Liberty Champion October 4 2016

THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE

OCTOBER 12

IS QUICKLY APPROACHING.

Lady Flames beat Presbyterian

VOLUME 34, ISSUE 5

B2

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA

LIBERTYCHAMPION.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2016 | LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

why so serious?

Hit the road President Falwell calls for a third lane on Wards Will Young weyoung@liberty.edu

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

‘MOVE THOSE CHAINS’ — A group of students known as ‘Jerry’s Jokers’ cheered in the student section at Liberty’s home football game against Robert Morris University. Full game coverage can be found on page B1.

Close to home

Congressional candidates debate top priorities for Va.

Jordan Jarrett jjarrett4@liberty.edu

The contentious race to succeed Robert Hurt in the House of Representatives came to a head on Sept. 26 with a debate between candidates Sen. Tom Garrett and Democratic nominee Jane Dittmar.

The two candidates for the upcoming 5th Congressional District election faced off in a debate hosted by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance at Appomattox Inn and Suites with 80 people in attendance at the event.

ABC 13 anchor Mark Spain moderated the debate. Basic questions concern-

ing congressional goals pertaining to business and the economy were compiled beforehand by the Alliance panel.

A sign-in booth in the lobby allowed audience members to write down questions of their own for submission to a drawing just minutes prior to Jordan Jarrett | Liberty Champion the debate.

PLAN — Candidates Tom Garett and Jane Dittmar debated Garrett and Dittmar exSept.

26 on local and state issues. pounded on their individual federal goals and tax relief initiatives. Both tors” of the workforce in the face of expandcandidates stressed working on “both sides ing technology.

During the audience’s question time, of the aisle” where parties are concerned.

When asked about the biggest issues Garrett addressed the recent controversy facing the business community, Garrett over a condemning advertisement released stressed keeping deals and promises while See DEBATE, A2 Dittmar emphasized “retraining new sec-

In an informal meeting of Lynchburg-area college presidents and city government officials, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell mentioned interest in widening Wards Road to three lanes each way on the stretch of road from the River Ridge mall entrance and U.S. 460.

The meeting — which took place Sept.

21 at Heritage High School — was a part of a larger Town and Gown series of meetings established in an attempt to encourage talks with leaders of the local colleges and Lynchburg City officials.

Among those colleges represented by their respective presidents were Liberty, Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg College, Virginia University of Lynchburg and Randolph College. Mayor Joan Foster, Sterling Wilder and Mary Jane Dolan represented Lynchburg’s City Council at the meeting.

Falwell said in the meeting that a third lane in Wards Road could be built by paving the turn lanes on the stretch of road into regular lanes. Previous to the meeting at Heritage, he engaged in talks with Lynchburg City Manager Bonnie Svrcek on the idea and noted Liberty would help pay for the project.

Although Svrcek said a third lane on Wards Road could be possible in the future, she noted that the project is not a priority of the Lynchburg Department of Transportation and that there are currently ongoing infrastructure projects that are supposed to alleviate the traffic congestion on Wards.

“The concept of a third lane on Wards road needs to be studied,” Svrcek said. “I know that when our transportation engineer worked at Liberty, there was a very rough conceptual sketch, but we haven’t done a feasibility of the concept. We haven’t done a corridor study, and it is not on the city’s priority list.”

The ongoing infrastructure projects meant to alleviate Wards Road traffic include the construction of the interchange bridge on Odd Fellows Road, U.S. Route 460 off-ramp at Liberty Mountain Drive and extension of Liberty Mountain Drive.

All three projects are expected to be completed near winter 2018.

Following the completion of the See ROAD, A7

Engineers or missionaries?

School of Engineering and Computational Science works with nonprofits Logan Price lprice7@liberty.edu

The school of engineering and computational sciences has partnered with LU Serve International to begin providing engineering and software services for non-profit and mission organizations through students’ capstone projects.

Dr. Robert Tucker, associate professor of computer science, said

several ministry-focused projects have already been completed by the department. One of their main projects was creating secure browsing for missionaries in countries closed to Christianity to visit Christian websites without leaving evidence in case their computer ever gets searched.

Other projects have included creating website templates that cater to the needs of missionaries, an

app that helps organize short term mission trips, and an app that would work alongside another ministry to provide creationist commentary at select natural history museums.

The range and quantity of related proposals is expected to increase by connecting missionary organizations directly to capstone projects, which serve as an internship of three classes where students work on a project for a real client

for a full year, according to Dr. Carl Pettiford, professor of electrical engineering.

Developing a way for non-profit organizations to submit ideas so that capstones consistently contain a ministry focus is just beginning because David Donahoo, the dean of the school of engineering and computational sciences, said engineering and missions are traditionally not combined.

INSIDE THE CHAMPION

News

New Top Hat application replaces clickers in classrooms and causes A8 frustration.

Opinion

A student’s take on the first presidential debate that took place last A4 week.

Sports

A profile on the Barr sister trio as they make their mark on Liberty’s Field Hockey team. B2

Feature

Coverage of the IT Marketplace grand opening that took place B5 Sept. 28.

“When you’re out on the mission field you don’t naturally think, ‘How can I use engineering?’”

Donahoo said. “You might be out there thinking of how to get water from the creek to the village, but that’s not necessarily thought of as an engineering issue.”

However, neither tradition nor logistical challenges stopped senior See ENGINEER, A8

News Opinion Sports Feature

A1 A4 B1 B5

news

A2 | October 4, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Brentwood and Benjamins

Local church hands out microloans to family farms in Uganda to help spur the struggling economy and bolster the agricultural sector in the country Kirkland Gee kgee10@liberty.edu

Patrick woke up one morning in his village of Pugwini, Uganda to an offer that would change his life. A church from Lynchburg, Virginia was offering him and his wife $600 to start a farm to provide for his family and send his children to school.

In order to get the loan, he was asked to go through a few months of training to learn how to farm, but he was not able to go. He had to stay home and work.

Instead, his wife went in his place. She went to the trainings, learned how to farm and brought that knowledge back to her husband. When she got back, they started working together in their field, and now they have one of the largest farms in the village.

Patrick’s story is representative

FYI Agriculture is a core sector of Uganda’s economy and the largest source of employment in the country.

The largest export crop is coffee, followed by tea, tobacco and cotton.

DEBATE continued from A1 by the Dittmar campaign, which claimed that Garrett supported uranium mining during his tenure in the General Assembly.

Garrett denounced the ad at Monday’s debate, calling it “disingenuous” and demanding that the Dittmar campaign either retract

of many of the families in Pugwini thanks to a program being provided by Brentwood Church in Lynchburg.

Brentwood is partnering with Sports Outreach and New Foundation Community Church to provide micro-financing loans and specialized training to help families in Pugwini, Uganda start farms and build a fully-functioning economy in their village.

The program was born out of a vision from Pastor Aloysius, founder of New Foundation Community Ministries and partner with Sports Outreach in Uganda.

Terrell Lanier, Brentwood Church’s global director, said they committed $24,000 last fall to begin Seed and have chosen 35 families to participate in the program.

Each family interested in participating must go through an application and approval process before receiving the loan, but once they do, they are also put through a series of trainings that teach them to farm effectively.

“They go through several months of training about how to farm and the different principles behind it,” Lanier said. “(We teach) them the basics. One of the things they never even knew of is how to plant in rows. … In Uganda, they normally just scatter the seeds on the ground. After the folks complete the classes, they’re given the seeds to get started.”

Lanier also said each family is rented a tractor to assist with the first tilling of their fields so they can get their seeds planted more quickly.

The families are already beginning to see the effects of the training with this past harvest season, according to Lanier.

“The harvest season just hit a month and a half ago, and they actually saw a plentiful crop,” Lanier said. “They’ve grown crops before, but again, they scattered the seeds, and when they do, the seeds intertwine each other and end up killing each other, so they don’t get a full harvest. But now, because of the training, we saw lush fields of crop.”

Frida, one of the women in the it or apologize. Dittmar refused to budge.

“If you vote for something, you should stand by it and not change your position for a debate,” Dittmar said.

Garrett offers his Student Security Program, which he has described on his campaign website as a proposal that “allows for indi-

Terrell Lanier | Brentwood Church

PROBLEM-SOLVE — Microloans provided by Brentwood Church help residents in Uganda tackle problems they face in expanding their agriculture industry.

Seed program, had help from some of the other families in the community to prepare her farm and is now seeing how effective the training was.

“I think I will have a lot of income if the price remains stable just like I was told,” Frida said through a translator. “I think I’m going to have a lot of money, and I’m going to use that money to send my granddaughter to school and take care of my family.”

When the families get their harvests and are able to sell for profit, they begin to pay back their loans.

Once these families pay their loans back, Brentwood will start the program again with 35 new families.

“It is a loan, not a gift,” Lanier Terrell Lanier | Brentwood Church said. “Once we get the full $600 back, we will go loan to the next EXPLORE — Brentwood Church team members surveyed the wilderness families and repeat the process all in Uganda to evaluate progress of the Seed program. over again. But the first family will be good to go in the future because program, Lanier said.

You can tell that they have a conthey’ll have made their money to “We didn’t want to just give a fidence in themselves they didn’t pay back, and they’ll still have mon- hand-out to anyone because that have before because they’re doing ey in their pocket to grow again.” really hurts people more than it something on their own. They’re Brentwood has been partnering helps,” Lanier said. “If you do seeing the fruits of the labor, and with Pugwini since 2012 and has something for someone else that they know it’s their’s.” sent seven missions teams in the they are already able to do for themlast five years. They plan to keep selves, then you’re actually taksending teams there to minister as ing away an opportunity to grow, they continue building the Seed so we make sure we don’t do that. GEE is a copy editor. viduals who currently hold student loan debt to have $5,000-$7,000 of that debt forgiven for every year that student agrees to defer Social Security disbursements.”

“It lets people make their own decisions,” Garrett said after the debate concluded. “It doesn’t force anyone into anything. You don’t change yesterday’s promises. You

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change tomorrow’s promises. You let people make that decision for themselves instead of the government forcing ‘one size fits all.’ My campaign is working specifically with millennials. There’s nobody in the nation, I don’t think, who’s done more, with more specificity to actually address the student loan debt crisis and the long-term viability of Social Security than we have.”

Dittmar seemed to echo Garrett’s disdain for “one-size-fits-all” regulations and tax codes, though she emphasized the need to capitalize on the economic benefits that having multiple colleges in one area can bring.

“The economic impact of institutions of higher education, such as Liberty, on their home communities and on a generation of innovative ideas can be measured, and it is extensive,” Dittmar said. “Because of this impact, corporate partnerships are developed with the universities resulting in millions of research dollars.”

Dittmar continued to say she will stay focused on training to keep up with the technological and entrepreneurial growth in the district.

“The individuals and the corporations who have invested work together and create new tech businesses that normally stay and grow our communities,” Dittmar said.

“We are seeing such immense growth in the tech sector within our district because of our universities and the partnerships they develop.

Payroll is a significant investment in the economy that surround the campus, and more jobs are

created as a result.”

Dittmar previously served as the chair of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and is a former representative of the Scottsville District, according to her campaign website. She also is a certified mediator for General District and Circuit Courts and served as court coordinator for the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations and Circuit courts for the City of Charlottesville.

Similarly, Garrett has a deep political background, as he currently represents the 22nd district in the Virginia Senate. Garrett also has extensive military experience, serving for six years in the Army as a Combat Arms officer where he led more than 50 U.S. soldiers in Bosnia during Operation Joint Guard and Joint Endeavor.

Because Garrett and Dittmar are running for election in the 5th Congressional District, residential Liberty students who reside on campus are unable to vote for either, as Liberty is located in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District. Liberty students have the option to either vote for incumbent Bob Goodlatte (R) or challenger Kai Degner (D).

The election of the congressional candidates will take place Nov. 8, the same day as the presidential election. A separate box for congressional candidates will be located on the same ballot, adjacent to the list of presidential candidates.

JARRETT is an opinon writer.

Check out the weekly world news update!

Published Wednesdays on our website: www.libertychampion.com the

news

Liberty Champion | October 4, 2016 | A3

Destined to be a classic

The Jerry Falwell Library adds new programs and upgrades its research services, becomes nationally recognized as a "landmark" university library range of topics and ability levels. … We also live stream them … and record them.”

If a student is unable to attend a workshop and still needs assistance, the library also The Jerry Falwell Library constantly allows students to ask questions and receive equips students with new research research assistance through multiple programs and resources, contributing to its avenues. A student can chat online with a honorable mention in the Library Journal research consultant, call to receive immediate as a “landmark” library and “destined to be help or email questions that will be answered a classic.” by a consultant within 48 hours.

