THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE
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Men’s soccer shuts out Campbell
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Lynchburg hosts Lynchstock festival B8
VOLUME 34, ISSUE 6
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LIBERTYCHAMPION.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016 | LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
two roads diverged
Michela diddle| Liberty Champion
GOVERNING THE FUTURE — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (left) spoke to students at Liberty’s Convocation Oct. 12 on the future state of the nation and why evangelicals should vote Republican. New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (right) spoke at Liberty’s Convocation five days later on why students should consider voting third-party.
GOP and Johnson Pence talks on Republican values Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu
With secret service members surrounding the Vines Center, Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Mike Pence addressed the thousands of students and guests at Liberty University’s Convocation Wednesday, Oct. 12. In front of a mostly conservative audience, Pence attempted to rally increased support for Donald Trump for president as he addressed the topics of Israel, abortions, the economy, healthcare and the necessity of Christians to use their voice in the Nov. 8 election.
Liberty president Jerry Falwell Jr. introduced Pence and said the two first met in person at the recent vice presidential debate at Longwood University. Falwell praised Pence’s governmental track record before the governor and his wife arrived on stage to a standing ovation. “I’m a Christian, conservative and a Republican in that order,” Pence said to the audience upon taking the stage. Pence shared his Christian testimony by detailing the moment in which he first placed his faith in Jesus before transitioning into the story behind how See PENCE, A3
Libertarian nominee delivers plan Jacob Clarke jclarke3@liberty.edu
Libertarian presidential candidate Gov. Gary Johnson pitched his campaign to Liberty University students at Convocation Monday, Oct. 17. Though Johnson will appear on the ballot in all 50 states Nov. 8, he and his policies are lesser known than Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton and their proposals. Before diving into his ideas, Johnson provided more personal information to attendees such as his passions for hiking and skiing and his former career as an entrepreneur. “I have been an entrepreneur my
entire life — throwing newspapers, raking leaves (and) mowing lawns,” Johnson said. “When I was 17, I started working construction jobs because those were the highest paying jobs that were available. When I was a junior in college, I started a one-man handyman businesses — me — and grew that business to employ over 1,000 people.” Johnson drew comparisons between how he operated his business and how he would run the government if elected. He said firing people is “extremely difficult,” but without firing anybody, “things just don’t work.” See JOHNSON, A6
Students prepare for takeoff Liberty School of Aeronautics sovles problem with the engines in its planes Jack Panyard jepanyard@liberty.edu
Students at Liberty University’s School of Aviation resumed their training flights Thursday, Oct. 6 after two weeks of not being able to fly due to issues with the engines in the majority of the school’s planes. On Thursday, September 23, Liberty aviation students were told that flight training would be restricted until the aircraft could
be further inspected. As a result, students’ training schedules were temporarily disrupted, and required training was be accomplished through flight simulators to help students stay on track with their syllabi. “We had been experiencing a higher frequency of engine cylinder replacements due to cylinders being out of normal tolerance, and all of the discrepancies were discovered during our normal in-
spection process on the ground,” Dean of the School of Aviation, Jim Molloy said. “To ensure a very safe aircraft fleet, we accomplish more inspections than most aircraft owners would accomplish, and we take a very conservative approach to keeping the aircraft in the best shape possible.” According to Molloy, inspections by maintenance crews showed that the engine cylinder pressure in the planes was slightly
out of normal limits. The resulting frequent replacing of the cylinders proved to be both expensive and time consuming. Upon further investigation, the maintenance technicians found components that need to be replaced. Once replaced, the school is accomplishing even more frequent inspections to ensure that everything remains normal. The school communicated with the engine manufacturer, Lycom-
INSIDE THE CHAMPION
News
An overview of the statements given to and from Liberty United A6 Against Trump.
Opinion
A student’s take on the AHA anti-abortion group’s stance against pro-life advocates. A5
Sports
Coverage of the Women’s soccer team’s victory over Winthrop B2 University.
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Recap of Quilters Musical that was performed by Liberty students at the Tower Theatre. B7
ing, constantly during the whole process to fix the problem as soon as possible. The school also communicated with other schools that use the same aircraft. According to Molloy, working alongside Lycoming throughout the process was essential to returning the planes to flying status in a short amount of time. See PLANES, A2
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A2 | October 18, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Mending Mead’s Tavern History classes are established to help restore the colonial-era building Cassie Conley cconley20@liberty.edu
Liberty University recently purchased Mead’s Tavern in New London, a colonialera structure built in 1763, with plans to restore the building and use it as hands-on experience for the students through the development of new residential classes. Dr. Roger Schultz, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said he toured the property when (President) Falwell’s office approached him looking to acquire the Tavern. “I’m a historian, so I went there to represent the history department in January 2015,” Schultz said. “President Falwell was really focused on having this as a working laboratory for our history students.” Schultz said students can get involved through various ways during the restoration process. The Tavern allows opportunities for Christian Community Service and volunteer work.
FYI Mead’s Tavern was licensed in New London, Va., once a thriving town that was known as the “Paris of Virginia” in the mid-18th century.
“We have opportunities for Christian Service and some students already who are helping with cleaning, publicity and helping with events,” Schultz said. “We should have regular CSER opportunities if students want to do that.” The first step consisted of obtaining a Preliminary Information Form (PIF) with hopes that Mead’s Tavern will be recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Secondly, the university contracted an archaeological survey. “We contracted to have samples dug at different places around the property to see how old the artifacts were,” Schultz said. “They’ve found pieces of pottery, nails, chunks of guns, keys and all kinds of doodads.” There are a number of steps required during a restoration process. Schultz said Liberty has not set an exact date for the completed restoration, but the process is moving forward. “The whole process is slow so it just takes a while. You’re working with university entities and then you’re working with consultants and contracting with people to get the work done.” Schultz said the main goal is to restore the property as is feasible and then beyond that it will be used as a historical resource for the community and students. “Our next step is to contract with a restoration specialist to do the actual investigation on the building, and that’s a complicated process,” Schultz said. “The last thing you want to do is to go into a structure that was built in 1763 and start tearing off things because the stuff that is torn off may give you hints as to when the building was constructed.” As a result of the recently purchased building, Liberty has added two introductory classes, Public History and Digital History. Public History, HIST 305, began in fall 2015 and Digital History, HIST 306, began in spring 2016. “Each semester, the focus changes depending on what is happening with Mead’s
Miller Gross | Liberty Champion
PRESERVING HERITAGE— Liberty students worked the past two semesters to restore Mead’s Tavern for credit in their history classes. Tavern,” Donna Donald, assistant professor of History, said.” “The Fall 2015 class worked on a proposal for what should be done with the property. This semester’s class is working on two projects.” Schultz said he is excited to be a part of this process and has witnessed many students develop their skills outside of the classroom through Mead’s Tavern. Donald said the students had the opportunity to present their work at New London Day on Oct.15. NLD is an annual festival sponsored by Friends of New London, a local historical society and the
PLANES continued from A1 other schools that use the same aircraft. According to Molloy, working alongside the engine manufacturers throughout the process was essential to returning the planes to flying status in a short amount of time. “It’s to their benefit to help us out to ensure the problems are resolved,” Molloy said. To further ensure safety, Liberty immediately restricted flight on most of the aircrafts when they found the anomaly, which in turn caused some delays in flight training. According to aviation sophomore Ki Guillen, not being able to fly stressed a lot of aviation students. “We had a lot of free time, which Kevin Manguiob | Liberty University News Service is weird for us, because it’s not FLYING HIGH — Liberty aviation students are able to once again use something we’re used to,” Guillen the school’s planes to practice flying.
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group from which the University purchased Mead’s Tavern. “One young man said, ‘This is exactly what I wanted to do when I was at Liberty University.’ Schultz said of the student. “He was a graduating senior. It was his last semester, but finally he had a chance to do some archaeological work.”
CONLEY is a news reporter.
said. “So a lot of us spent that (time) studying and trying to figure out what we were supposed to be doing. It definitely led to a lot of tension in the aviation department. Everybody was anxious and nobody really knew what was going on.” Molloy noted the maintenance crews have been working longer hours with lots of overtime to make sure all the engine problems were corrected in due time, and the engine and aircraft manufacturers frequently offered their assistance in fixing the parts of the engines. The school of aviation was also assisted tremendously with top-ofthe-line flight simulators available for students. The simulators were used for students to log hours and receive required training during the time when planes were grounded. Despite the high-quality experience presented by the simulator, though, aviation senior Kevin Kramer noted the experience cannot match up to flying a real aircraft. “With the simulator, it has everything the same as the airplane, it’s just that you don’t have the same feel as you have in the airplane,” said Kramer. Molloy said the restrictions placed on the planes, although hindering to the students’ ability to log in flight hours, was absolutely necessary to ensure the safety of the
students and faculty. “Aviation places a major importance on establishing and maintaining a safety culture,” said Molloy. “It’s not just the FAA enforcing safety, it’s not just safety inspectors, it’s everybody in aviation.” Guillen noted many students were frustrated by not being able to fly, but she is thankful Liberty prioritizes the safety of their pilots. “Our flight school is very, very highly ranked for safety,” Guillen said. “I think we’ve only ever had one incident in the 15 years of our flight school. It made me feel comfortable in the situation that I’m in knowing that my school values safety over just popping out pilots.” According to Molloy, the school of aeronautics is back to its normal flight schedule as all of the planes were categorized as safe to fly in. “The students are excited again,” Malloy said. “The instructors are excited again. It’s rare in Virginia that you put together a lot of good airplanes and good weather at the same time. Usually the airplanes are down and the weather is good or airplanes are up and the weather is bad. So this week students are pretty excited because they’re getting back in the air again with fantastic weather.” PANYARD is a news reporter.
Joel Coleman | Liberty University News Service
NEXT BEST THING — Aviation students practiced flying in a simulator to log their required flight hours mandated by the school of aviation. Check out the weekly world news update! Published Wednesdays on our website: www.libertychampion.com the
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Liberty Champion | October 18, 2016 | A3
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
MEET & GREET — Gov. Mike Pence shook hands and met with Liberty students and faculty after his speech at Liberty's Convocation Oct. 12. PENCE continued from A1 he became running mates with Trump. “I heard that familiar voice and he said, ‘Mike, it’s gonna be great,’” Pence said. “And it has been.” Multiple times throughout Convocation, Pence praised Trump for his tough personality and commitment to improving America. “He is a fighter,” Pence said. “He is a winner. And I believe come Nov. 8 that Donald Trump will be elected the 45th president of the United States, and we will make America great again.” Pence said Trump embodies the spirit of America because he is strong, freedom-loving, independent, optimistic and willing to fight for what he believes in. In light of the recent controversy regarding the lewd comments made by Trump in 2005, Pence praised Trump for his apology, saying it takes a big man to admit fault and apologize. Pence also reminded the audience of the fact that no one is perfect, urging them to forgive as they have been forgiven. “As a believer we are called to live godly lives, but also we recognize that we all fall short,” Pence said. “It’s not about condoning what is said and done. It’s about believing in grace and forgiveness.” Pence then appealed to Christians, urging them to not stay silent in the elec-
tion. He said men and women of faith can- a.m. to see Pence speak because she said not stand idle in such a crucial moment she was impressed by his performance in the in the U.S. vice presidential debate. “Nowhere does it teach in the Bible that During his speech the audience applauded we are to sit on the sidelines of history, and many times, but Pence’s mention of supportthis is not time for the people of faith to sit on ing Israel warranted a standing ovation and the sidelines,” Pence said. thunderous claps. After appealing to the Christians in the “I will promise you the day that Donald audience, Pence went on to why he believes Trump and I assume the office of president the U.S. needs a new leader who will serve and vice president, if the world knows noththe people and ing else, the world bring the country will know this — Nowhere does it back to prosperAmerica stands with ity. He criticized teach in the Bible that Israel,” Pence said. Democratic presiPence also prowe are to sit on the claimed his alledential candidate Hillary Clinton to the prosidelines of history. giance for her campaign life cause, which — MIKE PENCE also ignited and remarks that mocked Catholics applause. Though and evangelicals. the seats were Pence blamed President Barack Obama not completely full in the Vines Center, and Secretary of State Clinton’s foreign pol- the applause filled the arena when Pence icy, which Pence said has “weakened Amer- said he and Trump will work to make ica’s place in the world and emboldened the sure taxpayer dollars are not used to pay enemies of freedom.” for abortions. Alexis Rucker, a senior international relaWith an open seat in the Supreme tions student, said national security is one of Court, Pence encouraged the audience the issues that caused her to place her sup- to make sure the next president who will port in the Trump-Pence campaign. Rucker, appoint a justice to the court will upwho is a co-founder of the Liberty Trump hold the Constitution and Americans’ Coalition, arrived at Convocation at 7:15 God-given liberties.
