competition, the team surveyed

against the Red Team.

“A lot of cyber defense is knowing what’s normal,” Barker said.

“When you know what a normal system looks like, you’ll start to see (irregularities).”

This was Barker’s strategy as her team embraced the tense competitive MACCDC atmosphere.

“The technical part is the easy part, because you can prepare for that, but when you get to the competition, you never know what’s going to get thrown at you,” Barker said. “So knowing how to respond to a lot of different, strange circumstances is the hardest part.”

Graduating senior Dan Ryan, Barker’s teammate, said that although the event lasted two days, the time surprisingly flew by. Each team member remained active throughout the entire process.

Amidst the stress, Ryan remembered his priorities as a Christian: to maintain a Christ-like attitude

Photo Provided

FINISH — Charity Barker’s cyber defense club returned to Lynchburg with a third place finish at the MACCDC. rience equipped the students to tackle real-life cyber nightmares under extreme stress.

“If you don’t have (difficult) situations like this, (cyber security) students will get out into the workforce, be faced with a stressful situation and not be psychologically prepared to deal with it effectively,” Bansley said. “This

their networks, trying to identify abnormalities.

They also filled out incident response reports that, if justified, could “arrest” a hacker from the Red Team, taking him or her off the keyboard for several minutes.

However, for the purposes of competition, competitors were not permitted to use offensive tactics

while under extreme pressure.

“There were times where people were on edge or raising voices, but we had a lot of help to diffuse that,” Ryan said. “First and foremost, we had the duty of being salt and light, as many of the other universities there were not Christian.”

Bansley echoed this mission, saying the MACCDC was more

than a beneficial working experience – it was also an outreach opportunity.

“The Liberty University students that go there have a unique opportunity to show, by action, the grace, compassion and integrity of those who follow Christ under duress,” Bansley said. “They show their faith in action and in word.

That’s probably something some of the other competitors may never actually see again. They may not be exposed to what it means to be a follower of Christ in a high-stress event like that. So that’s a unique opportunity that needs to be intentionally worked toward.”

The MACCDC emphasizes incident response over other scoring categories. Performing effective incident responses helps competitors not only discover cyber problems, but also prevent similar issues in the future.

“People normally don’t seem to understand that cyber security isn’t just hacking for hacking’s sake,” Ryan said. “It’s really helping keep your information safe through being either the person defending and hardening a network, or running a sanctioned penetration test and looking for holes to report to the people in charge.”

Bansley hopes to expand the team’s competitive reach by potentially entering multiple events throughout the year.

“The only reason these students are able to do this is of course the Lord … (and) because the university is working diligently to provide the opportunity,” Bansley said. “If the university didn’t provide the support, this would not happen.”

For more information about the cyber defense club or Liberty University’s accredited computer science program, visit https://www. liberty.edu/business/bachelors/ computer-science/.

“Cyber security is a field where you can’t stop learning,” Barker said. “If you stop learning, you’re out of date, and you can’t do anything. It’s a culture of always working. We don’t stop practicing.”

SMITH is a graduate student assistant.

OPINION

April 30, 2019

‘Five movies to watch over the summer’ Ryan Klinker rmklinker@liberty.edu

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think with such an inventive story and

coming out this summer I personally cannot wait to see.

the potential to become something great. Originality, a good cast and some of the best songs ever written

“Toy Story 4” When the original “Toy Story” came out in 1995, it was seen as a computer-animated.

Close to 25 years later, “Toy Story 4” is re-opening the toy chest and bringing back our favorite cowboy and spaceman.

If you’re anything like me, you were bawled your eyes out at Jessie in the cardboard box and the toys in the incinerator, and laughed at every bit of slapstick comedy.

In a world of constant remakes and reboots, I think this one has the most potential for nostalgia and heartfelt moments, and I cannot wait to see where they take the toys we grew up with.

“Yesterday” I’m someone who loves when movies and pop music can work together fect example of that. world that has somehow not heard of The Beatles, he decides to pass off the band’s greatest songs as his own. I

expectations set for itself, and I have a feeling that it is going to pay off in a major way.

“Men in Black: International” Less of a remake and more of a reactors, Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, who have showcased their skills in blending action with comedy in 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok,” what Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones introduced us to in the 1997’s I’m not sure how long Hemsworth and Thompson have jobs in the Marvel them in a position to start a new chapter in their careers if or when they are done with Marvel.

Originally, this project was planned to be a crossover with the “21 Jump Street” franchise, but I’m excited nonetheless.

“Spider-Man: Far from Home” Even after the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe still has plenty more stories to tell.

I consider virtually every movie to be a must-see, and this one is no different. This will be Tom Holland’s fourth outing as Spider-Man, making him the actor to play the web-slinger on more occasions than anyone else. groundbreaking events of “Endinto the next entertaining phase of the franchise and set a course for yet another thrilling adventure.

“The Lion King” The 1993 “The Lion King” will Disney Renaissance, but, as is the case with almost every other Disney property, it is getting a remake with modern special effects. to feature photo-realistic CGI technology that parallels the “Jungle Book” remake that came before it, and the all-star cast providing the voices is almost guaranteed to make wrote the Oscar-winning music for the original, are reportedly adding a couple new songs this time around, and I can’t wait to hear what they bring to the theater.

KLINKER is the photography editor.

A heroic franchise Abby Bowman abowman7@liberty.edu

Editor’ s Note: This article does not contain any spoilers for “Avengers: Endgame.”

For Marvel fans around the world, April 25 was a long time coming.

Thursday night saw the opening of “Avengers: Endgame” across the United States.

According to Fox News, “Avengers: the biggest opening weekend with $350 million in the United States and $1.2 billion world wide. In Lynchburg alone, some fans lined up outside the theater more than two hours before the show time two nights after opening night.

Non-superhero fans may scratch their heads in bewilderment or mutter darkly about blockbusters raking in money without having any substance, but that is untrue.

The vast Marvel Cinematic Universe can help its fans become better people as they tackle some of the deepest elements sion series.

One of the predominant ways fans connect with Marvel is through its generally well-developed characters. Marvel superheroes follow the classical pattern of a hero who has existed since the days of the Iliad, a pattern designed to help viewers identify with the hero.

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, a hero exists on another level from the rest of humankind. He or she is stronger, braver, better looking and more capable than most people. He or she appears to be “born to their role.”

They may even be part god.

A quick survey of most Marvel superhero undoubtedly applies. For example, Thor exhibits almost reckless bravery and possesses superhuman strength – no surprise, since he is from another planet where all the people seem to

live for thousands of years and have several times the strength of the average human.

Extraordinarily attractive, he is also the son of a king and is referred to as a god.

It is common knowledge that people are GOOGLE I MAGES drawn to heroes.

“Avengers: Endgame” is the 21st Marvel MARVEL-OUS — Children want to be them. Adults want to date them. Regardless of age, there they also teach people to love others is something about superheroes’ strength, courage and creative use of unique abilities that people want but both still have armies of fans who to emulate.

To make their superheroes even more them regardless.

Another thing Marvel promotes In an interview for a Marvel movie, Tom Hiddleston, the actor who plays Its superheroes put their lives on the Marvel villain Loki said, “What Marvel line everyday to protect the rest of the is so clever at is that they make their he- world and even the rest of the universe.

In battle scenes, the heroes routinely go to great lengths to get civilians out of fact, the plots of movies such as “Aveng- harm’s way. ers: Age of Ultron” and “Captain AmerOne of the most poignant examples ica: Civil War” were driven more by the is Quicksilver’s death in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” In the middle of a battle with a robot army, super-fast Quickbad. Like Aristotle’s tragic hero, they silver dashes in front of superheroes are often based off good intentions gone Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch to block the awry, which makes the superheroes even bullets headed their way. He dies from more likeable. his wounds.

“Captain America: Civil War” is an If so many people with superhuman especially good example. The movie abilities can give themselves for others, is based off a split between the Aveng- then certainly Marvel fans can learn to ers that resulted from a disagreement between the two most prominent It is good that Marvel can help its fans members of the superhero team – Iron become better people, because an army Man and Captain America – on how of them viewed “Avengers: Endgame” to look out for the best interests of the over its opening weekend. rest of the world. The extent to which The movie showcased some of the fans sympathize with Marvel heroes deepest heroism Marvel fans have seen is evident through the intense rivalry so far, touching at an even deeper kernel between those who agree more with of heroism within each person who saw Captain America – Team Cap – and those who agree more with Iron Man – Team Iron Man. Not only do Marvel heroes teach people to be brave and creative, but BOWMAN is the opinion editor.

A5

LIFE WITH

LOGAN

Johnny Manziel is the biggest waste of talent football has ever seen. The Canadian Football League (CFL) should have known better than to allow him to play in Canada.

The culture that we live in is one that has grown accustomed to people modifying their behavior instead of changing their heart.

The sad story began at Tivy High School near San Antonio, Texas. Manziel was obviously athletic from the beginning of his high school career in 2007 when he was a wide receiver. Tivy slowly transitioned Manziel to be its full-time quarterback, and following the talented pivot’s senior season, he had recorded more than 5,200 yards of total offense and 77 total touchdowns during his senior year of high school.

The story gets better before becoming In 2012, Manziel reigned as king of the sporting world. The redshirt freshman quarterback earned numerous awards, including First-Team All-SEC, Consensus All-American, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, Associated Press Player of the Year, the Manning Award, the Davey O’Brien Award and the highly-coveted Heisman Trophy.

Following a freshman season unlike any the sporting circle had ever witnessed, the 2013 offseason raised some concerns for Texas A&M. Manziel was accused of signing autographs for money, which resulted in his suspension for the After another Heisman-caliber season in 2013, Manziel elected to enter the NFL draft Cleveland Browns.

Manziel followed his initial apology by wreaking havoc for the Cleveland Browns with his constant partying and legal issues. He was released from the team in 2015. After he sought help and treatment for his issues, Manziel entered the CFL in 2018, convincing CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie that his repentance was genuine and his sincerity was true.

Unfortunately, neither would prove to be true.

The period of time in which many Manziel followers lost interest in keeping tabs on the troubled athlete was when he was negotiating with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for a potential contract. where. Manziel was reportedly demanding close to league-high salary requests from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Manziel portrayed through his actions he was doing the CFL a favor by traveling up to the great white north (Canada) to play football. Manziel probably expected for the CFL to be comprised of NFL dropouts and pro football wannabes. But the CFL showed the former Cleveland Browns quarterback that the league boasts elite talent.

Manziel was banned from the CFL because he did not follow the procedures he had agreed on with Ambrosie. Some sports fans believed Manziel broke his covenant purposely so he would be available to sign a deal with the United States newest football league (the now defunct Alliance American Football league).

While at Texas A&M, Manziel caused frustration for his coaching staff. When he played with Cleveland, Manziel further embarrassed an organization in turmoil. And when he resided in Canada, Manziel broke the heart of a struggling organization that sold out to welcome him into the organization long term.

His repentance proved to be a matter of conreaching — the CFL should have seen it coming.

Hopefully, the NFL will be wise enough to see through his promises of reform.

COUCH is the manager of content.

opinion

A6 | Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019

Diving into disease

Despite chlorination, public pools often contain bacteria, parasites Macy Hrncir mhrncir@liberty.edu

It’s almost summertime. Temperatures are rising and the trees outside are luscious and green. It will soon be students’ favorite time of year, when the only thing they have to worry about is which swimsuit to wear and which ice cream flavor to eat.

After the soul-crushing stress of exams,

one. While the cool, blue water at a public pool may look fun and inviting, research shows that germs and dangerous bacteria may be hiding just below the surface.

U.S. officials are warning Americans to find a different way to beat the summer heat because public pools are causing serious health hazards.

The CDC found that between the years 2011-2012, there were 90 documented ill-

at data from between 2000 and 2014 and found that a third of waterborne disease outbreaks occurred at hotel swimming pools.

There were 493 outbreaks reported at hotel swimming pools, which resulted in at least 27,219 illnesses and eight deaths.

No matter how you look at it, there are bound to be health hazards in public pools.

