Liberty Champion February 12, 2019

Holcombs visit

CPAC coming to LU March 1

B8

A6 A6

VOLUME 36, ISSUE 13

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA

LIBERTYCHAMPION.COM | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019 | LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

TIDAL WAVES

Francis Chan preaches powerful message on Holy Spirit

3 Questions with a Secret Service Agent Editor’s note: This agent, who is on a former president’s detail, graduated from Liberty University in 1999. Because he still works in the Secret Service, his identity is not being revealed.

Q. What has been the most fulfilling part of your job?

A. The travel. The travel has been amazing. I have been to over 20 countries. I have been to over 40 states. I never would have had the opportunity to travel if it was not for this job. That has allowed me to see other cultures, meet other people and talk to other people.

But beyond that, to know that I am actually serving. I’m being a public servant, willing to go out there every day to keep people safe, to investigate crimes and to help victims.

Q. What kind of advice would you give to someone entering the workforce, either generally or specifically into law enforcement?

Allison Heise| Liberty Champion LEADING — Francis Chan spoke at Convocation, Campus Community and an impromptu worship session, which ran into the early morning hours.

Rachel Van Tuyl rvantuyl@liberty.edu

Internationally-known pastor and speaker Francis Chan challenged students to do great things for God, no matter what others think of them, at

Liberty University’s Convocation Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Chan opened by asking students to picture Jesus on the stage with him because at the end of the Great Commission, Jesus told his disciples he would be with them to the ends of the earth.

He explained that he tells his pastoral students that if they feel any nervousness from the thought of Jesus being on the stage with them, it is because of sin in their lives. He challenged students to think about why they feel nervous when they get on a stage.

“Is it because you’re concerned about what other people will think of you? That’s usually where the nerves come,” Chan said. “Or maybe there’s a lack of belief that God is really there.”

See CHAN, A7

Cross-examination in Title IX Potential federal Title IX changes would affect Liberty’s office Lillian Abbatacola leabbatacola@liberty.edu

The U.S. Department of Education, under Betsy DeVos’s leadership, proposed to amend regulations of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which federalizes more Title IX procedures, including a narrow definition of sex discrimination and procedures

for mandatory cross-examination.

“I don’t think mandating live hearings with cross-examination is going to help universities or students,” Executive Director of Equity & Compliance and Liberty’s Title IX Coordinator Nathan Hopkins said.

While Hopkins and President Jerry Falwell see much of the proposal as a win for sex discrimina-

BREAKING NEWS Byron earns pole

Joel Coleman| Liberty News Service

William Byron won a pole position Feb. 10 for the 2019 Daytona 500. This is Byron’s first career cup pole.

Byron drives car #24 for Hendrick Motorsports and is sponsored by Liberty University.

Byron will join Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chad Knaus on the front row at the Daytona 500 Feb. 17.

“It’s pretty special,” Byron said of his accomplishment.

“It’s definitely a huge blessing. ... I’m looking forward to Sunday.”

tion policy, the proposal’s requirement of institutions to implement a vigorous cross-examination process is worrisome.

“We want to maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment, which requires encouraging students to speak up when they have a concern. Everyone in our office spends a lot of time helping students understand our policy and

process. From there, students can make an educated decision, but this new proposal from the Department would likely discourage most students from participating,” Hopkins said.

A. Coming from the environment in which you are in at Liberty, where you’re going to be around a lot of people who have similar faith and a similar belief system, you’re going into an environment that is a worldly environment where you are going to see a lot of things that maybe you have not seen before. You always have to remember to be in the world but not of the world. So, remember the solid foundation that you have at Liberty, and then that will help you later on to try to be a light to other people just by being available.

Q. Is there anything that God has used the Secret Service to teach you?

A. This world is a broken place, most people out there are broken, especially the type that we deal with in law enforcement. I use my foundation at Liberty to always remember that whether someone is a criminal, a victim or a coworker, always be prepared to be available for that moment when the Holy Spirit opens the door for you to minister. Don’t ever be scared to keep your eyes open for the opportunities God gives you to minister to other people in whatever job you are in.

See TITLE IX, A2

Parking at a price Jefferson Street implements paid parking lots Madison Herniesen mghernisen@liberty.edu

Jefferson Street in downtown Lynchburg – a street lined with small businesses and local restaurants – experienced a change Feb. 4 when paid parking was implemented in three parking lots where customers and employees could previously park for free.

According to Lynchburg Parking Manager

Dave Malewitz, the decision to implement paid parking is part of city hall’s long-term project to improve the city of Lynchburg.

Malewitz said many local business owners who have property on Jefferson Street were in favor of implementing paid parking because they had received complaints from customers that it was difficult to find parking near their businesses

and restaurants, due to over-crowding of the free lots.

According to Malewitz, there will still be free parking areas on Jefferson Street, but there will be enforced limits on how long drivers can park their car at the free spots without cost.

According to the News & Advance, drivers wanting to park in the Jefferson Street lots Monday through Friday from 8

a.m. to 5 p.m. will now have to pay a fee of $0.25 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour, up to $5 per day.

Residents can purchase a parking permit for $25 per month and businesses can purchase permits for $40 a month.

See PARK IT, A7

content

A2 | February 12, 2019 | Liberty Champion

An undebatable victory Liberty debate team wins Rutgers University Round Robin tournament in competition.

“Liberty has had one of the best debate teams in the nation since the mid-90s,” DiOn Jan. 20, Liberty Debate teammates rector of Debate Michael Hall said. “We’ve Michael Harrington and Briana Thomas really made debate a priority here.”

Hall said Liberty’s relationship with won the Rutgers University Round Robin debate tournament, defeating teams from debate dates back to the days of Jerry Falwell Sr. Baylor and UC Berkeley.

“He would spend a lot of time debating “It was a long process,” Harrington said.

“The teams who went there were really tal- issues on shows like CNN’s Crossfire,” Hall ented teams. A little work and faith, and we said. “I think he had a real soft spot for debate, and as a result, he would always make got it done.”

Harrington had never debated before sure the debate team was well-funded.”

According to Hall, this funding, which coming to Liberty. However, his lack of experience did not keep him from excelling. allows for the recruitment of new members Now, as a senior, he is part of one of the top and travel for tournaments, has paid off.

Over the last 20 years, Liberty’s debate varsity debate teams in the nation.

“I learned everything my freshman team has distinguished itself in countless tournaments, competing against Ivy League Do it if you’re serious about it. schools, including Harvard, Dartmouth, Berkeley and Don’t compare yourself to other Princeton. people, but compare yourself to “We’ve been in the community long enough now yourself. where the other coaches and judges, … they know the - Michael Harrington quality of our students … and that our students can comyear when I came, stayed on the team pete at that level,” Hall said. throughout the years, and now I’m here,” As Hall and his team look forward to fuHarrington said. ture tournaments, they hope to begin cultiThis tournament was not the first ma- vating new talent for the program. jor win for Liberty’s debate team. In fact, “We don’t want what we do to be limited Liberty debate has a history of success to students with high school debate expeWill Evans wjevans@liberty.edu

“

TITLE IX continued from A1 Hopkins is not in favor of the proposed cross-examination process.

The proposal requires schools that receive federal money to provide in their grievance procedure a live hearing in which a “decision-maker” serves as an unbiased facilitator of discussion.

“At the hearing, the decisionmaker must permit each party to ask the other party and any witnesses all relevant questions and follow-up questions, including those challenging credibility,” the proposed amendments say.

Both the accuser and the accused must not only face each other, but they also must have an “advisor” who cross-examines

the other party. “If a party does not have an advisor present at the hearing, the recipient (the school receiving federal money in accordance with Title IX regulations) must provide that party an advisor aligned with that party to conduct cross-examination,” the proposed amendments say.

If this proposal is enacted, Liberty would most likely have to pay trained professionals, like lawyers, to cross-examine students in front of a public hearing on campus.

“Students should not have the burden of deciding whether they want to participate in what is essentially a trial when it comes to their access to education,” Hopkins said. Hopkins is content with the process that Liberty

Graphic Provided From Facebook

PHOTO PROVIDED

SECURED — Michael Harrington (left) and Briana Thomas (right) secured a big win at Rutgers. rience,” Hall said. “We give all of our students who want the opportunity to debate the chance to do that. Don’t let your lack of experience keep you from contacting us.”

Liberty’s debate program is broken down into three divisions based on experience level: novice, junior varsity and varsity. Students with no experience can start debating at the novice level and work their way up to varsity.

“We have a reputation of growing and developing our own talent into top level varsity debaters,” Hall said.

currently has in place.

Hopkins said that requiring students to be cross-examined by trained professionals, in front of teachers, classmates and strangers would discourage victims of sexual assault to come forward. Falwell expressed similar concerns in a public comment published Jan. 24, 2019.

“Mandating costly adversarial hearings in every sexual harassment proceeding … would likely dissuade complainants from coming forward, limiting the ability of campus administration to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment,” Falwell said in a public comment.

Sexual assault is already one of the most unreported crimes in the United States. According to the world’s largest anti-sexual violence organization RAINN, 3 of 4 sexual assaults are not reported to the police. Eighty percent of sexual harassment cases on college campuses already go unreported.

“Reporting can be re-traumatizing, empowering, or both. Part of healing is regaining a sense of control after having lost it in the assault. But when someone makes a report, they lose control again when systems take over. People who have been victimized may not want to relive the trauma by having to talk about it publicly,” Elizabeth Bernstein of the Wall Street Journal said in September 2018.

In 2018, the U.S. 6th Court of

CAMPUS CALENDAR

“

Harrington, a former novice himself, encourages students with passion for debate and a drive for self-betterment to consider joining the team.

“Do it if you’re serious about it,” Harrington said. “Don’t compare yourself to other people, but compare yourself to yourself.”

More information on the debate team can be found on Liberty’s website under “Academics.”

EVANS is a content reporter.

Students should not have the burden of deciding whether they want to participate in what is essentially a trial when it comes to their access to education.

- Nathan Hopkins

Appeals ruled, saying that without this process of cross-examination, the accused was stripped of their Due Process rights. “(Universities) must give the accused or his agent the opportunity to cross-examine the accuser,” Doe v. Baum (2018) says.

Additionally, DeVos’s proposal would change the standard for what is considered sex discrimination on college campuses from a broad definition to a narrow definition, decided by the Supreme Court. “(Sexual harassment means) unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s education program or activity,” the proposed amendments say.

Schools who receive money from the federal government would be required to have Title IX offices who hold to the same uniform and clear definition of sex discrimina-

tion. Hopkins said that institutions were previously required to police broad and vague standards and supports the language drafted in the proposal when it comes to the definition of sexual harassment.

“We support the department’s adoption of the ‘objectively offensive’ standard for sexual harassment,” Falwell said in a public comment. “By redefining sexual harassment to only include conduct ‘that effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s education program or activity,’ the department successfully reestablishes the original purpose of Title IX, and clarifies the obligations of recipient institutions.”

The U.S. Department of Education will take other public comments from universities and propose another amendment in the future.

ABBATACOLA is the content editor.

CORRECTION

02/13 - Parade of Nations

10:30 a.m. | Vines Center 02/14 - Valentine’s Day Donuts

8:00 a.m. | Reber-Thomas Dining Hall 02/15 - Valentine’s Karaoke

9:00 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space

In the Feb. 5 issue, there was inaccurate information in the column, “Reels With Ryan.” This year will mark the 91st Academy Awards, not the 90th. Lynchburg

02/16 - Concerto & Aria Competition Concert

7:30 p.m. | School of Music Green Room - 021 02/16 - Movie Night

8:00 p.m. | Vines Center 02/17 - Public Skate

4:00 p.m. | LaHaye Ice Center - Ice Rink 02/19 - One Voice Global Worship

7:30 p.m. | School of Music Green Room - 021

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content

Liberty Champion | February 12, 2019 | A3

Bouncing around town

New mobile coffee shop looks to serve Lynchburg in a special way Rachel Van Tuyl rvantuyl@liberty.edu

A new mobile coffee shop, Bouncing Bean Coffee, will seek to serve the Lynchburg community in a unique way.