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“For the sake of the sanctity of life, for the sake of the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, for the sake of all of our God-given liberties, we must decide here and now in the great commonwealth of Virginia that the next president to make appointments to the Supreme Court of the United States will be President Donald Trump,” Pence said. Brady Snyder, a sophomore politics and policy student, said though he originally was anti-Hillary Clinton more than anything else, he admires Trump and Pence’s pro-life stance and commitment to protecting the second amendment. Cameron Frye and his mother Marty Frye attended Convocation together because as Marty Frye said they came “to hear the next vice president.” Cameron Frye, a senior business marketing and communications student, said after listening to Pence’s speech that he is ready for someone to change the state of the country, and he thinks Trump fits the bill. “(I am) tired and annoyed by the way that things are going currently,” Cameron Frye said. “Hillary Clinton is just going to be an extension of that, and we need something different.” Senior accounting and history student Robert Flores said listening to Pence live informed him more about Pence’s stances on important issues facing the U.S. “Mike Pence really did a good job of keeping track of the issues that are at stake in our election,” Pence said. “It was good to remind people that it is not really a lesser of two evils. You’ve got one person who is very vulgar, but then you’ve got another person who has had many many years of supposed experience running a country, and she’s not done anything of any note. If anything she’s harmed our country more.” Pence concluded his address with a challenge to the audience members. He asked the college students to take ownership of their future and not stand idly by on election day. “This election is a choice of whether we’re going to continue to go downhill to a weaker America at home and abroad, to a struggling American economy that walks further away from our most cherished constitutional principles and ideas or whether we are going to stop and plant our feet and march back up the hill to a stronger America, a freer America, a more prosperous America built on the foundation of our constitutional principles,” Pence said. “That’s the choice.”
RODRIGUEZ is the editor-in-chief.
OPINION Country in crisis
October 18, 2016
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Venezuela continues to struggle through political unrest
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Leah DePiero ldepiero@liberty.edu
Picking up a newspaper and reading an article about the current state of Venezuela can sound like you’re reading a dystopian novel. Still reeling from the aftermath of the 2013 death of socialist President Hugo Chavez, the South American nation has nearly reached a crisis point. Food and medical supplies are severely lacking. Thousands of Venezuelans crossed the border into Colombia, a nation primarily known for political violence, in order to purchase food, medicine and basic household supplies, according to the BBC. Opponents of the government are asking for a referendum for a recall of current President Nicolás Maduro, and “inflation is in the high triple digits — its largest bill is worth a dime, requiring brick-thick packets for simple transactions,” according to a Bloomberg Businessweek article. The health care system is in such bad shape that in emergency rooms in a government hospital “patients, even poor ones, are now responsible for their own medical supplies,” the Bloomberg Businessweek article says. In perhaps the most telling example of the situation in Venezuela, the nation, which sits on an estimated $12 trillion in oil, is importing light crude oil from the U.S. to mix it with Venezuela’s petroleum oil to make it exportable, according to Forbes Magazine. A New York Post article reports that most of the money Venezuela receives from its cheap exported oil is used to pay off overseas debt, particularly to China. A BBC article reports that Venezuela has traditionally relied on imported food to feed the population, so the government’s placement of money does not go to provide food for the starving population. Venezuela reached this near-breaking point due to the Bolivarian revolution of
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Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu
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RECALL — The death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez in Venezuela has led to crisis. Chavez, who “expropriated land and industries and replaced judges, officers and oil executives,” according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Chavez appointed Nicolás Maduro as his successor and would likely be proud of the tight rein Maduro keeps on nationalized land and industries. Socialism is not solely responsible for Venezuela’s current state, however, and Venezuela is more than just a cautionary tale about the evils of socialism and its effect on the economy. The lowering of oil prices globally led to Venezuela needing to sell its chief natural resource cheaply, leading to less money flowing into the nation. How should America respond to this situation? There is no easy fix to the deeply rooted situation, as it took many years to reach this point and will take years to recover from it. The nation, which according to the CIA World Factbook is home to almost 40 million people, 32.1 percent of whom lived below the poverty line in 2015, is currently in serious need of assistance.
This does not mean that America should automatically jump to Venezuela’s rescue though. The U.S. loves getting involved in other nations’ business, but this may be a situation to avoid. Venezuelans know what they want for their nation and can try to do what they can, such as organizing a referendum on whether to recall Maduro and elect a new one. Colombia recently brought a temporary end to its 50-year guerilla war, and while far from being solved, Colombians brought it about by themselves. Likewise, Venezuelans can take care of themselves, and if they would like American aid, they can ask for it. The U.S. can offer guidance, but ultimately cannot be the voice of change for the nation. The Venezuelan people, who know the difficulties their country faces, must be the ones to instill long-lasting impact on its youth, its leaders and its country’s future. DEPIERO is an opinion writer.
Remember the refugees The ongoing crisis in Syria presents a challenge to all
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TURMOIL — The situation in Syria has presented a major political conflict and humanitarian disaster.
Cassandra Hernandez chernandez59@liberty.edu
The crisis in Syria has been happening for more than five years with no hope of an end to the turmoil that has come as a consequence of a horrendous civil war. Lately, images of children, who are the most innocent victims of all, have surfaced. They are bloody, crying out to their dead family, lifeless and barely escaping death in the destruction due to bombs destroying their homes. As I sit in my warm and safe home looking at the unimaginable truths of the present massacres and atrocities happening to what seems a world away, I have to ask: What are we doing as Americans, and more im-
portantly as Christians, to help those who are suffering and dying in Syria? And the answer to that question breaks my heart. We’re not doing enough. According to the International Business Times, the U.S. and its allies started a task force to strike against ISIS. Recently, the Russians have been more involved, taking the problem into their own hands. Their plan to kill those involved with terrorist groups has resulted in the deaths of many innocent civilians. The Netflix documentary, “The White Helmets,” shows the few brave individuals known as the White Helmets who stay to help the civilians left in the Syrian cities, with no place to go. Throughout the documentary, the audience is
met with the consequences of war — the sounds of bombs hitting a building, the aftermath, bodies and the injured having to be discovered over cement and rubble. Instead of working through issues, the U.S. and Russia had come at a stalemate at one point, trying to figure out what to do with Syria, according to CNN. The talks have since continued. The U.S. suspects Russia has used its own methods, immoral methods to be exact, in attempting to resolve ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The U.S. has not fought hard enough to find solutions. The unspeakable amount of deaths have risen to thousands of women and children — all innocent. More countries need to step in aggressively, such as the U.S.,
who can develop a plan to defeat ISIS without taking the lives of the innocent. The deaths and suffering have become normal for the people of Syria, while the majority of Americans sit back and watch. And we don’t do anything, at least, we don’t do as much as we should. As much as we talk about the atrocities said or done by politicians here in America, it is unbelievable how much we don’t talk about Syria. As Christians we are to understand that Christ loves every person and every child who have lived through the terrible war in Syria. It is our job to speak out about the unfairness and evil that goes on. I encourage you, as an American and as a Christian: speak out about this. Research and understand just how horrible the situation has become even over the last few weeks. Step down from your pulpit of selfrighteousness, putting aside the bias that comes along with a presidential election, and look into the eyes of the innocent. There must be more we can do to save more lives and to work at ending the war. Too many have turned their backs on the situation, but it is time for America to step up.
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, I had the opportunity to attend the Convocation in which Gov. Mike Pence addressed the student body of Liberty University, not just as a student, but as a member of the press. Seated in front of me were more than 10 traveling press members who follow Pence’s every moves for nationallyknown publications such as The New York Times, CNN and Buzzfeed. As the campus collective began the morning with usual worship, I found myself in a different spot than normal. Typically, I would stand up and sing along to the multiple worship songs played from the front of the stage, but this time I just watched the Vines Center and the members of the press. An overwhelming feeling, I can only attribute to the Holy Spirit, came over me during the songs. I could not help but think of what a special time it was for these press members, many of whom may not have a relationship with Jesus, to feel the presence of the Lord. These press members, who may have attended secular universities and never set foot in a church before, had the chance to hear the promises of God proclaimed by thousands of Liberty students because they were doing their job of covering Pence’s campaign. A wave of proudness filled my heart as I realized I am a part of the university and the student body that has a platform to share the gospel through a single Convocation service. There’s no way for me to know if the songs of worship or the interactions with students made a difference in the lives of the members of visiting press, but there’s no denying God can use any situation to bring people to him. We may not agree with every comment made from every speaker who takes the Convocation stage, but there is no denying that the name of Jesus is made known to the guests in the Vines center. That is why I am proud of Liberty for bringing in a variety of high-profile speakers, who give the university an even larger chance to share the love of Jesus with others. As Liberty continues to invite more and more speakers who members of the community or members of the press want to come and see, I can’t help but be excited to see how God uses the platform of Convocation and the student body of Liberty to show the world why we stand up in worship in the first place.
RODRIGUEZ is the editor-in-chief.
AT’S H T ! D ...AN E WROTE SH ALL
HERNANDEZ is an opinion writer.