“We were honored in that mainly Research guides are also available to because of our user-centered design,” students who are unsure where to start Cindy Schmidt, head of communication in finding relevant information for an and customer service, said. “We tried to be assignment. Research guides are pages conscious of every single detail. The building created by librarians to help students navigate is beautiful, but we wanted to make sure not library resources. The guides cover a variety only was it beautiful but it was functional and of topics and are sorted by 26 different meeting the students’ needs.” subjects on the library’s website.

Schmidt said she wants to make sure the A typical research guide will include a list students are getting of e-books, journals the assistance they and databases that What makes our library need during their are tailored to the stand out isn't so much the time at Liberty. specific topic a student building ... it's the dedication is researching. They “We’re always and commitment we have to were created to collect evaluating the services we provide information about a really helping the students in the library to see particular subject onto succeed. what’s working, one easily accessible what isn’t (and) — SCHMIDT page that students can what do students use at any time. Along need that we aren’t with the research providing that we can,” Schmidt said. “We guides, tutorials are available each semester. can’t always provide everything they want, Since the opening of the library in 2014, but we try to as best we can within our there have been many efforts to promote and mission.” market the changes, according to Schmidt.

Such services include research workshops However, not as many students are aware of where, according to the Jerry Falwell the changes as she would like.

Library’s website, students are able to learn “I think they could have done a better job about a variety of topics if they need help with honestly,” Emily Hayden, a junior at Liberty, conducting effective research. Upcoming said concerning the library’s attempts to workshop topics include how to properly educate students on their resources. “Other format an APA-styled paper, an overview of than the fact that I study there, that’s all I research terminology, and an introduction in really know about it.” theological research.

Schmidt said she believes they are Research workshops take place every competing with so much other information it Wednesday and Thursday and usually in is hard to get their voice heard. the library, room 171. Students are able “I think part of the problem is that students to attend in person, or they can stream the are just on information overload,” Schmidt workshop on their computer. said. “You are constantly being bombarded “Every semester we offer about 30 with messages. … People are just busy, and workshops,” Schmidt said. “We have it’s so hard for them to take the time to learn everything from basic intro … all the way about new things or get their attention.” up to how to do a detailed literature review Despite the marketing challenge, the for your dissertation or thesis — all different library offers assistance through various Cassandra Conley cconley20@liberty.edu

“

Caroline Sellers| Liberty Champion

SETTING THE STANDARD — The Jerry Falwell Library was honored in the Library Journal.

Jessie Rogers | Liberty University News Service

LEARN — Student Benjamin Groski presented his research findings in March 2016 to a crowd in the Jerry Falwell Library. Research symposiums are held regularly at the library. venues both digitally and in print.

“I really think the research assistance we provide and all the different ways we provide it is one of the things that really makes the biggest impact,” Schmidt said. “Our mission as a library organization is to support the teaching, learning and research of the students and faculty. … Students can get overwhelmed, so there are a lot of different things we have in place to help with that.”

According to Schmidt, the library strives to create a good customer service presence while also making each student feel

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comfortable with its resources.

“I think what makes our library stand out isn’t so much the building — I think it’s the people,” Schmidt said. “I think it’s the customer service and the dedication and commitment we have to really helping the students succeed.”

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OPINION

A4

October 4, 2016

Everything’s debatable Candidates square off in the first presidential debate

AT

WH S ’ T A

TH

WHY WE

VOTE SAID

Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

Google Images

RECORD — The first presidential debate of 2016 brought in over 80 million viewers.

Dr. Ben Wood

Psychology Professor Cierra Carter cmcarter18@liberty.edu

I’ve never witnessed a trainwreck, but I imagine it would look something like the 2016 election.

On Monday, Sept. 26, America watched as its only real options for the presidency took the stage to “debate” the “issues.”

That’s a comical and mildly generous description of what occurred. As is typical of nearly every debate I’ve witnessed, the candidates danced around the issues and tried to convince their constituents that they aren’t all that awful after all.

Hillary Clinton’s performance was utterly boring and downright forgettable. In fact, the greatest part of it all was probably the memes of her reactions to the Donald throughout the night. We’ll call them “The many faces of Hillary”.

Overall, nothing Clinton said or did was out of the ordinary, which is pretty ordinary for a career politician like herself. If anything, I would credit Clinton’s composure as she was interrupted by Trump 51 times, according to PBS. Which brings us to the candidate with the best temperament, Donald Trump. That isn’t a title I made up. It’s a claim he actually made as he continued to raise his voice, once again showing just how disruptive he can be. Composure is not even remotely

close to any of the words that come to mind when Trump is mentioned.

But that was not his biggest flop of the night. My personal favorite was his praise of the stop-and-frisk laws, which were implemented in 1968. According to factcheck. org, in 2013 a U.S. judge ruled that New York’s enforcement of the policy was, in fact, in violation of the Constitution. Maybe he missed that part.

Yes, given the current racial climate of this country, Donald “The Gift That Keeps on Giving” Trump decided to voice his support of the great stop-and-frisk law that made profiling a policy. That just doesn’t seem too smart.

Following their performances Monday evening, we learned nothing new about these candidates.

The first presidential debate didn’t give me anything new to work with as a voter. It seemed like both candidates were able to avoid promoting any real policies.

This election just feels different. The hope and optimism that usually comes with this season isn’t there. On Nov. 9, we’re either going to wake up to business as usual or in fear of what will happen.

It’s tragic and unnerving, but I can’t look away.

CARTER is the opinion editor.

“

I love my country and am concerned for its future. Although I may never be directly involved in directing its future course by being a politician, governor or senator, I can be involved by voting. Being able to vote makes me feel like my voice matters.”

Isabella Hambrick Project Management

“

The leaders we elect have a great influence over our freedom, and voting is an opportunity to promote, protect and preserve godly government. As a Christian, I want to stand up and follow the command to fulfill my civic duty.”

VP DEBATE Cierra Carter cmcarter18@liberty.edu

The vice presidential debate will take place Oct. 4 at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, giving the nation the opportunity to see where Gov. Mike Pence and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine stand on the issues.

According to IN.gov, Pence has experience in law, policy and small business. Some of his accomplishments since he began his term in 2013 have included Indiana’s largest state tax cut and an $800 million investment in state infrastructure. He previously served in Congress.

According to Kaine’s personal website, he has also served as a lieutenant governor, senator and mayor. Since joining the Senate

According to Nielsen estimations, nearly 84 million people tuned in to watch Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump face off for the first time. Nielsen went on to state that 13 networks went live from 9 p.m. to 10:45 p.m., getting over 17 million interactions on Twitter. According to CNN, the previous record to beat was one long held by Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter in 1980, with 80.6 million. In 2012, Nielsen reported that Barack Obama and Mitt Romney pulled in more than 67 million viewers.

CARTER is the opinion editor.

Ezra Anderson Theater Arts

“

I vote because everyone doesn’t get the chance to.

There are many places where you don’t have the right to make decisions in your country. I am glad I can have an influence in the place where I live.”

the polls National Poll Virginia Poll

Percent

WHO’S WATCHING

in 2012, Kaine has served on several committees, including Armed Services, Budget and Foreign Relations and Aging.

Though Clinton and Trump have given everyone an earful, those tuning into the debate will get the opportunity to get to know the other side of their campaigns. Compared to previous elections, it seems as though the VP candidates have taken a backseat.

According to Politico, the 2008 debate between former Sen. Joe Biden and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin drew record breaking numbers, with 69.9 million tuning in, according to Nielson Ratings.

We have yet to see Pence or Kaine on Saturday Night Live, but there’s still time.

50 47%

48%

44%

One hundred eight years.

My mind can’t fully fathom what 108 years feels like.

But it’s been 108 years since the Chicago Cubs have won a World Series, yet this year they’ve positioned themselves in a place to make a run at ending this season with a World Series trophy in hand.

As of Oct. 2, the Cubs have posted a national league-leading 103-58 record.

After securing the National League Central title, the Cubs will look ahead to facing off against the National League wild card winner starting Friday, Oct. 7 With four pitchers totaling at least 15 wins each and consistent run production by the offense, the Cubs will be fun to watch in October.

The road to a championship won’t be easy as the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers, among other teams, look to prolong the Cubs’ drought.

One hundred eight years is a long time ago. In 1908, Theodore Roosevelt was still president, Henry Ford produced the Model T and there were 46 states in the U.S. In the time between 1908 and 2016, there have been 18 presidents, two world wars, the Great Depression and a lot of championships won.

In 1908, the Cubs were lead by shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers and pitcher Mordecai Brown. Tinker had the most home runs on the team with a whopping six. Baseball has certainly changed in the past century.

Yet the Chicago faithful are still hopeful about this year. And I may just be jumping on the bandwagon because c’mon — who doesn’t like to see the underdog triumph once in a while?

As a life-long Baltimore Orioles fan, I want nothing less than my hometown birds to be World Series champions, but the Cubs are making a run for my No. 2 favorite team this postseason.

The last time the Orioles brought a championship back to Charm City was 1983, long before I was born, so I am more than ready to witness my favorite team win the World Series.

I am ready to shed a tear of joy when Camden Yards is full of thousands of fans witnessing a World Series win.

But deep down inside, if Orioles don’t end up making it far in the playoffs, I want to see the Cubs win. They deserve it. Their fans deserve it. And their city deserves it.

One hundred eight years is an insanely long time to wait to see another championship.

But, maybe this is the year. Maybe 2016 will be the year that fans at Wrigley Field finally get to witness a championship win for their beloved city.

42%

40

RODRIGUEZ is the editor-in-chief.

30

20

10

8%

9%

Hillary

Donald

Gary

Democratic Candidate

Republican Candidate

Libertarian Candidate

Clinton Trump Johnson Source: Fivethirtyeight.com as of 10/03/16

AT’S H T !

D ...AN E WROTE SH ALL

opinion

Liberty Champion | October 4, 2016 | A5

Consent and concern A rape victim’s abuse follows her into the court room

Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion

FLAG — The symbol of pride has been scrutinized.

Pride and prejudice The line between patriotism and bigotry Ryan Klinker rmklinker@liberty.edu

You would think that a chant as simple and traditionally patriotic as “U-S-A” could never be seen as a bad thing and certainly not something that could be seen as being racist and worthy of being banned from high school sporting events. Yet that’s exactly what it became to a Michigan school district.

According to FOX 17 in west Michigan, the students of Forest Hills Central High were told that they can no longer chant “U-S-A” during the game as the motives behind students’ use of the chant have been called into question.

A primarily caucasian school, Forest Hills Central was rumored to be using the cheer as a means of racially-motivated bullying the players and fans of the opposing school, who were largely minorities. In a more immediately obvious addition to the case, Forbes website pointed out that these same students have also brought banners and flags to the games — both of which have been linked to possible white supremacist sympathies.

Jim Haskins, the commissioner of the conference, took action immediately and limited the time window of acceptability for the chant to the time directly following the playing or singing of the Star Spangled Banner. When speaking to FOX 17, Haskins made sure to make his intentions clear and deflected any potential criticism of his decision as being against American pride.

“It's not unpatriotic,” Haskins said. “It's just trying to keep everything squared away with everybody.”

This surely is not the first time that something like this has happened, and it’s not even the first time I personally have seen it. In my senior year of high school in Lodi, California, a basketball player of ours who was of Pakistani descent was continuously jeered at throughout one of our games, and the same “U-S-A” chant was directed towards him.

As one may expect, it grabbed headlines in our area. Our player simply wanted to move on and focus on the game, but he was understandably upset.

To see such a very similar act performed by some of my peers, quite frankly, sickens me.

When San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem this past preseason the country took notice, and some of his fellow NFL players followed his example. Their protest has continued and influenced similar actions from athletes at various levels.

The reactions, as one could expect, came from both sides of the issue.

Belmont University’s campus newspaper, The Belmont Vision, shared on its website a hateful message that was posted by a student on social media.

In his Snapchat story, freshman Justin Woodard posted a picture of a group of NFL players protesting police brutality during the national anthem and captioned it by stating that the players ought to be shot. Needless to say, the student was swiftly expelled from the school and escorted off the campus of the Christian university, and I couldn’t be happier for the consequence.

Our once patriotic and positive moments seem to have been truly transformed into such deep negativity and brought about such hatred and controversy.

Our country’s values once stood for unity between differences, or at least that’s how I have always seen it. Today’s social climate seems to have put that far behind us. This rising turmoil and these hate-filled occurrences will never change anything for the better, and they turn any hope of positive change into yet another obstacle for our country to overcome.

KLINKER is a feature writer.