The water in these pools is basically a human broth. It is one large, chlorinated bath

Kevin Manguiob | Liberty News Service

DAVID’S PLACE — According to Emily Martin, the assistant director of aquatics for Campus Recreation, they check air and water quality of Liberty’s pool facilities daily and even hourly to ensure that they are safe for students. If the levels at any of the pools are not correct, the pool is closed.

hopefully most students will take the opportunity to relax, unwind and enjoy their summer. There are so many fun warm-weather activities to choose from: hiking, sun bathing and swimming.

Actually, it may be wise to rethink that last

ness outbreaks reported in 32 states and Puerto Rico. These illnesses affected at least 1,788 people and, as a result, at least 95 people were hospitalized. One even died.

Hotel pools are the worst. CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report looked

that hundreds of strangers with differing hygiene levels share.

Many may bring up the fact that because most public pools are heavily chlorinated, there is nothing to fear. However, this does not get rid of every health hazard. For ex-

ample, researchers have found a new bacterium in public pools that isn’t scared of a little chlorine. It’s called cryptosporidium, a parasite that can survive for 10 days or more, even in chlorinated water.

The parasite and illness it causes are often known as “Crypto.” The most common way it is spread is through drinking and recreational water, and it is responsible for nearly 60 percent of U.S. pool-related infectious disease outbreaks.

Crypto is spread through feces and, unfortunately — as if there weren’t enough reasons not to go to public pools already — there are a few easy ways public pool water can be contaminated by feces.

According to a CDC report, pool water contamination commonly occurs when people suffering from diarrhea decide they want to go swimming or when fecal matter rinses off small children in the pool.

While many parents put their small children in swim diapers at the pool, the report says the diapers are not effective at preventing feces, urine and infectious pathogens from contaminating the water.

Additionally, the chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program, Dr. Michele Hlavsa, said almost one-third of local health departments don’t regulate, inspect or license public pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds.

Before swimming in a public pool, you should weigh the consequences.

There are several ways you can help protect yourself from harmful bacteria, such as not swallowing pool water and checking the pool facility’s inspection score, but overall, it’s probably best to skip public pools this summer.

There are plenty of other exciting activities to do once school gets out that don’t involve wading around in strangers’ bacteria.

HRNCIR is an opinion writer.

Take a breath, take a break Avoid burn-out and study better by practicing self-care during finals week Abby Bowman abowman7@liberty.edu

Summer break is just within reach, but between Liberty University students and freedom lies the dreaded, stressful week of finals.

Final projects pile up, study guides clamor to be filled and students flood any location on campus providing coffee.

With the end in sight, it is tempting for students to muscle through to the end, skipping sleep and meals in the hopes of a better grade. As good of a plan as that may sound, it is a much better idea to rest and practice self-care.

According to an article on the National Alliance of Mental Illness’s (NAMI) website, making sure to take care of yourself better enables you to take care of the people around you. The article used the analogy of an oxygen mask on an airplane — each passenger must secure their own before helping others, otherwise both people may end up gasping for oxygen.

It makes sense that the same is true for students studying for finals — if students are not taking care of themselves, how can they give their best to their work?

Stress obviously affects mental health, driving students toward

anxiety and mental breakdowns, but it also affects students’ physical health. The NAMI article lists headaches, low energy, an upset stomach, aches, pains, tense muscles and insomnia as physical effects of stress.

Again, students cannot fully devote themselves to their work if all they are thinking about is how much need to get done or if their entire body aches from stress.

As paradoxical as it sounds, taking a break from work and practicing self-care actually helps students succeed.

Self-care tips abound on social media — taking a bath has reached meme status as a stereotypical form of self-care, closely followed by indulging in favorite foods or favorite childhood activities.

While all of those can certainly be beneficial, there are others that are more basic and often more practical for college students.

According to the NAMI article, exercising helps manage stress. Although Liberty students may not want to take time out of studying to go to the gym, taking walks around campus for a breath of fresh air, going swimming at David’s Place with friends, or playing volleyball all provide stress-relieving exercise.

Eating well also helps with stress, according to the NAMI article. Although it might be tempt-

ing to eat pizza or Chick-fil-A for every meal during finals week, whole grains, vegetables and fresh fruit better stave off stress.

The NAMI article also said getting good sleep helps regulate stress. Although sometimes

a break from their studies to get some shut-eye.

In addition, students can take a break with the de-stress opportunities Liberty provides for students at the library and elsewhere.

Although some Liberty stu-

es on God’s will and power rather than the panic of an exam worth 200 points.

So next time you are tempted to cry or toss your study guide across the room, practice selfcare. Take a nap, pray or pet a

Kaitlyn Becker Johnson| Liberty News Service

PUPPY LOVE — Students practice self care by petting a therapy dog during Liberty’s De-Stress Fest. all-nighters are necessary, getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night reduces stress. Taking short naps during the day can also improve focus, so students should feel no shame about taking

dents might be concerned that taking a break is selfish, God commands his people to rest. In fact, prayer and scripture meditation can be some of the most powerful forms of self-care because it focus-

dog. Not only will you feel better, you will also be able to study better.

BOWMAN is the opinion editor.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO Jacob Couch manager of content

Emily Baker sports editor

Logan Smith graduate assistant

Chad Wylie asst. sports editor

CONTENT

Jenna Crenshaw feature editor

Emily Wood content editor Madison Hirneisen asst. content editor Abby Bowman editorial editor

PHOTOGRAPHY

SOCIAL MEDIA

Elizabeth Fitch photography editor

Deanna Drogan social media manager

David Eppinger asst. photography editor

Hattie Troutman web manager

Hattie Troutman asst. feature editor

DESIGN

Victoria Nelson copy editor

Luke Coleman graphic designer

John Nekrasov copy editor

Elizabeth Mallicoat graphic designer

ADMINISTRATION Deborah Huff faculty advisor Scott Lamb consultant

The Champion encourages community members to submit letters to the editor on any subject.

Letters should not exceed 400 words and must be typed and signed. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

Letters and columns that appear are the opinion of the author solely, not the Champion editorial board or Liberty University.

Send letters to: Liberty Champion Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 24515 or drop off in Green Hall 1565.

All material submitted becomes property of the Champion. The Champion reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any letter received—according to the Champion stylebook, taste and the Liberty University mission statement. © Copyright 2016 Liberty University, Inc. All Rights Reserved

opinion

Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 | A7

Champion Staff Goodbyes

Emma Smith The past two years at the Champion have been such a formative experience for me. Having the opportunity to practice journalism outside of the classroom gave me confidence and a skill set I couldn’t have gotten from class projects alone.

I’ve had the opportunity to interview a variety of interesting people, including Lynchburg Mayor Treney Tweedy and the University of Lynchburg’s president, Ken Garren. Senior year opened up the door for more independence and choosiness with projects, and I’ve learned so many interesting things.

Working for the Champion has given me an excuse to be nosy and learn more about the Lynchburg community, and it has also given me wonderful relationships.

I’m forever grateful to Mrs. Huff for preparing me to launch and to my coworkers for supporting me through our journey together.

Thanks, Liberty Champion, for helping me become a writer. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Rachel Van Tuyl I remember sitting in the Champion office at the end of my junior year, when Mrs. Huff asked me if I would be interested in being the assistant content editor. I was thrilled . . . and also a little scared.

When I started out this year, I didn’t know a thing about InDesign, which we used to create pages. ARTS 222 had convinced me I never wanted to open the program again, and here I was facing a year of using it every week.

But I’m happy the Champion eventually taught me InDesign – and also how to write better. Editing other people’s stories has a way of making you see what works and what doesn’t work in your own stories.

Oh, we’ve had our share of problems. The computers in the content section especially seemed to hate us.

Programs crashed. And we got to know IT quite well.

But seeing the issue come out every Tuesday morning made the struggles worth it. I remember seeing the very first issue of the year and thinking, “Wow, we made this. We actually made a newspaper.”

Thank you, Mrs. Huff for always helping me be the best writer I can be, and thank you, Champion, for pushing me to do new things.

Faith Banford I had the opportunity to work for the Liberty Champion for the 20182019 school year as the Web Editor. This was the key role in publishing the news stories to Liberty Champion’s website.

Through this job, I was able to practice my skills and knowledge of WordPress.

Learning how to navigate through different plug-ins and settings, I was able to find ways to improve the website and job as web editor. Additionally, I gained valuable experience and knowledge about the workflow of a news office.

I appreciate everyone who works diligently in the office. From the beginning of budget meetings about potential news stories to the printing and when the stories are ready for me to post, the Liberty Champion staff puts a lot of time into what they do. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

Bethany Brown When I received an email to meet with Dr. Kirk and Mrs. Huff last April, I was surprised. I was just a digital media student who had made a handful of class video projects and knew next to nothing about journalism.

I’m so glad that a new world of opportunity has opened up for the Liberty Champion through our experimentation with video. I can’t wait to see what next year’s students bring to life.

Thank you to Mrs. Huff and the Liberty Champion for allowing me the privilege of telling unique stories about mystery machines, skateboarders, campus wizards, and more.

Thank you for giving me the freedom to pick an idea and run with it.

It’s been a blast.

Bethany Kocik

Elizabeth Mallicoat Whenever I tell someone I work at the Champion, I laugh a little. My time with the Champion began when I spontaneously decided to apply for a work-study position with the photographers. After a year of sitting in the back of the office and sorting photos, I was asked to take over as the B Section Designer. This role was never something I planned on doing, but this year of making cutouts for front pages, spending countless hours designing infographics, and creating graphics for Liberty events has taught me so much. I’m so grateful for all I have learned in this position, but most importantly the team I spent the last year with! You all are the reason I’m so sad to leave the Champion.

When I applied for a staff position at the Champion, I did so on faith. I didn’t think I was experienced enough, or a good enough writer, or a good enough journalist in general.

But, to my surprise, I received a position on staff as the B section copy editor.

Working for the Champion gave me the opportunity to grow as a journalist, a writer and as a person.

I learned many lessons in my time at the Champion about what it means to be a good journalist and skills that I will carry with me into the future.

While working for the Champion I met friends and brothers and sisters in Christ that encouraged me to be not only the best journalist I can be but also the best person I can be.

Congratulations to all the graduating seniors at the Champion! Love you guys!

Lillian Abbatacola Everyday, the world gets bigger in my eyes. It’s easy to be caught up in the intricacies of my own life, but when I take a step back, I am reminded that the world is so much more than myself.

Working for the Champion has shown me a glimpse of how big and beautiful the world community is.

Because of my time as the content editor, I’ve seen that there is so much happening in our community than what I can see with my naked eye.

I didn’t intend to be here.

When I was a reporter in Journalism 390, I wanted to be the content editor, but was too insecure to apply.

So when Mrs. Huff asked me to be on staff, I was excited but prematurely doubted myself. But when I read stories of those in the community, why they serve their neighbors or why they are taking a stand, I am astonished that God could have such a unique calling for each individual person.

The moment I stepped into the world of journalism, I knew it’s where I belonged.

I love people’s stories.

I love listening. I love the Champion; it’s one of the best things to happen to me at Liberty. My time here has been hard, creative work, long hours, and I’ve been frustrated. But I am so proud of my friends here and how they have told beautiful stories.

I love you, Liberty.

Deanna Drogan Serving on the Champion staff these past two years has truly been an incredible experience. Being able to take the things I have learned in classes and actually implement them into my position as social media manager has taught me so much. The Champion has given me so many opportunities. I have been able to write about things I am passionate about, learn to actually photograph on a setting other than automatic, and post stories to social media that make our audience smile.

Walking into the office, whether it would be to get pictures from the server, snap some boomerangs of the office for our Instagram story, or meet with Mrs. Huff, I always felt so welcomed by our amazing staff.

We are such a unique bunch filled with such different personalities. I think that is one of the many reasons the Champion is so successful!

We don’t just look at it as a publication, we look at it as something we are passionate about because we are actually enjoying what we are doing.

Thank you, Liberty Champion, for not only challenging me to be a good journalist, but a good teammate. I look forward to seeing the successful things we do in the future thanks to our experiences here!

content

A8 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Liberty law dominates bar exam School of Law ranks in top 7 nationally, on bar pass rates, top school in Virginia Emily Wood ewood13@liberty.edu

Liberty University School of Law placed seventh out of 203 schools for passing the bar exam, based on the American Bar Association’s pass rate data. Liberty ranked the highest in the state of Virginia, coming in right above University of Virginia School of Law and right under Yale University and Harvard University. Law school Dean Keith Faulkner said the high passage rate shows the quality of education the law graduates receive.