opinion
Liberty Champion | October 18, 2016 | A5
The apollos among us Christians have united in an effort to “abolish” abortion, make a difference Jordan Jarrett jjarrett4@liberty.edu
When I was in D.C. Sept. 17, the familiar refrain of “My Country ’Tis of Thee” gradually wafted over from down along East Capitol Street. I abandoned my post where I awaited a cab and followed the tune. Something about the song I knew so well struck me this time as different. A crowd gathered at the steps of the Supreme Court and brandished heartbreaking signs depicting aborted babies, emblazoned with slogans such as “Fight the Beast!” The actual lyrics of their song became clearer as I neared: “My country ’tis of thee. Den of iniquity, of thee I sing. Land of the silent cries, guiltless babes sacrificed. To gods of lust and pride. From the light you flee.” Ah. One of those pro-life groups. As a journalist, I realized there is always more to the picture than simply an image. I wanted to head into the thick of the movement to understand it, to uncover the truth. As a Christian, conviction jabbed at my heart. Could I be lambasting possible brothers and sisters in Christ, demoralizing a cause that I too stand behind more passionately than any other cause? Perhaps. So I crossed the street and engaged them. The group (indeed a professing Christian one) calls itself “Abolish Human Abortion” (AHA). Its members have often stewed heated contention among other Christians and pro-lifers, as a quick Google search will reveal. According to its webpage, AHA does not tag itself as an official organization per se. It prefers to be identified as an ideology, a movement made up of Christians who organize themselves into subgroups called “abolitionist societies.” Yes, AHA members do actually call themselves “abolitionists.” The reference to the 19th century abolitionists of slavery is thoroughly intentional. The “abolitionists” I encountered in D.C. had come from Norman, Oklahoma. Led by T. Russell Hunter, they had been touring with their signs and group literature since early that morning. The spots they rallied at included various churches, the National Mall and the Holocaust Museum. They ended the day at the Supreme Court building, where a few police officers warily stood by. Hunter said his group saw itself on a sort of missions trip. AHA’s ultimate mission is the abolition of abortion. But in its ground work, it does not go so much after atheists who support abortion. Rather, it makes a point to go after the Christian pro-life movement itself which, according to AHA, is just not doing enough for the cause of life. “We’re not pro-lifers who are ‘doing it more,’ who have louder signs, are more aggressive, or are more organized,” Hunter said. “We are anti-pro-lifers.” Wait. Come again? “Pro-lifers think the only way to ‘eat the elephant’ of abortion is gradually, one bite at a time,” Hunter continued. “We think you have to kill the elephant
To the editor: On Friday, Oct. 7 The Washington Post published footage of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump using disgusting and disrespectful language when talking about women. While it’s not surprising given Trump’s extensive history disrespecting women from calling them “pigs” and “dogs”
Jordan Jarrett | Liberty Champion
RALLY — The Abolish Human Abortion (AHA) group hosted a rally in D.C. Sept. 17. before you can eat it.” Hunter went on to clarify that he and AHA as a whole had come to see pro-lifers as “part of the problem” through an incremental approach to ending abortion. Hunter even went so far as to say pro-lifers are, in fact, regulating abortion rather than combating it. “Pro-lifers come up with ways of being pro-life by passing regulatory laws that make it harder to get abortions but still just sort of fly under the radar,” Hunter said. He called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act “a total joke.” “It’s a ban on dismemberment abortion which is saying, not that abortion is wrong, but that this one way of abortion is wrong,” Hunter said. “So instead of using forceps … just use a chemical and birth a dead baby. Really, all abortions are dismemberment abortions. Every last one of them.” Hunter made no small mention about the dilemma of the SB 1118 bill in his home state earlier this year. According to the Oklahoma State Legislature’s web page, the bill sought to classify abortion as first-degree murder under Oklahoma statutes. The SB 1118 bill was struck down in March by the Oklahoma State Senate. Tony Lauinger, state affiliate of the National Right to Life and chairman of Oklahomans for Life, expressed his strong opposition toward the bill in that it would effectively repeal the more incremental Heartbeat Informed Consent Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. “Do we want to make a statement, or do we want to make a difference?” asked Lauinger in a WORLD magazine article. “We must focus on legislation that has at least some
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chance of saving unborn lives.” It was this move by Lauinger and the Oklahoma Senate that prompted AHA to state on its blog that the opposition to the bill (and effectively to the group’s whole mission) was primarily comprised of “pro-life, Republican, professing Christians” rather than prochoice Democrats. Hunter expanded by stating AHA’s general perception that pro-lifers seem to “keep God out” of the issue of abortion and neglect to address it “as a sin issue” altogether. “The instruction within the church now is to ‘find common ground’ and leave the gospel out, if we’re going to save babies,” Hunter said. “Christians in America haven’t failed to be pro-life, but they have failed to be Christians in not loving their neighbors who are being destroyed in their midst. Now, you may say that not everyone’s called to fight abortion like this. Well, that might be true, were it not for the fact that Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” The AHA movement has generated its share of controversy within the Christian and pro-life community. Blogs from individuals and organizations alike have denounced AHA entirely for its tactics and approach to the anti-abortion cause. A writer for Canadian advocacy group Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR) condemned AHA’s position on the pro-life cause as a “straw man fallacy as well as a blatant slur.” The writer also refuted AHA’s frequent use of William Wilberforce quotes to strengthen their anti-incrementalist stance, while they seemed to ignore the actual incremental legislation toward aboli-
MORAL SUPERIORITY IN PLACE OF LOVING REBUKE WILL GET NO ONE ANYWHERE.
to calling pregnancy an “inconvenience” for employers, it’s important to recognize not only what he said, but also that he brushed it off by saying it was just “locker room talk.” I’ve personally never heard such offensive language in a locker room, and I certainly never expected to hear it from someone running for president of the United States. It’s not just demeaning. It’s dangerous, and it definitely has no place in our society. Accept-
ing and normalizing language like Trump’s has led to a culture on campuses and in communities across the country where men don’t wait for consent. As Liberty hosted Mike Pence last week, it struck me that even Trump’s own running mate can’t defend him or his horrific comments. Across the country, respected Republican leaders have withdrawn their support for Trump and his demeaning attitude toward women and minority
tion in England that ultimately succeeded. Montana-based pastor J.D. Hall wrote in his Pulpit and Pen blog harshly criticizing AHA for protesting a Dallas church in August, causing undue agitation and division. Scrolling through the comments generated by AHA members reveals vitriol to spare from their already-passionate side, too. I departed from the demonstration in D.C. with a renewed perspective on the pro-life cause. No vitriol involved. My encounter with AHA and Hunter forced me to face myself as a Christian and advocate for life. Do I agree with every approach, tactic, statement and rewritten hymn made by AHA? No. I think some of the group’s output is sadly counterproductive to its cause. The more I have researched some of AHA’s more rash discourses in the past, the more my inner diplomat cringes at its extreme edge. But, abortion is an extreme cause. And diplomacy never really does give pulse to a war; the soldiers do — those who work in the trenches, like my own mother did for 12 years as a crisis pregnancy counselor, providing counsel, the gospel, and tangible help to women in crisis. These are the immediate proponents of the cause for life. These are the ambassadors of the cause, serving with profound love and deep conviction over every person’s basic rights to life: those of all women, and those of all unborn. It is not fair to say that all pro-lifers are content with the “status quo,” or that they actually want to propagate abortion. AHA is gravely mistaken in making such a sweeping generalization. However, we in the pro-life movement would do well to evaluate our actual impact on the culture itself. Are we resigning ourselves to a “get anything we can get” approach in the political realm? Getting “anything we can get” for the cause of life is encouragement, yes, but it is not the entire victory. Should Christians within the pro-life movement hold each other accountable for the witness they bear? Absolutely. Must they picket a brother or sister’s church to baselessly judge their actually good work? I say no. Moral superiority in place of loving rebuke will get no one anywhere. AHA is not out to harm anybody. The emphasis on “love your neighbor” is absolutely right as it pertains to the sanctity of life. The zeal is good, as long as the output of the zeal can be “tempered with wisdom,” in the words of Hall, who is both a sympathizer and critic of the movement. The mission and base purpose of AHA is fundamentally good, as are the questions it dares to raise. It’s the tactics and warring vocabulary that could use some refining. As for the rest of us Christians and prolifers, we ought to take a good long look at where we stand on the pro-life movement. We must carefully consider why we stand and just how firmly we stand, before we scoff at the factions on our own side of the fight for life.
JARRETT is an opinion writer.
groups. Pence’s decision to stand by Trump even after learning what he said on those tapes — which most would consider to be him bragging about sexual assault — makes me question his judgment and leadership abilities. This election season has proven to be of utmost importance, and we cannot afford to elect someone who fosters such divisive and discriminatory rhetoric. We need calm, collected leadership that will bring us all together. That’s why I wholeheart-
edly support Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine as the only candidates in this election who have the experience, temperament and inclusive vision for this country.
Sincerely,
Tom Ilustrisimo
Medical Student Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
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news
A6 | October 18, 2016 | Liberty Champion
POLITICS To Trump, or not to Trump Students publish statements on GOP presidential nominee As Nov. 8 approaches, Liberty University students and staff are not only divided over who they personally will vote for, but also who the majority of Liberty will vote for and how President Jerry Falwell Jr.’s endorsement of Donald Trump impacts Liberty. On Oct. 12, a group named Liberty United Against Trump released a statement criticizing Falwell’s endorsement and said they are “tired of being associated with one of the worst presidential candidates in American history.” “A majority of Liberty students, faculty, and staff feel as we do,” the statement read. “Donald Trump received a pitiful 90 votes from Liberty students in Virginia’s primary election, a colossal rejection of his campaign.” The statement cites how Trump “brag(ged) about sexually assaulting women” and claims Falwell “rushes eagerly to his defense — taking the name ‘Liberty University’ with him.” As of Oct. 16, Liberty student Tyler McNally’s tweet of the statement has more than 6,500 retweets and close to 10,000 “likes.” Falwell responded to the statement saying though he is proud of the students for speaking their minds, he believes their statement is “incoherent and false,” according to The Washington Post. “The group (led by a neverTrump activist) claims to have between 200 and 1,200 signatures on a petition but admits that many of these signatories are not Liberty students,” Falwell said. On Oct. 13, Liberty Student Body President Jack Heaphy released a statement on Twitter, saying that “Despite the media’s attempt to portray LU’s student body
as being at odds with (Falwell), the truth is that they (the media) are wrong.” “Contrary to what the media is reporting, the majority of students at Liberty University agree with President Falwell and respect his decision to support Donald Trump,” Heaphy wrote in the statement. “They are not blindly following President Falwell, but rather have a shared understanding of the danger a Hillary Clinton presidency represents and what it could mean for the Christian freedoms we hold dearly.” On Oct. 13, Falwell released an official statement on the matter through the Liberty University News Service. Falwell said the reason Trump scored so few votes in the primary at Liberty was because there were many Republicans left in the race at that time, but that when Gov. Mike Pence spoke at Convocation Wednesday, Oct. 12, the students’ applause and standing ovations indicated their support for Trump. Falwell also addressed the claim that he has been touring the country for the Trump campaign, saying he only traveled with the campaign one weekend in January. “I always make it clear to the media that my endorsement of Trump is my personal endorsement only and that I am not speaking for Liberty University, its students, faculty or staff,” Falwell said in the statement. “I am only fulfilling my obligation as a citizen to ‘render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s’ by expressing my personal opinion about who I believe is best suited to lead our nation in a time of crisis.”
Kevin Manguiob | Liberty University News Service
NOMINATED — Presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke to students at Convocation in January 2016.
the polls 50
50%
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Donald
Gary
Democratic Candidate
Republican Candidate
Libertarian Candidate
Clinton Trump Johnson Source: Fivethirtyeight.com as of 10/17/16
CLARKE is the managing editor.
Sierra Franklin | Liberty Champion
Michela diddle | Liberty Champion
“I really do believe that hiring and firing is something that has to be learned in the private sector and in the public sector,” Johnson said. “I think that that’s an actual breakdown. In the public sector, we elect a lot of people who have never hired and fired … and that … becomes the disfunctionality of the public sector.” Johnson said during his term as
7%
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A THIRD OPTION — Gary Johnson spoke to Liberty students on immigration, the rising national debt and his experience climbing Mt. Everest. Johnson also skied down Snowflex with President Falwell.
JOHNSON continued from A1
51%
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Jacob Clarke jlclarke3@liberty.edu
governor of New Mexico, he was more outspoken than any other governor about the War on Drugs, which he also believes is the root of the racial divide in the U.S. He reported that half the money spent on law enforcement, courts and prisons is drug related and that drugs should be recognized as a health issue rather than a criminal justice issue. In regards to recent polling, Johnson said he stands tied with Clinton among millennial voters because of his desire to re-
form important economic and healthcare laws. “Nobody is standing up and saying we have to reform Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security, and in the case of President Obama’s affordable healthcare, that is a formula that relies on young, healthy people paying for those that aren’t so healthy,” Johnson said. “These issues have to be reformed. … Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump are going to do anything about this.” On immigration, Johnson said
he largely disagrees with Donald Trump’s stance. While Trump called for a wall across the U.S.Mexico border, Johnson said such a structure would put the U.S. on the wrong side of history. “This country is a country of immigration,” Johnson said. “I think that we should embrace immigration in this country, and as a border state governor, we should make it as easy as possible for somebody who wants to come across the border and work to be able to get a work visa. A work visa should entail a background check and a Social Security card (so) applicable taxes get paid.” In a Q&A with Senior Vice President for Spiritual Development David Nasser, Johnson was asked why a pro-life Christian should vote for Johnson, who has said on his campaign website that women should be allowed to make their own choice. “I personally believe that is a choice that lies with the woman involved,” Johnson said. “The law of the land says the woman has the right to an abortion up to the viability of the fetus.” Junior digital media student Christopher Draughan, a Johnson supporter, said he appreciates how Johnson is socially inclusive and fiscally responsible. “He wants a balanced budget,” Draughan said. “He seems like someone who would be responsible to have in office when we have people like Trump and Hillary.”