The Bouncing Bean is not just any coffee shop. Once a month, it will do business a little differently than usual. Owner Andrew Robinson said once a month, the Bouncing Bean will go downtown and let customers get coffee without having to pay.

“As for us, we will sell everything we normally do, but with no prices,” Robinson said. “Everything will be on a donation-only basis, and we will continue to give everything away (that day) until we run out.”

Bailey King, co-founder of the Bouncing Bean and Robinson’s girlfriend, said she hopes they can bring together more community in Christ through the Bouncing Bean.

“Our vision is not only to serve

people the best coffee ever — or at least try, there’s some tough competition — but also to serve people in the community through our business,” King said.

Robinson said during the rest of the month, he hopes to love Lynchburg by showing the same love to people whether or not they can pay. The Bouncing Bean will do this by operating on a “sticky note system,” which will allow customers to discreetly pay for someone else’s order.

When a customer is paying for their order, the cashier will ask them if they would also like to pay for someone else’s order. If so, they will receive a sticky note in the shape of a coffee, sandwich or other meal item. The sticky notes will go on a wall near the counter.

When a customer who cannot afford an item visits the coffee shop, he or she can subtly use one of the sticky notes to pay for their order.

“I believe that this will change lives, and people from all walks of life can come together under one

roof, not knowing who is poor, rich (or) homeless,” Robinson said.

“Everyone will just be a person, and (they will) all (be) sharing time in a beautiful place, with a hot cup of coffee.”

The Bouncing Bean will at first sell coffee, espresso and smoothies. But Robinson hopes to add baked goods and breakfast foods, once he finds a place to bake.

While the Bouncing Bean is not yet open, Robinson is building the shop in a 1966 Arrow camper trailer. He said one of the hardest challenges so far has been squeezing the health code requirements into the 6-by-10 space. As the trailer will be self-sufficient, Robinson has also had to build the electrical system from scratch to hook into a generator. The trailer’s water supply will be stored in a tank.

During his time working on the trailer, Robinson has also continued his full-time job as a manager at Panera Bread. Despite the challenges, Robinson said the process has been rewarding.

Robinson, a Lynchburg na-

Logan Smith | Liberty Champion

PRODUCTIVE — King, left, has been working alongside Robinson, right, to get the trailer ready to open.

Photo Provided

COFFEE — The Bouncing Bean will be in a 1966 Arrow camper trailer. tive, had not originally planned to have dreamed of starting a café in a open a coffee trailer. Growing up, larger city to help orphans and the he wanted to eventually become a homeless. However, Robinson excontractor. He hoped to marry and plained he does not currently have someday build a house. the funds.

But that all changed during Rob“At 19 and 18 years of age … it inson’s senior year of high school. would be very difficult to actually “God showed me that he had start up a location for a café,” King a different plan,” Robinson said. said. “The startup cost of a food “I was working a few jobs at the truck, or in our case a coffee truck, time, both in the evenings and on is relatively low in comparison.” the weekends, and one of them was This led to their decision to creat Panera Bread. I loved the atmo- ate the Bouncing Bean. sphere and mission, but more than “I know God will provide when that, I loved the people, both em- it is time, so right now, I’m doing ployees and customers.” what I can to love the people here, Although Robinson had attend- and I think the Bean is a great ed church his entire life and been way,” Robinson said. involved in different ministries, he More information about the explained that working at Panera Bouncing Bean can be found on its opened more doors to reach people Facebook page, @thebouncingthan ever before in his life. beanva, or its website, at https:// “I want to do this because I truly bouncingbeanva.com/. believe that if Jesus was here on earth today, he wouldn’t be hanging out in church, he would (be) in VAN TUYL is the assistant coffee shops,” Robinson said.

King said she and Robinson content editor.

OPINION

A4

February 12, 2019

Predictions of the

Academy Awards Ryan Klinker rmklinker@liberty.edu

The Academy Awards are Feb. 24, and here are my picks for winners of every major category.

Best Picture: “Green Book” or “Roma” “Green Book” captures the heart with its touching and sometimes comedic true story about a white chauffeur escorting an African-American pianist through the Deep South in the 1960s. What sets this film apart in my book (pun intended) is the way it illustrates not only a friendship built across racial lines, but also how to acknowledge one’s identity as a human being.

“Roma” tells a drawn-out story of how a family in 1970s Mexico moves on after the husband abandons his wife and children, and its slow pace can deceive you into thinking it has nothing to say. While the first hour or so seems to serve little purpose as we follow average family interactions, it soon builds to a deeply emotional conclusion.

Best Actor: Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) or Christian Bale (“Vice”) In both of their films, Malek and Bale play characters based on real people who end up making a massive impact on their respective fields, at the cost of alienating themselves with their own ambitions. Malek’s mastery of Freddie Mercury’s iconic overbite and animated stage persona make him my frontrunner, but Bale’s complete disappearance into the mysterious Dick Cheney cannot and will not be ignored, and this might carry over to Oscar night. In the end,

I think pop culture will outnumber politics, and Rami Malek will have an Oscar to put next to the Golden Globes and Emmy on his mantle.

Best Actress: Glenn Close (“The Wife”) or Lady Gaga (“A Star is Born”) This one is difficult because it’s my heart fighting my gut. Every sign points toward Glenn Close receiving her long overdue first Academy Award, following six losses and four decades of terrific acting. Her character in “The Wife” — a woman who compromised her dreams and career for her husband, and in her old age, doesn’t like what she’s become — is also such an important and timely story. However, Lady Gaga nailed every moment of her role as the eponymous singer in “A Star is Born” both musically and dramatically, and I was awestruck by the end. Ultimately, I think that Close will nab the win and Gaga will continue down the path of success she has forged for herself.

Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”) There is not much of a race from what I’ve been able to tell. Ali plays his role as a fearless and distinguished African-American pianist who develops a love for life and people flawlessly, and he creates a perfect chemistry with his co-star Viggo Mortensen. He is on course to win his second Oscar in three years, and I see no one standing in his way.

Best Supporting Actress: Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) Much like the previous category, this one is relatively straightforward.

Regina King is superb in her role as

a loving mother who cares for her pregnant daughter while the baby’s father fights a wrongful conviction, balancing stern determination and a careful heart. “Beale Street” missed out on Best Picture somehow, and I think King’s performance is the piece of this film that will live on in Oscar history.

Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón (“Roma”) While I haven’t seen the work of all the nominees for this category, I can’t imagine anyone who can surpass what Cuarón does with this passion project that is somewhat based on his own childhood. The apparent monotony of everyday life is transformed into poignant drama in what seems like seconds, and the proficiency with a camera he’s made a career out of is further illustrated throughout the film.

Best Animated Film: “SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse” This was a pretty good year for animated movies, with “Incredibles 2” continuing right where its predecessor left off, and “Isle of Dogs” was a piece of stop-motion piece of perfection by Wes Anderson. Unfortunately for those two movies, however, “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse” is an unprecedented animated masterpiece from top to bottom. The comic-accurate visuals, sharp writing, excellent cast, and complementary soundtrack all serve to place the film at the top of this category and even add it to the conversation of the best Spider-Man film, live-action or animated.

KLINKER is the photography editor.

Super commercials The Super Bowl still dominates the advertising world Mary Obringer mgobringer@liberty.edu

Super Bowl commercials are some of the most effective advertisements during the entire year. These iconic commercials are among the most well-remembered advertisements that consumers will see. Companies have capitalized on the publicity of the annual sports contest.

In addition to using celebrities and cinematic montages to advertise their products, companies are now using social media and other tools to promote their products even more before, during and after the game.

These classic commercials reach a wide audience.

The Super Bowl is the mostwatched annual event on television, with an estimated 98.2 million views this year, according to USA Today. The closest event in views was last year’s State of Union Address, which only had 45.6 million views. Some people even watch the Super Bowl just for the commercials.

Huffington Post published an article in 2016 saying that 26 percent of millennials prefer Super Bowl advertisements over the game itself.

Super Bowl commercials have become a pageant of their own. Teasers for these advertisements are released online before the game itself, and some watch and rate these advertisements before the game takes place.

USA Today even used an ad-meter to rate advertisements before the game. Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Northwestern University, said in an interview with CNN that Super Bowl advertisements have become a two-week extravaganza.

Companies have found ways to successfully incorporate social media into some of their Super Bowl commercials, giving them another platform to connect with their audience. Many opt to release their advertisements ahead of time on YouTube or other social media platforms.

CNN mentions that some of these teasers include short clips with parts of the commercial. Several companies post interviews with celebrities involved in the commercials or other tantalizing tidbits to build the hype before the game.

Even during the game, some companies have used social media to keep the advertisements rolling. In addition to running a commercial during the game in 2013, Coco Cola posted the animated bears watching and reacting to other Super Bowl commercials, according to Fox News.

One particular advertising battle prompted an article about the competition between two rival companies.

An article by CNN suggests the biggest competition in Atlanta this year had nothing to do with football. Instead,

Google Images

CLYDESDALE — This breed of horses has become a staple of Super Bowl commercials as part of Budweiser’s annual television spots.

the article contends Super Bowl weekend was about the showdown between two soda companies, Coco Cola and Pepsi.

CBS has published their list of the most successful commercials from the 2019 Super Bowl. These include Bumble’s commercial telling the story of Serena Williams’s career, Bud Light’s “Game of Thrones” collusion, T-Mobiles’ “What’s for Dinner” and the Avengers’ “Endgame” trailer. These commercials tell stories that capture people’s attention.

Both the Bud Light and the Avengers advertisements built on stories that have turned into phenomena, CBS said.

So, are Super Bowl advertisements worth the estimated $5.25 million that CNBC reports? If companies want to promote their products before the widest

possible audience, definitely.

Some companies have even found ways around paying the exorbitant prices for air time. This year, Coco Cola released its Super Bowl advertisement before kickoff.

Pregame commercials cost anywhere from hundreds of thousands of dollars to $1 million, according to Fox News.

While the prices for Super Bowl advertisements climb every year, the marketing frenzy surrounding the annual event continues to successfully capture people’s attention. Until an alternative event with a large audience establishes itself, the Super Bowl will remain the king of advertisements.

OBRINGER is an opinion writer.

LIFE WITH

LOGAN Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu

Imagine biting into a fresh, hot pepper.

The vegetable immediately attacks your tongue with shocking amounts of heat and begins activating your tear ducts. The unavoidable sensation causes slight regret, and the aftertaste looms in your mouth for several minutes before slowly releasing its zesty grip.

Last summer, I grew jalapeños in my backyard, and it was one of the greatest gardening experiences ever.

Growing food runs in my family. My grandpa maintained numerous blueberry bushes, corn fields and turnip green plants, and my dad takes pride in his domestic summer-ripe tomatoes (which are delicious). So, although I cannot compete with my family’s agricultural skill, I do feel competent to grow small amounts of produce when the warm weather approaches.

At 9-years-old, I tilled my first garden. I fashioned a 6-by-6-foot garden bed using a small purple shovel I received for Christmas.

After softening the brown dirt into a tender, grainy soil, I shaped three narrow rows extending the full length of the bed.

Results quickly followed after planting.

The beginning stages revealed itself as tiny emerald leaves innocently sprouting from the tender earth. Several months later, I experienced the full benefit of my labor: juicy cornon-the-cob.

Fast forward 12 years, and I’m repeating that process, this time with a much spicier crop: jalapeño peppers.

I developed a love for jalapeños a few years ago, when I added the ingredient to my Five Guys bacon cheeseburger. As I developed a stronger tolerance for the pepper, I decided to explore more avenues to utilize its worth.

I eventually used jalapeños as a sandwich ingredient, and pizza and salad topping, which all offered unique textures to basic lunches.