“We have one of the most rigorous and demanding programs of legal education, I would argue, in the country. Our professors SGA continued from A1 When the pair decided to run together, another campaign team initially planned to run but dropped out of the race before anything was formally announced, leaving Rockey and Lusenge to run unopposed.

However, this did not stop Rockey and Lusenge from promoting their campaign on social media and rallying support from the student body.

Typically, a debate is held during election week to allow candidates to question their opponents about their platform and policies. Since Rockey and Lusenge did not have anyone to debate them this election week, Broadway hosted a town hall where he

Allison Heise| Liberty Champion

TOP TEN— The school of law ranked in seventh place for bar passage rates. expect excellence out of our students and our students expect excellence out of themselves,” Faulkner said. “Our curriculum is

designed to make students pursue excellence in everything they do.”

Faulkner attributes the success of the law

program to the dedication of the students.

Liberty’s ranking among the best schools in the nation makes Liberty a more attractive option for law school candidates.

“The goal is for Liberty to be the choice law school for both Christian and non-Christian law students. “We want our (graduates) to go out and inspire the legal profession and innovate the practice of law and impact society in a positive way," Faulkner said.

The law school’s goal is bar passage and employment, so the success makes law graduates more marketable.”

WOOD is a content editor.

acknowledged that they have had the opportunity to form relationships with administration due to SGA, and they want to be able to offer students a more direct line of communication with administration. Lusenge believe that in order for SGA to continue being effective, good relationships with administration is key.

The town hall also addressed the pair’s desire to remove elitism in SGA and be a place where students can come and voice concerns. Over the past year, Page and Rockey established Table Talks, an event Mikaela Stiner | Liberty Champion where students could come and CELEBRATION — SGA members enjoyed Derek Rockey's many thanks. voice concerns about certain topics. Rockey said that he and Lusenge plan to continue Table questioned the candidates about going out to them and bringing Talks next school year. policies and possible concerns them in … I think we’re going to “Especially if there is a trigstudents could have about their be able to continue to build and platform and campaign. establish great relationships with gering event that happens, I want A central part of Rockey and our peers and unify them on what SGA to be the first line of communication, and I want SGA L u s e n g e’s to be the first ears to the peoplatform is ple that have been directly afunity, which fected by that so we can bring they addressed that to the administration in a variety of (and) we can actively serve questions at those students,” Rockey said. the town hall During the inauguraevent. Accordtion April 24, Rockey and ing to Rockey Lusenge gave many thanks and Lusenge, to their supporters and exa key part of pressed their excitement to unity is reach- — Esther Lusenge serve the student body in the ing students 2019-20 school year. from a variety of groups and communities on campus and be- unifies us,” Lusenge said. ing intentional.

A key parts of the pair’s plat“By being intentional and not form includes promoting posiexpecting people to come to our tive relationships with admin- HIRNEISEN is the assistant table but inviting them or even istration. Rockey and Lusenge content editor.

I think we’re going to be able to continue to build and establish great relationships with our peers and unify them on what unifies us.

Mikaela Stiner | Liberty Champion ADDRESS— Mark Hine addressed the audience.

Work in progress

Ben Guiterrez goes to Lancaster Bible Liberty University’s beloved religion professor will be joining Lancaster Bible College (LBC) as its new president August 1.

LBC announced Guiterrez’s new role April 23, and Liberty University President Jerry Falwell announced Guiterrez’s transition in Convocation April 26.

Guiterrez has served as a religion professor, co-provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Liberty University.

Caroline Cummings| Liberty News Service MESSAGE — Dr. Guiterrez preached Campus Community and other events.

HPVC Champs Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu

Despite delays, construction continues on campus Will Evans wjevans@liberty.edu

As Commencement approaches and the school year comes to an end, construction teams are still hard at work on the new projects coming to Liberty University.

Vice President of Major Construction Dan Deter said the work is going well, but some unavoidable set-backs have caused some minor delays.

“Liberty Arena has been slow out of the gate,” Deter said. “It’s a great site for the arena. It’s the right spot for the arena. The unfortunate part is a lot of our campus utilities running through this area are very deep.”

Many of the campus utility lines run underneath the site of the new Liberty Basketball Arena. Construction teams have spent the last month and half boring new lines to reroute utilities outside of the new arena footprint.

After the lines have been moved, Deter said construction can begin as planned.

The new School of Business is close to completion, though progress was slowed due to last year’s record rainfall.

“The business school (construction crews) are furiously trying to catch up.

The amount of rain we’ve had in the last 18 months is staggering,” Deter said. “We had hoped to get it open for spring term, but Mother Nature literally rained on our parade.”

The inside of the building has been finished for three months, but the exterior work has been hampered by weather for some of the cosmetic pieces, which has delayed the comple-

Photo Provided

ENGINEERS— Students designed a human powered vehicle.

Lauren Osterhoudt | Liberty Champion IN PROGRESS — Construction commences at the site of the future Vines Arena.

tion. Nevertheless, the School of Business plans to be open for Commencement and the degree ceremony for the Department of English is currently scheduled to take place there.

Deter said the Hill dorms should be fully open and ready for move-in for the fall semester, though they will not look much like the plans that were shared last spring.

“We came up with some real ambitious, eager, aggressive plans to make seven individual dorms feel like one dorm, and the logistics just didn’t pan out,” Deter said.

Construction on the Hill came to a halt this past fall when heavy rain and unfinished roofs led to leaks and inconvenient living conditions for some students.

“We couldn’t keep the construction away from the students,” Deter said.

“We couldn’t keep the construction from affecting the students … and (President Falwell) decided that was too aggressive of a project.”

However, Deter said he is not turning his back on the Hill dorms. They will be getting new roofs to eliminate leaking problems as well as some “interior enhancements,” though not to the degree previously planned.

“We just couldn’t do it in three months and the Hill dorms are too popular among the students to shut down for an extended period,” Deter said. “And it was very clear this past fall that the students who live in the Hill dorms like living there, and they live there for a reason, and they don’t want to live anywhere else.”

One project Deter is looking forward to is the new School of Engineering building, currently being headed by the school’s new dean Mark Horstemeyer.

Deter said groundbreaking on the new building will hopefully take place sometime this fall.

EVANS is a content reporter.

Liberty University’s 2019 Human Powered Vehicle team, of Liberty’s engineering department, placed fifth overall in the Human Powered Vehicle Competition (HPVC) at Michigan State University Saturday, April 6.

The students, comprised of engineering students from freshmen to seniors, were tasked with crafting a tricycle-like mechanism, then testing its performance amidst 50 other competing engineering schools including Ohio University, Michigan State and South Dakota State at the HPVC. Liberty’s student-led team designed the vehicle and also installed electrical, safety and steering elements.

Liberty took fourth in the women’s drag race and the men’s team finished fifth. During the endurance race, which lasted more than two hours, Liberty recorded the fastest single lap time, but received fourth in that category. The total scores granted Liberty fifth place overall.

“We have come a long way in five years,” Professor Carolyn Ziebart, the team’s faculty sponsor, said. “(We) are hoping that next year’s vehicle will place in the top three.”

SMITH is the GSA.

content

April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion | A9

Three questions with District 23 candidates The primary election for the Virginia House of Delegates seat for District 23 will take place June 11, 2019. The seat is currently held by T. Scott Garrett. The general election takes place November 5, 2019. The three candidates running to replace Garrett are Ronald Berman, E.J. Turner Perrow Jr. and Wendell Walker.

We asked the candidates three questions and are running their responses to give our readers information to consider before voting. Each candidate has a website with more details.

Ron Berman

privilege. I will also fight for firearm, medical and educational freedoms.

1. Why should Liberty University students make an effort to vote for you?

I am the only uncompromising voice for the unborn in the field. I will work unceasingly for life.

I will push for the utter abolition of abortion, no exceptions. All human liberties are predicated on God’s gift of life.

Photo Provided

HOME — Ron Berman stayed in Lynchburg after college because of the people.

3. What makes Lynchburg so special?

I came to Lynchburg as a Liberty University undergraduate. I met my wife, the first Hungarian student ever to attend Liberty. We stayed in Lynchburg because of the people. Honorable, God-fearing, hard-working Virginians convinced us that we wanted to build our future here. These people were repositories for a cultural inheritance of values, be2. What’s the biggest issue(s) that you plan to queathed to them by their Christian forbearers. In them, we found kindred hearts. They make living campaign on?

Besides the abolition of abortion, I will push for in Lynchburg an exceptional experience! an end to the wage tax — the dreadful idea that a man should sweat in the fields or break rocks in the mines, only to then pay the government for the

and spend socialism. I am an unapologetic capitalist who believes that the free market system is Virginia’s best path to prosperity. There is a one vote margin in the House of Delegates, where these lib1. Why should Liberty University students make eral policies could be passed. The Democrats are an effort to vote for you? potentially fielding the very liberal former mayor of I am pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and want Lynchburg to run for this seat. As a city councilto keep the government out of our lives and out of man and known conservative, I’m the only candiour wallets. In addition, I’ve been on city council date that can defeat her in the fall. for 11 years, where I’ve put conservative principles into action. I’ve advocated for positions supporting 3. What makes Lynchburg so special?

LU and helped get the city off Liberty’s back. I have This is a wonderful place to raise a family. I requarterly meetings with President Falwell and the turned to Lynchburg after college to be an engiLiberty administration to understand how the city neer because I knew it was a special place – to both can best work with Liberty and the other local col- raise a family and anchor my faith. My first projleges. I’m the only candidate who has the legisla- ects involved the downtown improvements. Over tive record to show accomplishments instead of just the past 20 years, our downtown has turned into talking about what I will do. a vibrant, dynamic area. Now, not just downtown, but the entire Lynchburg region has transformed to be one of, if not the best, areas to live in the com2. What’s the biggest issue(s) that you plan to monwealth. From the river to the mountains, from campaign on? downtown to Sedalia, this area has the community, The overarching issue is the rising liberal in- the people and quality of life that my family and I fluence in the general assembly. Last year, more cherish.

Photo Provided liberal policies were introduced than ever before, FAMILY — Turner Perrow said Lynchburg’s community makes the city a good place to raise a family. ranging from post-birth abortion (murder) to tax

Turner Perrow

I want to be a voice for the unborn who have no voice. If we are not protecting the weakest among us, what does that say about us? Psalms 139:13-14 1. Why should Liberty University students make (says), “For thou hast possessed my reins; thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; an effort to vote for you?

Dr. Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty University, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous and his son, Jerry Falwell, Jr., have often empha- are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well.”

I will also work hard to ensure that Virginia consized the importance (of being) a good citizen and tinues to be a state with a very business-friendly voting. You can change the direction of our state and nation by making your voice count. I want to climate for jobs and careers and protect our Second be your voice in the Virginia General Assembly. I Amendment rights. have been involved in and supported Liberty for over 40 years as an alumnus. I know the challenges 3. What makes Lynchburg so special?

Lynchburg is special because there’s something this university has faced through the years, (such here for everyone! It’s a wonderful place to grow as) trying to get financial assistance for students on a state level though Pell and TAG grants. As your up, develop lifelong memories and friendships, state representative, I will work hard to help Lib- raise a family, start a business or a career, you name erty students continue getting this financial assis- it. Liberty University has had a major impact in a positive way with its outreach though community tance. service and giving back to Lynchburg. One aspect 2. What’s the biggest issue(s) that you plan to that Lynchburg is known for is the wide variety of churches (and) places of worship. People are free to campaign on?

There are many significant issues in this cam- worship, fellowship and make a positive impact in paign, but this past general assembly session, to the community because of their faith and willingme, shows what is the most important issue facing ness to serve. us, and that is the protection of the right to life.

Wendell Walker

Photo Provided

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE — Wendell Walker believes the many activities Lynchburg offers makes it special.

content

A10 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Making money matter Center for Financial Literacy equips students with biblical financial principles Emily Wood ewood13@liberty.edu

their courses.