Dean Davison, the 6th District secretary for the Libertarian Party of Virginia, attended Convocation and said Johnson not only appeals to young people, but to all voters. “(He appeals to) many voters because a lot of the two parties don’t agree on everything, and this party … (is for) individual freedom,” Davison said. “It allows the best of the Republicans (and) the best of the Democratic ideas — socially Democratic but fiscally Republican. … That appeals to a lot of people .” Governor Johnson has his work cut out for him though with only about 6 percent of the electorate supporting him in the most recent national polls. After Convocation, Liberty President Jerry Falwell and Governor Johnson skied down the slopes at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre. Falwell said the governor enjoyed the experience and the views. “Governor Johnson was elated, proclaiming that today was the most enjoyable day of his campaign to date,” Falwell said. “He thanked us repeatedly for the opportunity to ski Snowflex and was amazed by Liberty’s campus, saying he had no idea Liberty had become such a world class university in every respect.”
CLARKE is the managing editor.
news
Liberty Champion | October 18, 2016 | A7
CONGRESSIONAL Q&A
On Nov. 8, Virginians will be voting for representatives who will be serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the 5th district, current representative Robert Hurt is retiring, and Jane Dittmar and Tom Garrett are running to fill the vacant seat. In the 6th district, where Liberty Univeristy stands, incumbent Bob Goodlatte will be running against Kai Degner.
5TH DISTRICT
6TH DISTRICT
TOM GARRETT
KAI DEGNER
BOB GOODLATTE
Why are you running for a seat in the House of Representatives?
Why are you running for a seat in the House of Representatives?
Why are you choosing to run again?
I have spent several years in the Virginia Senate fighting to curtail government overreach, cut fraud and abuse, improve education and stand for conservative principles. However, what I have consistently found is that the root of many of these problems trickle down from the federal government. The only way to scale back these problems is by attacking it head on in Congress.
I agree with 80 percent of Americans who say Congress is broken, and I believe our 24-year incumbent, establishment, career congressman is a big part of the problem. For the Liberty University students that care about protecting the Constitution’s vision for Congress, I hope to earn your vote. My opponent has literally been in Congress longer than most undergraduate Liberty students have been alive.
What qualifications do you have that qualify you to be a representative for Virginia? My entire adult life has been about service. Upon graduating from the University of Richmond, I joined the United States Army as a Combat Arms Officer. From there I went back to law school and years later ran for and successfully won the race for Louisa County Commonwealth's Attorney — where I worked tirelessly to put away the worst criminals our society has to offer. After years of CA, I becomes a member of the Virginia Senate in the 22nd District. I have frequently been the lone voice on the Senate floor.
What issues do you care about that college students should know about? The biggest issues for students these days are finding a job and figuring out student loan debt. I encourage students to check out my "Student Security" plan.
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish while in office? My main goal would be working to roll back regulations and prevent federal regulatory agencies from actually writing the laws. What we have seen in recent years is unelected government officials at agencies such as the EPA dictating over exerting their authority to put new laws on the books.
Why should a Liberty student vote for you? Obviously kids have reasons for choosing their college. Liberty was founded on conservative principles that include the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and a moral foundation — all of which have been core principles of not just my current platform, but also during my tenure in the Virginia Senate. I support a limited government that affords people the opportunity to shape their own future, without fear of government encroachment or allowing the government to pick winners and losers. Further, I am a Veteran of the US Army and support a strong national defense and protection of our Veterans.
In general how important is it that college students vote? Extremely. College students are the future of our entire country and make up the next generation of leaders and contributors to our workforce. Having them involved and engaged is the key to keeping Conservatism alive in the decades to come.
JANE DITTMAR
What qualifications do you have that qualify you to be a representative for Virginia? Since receiving a science degree before a Master in Business Administration from James Madison University, I haved owned or directed four businesses, including seven years in real estate. I served as the mayor of Harrisonburg from 2009-10 and am finishing eight years on city council. This combination lets me understand the financial challenges of small businesses owners, nonprofits and families considering healthcare, housing and investment options. I understand where government can fail, where it must work, and where it must go away. Also, in 14 years, I have led almost 300 community discussions on dozens of issues, which lets me appreciate the value of competing ideas and engaged voters coming together to solve problems.
What issues do you care about that college students should know about? If elected, what do you hope to accomplish while in office? As for issues, here are four where I am ready to act, but Mr. Goodlatte obstructs solutions. First, I will pursue specific changes to the Affordable Care Act so co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance are reduced, fair access is expanded, the family glitch is fixed, and businesses do not face such dramatic cost increases. Mr. Goodlatte has simply voted over 60 times to repeal the ACA with no plan for replacement, which is not a serious solution. Second, I will vote for immigration reform so businesses, families and law enforcement have certainty. Mr. Goodlatte personally stopped immigration reform in his committee after the Senate and the president reached an agreement. Third, I support unleashing the jobs potential of the historic hemp industry, allowing scientifically proven medical use of marijuana and stopping overcriminalization of poor and minority communities. Mr. Goodlatte refuses more sensible cannabis policy and keeps in place debilitating regulations for farmers, feeds the dangerous opioid epidemic and continues unjustly imprisoning Americans. Fourth, I will co-sponsor the Arbitration Fairness Act, which would protect consumers from scams like Wells Fargo. Mr. Goodlatte has for years refused to even hold hearings about the corporate practice of forcing people to give up their constitutional rights to the legal system in order to access basic services. But, I also oppose legislation Mr. Goodlatte picks and chooses to advance. First, he fast-tracked the dangerous Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP cedes to the executive branch Congress’ responsibility to negotiate, and it is designed for multinational corporations to sue taxpayers in an international tribunal if we stop a project in order to protect abuse of American workers and communities. Mr. Goodlatte also voted to streamline FERC’s review of regional pipelines and previously voted to remove fracking from the Clean Water Act. I oppose these highly questionable projects that put in danger thousands of regional recreation, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism-related jobs that depend on clean water and pristine environment. I also oppose using eminent domain for the government to take land for these for-profit projects, but he does not.
Why should a Liberty student vote for you? The Champion staff has contacted Jane Dittmar's campaign on two occasions, Sept. 14 and Oct. 3, asking for answers to questions above with a deadine of Oct. 14., but she has not responded with answers.
The Founding Fathers designed the Constitution with two basic principles in mind: 1) Congress should have rigorous and honest debates between competing ideas to reach better decisions for Americans, and 2) Congress should not be full of career politicians. I hope to earn the votes of Liberty students who agree in these two principles.
In general how important is it that college students vote? Abraham Lincoln stood in front of the Gettysburg battlefield and said the best way to honor the soldiers who died for America and its ideals is to make certain a government of, by, and for the people does not perish from this earth. Liberty students who care about freedom, democracy and the Constitution know that voting is both an honor and a responsibility. I am honored to be a choice Nov. 8.
I am running to serve the people of the 6th Congressional District and the United States, protect the principles enshrined within the Constitution and to help ensure the promise of opportunity experienced by generations of Americans. I want to continue working on your behalf in Washington to advance pro-life policies, hold the federal government accountable, ensure America stands strong in the fight against terrorism, protect your Second Amendment rights and support our allies in Israel.
What have you accomplished since the last election that your constituents should know about? In the 114th Congress, the House Judiciary Committee, which I chair, has conducted aggressive oversight of the Obama Administration, working to hold the executive branch accountable. We have passed legislation to secure our borders and end reckless sanctuary city policies. The committee is also working on reforms to the criminal justice system. Legislation to prevent and treat opioid abuse, which I was proud to lead through the Judiciary Committee, was signed into law this summer, as well as my legislation to permanently ban internet access taxes. Additionally, with my support, Congress sent a repeal of Obamacare to the president’s desk.
What issues do you care about that college students should know about? You are the future of this nation, and I am committed to ensuring that college students have a secure economic future and the opportunity for gainful employment. The enormous debt that we are accumulating today is unsustainable and will rest on the shoulders of today’s youth. I am working to curb federal spending and have introduced legislation requiring a balanced federal budget. It is also important that we allow for competition and diversity within our higher education community and do not attempt to place one-size-fits-all mandates on colleges and universities. We need to continue looking for ways to remove government bureaucrats from the student loan equation. I am also working to encourage colleges and universities to protect the First Amendment right of free speech on campuses.
If reelected, what do you hope to accomplish while in office? For generations of Americans, a sense of opportunity has long defined the promise of our nation, and I will focus on policies that embody this promise and the Better Way agenda put forward by House Republicans. The United States is a place where men and women who work hard can make it to the top. We must remain committed to creating an opportunity economy by enacting policies that would advance prosperity for hardworking men and women and promote job creation and innovation, encourage domestic energy production, and remove costly, over-burdensome regulations. This includes tackling the massive federal debt now and by moving forward with tax reform that works for families and businesses, and keeps America competitive. It is critical that we abide by the principles of limited government enacted by the U.S. Constitution and that the civil liberties of the American people are safeguarded. Additionally, I will work to enact policies that help keep our communities safe.
Why should a Liberty student vote for you? I have the proven leadership experience needed to effectively represent Liberty University, and the people of Central Virginia and have shown through my accomplishments that I have the competence to conduct the people’s business with results. I live up to the high ethical standard of conduct that is rightly expected of elected officials, and I take that responsibility very seriously. Finally, I embody the conservatism required to protect the common sense, pro-life, family values held by many students at Liberty and the citizens of the 6th Congressional District.
In general, how important is it that college students vote? Very! The right to vote is one of our most precious freedoms. As Americans, we are extremely fortunate to have the privilege of deciding who will represent us at the local, state and federal levels. The policies enacted by lawmakers today will have a direct impact on your future. By voting, college students can use their voice and exercise a right that sets us apart from the world.
news
A8 | October 18, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Praying for justice The Title IX Office hosts prayer vigil to bring awareness to domestic violence Janae Williams jwilliams453@liberty.edu
The Title IX Office at Liberty University will be partnering with the LU Shepherds to host its first prayer vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) to honor those victimized by domestic violence Wednesday, Oct. 26. 2016 at 6:30 p.m. on the front steps of DeMoss Hall. The prayer vigil will focus on creating awareness, action and social change toward domestic violence on college campuses and within the Lynchburg community. The prayer vigil will be led by the LU Shepherds and resident shepherds within the LU Shepherd Office. During the prayer vigil, LU Shepherd’s
FYI According to the NRCDV webpage, Domestic Violence Awareness Month has three main goals: 1. Mourning those who have died as a result of domestic violence. 2. Celebrating those who have survived. 3. Connecting those who work to end violence.
staff will be praying for not only those who are survivors of domestic violence, but also first responders, perpetrators, children and loved ones. Title IX intern Lori Mercer, who works as the office’s events coordinator for their victim advocacy and awareness projects, hopes that this prayer vigil will not only unite the student body but ultimately open their hearts and minds to the reality of domestic violence. “The Title IX Office and LU Shepherds will be praying for those affected by the harsh realities of domestic violence,” Mercer said. “The Title IX Office’s desire is that the campus at large unites together on the evening of Oct. 26 to pray. It is our hope that someone will leave feeling encouraged and empowered to standup and speak out against this issue.” During the prayer vigil, there will be purple hands (purple is the official color of DVAM) accompanied by string lights with words of encouragement, decoration and statistics written on them. In preparation, the Title IX Office has been to various locations on campus, allowing students the opportunity to take part in the event by decorating a hand. Starting Oct. 19, the Title IX Office will have a table in the Montview Student Union that will allow students to fill out a hand in honor of those who have been victimized by the hands domestic violence. One of the goals for this collaborative event is to educate and raise awareness of the effects of those who have been affected or know someone who has been effected by domestic violence. LU Shepherd Director Timothy Griffin believes that students should be educated on these issues and hopes that the event will bring awareness to those in attendance. “Ultimately, LU Shepherds want to come alongside Title IX to provide a spiritual under girding towards what they’re doing,” Griffin said. “The goal is to pray for different areas and the different components of Title IX issues. I believe that exposure is necessary, providing as much exposure as we can
Allison Heise | Liberty Champion
SUPPORT — Title IX Office has helped students who are dealing with sexual assault.