I love eating fresh vegetables, but the experience is even better when the vegetables are the “fruits” of your personal labor (pun intended). Eating grocery produce is one thing, but harvesting the benefits of your personal garden is a completely different story.

I appreciate each season as it passes, but there’s something extraordinary about summertime. Not only does warm weather put me in a great mood, but the bright sun shoots rich nutrients to the plants, brightening each plant to their rich, lush color.

And I cannot wait until next summer, when another planting season begins. Given the success of my pepper garden last summer, my dad suggested we dedicate an entire garden bed precisely for jalapeños. That way, we can share more of what we produce. For us, gardening is a family pastime.

My grandpa, who passed away in 2006, frequently shared vegetables from his gardens. I remember him as a strong provider who loved the outdoors, particularly his many gardens. My dad always tells me that gardening makes him feel closer to his dad. In turn, I also feel closer when I participate.

I always feel closer to my ancestors while gardening, maybe because gardening is the only American pastime that has stayed constant for centuries. After so long, we still rely on the soil, and farmers, for vegetation. And I think that's important to remember.

Growing jalapeños has provided more than just a hobby. It has incentivize an overall healthier lifestyle. I use jalapeños as a salad topping more than anything else, mainly because it offers an entirely new dimension to the typical romaine lettuce and ranch dressing mix. Having access to home-grown jalapeños breeds demand for a healthy salad.

I’m always trying to discover new ways to utilize jalapeños in my daily consumption.

Maybe I’ll try mixing it with coffee or hot chocolate. ... Okay, we won’t go that far.

SMITH is the manager of content.

opinion

Liberty Champion | February 12, 2019 | A5

One nation under God America acknowledges its historic traditions and freedom of religion

Macy Hrncir mhrncir@liberty.edu

Putting God into the pledge of allegiance and various oaths has been part of American culture since the founding.

But recently, the idea of God being recognized in the government is coming under attack.

America has become the greatest melting pot in the world, where people of different cultures have come to live in one nation together. Originally, the U.S., true to its roots, was overwhelming Christian, but as more and more people immigrated, the culture of the U.S. has been influenced by many different religions, as well as atheism.

Because of this, many people are pushing for phrases based on Christian beliefs such as the phrase “under God” in the pledge of allegiance and the words “so help me God” in court oaths, to be taken out. After all, America was founded on the basis of freedom of religion.

Some people argue that the phrases are a traditional part of American culture and should be kept because they respect American heritage. However, this is simply not the case, specifically with the pledge of allegiance.

The phrase “under God” in the pledge of allegiance is actually fairly new. When the U.S. pledge of allegiance was first drafted, “under God” was nowhere in the script.

Instead, it simply read: “one Nation indivis-

ible.” The phrase “under God” wasn’t added until June 14, 1954, after President Dwight D. Eisenhower attended a service lead by Rev. George Docherty, who called for the phrase’s instatement.

Docherty had originated from Scotland, where the people would say things such as “God save our gracious queen,” and he believed that God should be in the pledge of allegiance as well. Docherty claimed that denying the Christian ethic was falling “short of the American ideal of life.”

Phrases like “so help me God” do have a more historic tradition. After the founding of the U.S., early arrivals to the House of Representatives took an oath that included the words, “so help me God.” But, following a committee headed by James Madison, a new oath was passed that excluded the words, “so help me God.” Many historians claim it was actually George Washington who added the phrase himself when he was sworn in (though this point is debated).

Joseph Story, author of “Commentaries on the Constitution,” published in 1833, wrote that the founding fathers sought to ban religious oaths, “to cut off forever every pretense of any alliance between church and state in the national government. The framers of the constitution were fully sensible of the dangers from this source.”

Article 6 of the Constitution says, “but no religious test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

Of course, it is known that many of the founding fathers of America were religious,

Google Images

GOD AND GOVERNMENT — American currency is another example of how God is mentioned in traditions of American society.

but they knew that it was not right for the government to intermeddle with religion.

James Madison stated that government interference with religion in any way would be “a most flagrant violation,” according to the History News Network.

But some people still make the claim that the U.S. is a Christian nation. However, even if many of the founders were Christians, the ruling document of the country, the U.S. Constitution, is a wholly secular document.

The U.S. was founded on the belief of separation of church and state. Some people take this to mean that the government is required to remove any sort of religious references from the public square. Not true.

Instead, the First Amendment guarantees that the government cannot show favoritism to any certain religion, and it cannot take away any person’s ability to exercise their religion.

The government cannot be controlled by the church, and the church cannot be controlled by the government. The beauty of this is that separation of church and state does not shut down debate over religion in the public square. Rather, it guarantees that Americans have the freedom to respect-fully have debates about religion.

This is one of the reasons why living in America is such a blessing. In many countries, simply questioning the established religion is enough to be sentenced to death. But yet here in America, the topic is debated openly.

HRNCIR is an opinion writer.

Trump needs the wall As a candidate, Donald Trump promised a border wall, and he must deliver Kelly Sobnosky ksobnosky1@liberty.edu

In 2016, Donald Trump went all in on the idea that his base of supporters wanted strict border security, particularly a wall on the southern border.

Generally during presidential elections, most candidates include a wide variety of views in their platforms but heavily emphasize one or two issues. For President Donald Trump, that issue was building a wall on the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

Trump has, so far, commissioned eight vendors to create prototypes of the wall. Four of these created prototypes are made with concrete-like substances, and the other four were created with materials other than concrete.

To date, no other motions of building the wall are in action.

Trump is currently trying to find funding to build the wall promised during his campaign, and according to the New York Times, his fallback plan is to declare a state of emergency. However, the New York Times also notes, this may cause a rift within the Republican Party, due to questions about presidential power and what actually qualifies as a “national emergency.”

In a tweet from Feb. 5, 2019, Trump announced that he would build a “human wall” along the border using military strength. In fact, Fox News said 2,000 troops have already been sent to the border and the Pentagon has “approved an extended U.S. deploy-

ment to the border through the end of September 2019.”

But to build a wall, Trump will have to acquire the land. According to the news outlet Reason, Trump wants to use eminent domain to gather the land required for his promised wall. Eminent domain would mean the government could take private property if the owners receive fair compensation.

Trump still has many hoops to jump through to get his longpromised wall built by 2020.

Though Trump has not yet announced whether he will be running for re-election, his chances may be in jeopardy if he is unable to show tangible results from his campaign promise to build the wall.

If someone promises something, and they don’t follow through, it becomes hard to believe they will deliver on any other promises.

While it’s true that presidents are not always able to finish the work they promise due to circumstances beyond their control or other blockades to their plans, the main pillar of a platform seems like an important promise to keep.

If Trump does not deliver on the wall, his approval ratings could sink past the point of no return because the wall was a major stance that he spoke about and his supporters believed in. In fact, his supporters, who generally dislike excessive government spending, have been supportive of paying to build the wall. A man by the name of Brian Kolfage even started a Go Fund Me page to build the border wall.

According to both Morning

Google Images

POSSIBLE WALL DESIGNS — In March 2018, President Trump went to California to view several possible prototypes for how the wall will look when it is constructed along the southern border.

Consult and FiveThirtyEight, Trump’s approval ratings have been on the decline. Would building the wall boost them? That remains to be seen. Building the wall would show that Trump is able to keep his biggest promise, but at what cost? He would have to take

private lands and secure funds from somewhere. But for Trump, if he cannot show real progress on the wall, it could ruin his 2020 reelection campaign.

Presidents have to show the people that they would be a reliable president if they wish to be

elected and more so if they wish to be re-elected. The one thing that Trump cannot afford to break right now is trust.

SOBNOSKY is an opinion writer.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“

We must always keep faith in America’s destiny ­­­— that one nation, under God, must be the hope and the promise and the light and the glory among all the nations of the world!

“

P R E S I D E N T D O N AL D T R U MP D U R I N G HIS STAT E OF T HE UN ION A D D RE SS FE B . 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO Logan Smith manager of content

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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ADMINISTRATION Deborah Huff faculty advisor Scott Lamb consultant

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content

A6 | February 12, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Podcasters preserve history Local audio series to share stories of Lynchburg's impact on America Emma Smith esmith83@liberty.edu

At least eight people were killed during a panic at Court Street Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, when a fire was reported in the building on Oct. 16.

More than 2,000 people were packed into the single-exit church for a wedding and religious service, and many were trampled or smothered to death as they scrambled out of the building. Maria Wilson, a 17-year-old African American girl, leapt to her death from an upper floor, attempting to escape the church.

Despite the panic, the church was not in danger that evening in 1878. However, eight women lost their lives because of what

Emma Smith | Liberty Champion HISTORIC — The Court Street Baptist Church panic of 1878 inspired the congregation to rebuild; the current structure was built in 1879 and features a stained-glass window honoring the women who died during the panic.

many publications called “The Lynchburg Calamity.” Their names are memorialized on a stained-glass window in the current Court Street Baptist Church building.

Wilson’s story is told in the first episode of “Little Did They Know,” a new historical podcast series created by the Lynchburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Lynchburg Museum System, which launched in January.

“If you just look at local history, there are hundreds … and thousands of stories of individuals and things that happened here that are fascinating and have lots of interesting dimensions that make it relevant today, that have never been explored,” Lynchburg Museum System Director Ted Delaney said.

“I think this podcast is a way to … help bring those (stories) to light.”

“Little Did They Know” was created in partnership with and funded by American Evolution, an organization dedicated to commemorating the 400th anniversary of key events in Virginia’s history. “(My job) was working with American Evolution and understanding what they were wanting and how we could make that connection with them,” Krista Boothby, the marketing and public relations coordinator for the Office of Economic Development and Tourism, said. “As far as I know, no one else is doing this kind of thing for the American Evolution project.”

The American Evolution project will be partnering with organizations throughout Virginia in 2019 to host events, exhibitions and programs to “inspire local, national and international engagement … and to reinforce Virginia’s leadership in education, tourism and economic development,” according to the project’s website.

Delaney explained that each of the podcast’s five episodes will share stories of Lynchburg’s history, some with impacts on the state, others with marks on the nation.

“To me, local history is such a big part of our identity as a community,” Delaney said. “If you’re someone who cares about Lynchburg, and you want what’s best for

Lynchburg and want to have pride in the place where you live, it’s really important to know the history about it. … It explains so many things about why Lynchburg is the way it is, and it’s really part of our identity and character.”

Each episode features three main com-

Logo Provided

ON AIR — “Little Did They Know” is a new

historical podcast series created by the Lynchburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Lynchburg Museum System.

ponents: narration, interviews and a monologue. There are two interviews in each episode — one with a local historian, and the other with a Lynchburg resident who was either an eyewitness to the topic or is closely tied to the theme of the episode.

The monologues, on the other hand, are dramatizations of true stories based on the lives of late Lynchburg residents. All the stories were created by Lynchburg historic site Old City Cemetery for its annual Candlelight Tours event, which features actors in period dress delivering monologues. Many of the Candlelight Tour actors also served as voice actors for the podcast.

“The podcast is really just a practical way to take better advantage of those incredible stories and great content that’s created (at Old City Cemetery),” Delaney said. “It’s always been a shame, we thought, that so few people are able to experience that.”

Episode 2 will be released within the first two weeks of February, and episodes

are slated to be released once a month. 434 Marketing is producing the series, and Delaney said the final three episodes are in the production process.

“Time has been a big issue,” Boothby said.

“I mean, everybody involved, of course, has their own work world they’re in, so getting it all melded together so that everybody can do their part within their time allotted — that’s been a real challenge.”

Despite having “more moving parts and pieces” than they imagined, according to Delaney, the podcast creators intentionally chose the audio platform because it reaches a younger audience.

“Especially young people really take advantage of (podcasts). They like them,” Delaney said. “So, we want to take advantage of that technology and reach the audience who likes podcasts. That’s maybe a nontraditional audience for history, but as a public historian, we always want to try to reach every segment out there, whether you think you like history or not.”

