NEWS
A2/Liberty Champion
APRIL 1, 2014
QBOT rewards dining Brittany Jones bljones24@liberty.edu
Sophia Hahn shahn3@liberty.edu
Liberty University has recently introduced a rewards app that allows students to keep a virtual punch card to earn free drinks and food at restaurants on campus. According to QBOT’s website, the app works similarly to your standard punch card of any loyalty program, but includes a few extra benefits. The user can search for participating locations by city or category. The next step is to “love” a merchant, which earns an automatic reward. “I downloaded it because I love innovation,” freshman Anna Schlueter said. “QBOT created a new way of expanding the term ‘coupon.’” By selecting Lynchburg, Va., students can see that the participating restaurants on campus are Brioche Dorée, Dunkin’ Donuts, Flames Zone, Pizza Hut Express and the Sub Connection in DeMoss Hall. According to the website, the app was created in 2012. “QBOT is specifically designed for you, the merchant, with one goal in mind, and that’s to keep your customers coming back,” QBOT’s website states. QBOT’s instructional video to potential clients says that the “love” feature is offered as a way of reeling the customer into the merchant’s location and opening the door to future loyalty purchases. “The QBOT app encourages me to try products that I never would have tried before,” Schlueter said. By “loving” a business, the customer has given them permission to send emails and push notifications, according to QBOT’s website. When a customer purchases an item, they may scan the QBOT QR code displayed in the business. This earns them a punch, which QBOT calls a “loyalty scan.” Rewards can be redeemed by punch amounts of two, four and six. A customer may cash in the two punches they saved up, or they can continue collecting in order to accumulate six for a higher-priced reward. The QBOT app tracks your savings in dollar amount and allows you to earn badges. “Its very basic format makes it easy and fast to use, perfect for running on a budget and a schedule,” Schlueter said. “I will continue to use it, because I can’t wait to see what other coupons and promotions it will add.” For more information on QBOT, visit qbot.com. JONES is a news reporter. HAHN is the news editor.
Photo Provided
FIGHT FOR FREEDOM — Speaker Dr. James Robertson will give a speech entitled “How the Civil War Still Lives.”
Remembering the Civil War The History Department will host the 18th annual seminar April 4-5 in DeMoss Hall James Ebrahim jebrahim2@liberty.edu
Liberty University’s History Department will be hosting a Civil War seminar April 4 and 5 with keynote speaker Dr. James Robertson. This is the 18th year that Liberty has had a Civil War seminar, according to Kristina Burdeaux, office administrator for the History Department. “Eighteen years ago, Kenny Rowlette and Cline Hall were the ones who started it,” Burdeaux said. “They just had a passion for the Civil War. They wanted to get that information out about the war and teach young people.” Robertson is a distinguished professor of history at Virginia Tech and is one of the most sought-after speakers on the Civ-
il War in his field, according to Virginia Tech’s website. He will be giving a speech Friday, April 4 entitled “How the Civil War Still Lives” and another Saturday, April 5 entitled “Johnny Rebs and Billy Yanks: Uncommon Soldiers.” Other speakers at the event include Dr. Jonathan White, Dr. Kyle Sinisi and Greg Starbuck. According to Burdeaux, this year’s seminar will focus on the year 1864. According to the United States National Park Service, Lynchburg, Va, played a part in the Civil War June 17 and 18 of that year, when Union Gen. David Hunter attacked Confederate depots in Lynchburg. Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early fought Hunter back, resulting in a Confederate victory. The battle resulted in 900
casualties out of 44,000 troops, according to the National Park Service. Usually, there are approximately 150 people from the public who attend the event each year, Burdeaux explained. “The amount of Liberty students that attend varies each year but it is usually close to 100,” Burdeaux said. The seminar is free for Liberty students to attend and will include door prizes, according to Burdeaux. “It would be successful if some of the students learned something they hadn’t learned about the Civil War before, and enjoy the speakers that we are having this year,” Burdeaux said. “It is good for everybody to learn more about our country’s history and be aware of what sacrifices
were taking place so that we can keep our freedom.” Liberty students already have this opportunity, as Liberty is home to the National Civil War Chaplains Research Center and Museum Foundation that features Civil War artifacts and guided tours. The museum was created by Rowlette and exists to educate the public on the role of chaplains during the Civil War, according to the museum’s website. “Come on out,” Burdeaux said. “We’d like to pack the rooms completely.” Tickets may be purchased at the ticket center. For more information, visit the seminar webpage at liberty.edu/civilwar. EBRAHIM is a news reporter.
SA offers new Loyalty Program
Student Activities now offers free prizes for those participating in sponsored events Jesse Spradlin jspradlin@liberty.edu
Free prizes. That’s what Student Activities (SA) began offering students through their new Loyalty Program in the 2014 spring semester. The Loyalty Program provides students with a loyalty card that gets stamped at SA events and can be turned in at the SA office in exchange for free prizes, according to the SA website. “We decided to create this program because we recognized a lot of the same people at our events,” SA Event Supervisor Elizabeth Karr said. “We thought the loyalty program would be a great way to thank them for their support and to keep them coming back.” Karr said loyalty cards can be received and stamped at every SA event at the promotion table. Students must attend 10 events to fill the loyalty
1. TAU SIGMA NATIONAL SOCIETY HELD AN INDUCTION CEREMONY MARCH 31.
card, according to the SA website. “I think it (will) bring more people to come to student activities, especially if it’s giving away free prizes,” senior Chelsi Murray said. “Students always like free things.” Resident Advisor Hannah Solem said she is excited to introduce the program to the girls on her hall. “We really encourage girls to go (to SA events),” Solem said. “You can grab a group of friends and go off to an activity, and for them to get prizes—that’s a great idea.” Karr said there is no limit to how many cards can be filled out per student, and the program restarts every semester. “Once you finish one card, you can go ahead and grab another,” Karr said. “We have exclusive (SA) promotional items for people who have 10 punches on their card.” She said students can win prizes such as a ce-
2. THE SGA HELD A SCREENING OF “SEX + MONEY” FOR ABOLITION WEEK.
Courtney Russo | Liberty Champion
FREE FUN — Each student can fill out as many cards as they want. ramic tumbler mug or a coming in,” Solem said. counted prices throughlarge gym bag with the “It gets them involved out the school year, acin school right away, … cording to its website. Liberty logo on it. “The cards are free, (and) it’s a great way for Events include concerts, they’re easy, and you can them to make friends.” movies, trail races, trips Karr said students and more. win exclusive items just for being loyal to our have responded very well For more information to the Loyalty Program. events,” Karr said. about the Loyalty Pro“It’s an opportunity gram and SA events, call According to the SA website, the loyalty pro- for them to get awesome the SA office at 434-592gram is “just one more prizes for coming to awe- 3061 or email studentacway to say a very spe- some events,” Karr said. tivitiesinfo@liberty.edu. cial thank you” to their “Who wouldn’t love that?” supporters. SA creates more than SPRADLIN is a news “I think it’s really good, especially for freshmen 80 events for free or at dis- reporter.
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