Janae Williams jwilliams453@liberty.edu

“Why couldn’t you just keep your knees together?”

In September 2016, Canadian Judge Robin Camp faced removal from the bench for his candid comments over a rape case he presided over in 2014. The judge then faced a week-long judicial council hearing, which determined whether he should be removed from the bench.

According to CNN, the case took place in 2014 when Camp covered a case in which a 19-year-old woman said that she was raped over a bathroom sink during a house party. Camp than provided the young woman with some sound advice.

Camp asked her why she didn’t “skew her pelvis” or push her bottom into the sink to avoid penetration. He openly wondered, “Why couldn’t you just keep your knees together?”

A victim trusted the court to respect her and bring her justice, but instead she was met with personal criticism.

Issues of sexual assault have plagued college campuses across the U.S., and while these issues of sexual violence increase, there are candid conversations between students and administration concerning sexual violence.

From Harvard’s “Our Harvard Can Do Better” campaign, which hopes to dismantle rape culture at Harvard University, to Liberty University’s “#SpeakUpLU” campaign, which urges students to not only speak against sexual violence but to also become aware of it, universities are urging students to advocate for those victimized while also educating themselves.

According to RAINN. org (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), over 300 colleges across the nation have participated in RAINN Day, which is an annual day of action during the month of September to raise awareness and educate students about sexual violence on college campuses. It is a grassroots program designed to empower college students to educate their peers about risk reduction and recovery resources on their campus.

While American students are taking the initiative to educate themselves on sexual assault, those with the power to be a voice for the voiceless and seek justice for those victimized remain silent, uneducated and lack the ability to remain neutral toward their own bias against sexual violence. The power remains with the gavel.

Canada’s Department of Justice states that the criminal law process is fundamentally between the accused and the state.

But there is increasing recognition of the importance of hearing victims and they are starting to have a greater voice and role in the legal process. However, it seems the victim’s voice was clearly looked at as if Charlie Brown’s teacher was talking. Her story was hard to understand and clearly went over the authoritarian’s head.

Growing up, my mother always said, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” The Bible says in James

“

Google Images

JUDGE — Canadian judge Robin Camp’s speech was alarming.

1:19 “Be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger.” The judge should have taken some of this advice.

Although age does not align with maturity, Camp, 64, asked the victim, clearly ignorant to the fact that according to Canada’s sexual assault website, sexualassault.ca, of every 100 incidents of sexual assault, only six are reported to the police. The victim decided to seek justice through the judicial system and in the process, got revictimized.

According to CNN, on the subject of sex in general, and sex with young women in particular, he said, “Young wom[e]n want to have sex, particularly if they’re drunk.”

Camp’s understanding of what consent is is flawed, blurred and unjust. According to Canada’s Womens’ Legal, Education and Action Fund (LEAF), a person cannot say they mistakenly believed a person was consenting if that belief is based on their own intoxication, they were reckless about whether the person was consenting, they chose to ignore things that would tell them there was a lack of consent, or they did not take proper steps to check if there was consent.

Objectivity is key, especially when it comes to issues of sexual violence. We need judges who will be able to look at both sides of the issue who are educated and aware of what sexual violence is and how to deal with it. However, Camp was neither, and his statements seem to have justified this situation because, in Camp’s mind, she wanted it because she was drunk.

Camp ultimately acquitted the man charged with the crime and then told him: “I want you to tell your friends, your male friends, that they have to be far more gentle with women. They have to be far more patient. And they have to be very careful. To protect themselves, they have to be very careful.”

Camp’s aforementioned comments seem to advocate for the accused and victimize the victim.

The verdict was overturned on appeal. A new trial is scheduled for November.

CAMP’S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CONSENT IS IS FLAWED, BLURRED AND UNJUST.

WILLIAMS is an opinion writer.

Who’s picking favorites?

Major news outlets are making their 2016 choice clear

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

MEDIA — The news media has overwhelmingly spoken out against Donald Trump.

Cierra Carter cmcarter18@liberty.edu

The 2016 election has taken the country into unprecedented territory. Major and unlikely publications in the U.S. have publically endorsed Hillary Clinton as November nears.

USA Today, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the Arizona

Republic, the San Diego Union-Tribune — do any of them ring a bell? Well, they are just a few to decide that Donald Trump is bad news.

USA Today called Trump “unfit for the presidency.” The Arizona Republic said, “The 2016 candidate is not conservative and he is not qualified.” In their endorsement of Clinton, The New York Times stated that they would later

explain why they believe Trump to be the worst major party candidate in modern U.S. history. Yikes.

Though their conclusions are warranted given Trump’s behavior throughout his campaign, it is not the job of an entire publication to take sides. This not only confirms the bias that so many already perceive from the media, but it encourages public distrust.

It’s like when you log on to Facebook and see your high school best friend giving out hot takes that no one asked for.

You want to keep scrolling and ignore it, but before you know it, you’re deep in the comments, and it’s too late.

There is no need to choose a side. The job of the media is not to spoon-feed information to the public. Reporting exactly what the candidates say and do should be enough for the American people to make their decisions, and if we find that this is not the case, there are probably greater issues at hand.

There is an urgency concerning the state of the union, and it seems to have everyone speaking out.

CARTER is the opinion editor.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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ADMINISTRATION

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

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

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

news

A6 | October 4, 2016 | Liberty Champion

POLITICS Voting for the future Because of a rise in voting power, candidates reach out to millenial voters Jack Panyard jepanyard@liberty.edu

According to the Pew Research Center, the number of eligible voters in the millennial generation has recently surpassed the baby boomer generation, but they are not showing up at the polls.

Millennials are gaining a significant amount of voting power after the baby boomer’s power peaked in 2004 with members of that generation dying and getting older, but the millennials aren’t using it, according to NPR. An NPR article reports that millennials have the lowest voter turnout of any age group. In fact, only 46 percent voted in the last presidential election.

Christina Ostmeyer, one of the founders of Young Invincibles, an organization educating young adults on issues such as higher education, health care and jobs, said millennials are feeling disenchanted with the system.

“There’s so many students out there who just feel like their voice doesn’t matter,” Ostmeyer said. “If they have to vote, yes, they’re showing up, doing their civic duty, but they inevitably think that it isn’t going to matter.”

Brian Bosche, a former journalist and bestselling author, said millennials should not back away from the election because they do not agree with the candidate’s character.

“People think that voting is about person-

ally endorsing a candidate and if that candidate doesn’t reflect my character and all of my principles I can’t vote for that candidate, but voting actually represents something far bigger than that,” Brian Bosche said. “Voting represents choosing a strategic direction for your county.”

Bestselling author and president of The Millennial Solution, which provides corporate training for young professionals, Gabrielle Bosche said millennials need to fight for their future with the power they are given.

“We’ve been entrusting politicians to make decisions about our health care — they screwed it up — student debt — screwed it up, and about taxes, regulations and our ability to even start more companies,” Gabrielle Bosche said. “They’re continuing to screw it up. If things keep going the way they’re going now, we’re not going to have a future.

We’re not going to have opportunity.”

Brian Bosche said there are consequences of not voting.

“Not showing up to vote, even though it’s your choice, will have a consequence in an election,” Brian Bosche said. “There is no consequence-free zone when you’re talking about voting. I think we as millennials and other generations have to think about those consequences and what those effects are because you’re responsible for them at the end of the day.”

Ostmeyer believes young adults need to make it to the polls for the upcoming election.

“The fact that we live in the United States and have the ability to vote, it’s not just a

duty, but it’s really a privilege,” Ostmeyer said. “Even if there aren’t candidates that reflect your own views, I think it’s important to go to the polls and make that known because there is power in numbers, and I think that millennials have a really important voice that they can bring to the table.”

Brian Bosche said millennials have an opportunity to have their voice heard in the upcoming presidential election.

“This is an opportunity for millennials to demand that (the candidates) do listen but also an opportunity for candidates to bridge a generational divide that can be pretty toxic,” Brian Bosche said.

Gabrielle Bosche said voting is a clear sign of maturity — a healthy way of getting involved in the American process.

“Millennials are going to start to take ownership of their America, and we haven’t really seen that in the past,” Gabrielle Bosche said.

“Voting is such an amazing way to not only participate in the American process but to say ‘I’m an adult’.”

The millennial generation could have a definite sway in the upcoming election. The question is if they are going to use it.

“We have a lot of power, not just in our numbers but in the policies that we hold near and dear to our hearts and the ones that are going to impact our generation,” Ostmeyer said. “We need to make sure that the politicians are listening, and one way to get them to listen is to show up on Election Day.” PANYARD is a news reporter.

VOTE AT

LIBERTY Complete your Virginia Voter Registration form at the Dean of Students Office or online at

liberty.turbovote.org

Proudly Made in the USA

Politicians listen to Liberty How Liberty students became some of the most targeted voters in Virginia Will Young weyoung@liberty.edu

Since its establishment in 2011, the Vines Center voting precinct at Liberty University has garnered a substantial amount of influence in the political sphere unlike any other precinct in Lynchburg City, as Liberty’s overall population continues to grow and more students register to exercise their civic duty to vote.

The Vines Center — better known by many in Lynchburg City’s Registrar’s Office as the second precinct in Lynchburg’s third ward — has shown evidence in the past five years of becoming an established voting bloc that, according to Dean of Students Robert Mullen, has the potential to make or break a candidate’s chance of office.

In the March 2012 presidential primaries — the first time Liberty students were allowed to vote in the Vines Center — the precinct immediately garnered national attention when it recorded 590 votes, more than any other precinct in the state. In the March 2016 GOP presidential primaries, student voters more than doubled that amount, recording a total of 1,215 votes.

Mullen noted the Vines Center voting precinct allows students an easy way to cast their vote locally, thus giving more collective power to Liberty students’ votes and creating one of the most influential voting blocs in Virginia.

“People and politicians pay attention to voter turnout at the Vines Center precinct,” Mullen said. “If our students are spread out in different precincts, then the power of the Liberty vote, in terms of public perception, gets a little bit diluted, but when we get a big turnout at the Vines Center, it sends notice that Liberty is influential in both local, state and national politics.”

Out of the 1,215 votes that were cast from the Vines Center in the 2016 GOP presidential primaries, 513 went to Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who later won the majority of votes in Lynchburg City. According to statistics derived from the Virginia Department of Elections, if all the votes from Liberty’s precinct were to be removed, the outcome would be different — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz would have won Lynchburg City.

In the 2012 presidential general election, the Vines Center recorded 3,347 votes, more than any of the other 18 voting precincts in Lynchburg. Though the number of active voters was high, only 57 percent of the registered voters at the Vines Center precinct actually voted (5,891 total registered voters), leaving room for improvement in voter turnout for the 2016 general election.

Similar to the 2012 presidential primary elections, if Liberty’s votes were to be taken out of the 2012 general election, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney would have only won 50 percent of the votes in Lynchburg instead of 54 percent. Romney would have gone on to beat President Barack Obama in Lynchburg by a much slimmer margin of 3 percent (50 percent to 47 percent) compared to his actual 10 percent (54 percent to 44 percent) margin of victory.

National politicians have taken notice of Liberty’s influence in Virginia. In March 2015, Sen. Cruz offically announced his presidential candidacy during Liberty’s Convocation. Other visitors in the past have included Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

According to Mullen, the Dean of Student’s Office this year has

Kevin Manguiob | Liberty University News Service

A CIVIC DUTY — Liberty students have been able to vote at the Vines Center since October 2011. partnered with Lynchburg City’s Registrar’s Office on a voter registration campaign to continue to get more students registered in Lynchburg and strengthen voter turnout among those registered.

“We have encouraged students to vote locally because of the convenience but also for the fact that when they register to vote locally, it directly impacts their own pocketbook and the influence Liberty has in the local community,” Mullen said.

Prior to the Vines Center becoming its own voting precinct, Liberty students were forced to drive or take a bus over to Heritage Elementary School to vote. Heritage Elementary is much smaller compared to the Vines Center, and students would have to wait in hour-long lines with other Lynchburg residents to get a chance to vote.

Consequently, Mullen said it is now much easier for Liberty students to vote locally than vot-

Kevin Manguiob | Liberty University News Service

ELECTION DAY — Students pictured holding their “I voted” stickers after voting in the March 2016 primary elections. ing absentee. On voting day, food will be provided for all students, whether or not they vote, and representatives from Lynchburg’s Registrar’s Office will be there to help students vote easily and as quickly as possible.

“It’s going to be a fun day,” Mul-

len said. “The Registrar’s Office and the precinct captain are excited to have Liberty students come, and it’s just going to be a great atmosphere and a great environment overall.”