American Evolution is only partnering with “Little Did They Know” for 2019, and the podcast creators are looking for sponsors or partners for future seasons. Because the departments involved believe deeply in the mission of sharing stories of Lynchburg’s past, Delaney said he would like to continue making more seasons of the podcast.

“As the city museum, it’s kind of our mission and our role … to help spread (local history), to be the voice for that. There’s nobody out there who is really doing that on a citywide scale,” Delaney said. “So, I feel a real responsibility for making sure that those stories are being captured, documented and being put out there in various ways.”

The podcast is available online at www.littledidtheyknow.com or on Google Play and iTunes. New episodes will be announced via the Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s social media pages: Facebook — @visitlynchburgva, Twitter — @visitLYH, and Instagram — @lynchburgva.

SMITH is a copy editor.

content

Liberty Champion | February 12, 2019 | A7

Commuters party together

Second Winter Gala tickets available, proceeds to help homeless Emily Wood ewoody13@liberty.edu

Commuter Student Life will host its fanciest event of the year Feb. 21 from 7 to 10 p.m. — the second annual Winter Gala in the LaHaye Event Space. Commuter Student Life is holding the event to raise money through a raffle for Miriam’s House, a local charity that supports homeless families.

Gretchen Cline, assistant director of graduate student life, said the Winter Gala began last year.

“It was actually requested by the students,” Cline said. “We did a survey to find out what types of events they would be interested in. A large part of them wanted some sort of fancy event where they could attend and dress up (and) have dinner with their friends.”

One of the main purposes for the Winter Gala this year is to financially support Miriam’s House. Local businesses donated a variety of gift cards and packages to win through purchasing $1 raffle tickets.

Photo Provided

LAST YEAR — 2018 saw the first Office of Commuter Student Life Gala.

PARK IT continued from A1 Malewitz told the News & Advance that the paid parking would generate $39,000 in annual revenue for the city.

Drivers will now find paid parking stations in the lots. Signs will remind drivers to pay attention to their lot number and direct them to make a payment at the station

Logo Provided

This year’s semi-formal gala will feature the Hill City Jazz Quartet, Drew Lafferty and His Swing Set and a business etiquette presentation by the Career Center.

Associate Director of Commuter Student Life Christen Gery seeks to connect commuters with community to promote student retention.

“You have a lot of resources available for you (on campus),” Gery said. “When you’re off campus, you’re at a higher (risk) for withdrawing because you don’t have those immediate resources. We help provide that for commuters.”

Commuter Student Life teamed up with

All proceeds from the gala will go to Miriam's House, which helps fight homelessness in Lynchburg.

parking is in its beginning stages.

While this change will affect customers looking to visit the local businesses on Jefferson Street, employees working at the businesses will also be affected. Caleb Burkhart is a barista at Dublin 3 Coffeehouse on Jefferson Street.

As a college student and regular at his workplace during the week, Burkhart and his fellow co-work-

Taryn Azimov | Liberty Champion TRANSITION — Opinions are mixed when it comes to the benefits of the new paid parking options downtown.

before leaving the lot. According to Malewitz, the city will be giving a 30-day grace period before ticketing drivers for not paying for their parking spots, since the paid CHAN continued from A1 However, Chan said Jesus’ disciples likely did not worry about what other people thought of them because they were overwhelmed

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion STAGE — The ‘Crazy Love’ author urged students to desire the Holy Spirit and encouraged them to fall in love with Jesus.

LU Shepherd last semester to launch commuter community groups. When residential students choose to move off campus, Liberty provides the opportunity for them to still grow spiritually in a small-group environment.

“We create opportunities for them to create community,” Gery said. “That could be an event like the Winter Gala that’s social, or it could be an event for professional development like Grad Connect, but our biggest feature is our lounge. It provides a home away from home for the commuters.”

The Commuter Lounge in Green Hall offers a coffee bar and kitchen in a cozy in-

ers had been aware of the upcoming change, but hopeful it would not come so suddenly.

“For employees that have to be here through the week con-

about what Jesus was going to do next.

Chan explained a trend he has noticed in church, comparing this trend to a wave pool he once visited in Texas. Unlike the ocean, where one does not know when the next wave is coming, the wave pool was predictable, creating a man-made wave every 30 seconds. Chan, a surfer, said the thought of this wave pool appealed to him. Like this man-made wave pool, Chan said church services sometimes feel this predictable to him.

“I feel that for many years, I have been content with that, because it is fun, and everyone is having a good time,” Chan said. “But don’t you read the Scriptures and (see) … there was so much that was unpredictable? It was not this man-made wave.”

Chan cited the New Testament story of Jesus granting sight to the blind woman.

While Chan knows he has

stantly, it’s kind of ridiculous that (we) have to pay for parking,” Burkhart said.

Burkhart believes that the paid parking will impact the length of time customers will want to spend in the coffee shop and in the surrounding businesses, due to the added expense of parking.

To accommodate customers, Dublin 3 Coffeehouse announced Feb. 4 on their Facebook page that they will reimburse customers for their first hour of parking in Lot P, located across the street from the shop, if they bring in their receipt to show when ordering.

“It makes coming to the coffee shop more of an expensive thing,” Burkhart said. “This city is built around college students who always complain about not having money, so I don’t really think it helps from that point of view.”

Macy Blankenship is a Liberty student who interned at Lynchburg’s local record shop located on Jefferson Street, Speakertree, over the summer. Blankenship worked at the shop frequently throughout the summer and helped the business run events. She also has concerns about the added expense

not healed the sick the way Jesus did, he explained he had been convicted recently about his attitude toward healing the spiritually sick.

“Sometimes as a speaker, … I think if I give a good enough message, maybe I can change their hearts a little and have them fall in love with God a little bit more, rather than a total dependency spiritually on God,” Chan said.

Chan started Cornerstone Community Church in California in 1994 and now travels the world speaking at events and conferences. He is currently a part of Crazy Love ministries.

Chan told students that while he knew how to make a “man-made wave,” he was tired of that and wanted to let God work.

“You can’t fake these things,” Chan said to the crowd.

Chan said he did not want to be just another preacher giving a sermon to Lib-

viting room environment, giving commuter students a home base on campus. Commuter Student Life hosts a variety of events throughout the semester to strengthen the off-campus community, including Pancake Friday in the Commuter Lounge most Friday mornings.

“Even if you can’t come to an event, just show up in the lounge and get a cup of coffee, and you will meet someone,” Cline said.

During the fall, commuter football tailgates are their biggest push. Some upcoming events include a basketball tailgate Feb. 26, Doughnut Tuesdays in March and a commuter hike in April. They also promote events by Student Activities.

Gery advised commuter students to become involved and intentional about finding community.

“Be open to putting yourself out there for community,” Gery said. “You have to look for community as a commuter. It’s not just going to fall in your lap. … I would definitely point them to their Commuter Community Group, as well as all of our events. Really be intentional to create (community) and seek us to find ways to be intentional.”

To purchase tickets for the Winter Gala, students should email commuter@liberty. edu or follow the event link. For more information on Commuter Life and upcoming events, visit their Facebook page or website.

Visit Liberty OSD or LU Shepherd for information on commuter community groups.

WOOD is a content reporter.

783 people living homeless

143 children 79 veterans 306 experience a disability (2017) Miriam's House

Taryn Azimov | Liberty Champion

PAY TO PARK — Guidelines are set up at pay stations to help visitors understand the new pay system in the Jefferson Street parking lots.

the parking will be for business owners.

“Business owners can’t change their place of business on a whim, and parking is an added expense they’ll have to pay for now,” Blankenship said.

While many hold mixed opinions about the parking process, Malewitz is hopeful that this new

installment will benefit local business owners and their customers in the area and nullify the concerns many customers and owners expressed over the lack of parking near the businesses.

HIRNEISEN is a content reporter.

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion

COLLECTIVE — The Liberty Worship Collective led worship for all three services in the Vines Center. erty students, explaining that when someone is really saved, they should not have to have anyone begging them to spend time with God. “I became a slave to righteousness,” Chan said, referring to the time after he was saved. “I can’t spend my days surfing and golfing.

That would drive me insane.

I have to do something for

the kingdom.”

Chan emphasized the importance of becoming a new person when they’re saved.

He explained that when someone abides in Christ, they will not keep sinning.

Chan also spoke to the student body at the weekly Wednesday night Campus Community gathering.

Dozens of students responded to his message that

evening and accepted God, prompting an impromptu service at 11:00 p.m. after Community Groups.

More information about Chan’s ministry, Crazy Love, can be found at crazylove.org, or on Twitter as @ CrazyLove.

VAN TUYL is the assistant content editor.

A8 | February 12, 2019 | Liberty Champion

The year of the pig

International Student Center rings in Lunar New Year with celebration Kharen Martinez kmartinez6@liberty.edu Hattie Troutman hatroutman@liberty.edu

The International Student Center hosted its first ever Lunar New Year celebration, ringing in the year of the pig with traditional Asian foods and trivia games.

As students gathered in the ISC Feb. 5, the sound of music and the smell of dumplings and spring rolls filled the room. Flags of different countries lined the tables as decorations, along with several other traditional items from countries, including China, Korea and Vietnam.

Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is celebrated mostly in Asian countries. It marks the beginning of the year in the lunar calendar. For people from China, South Korea and Vietnam, this is one of the most celebrated holidays.

“All the family gets together, (it) is family time,” Jenny Kim, a student from Korea, said. “I really miss my family in days like special holidays. We celebrate Lunar New Year more than Christmas.”

The attendants of the event tested their knowledge about the Lunar New Year during different rounds of trivia played on KaHoot, an interactive game played from a smart phone. Mahjong, a traditional Chinese board game, was also set out for students to enjoy.

“It is definitely one of the most intriguing, intricate and most (detailed) New Year’s I have ever seen,” Nicolas Londoño, an international student from Colombia, said. “I definitely think it is a really important cultural exchange.”

For student Lykeang Chim, an international student from Cam-

Lydia Poindexter | Liberty Champion CULTURE — The ISC celebrated the Lunar New Year Feb. 5.

bodia, having the space to share the culture helps him create a sense of belonging.

“I feel included, … even though I am in the United States,” Chim said. “I still have a place where I can at least celebrate Chinese New Year.”

Although Chim said he misses playing with his cousins and seeing his family, he understands that this holiday is about family and being with one another. He said he appreciates that even though he is far from home, he is accepted and welcomed by the community.

He also wants to remind people to call their relatives and enjoy their closeness, especially on special days.

“I mean I still feel like home because you guys have remembered me (and) my culture,” Chim said.

Tunya Pannell, operations coordinator for the International

Student Center, said the center puts on several different open houses each semester for international and domestic students to experience.

“We put on our open houses for our international students so they have the opportunity to share about their culture and cuisine not only with other international students, but (also) with the Liberty community,” Pannell said.

Through the open houses, students receive a glimpse of what life looks like within that culture, whether it be through the food, presentations or the activities provided.

“It’s important for the students to be connected, and this place offers the best way to do that,” PJ Schwartz, a retention specialist for the ISC, said.

Inside the center, when there are not open houses going on, international students can expect to feel at home in this welcoming room.

Throughout the space, there are several decorations and objects that international students have brought from their home country to bring familiarity to their surroundings.

“It is like a home away from home for our international students here,” Pannell said. “It’s a place where they come in and get to know each other and get to know other students from their countries.”

Two of the ISC’s biggest events are happening during Global Focus Week. These are the Taste of Nations and the Parade of Nations.

The ISC is expecting to see about 2,500 people come for the Taste of Nations to experience foods from 23 different countries prepared by students from those countries.

According to Pannell, the Pa-

rade of Nations has been happening since the beginning of the ISC, which was started by Dr. C. Daniel Kim in 2004.