“
It is our hope that someone will leave encouraged and empowered to stand up and speak out against this issue. — LORI MERCER
to let students know that we are here.” During the prayer vigil, students can follow @LUTitleIX on Twitter and Instagram, mention and post photos under the hashtag #SpeakUpLU and tag Liberty University Title IX Office on Facebook. “Domestic violence leaves traumatic physical and mental scars that are hard to overlook and even harder to heal,” Mercer said. “With
God, prayer and support things can get better for those affected and we are here for you.” For more information on the prayer vigil or to report an incident of dating violence, sexual violence, discrimination or sexual harassment, see the Title IX web page or contact the Title IX Office at 434-582-8948. For pastoral counseling, peer mentorship or life-skills training, see the LU Shepherd webpage or contact 434592-5411.
WILLIAMS is an opinion writer.
SPORTS
October 18, 2016
This week in Flames history
I’m really proud of the guys. We responded in a big way when we needed to respond the most. - former Flames football coach Danny Rocco
2011
over the hump
B1 The Liberty Flames defeated rival Coastal Carolina 63-27 in front of a homecoming crowd of 19, 111 — a Williams Stadium record at the time.
Well, well, Wells Defensive lineman chasing records Timothy Cockes tlcockes@liberty.edu
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
SPIN MOVE — Midfielder Kevin Mendoza spun around a Campbell defender on his way down the field.
Down go the Camels Flames snap four-game losing streak with big win Will Collier wcollier@liberty.edu
Liberty mens soccer’s stout defense earned a 2-0 shutout off the Campbell Camels on a cloudy night in front of hundreds of cheering fans at Osborne Stadium Oct. 14. Campbell dropped to 2-3 in the Big South and 5-6 overall while the Flames improved to 2-2 in conference play and 5-7-1 on the season. “(The crowd was) electric,” Liberty men’s Head Soccer Coach Jeff Alder said. “They gave us energy, juice and life especially late in the game when we were getting tired physically and tired mentally while trying to hold on to a one-goal lead. Those guys really inspired us.” The Flames played with the defensive mindset Alder had emphasized all week in the game plan. “I think it was everything about our effort,” junior midfielder Pepe Segarra said. “We played so hard. We played every tackle. We did not give up anything today, so that is the main thing this game.” Defensive determination was apparent with about a minute left in the game. Junior defender Alex Dominguez, who had already played for 89 minutes, hustled to block the Camels’ last shot
M. Soccer Campbell
Liberty
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WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME
attempt in the game. “It’s a mentality,” Alder said. “We just talked about a team defense mentality. We challenged them all week to take responsibility defensively — as a unit — as a team, and be committed to that, and everybody did a good job. I was so proud we didn’t concede anything at the end.” While the Flames defensive pressure increased, the offense made the most of its possessions, scoring on its first shot of the game at the 9:55 mark to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman forward Rigoberto Rojas passed the ball from midfield to sophomore midfielder Kevin Mendoza. Mendoza dribbled the ball up, then fired a shot from the top arc of the 18yard box that found the right corner of the net. The Flames carried that lead into the half. In the 55th minute, Liberty threatened to extend the lead when sophomore forward Tresor Mbuyu crossed a pass to Segarra and banged the ball off the crossbar, but the lead remained at one goal. “Ultimately for us, we got timely goals,” Alder said. “We got a goal early to get us on top in the game. Then while they were trying to score the equalizer, we were able to score a fantastic second goal. Those are two of the best goals I’ve seen all year.”
W. Soccer Campbell
The second goal came during the 70th minute after a foul gave Segarra a free kick from the left side just outside the 18-yard box. “I was thinking ‘goal’ from the beginning,” Segarra said. “My first thought was to go for the first goal post, but the keeper took a step right, so I put it to the second post. It was an unbelievable feeling.” The shot barely flew over the outstretched hand of Campbell goalkeeper Matthew Mozynski to net Liberty a 2-0 lead. The Flames defense held strong throughout Campbell’s late game desperation, sealing the win, with only one shot attempt allowed the rest of the game by Campbell. “I’ll be honest, I was very very proud of our back four and goalkeeper,” Alder said. “Alex, Kyle, Nico, Geovanny and our goalkeeper, Knoebel, made a lot of plays to clear the lines and get the ball out of the box. Everybody defended well, but those guys really dug in.” Liberty continues Big South Conference play with a trip to Boiling Springs, North Carolina to face the GardnerWebb Runnin’ Bulldogs Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.
Juwan Wells has raised his game to another level in his first two seasons on the Liberty Flames defensive line. Wells, a sophomore, was named Big South Defensive player of the week after recording 12 tackles in the Flames’ 41-7 victory over Robert Morris Saturday, Oct. 1. The Colonials were held to a season low 204 yards of total offensive with only 134 being allowed after their opening scoring drive, according to libertyflames.com Wells finished the game with seven solo and five assisted tackles, according to libertyflames.com. Those 12 tackles represented almost a quarter of Liberty’s tackles for the game. The Georgia native leads the team with 19 solo tackles for the season. Wells’ defensive excellence has filled a void on the Flames defense left by former defensive end, Chima Uzowihe, who donned a Flames uniform from 20122015. Uzowihe is the all-time leader in sacks for Liberty and the Big South. He was named Big South Defensive player of the year in 2015. Wells and Uzowihe maintain a friendship and relationship even after Uzowihe’s graduation. Wells says he looks to Uzowihe for guidance throughout the current season. “I talk to Chima a lot,” Wells said. “I talked to him as recently as last week. He just gives me a lot of advice about what I can do better since he was in the same spot I was in. He gives me good advice like ‘don’t let cheap shots get to you’ and things like that.” Wells said his current role on the team makes living up to the legacy of Uzowihe a possibility and not just a dream. “He always joked around last year saying that he wanted me to break all of his records,” Wells said. “Now that I’m able to play more it has become a real goal for me.” Wells has embraced the larger responsibility of being a team leader this year for Liberty. “As a leader on the team, I always want to hold myself and my teammates responsible,” Wells said. See WELLS, B2
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
HIT — Juwan Wells tackled a Virginia Tech player.
COLLIER is a sports reporter.
Field Hockey
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0 W. Soccer vs. Radford Oct. 19 @ 4 p.m.
W. Soccer vs. UNCA
Oct. 22 @ 11:30 a.m.
Football vs. Monmouth Oct. 22 @ 3:30 p.m.
M DI Hockey vs. Niagara Oct. 22 @ 7 p.m.
Field Hockey vs. UNC Oct. 23 @ 1 p.m.
Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage
sports
B2 | October 18, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Overcoming the odds
LCA football player battles more than just other players under the lights Luke Dillard mdillard1@liberty.edu
For Dylan Cumbo, a football player for Liberty Christian Academy (LCA), the pressure and expectations that come with playing football under the lights on Friday nights are not the biggest challenge he has to face when he laces up his cleats for the Bulldogs. Dylan Cumbo’s challenge is much more
personal in nature, and it is what sets him apart from other athletes that take the field. A Lynchburg doctor diagnosed Dylan Cumbo with Asperger’s syndrome when he was 8 years old. Asperger’s syndrome is a type of autism. According to autism.org, “Asperger’s syndrome is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.” During his early elementary school years, Dylan Cumbo’s parents began to notice peculiar ways he would play with his toys. “He would fixate on one toy for days at a time and sometimes months,” Dylan’s father, Dean Cumbo, said. “He would talk about Star Wars for days and would take his toy figures and place them out in a row on the floor, then put their weapons in a row below them — not really playing with them, just organizing.” Asperger’s presented extra challenges for Dylan Cumbo as he got involved in school and youth sports. “He had it rough in the public schools,” Dean Cumbo said. “They were OK for him, but the bullying was getting out of hand. Kids at that age are truly cruel. We knew that he needed a school that was based in good educational foundations and strict codes of conduct. LCA was our first and only choice in this.” Before he started playing for LCA, Dylan Cumbo played recreational league football in the fifth grade, but said he felt left out by his teammates due to Asperger’s and his physical condition. “I found out the coaches didn’t like me,” Dylan Cumbo said. “I was almost shunned by them because I wasn’t very fit. I was a big guy.” In ninth grade at LCA, Dylan Cumbo tried out for the wrestling team and earned a spot on the roster. “He never got to get on the mat in a match but started to feel ‘normal,’” Dean Cumbo said. “He felt accepted and was invited to parties at some of the wrestlers’ houses.” A few members of the wrestling team told him he should try out for football. Dylan Cumbo agreed, and he was greeted by a completely different experience than his fifth grade rec football team. “There was such a big difference,” Dylan Cumbo said. “First, I went to (Head Football Coach Chris Rocco). The amount of encouragement, even on day one, was incredible. I felt like I had been there the entire time. Now (the players) are my best friends. They are like my family. I couldn’t do anything without them. They always check up on me and ask me how I’m doing.” Rocco was also Dylan Cumbo’s Bible teacher, and that position allowed both of them to grow together off of the football field. WELLS continued from B1 Wells said his experience in games at the end of the season last
Dylan Cumbo said he almost gave up playing football last season because he felt he had lost his love of the game. Rocco was able to restore that love and told him to continue to play for the glory of God and not for the glory of himself. “(Rocco) is like a role model,” Dylan Cumbo said. “He is always honest. He encourages you to be a better student. He’s always been there. He is always compassionate about what he does, always sincere.” The first offseason since becoming a member of the football team was a challenging one for Dylan Cumbo, but he was able to persevere thanks to encouragement from his teammates. “Physically, I was not very strong when I joined,” Dylan Cumbo said. “I was probably one of the weakest people. I worked hard on it. There was never a day that went by that I wasn’t encouraged by somebody. Someone would always tell me that I’m doing good or that I improved.” Learning the game of football again at the left guard and nose guard positions was also a challenge for Dylan Cumbo at 5-foot 7-inches, 201 pounds, but not one that he failed to overcome. “At first he was confused about the whole way to play football,” Dean Cumbo said. “I went to some of his summer camp training after work and watched him do sprints. I noticed him fall to his knees after each one and was scared about how the team would see him. To my surprise, they started to cheer him on and encourage him. He got up and hit it hard again.” The offseason passed, and it was time for the regular season to begin. Dylan Cumbo still remembers the first time he stepped on the field of Williams Stadium on Liberty University’s campus last season in his sophomore year. “I felt this excitement come (over) me,” Dylan Cumbo said. “I had always wanted to be on the field.” The moment Dylan Cumbo first stepped out on the field was a moment that his parents will never forget. “He was so excited on the field,” Dean Cumbo said. “We were so proud of him no matter if he played one, or 100 plays. He tried to encourage all his teammates when it was going bad. We would watch him talking to players coming off the field. He would tell us that he didn’t want them to be upset and that he told them they could do it and to
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HEART — Dylan Cumbo has faced adversity but is proud of his accomplishments at LCA. surgery to insert a plate with screws in order to help get his foot back to health. The injury this season did not dampen Dylan’s spirits, however. “Once my leg heals, I just want to get right back into it,” Dylan Cumbo said. Despite Asperger’s, Dylan Cumbo is no different than any teenage boy. He enjoys spending time with friends watching movies and playing video games. When he is not laughing at Jim Carrey in his favorite comedy, “Dumb and Dumber,” or battling his friends in a match of “Call of Duty,” you can find him on the football field helping out his teammates as a manager — a position he has taken over during his injury. “(Dylan) has a great attitude and wants to
I FELT THIS EXCITEMENT COME (OVER) ME. I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ON THE FIELD. — DYLAN CUMBO keep trying.” During practice, his teammates treat Dylan Cumbo no differently than they would anyone else — regardless of his Asperger’s. “The players accept him for him which is so important,” Dean Cumbo said. “They hit him just like they would hit anyone else. He likes it. He tells me, ‘Dad, they don’t take it easy on me, so I am not going to take it easy on them. If I slack up, it doesn’t help them.’ He understands that he has a job to do, and it is to make (teammates) better.” Currently, Dylan Cumbo is battling a foot injury that has sidelined him from playing football and wrestling this year. During conditioning drills with his teammates, he felt something pop in his foot. He ignored the pop at the time and continued with the conditioning. About a week later, he was unable to get his shoe on, and went to see a doctor. Dylan Cumbo had suffered a Lisfranc injury and fractures in his foot. He underwent
year built up his confidence for this season. “Getting reps towards the end of last season really helped me this
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
JUWANNA PIECE OF ME — Juwan Wells lined up before the snap at VT.