YOUNG is the news editor.

news

Liberty Champion | October 4, 2016 | A7

Making gains Liberty first released its plan for a campus expansion in 2014. As part of that plan, a new athletic training center located adjacent to the Vines Center is being constructed.

For the new center, Vines is being expanded to allow the basketball team to have more space. According to Planning and Construction Coordinator Brad Butler, the area will consist of different weight rooms, administrative offices and areas for the varying guests of Convocation to stay. The second floor of Vines will be expanded with David Nasser’s offices, which will create a shaded carport behind the basketball teams’ training area.

“We’ll extend it to overlook the library lake,” Butler said.

The extension will be 45 feet to create the roof over the carport and provide added space. It will also provide the basketball team with expanded men’s and women’s weight rooms.

“The president’s commitment to raise awareness of Liberty University through a nationally competative athletic program hasn’t changed,” Butler said. “The quality of facilities offered to our student-athletes is vital to this mission, and the new expansion project is a key element to that end.”

Construction for the center has been going according to schedule, and partnering groups have been very accommodating, Butler said. Vines and

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the area around it are a high traffic area with Convocation occurring and the Commons nearby.

“Ninety-nine percent of traffic through that area have had to be moved,” Butler said.

The project has taken priority over the events that have been going on this semester, but this will change when Mike Pence speaks at Convocation. Then, construction will shut down to allow security to take precedence.

Other than that, the project is a priority and is scheduled to be completed Jan. 1, 2017.

Butler said all of the success for this project can be credited to Liberty’s construction partners, Construction Management Aassociates (CMA). “(They) are our most valuable players in meeting our construction needs,” Butler said.

Jack Cromby is the project manager of the Vines extension, and the company is handling most of Liberty’s construction needs for the university. Other athletic centers include facilities for tennis, track, swimming and football. An interactive map of the master plan can be found on the homepage of Liberty’s webiste. CMA is handling most of Liberty’s construction ventures and is working to make sure that projects such as the Vines expansion get completed on time.

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ROAD continued from A1 projects, Svrcek said the city will look at the results of the construction and determine from there whether further work is needed to alleviate the congestion on Wards. There is so far no timeline as to when the third-lane extension of Wards would start.

“I think it will take us some time to figure out what the results are of those improvements on Wards Road, so I’m not going to tie a timeline to this at all,” Svrcek said. “There are a lot of moving parts in the city’s transportation infrastructure, and we take a look at what our priorities look like on a pretty regular basis.”

Both Falwell and Svrcek said the main concern is an over-congestion of Wards Road. In 2015, the 1.64 mile-stretch of Wards Road from the south city line of Lynchburg to the Lynchburg Expressway received an average traffic flow of about 40,000 vehicles a day, according to a traffic count from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Another concern is the constant growth of student population at Lynchburg-area colleges. Liberty added many new students

to its student body this year resulting in an enrollment of 15,146 — a new record.

After years of rising enrollment, Falwell said at the Heritage High meeting Liberty will likely hold its residential enrollment numbers steady due to the student body becoming too large for what Liberty’s campus and the surrounding Lynchburg area can accommodate.

Although a third lane on Wards Road is unlikely to be built in the near future, Svrcek said it is a necessity that Lynchburg City partners with Liberty on future projects to build sustainable infrastructure. She brought up the pedestrian bridge over Wards as a past example of how Liberty and Lynchburg City have been able to partner to improve both city and campus life.

“For our collective success, it is necessary that the city partners with external entities,” Svrcek said. “Whether it’s Liberty or a business or an entire industry, I know that in the end that working together is going to make (Lynchburg) an even more dynamic and successful city.”

YOUNG is the news editor.

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news

A8 | October 4, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Give a hat tip for Top Hat Adoption of new app raises issues

Valerie Pors vpors@liberty.edu

Liberty University has partnered with Top Hat to replace Turning Technologies clickers this semester with an app specifically modified for use in Liberty University classrooms — a change resulting in both progress and growing pains.

Reasons for the change from clickers include a previous low-adoption rate by faculty, a complicated user interface and difficulty accessing data required by the Department of Education, according to Liberty’s Top Hat website. Additionally, students would often lose or forget to bring their clickers to class, according to Liberty’s Top Hat Project Manager Bailey Anderson.

“Ultimately the faculty and the student was foremost in our minds when we were doing this exploration,” Anderson said. “I know

FYI A five-year subscription with Top Hat will normally cost $70, but students have until Oct. 31 to turn in their old clicker at Liberty’s bookstore for a free Top Hat subscription.

sometimes students nor faculty feel that way.

They think this was just an IT push-down project, but it wasn’t.”

One challenge in the transition has been overloaded Wi-Fi in 10 of Liberty’s largest classrooms, including DeMoss Hall 1113, 1114 and the Towns-Alumni Lecture Hall, according to Tom Butler, a director for analytics and decision support.

“Our network operations did the best that they could to prepare for that in those classrooms as much as possible, but until we had students here, it was very difficult for us to figure out where that breaking point was,” Anderson said.

Preparation included load testing of the wireless access points (WAPs) over the summer, Anderson said. Additional WAPs have been installed to handle the load, according to Rob Van Engan, associate professor of biblical worldview and a member of the faculty pilot team for Top Hat. “Before (students) had access points and before they could handle it, they weren’t happy with it,” Van Engan said. “but since that time, I’ve been asking them, ‘Okay, how has it been working? You doing okay?’ and there hasn’t been any complaints with it.”

Another challenge has been faculty confusion over how to use Top Hat. Nathaniel Haywood, graduate student assistant for the Liberty Champion, decided to abandon Top Hat and put his quizzes on Blackboard.

“For me, it was new, at times a little complicated, and I think that it’s a good product — I just don’t know how to use it quite yet,” Haywood said.

The Top Hat project did not get authorization to begin until the end of June, according to Anderson.

“Some of the faculty confusion could have been helped if the decision had been made sooner,” Butler said. “I think, had they had the whole summer to play with it and get more familiar, I think we would have had a few more ‘Top Hat champions.’”

Students have reported the app working well in various other classes. However, feedback has been mixed.

“It seems like it’s really kind of 50-50,” Butler said. “It doesn’t seem overwhelmingly negative or positive, which is really okay for being only two months in.”

Butler noted that Top Hat brings a variety of new features to make the classroom more interactive for students. These include “Hot Spot” questions, where students touch part of a picture or diagram as their answer and “Drag and Drop” questions, where students physically match pairs together.

Faculty can also set up tournaments, pitting one side of the classroom against another or students against students “elimination

Christeanne Gormley | Liberty Champion

GETTING AN UPGRADE — Students now use the Top Hat app on their phones instead of the Turning Technologies clickers that have been used by professors in past years. style” for an ultimate winner. Additionally, faculty can remotely open quizzes to specific students if they are absent for reasons such as family deaths, ministry teams or debate teams, Anderson said.

Top Hat operates on a continuous development cycle, which means it is being updated constantly. Turning Technologies, on the other hand, could only periodically release new versions of the software to add additional features or fix problems, according to Anderson.

Top Hat has responded and resolved problems in a matter of hours, Anderson said.

Other vendors they have worked with have taken days to respond, let alone resolve the problem, she said.

“They’ve been one of the most responsive companies we’ve ever worked with,” Butler said.

Faculty and students have expressed concern over opportunities for students to cheat, since the same phone that hosts the app also hosts Google, texting and camera capabilities.

Liberty and Top Hat are developing a “lockout” feature for the spring 2017 semester to prevent cheating. The solution currently under discussion would lock students out of a test if they toggle to Google or text and camera apps until the professor lets them back in again, Anderson said.

Until the lockout feature is available, quizzes and tests in many classes remain on Blackboard, Van Engan said.

Khuyen Pham, a junior computer science student, also expressed concern over the cost of the new app.

“If we buy a clicker, we can resell it,” Pham said. “With Top Hat, it’s already more ex-

pensive … and you can’t resell it to anyone.”

The Top Hat app costs $70 at the Liberty bookstore for a 5-year subscription, whereas clickers previously cost $54. Students can trade in their clickers for the app until Oct. 31, 2016, according to Liberty’s Top Hat website, but new students must purchase the app.

“Right from the beginning when we laid out the requirements, we said we don’t want to charge students significantly more,” Anderson said.

But given the new features, the benefit of not having to carry an extra device and the 5-year subscription, the committee made the decision to switch to Top Hat, Anderson said.

“As reluctant as I am to say it, if we had stayed with the previous solution, that cost would have increased anyway because we would still have been moving toward a cloudbased solution,” Anderson said.

Five faculty and roughly 2,000 students participated in the Top Hat pilot program last spring. In the resulting survey, 70 percent of students were in favor of the app, according to Anderson. Out of the remaining 30 percent, many students did not care either way, or were frustrated by procedures unique to the pilot.

Taking those questions into account, the student response was “pretty positive,” Anderson said.

PORS is a news reporter.

Christian and to not separate faith and work,” Rowe said. “It’s a blessing at Liberty to not have to separate faith and education, and we want them to carry that out into the world. They don’t have to separate their career and faith.”

Faculty meetings continued and eventually prompted LU Serve International’s involvement as a means of helping relevant organizations become more aware, according to LU Serve International director Steven Gillum. LU Serve International will also help sort

“

Overall, Donahoo said “Engineers on Mission” is in its beginning stages, but depending on how it develops it could significantly change how students experience their professions while at Liberty.

“It’s got a lot of potential,” Donahoo said. “It could go as far as God could make it go, or it can go as little as our limiting minds limit it to go.”

Losee said the project is evidence that God can use anyone, especially considering how their first meeting with Donahoo went.

IT’S GOT A LOT OF POTENTIAL. IT COULD GO AS FAR AS GOD COULD MAKE IT OR IT CAN GO AS LITTLE AS OUR ... MINDS LIMIT IT TO.

Joel Coleman| Liberty University News Service

CUTTING EDGE — Engineering students used 3-D printers and other technologies to support nonprofits.

ENGINEER continued from A1 industrial and engineering students Corey Messer and Nick Losee from pursuing their dream of connecting engineering and missions.

Messer originally presented the vision for “Engineers on Mission” with a group for one of his engineering classes. However, the vision died until Messer met Losee during the 2016 spring semester and realized they shared a passion to use their majors for ministry and were not content waiting for a diploma to begin.

“People want to be used by God, but they continually create excuses by saying, ‘I’m just a fill in the blank,’” Losee said. “It could be, ‘I’m just a sophomore’ or ‘I’m just an undergrad student.’ Whatever it is, that’s the blank that’s preventing you from something the Lord wants you to do.”

Together, Messer and Losee began to write out what a system of collecting missions-based capstones would look like. They gauged the interest of missionary organizations and then started meeting with engineering and computational science faculty. Finally, they got the chance to meet

with Donahoo to explain their idea, but Messer said the first meeting did not go as the two students had hoped.

“While we might have been good engineers, we were not good salesmen,” Messer said.

Even so, Donahoo said he could see Messer’s and Losee’s passion and that they were determined to see something happen. Faculty members like Valda Rowe, the directed programs manager, soon began to support the vision as it showed the bridge between skill and ministry.

“We want them (students) to see there is opportunity to be a whole

through the applications in order to not waste the school’s money or the students’ time.

“The ultimate goal is we don’t want to see students working on a project that has international ramifications that isn’t being used for Great Commission advance,” Gillum said. “If it doesn’t, we want to present that caution and say we’re not sure that this project is as worthy as another because there is no real follow up for discipleship or church planting.”

The follow up will be from Liberty’s end as well, as Gillum said there is a goal to have the students that work on these projects travel to the locations that benefit from their work so the students can connect the dots and see the stories that result.

—DONAHOO Losee also said that this success is not going to let him become complacent with the rest of his time at Liberty.

“One way to look at it is, it’s something surreal,” Losee said.

“But another way is that our God is big, and I believe he’s going to do even bigger and greater things through Corey and I because of our faithfulness and because of his faithfulness to us.”

Rowe said the application for ministries and non-profits will be accessible through both the school of engineering and computational science’s webpage and the LU Serve International’s webpage as soon as the application is complete.

PRICE is a news reporter.

SPORTS

October 4, 2016 This stadium is not just a step forward for football or the university. It’s a leap forward.

- Director of Athletics Jeff Barber

This week in Flames history

2010

the future

B1 The newly renovated Williams Stadium set a then stadium record with 19,314 fans.

Compare that to this past Saturday when the Flames drew only 11,273 fans.

Mayhem Flames get rolled by Alabama during midnight game TJ Davis adavis331@liberty.edu

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

SHOTGUN — Buckshot Calvert threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns against Robert Morris in his first career start.