The ISC also plans to host several activities during Spring Break, which are open to all students to attend. These activities include bowling, indoor soccer and a movie night.

“We invite everybody, because

we have a lot of domestic students who want to get to know more about our international students, so they attend our events as well,” Pannell said.

MARTINEZ is a feature reporter.

TROUTMAN is a content reporter.

International Student Center

Throughout the student body, there are 73 countries represented and around 800 international students.

While living in the States, the international students have to stay on top of paper work to remain in status, and the ISC has staff members who work directly with the students to guide them through those processes and keep everything up-to-date.

“The international students have a place to handle culture shock and to also navigate all the policies that they need to stay in status,” PJ Schwartz, a retention specialist for the ISC said. “That’s why we have the two advisors and two retention specialists to make sure they are on track with everything, which is a huge benefit to being here.”

Lydia Poindexter | Liberty Champion

TASTY — Food from countries that celebrate Lunar New Year were available for students to sample.

SPORTS

February 12, 2019

B1

Macy Hrncir| Liberty Champion

STRONG GREETINGS — The Flames Club, Liberty Athletic Department and cheerleaders welcomed Liberty’s new football head coach Hugh Freeze Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Warm welcome for Freeze

Flames Club hosts introduction party for new football head coach Hugh Freeze John Simmons jasimmons2@liberty.edu

The Liberty Flames welcomed in a new era for their football team Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Inside the Carter Tower and in front of hundreds of dining boosters, the Flames formally introduced new Head Coach Hugh Freeze, who along with the rest of his staff, set the expectations for the 2019 season.

Freeze was especially optimistic about his team as they move closer to the opening of the season.

“We have a fun product for you to you watch, to pull for, cheer for, (or) hurt with,” Freeze said. “We’re going to have some giddy moments here before our tenure is over.”

Freeze introduced his revamped coaching staff, which includes two people who have played under or worked with him in the past.

This includes tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua and co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Maurice Harris. Aigamaua, who played defensive tackle at Lambuth

University from 2006-09, played under vert, who is entering his senior season, threw Freeze in his last two seasons at Lambuth for 3,068 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. and is particularly excited to be reunited with When Freeze introduced Austin to his former coach. the boosters, he had nothing but high “I’m super excited to be here,” Aigamaua praise for Austin. said. “(He’s) just a “To me he’s man I’ve always loved the most brilsince playing for liant quarterback You can rest assured that the him.” mind that I’ve staff you have here will work The rest of been around, Freeze’s staff has period,” Freeze tirelessly to put product on plenty of experisaid. “He’s just a the field that gives you some ence coaching remarkable, reof those giddy moments. in other leagues. markable guy.”

- Head Coach Hugh Freeze Kent Austin, who In addition has coached for 30 to being the day years prior to Liberty, will serve as the where Freeze and his staff were formally inquarterbacks coach and co-offensive co- troduced, Feb. 6 was also national signing ordinator with Aigamaua. Austin won four day. The primary focus for the Flames reGrey Cup Finals (the Canadian version of cruiting staff was shoring up their defensive the Super Bowl) in the Canadian Football line with athleticism and size, and the Flames league in 10 years. made good on their promise by signing six Austin will be in charge of elevating Lib- defensive linemen. That group included erty’s incumbent quarterback Steven “Buck- 6-foot-6-inch, 315-pound defensive tackle shot” Calvert to the next level of play. Cal- William Green, whom defensive line coach

Josh Aldridge was particularly excited about despite Green’s lack of experience.

“What’s unique about William is (he) has only played two years of football,” Aldridge said.

It was a night full of optimism, with many personal stories, laughs and memories shared by the coaching staff. Freeze closed out the night by applauding the coaching staff for their work on the recruitment trail and putting together a team ready to play in the fall.

“You can rest assured that the staff you have here will work tirelessly to put product on the field that gives you some of those giddy moments,” Freeze said.

The Flames spring schedule will begin Feb. 23 with the team’s first practice and will culminate with the annual spring football game March 30 at Williams Stadium.

Their first regular season game will be Aug. 31 against Syracuse (ranked 15 in the preseason), and they will be the first Power 5 school to visit Lynchburg.

SIMMONS is a sports reporter.

On Eagles’ wings Late night spikes Men’s basketball defeats FGCU 74-67 Christian Weaner crweaner@liberty.edu

With 12 minutes remaining in the second half, Liberty guard Keenan Gumbs took the ball on the left wing and drove to the hoop for a dunk, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The bucket gave Liberty a nine-point advantage and all the confidence they would need to grind out a 74-67 victory over perennial Atlantic Sun powerhouse Florida Gulf Coast Saturday, Feb. 9, in the Vines Center.

Liberty’s win over the Eagles marked the first time in three seasons that an ASUN opponent swept the season series with FGCU. The Flames beat FGCU 8163 to open ASUN play, Jan. 5 in Fort Myers.

“I had a feeling this was gonna be hard,” Head Coach Ritchie McKay

said of the matchup with FGCU. “Florida Gulf Coast is used to competing for the top of the league on an annual basis, and they have been playing a lot better.”

The Flames got the victory thanks to a solid performance from their bench. Along with Gumbs, who finished with 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field, freshman Darius McGhee provided a spark as soon as he stepped onto the floor.

McGhee, who was one of the more prolific scorers early in the season for the Flames, has struggled shooting in recent games, but he came out firing Saturday. Just seconds after checking in during the first half, McGhee drove to the hoop, made a layup and was fouled.

WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME

See ON, B3

Men’s volleyball hosts Midnight Mayhem Emily Baker egbaker@liberty.edu

The Vines Center was alive with Midnight Mayhem at 11:59 p.m., Feb. 1, when the Flames men’s volleyball team took down the Virginia Tech Hokies 3-1.

The win was Liberty’s

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

SMASH — Senior Keenan Gumbs ignited the crowd with a dunk.

W. Basketball vs. Lipscomb Feb. 12 @ 7 p.m.

Hockey vs.

Delaware Feb. 15 @ 7 p.m.

first game of the spring semester after coming out of a strong 16-2-3 fall season.

Tech came on strong in the first game, barely pulling out the win 27-25 as the night waned on.

The Flames didn’t let the early win stop them from playing hard, however, as they came back in full force

to win the second game 2521. Liberty was led by freshman opposite hitter Joshua Knapp and senior outside hitter Brady Quakenbush, both of whom led the Flames out early with several kills.

Sophomore outside hitter Sean Taggart finished off the second game with a hit off of a Tech block. Taggart carried his momentum into the third game as well, pulling the Flames up to 12-12 after an early Tech lead.

Knapp helped keep the score tied as Tech worked its way ahead to 14-14, soon followed by a four-point service run by Flames senior setter Kaden Knepper. The Flames held the Hokies off for the rest of the game, pulling ahead from 18-14 to 2318. The third game ended 25-21 on a block from senior middle hitter Gene Dejesus.

Gabrielle Calhoun | Liberty News Service

SPIKE — Freshman Dylan Culler leaps to spike the ball.

W. Hockey vs.

Adrian Feb. 15 @ 9:45 p.m.

Lacrosse vs.

UCF Feb. 16 @ 3 p.m.

See LATE, B2

Hockey vs.

Delaware Feb. 16 @ 7 p.m.

sports

B2 | February 12, 2019 | Liberty Champion

One-point loss Lady Flames fall to FGCU 65-64 at home Peter Gooch pgooch1@liberty.edu

They crawled back from an 11-point deficit and were in position to steal a huge upset victory.

Down by one point with 1.9 seconds remaining, the Liberty Lady Flames basketball team took a timeout to set up an inbounds play from beneath their own basket.

After a few seconds of scrambling as the Lady Flames attempted to get open, sophomore guard Ria Gulley tried to force the ball inside to sophomore forward Bridgette Rettstatt for a game-winning layup.

But the ball was not caught cleanly, and the buzzer sounded as Rettstatt and others scrambled on the hardwood floor.

The Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles survived their program’s trip to the Vines Center, eking out a 65-64 win Saturday, Feb. 9. The Eagles kept intact a conference-best

winning streak of 10 games and improved to 19-4 overall, including a perfect 10-0 in the ASUN Conference.

“First of all, (I’m) real proud of the effort the girls gave today,” Liberty Head Coach Carey Green said. “They gave a championship effort. We just came up a little short.”

The Lady Flames, who fell to 9-14 overall and 5-5 in ASUN, rallied from a 56-45 deficit late in the third quarter. They briefly took the lead on a Rettstatt turnaround jumper in the paint with 43 seconds remaining.

But a quick push by Florida Gulf Coast ended with Kerstie Phills converting what proved to be the winning basket with 30 seconds left.

“I don’t think we were intimidated, and we certainly gave a better effort on the defensive end even though we still had some breakdowns,” Green said. “We had an opportunity to win the game.”

The tense battle was a far cry from the

KJ Jugar | Liberty News Service CHARGE — The Lady Flames are currently ranked fourth in the ASUN.

teams’ first matchup of the season Jan. 5, as the Eagles cruised to a 68-50 victory in Fort Meyers, Florida.

“We went into the game with a chip on our shoulder,” Liberty forward Kierra JohnsonGraham said. “We really wanted to win. I’m proud of our team. We pushed hard.”

The Lady Flames started strong, espeAndrew Snyder | Liberty News Service cially on the defensive end, taking a 19-12 FIGHT — Senior guard Tatyana Crowder fights to keep the Eagles advantage early in the from reaching the basket. second quarter after a “We can take care of the ball a little betbasket by senior guard Melis Ucar.

But the Eagles soon found their footing. ter,” Lytle said. “A lot of (the turnovers) were A three-pointer by guard Kerstie Phills put unforced.”

After sitting out the past six games, point Florida Gulf Coast up 22-21 with 4:20 left guard Ashtyn Baker came off the bench and in the first half and the Lady Flames went into contributed three assists and three rebounds halftime down, 29-26.

Florida Gulf Coast continued an extended in almost 12 minutes of action versus Florida run in the second half, pushing their lead to a Gulf Coast.

“She was a positive contributor today,” game-high 11 points with 1:44 remaining in Green said. “We’re glad to get her out there, the third quarter.

The Lady Flames responded with a 14-4 with her speed and everything.”

Baker averaged 7.5 points in the Lady run, punctuated by a beautiful pass from Flames first 16 games of the season. Green Rettstatt to forward KK Barbour for a layup, would not commit to whether he would to climb to within a point at 60-59.

“The girls really, other than the third quar- start Baker in Liberty’s next contest, which ter, gave a good effort and had an opportunity is against Lipscomb University (3-20, 1-9 to win the game,” Green said. “Really proud ASUN) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the of their overall involvement and the impact Vines Center.

Regardless of Baker’s availability, the each player has had.”

Lady Flames hope to shake off the sting Sophomore guard Emily Lytle led the Lady of a heart-breaking defeats and get back Flames in scoring with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting. She also grabbed five of the team’s on track as the ASUN Tournament and 41 rebounds, while turning the ball over a potential rematch with Florida Gulf Coast looms. only once.

“We lost by about 18 the first time we Turnovers were a major issue for Liberty, who coughed up the ball 24 times, compared played them, but this time we only lost by one,” Johnson-Graham said. “So next time to nine turnovers for the Eagles.

Green said that ball security was “no the goal is to beat them how they beat us. It’s doubt” the biggest difference maker in de- hard to beat a team three times.” termining the outcome of the contest. Florida Gulf Coast scored 29 points off Liberty GOOCH is a sports reporter. turnovers.

LATE continued from B1

Gabrielle Calhoun | Liberty News Service BLOCK — The Flames are hoping to be ranked in the top ten and compete nationally this season.

ON continued from B1

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion SMALL BUT MIGHTY — Freshman Darius McGhee does

not allow his size to hinder his playing ability.

The 5-foot-9-inch guard added two 3-pointers in the first half, including a running shot to beat the buzzer at the end of the half.