“I really don’t think that true financial change is going to happen As the national accumulation until you get to the education levof student debt continues to sky- el,” Rhodes said. rocket, accreditation bodies now Blue distributes his “Simplifyrequire universities to address ing the Money Conversation” curstudent debt. The Center for Fi- riculum because of his passion for nancial Literacy (CFL) at Liberty educating college students on bibUniversity seeks to help remedy lical financial principles. Through this debt problem through its a program of “education, collabopartnership with the Ron Blue Li- ration and the integration,” Blue’s brary. goal is to simplify the conversaStacie Rhodes, executive direc- tions about money. tor of the CFL at Liberty, said the Blue’s financial literacy curCFL exists to prepare students riculum has been implemented with financial wisdom based on in over 140 classes across each Ron Blue’s biblical principles on degree program and has reached financial wisdom. thousands of undergraduate stuWith over 40 years of experi- dents already. The CFL hopes to ence, Blue is widely considered the extend the program to online and father of Christian financial plan- graduate students soon. ning and owns one of the largest “Students are in the place where Christian financial planning firms they are literally stepping into the in the United States. Blue spoke to next chapter of their life that is gothe faculty in August 2018 on how ing to set them up for incredible to integrate financial principles in success or a (difficult future). The decisions they make today (will) affect their future,” Rhodes said. “It’s inevitable.”

The CFL focuses on the four H’s: heart, health, habits and hope.

This principle-based approach looks at finance from a biblical perspective and encourages students to be stewards, rather than owners, of their money.

“There are (over 2,000) verses in the Bible about money,” Rhodes said. “Material and pos-sessions are just a significant thing that Joel Isimeme | Liberty News Service God talks about. UnCFL — Stacie Rhodes is the executive director of the less we grasp this at this Center for Financial Literacy at Liberty. prime age … then you are

really just missing out on God’s faithfulness and (the opportunity to) steward his money that he has entrusted (us with) in a very

“

believe.”

The newly-established T3 club through the CFL allows for open dialogue about money and is open

“Our champions for Christ should be able to go and serve (in) their calling because they have a grasp on their finances (and) they’re not

Students are in the place where they are literally stepping into the next chapter of their life. That is going to set them up for incredible success or a tough time, and so the decisions they make today (will) affect their future. It’s inevitable.

— Stacie Rhodes

good way.”

When it comes to money, Rhodes said having the right perspective shapes wise financial actions.

“Until we have a good perspective and a grounded perspective on what the Bible says about money and how we should manage it, we’re really not going to set ourselves up to truly manage our behavior,” Rhodes said. “We have to get to the core of what we truly

for students of all majors. Next semester, the CFL will offer peerto-peer financial coaching for students to engage in important money conversations.

“Imagine if believers grasped (financial literacy), the anxiety that would melt away, the funding that would be available for missions and for other incredible opportunities, just to spread the gospel if people started managing their finances well,” Rhodes said.

in a lot of debt.”

For more information on the CFL, financial workshops, free resources, peer-to-peer coaching or the T3 club, visit www.liberty. edu/cfl.

“In order to train a champion,” Rhodes said. “We have to equip them in every area .”

WOOD is a content editor.

content

Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 | A11

Sharing Christ’s love Liberty students will travel around the globe this summer with LU Send France, where students will be able to interact with refugees in the city of Lyon.

For the first time ever, LU Send will be doThis summer, Liberty students from all ing an alumni trip to Israel, which they are different majors will be packing their bags calling their pilot trip. Dr. Ed Hindson, the and traveling to various parts of the globe dean of the School of Divinity, will be leadwith LU Send. ing the team as they travel around and learn Students will be given the opportunity about Biblical prophecy and the restoration to not only receive credit on these trips, but of the land of Israel. The trip will include an also to serve the people they come in contact extension that goes down to Petra, located in with in each country.

Jordan, as well as participation in the Jerusa“Summer is especially valuable for stu- lem Encounter conference in Jerusalem. dents (who) have a very strict academic There will also be a special trip to Iscalendar during the fall and in the spring,” rael with seminary and graduate stuDavid Welch, executive director of LU dents to learn about both the biblical and Send, said. modern Israel.

The School of Divinity will be doing a few Liberty counseling students will take a trips this summer, including a month-long two-week long trip to Thailand in June to fotrip to Romania that will leave right after cus on anti-human trafficking and the restoCommencement. Professor Timothy Yonts ration of such victims. Students on this trip will be leading a combined School of Divini- will also be working with aid organizations ty and French department trip to Normandy, and workers.

The counseling department will also be going to Kosovo in July to learn about the crisis in what was formerly Yugoslavia and how people cope with trauma.

There will be quite a few trips to Europe this summer. Dr. Bruce Bell, the associate dean of Liberty’s College of General Studies, will be leading a trip to Italy and Greece.

Dr. Ben Esswein will be leading a threecountry trip to Germany, Italy and Switzerland, mainly focusing on the Reformation, theology and the Bible.

The School of Business will be traveling to Ireland. There will also be a monthand-a-half-long Guatemala trip with the LU Spanish Institute, an endeavor in which Nathan Spencer | Liberty News Service the group will complete a Spanish IntenDIRECTOR — David Welch is the Executive Di- sive. The American Sign Language Instirector of LU Send. tute will also be going to Guatemala in May

Deanna Drogan ddrogan@liberty.edu

“

DISTANCE — Students traveled to Spain with LU Send over Spring Break 2019.

Created by Steven Sherlin

We have had many people come to know the Lord because of our students.

— David Welch to do ASL. The School of Aviation will be traveling to Papua New Guinea to interact with bush pilots and will see how ministry is done through aviation in those remote bush areas.

There will be a social work and psychology trip going to Greece in July that will also be working with refugees.

Lastly, the Department of Psychology will travel to Portugal and South Korea in two separate trips in June.

Photo Provided

The summer G5 trips to Spain have been postponed due to lack of recruitment, but they will be running on the next academic calendar.

“All of our trips have some sort of emotional component to them, and there’s fruit to that. We’ve seen because of the unique opportunities we have with working with researchers in different institutions as an academic institution, that it doesn’t overshadow the real-life change that we’re seeing in our own students, and also in the people they interact with,” Welch said. “We have had many people come to know the Lord because of our students.”

For more information on LU Send trips this summer, visit www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=32920.

DROGAN is the social media editor.

content

A12 | Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 |

Events from the Weekend Campus Rec Fest

Ryan Klinker| Liberty Champion

CAMPUS REC FEST — Students participated in a number of competitions and events during Campus Rec Fest April 26 and 27. Events included games, a CrossFit Competition and an outdoor movie night.

Rucking for a Reason

RUCKING FOR A REASON — Liberty ROTC members and Liberty students “rucked” donated goods 3.5 miles to Park View Community Mission April 27.

Photos By Sophia Hafner

Research Week in Review Logan Smith lcsmith@liberty.edu

Roughly 350 students participated in Research Week (April 15-19), a five-day event featuring Liberty University students’ efforts in academic research. More than 100 programs of study were represented, and participants, ranging from freshman to graduate students, showcased their study.

Dr. Darren Wu, the associate director for the Center for Research and Scholarship said this year’s Research Week was a tremendous success due to the growing interest of Liberty’s body. The annual event, which is not required for students, doubled in size since last year to 225 presentations.

“The quality of the research, scholarship and creativity activity has also increased significantly,” Wu said. “We are grateful for the support of our volunteer faculty judges, including several senior academic leaders.”

Joel Isimeme |Liberty News Service & Allison Heise| Liberty Champion

RESEARCH GATHERING — (Above) Dr. Ronald Hawkins, vice provost, judged research

by Hannah Kaplan, Nicole Miller and Mary Jo Oliver. The students were mentored by Dr. Jichan Kim. (Below) Scholars gathered in the library during Research Week.

SMITH is the graduate student assistant..

SPORTS

April 30, 2019

B1

Attacking the game

At only 5’7”, men’s lacrosse senior stands tall and dominates the competition Peter Gooch pgooch1@liberty.edu

At 5-foot-7, senior attackman Sam Gregory is shorter than all but one of his Liberty University Flames men’s lacrosse teammates.

But his diminutive stature has not prevented Gregory from standing tall in crucial moments for the Flames over the past four years.

The most recent example: Gregory scored twice, including an instrumental second-half goal, in a hard-fought 9-8 victory at the Virginia Tech University Hokies Saturday, April 20.

“Sam’s always been a clutch performer for us,” Liberty Head Coach Kyle McQuillan said. “He’s just been one of those guys where, when we need a goal, when we need somebody to step up, especially in gametime situations, he’s been that guy for us.”

The win over the rival Hokies clinched the men’s lacrosse program’s first-ever undefeated regular season at 14-0.

The Flames, ranked No. 3 in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association, compete in the South Eastern Lacrosse Conference playoffs April 26-28. Depending on the results, Liberty may advance to the MCLA National Championships May 6-11 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

It would be the second consecutive trip to nationals for the Flames, who defeated No. 8 seed Concordia University in the first round last year and then lost to No. 1 Chapman University 11-10 in overtime in the 2018 quarterfinals.

“It’s definitely kind of left a bitter taste in our mouth over the course of the year,” McQuillan said of the close loss. “But I thought last year was a great opportunity because it encouraged the guys and reminded them … we can be successful at a national level.”

Since falling to Chapman, Liberty started a win streak that has lasted almost an entire calendar year.

Gregory’s contributions have been key to Liberty maintaining an unblemished record in the regular season, as he was the team’s secondleading scorer with 33 goals and 27 assists in 14 games.

“He’s definitely one of the lynchpins in terms of our success,” McQuillan said. “Not only this season, but in the past four

years.”

“But Gregory, who i t ’ s is majoring in busitaken ness administration and some years finance, joined the Flames to build up with leading scorer and setoward this nior midfielder C.J. Nichols and every four years ago. The duo, along season’s gotwith the rest of that freshman ten better and class, developed into the core better.” that propelled this year’s The Flames narsquad to an undefeated rowly missed the 16-team regular season.

Andrew Snyder | LibertyNews Service field for nationals twice “We’ve got a big senior with records of 9-4 in class, but they’ve all played 2015-16 and 8-7 in 2016-17. Last year’s a significant role this season in what we’ve edition of Liberty men’s lacrosse finished been able to accomplish,” McQuillan said. with an overall mark of 9-6,

including the postseason.

While remaining unbeaten in 2018-19, Gregory said that team chemistry has been especially crucial as the Flames have handled deficits and other moments of adversity as a mature, cohesive unit.

“Team bonding has been one of the areas as a lacrosse team … we’ve been able to improve a lot as we had a young class coming in here (with) a lot of sophomores and freshmen,” Gregory said.

“We’ve played together now for about three years, so that’s really helped us play well.”

Liberty has escaped with four wins decided by two goals or less, including an intense 12-11 home win over the University of South Carolina Saturday, March 30.

Gregory netted late goals that tied the game at 10-10 and 11-11 before Nichols scored the game-winner with nine seconds left. Gregory called the victory a season highlight.

“We’ve lost to them the past couple of seasons, so having a late, dramatic comeback is always really fun,” Gregory said. “It’s why you play the game. To get that win on home field is really special.”

In addition to involving himself in the most critical moments on the field, the Flames have come to rely on Gregory as a team leader leaving a positive impact on the program.

McQuillan said that while he is proud of the strides Gregory has made as a playmaker, he is more impressed with Gregory’s maturity and growth since the 5-foot-7 attackman first put on a Flames uniform.

“We’re happy that his lacrosse abilities have increased over the past four years,” McQuillan said. “But we’re more impressed with the man that he’s become over the last four years.”

GOOCH is a sports reporter.

Spring loves Tennis wraps up a stellar spring season Paige Frost pmfrost@liberty.edu

In its inaugural season in the ASUN, Liberty athletics has taken its new conference by storm, finishing first or second place in some of the most high-profile sports. Liberty’s men’s and women’s tennis teams have done their part, both finishing second in the ASUN.

“This has been a good step for the whole athletic department,” men’s tennis Head Coach Derek Schwandt said. “We have a step up in the competition. We have high goals for our team, and where we started two years ago to now, we have taken steps toward our vision.”

This is the second time in program history that men’s tennis

Leah Stauffer | Liberty News Service

TOP — Sophomore Nicaise Muamba is the ASUN men’s tennis player of the year.

Baseball Jacksonville Liberty

7

4

Softball

has been No. 2 seed going into the postseason tournament.

They kept their losses to a minimum at their meets, ending their season 6-1.

The men’s tennis team realized what it was like to play together in what most people think of as an individual sport. Their mission is to stay unified and be consistent, and they have seen their efforts Leah Stauffer | Liberty News Service pay off.