41-point buck Buckshot leads the Flames to 41-7 victory over RMU Nate Haywood nahaywood@liberty.edu

Just a week prior, a dejected Liberty Flames football team left the field after suffering a blowout loss verses the No. 3 FCS team in the nation, Jacksonville State (JSU). Heads hung low as the Flames were statistically outclassed and ultimately outscored by redshirt senior quarterback Eli Jenkins’ Gamecocks.

With a subpar 1-3 record, uncertainty regarding the quarterback position, and a glaring bruise from JSU’s proverbial punch to the gut, the Flames could not afford to drop their final home non-conference game of the season against the Robert Morris University (RMU) Colonials (1-4).

“It was very important to boost our confidence going into conference play,” sophomore defensive end Juwan Wells said. “Going into conference, I think we just needed to keep our heads high and keep moving.”

With the threat of a 1-4 record looming over their heads, Wells and his Liberty Flames dominated the Colonials in a 41-7 routing at Williams Stadium, Oct. 1.

M. Soccer UNCA

Liberty

4

3

WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME

Both teams did little with their opening drives, as each resulted in quick three-and-outs. Despite the slow offensive start, it was the Colonials who drew blood first.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Romanchak and sophomore tailback Dante Satcher collectively marched deep into Flames territory. After leading his offense to Liberty’s 2-yard line, Romanchak capped off the drive with a 2-yard dart to his freshman fullback, Blake Skuratowicz.

Down seven, it became freshman quarterback Buckshot Calvert’s turn to lead an offense in a scoring drive.

After two drives that failed to result in a single first down, Liberty moved the chains for the first time with five minutes remaining in the first quarter after a 1-yard carry on third and short from junior running back Carrington Mosley. A pass interference call against the Colonials moved the Flames to midfield.

But the penalty called just two plays later would have an impact of a much larger magnitude.

After a Mosley rush moved the Flames just past the 50-yard line, Calvert lofted a pass to a wide-open junior receiver Marcus Fitzgerald for a gain of 30 yards.

W. Soccer Presby.

1

Fitzgerald was open due to RMU redshirt senior defensive back Marcelis Branch leaving his man to help cover the slot receiver, whom Branch thought Calvert was aiming for. But in the process, Branch was flagged for targeting which resulted in the Flames moving half of the distance to the goal closer, and subsequently Branch’s ejection. “(Branch) is a good player,” Gill said.

“The referees made the call. (I) don’t like anybody getting out of the game. I don’t care if it’s one of our guys or one of the opponents.”

Immediately after the large gain, the Colonials were called for another penalty — offside — pushing Calvert’s unit even closer to RMU’s endzone. With the Flames first goal-to-go situation of the game, it found itself with the most opportune chance to tie the game. And while it took them all four plays, the Flames did just that.

Liberty was set in its goaline formation on fourth down at the 1-yard line. Calvert faked the handoff and glided the ball into redshirt

Whether it was punishing body checks, broken glass or 80s classics, the Flames Midnight Mayhem hockey game had everything one could ask for except a Flames victory.

The Flames Division I hockey team fell 7-5 to the Alabama Frozen Tide in the first matchup of its two-game series. According to the ACHA Men’s DI rankings, The Flames (3-1-0) came into the game ranked No. 17 and Alabama (3-2-0) was ranked No. 24. The upset-caliber performance was evident throughout the game, as the Flames outshot the Frozen Tide 37-21 but were unable to capitalize on most of their chances.

“I think it centers around our D-zone,” Flames Coach Kirk Handy said. “We didn’t have a great night. That many quality chances on the shots that they got, we have to do better in our D-zone.”

The Flames also committed multiple unnecessary penalties and failed to capitalize on power plays of their own. The inability to take advantage of those opportunities proved costly for the Flames, as the game went back and forth in all three periods.

The Flames started the game with the intimidating support of 4,000-plus fans rocking the rink at midnight. They used that energy to help propel them to a 1-0 lead with 11:49 left in the first period, with a goal rebounded in by senior forward Colt Steele. From that point on, the matchup would become a shoot-out with each team taking their respective leads throughout the game.

The Frozen Tide evened the score just two minutes after the Flames first goal, with a goal by defenseman Pierre Ouellette off of a power play.

After Alabama tied the game, the Flames countered with a newfound sense of urgency. The Flames put constant pressure on the Tide’s defense, one example being senior forward Grant Garvin’s one-on-one with Alabama goalie John Grenier in which he tried to slap it in from the crease but was stopped short by Grenier.

The back-and-forth action remained even until late in the first period when Alabama’s leading scorer, Taylor Joseph, slapped in a shot to give the Frozen Tide their first lead at 2-1. The Flames responded almost immediately with a goal by sophomore forward See MAYHEM, B3

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

See BUCK, B4

M. DI Hockey (series)

SKATE — Grant Garvin took control of the puck.

Swimming & Diving

Football

Liberty

Alabama

Liberty

Campbell

Liberty

Rob. Morr.

Liberty

7

1

1

134

144

7

41

Volleyball vs. Gar. Webb Oct. 7 @ 7 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. G. Town

Oct. 8 @ 12 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Winthrop Oct. 8 @ 2 p.m.

W. Soccer vs. Winthrop Oct. 12 @ 4 p.m.

M. Soccer vs. Campbell Oct. 14 @ 7 p.m.

Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage

sports

B2 | October 4, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Then there were two Barr sisters look to finish what Natalie started four years ago on the field Lindsey Ball lcball1@liberty.edu

Graduate Assistant Coach Natalie Barr, senior defender Serena Barr and senior midfielder Bethany Barr began playing field hockey together long before they were on the Liberty University roster. The three sisters began their training in the front yard of their home in Lurgan, Northern Ireland.

“We played in the front garden and the kitchen,” Bethany Barr said. “The garage door is still battered to this day.”

The three players grew up in a household of six children. While their older siblings never played field hockey, Natalie, Serena and Bethany Barr grew to love field hockey through a youth club when Natalie Barr was 8 years old.

“The club we played for had a very good youth program that started kids very young,” Bethany Barr said. “Natalie first went to that on Saturday mornings, then brought us along.”

Natalie Barr played with the team for four years before becoming the graduate assistant coach for the 2016-2017 season.

Natalie Barr came to Liberty with the intent to stay for one year and play field hockey.

“I came on my official visit and really enjoyed it,” Natalie Barr said. “I ended up coming out for a year and stayed for four instead.”

Natalie Barr is currently studying elementary education. She enjoys coaching competitively and being involved in the athletic atmosphere.

“I wasn’t all that interested at first, but then I found out that Coach Murphy had been to Uganda, coaching and doing sports ministry,” Natalie Barr said. “That had always intrigued me, and every time we go to Uganda, we coach and allow these children to have the opportunity to just be kids.”

She holds top records in 11 different cat-

egories for the university’s program. During the four years she played for Liberty, she scored 54 goals, assisted 26 goals, took 306 shots and made 13 game-winning goals.

“Coaching is the next best thing,” Natalie Barr said. “My first choice would be playing, but I am so blessed to have this opportunity to

hockey program.

Serena Barr holds the record for the most career assists at 33. Six of those were within the 2016-2017 season. After she finishes this year and completes her degree, she hopes to complete her master’s degree and teacher licensure. Her end goal is to be a high school

Kevin Manguiob | Liberty University News Service

BARR NONE — Serena and Bethany Barr are in their last season as Lady Flames. be working alongside the staff and players like Bethany and Serena.”

In 2013, Serena and Bethany Barr started attending Liberty. Bethany Barr is majoring in interdisciplinary studies with focuses in geography, environmental sciences and creation studies. Serena Barr is majoring in public health and minoring in biomedical sciences.

The twins are in their senior year in the field

geography teacher.

Her twin sister, Bethany Barr is the recordholder for single season assists. She plans to get her master’s degree in dietetics in either England, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

“When we were very young, I remember having to make the decision between swimming and hockey,” Bethany Barr said. “It was never really a decision, because it is always go-

ing to be hockey.”

The three sisters shared the same passion for field hockey at Liberty. The match against Stanford in 2013 won the Lady Flames the NorPac Championship title.

“Stanford was so much better than us, but we played with so much heart,” Natalie Barr said. “That is what we are trying to teach these girls this year — the way you gain an advantage is your head and your heart.”

The three sisters explained the benefits of playing together and the friendly competition it creates between them.

“We always pick each other for one-onone drills because, although we hate to lose against each other, it makes us better,” Serena Barr said. “It gives us accountability with each other.”

The players are accountable to each other both on and off the court.

“When you live together, you are accountable to each other with what you eat and over the summer, what your fitness looks like,” Serena Barr said. “My sister will be honest with me. She will tell me if I am not putting in the work I need.”

Liberty allows the Barrs to play the sport they love with a Christ-centered attitude. This changes how and why they play field hockey.

Throughout their time in Lynchburg, the three players have made an impact on the Liberty field hockey team’s program history. For Natalie, Serena and Bethany Barr, field hockey allowed them to come together as a family and as teammates.

“It feels different being on the field with the same purpose and the same mind, because we want a positive outcome, but when the whistle blows, we have something more,” Serena Barr said. “We are defined by our relationship with Christ, and we are playing for an audience of one.”

BALL is a sports reporter.

No trouble with the hose Lady Flames crush the Blue Hose 7-1 to get back to .500 on the season Julie Deutsch jdeutsch@liberty.edu

The Liberty University women’s soccer team (6-6) defeated Presbyterian College (2-9) 7-1 at Osborne Stadium Oct. 1.

The Presbyterian defense could not stop the Lady Flames from scoring. The first half ended with the Flames leading 4-0.

Liberty attempted 20 shots in the game — 11 in the first half and nine in the second.

The Lady Flames focused on multiple aspects of their game to help them perform to the best of

“

staying focused throughout the week and training really hard.”

The second and third goals were scored by junior forward Isabella Habuda and Knoebel. Both goals were assisted by Farrell. Habuda received a cross from the left wing, allowing her to finish in the corner for a goal. Knoebel received a pass in the box which she finished into the right corner.

The fifth goal was scored by Knoebel as well, with no assistance in the 53rd minute. She collected it outside the box and buried it into the right corner.

Presbyterian scored one goal during the second half in the 69th minute. The goal was scored by de-

I THINK THIS IS A BIG CONFIDENCE BOOSTER FOR US.

— GABRIELLE FARRELL

their abilities.

“Every day we continually eat right, play hard, practice, keep each other accountable and we focus on what we can do better from our last game and how we can prepare for this team when we go out on the field,” sophomore center back Hadley Jones said.

The first goal, scored by freshman forward Gabrielle Farrell and assisted by junior forward Jennifer Knoebel, occurred one minute into the first half. The ball was sent to the left side of the box and kicked in at close range. Farrell also scored the fourth goal on an open goal, assisted by junior defender Elisa Warren.

The game was not all about physical strength and talent — mental wellbeing was also largely responsible for the team’s success.

“It all starts during practice with getting in the right mindset for the game,” Farrell said. “With training and lifting we really have to stay focused, motivate each other and always be very encouraging to each other. It is definitely a mental thing,

fender Kelsey Yeager and assisted by midfielder Frances Whitesides.

Yaeger and forwards Kristen Peagler and Sarah Yoss attempted five shots in the game. They also earned two corner kicks and four fouls by the end of the game.

“I think that we can do a better job in the back of connecting toward the midfield and keeping the balls low, which is better than those 50/50s up in the air, as well as our offense possibly working well on the shots by being a little more desperate in the box,” Jones said. “But I think we are doing great overall.”

The sixth goal for the Lady Flames was crossed from the left side of the box by Abigail Persson and placed into the right corner of the goal by Lauren Weygandt.

The last goal was scored by Erika Troutman with only five minutes left on the clock in the second half. She scored from the far side of the box, drilling it into the left corner with no assistance.

“I thought we did great today,” Jones said. “The first half we did

Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion

EXTENSION — Sophomore forward Morgan Tabor battled past a Presbyterian defender. well. There was a moment we got a little sketchy, but we picked it up really quick. The second half with mixing it up, a bunch of people not playing positions they were used to, I thought everybody did exactly

what they needed to do.”

The next game for the Lady Flames will be Oct. 5 against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, South Carolina.

“I think this is a big confidence

booster for us,” Farrell said.

“So hopefully our momentum carries out.”

DEUTSCH is a sports reporter.

sports

Liberty Champion | October 4, 2016 | B3

Hole-in-one McKenzie is Freshman golfer wins first tournament

back in the LIC Liberty reporter returns to the rink Hayden Robertson hbrobertson@liberty.edu

Jeff Thomas | Liberty University News Service

CHAMPION — Kieran Vincent held the 2016 Rod Myers Invitational trophy.