be a part of the team but also wants to contribute,” Rocco said. “The challenge for him has been not getting to play a lot. Right now, being out with an injury for the year, he’s contributing as a manager — just helping out on the field during practice. He values a lot being around the guys.” Dylan Cumbo said the support from his parents has been a constant force that pushes him forward. “When I first started playing sports, (my dad) looked like he was intensely proud,” Dylan Cumbo said. “My mom is just as supportive as my dad. They’re both very supportive of it.” Whether on the field or off, the impact Dylan Cumbo has had on his team, his school and his family is something that reaches much farther than the dimensions of any football field. “Personally, I would say it’s easy to put limitations on people based on physical
year,” Wells said. “Last year I realized that I was pretty light against people I was playing against. I knew I had to put on weight, but I wanted to make sure it was the right weight.” Liberty football is not the only football family for Wells. His uncle, Erik Walden, is an outside linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts. Wells says that he and Welden trained together this past offseason in Atlanta. Wells said that it was Walden who showed him how to look at game film in great depth and detail. “He showed me to not only look at the formations, but to look at the personnel and what the players that you will be going against like to do during the game,” Wells said. Wells said his family loved sports and by playing sports he developed his specific love
limitations or things that they’re challenged with,” Rocco said. “It’s been really refreshing and very inspiring to see Dylan overcome the challenges he has and play a role for our team. Probably in a lot of other similar situations, a kid might not fight through adversity like he has. So that’s been an encouragement to me as a coach — just to see a kid compete every day and see him overcome.” That impact extends into the hallways of LCA, according to high school Principal Tim Hahn. “Dylan is unique because nobody looks at him as having any other challenges,” Hahn said. “Having Asperger’s makes him special because he is overcoming more than other people. Dylan being a part of a program is just an encouragement to other students to overcome their challenges, whatever they may be.” When his playing days for LCA come to an end and Dylan gets his diploma, he does not want his story of perseverance to fade away. He wants to send a message to others. “I want to be remembered as the kid who stuck it out through the end,” Dylan Cumbo said. “I want to be known as the kid who stuck his neck out. I want to be known as the kid who, through it all, is able to come out and play a sport.” When asked if he had a message for any other kids with disabilities who are thinking about playing sports, Dylan Cumbo relied on his personal experience with the obstacles that he has overcome. “I would say to go with it,” Dylan Cumbo said. “No matter what you’re afraid of, fear is nothing compared to the enjoyment, the thrill, the friends, the excitement that you will receive playing a sport. Once you start playing, it’s just a part of you.” After he graduates from LCA, Dylan Cumbo plans to attend Liberty University and hopes to become a physical therapist. DILLARD is the asst. sports editor.
for football. “Everyone in my family always played sports all the time,” Wells said. “I always knew that I wanted to play football. Basketball and other sports were only to stay in shape. I’ve always loved football and wanted to play it.” Wells has aspirations for football both on and off the field. “The ultimate goal and dream is to play football professionally, but if that doesn’t happen then I would love to coach and pass down what I’ve learned to other players,” Wells said. Wells and the Flames continue conference play as the travel to Kennesaw State for the first time ever to take on the Owls Oct. 15. COCKES is a sports reporter.
FYI
Juwan Wells has been compared to former Flame Chima Uzowihe for good reason. Through six games in his sophomore season, Uzowihe had 35 tackles, while Wells has 67 tackles.
sports
Liberty Champion | October 18, 2016 | B3
Freshman of the week Leah Clayton has been a big contributor for the Lady Flames volleyball team
Lindsey Ball lcball1@liberty.edu
The Big South Conference recently named freshman outside hitter Leah Clayton Volleyball Freshman of the Week after her impressive performance with the Liberty University women’s volleyball team. “I’ve grown to get along with and focus on other people on the court,” Clayton said. “I rely on the players around me for encouragement, and they rely on me.” Not only was she most recently awarded Big South Freshman of the Week, but the conference also named her Player of the Week a few days prior. Clayton is from Danville, Virginia. She attended Westover Christian Academy, where she began playing volleyball in sixth grade. In eighth grade, she began playing for a club volleyball team. “I played soccer and softball when I was younger, (and) then I played basketball until my senior year,” Clayton said. “Then, I got into the rhythm of volleyball and fell in love.” With Westover Christian’s team, she recorded 2,189 kills, the highest number by a Virginia high school player. Clayton became familiar with Liberty through her family’s involvement with the school and convenient proximity to Liberty. Her home in Danville is only an hour and 15 minutes from campus. “I came to all the games, and I knew so much about it,” Clayton said. “My mom is an (alumna) and my sister attends law school here, so Liberty has always been in my path.” The freshman standout considered many other options before deciding to become a Liberty Flame. Her love of basketball led her to consider large state schools such as the University of North Carolina and others before settling on Liberty. “I kept my options open, but I didn’t keep them open for very long because I knew this is where I wanted to be,” Clayton said. Former Assistant Coach Becki Rudnick reached out to Clayton while she was still in high school. Rudnick introduced Clayton to the attitude and atmosphere of the program. “The players and coaches showed me what
Liberty was all about, how to play and how to have an expectation,” Clayton said. “They were personable with me, and it felt like we were just old friends catching up.” Clayton is majoring in graphic design. Although she is just getting started, she described it as a rewarding, but time-consuming field. “I’m hoping to travel to a couple different countries to get different ideas, and then, come back to do logos,” Clayton said. “I want to have a ton of sceneries and environments around me to get fresh, new ideas.” Clayton is adjusting to her first semester as a college student. She applies the skills she learned on and off the court. “Volleyball has taught me a lot about time management,” Clayton said. “It taught me how to focus on many things at once without going crazy.” On the court, Clayton explained that she has always been close with her teammates. Their support and the support from her coaches furthers her success. “I don’t get tired being around the girls, but I think I would at a different school,” Clayton said. “The coaches are tough, but they care about us on the court and off the court.” Clayton currently has a 3.62 kill per set average, which is the highest on the team. In this season alone, she totaled 139 kills and 114 digs with more matches to come. “There is never a dull moment because someone is always cracking a joke,” Clayton said. “Even when we do have spurts of feeling down, I still wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” Clayton is ranked No. 3 in the Big South for highest number of kills within a single match with 22 kills against Winthrop. Although Clayton was hesitant at first, she is a formidable force for the Flames in the Big South. “I waited a week before accepting coach’s offer,” Clayton said. “Then I called coach and I said, ‘Coach, I’m a Lady Flame.’” See Clayton in action at the Liberty Flames’ next home game Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. against Radford.
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
BUMP — Freshman Leah Clayton has played a large role for the Lady Flames this season.
ELITE COMPANY Five freshmen have been named Big South Volleyball Player of the Week.
Anthonia Akpama Kyrie Dorn Kallie Corbin Lillie Happel Leah Clayton
* were named Big South Player of the year later in their career.
BALL is a sports reporter.
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RYAN WHEELER
(1996)* (1996)* (2006)* (2010) (2016)
1 year with Sodexo as the Marke�ng Manager.
Favorite Meal on Campus: Anything from Woodfire!
Follow us for weekly menus, calendar of events and up-to-date news! @LibertyDining
Loves: Food photography, hiking, spending �me with my wife and two dogs. Can be found: In Green Hall!
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B4 | October 18, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Flames soar over Eagles Lady Flames move to .500 this season with victory over Big South foe Winthrop Julie Deutsch jdeutsch@liberty.edu
The Liberty University women’s soccer team (7-7) defeated Winthrop University (3-9) at Osborne Stadium Oct. 12 by a final score of 2-0 to mark their third consecutive victory at Osborne Stadium. The Lady Flames led the game 1-0 at the end of the first half. Freshman forward Gabrielle Farrell pushed the ball into the box from the right corner and scored after being assisted by junior midfielder Isabella Habuda. “I sprinted down the line, and I saw Bella coming and she just made a great pass to me, and I just got in front of the goalie and finished,” Farrell said. Liberty’s team showed a lot of intense effort throughout the game and continued to play solidly until the end. “We came out a lot stronger than in — I think — our previous game, and that was because we did work together,” junior forward Jennifer Knoebel said. The Lady Flames defense held strong through the afternoon, as they held possession for most of the game and never let Winthrop score a goal. “I think we did pretty well,” Farrell said. “We had possession for a majority of the game, but like our coach said, we definitely could have done better. We got the win but we could have played better.” Liberty had four corner kicks in the first 45 minutes of the game and five fouls. They also took nine shots, and goalie Holly Van Noord saved one goal in the first half. “Winthrop actually did pretty well,” Knoebel said. “They were trying to pressure us, and I know their backline was a lot higher than we thought. They tried to connect (the ball) through, but our midfield did a really good job.” Winthrop attempted two goals and had one corner kick in the first half. Senior goalie Caroline Duncan saved two shots. Liberty scored another goal in the 47th minute — the ball was lofted from the left side
Kaitlyn Becker Johnson | Liberty University News Service
NUTMEG — Sami Santos wiggled her way through the Winthrop defense on her way down the sideline. to the far post and headed in near the top corner. The goal was shot by Habuda and assisted by junior defender Sami Santos. Knoebel said the biggest reason the team had success on the field was the constant communication between teammates. “Our communication was pretty good today,” Knoebel said. “We could always get better at communication, just everyone in general, but I thought today we did a really good job.” During the second half, Liberty received three corner kicks, three fouls, and took 10 shots.
Winthrop did not receive any corner kicks in the second half but had six fouls and took two shots. “We always expect to win, but expectations and actually doing the work are two different things, and I thought today we actually did the work,” Knoebel said. Farrell said there are improvements to be made, but the team still played well. “I think our hustle and passes weren’t that crisp and could’ve been better,” Farrell said. “I mean, overall, it was a good game, but there is always room for improvement
for the next game.” The Lady Flames finished strong at Osborne Stadium and kept their energy high for the win. “The momentum stayed up a majority of the game,” Farrell said. “At the end of the first half, I think we started to slow down a bit, but the second half it was definitely there.” The Lady Flames next home game is Wednesday, Oct. 19 against Radford at 4 p.m. DEUTSCH is a sports reporter.