VERSATILE — Senior Anna Dollar plays both singles and doubles.

“We try to reward that when we see it on place high in the ASUN confer- excited to gain more experience. the court,” Schwandt said. “They have to make better ence, but Head Coach Jeff Maren Learning to stay calm and comdecisions so that they can be more was named ASUN Women’s Ten- posed under pressure is something they can all learn.” nis Coach of the Year. disciplined.”

Next season will lead the “He cares about his players The Liberty women’s tennis team also came in second in the and that’s why he deserves this,” Flames into the second year in the ASUN conference.

ASUN conference this year, over- Soli said.

“It is an exciting time to be in Maren said that tennis is a sport coming a rough start to the season to finish it successfully. Once they that lasts 11 months out of the year, Liberty athletics, in any sport,” picked up momentum, they used it and those months when they are Schwandt said. “The ‘Rise With to propel themselves into holding not competing for Liberty, they are Us’ theme is happening all first place in the conference for a practicing so that they can get bet- around us.” ter. They do not get too much of a few weeks.

“We did a good job ranked one break, but the results on the court of the highest teams in the ASUN come from everything they do durconference,” junior Kalani Soli ing practice.

“This season was fuel for the said. “But we did face some really good teams, so landing in the top summer,” Schwandt said. “Summer is good for staying motivated two was really good for us.”

Not only did the Lady Flames and creating habits. The guys are FROST is a sports reporter.

W. Lacrosse

Softball

Softball

UNA

Liberty

Liberty

Howard

Liberty

UNA

UNA

Liberty

1

0

22

0

3

1

1

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B2 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

sports

Joel Coleman | Liberty News Service SANDY — The beach volleyball season begins in September, pauses for the winter, resumes in March and lasts for much of the summer. Pictured above: T Fongixer and Peter Gooch.

A summer of sports Liberty athletics looks forward to a busy summer of games John Nekrasov ydnekrasov@liberty.edu

Though the end of finals week sees most students leave campus for the summer, athletic events keep Liberty buzzing throughout the summer months, attracting thousands of visitors to Lynchburg.

State Games of America In one of the highlights of the summer, an expected 14,000 athletes and fans will flood Liberty’s campus for the State Games of America, a national-level amateur sports competition, from July 31 to August 4.

Liberty has hosted the Virginia Commonwealth Games, a regional amateur competition, for the past three years, but in 2016 it won a bid to host the 2019 State Games, taking the place of the Commonwealth Games for the year, according to Liberty’s website.

Club Sports Assistant Director of Recruiting and Special Events Kaycee Tripp, one of the organizers of the games, hopes to see this new event raise Liberty’s recognition throughout the amateur sports community.

“When they (visitors) get to campus, it’s mind-blowing how much we have to offer and what we have on our campus,” Tripp said.

“We’re bringing kids on campus as young as 6 years old … so just the potential to get them in and showcase our facilities. The tournament is actually being run by our coaches – so if they come and play in the ultimate tournament, that tournament is actually being run by our ultimate coach, for example.”

Through the games, amateur athletes from all over the US get the opportunity to compete in traditional sports like soccer or basketball and nontraditional sports like pickleball, as well as one of the new additions to the

event this year: the Ninja Challenge, modeled main types of camps over the summer, including day camps for younger athletes, team off the American Ninja Warrior TV show.

Liberty has worked closely with the city camps and elite camps for aspiring college of Lynchburg to coordinate logistics for basketball players. With the Flames perforthe event, with staff from the university and mance in the NCAA Tournament this year, various city organizations meeting in joint interest in Liberty has risen among younger planning sessions over the past few years. players, and Director of Basketball OperaThe partnerships between the university and tions Chelsea Mangino believes the experithe city have grown as a result, Tripp said, ence can serve as an inspiration for young and the team hopes to see Lynchburg ben- players to pursue their dreams. efit from the influx “I can imagine it’s of visitors. a little surprising,” I think sometimes “The economic Mangino said. “Someimpact is huge,” Tripp the students think that times when you come said. “By us getting from far away you the bid to host this, campus slows down don’t know what Libwe’re bringing all of erty has to offer, so when they leave, and I these families here, just being able to play and they’re going to always like to debunk that on the main court of be eating at the resVines in an arena like taurants in the city, myth and let them know that, being coached they’re going to be

by Division I coaches, sleeping in the ho- that we are just as busy, and elite ones at that – tels in the city. So not I think it’s something only are we benefiting if not busier when they’re that definitely is an opfrom a university perportunity for them to spective and not only gone. take advantage of.” are Virginia Amateur — Kaycee Tripp Players who come to Sports getting the aththe team camps get to letes and helping the experience a full overkids, but our city is benefiting hugely from night schedule of life at Liberty, including staying at the dorms on campus, eating at the the economic side of it.”

Though the State Games will draw the cafeteria and playing in team competitions highest volume of visitors throughout the at Liberty’s facilities. Though some players summer, Liberty’s sports teams will also scouted at elite camps might eventually play bring a steady flow of young athletes to cam- for Liberty, Mangino hopes that the camps’ pus for a series of camps for sports from field influence will extend beyond just recruiting. “(The players) get the full experience, and hockey to swimming and diving. there’ll be kids on teams that may not play Men’s Basketball Camps college basketball, but they get to stay at Liberty a couple nights and may end up wanting The men’s basketball team will host three to come to school here later,” Mangino said.

Club Beach Volleyball For some Liberty teams, the summer is a time for training and recruitment, but for others it is a time for travel and competition.

Club Sport’s growing beach volleyball program aims to travel to southern California this summer to play in nationals against a lineup of NCAA teams for a second consecutive year, with the men’s team competing this weekend for a spot in the tournament.

Head Coach Kaleb VanDePerre looks forward to the unique environment the tournament provides to his players, regardless of whether they win or not.

“In the United States and maybe the rest of the world, southern California is the beach volleyball spot,” VanDePerre said. “We’ll be at the beach, and Carrie Walsh will be training three courts down, an Olympic gold medalist time and time again, and she’ll be hanging out right next to us at the court. …

Just being around so much volleyball at such a high level gets everyone really excited.”

For Liberty athletics, the summer provides the chance to explore these kinds of opportunities that might not present themselves during the school year. Though most students go home for a welcome break from academic life, Tripp wishes they could experience the action around campus during the summer months.

“I think sometimes the students think that campus slows down when they leave, and I always like to debunk that myth and let them know that we are just as busy, if not busier, when they’re gone,” Tripp said.

NEKRASOV is a copy editor.

sports

Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 | B3

Storybook comeback Capped off by a grand slam, Liberty women’s softball rallied to beat Radford starting pitcher Kayla Huffman allowing just one run in her first four innings of work.

In the bottom of the first inning, Liberty had its first two runners It was just like a movie. on base before Huffman got three Down to their last out, the home straight Lady Flames to pop up to team was trailing, their best hitter end the threat. She continued to up to bat with the bases loaded and slow down the Liberty bats, delivthe game on the line. ering pitches at less than 60 mph Liberty senior second baseand keeping the Lady Flames ofman Amber Bishop stepped to the fense at bay. plate and delivered a game-winning “When you are used to seeing grand slam home run over the right pitchers in the mid-60s (mph) field fence that culminated a sevenand then you are seeing 54run comeback victory for the Lady 58, they keep you off-balance,” Flames over former Big South rival Richardson said.

Radford Tuesday night, April 23.

Liberty finally got on the board Earlier in the game, after Maggie with two outs in the second inning.

Rowe smacked a three-run home Sophomore right fielder Madison run over the left field fence to give Via laid down a bunt for a single, Radford an 8-1 lead in the top of stole second base and then scored on an RBI double from designated player Deidra See. “(Scoring) is crucial in those moments, especially because with two outs if you are up to the plate your job is to turn the lineup over,” See said. “Scoring a run was just a formality of that.”

Liberty took a 1-0 lead but did not score again until the sixth inning.

“I think we were being aggressive, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that,” Via said. “Obviously, it paid off in the end.”

Via was one of the offensive bright spots for Liberty throughout the game. She finished fourfor-four on the night and Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion scored three runs.

Lady Flames starting SMASHED — Junior infielder Autumn Bishop was later batted in by her twin sister pitcher Chase Cassidy Amber’s home run.

Christian Weaner crweaner@liberty.edu

the fifth inning, Liberty found itself in a big hole.

Rowe’s home run was the first Liberty had given up since March 24 and only the 12th allowed all season. The game seemed out of reach at that point, but not for the prolific Lady Flames offense, whose comeback helped Chase Cassady earn the win despite giving up four earned runs.

“Chase Cassady got a W on this one when I’m sure she was thinking, ‘Can we score that many runs?’” Liberty Softball Head Coach Dot Richardson said. “And we did it.”

Though the Lady Flames were celebrating afterward, the first five innings of the game were anything but joyful offensively, with Radford

Ben Craft bcraft2@liberty.edu

Despite baseball still being hailed as America’s pastime, other sports have replaced baseball in American culture.

The criticism is easy to spot by simply scrolling through social media posts and comments. People think it is slow, boring and unathletic.

I played baseball for 14 years, and I fully agree with every complaint thrown against the sport. I dread when the games last longer than four hours, the 162game season makes each individual game feel unimportant, and players like Pablo Sandoval are not as captivating as Aaron Donald or LeBron James.

I mention my former playing career because sometimes people claim that baseball is more fun to play than it is to watch. This may be true if you are just lobbing batting practice to your friends on a sunny day, but in terms of competitive baseball, I spent far more time chewing sunflower seeds on the field than I did doing anything productive.

However, this is the nature of the sport, and these are the reasons that baseball will always remain my favorite sport.

Exciting moments define football and basketball, with dazzling highlight reels appearing on a game-by-game basis.

Poster dunks and ridiculous one-handed grabs amaze audiences constantly. Baseball often lacks these, and that is part of the appeal.

Baseball represents a different type of entertainment than these other sports.

Not every game is exciting – but not every game needs to be exciting. Instead, baseball offers a retreat for a few hours that most other sports fail to capture.

Whether you are playing or watching, baseball is a calm game for the majority of

the time. Instead of constantly demanding your attention, the sport presents you with many opportunities to rest and process what is occurring in front of you.

In a world constantly flowing with no time for breaks as it jumps from one topic to the next, this change of pace is relaxing.

So-called boring baseball games offer time to expand your knowledge upon a league with one of the richest histories in sports. The history of players like Roberto Clemente and Ted Williams are incredibly difficult to call uninteresting.

None of this is to say that baseball does not offer exciting moments. When Bryce Harper strolled into Nationals Park for the first time since leaving the Washington Nationals and proceeded to blast a home run and then flip his bat, it was must-see TV. When pitchers like Max Scherzer, Jacob DeGrom and Clayton Kershaw step onto the mound, the viewers enter into a trance, crowds audibly gasping whenever the pitchers allow their first hits of the afternoon. Whenever a player of their caliber trots onto the field, people get invested.

Baseball can be dull, but sometimes that is the point, while other times it offers excitement rivalling any sport.

CRAFT is a sports reporter.

Google Photos

breezed through the first three innings of the game. Heading into the fourth inning, she had struck out three Highlanders and faced the minimum amount of batters.

But Radford rallied in the fourth, getting hits from their first two

“

I think we were being aggressive, and I

don’t think there is

anything wrong with

that. Obviously, it paid off in the end.

— Madison Via batters. They scored a run on a single from infielder Hunter Munday to tie the game before Rowe put them ahead with a successful suicide squeeze bunt. Cassidy walked another batter and then was pulled from the game in favor of ace pitcher Julia DiMartino.

The Highlanders scored three more runs after DiMartino entered the game and took a commanding 5-1 lead. In the next inning, Cassidy re-entered for a struggling DiMartino and gave up the home run to Rowe that made it a sevenrun advantage for Radford.

Liberty finally responded with a rally in the sixth inning. Alexis Erich began the inning with a walk and then was followed by consecutive singles from Denay Griffin, Kayla Harris and Via, loading the bases for ninth-place hitter See. See roped a bases-clearing double into the left field gap that shrank

the Radford lead to 8-5.

“In that situation, my only job was to put the ball in play,” See said. “Getting three runs in was awesome, but one would have been fine.”