Will Collier wcollier@liberty.edu

All the way from Harare, Zimbabwe, freshman Kieran Vincent is not only ready to play, but ready to win. Vincent claimed the first-place title in his first golf tournament at the 2016 Rod Myers Invitational to begin the 2016 season at Liberty University.

“I felt relieved because this year I’ve had so many near-misses,” Kieran Vincent said.

“I finished runner-up three or four times this year.”

Kieran Vincent won by six strokes and helped the Flames finish the tournament in second place. He then received an unexpected call from his role model.

“My brother was super happy,” Kieran Vincent said. “He phoned me and told me how good it was to do that, telling me that to do that at your first tournament was really something.”

Vincent’s older brother Scott Vincent was an All-American golfer at Virginia Tech, so he has experience winning at the collegiate level. Scott Vincent was one of the major influences in Kieran Vincent’s choice to come to Liberty.

“Being an outsider you usually only hear about the Ivy League schools,” Kieran Vincent said. “But I heard of Liberty from my brother. He recommended all these universities to me, and he put an asterisk next to Liberty.”

Kieran Vincent said he values his education greatly, but truly wants to use his time here to push his game to the next level.

“I’m sure everyone’s going to want me to

say ‘I’m going to be a business man,’ but my main objective in coming here was to play golf,” Kieran Vincent said. “Although education does come first, I’ve just always felt like I’ve come here to play golf more than to study. But I’ll definitely put the time and effort into my studies.”

Kieran Vincent hopes to actualize a dream to become a professional golfer after college that was born 15 years ago.

“I first picked up a club when I was three,” Kieran Vincent said. “My dad was the first to introduce me to golf. I beat my dad sometimes, but to this day I’ve never beaten my brother in a tournament. I like to say the five-year age difference is a big deal.”

The family that connected him to golf and supported him is now a 22-hour flight away, and that has been the toughest change to face.

“Being away from home has definitely impacted me a bit,” Kieran Vincent said.

“Especially when I first came over, I struggled quite a bit. It’s not like home is down the road.”

Home has become motivation and a catalyst to push him through the tough times.

“The most important thing is to glorify God, but I also play for my family and the people back home that have poured money, time and effort into me,” Kieran Vincent said. “Every time I’m stressed out when things aren’t going well, I just remember home and that helps me focus back.”

COLLIER is a sports reporter.

Monika McKenzie, news-writer-turnedbroadcaster, followed a path laden with unexpected turns to arrive at the position she now prizes.

McKenzie graduated in May with a degree MCKENZIE in digital media with a concentration in performance, but her major was not always broadcasting. She started out in the print journalism program until she noticed something at the hockey games.

“When I came to Liberty in 2012, I wanted to be a print journalist because I loved writing,” McKenzie said. “It wasn’t until I started going to Liberty hockey games that I noticed all the cameras around the rink and wanted to know what was going on.”

McKenzie also mentioned that broadcasting friend and LFSN worker Kayla Humphries told her that she was getting great experience at LFSN through baseball.

McKenzie wanted a way to get some practical work experience under her belt before entering the job market.

“I got into contact with the producer of LFSN, Matt Byrd, and he told me I could be on board to work next fall,” McKenzie said.

“Coming into sophomore year, I signed up for crew emails which ended up getting me to do camera for hockey.”

McKenzie said one of her best memories was learning how to use a camera with now best friend Katie Mintle. McKenzie mentioned that she and Mintle started out learning camera basics and that is how they became friends.

A year after joining LFSN, the organization lost its main hockey reporter and McKenzie stepped in.

“After our current hockey reporter left my junior year, we had no idea what to do,” McKenzie said. “Since I am the Canadian who must know hockey, they put me into the position.”

Through her junior and senior year at Liberty, McKenzie reported DI Hockey games and became highly respected around the rink. Her hard work and dedication earned her the respect of coaches and players.

“Monika is extremely passionate about her degree and about hockey,” DI Coach Kirk Handy said. “She is a professional and just has a great knowledge of the game.”

“Monika made us feel like people actually cared about our games and asked us those tough questions that would make us think,” former Liberty DI hockey player Paul Lamoureux said. “She took our sport seriously and knew the game well to follow

MAYHEM continued from B1

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

DEKE — Freshman forward Quinn Ryan skated down the ice.

Zechariah Roberts, who deked an Alabama defenseman before slamming the puck into the net to even the score 2-2. The goal set the crowd roaring and kept them standing, despite the event staff’s attempts to get the fans to sit down.

Alabama regained the lead 3-2 in the beginning of the 2nd period, after a controversial no-call where a Liberty player was tripped and lost the puck to a wide-open Taylor Joseph, who then easily buried the puck. The Flames responded with 11:22 left in the 2nd period, with a goal rebounded in by Roberts off of a slap shot from sophomore defenseman Zane Schartz, making the score 3-3.

Less than a minute later, Alabama broke the tie once again with a goal from Dylan Teed, putting the Frozen Tide up 4-3. But the shootout continued with yet another tie, after a scramble at the net that was cleaned up by sophomore forward Owen Harris, leveling the score again at 4-4.

The game was then brought to a halt because of fans who had gotten out of hand. One of the fiberglass panels in the rink was broken by fans banging on the glass. As the ice rink staff worked on fixing the glass, the crowd sang “Living on a prayer”

by Bon Jovi, “move that wall” chants, and continued heckling the

what was going on.”

McKenzie had finally found a niche that made her happy and that she could do for the rest of her life.

“In high school, I played soccer and basketball and did all of these things, but I really didn’t excel at one particular thing,” McKenzie said. “Having someone say you actually have talent and are pretty skilled was nice to hear because that’s what made me want to do it and keep getting better.”

As Monika transitioned into her new broadcasting degree, she said many of her family members were shocked that she chose that path.

“It shocked my parents that I chose to broadcast because I am not that much of an outgoing person,” McKenzie said. “I was the shy kid who really didn’t like talking or being in the spotlight.”

As Monika moved into her degree more, she talked about having an interview with a former NHL player who works for the LA Kings.

In the interview, he told her that she would never be a hockey analyst because she is a woman.

“I made a mental side note to call him when I make it one day,” McKenzie said.

“I want the general viewers to turn on their television and not wonder why there’s a woman on screen. I want it to be normal.”

McKenzie shared her advice about what she would tell students interested in broadcasting.

“Tell the stories that people at home want to hear,” McKenzie said. “There are playby-play and color announcers because they are saying what you see on television and adding to that, but your job as a sideline reporter is to tell those stories people at home wouldn’t think of.”

As McKenzie continues to work for Liberty, she said God put her on this path and if this is as far as she gets, she knows she did what he called her to do.

ROBERTSON is a news reporter.

Photo Provided

REPORT — McKenzie is in her element.

Alabama bench.

Once the game was back in motion, the Flames turned that energy into a late lead. The teams remained level through the end of the 2nd period, but two minutes into the final period, the Flames took a 5-4 lead off of an easy tap in from sophomore defenseman Kyle Crane who received a pass from freshman forward Andy Clarke.

With the crowd and the momentum on their side, it looked as though the Flames were on their way to victory, but Alabama took control of the game. With 13:43 left in the final period, the Frozen Tide’s Oullette scored a slap shot to even the game once again at 5-5.

Two minutes later, the Tide took the lead with a goal by Jack Rooney, putting them up 6-5.

It seemed like the Flames were going to respond immediately when freshman forward Quinn Ryan broke away with a one-on-one opportunity, but was stopped by an Alabama defensemen’s check that brought him down to the ice. Liberty had another near-chance a few minutes later when Schartz went coast-to-coast with the puck, but his pass to a teammate was just out of reach.

Alabama continued to shut down tying efforts and eventually closed the door with a late goal by Casey Donegan with 5:58 left in the period to make it 7-5. In the final five minutes, both teams had power

play opportunities but were unable to capitalize, keeping the final score at 7-5.

According to libertyflames.com, the majority of the Flames leading scorers are underclassmen. With such a young team, Handy understands the importance of keeping the younger players focused.

“I believe our guys have worked hard to this point,” Handy said.

“We got away from it tonight. We got a little bit selfish, and I think when that happens, whether they’re underclassmen or juniors and seniors, it’s not a recipe for success.”

Though it was a tough loss, the Flames still have five months of play left, and Handy knows what the team is capable of and expects the players to correct the minor mistakes.

“It’s a good lesson for us to learn and I believe in the guys we’ve got in there, and as a coaching staff we believe in the guys we’ve got in there,” Handy said. “We have to learn from these situations. It’s a great opportunity to learn early in the year, and I have no doubt that our team will be better tomorrow.”

DAVIS is a sports reporter.

sports

B4 | October 4, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Tough break Flames fall in final seconds against Bulldogs

Attention Tennessee fans everywhere: I will try to make this as simple as possible, so that you can comprehend it.

The Volunteers are posers. They still don’t have a quality victory — no offense, Georgia.

Tennessee barely managed to beat the now-unranked Bulldogs thanks to SCHMIEG a last-second hail-mary made possible by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Georgia for a guy taking his helmet off after catching what should have been the game-winning touchdown.

Tennessee started the season ranked way too high at No. 8 and then barely beat Appalachian State in overtime, which dropped them all the way to No. 17. Since then, the only victories to talk about are against No. 18 Florida and the previously-mentioned Georgia Bulldogs to move UT up to No. 9 in the latest AP poll.

The win against Florida only counts as half of a quality victory in my book, at least for now. There is a good chance Florida will drop out of the top 25 by season’s end as well. So I would advise Tennessee to enjoy this feeling while it can, because two weeks from now, UT will be coming off two straight losses to Texas A&M and Alabama, and all will be right again.

Even then, Tennessee will be able to cruise to the SEC Championship thanks to an extremely weak SEC East and get a rematch with one of those two West teams it will have already lost to.

After keeping it considerably close for the first half, the other side will run away with the game, and the Vols will end up in a semi-respectable bowl game thanks to its 10-3 record that includes, at max, one quality win.

Whether Tennessee wins or loses that bowl game, it will start the 2017 season ranked way too high, yet again.

It might as well be called the Volunteer cycle. The path is inevitable — start the season ranked absurdly high, edge out close games early, lose to all the SEC West teams, and finish the season in a decent bowl game.

I hate to mention the SEC bias, but it’s real. The entire SEC gets a good name, thanks to the SEC West, which deserves the recognition. The west is loaded — I get that.

But why does the east share in that same recognition?

The only team from the east that ever represented the SEC in the national championship game during the conference’s reign of terror was Florida, and the Gators are a long, long way from where they used to be.

So get off your high horse, Tennessee, before you come crashing down.

By the way, Butch, get off the ground. There’s no crying in football.

SCHMIEG is the sports editor.

Classic Dad Move of the Week Doesn’t need a GPS on the road trip because his “brain has a built-in GPS.”

FOOTBALL continued from B1 freshman tight end Zac Foutz’s uncontested hands with just two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Colonials looked to respond. Wells continued to bulldoze his way through the Flames front seven. His contribution paired with a 21-yard connection between Romanchak and Skuratowicz placed the Colonials in Flames territory just as the first quarter concluded.

At the start of the second quarter, an inrhythm Romanchak found freshman receiver Tim Veccio for a short gain, but a roughing the passer penalty against the Flames tacked on an extra 15 yards, putting the Colonials in the redzone. With both momentum and the ball moving in the Colonials favor, RMU’s freshman signal caller set up shop with five wideouts at the 18-yard line.

Romanchak went for the touchdown as he set his sights for a receiver bolting toward the corner of the endzone. He released the ball,

Caroline Sellers| Liberty Champion

HEADER — Brady Mazzei showed off his hops going for the ball against Trenton Klatte of the Bulldogs.

Timothy Cockes tlcockes@liberty.edu

The Liberty Flames men’s soccer team (4-5-1) lost its first conference game of the year Saturday afternoon at Osborne Stadium 4-3 against the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville (3-8).

The Flames tied the game at 3-3 with a goal by freshman Rigoberto Rojas in the 87th minute. The Bulldogs responded with the game-winning goal headed in by junior midfielder Andrew Lawrence off an assist from senior forward Zach Joens with 30 seconds remaining in the game.

“

own in the 69th minute by Ben Chapal.

The Flames and Bulldogs played the game evenly until the Bulldogs took the lead once again at 3-2 on a second goal from Joens in the 81st minute. The Flames tied the game in the 87th minute, only to give up the winning goal.

The loss moves Liberty to 1-1 in conference play, while UNC Asheville moves to 2-0. Liberty Head Coach Jeff Alder was upset with the way his team lost the game.