Get the show on the road Flames are 1-0 in Big South and ready for tougher conference competition Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu
After the first half of the season, the Liberty University football team (3-3, 1-0) looks to not only play competitively during conference play, but to also bring home another Big South Conference title. After defeating the Robert Morris Colonials (1-5) by 34 points, the Flames had a bye week before defeating the Kennesaw State Owls Saturday, Oct. 15 in their first Big South Conference game of the year by a final score of 36-21. According to Liberty Head Coach Turner Gill, the bye week was a good opportunity for players to rejuvenate before beginning conference play. “The positive thing from the bye week was that we got rested,” Gill said. “We had to get relaxed on a few things.” Gill said the first five games of the season helped solidify what the team needed to accomplish before the conference games. “Overall, our defense has played well, and our special teams have improved from last year,” Gill said. According to Liberty Athletic Director Jeff Barber,
each Big South Conference game is of high importance. “We have to take them one at a time,” Barber said. “We can’t afford to lose any of them.” Of the five conference games, Barber said the game against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (3-2, 1-0) Nov. 14 would probably be the most challenging. “I might have a heart attack before it starts, but it should be a fun game,” Barber said. “Charleston Southern will probably be the best team we play.” According to Gill, the conference games carry a little more weight with the players than the nonconference games. “We’ve always had a sense of urgency in every ballgame,” Gill said. “We’ll put together a great game plan, and our guys are going to come ready to play.” Offensively, coaches are anticipating sophomore wide receiver B.J. Farrow to make an impact as conference play picks up. “(Farrow) has a unique skill set,” Liberty’s offensive coordinator Joe Dailey said. “Nine times out of 10, if the football is thrown in his vicinity, he’s going to get his hands on it.” Freshman quarterback
REMAINING FLAMES HOME GAMES
READY — Flames Head Coach Turner Gill prepared for his fifth season in the Big South. Stephen Calvert set a Liberty freshman record against Robert Morris, throwing for 340 yards. According to Gill, his contribution has added a lot to the Liberty offense. “Everything is going to come (to) fruition if he does what he’s supposed to do,”
Gill said. “He is very (involved) in learning the game, and that’s what we like to see in a quarterback.” Barber said he liked Gill’s mentality of focusing on one game at a time. “The most important game is the next one that you have,” Barber said. “If you
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
look too far down the road, you will overlook the one that’s coming up.” Barber encourages students and faculty to support the football team through all four quarters of the game. “All the conference games are going to be important,” Barber said. “We need to
win them. The (success) of Liberty will help shine the mission of our school.”
SMITH is a sports reporter.
Monmouth
Gardner-Webb
Charleston Southern
Oct. 22 @ 3:30 Homecoming
Oct. 29 @ 3:30 Family Weekend
Nov. 12 @ 3:30 Military Appreciation Day
feature
Liberty Champion | October 18, 2016 | B5
Open for debate Forensics team competes nationally with public speaking Ryan Klinker rmklinker@liberty.edu
At Liberty University, “forensics” does not look like its crime-drama television counterpart. Rather than analyzing crime scenes and evidence, Liberty’s forensics team analyzes arguments and speech components. Forensics refers to public speaking and performance and can be a powerful communication tool. Denise Thomas, head coach of Liberty’s forensics team, has spent more than a decade coaching in speech competitions. She knows firsthand how forensics can aid those who apply it to their lives. “Forensics generates many positive benefits for its participants,” Thomas said. “Among them are the development of communication and critical thinking skills. It facilitates valuable relationships and personal growth, and it prepares students for the job market.” Made up of 21 members, including 11 new members, the forensics team travels across the country representing Liberty in tournaments consisting of oral interpretation, platform presentation, and limited preparation periods. With each event and opportunity, the team members get a chance to expand their communication skills and receive chances to express their passions, which are two of the
main incentives of being a part of the team for sophomore Lindsey Ball. “It’s not a lot of fluff,” Ball said. “It’s hard work, and it’s plenty of effort, and I enjoy that about it. I can talk about the things that I’m passionate about, and I get whatever work I put into it.” Sophomore Britta Hare, who was last year’s most awarded member, shares the same enthusiasm for forensics as Ball. Hare also attributed her improvements in both professionalism and public speaking — as well as the encouragement of her welcoming teammates — to her time spent with the team’s coaches. Majoring in individualized studies with a focus in global studies, Hare found that forensics has helped enhance her ability to convey the stories of Jesus. “The most helpful thing is that, through forensics, I have become a better storyteller,” Hare said. “I basically just want to spend my life telling people about Jesus, which is all about interpersonal relationships and storytelling.” The forensics team itself has not been around the school for very long, though evangelism and effective communication has long been one of the university’s staples. According to Thomas, at the request of Jerry Falwell Sr. in the 1980s, Dr. Cecil Kramer founded a speech and debate program for Liberty. As the debate
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TEAM — The forensics team competes against colleges nationwide. section grew increasingly successful, the competitive speech element of the program was removed. However, in 2009, the forensics program was revived in response to student interest. Last year’s team came into the school year with no returning members and only a few students with experience. However, their hard work earned them 39 individual awards and four team awards in nine tournaments, according to Thomas. “The inexperience of the team was offset by their passion and work ethic, allowing them to grow and succeed beyond expectations,” Thomas said. As for the new school year, the team has already accumu-
lated four individual and one team award following their first tournament. With its 10 veteran members, the team looks to improve on their previous accomplishments, and Ball extended encouragement for anyone who may be interested in joining forensics in the future. “Whether you’ve never done speech before or you’ve been doing it for eight years, come to the team because the coaches will meet you where you are and will take your skills and weaknesses and use them for your benefit and the advantage of the team,” Ball said.
KLINKER is a feature reporter.
Bouldering event offers competition and entertainment
Planning and creating the bouldering competition that took place Oct. 14 at Liberty University’s LaHaye Recreation Center rock wall was not as easy as one might anticipate. Elliot Gaunt, 2014 Liberty graduate and rock wall coordinator, and Tristan Landon, Liberty junior and rock wall monitor, were among the few that worked to transform the space for the ninth annual competition. The staff stripped the rock wall, and was put in teams to create the best “problems,” or rock wall routes. They moved more than 200
“holds,” or rock inserts, to do so. Gaunt said they reset the courses so everything they put up would be new. The staff also foreran each problem to ensure they were navigable before the competition. “This makes it more of an even playing field so that none of the students that come in for competition have ever tried any of the problems,” Gaunt said. “We have 36 brand new problems for all the students to try.” Upon completion of the setup, the rock wall space was packed for the competition from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. with more than 60 students in attendance. The
Photographer offers views of Native American life Amelia Whittaker awhittaker1@liberty.edu
Sports on the rocks Siani Null snull@liberty.edu
Deliberate dialogue
athletes only used the shorter, wider wall in the space for the bouldering competition. “Bouldering is a form of extreme sport,” Landon said. “It is rock climbing without ropes and usually lower height, so there are a lot more difficult problems and more technical climbing for a shorter distance compared to lead climbing, which is farther with (less) difficult movement.” Any Liberty student or staff member with any level of rock climbing experience was able to compete. There were beginner, intermediate and advanced level groups. Three winners claimed gift card prizes to local
Caroline Sellers| Liberty Champion
CLIMB — Competitors worked their way to the top in the Bouldering Competition.
outdoor-gear vendors. “This is our way of supporting local businesses and to get the students to be able to buy gear and go to them,” said Gaunt. The advanced category winners were Ben Vincent, Mark Chauvette and Corey Messer. In addition to the competitive atmosphere, Liberty provided food, beverages and music for attendees. “I think the most fun thing about the bouldering competition is that you don’t have to be good, and you don’t have to do well to have a blast,” Landon said. “You’re here with all your friends and you’re having a good time, and everyone is being goofy, and there is music and everyone is dancing.” After the main competition, in order to keep the crowd entertained while Gaunt tallied the scores of the six hours of climbing, they put on what is called a “dyno-competition.” Competitors started by grasping two holds, and then they jumped as far up as they could to grab another hold or two. If they held on to the holds, they moved on. This competition increased in difficulty until one person was declared the winner. “It’s really engaging and dynamic because there is so much jumping, and everybody looks like they’re really close and then they fall,” Gaunt said. Workers were unable to take part in the competition, but Landon
said his favorite part about past bouldering competitions were the memories. “I have memories from these competitions that are so strongly ingrained in my mind compared to ... anything I have ever done at this school,” Landon said. For students that want to get more involved with climbing after watching or participating in the competition, the staff recommends to just jump right in. “Just come back and get involved with everything,” Gaunt said. “Spend time here. Get connected. We have a lot of very regular students, like Tristan, that just get hooked. Not only does it have this whole exciting aura around it, but you get the comradery behind it too.” Landon agreed that, for him, the best part about climbing is the family it brings. “When I say this place is a family, that is an understatement,” Landon said. “These are closer relationships with the guys that you work with and climb with here than you will ever have with some people in your life. You become so engrossed in the family aspect of it that climbing is just kind of there when you’re with your friends.”
NULL is a feature reporter.
Liberty University’s Center for Multicultural Enrichment (Center4ME) is hosting a Deliberate Dialogue event Nov. 3 to share information about Native American culture. This event is one of many that the Center4ME hosts throughout the year during different celebrated heritage months, according to Associate Director for the Leadership Excellence and Academic Development Fellowship program,Stephanie Smith. Smith is part of the LEAD Fellowship, which is designed to prepare undergraduate students to excel and develop, according to the Center4ME website. This program offers support for the growth of students both spiritually and intellectually. “Deliberate dialogues are a part of our multicultural competence model specifically addressing knowledge,” Smith said. These events allow students to engage in learning opportunities on different cultural topics by hearing from expert speakers through presentations and reflective activities, according to Smith. The tagline for these events is “intentional discussions with the goal of invoking change.” This month’s event is titled “Changing the Way We See Native America,” and will be covered by Matika Wilbur — a renowned photographer who captures the reality of Native American tribes through her photography. According to Wilbur’s website, Project562.com, Wilbur has been traveling to national tribes all across the United States to photograph their citizens since 2012. “We are striving to address some of the stereotypes and historical inaccuracies that are normally associated with the Native American culture,” Smith said. Wilbur’s Project 562 is working to educate the nation by providing photographs of members of each tribe. This project is working to unveil the true essence of contemporary native issues and the beauty of each culture. “Students will see incredible imagery and a first-person perspective of Native American culture,” Smith said. “They should expect to gain knowledge from a culture that many may not be too familiar with.” The hope is that students will leave this event with a different and more educated perspective of Native American culture. This is the ultimate goal for each of the events that the Center4ME is sharing with the student body. “Many stereotypes come about because of a lack of knowledge,” Smith said. “I am hoping that students can gain some insight into this particular culture during this Deliberate Dialogue.” Project 562 works to humanize the members of this “vanishing race” through photography,and share their stories that have been passed from generation to generation. According to Project562.com, Wilbur believes she is welcomed into these tribes because people are ready to see this change and learn about the history of these cultures. The Center4ME will hold Deliberate Dialogue events in February, March and April to discuss African American, Irish American and Asian American/Pacific Islander heritage and history months, respectively. Each of these events will take place in the Center4ME event space in the Montview Student Union. “Changing the Way We See Native America” will take place Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Center4ME event space, Montview room 2570. WHITTAKER is a feature reporter.