Liberty added one more run on an Amber Bishop RBI double and put themselves within striking distance of the Highlanders.

After Cassidy shut Radford down in the top of the seventh inning and recorded her sixth strikeout of the night, the Lady Flames got one last rally going in the final inning.

Griffin and Via each got singles and leadoff hitter Autumn Bishop was hit by a pitch to load the bases for her sister, who delivered the game-winning blast.

“It was huge for us (to get the win), especially with a team that we have seen before in the Big South,” See said. “(Winning) proved that no matter what pitching we are seeing, we can get the runs in to manufacture a win.”

The Lady Flames will close out their regular season at home Saturday, May 4, against Longwood, another former Big South opponent.

Liberty is expected to head into the ASUN tournament as the top seed. Coming off a season in which they fell one game short of a NCAA regional championship, the Lady Flames are poised for another postseason run in 2019.

“We should take this momentum and keep riding it all the way through postseason,” Via said.

WEANER is a sports reporter.

sports

B4 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

SPORTS

Wild

WITH

SIMMONS John Simmons jasimmons2@liberty.edu

Baseball has long been considered America’s national pastime. Since the late 19th century, crowds of all ages have flocked to stadiums to behold one of the most entertaining games ever created by mankind.

Baseball possesses an unwritten code that players are expected to follow, creating a culture of sportsmanship. Players are expected to not argue balls and strikes, run the bases briskly after a home run, and to save all brash celebrations for the dugout.

This unwritten code is largely why baseball has been hailed as a gentleman’s game for decades.

However, a new generation of young stars have challenged the norms of celebrations in recent years. Under the movement MLB has christened “Let the Kids Play,� baseball players are changing up the code of conduct on the diamond.

Players are unleashing their emotions in seemingly audacious ways in an attempt to enliven the game.

Perhaps the most controversial manifestation is the way players celebrate home runs. Players like Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper and Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig have championed the bat-flip as their celebration, which would not be tolerated 20 years ago. Now, bat-flipping is perfectly normal, and players are inventing new ways to hurl their bats in celebration of dingers.

This revolution is not without its faults.

The emphatic celebrations are irritating opposing pitchers, and to show their displeasure at the batters, they often intentionally hit that player in their next at bat.

Considering the history and tradition of baseball, it is understandable why many older players and fans bring an old-school mentality to the game and believe that celebrating with a bat-flip is disrespectfully showing up the opposing team. But the young players in the game today are more expressive and believe they enhance team comradery by celebrating with

and

Chad Wylie cewylie@liberty.edu

their teammates.

On April 17, the Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson crushed a two-run home run in the fourth inning off Kansas City Royals pitcher Brad Keller to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. Immediately, Anderson launched his bat in the air and yelled emphatically at his own dugout, a celebration that Keller took exception to. In Anderson’s next at bat in the sixth inning, Keller intentionally hit Anderson, sending both teams into a brawl.

Instances like this are becoming more common in today’s game. This begs the question: are bat-flips and the “Let the Kid’s Play� trend harming the game? Is the desire to enliven the game through celebrations shaking the foundations of one of the most time-honored traditions in our country?

I do not think so.

This is the MLB, the highest level of competition for professional baseball in the world. Players can celebrate in a respectful way, and if bat-flipping is the way players celebrate, so be it. Anderson’s celebration might have been distasteful, but that does not mean all bat-flipping should be banned.

I understand the frustration that pitchers must feel, since surrendering home runs is a humiliating part of a pitcher’s job. A brazen celebration like Anderson’s would further irritate a pitcher and make them want revenge.

The most sportsmanlike way a pitcher can avenge themselves is striking out the batter the next time they step into the box.

If pitchers are angry that they let up a home run, fine. Pound three straight 98-mph fastballs into the strike zone and make the batter look foolish, but do not do something petty and intentionally hit the batter.

Adding colorful celebrations to America’s classic sport will not damage its integrity, but rather free players to express themselves like never before. There is no stopping this trend, and players and audiences must prepare themselves for more celebration creativity in the future.

Consistency.

For a basketball player, consistency is putting out the same quality of performance every time he steps on the court. Consistency is what separates Derrick Rose, who played at an MVP level for two weeks in 2018, from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who displayed an MVP-level performance for the entire 2018-19 season.

For a basketball referee, consistency means calling fouls fairly and equally. A referee must not call fouls against one team that they would not call against the other.

But that also means calling the same types of fouls in the playoffs that they did all year in the regular season.

A consistent referee will go unnoticed the entirety of a game. They will call the game correctly, giving fans and players little reason to complain about the officiating.

But referees damage the game when they become the center of attention and are perceived to have decided the outcome.

On Sunday, March 28, in a highly anticipated playoff rematch between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, three former and current MVP winners and four other All-Stars battled back and forth in the Warriors eventual 104-100 victory.

But rather than talking about the two players who scored 35 points each or the clutch 3-pointer by Steph Curry, the ire of players and pundits turned on the referees and their no-calls on several controversial plays.

Since joining the Rockets, James Harden has perfected the art of scoring in the paint and from the 3-point line, and he possesses a unique ability to draw fouls and convert those fouls into free-throws. In the regular season, James Harden drew fouls on 95 3-point attempts, giving himself 285 chances at the free-throw line. He achieves this by throwing his body forward while shooting and kicking his leg up toward an oncoming defender.

The NBA rulebook states: “A player is never permitted to move into the path of an opponent after the opponent has started his upward jumping motion.� By jumping farther out horizontally and kicking his leg up, Harden has created a jump shot

Wylie

that enlarges his shooting path and makes it harder for defenders to contest his shots without fouling.

Regardless of whether his shooting method is a natural method or one designed to manufacture fouls, the fact remains that all regular season referees called those fouls.

They gave him those free throws. And he converted those free throws at an 87.9 percent rate.

In Game 1 against the Warriors, several Warriors defenders invaded Harden’s landing space on 3-point attempts and appeared to foul him. Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Andre Iguodala each took turns guarding Harden, and they all made contact with his body and legs while contesting his shots. In most cases, no fouls were called. “Call the game how it’s supposed to be called and that’s it,� Harden said after the game. “And I’ll live with the results.�

What Harden is asking for, and what every NBA player has a right to ask, is that officials call the same types of fouls that they called all season before the playoffs.

If a defender brushing into Harden’s body or making contact with his legs is a foul in November and December, it has to be a foul in April and May. These types of calls have helped Harden average 36.1 points per game this season and helped his team earn a 53-29 record for the season.

It is certainly true that defensive intensity increases in the postseason. Scores are usually lower and physicality increases. But calling 3-point fouls for landing in a shooter’s space helped turn Harden into the most prolific offensive force in the NBA this season, and officials are crippling the Rockets chance of success by changing the way they call those fouls in the playoffs.

On-court performances in the NBA playoffs should determine the best teams and players in the world. Referees exist to manage games, not determine outcomes. When the league demands consistency from officials, the focus will once again turn back to the world-class players battling for a championship. After all, the players are the ones fans are paying to see in the first place.

WYLIE is the asst. sports editor.

SIMMONS is a sports reporter.

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Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 | B5

A Year of Victories

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

VICTORY CRY — The Flames football team made program history with its first Football Bowl Subdivision win over Old Dominion University in September, finishing the year at 6-6.

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

HISTORY — The men’s basketball team made program history with its first ASUN championship win over Lipscomb and first NCAA tournament win over Mississippi State. The Flames eventually fell to Virginia Tech in the round of 32.

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

STRIKE — The men’s lacrosse team boasted its strongest season ever, remaining undefeated 15-0 until suffering a loss against University of South Carolina in the SELC semifinals.

REIGN — The Lady Flames DI hockey team defended its title and won the ACHA national championship for the second year in a row.

Joel Isimeme | Liberty News Service

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B6 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

A Year of Highlights Melania Trump Visits

First Lady Melania Trump spoke on the national opioid crisis at Liberty’s convocation Nov. 28, 2018. Her segment preceded Eric Bolling’s first Town Hall national television program highlighting the epidemic that claims 100,000 American lives every year.

Construction continues

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion FLOTUS addressed the opioid crisis.

Bloodroot

Bloodroot, an original play written and performed by a group of female students debuted at Liberty in November 2018. Bloodroot is the first Liberty theater production to receive national honors as it was recognized with two national awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

KJ Jugar | Liberty News Service

The School of Business is set to open.

Construction on Liberty’s campus continues with the new School of Business building set to open in May. A new multiuse arena is currently being constructed between DeMoss Hall and the Vines Center.

Liberty also announced construction on the School of Engineering building, and a nine-story parking garage will being soon.

Historic basketball season

The Liberty men’s basketball team recorded the best season in program history (29-7) after their inaugural year in the ASUN, claiming the conference title and even winning the first round of the NCAA tournament before narrowly falling to Virginia Tech in the round of 32.

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion Bloodroot told the story of strong women.

Law school

Liberty’s law school placed 7th in the nation for bar passage rate in 2018, according to the American Bar Association. The law school, founded in 2004, placed higher than the rest of the law schools in Virginia.

Leah Stauffer| Liberty News Service

The Flames won the ASUN title.

Convocation Speakers

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion

The law school was founded in 2004.

LU Hosts CPAC

Liberty University was one of the satellite locations for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) March 1, 2019. The event featured special guests including actor Gary Sinise, former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, Founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and Political CommentaAllison Heise | Liberty Champion tor Charlie Kirk, Kentucky Gov. Veterans were honored at CPAC. Matt Bevin, and a special webcam appearance from Vice President Mike Pence, who announced that he would be Liberty’s 2019 commencement speaker.

Andrew Snyder | Liberty News Service

Dr. Peterson visited in March 2019.

Liberty hosted a wide range of notable Convocation speakers over the 2018-2019 school year. These speakers included NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, psychologist Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, pastors/ evangelists Rich Wilkerson, Francis Chan, Franklin Graham, and athletes Steele Johnson, Andy Pettitte, Brandon Boykin and Ben Zobrist.

Serve Lynchburg

Luke Bobbey | Liberty News Service

Students served the local area in April.

More than 2,000 Liberty students volunteered during the third annual Serve Lynchburg event April 13, collecting more than 8,500 service hours. The number of LU volunteers grew by roughly 40 percent since their previous year. Students gathered on the Academic Lawn on the morning of April 13, and dispersed to their assignment locations.

The Champion thanks our sponsors

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Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 | B7

Going the extra mile

Assistant criminal justice professor Larry Presley moves office hours to Argo Jenna Crenshaw jmcrenshaw@liberty.edu

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Assistant Professor Larry Presley is not in his office.

Rather, he is sitting in Argo Tea. On the back of his laptop reads “Professor Presley, Criminal Justice, Argo Tea Office: I am in.”

Presley’s office is located in Green Hall, but all of his criminal justice classes are held in DeMoss. Rather than make his students hop on the bus to Green Hall, he sets up his makeshift office in Argo Tea. “Even if Green Hall is convenient for the instructor, it’s not very convenient for the students,” Presley said. “We already have enough stress. We have a whole semester of stress. So why would I want to create more stress? It defies all sense for me to go over there and make the students do that,” Presley said.

Convenience is not the only plus to Presley’s office arrangement. Students of all majors come by and greet him or ask questions. He even meets with visiting students

and parents, using Argo as a central location to direct visitors to the best places to see on campus.

Sophomore criminology major Noah Harmon finds Presley’s office location to be refreshing.

“It doesn’t matter if (Presley’s) grading or reading articles, he’s always available to talk to students. I think that’s a very unique quality in a professor. He clearly values the students.”

With Harmon’s second round of taking Criminal Justice 200, he was glad he had Presley as his professor.

“

It doesn’t matter if Presely is grading or reading articles, he’s always available to talk to students.

— Noah Harmon

Bethany Kocik | Liberty Champion

AVAILABLE — Students often drop by to ask questions or talk about classes.

“I literally passed Criminal Justice 200 because of him,” Harmon said.

If students missed an assignment, Presley replied with “email me.”

He never gave points that students did not earn, but he allowed struggling students to make up work.

There is one thing that Presley said that has stuck with Harmon. “(Presley) said ‘God has extended so much grace to me, I can’t, with a good conBethany Kocik | Liberty Champion science, fail to extend HOURS — Presley’s Argo hours are 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Monday, that to my students,’” Wednesday and Friday.