“It was a very disappointing game,” Alder said. “We tied the game 3-3 and felt like we were on top of the

WE’LL SEE WHAT WE’RE MADE OF. THIS WILL TEST OUR RESOLVE AND OUR TOGETHERNESS.

— COACH JEFF ALDER

The Flames were the aggressor in the first half, outshooting the Bulldogs 11-1. The Flames entered halftime with a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal by senior forward Martin Agredo in the 23rd minute.

In the second half, the Bulldogs were much more aggressive with 13 shots and three corner kicks as compared to only one shot and no corner kicks in the first.

The Bulldogs first tied the game in the 61st minute with a goal by Joens. Liberty responded with a goal in the 63rd minute by sophomore forward Tresor Mbuyu, regaining the lead 2-1. The Bulldogs answered with a tying goal of their

but senior strong safety Alpha Jalloh snagged the ball out of air for the interception. With that turnover, the momentum along with possession of the ball shifted into Flames favor.

After a series of small gains, a roughing the passer call moved the Flames further into RMU territory. Akin to the previous scoring drive for the Flames, Calvert found freshman receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden who scampered into the endzone for the 14-yard touchdown completion.

With a one-score lead, the ball and a bit of momentum, Gill let his freshman quarterback loose. On the very first play of the ensuing drive, Calvert uncorked a long ball to senior receiver Dante Shells for a 69-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 21-7.

The score remained that way until halftime.

Once the second half commenced, it soon changed when Romanchak was picked off by junior safety Solomon McGinty who jumped the route and ran it in for a pick-six.

Liberty would proceed to add two field goals and a fourth passing touchdown from Calvert, who set the record for first-time starting freshman quarterback passing yards in a

game because of the momentum swing of the tying goal. We thought we would end up winning the game in overtime because of the change in momentum, and we ended up giving up a goal in the last minute — very disappointing.”

Alder noted the increased aggressiveness of the Bulldogs in the second half.

“They committed more numbers in the second half, and we adjusted to that,” Alder said. “We just didn’t execute.”

Alder remains confident in the team as it moves deeper into conference play.

“We can play with anybody in the

conference, but we have to be able to play better defensively,” Alder said.

Alder said the loss will be a trial the Flames will have to push through in order to get better as a team.

“We’ll see what we’re made of now,” Alder said. “This will test our resolve and our togetherness. We’ll have to be more hungry next game.”

Saturday was also “pink day” at Osborne Stadium in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink towels were given out to fans and pink balloons were released at halftime by representatives from different organizations involved with raising awareness and funding better treatment for breast cancer.

Alder and his family have been affected by breast cancer, as it has been a year since his wife Lori has been cancer-free after having been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Breast cancer (awareness) is a great cause and raising awareness is very important,” Alder said. “It was a bittersweet day. We wish we could have won the game, but at the same time I’m very blessed to have my wife here to let go of a balloon at halftime of the game.”

The Flames continue conference play as they travel to Radford to take on the Highlanders Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.

COCKES is a sports reporter.

game (340). “(I’m) proud of (Calvert),” Gill said. “He has a very accurate arm, and he showed that.

He made some good throws and took care of the ball.”

The Flames exited Williams Stadium with a 34-point victory and a bit of that confidence somewhat lost after falling to Jacksonville State only one week earlier. “(I’m) very proud of the way our coaching staff and our players responded after last week,” Gill said.

The Flames next matchup will be their first conference game of the season, as they face off against the Kennesaw State Owls, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.

HAYWOOD is the graduate assistant.

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

HANDS — Zac Parker caught five passes for 27 yards.

feature

Liberty Champion | October 4, 2016 | B5

An Apple a day

Biblical museum

Apple-authorized IT Marketplace opens in DeMoss Hall

Fossils and historical artifacts on display

Seth Dodson scdodson@liberty.edu

Jacob Clarke jlclarke3@liberty.edu

On Sept. 28, Liberty University’s Information Technology Department celebrated the grand opening of its IT Marketplace — Liberty’s first on-campus computer supply store — located in the computer lab on the second floor of DeMoss Hall.

The new IT Marketplace provides on-campus students with a variety of Apple, Inc. products, such as the MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone, along with supported hardware.

Although the marketplace currently only carries Appleaffiliated products, it is not an official Apple Store, but a secondhand vendor. The marketplace is seeking to expand its selection by adding hardware from Dell and Windows in the future.

Morgan Dickson, who works at the marketplace, said the store offers education discounts on technology and, although the store is not an official Apple Store, it is Apple-authorized.

“We actually have had an affiliate in sight for Apple a few years now,” Dixon said.

The IT Marketplace is the brainchild of Connie Allison, who, after seeing similar stores on other college campuses, saw a technology marketplace as an

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

TECH — The store will offer Apple hardware and aims to offer Dell and Windows hardware soon. opportunity to bring the technology students need within their reach on campus. Allison explained the journey the school took from the inception of the marketplace four years ago to its official opening.

“In 2012, a team in IT who worked closely with various technology companies began exploring the possibility of having a physical store on campus to go along with the online IT Marketplace,” Allison said.

“The goal was to focus on initiatives that could add value to the students and help build academic reputation.”

“We believed having an Apple-authorized campus store would achieve both goals. We visited other schools (that) had similar stores such as UVA and UNC. In addition, we researched about a half dozen campus stores via phone calls and email. President Falwell was a supporter of the idea and asked the CIO, Matt Zealand, to continue exploring it.

“We are thrilled to see the culmination of several years’ efforts coming to reality, and (we) trust it will enhance the technical offerings available to Liberty students and

employees.”

Allison left Liberty’s Information Technology wing about a year ago, handing the reigns over to Craig Hara, who now oversees communication between the university and potential marketplace vendors.

“Craig Hara … has been extremely instrumental throughout this multi-year effort,” Allison said. “He continues to manage the unit that will run the store.”

DODSON is a feature reporter.

Feeling jazzy David Duque releases EP at Sept. 27 concert at Liberty Amelia Whittaker awhittaker1@liberty.edu

Student Activities hosted a CD-release concert Tuesday, Sept.

27 in the LaHaye Event Space for Liberty University graduate student David Duque’s fivesong jazz album, “Music

by David Duque.”

Duque is from Dallas, Texas and is currently studying pastoral counseling.

Duque began his time on stage by expressing his gratitude to all those who helped him through the process of creating his extended player (EP). He shared that the process had been

long and difficult but worthwhile in the end.

“It has always been a dream of mine to be able to record and release music so that people can take and enjoy it,” Duque said.

He shared that his favorite artist was John Mayer, and performed Mayer’s song, “Something Like Olivia.”

Duque also shared many of his original works from his EP. Duque performed a few songs acoustically, and was then joined by a full band.

Both Haley Greene and Peter Collins performed before Duque took the stage. Greene began the evening by singing original music.

She is a Liberty student but is taking the year off to be able to focus more on her performing.

One of her original songs that she played was titled “Day One.” “This song came from the idea of the many times in our lives that we have to start over,” Greene said.

Greene was followed in performance

by Peter Collins, who is a business student from New Jersey. Collins played his acoustic guitar and played original music and classic jazz.

“The Sky” was an original song Collins played that made the audience snap along.

“Love Like” was the fi-

nal song he performed, which was written about the love of God. “This song touches on how cool it is to be loved by God and how there is nobody that can love like him,” Collins said.

After performing several songs, Duque called Collins to join him on stage where the two sang a rendition of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” mixed with Shawn Mendes’ “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”

Duque got the audience involved by having them stand and sing along with the chorus of one of his songs. Brandee Davis, a senior at Liberty, was

impressed by Duque’s performance.

“It was awesome to see his passion and how much he puts into his music,” Davis said. “I’m really glad I came.”

Duque finished his performance by thanking all those who supported him from the beginning of his career and those that helped fund his project. He credited his career to the grace of God before introducing his final song of the night.

“Regardless of where you are, there is always hope in Christ,” Duque said.

In just a few minutes’ time, visitors at the Liberty Biblical Museum can travel from the great flood all the way through the Byzantine period, exploring artifacts from eras of Jewish and New Testament history that bring the Bible to life. Almost all of the artifacts and replicas are owned by Dr. J. Randall Price, distinguished research professor and museum curator at Liberty University.

He said the purpose of the museum is to help visitors understand that the Bible has a reliable history to it and that it is a “faith based on facts.”

“If we just have a storybook faith, if we just get principles, and it’s good for guiding our life and sounds good, then … I can take it or leave it,” Price said. “But if we have a real faith, based in a real world and real history, we can’t shake the fact that God actually stepped into time to prove himself to us.”

The layout of the museum, located on the bottom floor of the Jerry Falwell Library at Liberty, is a timeline that guides visitors from fossil evidence of the global flood to teaching how the Bible was copied and translated into its modern form today. In between, there are exhibits such as the Chalcolithic Age (4,300 BC-2,100 BC), the Middle Bronze Age (2,100 BC-1,550 BC), which features the beginnings of the nation of Israel, and the Late Bronze Age (1,5501,200 BC), the period in which Israel was in the Promised Land.

The global flood cases feature a replica of the Gilgamesh Epic, which documents the Sumerian version of a global flood, and dinosaur eggs from China. The Bronze Age shelves contain mud bricks from Egypt — the type used by the Israelites when they were enslaved by the Egyptians.

The Late Bronze period exhibit houses a stone from the fallen city of Jericho, and elsewhere in the museum is an Egyptian sickle sword.

“Everyone knows the story of Joshua conquering Jericho, and you can come here and see an actual sword from the time of Joshua that he would have used to conquer Jericho,” Price said.

He said almost everything in the museum comes from antiquity stores, ex-museum collections, private collections and auctions. One exception is replicas of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The story of their discovery is supposedly that a young sheperd boy threw a rock into a cave, and it hit what turned out to be the pots containing the scrolls.

“The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of a community that lived and interacted with (the people of Jesus’ time) too, so it’s a lot of things in the sectarian documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls that parallel the New Testament and its history and terminology,” Price said.

The “Temple and Priesthood” exhibit contains an actual piece of the Second Temple that was the center of Jewish life in Jesus’ time and was destroyed in the siege of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 A.D. Price, who worked as an archaeologist in Israel and has been collecting the pieces for 40 years, said the museum’s current state is just the beginning and that his hope is that Liberty will acquire it sometime in the future.

“Dr. Falwell hired me and asked me to bring this collection here,” Price said. “Then Jerry (Falwell) Jr. said it’s a good thing. So I provide the artifacts and Liberty provides the space, so it’s a partnership at this point. … If they do (acquire it), it can be expanded.”

CLARKE is the managing editor.

WHITTAKER is a feature reporter.

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

STRUM — David Duque performed songs from his EP and cover songs at the Sept. 27 concert in the LaHaye Event Space.

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

HISTORY — The museum holds important artifacts.

feature

B6 | October 4, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Herding the flock Remodeled LU Shepherd program creates community

Photo Provided

MOON — Viewers can get closeups of the moon, planets and stars at the observatory.

Look to the sky Observatory now open to the public Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

Siani Null snull@liberty.edu

Liberty University physics and math professors Dr. Scott Long and Mr. Randy Tomkins serve God in a different way than most.

They teach astronomy — which involves science, math and theology.

Liberty’s astronomical observatory was built just two years ago and is a tool used with students where they can apply their learning and see the moon, stars, planets and galaxies.

It is located on Sunnymeade Road, near the back of the Equestrian Center grounds.

This year, the observatory is not only available to astronomy students but also to the general public. Current Liberty students and staff can visit the observatory any time it is open. Others can make a reservation online at www.liberty.edu/observatory.

“It is a great opportunity to see the sky and to see the things in the sky in a very new way,” Long said. “You will see galaxies. You’ll see nebulae. You’ll see planets up close, and you’ll encounter God’s creation in a very striking way. It really is eye-opening.”

Tomkins encouraged anyone to come and view the stars — even people who have no experience with astronomy.

Visitors do not need qualifications to participate, and student workers set up the equipment so anyone can enjoy the observatory. A presentation about the solar system and the Earth is also available for visitors who would like to learn about them.

“You’ll see things you didn’t even know existed out there if you haven’t been in astronomy very much,” Tomkins said. “It gives you a new perspective on the reality of what our Earth is living in and (a new) perspective of the solar system. You see a planet like Jupiter with its moons, and you realize these things are actually moving while you’re looking at them. It’s reality … not just a photograph on a page.”

Tomkins teaches a class on solar system and universe issues. Long teaches a similar, but more integrated course with more rigorous problem solving, a term paper and required laboratory hours.

Tomkins said the observatory allows for more opportunities for the professors to connect with their students and with the astronomy club.