Matika Wilbur
SKY — Mary Evelyn from the Pueblo of Isleta.
feature
B6 | October 18, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Uprooted and replanted Bean Tree Café moves to larger location and menu to better serve its customers Amber Tiller atiller3@liberty.edu
After seeing Liberty University students standing on a sidewalk waiting for their bus to come to The VUE at Cornerstone in the middle of January, Josh Allen and Keith Johnson decided to do something about what they witnessed. “(We said to ourselves), ‘They need a coffee shop,’” Allen, co-owner of Bean Tree Café, said. “They need a place to come hang out.” Come June 2014, the Bean Tree Café was up and running, nestled between the apartment buildings and businesses of Cornerstone. After more than two years, they moved to a larger location off Greenview Drive among the Lofts, 55 new “luxury apartments” according to Allen. But the Bean Tree Café’s shop space was not designed for them. According to Keith Johnson, the location was a frozen yogurt shop for three months. “We get 50 people in (the old location,) it (was) really hard,” Keith Johnson said. “But in a space that’s designed for events, it’ll make a lot more sense. That’s the main difference. Yea, it’s expensive and stressful, but we’re in it to serve the best experience we can, and when the opportunity became available — we took the plunge. … Yea, (the old space was) nice and quaint and it serve(d) a purpose but it (was) not the best that it could be.” The new space, though, is much larger with more seating, and the Bean Tree Café is expanding as well — within their menu. New drink menu items such as the cold brew float as well as other food options such as the “s’mores kit” have been added to the menu at the new location. But the overall goal is still the same even in a bigger shop, according to general manager, Dawn Johnson — Keith Johnson’s mother. “My goal is a home away from home, a place where you feel comfortable enough to meet with family and friends, develop relationships, pursue relationships, enrich relationships,” Dawn Johnson said. Allen said he wants the Cornerstone community to flourish as well. “We want it to become a destination
place,” Allen said. “The kids love it, but we want them (to have) everything that they need here — for them to hang out, to shop, to eat, (to have) events (and) that type of thing.” In addition to co-owning the Bean Tree Café, Keith Johnson and Allen also served as the property managers of Cornerstone since 2012 through their business Priority One Properties. The pair said additions to Cornerstone included the Lofts as well as new businesses such as a women’s clothing store called Woven Devotion, Cornerstone Fitness and Priority One Property’s office. Allen compared Cornerstone to another property they work with, Wyndhurst, a community-based apartment center located in the Lynchburg area. “With Wyndhurst, we tried to do one better over here,” Allen said. “Wyndhurst is saturated a little bit with commercial spaces, and then over here in Cornerstone we tried to focus on kind of like a non(competitive) or limited commercial spaces, so that it wasn’t oversaturated and that it gives a better shot to the small business owner to survive.” For more information about the Bean Tree Café, go to beantreecafe.com, and check out vuecommunities.com/cornerstone for more about Cornerstone. TILLER is the social media manager.
Amber Tiller | liberTy ChAmpion
SHOP — Several small businesses have opened at Cornerstone alongside the Bean Tree Café.
Amber Tiller| liberTy ChAmpion
QUAINT — The Bean Tree Café offers both beverages and food, as well as an open meeting area designed for groups to gather in.
ARTIST continued from B8
phoTos provided
PAINT — Mitchell has painted many subjects, including a portrait of Dr. Ed Hindson (right).
“When God gives him incredible images, he just surrenders over his whole strokes and lets the Lord lead his brush,” Brown said. Brown said she is still surprised by the amount of art he creates each day. “He continues to evolve, and every day he produces something new,” Brown said. “He’ll just walk into the office and say ‘What do you think about this new painting?’ And I’m like, ‘When do you sleep?’” When Mitchell first started sketching portraits, he said he became dissatisfied with the medium he was using. He wanted to experiment with paint and brushes. Although he was told that at the age 73 he was too old to learn to paint, Mitchell decided to buy oil paints and canvases. From his first attempts, he said others were shocked by how naturally painting came to him. After Mitchell attended a lesson in watercolors at The Summit, the executive office contacted him wanting to collaborate with him, eventually deciding that they would like to have an exhibit of Mitchell’s work. The first art show in April and May of this year sold 17
paintings, and the current exhibit will display his work until the end of the month. Mitchell, who has been a professor for 40 years, sees his artwork as a reflection of the theological truth he teaches his students. “I’m an academic at the end of the day,” Mitchell said. “So, for me it’s not just about painting. It’s about truth and beauty. We live in a world that wants us to think God is ugly. But God isn’t ugly, he’s beautiful.” Mitchell shows that synthesis of truth and beauty in his paintings. One painting entitled “Self Portrait” depicts him painting an image of Jesus. Within the piece, the image of Jesus that he is painting is reaching out his hand and grasping Mitchell by the wrist. Mitchell said the painting reflects his own personal faith in Jesus. Although Mitchell has just started painting, he does not plan on slowing down any time soon. ”I don’t know where it’s all going to go, but I feel like it’s probably going to dominate the latter season of my life,” Mitchell said. “I have a story, and I find myself somewhat astounded by the whole thing.” COVEY is a feature reporter.
feature
Liberty Champion | October 18, 2016 | B7
Kaitlyn Becker Johnson | Liberty University News Service
DEBUT — The Liberty University Department of Theatre Arts premiered the workshop musical “Quilters” Oct. 13, featuring an all-female cast and assistance from the School of Music.
Stitching it all together Liberty’s first all-female musical shares stories of life through quilt blocks Shannon Moyer srmoyer@liberty.edu
Through 16 quilt patterns, the all-female cast of “Quilters” shared the stories and struggles of pioneer women. “Quilters,” a workshop musical, is comprised of seven cast members who collectively play over 50 separate characters. The characters tell the stories of pioneer life through song, dance and monologue. The story follows a pioneer woman and her six daughters throughout their lives, telling stories of love, illness, happiness, strife and more. Each story is represented by a quilt block, and the cast assumes different roles in each block to tell a different story. Freshman Elsie Winokurzew found the story and the performance unique. “It’s the most interesting play I’ve ever been to,” Winokurzew said. “It’s so alive. You feel like you’re in the moment.”
Similarly, freshman Jordan Wilson appreciated the play for how distinctive it was. “It’s so intriguing, I can’t imagine not being here,” freshman Jordan Wilson said. “It’s really abstract. ... Each character draws you in and ... brings you in their world.” “Quilters” is the first all-female musical performance at Liberty University. “Quilters” director Linda Cooper said the cast and production team was mainly comprised of freshmen and sophomore students in the theater department who were “cutting their teeth” in the department by working on the production. Students from the School of Music provided the musical’s score by playing as a folk band onstage, helping set the tone of the musical and also offering props to cast members throughout the performance. It was through these props that the cast of seven women was able to transform into 50 different characters, including men and children.
Kathy Jordan has been costuming various Lynchburg theater productions for 17 years, and has worked with Liberty’s theater department for just over two years. While “Quilters” presented some costuming difficulties due to the multiple onstage costume changes, she said the experience was a blessing. “For me, the part I always enjoy the most is collaborating with others to tell the story presented on stage,” Jordan said. “The actors did an excellent job transitioning in their portrayal of many different characters while never leaving stage.” According to Jordan, the costumes were designed with pockets to allow cast members easy access to props and items of clothing to assist with the cast changing characters. Some of the costumes were even recycled from a production that Jordan worked on at Thomas Road Baptist Church 17 years ago. Each quilt block that helped tell the story of “Quilters” was made specifically for this
performance, as well as the full-sized Legacy Quilt that is displayed at the end of the production. Freshman Rebecca Ticker attended the show and thought that the musical’s use of quilts in storytelling made a statement about how strong women have been present throughout history. “I felt like the story emphasized the strength of femininity that we sometimes reject today, especially the idea of making quilts,” Ticker said. The show ran from Oct. 13 - Oct. 16.
MOYER is the feature editor.
FEATURE
B8
October 18, 2016
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
JAMMING OUT — Noah Gunderson (left) and Jeff Carl (right) headlined Lynchstock’s fall festival with solo acoustic sets, designed to offer a more intimate concertgoing experience.
Falling for Lynchstock Lynchburg’s annual downtown music festival debuts fall edition of Lynchstock Nathaniel Fraticelli nlfraticelli@liberty.edu
The Lynchstock Music Festival has been delivering music and arts to the city of Lynchburg for several years with concerts in the summer and winter featuring local bands and artists. For fall 2016, co-founder Jonathan Smalt decided it was time to try something new. “We did a winter event,” Smalt said. “It was fun, (so we said) let’s do a fall event. If you walk around the site right now you’ll see we’ve got pumpkins and corn stalks and bales of hay.” Lynchstock, in its continuing evolution, made room for Fall Fest — an intimate, indoor concert for Lynchburg music lovers that debuted Oct. 15 at the Academy Center of the Arts in downtown Lynchburg. According to Smalt, the idea behind Fall Fest was to deliver a more intimate concert set as opposed to last year’s winter event, Lynchburrr, which was primarily a rock concert. He wanted this Lynchstock to be more of a “listening experience.” “There’s something about the fall time
that lends itself to more intimate listening experiences, so the bill just evolved that way,” Smalt said. “We (had) two bands that are high energy, but our two headliners Jeff Carl and Noah Gunderson … (played) solo acoustic.” Smalt wanted the festival to open at an upbeat pace, so he recruited Liberty Universitybased band Jake Ziegler and the Locals and Joel Kaiser as the opening acts. The concert would then advance into the main acts, which featured solo acoustic performances by Jeff Carl and Noah Gunderson. “This is our third Lynchstock event,” Jake Ziegler said. “Our lineup is a little bit smaller than usual, but we’re just gonna be playing the same rock show.” The headlining act, Seattle singersongwriter Noah Gunderson, was handpicked by Smalt in memory of Lynchstock’s co-founder Jon Gregoire. “(Gregoire’s) favorite songwriter is Noah Gunderson,” Smalt said. “If you look at Jon’s last post on Instagram, it’s Noah Gunderson lyrics.” Lynchstock was founded by Smalt and Gregoire to help promote music in the Lynchburg area. As time passed, the festival continued to gain momentum until tragedy struck when Gregoire was killed.
“When that happened, my only response was to do what I knew best, and that was to bring together the community which is what (Gregoire) always wanted to do,” Smalt said. “I let a few weeks pass before I even thought about Lynchstock. … I was at home talking to my parents about it, and it kind of just hit me — ‘If I don’t take this over and keep it going, then it’s not going to grow.’” The next Fall Fest is already in the works for 2017, but before that, Lynchstock will be returning with its usual spring festival — an event which, according to Smalt, will go in an exciting new direction. “We’re moving downtown this year to the Riverfront Park,” Smalt said. “We have some really big surprises coming for 2017 that we haven’t really shared with anyone yet.” For information on upcoming Lynchstock events, visit lynchstockmusicfestival.com.
Jon Gregoire • Co-founded Lynchstock in 2013 with Smalt • Died in a train track accident Nov. 2014 • Business major • Also founded Mustache for Missions
FRATICELLI is a feature reporter.
Mitchell’s masterpiece Professor-turned-artist Dan Mitchell describes how he found painting at 73 Erin Covey ercovey@liberty.edu
Before Liberty University Professor Dan Mitchell picked up a paintbrush a year and half ago, he saw himself primarily as a teacher concerned with abstract ideas and doctrines. More than 200 paintings later, the professor of theology is known by many as an artist. However, Mitchell says he was unaware of his talent as a painter until recently. “I actually find myself bragging about some of the work that I do as if it was somebody else’s, and I think it is,” Mitchell said. “There are times when I’m working on a canvas where it seems like the brush is under the control of another force.” Currently, The Summit, a retirement community in Lynchburg, has a collection of Mitchell’s artwork on display. The Lighthouse Collection contains portraits and landscapes, many of which feature lighthouses and ocean shores. Mitchell said his work is inspired by his own experience volunteering
at the Lighthouse Community Center, a ministry that seeks to provide personal and spiritual growth to those in downtown Lynchburg. He also pastors the Lighthouse Community Fellowship, the church that grew naturally out of the center. Mitchell said seeing the transformation in people’s lives at the Lighthouse inspired him to begin sketching portraits of those who stepped through the door. “I credit the experience of working at the Lighthouse with just sparking this,” Mitchell said. “The word that describes what I do when I paint is ‘joy,’ and I find myself singing while I’m working. It’s because of what we do at the Lighthouse and the tangible ways that we see God change people.” Mitchell’s daughter, who cofounded the Lighthouse, has personally seen how his artwork has had a dramatic effect on the individuals he gives paintings to. She said the inspiration he receives to paint these pieces of art comes directly from God.
Amber Tiller| Liberty Champion
See ARTIST, B6 ON DISPLAY — Mitchell’s works, including this painting, are currently being displayed at The Summit.