Harmon said. “It was very refreshing to have that perspective from would not make a comment like that again.

“You know (that) you’ve done justice a professor.”

Before coming to Liberty, Presley worked when both sides thank you for what you’ve for NYPD and FBI. He was the FBI foren- done,” Presley said.

Both the prosecution and defense attorney sic DNA analyst who helped investigate the expressed their gratitude for Presley’s testi1993 World Trade Center bombing.

During his time at FBI, there was one case mony in the case.

Presley’s passion for criminal justice that is still highlighted in Presley’s mind. In shines through in his teaching. He occasionthat case, he testified against two men who ally tells stories of his experiences and enbrutally raped and murdered a young woman.

He ate lunch with the woman’s parents courages his students to stand up for truth. and prosecutor over the course of nine days According to Presley, becoming a professor that he testified in the case. The tension was at Liberty was not his call, but God’s call.

“God made that decision. … I didn’t plan high in the courtroom, and the defense attorney was harassing him with questions. At on it. … I believe God’s hand moved me into one point, the defense attorney asked a silly various positions, knowing he wanted me to question, according to Presley, to which Pre- end up here,” Presley said.

He considers it his calling to train up sley replied with a silly but logical answer.

“All the jury laughed. The judge laughed. champions for Christ.

“It has been a privilege and honor to Thank God,” Presley said. serve the students of Liberty University,” Even the parents of the victim laughed.

Presley said.

According to Presley, the prosecutor expressed his appreciation afterwards for answering the question the way he did, allowing everyone in the courtroom to relax for a minute, but he promised the prosecutor that he CRENSHAW is the feature editor.

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B8 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

“What would you tell your college self?” from the Faculty of Liberty University Jerry Falwell

Duke Davis (Mr. Rot)

“Don’t underestimate what God can do with your life.

When you hear the story of how Liberty came from nothing to where it is today, you’ll see how God can use somebody who was the most unlikely person to do something big.

That’s true for every one of you.”

“I would say to my college-aged self to be focused on my dream, don’t let the naysayers hold you back. Life will present (you) with many challenges along the way, but you are going to have to find a way to get through them. You can lean on your faith, the assistance of others and family members for advice on how to get through life’s struggles, so don’t ever give up--stay on course to follow your dreams!”

President

Leah Stauffer

Marketing Photographer “Never give up on your dreams. As crazy or random or unattainable as those dreams and aspirations may be, if you put in the work and chase them there should be no reason for you to not succeed. Now you may succeed in a different way than you thought or planned, but you will succeed in whatever way God has planned for you.”

Dr. Keith Anderson

Executive Director Student Health Center “If given the chance, older Keith would tell younger Keith, ‘You must be focused and flexible at the same time.

In order to achieve the goals that you have set for yourself, it requires you to be laser-focused on the objectives required to meet the minimum requirements necessary to be best positioned to reach your goals. However, you should be flexible enough to make the necessary adjustments when obstacles arise. Don’t be afraid to fail but be persistent during the process of maturing.’”

Dr. Mark Hine Senior Vice President

“Establish early on a consistent, daily time with God. Spend 15 minutes a day for 60 days in a row reading the Bible and praying. Worry about the ‘length of time’ later.

Allow the Holy Spirit to produce in your life love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Start each day committed to serving others with these fruits/characteristics. Don’t worry about who gets the credit. God will sort that out. Memorize 1 Corinthians 13.

Practice it for the rest of your life.”

Sodexo District Manager

Ruth Gomes

Assistant Professor FACS “(If I was a senior in college again, I’d tell myself) to not forget all the resources that you still have on campus, from the Career Center to your teachers. Just because you are gone from campus doesn’t mean you are going to never need us again. Also, just take those Christian principles that you’ve learned and use them in the workforce wherever you go. I think that’s really important, and you will never go wrong following God’s way.”

Deborah Huff Champion Advisor

“Your journey into the future is shaped by the people in your life, some quirky, some outrageous and some simply sane. Each one is a gift that adds spice to your life. Appreciate the value they bring in shaping who you are. You are blessed in numerous ways. Count those blessings and praise the Lord for them every day.

Just because you are graduating, don’t forget to ask God to teach you something new today that you can use for his glory.”

Dr. Mary Lowe Associate Divinity Dean

“Don’t waste your time worrying about what others will think. You have more influence than you may realize, so use your voice to impact lives and champion change. If God can use a young girl to accomplish his purposes, he can use you to carry out his mission. Don’t underestimate yourself or God’s design on your life. When you focus on what God wants to do in the world, you can be the change you’re looking for.”

Ritchie McKay

Men’s Basketball Head Coach “I heard it said long ago that ‘God always molds a man’s character to match the assignment.’ The worst thing that man can have is small character for a big assignment, and I think the beauty of Liberty University is the people and its pursuit — their commitment to be a part of something bigger than themselves and their pursuit of making other’s lives better. So go and fulfill a calling, that charge, and continue to represent our family and yours for greater things.”

Dr. David Wheeler Professor of Evangelism

“I would tell my college-age self to pursue excellence rather than perfection … to love God with every fiber of my being! I would also try to slow down and enjoy life to its fullest. … I would practice the art of listening more than talking! And just for fun, I would try every milkshake flavor at Cook Out! HA! I would love intensely, serve intentionally and live every day with gratitude! Smile!”

Dot Richardson Softball Head Coach

“Trust the gifts that God has given you and seize the opportunities he puts before you. Trust that God has plans for you, and those plans are for you to prosper, no matter how trying or difficult life will get. Do not listen to the negative things that people say because, unfortunately, some people want to hold you back and make you doubt yourself. Stop with the negative thoughts you tell yourself. Instead, change those thoughts to only positive ones because as a child of God, you are wonderfully and purposefully made. When bad things happen in your life, it doesn’t mean you are a bad person. Listen more. Pray more. Speak about Jesus more. Keep looking for Christ’s lessons in everything that happens in your life. And above all, cherish every minute on earth that the Lord has given to praise him, to glorify him and give it all to him.”

David Nasser Campus Pastor

“Your chief end in what you do and who you are is to glorify God and to make him known. His renown is your greatest aim in your job, marriage, parenting, friendships, spending, thinking, eating, sleeping — you get the point! In everything live for Him.”

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Photographer Favorites Ryan Klinker Photo Editor

I

n just the one year that I’ve been a Champion staff member, I have been afforded so many fantastic opportunities. I got to stand courtside for the best men’s basketball team in program history, fly on a private jet and cover a nationally televised event, stand in the freezing cold for a road football game at UVA and photograph the First Lady. Despite all of the stress and time spent in the windowless photo office, I’ve loved my job.

Allison Heise Assistant Photo Editor

D

uring my year at the Champion, I learned what the phrase “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” meant. I had the opportunity to grow and take risks as a photographer surrounded by people that supported and loved me well. I could not have imagined a better place to spend my senior year. I am so very thankful.

Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 | B9

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B10 | April 30, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Harping on the harmonica Liberty student Ben Perry takes his harmonica skills from novice to expert Lydia Poindexter lgpoindexter@liberty.edu

Ben Perry went from novice to No. 6 harmonica player under 21 years old in the United States in less than two years.

Perry, a junior theater performance major at Liberty University, nonchalantly but thoughtfully described his journey to harmonica fame.

During his senior year of high school, Perry read an article that said one of elderly people’s biggest regrets was that they never learned to play an instrument.

Perry determined that he would be different.

“I decided to pick up the harmonica because I thought it would be easy and it turned out that it wasn’t easy at all, but by that point, I was determined to stick with it and learn something,” Perry said. monica as a toy and said he quickly became frustrated when he was unable to play harder songs. A little while later, he upgraded and instantly knew the difference.

“Don’t buy the three (harmonicas) for $10,” Perry said laughing.

Initially Perry started learning on his own through watching YouTube videos but eventually hit a wall where he needed external feedback. He contacted Liam Ward from Oxford, England, who tutored Perry

“Gosh. Your lips and your tongue are going to get tired,” Perry said, describing the challenge of playing the instrument.

In 2018, Perry traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, for the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (SPAH) convention. Of the 500 members, the majority are older men. Each year, the society offers a youth scholarship to bring in more young people and keep the instrument’s legacy alive.

There in St. Louis, Perry competed for the Rose Bush Award, which is given out to the top six players for the year who are under 21 years old. Perry won sixth place.

Although it could have been intimidating, Perry said he was shocked by the welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.

“

roadblock.

Now Perry has returned to teaching himself, listening to professionals and emulating their style. When he is out of school, Perry typically practices for 30 minutes a day.

However, during the school year, he does not have much time.

“It might honestly just be 10 minutes of canoodling,” Perry said.

Ward was a huge inspiration for Perry as well as James Conway, a Chicago-based Irish blues player. Perry admires Conway’s ability to create a new level of harmonic art. Another takeaway Perry learned from Conway was how to do a tongue split where the tongue goes between two notes and creates an octave.

If there is one thing I’ve learned, it is that God never gives you a skill for just one thing.

— Ben Perry

“You are meeting people who have toured the world in regards to their playing abilities, and yet they were down-to-earth people who just wanted to sit and talk and maybe teach you some stuff,” Perry said.

Most of the men came from the Midwest, and Perry said he enjoyed the variety of personalities and characters present and the chance to evangelize.

“You have your old-school country that is kind of like civil religion, then you have a bunch of gospel players that are kind of your then you’ve got a lot of your newer crowd with soul, jazz, funk – that sort of thing – and rock ‘n’ roll who don’t sort of believe in anything. So it is interesting to be able to talk to all of those kinds of people and hear where they are spiritually,” Perry said.

Although all the members were very different, Perry found that music was the universal theme that connected everyone.

Perry’s favorite part of playing harmonica is its bluesy wail and the instrument’s size. pocket, Perry can pull it out and play wherever he goes.

“It is something you don’t normally hear, so most of the time you will bring people so much joy when you do play it that it is just fun to see everyone else’s face light up, especially when they are having a horrible day,” Perry said.

Perry said it has been an interesting evangelism opportunity and allowed him to meet people he would not have met otherwise who are all searching for the gospel.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned, BLUES — it is that God never gives you a skill for just one thing,” Perry said. “I was thinking about it and how weird it is that I picked up this skill just to be able to give harmonicas to kids in Spain or just go to this conference. But it continually crops up over and over again in places where it can be used for his glory.”

Looking forward, Perry has no idea where his harmonica will take him. He hopes to improve his skills playing harmonica and guitar simultaneously to where he can play both comfortably without thinking.

L YDIA POINDEXTER | L

IBERTY

C HAMPION

can stick to and persevere in, which for some reason for me was harmonica,” Perry said. “Pretty much anything else whenever I look at it, I see it as a time-sucker and it is easy to get discouraged, but then I have to say that I spent so many hours in this area and can show a trajectory upwards. It helps to have something like that where I can see that I was faithful in this, and there were

POINDEXTER is a feature reporter.

L YDIA POINDEXTER | L

IBERTY

C HAMPION

PRACTICE — Perry works on his skills by playing his harmonica and guitar simultaneously.

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Liberty Champion | April 30, 2019 | B11

girl in a bubble

Jane Claudio

Liberty alumna returns to Lynchburg to open for Tori Kelly, shares story after winning battle with cancer

going my way,” Claudio said.

As Claudio began to gain popularity with her music, she was confronted with a mind“What’s it like on the other side of the set that she did not know was crippling her.

“I’ve always been aware of what everyone glass?”

Jane Claudio of Nightbirde sent this ques- else wanted and needed, and I’ve always adtion into the airwaves in her single “Girl in justed to that,” Claudio said. “I didn’t know a Bubble.” The feeling of being seen but how to turn off that voice in my head that was not known was the driving idea behind the always advising me on what other people song, a feeling that is laced throughout were expecting and what they wanted.”

In the spotlight, Claudio was the life of the Claudio’s story.

Claudio’s journey from small-town star- party and a sought-out friend. But her fears dom to self-discovery to a cancer diagnosis soon crept in — the voices telling her that brought her back to her alma mater to open nobody actually liked her and she would be alone. for Tori Kelly Saturday, April 6.

“My internal reality was completely differWhen she started her freshman year at Liberty in 2009, music was not on her radar. ent from what you (saw) externally,” Claudio But one question kept rolling around in said. “I was like, ‘this has to change because Claudio’s brain: if she could do anything and I’ve became a really anxious, isolated person, knew that she would succeed, what would and that’s not me.’”