“We see more students and get to talk to them more,” Tomkins said. “Especially with events like meteor showers or eclipses. We love to be up there together, and I see that as a big benefit to the class.”

Both teachers agreed that one of the favorite sights to see while star gazing from the observatory is the moon because people are not used to being able to look at it so closely.

“I love looking at the moon through the small telescopes,” Tomkins said. “They’re razor-sharp in their imagery, and you can see all the shadowing.”

The facility includes six 8-inch Celestron telescopes and a 24-inch DFM Engineering telescope, which is the largest telescope in the region. It is open Mondays from sunset until 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from sunset until midnight.

Long said the main thing he tells people before they go is to check the LU astronomical observatory Facebook page for weather updates, as their schedule is dependent on cloud conditions.

COUNSEL — LU Shepherds offer counseling to resident shepherds, so they can counsel students.

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

TEACH — Shepherds are mentored so that they can mentor others.

Erin Covey ercovey@liberty.edu

When LU Shepherd Melanie Denney started working for the Campus Pastors Office as a women’s life skill coordinator, she was already experiencing Liberty University’s vision for the new LU Shepherd Office.

Under the Campus Pastors Office, Denney reached out to students in their own environments by meeting them where they were comfortable. She and LU Shepherd Doug Damon were brought into the Campus Pastors Office a year before the LU Shepherd system was officially created, Denney said.

“We came onboard in order to beta-test what the shepherd position is this year,” Denney said.

LU Shepherd, founded in the summer, restructured both the Campus Pastors Office and aspects of student leadership in order to minister to students more effectively.

“We’re called shepherds because when you’re a shepherd, you smell like the sheep and

the sheep know your name,” Denney said. “We exist to be yeast among the students that permeate all aspects of campus life.”

Denney said that the flexible nature of the shepherd’s role enables them to reach out to students who may not feel comfortable making an appointment to meet with a pastor or counselor. The eight shepherds spend most of their time outside of their office in Dorm 17 because they visit residence halls, mentor student leaders and counsel students in need.

“This generation wants authenticity and transparency,” Denney said. “It’s a lot easier to open up and tell your story when you’re sitting across from somebody at Starbucks than when you’ve had to fill out a report, call an appointment line and sit in a waiting room.”

When the Campus Pastors Office was transformed into LU Shepherd, these pastors also took on the role of training and mentoring student leaders, Denney said. Resident shepherds and community group leaders, formerly

Pray over university NULL is a feature reporter.

known as spiritual life coaches and prayer and life group leaders, are now a part of LU Shepherd.

Under LU Shepherd, Denney is responsible for ministering to female students on the Residential Commons. She typically meets one-on-one with 40 students a week.

As a resident shepherd on East Campus, Alison Pulliam is accountable to a shepherd with whom she meets at least four times a semester.

“My partner and I are in charge of the spiritual life on the hall, and so we do anything from planning hall events to doing (residence hall leadership meeting), which is our leadership meeting with the whole team,” Pulliam said.

Pulliam was a prayer and life group leader for a year and a half before becoming a resident shepherd this year. Although the changes moved resident shepherds and community group leaders from the Office of Student Leadership to LU Shepherd, she does not believe that the structural and name changes had a major effect on leadership on her hall.

“Honestly, our hall does not look a whole lot different than it did in previous years with (resident assistants) and (spiritual life coaches),” Pulliam said.

“We seem to operate a lot of the same way.”

Resident shepherds such as Pulliam are also responsible for the community group leaders on their hall. These students lead community groups for five to seven students each week.

Wes Franklin, the LU shepherd for student mentors, leads training classes for resident shepherds and community group leaders four days a week.

Franklin said he believes creating strong biblical community is essential to the spiritual life of the campus.

Franklin described biblical community as a lifestyle of fellowship with other Christians that models Jesus’ close relationship with his disciples.

“There’s something about biblical community that here in the West we just don’t get,” Franklin said. “There’s hurdles because we pride ourselves on individualism. We were never … created or called to be lone rangers in the faith.”

30 min. time slots

The community group leaders are strongly encouraged to facilitate discussion based on the message preached in the Campus Community service held before community groups on Wednesday night.

“We’re trying to train our community group leaders to move out of Campus Community and bridge that with their community groups,” Franklin said. “We want to have one big conversation about one passage of Scripture, instead of so many messages trying to come at one time to different students.”

Another way that LU Shepherd connects to students is through a 24-hour prayer ministry. When students send prayer requests through the LU Shepherd website or the Campus Community app, LU Shepherd makes certain that each request is prayed for, Denney said.

“We want to bathe this campus in prayer,” Denney said.

“The way that students can connect with that specifically is that they can use the Campus Community app to submit prayer requests that come directly to our office.

LU Shepherd is also developing a program called LU Shepherd Presents that will allow students to discuss topics presented during Convocation, Denney said.

“If a speaker comes into Convocation … LU Shepherd Presents will be a continuation of the conversation in a forum setting,” Denney said.

This forum will be facilitated

by LU Shepherd and will give several hundred students the chance to interact directly with Convocation speakers.

Denney said she hopes LU Shepherd will grow both in the number of shepherds and in their level of impact at Liberty.

“Long term, the goal of the team that we’ve assembled is that we want to be known on campus,” Denney said. “We want to put our names and faces out there so that people understand that they have people on their team who love them and want to help them.”

Franklin said that his vision for LU Shepherd extends beyond the campus of Liberty.

“Some of the greatest minds are going to graduate from Liberty, and they’re going to go all over the world,” Franklin said. “What would it look like if we just a had moment in time with them, and they take that with them wherever they go.”

During her time at Liberty, Denney said she has personally seen how the ministry of LU Shepherd can transform students’ lives.

“There’s so many stories last year of women that the Lord allowed me to be a part of their story,” Denney said. “I have girls that are now community group leaders that were last year in the thick of warfare. … We get to be a part of someone’s story — we get to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

COVEY is a feature reporter.

Community group leaders

Submit prayer requests to prayer@liberty.edu

feature

Liberty Champion | October 4, 2016 | B7

Guitars and gospel Lynchburg metalcore band BoughtXBlood shares God in a secular industry Nathaniel Fraticelli nlfraticelli@liberty.edu

When Lynchburg-based metalcore band BoughtXBlood tours, it does so with the full intent of bringing the gospel to the audience — no matter who the audience is or what god they worship.

BoughtXBlood has been active since 2013, delivering the gospel to long-time believers and hardcore Satanists alike with its unique platform as a Christian metalcore band. As individuals, they overcame adversity and personal demons to find their footing as a Christian band in a secular industry.

Despite having many things in common, vocalist Alvin Triplett and drummer Cecil Johnson never met until the formation of BoughtXBlood. Both were raised in the Lynchburg area, both regularly attended church and both developed a passion for

heavy metal in their teen years.

“I think the first time, 20 some years ago, when I heard ‘Bang Your Head’ by Quiet Riot … I think that changed everything in my world,” Johnson said.

For Triplett, the son of a Lynchburg pastor, metal became a way to break away from the church lifestyle.

“I think metal, for me, was my escape from the legalistic part of what church was,” Triplett said, “I remember the first time I heard ‘Master of Puppets’ by Metallica I was like, ‘Yes, finally something that speaks to me.’”

As Triplett and Johnson’s love of heavy metal grew, drugs and alcohol managed to creep into their lives and separate them from God. “Around the age of 16 years old, I started to rebel,” Triplett said. “When I left home I got into the wrong stuff. … It went from drinking a little bit of beer … and smoking

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

ROCK — BoughtXBlood opened for The Devil Wears Prada at Liberty in spring 2016.

SUGAR continued from B8 Snavely and Diaz hope the showing of the documentary will be popular. Snavely believes the film is important but also believes that many people will not want to see it because “ignorance is bliss.”

“Companies have really taken advantage of people’s ignorance towards sugar, … (and) people don’t understand or realize the effects that it can have,” Snavely said.

Any student, faculty or staff member can attend the event. Guests who want to attend are encouraged to come with someone af-

filiated with the university, since the documentary is being shown for students, faculty and staff, according to Snavely.

Viewers who attend the showing of this documentary do not need to sign up.

Snavely believes that the film is eye-opening and will create a change in the daily habits of those who come watch “That Sugar Film.”

RAMEY is a feature reporter.

some dope to doing harder drugs.”

Johnson had a similar experience.

Addiction had pulled him far from his identity in God. As time went on, both men spiraled further out of control until they ultimately hit the bottom, which brought them back into a relationship with God. For Triplett, it was the death of his brother that put things into perspective for his own life.

“I remember my dad looking down in that casket and seeing his son,” Triplett said. “I watched him break, and when I watched him break, it broke me. I said, ‘I’m not going to be a statistic.’”

Shortly after his brother’s death, Triplett rededicated his life to God and began to turn his passion for metal into a mission.

After playing in various bands for several years, Triplett and guitarist Josh Hall were hanging out after a previous band they were in had broken up. According to Triplett, that is when God inspired him to start what would eventually become BoughtXBlood.

“I was like, ‘Hey man, we’ve got to do something, but this has to be something we do for God,’” Triplett said.

Shortly after that, Triplett and Johnson met for the first time at a North Carolina music festival. They then partnered up with Hall and began working on the project that would become BoughtXBlood. The trio was then joined by guitarist Dane Harrison and bassist Gary Jordan. Jordan later left the band and was replaced by Joe Graybill.

Since then, BoughtXBlood has been touring and releasing material that openly professes the gospel. Some of their performances include opening for The Devil Wears Prada at Liberty University and a recent independent EP release titled “Rebirth/ /Reanimate.” “(Metal is) something we loved ever since childhood, but it’s something to relay a solid message to reach kids that are in these kind of genres because they come out of places like we did,” Johnson said.

While BoughtXBlood plays for Christian audiences regularly, other times it plays for those that oppose God and Christians alike.

At one event, Satanic bands ripped Bibles apart onstage and threw the pieces into the audience.

“A lot of people don’t understand how I could stand in front of a bunch of people that just ripped Bibles up and threw them on the ground and stomped on them,” Triplett said. “(We can never) think that we’re too good to stand in front of people that don’t love God and tell them about God. Jesus did it, and if we call ourselves Christians, we are to do it.”

And that is what Triplett did.

“I stood on the stage, and I testified to these kids,” Triplett said. “In a room full of kids that hated God, I told them what God did for me.”

FRATICELLI is a feature reporter.

Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion

MOSH — Concertgoers moshed to BoughtXBlood’s music at the LaHaye Event Space.

Fitness.gov recommends that less than 10 percent of your consumed calories should come from added sugar.

B8

FEATURE

October 4, 2016

it ’s not ove r ye t

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

PERFORM— For King & Country performed at Convocation Sept. 30 before promoting their movie “Priceless” in theaters nationwide Oct. 14. See full story on liberty.edu/champion.

Sugar, we’re going down ‘That Sugar Film’ aims to show the health dangers of sugar consumption Alexandra Ramey aramey3@liberty.edu

Student Activities at Liberty University will be showing the documentary, “That Sugar Film,” Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in the LaHaye Event Space.

“That Sugar Film” is about a man who has not eaten any refined sugar in years, and for two months he slowly added sugar back into his diet by eating foods with organic, healthy labels, according to Erin Diaz, an event supervisor for Student Activities.

The point of this man’s experiment was to prove that even foods with healthy and organic labels still have sugar in them that negatively affect our bodies, Diaz said. She added that this film calls sugar a “silent killer.”

“It just kind of shows that a lot of times people think that fat is the problem in food but really it’s … the sugar,” Diaz said.

Drew Snavely, an event supervisor for

Student Activities, said that during this documentary, the man starts in Australia and then moves to America — “the Mecca of sugar” — and eats at popular restaurants.

According to Snavely, it was Diaz’s idea to show the film at the Student Activities’ Doc Film Night. Diaz said her friend’s mom found the documentary over Christmas break, and Diaz became passionate about the film after watching it.

“The timeline worked out really well to when this issue is kind of becoming important,” Diaz said. “There was an article (in The) New York Times … that talked about how sugar should be blamed, but fat is always blamed. … I think it’s a really cool time to show (the film) because (sugar is) definitely becoming more noticeable and more prominent.”

The Doc Film Night is held once a semester where a documentary is shown and experts are brought in after the film to discuss the importance of the documentary in

the daily lives of Liberty students, according to Snavely.

For the showing of “That Sugar Film,” Student Activities has partnered with Live Healthy Liberty. Dr. C. Anna Henderson, registered dietitian from the Department of

Public Health, and Jamie Swyers, director of the Recreation Centers, are scheduled to speak after the documentary.

See SUGAR, B7