“It was a weight off my back making shots tonight,” McGhee said. “I have been in a shooting slump. It’s been frustrating for me, but my teammates have been encouraging me to keep shooting.

Tonight, shots were falling, and it felt good to get the lid off the basket.”

Another Flame who broke out against Florida Gulf Coast after recent struggles was redshirt junior Scottie James. James has been slowed down and frustrated in ASUN play, but the star forward battled for 10 points and 14 rebounds against the Eagles. “(James) empties the tank every game,” McKay said.

“Some were probably down on him for (his performance last game) because we didn’t see the normal version of Scottie James, but the fact that he bounced back with this effort speaks to how committed he is.”

For FGCU, it was senior Schadrac Casimir who scored early an often, totaling 33 points in the game. Casimir was hitting shots all night, finishing 5-8 from 3 and 8-14 overall from the floor.

“Casimir was throwing in things from everywhere,” McKay said.

The Flames struggled all night to slow down Casimir, and they found themselves scrambling in the second half when their two best defenders Elijah Cuffee and Lovell Cabbil both fouled out of the game. The Flames needed every bit of their depth in order to hold off the Eagles.

“I think we won the way we are going to win most nights (and) that’s as a team, with everybody contributing,” McKay said.

The fourth game featured a debut from freshman outside hitter James Morton, who started on the Flames DII team in the fall. Morton proved his skill in the fourth game with a series of fast kills, helping the Flames out to an early 10-4 advantage.

Despite the Hokies best efforts, they never gained the lead for the rest of the game, which ended with a cross-court kill from Knepper. The final

With the victory, Liberty moves to 10-1 in the ASUN and 21-5 overall on the season.

The Flames now turn their focus to a showdown with conference rival Lipscomb.

Liberty will look to avenge their 79-59 pounding they took against the Bisons back on Jan. 29 in the Vines Center. Lipscomb is currently 11-0 in the ASUN and have not

score for the fourth game was 25-23, a testament to Tech’s effort to get back into the game.

The Flames only have four games left until the Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association South Championships, which will be held Mar. 23 at Virginia Tech.

After that, Liberty will turn its eyes to the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation nationals.

BAKER is the sports editor.

won a game by less than eight points so far in conference play. “(Lipscomb) has won 19 in a row in the league,” McKay said.

“I don’t know how (any team in any) given conference wins 19 games in a row. I don’t know if I have ever had it in my 30 years of coaching.”

The Flames will look to use the momentum of a hard-fought victory over FGCU to propel

them into their matchup with Lipscomb Feb. 13 and the remainder of their season. The Flames will return to the Vines Center Tuesday, Feb. 26 when they host Kennesaw State and celebrate senior night.

WEANER is a sports reporter.

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion BLANK — Saturday’s game was the annual White Out game.

sports

Liberty Champion | February 12, 2019 | B3

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion CHEER — The Fire Pit partnered with the SGA to organize a red-out

game and promotes other game events.

Fanning the Flames

Student-run Twitter brings fans to games Liz Fitch | Liberty Champion

ATTACK — Redshirt junior Caleb Homesley drives toward the basket past a Stetson defender.

Stuffing Stetson Flames basketball defeats Stetson 57-54 mance, senior guard Lovell Cabbil led the game with 19 points, but he was disappointed by the team’s poor The Flames survived a late scare execution. against Stetson Tuesday, Feb. 5, “I thought we just came out and scraping a 57-54 win at the Vines thought we had an easy win playCenter in Liberty’s first game ing Stetson,” Cabbil said. “They this season decided by a single came out and they played really possession. hard — they had nothing to lose.

When junior guard Caleb Home- I thought we came out just gosley dunked with 2:22 left on the ing through the motions, that we clock, the score was 57-48, in fa- could just show up and win, and vor of the Flames. Liberty would that’s not the case in any Division not score again, however, and I game — it doesn’t matter who Stetson’s relentless pursuit of the you’re playing.”

Flames came short of a major upset Coming into Tuesday’s game, the by only one missed 3-pointer as the Flames 71-53 win away at Stetson buzzer rang. in January, combined with StetThe win qualified the Flames for son’s poor conference record of the ASUN championship and took 1-8, pointed towards a comfortable them to 20 season wins in the fast- win for Liberty. On a night of poor est time in program history. shooting, however, Liberty strugIn the night’s standout perfor- gled on offense throughout most of the game, shooting for .379 from the field and missing 25 3-pointers.

Throughout the first half, Liberty and Stetson traded points, setting the pattern of ineffective offense that would last for the rest of the game.

By the under-16 media break, Liberty was 2-6 from the field, leaving Coach Ritchie McKay frustrated.

“I thought we showed great immaturity in missed shots,” McKay said. “We didn’t let a miss end with a miss — we let it carry over to lack of execution defensively, hesitation the next time down, trying to stay in the game by making a shot — those are not characteristic of our group.”

Possession also changed hands regularly in an increasingly sloppy first half, with both teams combining for 15 total turnovers and 37 missed shots from the field.

With such inefficient shooting, Cabbil was crucial to Liberty’s in Liz Fitch | Liberty Champion performance POWER— Red-shirt junior Myo Baxter-Bell shoots the first half.

Shortly after subover a Stetson defender.

John Nekrasov ydnekrasov@liberty.edu

bing in with 9:30 left in the half, he scored two free throws and then the game’s first 3-pointer in quick succession, helping carry the Flames into halftime with a 29-21 lead.

Fired up by Head Coach Corey Williams, Stetson came roaring out of the locker room after halftime, scoring 13 points to Liberty’s 7 by 13:26 and taking the game to 36-34. Homesley believed the Flames mental difficulties as the score narrowed came down to a lack of cohesion.

“We had bad execution on defense, so they were able to come back off of our runs, and on the offensive end, we weren’t doing the right things to set people up to score in the ways that we score,” Homesley said.

The Flames seemed lifeless before sophomore guard Keegan McDowell rose to score a 3-pointer at 13:26, ending a nearly 4-minute scoring drought for Liberty. Cabbil added 5 more points in a 10-0 run that would swing momentum in Liberty’s favor, leaving the score at 46-34.

Stetson kept pace, however, narrowing the gap and then launching into a 6-0 unanswered scoring run, knocking on Liberty’s door as the score reached 57-54.

McKay paced the sidelines as his players struggled to defend in the final minutes of the game.

“I think we were tentative,” McKay said. “I think we really lacked execution on the defensive end. …

They ran the same play over and over again. The fact that we couldn’t do it, knowing it was coming — that’s the issue that we have to resolve.”

As Keith Matthews missed his chance to tie the game at 0:01, the buzzer rang, leaving the Flames clutching to a win that had almost slipped away. Cabbil reflected on the reality check Tuesday has been for the Flames.

“We have to execute and do what we do every day, instead of getting outside of ourselves and expecting to show up and get handed a win,” Cabbil said. “Because no team is going to hand us a win.”

Liberty has a tough couple of weeks ahead as they travel to take on Lipscomb, North Alabama and North Florida. The team’s second matchup against Lipscomb will be high-stakes as Liberty looks to reclaim its spot at the top of the ASUN. The Flames will be in the Vines again Tuesday, Feb. 26 when they host Kennesaw State at 7 p.m.

NEKRASOV is a sports reporter.

Emily Baker egbaker@liberty.edu

The student section at Flames basketball games has a new identity: The Fire Pit. The Fire-Pit-student section has brought renewed life the Vines.

And it’s all thanks to a pair of Liberty sport management students and a Twitter page.

The students, junior Jordan Elliott and senior Austin Needels, originally met in their sport management classes together. Elliott hopes to become a college athletics director, while Needels aims to go to the police academy after graduation and become a Lynchburg police officer. Between classes and a shared love and passion for sports, the two became friends.

Elliott and Needels decided it

Aside from organized color nights and events, the student section has been much louder and more active. Jerry’s Jokers and the Fire Pit have worked together to make signs and create new cheers.

Between creating a distracting free throw racket, chanting for the Flames when they are on defense or calling a false shot clock countdown, the students have brought new life to Flames basketball games.

“We actually got to meet with Coach McKay and the basketball team and they told us that they really saw a difference that first Saturday game in January when the students were back,” Needels said. “The reason that they scored a few extra points and won that game was because there were so many people there that weren’t

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

ENGAGING— The Fire Pit is run by two sport management majors, Jordan Elliott and Austin Needels. was time for a change when they went to a Flames basketball game and saw a lackluster student involvement.

“It was the end of November and we were at a game and we were just thinking, ‘This is pathetic,’” Elliott said. “We had to do something.”

Thus, the Fire Pit Twitter page (@LUFIREPIT) was born.

The page, originally Elliott’s idea, shared its first tweet Dec. 3. The Fire Pit took off after that, adding around 200 followers within a month of its creation.

According to Elliott, the page was started to show support for the team.

“They’re having their best season, ever, probably, and we know a lot of the guys on the team,” Elliott said. “We wanted to support them and do our part because there weren’t that many people going to the games.”

And their effort has made a difference.

The Fire Pit teamed up with the Liberty Student Government Association to host a Red Out night and pre-game car smash, both of which were huge successes. The Vines Center was glowing hot with red T-shirts and louder than ever when the Flames routed NJIT 77-57 Saturday, Feb. 2.

normally there.”

For now, the Fire Pit is a basketball-exclusive page. The Twitter page regularly retweets and shares tweets from the men’s basketball twitter (@LibertyMBB) and others, including Did Liberty Win? (@didlibertywin) and A Sea of Red (@ASeaOfRed).

However, both Needels and Elliott said that an all-sports student section is not out of the question.

“I think that eventually it could be all sports,” Needels said. “Not just a Liberty basketball student section, but a Liberty Flames student section. There would be a student section for every single sporting event, so for football, basketball, hockey, whatever sport you could think of.”

Follow the Fire Pit Twitter page for updates and game information at @LUFIREPIT. The Fire Pit student section will be out in full force for the last home game of the regular season when the Flames host Kennesaw State Tuesday, Feb. 26. The Flames will be celebrating senior night, honoring graduating seniors Lovell Cabbil Jr., Keenan Gumbs and Zach Farquhar.

BAKER is the sports editor.

sports

B4 | February 12, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Stymied

by Stetson The Lady Flames hard-fought effort proves to not be enough Benajmin Craft bcraft2@liberty.edu

The Lady Flames basketball team fell short Tuesday, Feb. 5, to the Stetson Hatters 6856. Tuesday was Liberty’s first loss since Jan. 12 after winning their previous five games.

Turnovers were a factor throughout the game. Liberty had trouble controlling the ball, and when they turned the ball over, it led to points for Stetson. In the first quarter, Stetson had 11 points off turnovers while Liberty only had three. Overall, Stetson outscored Liberty off turnovers 22-8. Stetson capitalized on those opportunities, while the Lady Flames turnovers led to a lack of offensive rhythm for Liberty and 36.5 percent shooting from the floor.

Throughout the game, it looked as though Liberty could not keep up with Stetson. The Lady Flames were missing redshirt sophomore guard Ria Gulley due to illness and sophomore guard Ashtyn Baker due to an injury. Playing with two players down led to the Flames consistently looking fatigued and outmatched on the court.

“It’s critical that you have a healthy team,” Lady Flames Head Coach Carey Green said.

“Today, I really am proud of the effort that these girls put forward. We were shorthanded a little bit, but those who played did so with their hearts out.”

Stetson established dominance in the paint from early in the game. In a first quarter where Stetson established a 12-point lead, they outscored Liberty in the paint 10-4. A big part in this was Stetson freshman forward Megan Vincent. In the first quarter, she scored 10 points with a perfect field-goal percentage.

This would continue throughout the game, Vincent only missing one shot all day while putting up a career-high 22 points.

“In the post they were doing that roll and rise,” Flames redshirt sophomore guard Emily Lytle said. “The guards could have given a little more help in defending that.”