She decided to take a step back from her she do?

“I just kept getting the same answer,” music until she discovered a way to defeat Claudio said. “I wanted to make music and those voices in her head.

“I had a bit of a breaking point where I reinfluence the entertainment industry.”

Halfway through her college career, alized that I was known by everyone and liked Claudio (known by her maiden name by everyone, but I’m not known or liked by Marczewski) started writing her own songs. myself,” Claudio said.

Three years went by and she graduated She gathered a following as she performed bigger and bigger shows, becoming a Lynch- from Liberty. Claudio spent those years uprooting those negative thoughts from her burg star.

“After I graduated I had a lot of momen- mind. In September of 2017, she began to tum here and a lot of fans — things were really put the pieces of her life back together and prepared to jump back into her career.

At that pivotal moment, Claudio was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I felt like the Lord was asking me to look him in the face,” Claudio said. “(He said) ‘Don’t look away from me because you’re going to learn something here.’”

The pieces that made up her identity were gone. The words that she would use to present herself to others were erased.

“I had to make peace with myself without any of these accessories that I had to make myself seem really shiny,” Claudio said.

When she was diagnosed, she decided to keep moving forward. She had a decision: either focus on the strong possibility that she might die, or get ready for her future.

“I was constantly planning and dreaming and allowing my heart to Photo Provided be naive about all the things I wanted to do and be,” Claudio said.

BEST FRIENDS — Stewart snapped a photo with Abigail Stewart met Claudio their Claudio in the hospital while Claudio fought cancer.

Jenna Crenshaw jmcrenshaw@liberty.edu

DROP — Claudio released her single “Girl in a Bubble” in March. first year at Liberty, and they have been best friends since. Stewart walked through the toughest years of Claudio’s life by her side.

“Nothing prepares you for that,” Stewart said. “When your best friend that seems so healthy has this life-changing diagnosis.”

When Claudio had nothing to offer, she learned to accept unconditional love from others.

“I think that she grew a lot by seeing that people were still interested in loving her when she couldn’t really love us back at the time,” Stewart said.

Almost a year later, Claudio announced that she was cancer-free. She wasted no time jumping back into her passion of making music, releasing the single “Girl in a Bubble” in March.

For aspiring artists, Claudio has a few words of advice.

“There are going to be so many moments when you want to quit and you want to give up,” Claudio said. “Those who are meant to do it will stick it out.”

For Claudio, success in the music industry is not solely founded on talent.

“It has very little to do with talent and a lot to do with grit and determination and endurance,” Claudio said. “There are a mil-

“

Photo by Jacqueline Day

lion people who are way more talented than me that will never do what I’m doing because they gave up too fast.”

“Brave” is the word that Stewart chose to describe her best friend.

“Nothing really shakes Jane,” Stewart

I was constantly planning and dreaming and allowing my heart to be naive about all the things I wanted to do and be.

— Jane Claudio said. “Rejection or the fear of being liked or accepted or enough … Jane just tackles it.”

Whenever Stewart hears Claudio’s music, she is filled with pride at the person Claudio has become and the lives she continues to influence through her story.

“I think that anybody that knows Jane knows without a doubt that she is so special and a gift to the world and all that are around her,” Stewart said.

CRENSHAW is the feature editor.

Llama mia, finals are here Jerry Falwell Library gears up to give students ways to de-stress during finals Rachel Kauderer rkauderer@liberty.edu

As finals week approaches, college stresses quickly creep up on students. To combat these stresses, the Jerry Falwell Library hosts a variety of De-Stress events throughout each concluding semester.

In 2014, the Jerry Falwell Library held its first De-Stress events during finals week. Created by Liberty’s previous library dean Marcy

Pride these events became a tradition throughout campus and have been provided to students every December and May as classes come to a close.

JoHannah Lowder, outreach librarian in the Jerry Falwell Library, said their De-Stress events start on the university’s Reading Day. As students take a day off to prepare for finals, events occur every day and throughout the weekend until exams conclude and dorms close.

Lowder said there are many allday events that students can participate in. Students can be seen coloring in coloring books, putting together puzzles, and playing board games with friends. Most of these events take place indoors, and students are even provided secluded indoor spaces where they can relax on hammocks.

According to Lowder, the most popular event during De-Stress is therapy dog sessions. Students

Graphic Provided by Student Activities

DE-STRESS — Student Activities will provide therapy dogs, coloring books, puzzles and a llama petting zoo.

from all over campus highly anticipate therapy dogs coming to visit at the end of each semester.

“We work with local organizations to bring in certified therapy dogs for a couple of hours a few days each De-Stress week,” Lowder said. “Students can stop by the library to snuggle a dog before getting back to their exams.”

Brandy Kelly, a digital media and performance major, has attended De-Stress events each semester to hang around the therapy dogs provided. Kelly says pressure and stress from exams prevent her from doing well on them, so she enjoys the company and comfort these animals bring her while she feels overwhelmed.

“The reason why this is my favorite event is because I love animals,” Kelly said. “It brings me a lot of relaxation just by playing with the dogs and helps me get back on track.”

Another popular event that goes on at De-Stress is their craft table.

For a few days at a scheduled time, students are able to “de-stress” by making various paper crafts. According to Lowder, this year the craft table will focus on a specific group of students.

“This year we will have a fun activity dedicated to our graduating seniors,” Lowder said. “They will be able to decorate their gradu-

ation caps, along with regular crafts.”

A few other activities that will be provided to students will include a selfie station, a candy guessing game, a roving snack cart and a llama petting zoo. Even Liberty University’s IT department has joined the fun. Over the past few semesters, the IT department has brought its eX-tent house to the library, providing students with fun games and snacks.

According to Lowder, the scheduled events will be posted on the library’s website as well as their social media platforms. With access to the online schedule, students are able to choose which events they want to participate in.

“Students are welcome to stop by anytime they need a study break during finals week,” Lowder said.

“A large number of students participate each year and express their appreciation for the much-needed opportunities to take a study break.”

The event will start on Reading Day and continue through May 7.

More information about activities can be found on the Jerry Falwell Library website.

KAUDERER is a feature reporter.

FEATURE

B12

April 30, 2019

Make a moment of it Tyson Motsenbocker and Cole Loomis perform at the LaHaye Event Space Victoria Nelson vfnelson@liberty.edu

A hush fell over the darkened room, bare and empty except for the black-clothed stage. Neon lights covered the faces of the concertgoers as they sat in groups of two on the floor, quietly talking to one another. A subtle ambience draped the LaHaye Event Space at Liberty University.

It did not stay that way for long.

Lights and moods shifted as artists clambered onto the stage. The silent space erupted into peels and twangs of guitars and harmonicas.

There was no set genre at the Tyson Motsenbocker concert Friday night. Both he and Cole Loomis, the opening act, spanned the spectrum of musical possibilities, playing soft, heartfelt songs and songs reminiscent of 90s rock. The colored lights changed as often as the tone of music, matching the moods of the songs.

When Loomis took the stage, sporting an all-black ensemble to match the curtains, blue lights washed over the room. It was appropriate for his set list, made mostly of mild and sad songs. He laughed and acknowledged this to the audience, claiming that though he did write sad songs, he did not lead a depressing life.

“I sing a lot of sad songs,” Loomis said, “but I’m a happy guy. Gotta get the angst out.”

He was a one-man band, somehow strumming his guitar and playing the harmonica simultaneously. His songs displayed a soft, melancholy edge and in his words, they were “sad, but happy in the end.”

As he sang about coming to college, orange light poured over the space. Blue and purple took its place as he sang slowly and sweetly about his girlfriend. Finally, a bright red shone as he finished his set with a hopeful, nostalgic ballad about home.

The crowd stood to its feet as Tyson Motsenbocker entered the stage to play songs from his new album, “Letters to Lost Loves.” Shooting the breeze with a few audience members, he reminisced about his time playing with bands Switchfoot and John Mark McMillan. He tuned his guitar and slid right into a song about broken love.

“

If you find people who love you, then that answers the question of loneliness.

— Tyson Motsenbocker

Electropop “Rust” faded into rock “Can’t Come Home Again” as the blue lights faded into teal. The concert took a romantic twist when Motsenbocker played “Always,” a slow love song.

As soon as he strummed the first chord, two people in the crowd screamed. Motsenbocker paused the show to chat with them,

Macy Hrncir | Liberty Champion

LIGHTSHOW — Colorful lights shined on the stage, changing with the mood of the song.

Macy Hrncir | Liberty Champion

CONCERT— Motsenbocker performed songs from his new album “Letters to Lost Loves.” learning they had danced to that song at their wedding.

A powerful moment came when the band played “In Your Name,” a song Motsenbocker himself called “controversial.”

Its lyrics about expectations and the power of prayer nearly deafened the crowd. Riddled with anecdotes, it was a plea for justice straight from the singer’s heart.

After such an emotional moment, Motsenbocker played a game with his keyboardist, continuing a tradition during each performance to make up a song on the fly. They took a poll of the audience and elected to create a slow, sad song akin to music in a jazz club.

That transitioned into a song about patient love, perseverance and the thought that everything will happen when it happens.

In some downtime in between songs, Motsenbocker took a moment to talk about the man who gave him the last $500 needed to create his first album. He remembered some crucial advice the family friend had given him before he launched into music, something he has kept with him during those lonely nights on tour.

“No one cares about what you do, but if

you find people who love you, then that answers the question of loneliness,” Motsenbocker said. “It means so much to me that you all came.”

The next song started out hungry, angry and bitter. Even through the rough, dark scales, there was a hint of magic within the chords. The song reeked of nostalgia, pain and longing until the end, when the lights and chords became lighter and more upbeat.

He practically screamed the words, “I want better days to miss.”

Finally, the last song encouraged faith and hope. Like something to be played at a graduation, the electric rock song gave solidarity and praised staying on solid ground when the world gets shaky.

There is hope for the future, the song said.

The whole concert echoed this sentiment.

For more information about Cole Loomis and Tyson Motsenbocker, check their Facebook pages and find their albums wherever music is sold.

NELSON is a copy editor.

Spotted on the Montview steps Student Activities will host concert on Reading Day, featuring female artists Kharen Martinez-Murcia kmartinez6@liberty.edu

The Montview steps will witness an overflow of talent on Wednesday, May 1, during Reading Day, featuring an all-girls music set for Concert on the Steps.

Leah Castlebury, Julia Rothenberger, Hope Cross, Nicole Miller

and Samantha Iveliz will perform for students on a day filled with food, nice weather – hopefully – and fun activities. Wanting to bring a little joy to the students studying, Rothenberger hopes her group can lighten the mood.

“It is going to be like food trucks and all that stuff. It is going to be such a good relaxing time. I would

love to have some creative covers that everyone just loves to sing along to,” Rothenberger said.

Student Activities marketing lead Hailey Gustafson said they decided that the event would be a good opportunity to give female musicians a platform to shine.

“We chose a female lineup because it was something we hadn’t

done before,” Gustafson said. “All the students featured at our student concerts so far this semester have been males, and we wanted to close out the semester highlighting the ladies of Liberty as well.”

Gustafson said the first 750 senior students who show their Flames pass and Concert on the Steps email can receive free food, desserts and t-shirts.

Rothenberger said that they are excited about performing some of their original songs. One of her songs, “Stories from the VA,” is already known by some students, although she says she performs it differently every time she performs at Liberty University.

“It has been the best thing for me, just to have a platform to experiment,” Rothenberger said. “In combination to what I have learned in the artist development program, it has been the best catalyst for me to see what I can do with music.”

Rothenberger, who has been doing concerts with Student Activities for two years now, says it is really valuable to have an all-female set of musicians perform for the first time.

“Yes, we are having an all-girls event, but it is all accepting the idea that God loves to hear what women have to sing and he loves to hear what men want to sing,” Rothenberger said.

Castlebury says that she wants to raise awareness to the fact that women are not excluded from playing different instruments such as drums and bass, and that it is never too late to learn.

“It can be intimidating a lot of times,” Castlebury said. “Even subconsciously, people just pick guys for the spots, but don’t let that discourage or stop you – continue to work for it. You never get anything by giving up.”

MARTINEZ-MURCIA is a feature reporter.