Stetson led 35-25 going into the half. Liberty responded in a big way by beginning the third quarter with a 16-6 run to tie the game at 41-41. A major contributor was Lytle, who scored 12 points in the quarter. This included a perfect 3-3 from three-point range.

However, Liberty’s turnover woes returned, leading to Stetson responding with an 11-4 run to end the quarter.

Lytle was the most notable performer for the Lady Flames as she finished with 17 points and five rebounds. Senior forward KK Barbour had 12 points, all of which came in the first half. This is Barbour’s sixth consecutive game in double digits.

Stetson’s Megan Vincent scored 22 points on 90 percent shooting and pulled down 9 rebounds for Stetson. Three other Stetson players scored in double digits.

Liberty will attempt to bounce back next week when they host Lipscomb Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m., then travel to take on North Alabama Saturday afternoon. North Alabama is ranked second in the ASUN conference, and the game will be Liberty’s first time playing them this season.

CRAFT is a sports reporter.

Leah Stauffer | Liberty News Service STOPPED — Lady Flames senior KK Barbour boxes out a defender.

Leah Stauffer | Liberty News Service CHEERLEADERS — The Lady Flames bench cheers on the team during games.

Lightning fast

Flames sprinter plans for 2020 Olympics Paige Frost pmfrost@liberty.edu

Joel Isimeme | Liberty News Service

HOME— Zapata ran in the Olympics for Colombia.

Becoming a fast runner is no easy feat, and neither is holding 2019’s fastest 500m time in the world. Alejandro Perlaza Zapata, Liberty’s top 400-500m runner has done just that and more.

Zapata grew up in Colombia and began running at a young age, but did not start participating in track and field until 2010. He recognized the need to train to be faster when he entered his

SPEED— Zapata holds 2019’s world’s fastest 500m time and is one second away from the world record.

first league and lost. Once he started training, there was no stopping him.

“Running opened up opportunity, so I can support my family and so I can support me,” Zapata said. “Track and field is my all for me.”

After competing in the 2016 Olympics for Colombia, Zapata is now training for the 2020 Olympics.

Since his appearance in the 2016 Olympics, Zapata has run the fastest 500m in the world for 2019 at a quick 1:01.35, which is just over a second

Andrew Snyder | Liberty News Service

slower than the world record, which stands at 1:00.06. Zapata has also climbed within one second of the world record 400m time. His 400m best is 44.86 seconds, while the world record is 43.03 seconds.

Zapata’s training has changed since coming to the states with a new coach.

In Colombia, Zapata focused purely on endurance. At Liberty, he focuses more on building speed.

“Being able to see him transition from one culture to another is amazing,” Liberty track Coach Pete McFadden said. “He has embraced that and taken on challenges on and off the track, and then also the training. “ In May 2018, at the Big South Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Zapata won the 400m race and earned his 44.86 personal best.

Zapata said he would never forget that experience.

“When I ran 44, that was a big moment,” Zapata said. “It was crazy and exciting, and I felt so happy, so I couldn’t believe that it happened.”

Zapata is now training for the future, and he believes this will help him provide for himself and his family. Many people ask Zapata why he came to Liberty, which is partly because his mom wanted him to come here and pursue a relationship with the Lord.

“It is God’s plan, and I love it,” Zapata said. “I love Liberty, and I love my team. I love everything about Liberty and everyone in it.”

Zapata has been dominating the track during the 2018-2019 indoor season with four first-place wins, including his incredibly fast 500m showing at the Liberty Kickoff meet Jan. 25-26, 2019.

Zapata will be competing in the ASUN Indoor Track Championships Feb. 22-23, 2019, which will be hosted at the Liberty University Indoor Track.

FROST is a sports reporter.

feature

Liberty Champion | February 12, 2019 | B5

Coming home with history

LU Biblical Museum curator continues to uncover Biblical artifacts in Qumran caves located in the limestone cliffs scattered throughout the area.

“Because of things that we were finding at the site, there were still mysteries that When curator of the Jerry Falwell Library we needed to solve,” Price said. “I thought Biblical Museum Dr. Randall Price is not if we could get into those caves and find teaching Liberty students about archeology, some new things, we might answer some he is in Israel digging up pieces of history. of our questions. And each new excavation In the past few years, Price has been in- brings us closer to that goal.” strumental in the recovery of many important In 1946, the first of the Dead Sea artifacts from Qumran, the same series of scrolls were discovered by Bedouins (nocaves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found madic desert shepherds), but it was not in Israel. until 1949 that the original cave was redis“Scholars have more questions today covered, and other scroll fragments were than when exploration began back in the found.

1950s,” Price said. “Those questions have “We’ve always believed that there are never been fully answered by anyone and the more scrolls out there but the last scroll only way to get the answers is to go and dig that came to light from a cave was in them up.”

1956,” Price said. “Even just to find a Price and his teams have spent months in piece of a scroll is like the holy grail to me, Qumran excavating four of the hundreds of (and) it would feel like a wonderful climax to all the work we have done.”

However, to get into Qumran to dig you need to have a reason. Such a reason arose from a modern problem We can all study history, that could put any undiscovered artifacts at risk of being lost. but some of us have had the “There were people looting the opportunity to make history. caves,” Price said. “They would go by cover of night with a small pick and dig Someone has to go out and around, and if they find something they take it off and sell it on the Black Mardo the original field work and ket and no one ever hears from it again.

So, because they were doing this, we recover the past so that we could come and say ‘Listen, we’ve got can all benefit from it. to get to these artifacts before they get to them. ‘We’ve got to prevent the loss — Dr. Randall Price of this vital piece of history on behalf of Israel and the Christian world too.’”

Because of this immediate threat to

Nate Montgomery nimontgomery@liberty.edu

“

Macy Hrncir | Liberty Champion

DISCOVER — Price plans to return to Israel to continue his archeological work in Qumran.

Getting serious

the scrolls and other artifacts, Price and his teams were granted a permit to dig to recover the artifacts before they are all gone.

“Very few people have excavated at the site of Qumran, and I am probably the only evangelical Christian who has directed excavations there,” Price said.

Price is not done in Israel. He plans to return again this year in hopes of recovering any artifacts that remain in the limestone

cliffs of Qumran.

“We can all study history, but some of us have had the opportunity to make history.

Someone has to go out and do the original field work and recover the past so that we can all benefit from it,” Price said. “That is what I feel God has called me to do.”

MONTGOMERY is a feature reporter.

Foraged & Cut

Experts tackle the topic of mental health at first Lynchburg 101 event Rachel Kauderer rkauderer@liberty.edu

LU Serve launched the Lynchburg 101 Series to bring students expert insight into the controversial topics of the day. The first series of 2019 held of Feb. 6 discussed the topic of mental health with a panel of speakers from the School of Psychology along with representatives from Lynchburg’s Horizon Behavioral Health, located in Lynchburg.

Debra Jefferson, Horizon’s Crisis Intervention Team coordinator, defined mental health as our psychological, emotional and social well-being. The absence of how we are able to think, feel and control our emotions falls under the category of mental illness.

According to Dr. Daniel Logan, a professor in the Liberty University School of Psychology, research shows statistics on how many adults suffer from different types of mental illness.

“When you research the National Institution of Mental Health, you’ll find that one in five adults struggle with some type of mental illness,” Logan said. “When we are

starting not to feel well with our mental health, we are moving into mental illness.”

The National Institution of Mental Health states that mental illness includes a variety of different conditions that vary in degree of severity.

“What’s interesting is that one in 24 adults will struggle with a serious form of mental illness, while one in 12 will struggle from substance abuse disorder,” Logan said.

“But, the most prevalent mental health challenge in our community among adults today is anxiety.”

According to the panel of speakers, 19 percent of adults will struggle with some form of anxiety. Jefferson said as she has been teaching the topic of mental health, people often take anxiety with minimal concern.

“Some don’t really understand how debilitating an anxiety disorder really is,” Jefferson said. “Some may not be able to function in their daily lives without proper help.”

At Horizon, some mental health disorders are more prevalent than others. Some of the most serious reoccurring disorders within the Lynchburg area are clinical depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Jeffer-

son and her daughter Desha Best gave students advice on how to help someone who may be severely struggling with mental illness.

“If you see something, say something. It is all about communication,” Best said.

“It’s about loving the person enough to not be concerned about what their response may be and to listen nonjudgmentally.”

Jefferson concluded with saying people have to be okay with referring. Mental illness and addiction already have a huge stigma. It is important to believe someone when they say they have been struggling.

“Always pay attention and have an honest conversation with your loved ones,” Jefferson said. “You always want to encourage self-help as well as the professional help needed to cure them.”

The Lynchburg 101 series will continue throughout the spring semester, with the next event covering the topic of poverty on Feb. 19. For more information on these public issues and where to register to attend, visit LU Serve’s website.

KAUDERER is a feature reporter.

Bethany Kocik | Liberty Champion

BLOOM — Natasha Coan’s (pictured above) truck offers build-your own bouquets.

Bethany Kocik bckocik@liberty.edu

atang agwe | Liberty Champion

DISCUSS — Panel included Liberty professor of psychology Dr. Daniel Logan (right).

Foraged & Cut is a local business owned and operated by Natasha Coan.

According to the Foraged & Cut website, Coan fell in love with floral designing after designing her own flower arrangements for her wedding. Coan then worked for a flower farm before opening Foraged & Cut. Coan is passionate

about supporting American flower farmers and works hard to ensure that all flowers she utilizes are either sourced locally or from another area of the US. Foraged & Cut recently branched out of the bridal business to begin the first mobile florist local to the Lynchburg area. The flower truck will roam around the Lynchburg area with locations and dates posted to the business’ social media.

The truck features pre-made and wrapped

bouquets and a self-serve flower bar where you can choose your own flowers and stems for a bouquet or floral piece.

You can visit the business’ social media at Foraged & Cut on Facebook or @foragedandcut on Instagram for the latest updates on the location of the truck.

KOCIK is a copy editor.

B6 | February 12, 2019 | Liberty Champion

feature

Breaking every chain

Author Jonathan Hickory holds book signing at Liberty University Bookstore Tori Nelson vfnelsont@liberty.edu

Scenes of suicide.

Car crashes.

Infant deaths.

Violence.

Poverty.

Jonathan E. Hickory saw it all from the bottom of a beer bottle.

Every time he remembered walking into a crime scene, he took another sip. Having been a police officer for 15 years, he thought he was used to seeing the grief and pain.

However, with every new gruesome report, his disparaging worldview would thicken.

For 10 years, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, hoping to crush the sense of despair that followed him home from work. He drank to crush the reality of his failing marriage, his depression and his suicidal thoughts.

He drank because he did not know what else to do.

Then God reached through the bottle, grabbed him by his collar and saved his soul.

“At my darkest moment, God took my darkness and shambles, my divorce ... and when I had nothing left, turned darkness into light,” Hickory said.

Remembering all that God has done for him, Hickory decided to write a book. Titled “Break Every Chain,” it recounts how God freed him from his addictions and drew him back to his family — both earthly and spiritual.

What he writes is not pretty. Hickory throws his cards on the table. Every dirty, sinful part is written about — but so is every godly, transforming incident. Hickory visited the Liberty University Bookstore Saturday, Feb. 2 to share copies of his story at a book signing.

He hopes his life can be an

“

example to other first responders and members of the military who are facing the emotional drain of the job. There is hope, he said. While the world can be wicked and cruel, God is not. These reminders of “the brokenness of humanity” are horrifying, but Jesus is so much bigger than all of them.

Even in the vilest circumstances, God manages to break through the chains of sin, pain and death to showcase his marvelous light.

“That is what God did for me,” Hickory said. “He broke my chains and freed me from bondage. He broke chains of alcoholism, anger, depression, lust, loss, worthlessness and a wicked tongue.”

Just as much as Hickory lost, God restored to him — his marriage, his whole life — “from the depths of despair and darkness.”

Lauded as “gripping” and showcasing “victory through the power of the Gospel” by Jonathan Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and the son of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, Sr., photo provided the book is well on its way to commerAUTOGRAPH — Hickory will return to Liberty’s bookstore for another book signing April 5. cial success.

With its raw narration and painfully true lessons, the book has already garnered mul- medal from the Illumination Book Awards encouraging them to seek help if needed. tiple awards, including the “Enduring Light” and the “Best Addiction Book” from Book He also warns readers to beware of the fruit Authority. the world has to offer — it may look appealing Hickory’s only prayer is that God will use now, but the bite you take will rot your teeth his book to change lives and save souls. and your soul.

He wants his experiences to inspire oth“If you try to battle it alone and without ers to persevere to the end and not grow faith, things of the world will fill that void … discouraged. He also understand that peo- alcohol, drugs, sex,” Hickory said. “We have ple are tempted to pretend that everything to be tough and stoic, but know that it’s okay is fine, even when they are actually falling to ask for help. If you trust your life to Jesus, apart. Despite the fact that everyone seems you can not only survive, but thrive.” all prim and proper, they are probably bro“Break Every Chain” is available at variken and hurting, too. After all, Jesus did not ous literary retail outlets, and Hickory will be die for the perfect. back at the Liberty University Bookstore for “People don’t want to talk,” Hickory said. another signing April 5 from 2-5 p.m.

“We’re all broken and hurting. It’s okay to — Jonathan Hickory be broken.”

Hickory spoke to his brothers-in-arms, NELSON is a feature reporter.

At my darkest moment, God took my darkness and shambles, my divorce, and when I had nothing left, turned darkness into light.

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feature

Liberty Champion | February 12, 2019 | B7

Guidance for graduates Office of Equity and Inclusion VP Greg Dowell shares story at graduate event Rachel Ali rmali@liberty.edu

You can almost always expect some kind of homey smell to overtake your senses well before your foot crosses the threshold of Liberty University’s Commuter Lounge. But the lounge isn’t just for commuters, it is for graduate students as well.

Gretchen Cline, associate director for Graduate Student Life, moved quickly and swiftly. Bright eyed and full of charisma she did not miss a thing while preparing for the night’s dinner and guest speaker in the commuter lounge Some might even describe her as the powerful maternal figure for these 20-something-year-olds who are on the cusp of real adulthood.

As students grabbed their seats to enjoy yet another inviting dinner, they are introduced to tonight’s speaker, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion Gregory Dowell.

Dowell began with an unexpected and very candid story of a childhood that was far from easy. He was quite open when sharing about his family life and some of the demons his parents faced.

“I’m giving you this background to lead you up to something, and I don’t talk about this a lot,” Dowell said. “I even waited until my parents were dead to ever talk about it. I didn’t come from a Christian home. My father was an alcoholic and so was my mother,

but they were working alcoholics.”

Dowell’s mother was a highly skilled nurse and his father was Senior Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, who became a Christian before becoming a truck driver.

They worked 40 hours a week while still drinking, and it was the weekends that consistently showcased the more horrific sides of this disease.

With the room under a quiet hush and student’s barely touching their meals, he continued sharing stories one would only expect to hear in a police report or that of a Dr. Phil episode. He somehow shared these sad truths from a place of contentedness and healing. His story illustrated God’s hand of protection over him from the time he was a small child.

“I’ve graduated several times and my parents didn’t come to one of them, they didn’t even come to my wedding,” Dowell said.

“But God has been good. I’m here to tell you that there’s nothing that I’ve done to get where I am today, I shouldn’t even be alive. … It’s all by the grace of God. I believe that God presents himself to people and if you are called then God will reveal himself to his children.”

He shared his powerful testimony of how he came to Christ at 16-years-old. While lying on the couch recovering from a hernia operation, God presented himself to Dowell through a man preaching the gospel who

gave an invitation for salvation at the end. cause this is what you’re here to do. This is Dowell said the sinner’s prayer that day what God has put on you, it is what you are while watching the late Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. supposed to be doing, finish what you startA few years down the road, he went for- ed faithfully and he will give you your next ward during a church service in Germany, assignment.” and through a series of diving events found To participate in the next Grad Conhimself being discipled by the people of Lib- nect, come to the Commuter Lounge March erty University.

8 at 5:30 p.m. where they will be host“I love this place,” Dowell said. “In ing a women’s panel offering godly couna lot of ways I owe my life to Liberty sel from a working woman’s perspective.

University.”

While it was far from an easy process, or a ALI is a feature reporter. quick one by any means, Dowell dedicates all of his accomplishments to the glory of God. He has not only been the Dean of Students here at Liberty University but has also pastored a church faithfully for the past 16 years. He has managed consulting firms for both ministries and businesses, received his Doctor of Ministry from Liberty University and has co-founded many notable clubs around campus focusing mainly on the inclusion of international students and promoting racial awareness.

“The whole idea is to bring diversity, equity and inclusion to all four of these groups,” DowFeb. 12, 5:00-7:00 p.m. ell said. “There is an advocacy Reber-Thomas wing to what I do as well as an adjudication wing to what I do.

Whether it be from a programmatic, engagement, or educational standpoint, I hope to see all of these things flow out of that.”

Before closing in prayer, Dowell left students with an Feb. 15, 6:00 p.m. enlightening word of encourHancock Welcome Center agement when asked how to be successful in school and in their spiritual lives.

“What I would like to share with you is something I was told when I went to grad school,” Dowell said. “When you go Feb. 15, 9:00 p.m. there, studying, getting good Lahaye Event Space grades and finishing your degree is your ministry. Don’t ever feel like you’re not serving God be-

Valentine’s Adventures

• Valentine’s Night • Pro-Life Club Dessert Date Auction • Valentine’s Karaoke

Lauren Osterhoudt | Liberty Champion

DISCUSS — Greg Powell encourages graduates to glorify God through their studies.

‘It’s still (alt) rock and roll to me’

Student alternative and indie artists perform in LaHaye Event Space Feb. 5 Nate Montgomery nimontgomery@liberty.edu

Over 200 students packed the LaHaye Event Space to witness the first student concert of the semester. Three student bands: Rhineland, Oceanic and ANX treated those in attendance to a high-energy show that had fans cheering from beginning to end.

Prior to the first performance, both Rhineland and Oceanic were brought out onto the stage for a quick introduction. Both bands were asked who their biggest musical influence was.

In what turned out to be a funny coincidence, both bands were inspired by similar artists including Coldplay, The 1975, John Mayer and others. After hearing Rhineland’s inspiration, Jacob Johnson, lead guitarist for Oceanic, could not help but crack a joke

about the similarities.

“So basically, us and Rhineland are the same band,” Johnson said.

He was not wrong either. Both bands delivered performances with similar music styles.

Oceanic is a smooth-sounding indie rock band that formed in the fall of 2016 in Lynchburg. Rhineland is an indie/alternative band that recently released its first single on Spotify “We Go Down.”

The closing band ANX did not disappoint the crowd either. Their electric sound had the crowd cheering and dancing.

The fans were on their feet all night enjoying themselves and mingling with friends between sets.

Oceanic lead singer Nate Wyatt assured the crowd that the upcoming set was just for them.

“All of these things that you are about to see and hear and experience have all been done specially for each one of you,” Wyatt said.

Prior to Oceanic’s set, as many musicians do, Wyatt made a plea to the crowd to get excited.

“You all know the one friend who is the loudest and most rowdy, and I’m talking to you specifically,” Wyatt said. “You all need to be the ones to get your friends to move because this is a concert where we all need to do our part.”

The already excited crowd responded enthusiastically as drummer Jon Hopkins set the first song into motion. Many of the fans were familiar with the music and were happy to participate and sing along.

This show was the first student activities concert featuring student artists this semester.

Information about upcoming concerts can be found on the Student Activities website.

MONTGOMERY is a feature reporter.

Kacey Huffty | Liberty Champion

FIRST — ANX, Oceanic and Rhineland kicks off semester’s concerts.

End It Gathering at TRBC

photos by Kayla Horn (left) and Isaac Apon (center and right)

SHINE — Students and locals gathered for worship at Thomas Road Baptist Church, donning red “Xs” in support of ending human trafficking Thursday evening, Feb. 7.

B8

FEATURE

February 12, 2019

Drew & Ellie

HOLCOMB

Allison Heise | Liberty champion

STRUM— Drew and Ellie Holcomb (upper left and lower right) introduced Ellie’s younger sister, Carly Bannister (lower left), to join the couple’s performance of hits and brand-new songs.

‘You’re a diamond in the flames’ Couple brings familiar tunes and new songs of ‘You and Me Tour’ to campus Jenna Crenshaw jmcrenshaw@liberty.edu

“Oh, what would I do without you?”

Husband and wife duo Drew and Ellie Holcomb brought their Tennessee-rooted acoustic sounds to the School of Music Concert Hall Friday night, Feb. 8.

After a six-year break from being on the road, Nashville singer/songwriter Ellie Holcomb together with her husband Drew of Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors decided they missed the stage. They launched their acoustic tour February 2018, then the You and Me Tour that October.

The couple released their original single “You and Me” in January of 2018, adding a cover of Sting’s “Fields of Gold.” A year later, the Holcombs released three more singles, including “Love Anyway.”

For the audience at Liberty University, the artists combined hits and hidden gems from their albums and introduced new songs from an album yet to be released — such as a song titled “Family,” which Drew Holcomb considered appropriate for the occasion.

“We feel like if you’re at a Drew and Ellie Holcomb concert, then you’re family,”

Drew Holcomb said.

The audience sang when they knew the words and caught on when they did not, with an occasional “Y’all sound good, Flames,” from Ellie.

“

We feel that if you’re at a Drew and Ellie Holcomb concert, then you’re family.

— Drew Holcomb

Many of the couple’s songs are about love.

But their single “Love Anyway” was made sweeter to the audience as the couple described the inspiration for the song, a friend of theirs named Jeremy Courtney. Founder of international relief organization Preemptive Love, Courtney moved his family to Iraq in 2004 to provide front-line medical care in the midst of war. The title of the song

sprung from a headline of a Washington Post article written by Courtney in 2015, challenging his audience to “love anyway” in the presence of fear.

“This song is for Jeremy,” Drew Holcomb said as he began the song.

It was no surprise that Drew Holcomb and the Neighbor’s “What Would I Do Without You” was included on the set list.

Of all the songs he’s ever written, Drew Holcomb considers this song, which he wrote for Ellie, to be his favorite.

Christian music fans in the audience recognized Ellie Holcomb’s “Red Sea Road,” which was inspired by a season of suffering. The title was inspired

by Christian author Ann Voskamp’s phrase “we believe that an unseen hope makes a Red Sea road,” according to Ellie Holcomb.

“And that is what we saw God do for us and for our people, he made a way for us to not have to bury our hope,” Ellie Holcomb said.

“Because hope himself — Jesus — was buried for us and he walked out of the grave.”

Ellie Holcomb took a break from her grown-up tunes to present “Sing” from her children’s album, which was created to accompany her children’s book, “Who Sang

the First Song?” According to Ellie Holcomb, the melody came to her when she was driving her minivan around Nashville because she’s “a rockstar like that.”

Ellie Holcomb welcomed her younger sister Carly Bannister to the stage, who delighted audiences with her gentle melody “Who Cares,” which reminded listeners that they “have the freedom to fail.”

“We wanted her to come sing because she is one of our favorite singers and songwriters,” Ellie Holcomb said.

Drew Holcomb strummed his guitar to begin the “pretend last song” “Here We Go,” the crowd erupting with cheers as the couple moved their feet across the stage in perfect time.

For the encore, Drew and Ellie Holcomb moved away from the microphones, stepping to the edge of the stage toward the audience, and concluded their performance with Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.”

More information about tour dates and tickets can be found on Drew Holcomb’s website.

CRENSHAW is the feature editor.