B6 Men’s soccer falls to Buffalo
Lynchburg hosts Get! Downtown
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VOLUME 34, ISSUE 2
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
LIBERTYCHAMPION.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 | LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
reach for the sky
Special delivery
Pharmacy delivers prescriptions for free Kirkland Gee kgee10@liberty.edu
With the start of the fall 2016 semester, Hill City Pharmacy is partnering with Liberty University to provide free pharmaceutical delivery to faculty, staff and students. Bryan Moody, president of Hill City Pharmacy, is looking forward to the opportunities the program provides. “We’re delivering to faculty and staff right there at their desk,” Moody said. “We’ll
bring it right to them wherever they work. We also deliver to students, which is a huge help to freshmen who can’t drive.” The program is a part of Liberty’s new healthcare plan with Central Virginia Family Physicians (CVFP) If the prescription is acquired through a visit to the student health center on campus, the process of delivery is seamless, but the service See PHARMACY, A6
New dollar theater Local movie enthusiast opens discount theater Hayden Robertson hrobertson@liberty.edu
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
TOUCHDOWN — Sophomore wide reciever B.J. Farrow made a one-handed grab to give Liberty its first touchdown in last Saturday’s home opener against Jacksonville University.
With the loss of the discount theater in Lynchburg, one local man with a great love for movies plans on bringing a beloved pastime back. After the closure of the Cinemark Movies 10 in Lynchburg, the area no longer had a discount movie theater. Robert Harrison Jr. plans on opening up a brand new theatre, Venue Cinemas, in the Lynchburg
Plaza Shopping Center off of Memorial Avenue. Harrison has been a part of the Lynchburg community since he was a child and said he felt the area needed a discount theater. “I have lived in the Lynchburg area all of my life,” Harrison said. “My family would always take me to the discount theater, and I would take my See MOVIES, A7
Elephant in the room
LU College Republicans and other clubs prepare for the upcoming election Will Young weyoung@liberty.edu
With 59 days until the presidential election and 450 days since Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president, Jonah Athey sat in a coffee shop with his fingers crossed on the table and discussed his views on politics with an unwavering tone of optimism. The Republican Party, he said with a broad grin, has a better shot in November than most people think. Athey, president of Liberty University’s College Republicans chapter (CRLU), joins a number of students in political clubs and groups on campus who are gearing up for the political election season by campaigning for their candidate of choice and urging students to vote locally in Virginia. Historically a swing state, in the last 20 years, Virginia has voted for the Demo-
cratic candidate twice and the Republican three times. As for the CRLU, it officially rallied behind Trump less than a month ago when the club’s executives issued a statement saying it will endorse Trump as president in the upcoming Nov. 8 election. Until election day, the club plans on hosting a number of events to engage students in the election season and register them to vote. “We want people to vote regardless of who is on top of their ticket,” Athey said. “That said, we think that Donald Trump will be a much better choice than Hillary Clinton and recommend that all vote Republican down the line.” In the upcoming weeks, the CRLU is attending the SGA nonpartisan debate-watching party,
partnering with other political clubs and the Student Government Association (SGA) to host presidential debate parties, volunteering in a campaign call center, and setting up booths across campus to register students to vote. Currently, the club has registered more than 300 students in Virginia. The importance of students voting, Athey said, lies in the significance of the issues students should be concerned about in the coming years. Among these are the next Supreme Court justices that will be chosen by the next president, the importance of preserving religious liberty, and focusing on the national debt that continues to increase exponentially. Liberty’s chapter president of the Young Women for America, Savannah Barry, reflected Athey’s concern for the future of the nation. “Our platform revolves around a lot of issues, whether it be things like pro-life issues, supporting
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CAMPAIGN — CRLU gathered for its first meeting of the semester. veterans, or supporting traditional family and marriage,” Barry said. “We address all of these issues through a bipartisan viewpoint.” The Young Women for America is a subsidiary of the Concerned Women for America, whose 501(c) nonprofit status limits it from endorsing a candidate for president. Barry, though, said the club still
INSIDE THE CHAMPION
News
New FAA regulations allow Liberty’s drone program to expand its A8 operations.
Opinion
A student’s view on the importance of Mother Teresa’s sainthood. A4
Sports
The story of Liberty football players who rescued a child from a B4 burning building.
Feature
An overview of the upgraded Equestrian Center facility.
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is active in the political process through registering students to vote and advocating for issues its members are passionate about. Though most conservatives and Republicans rally around these issues, Trump’s aggressive rhetoric has distanced a number of big-name See CRLU, A2
News Opinion Sports Feature
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news
A2 | September 13, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Walk-ins welcomed
On-campus student health center introduces new fee to upgrade services Rachel Ali rmali@liberty.edu
Liberty University’s Student Health Center announced the institution of a new student health fee starting this semester to upgrade equipment and renovate its on-campus space located in Green Hall. According to Executive Director of the Student Health Center and Wellness Initiatives Dr. Keith Anderson, the new health fee is part of a broader trend among universities in the U.S. to enhance the effectiveness and services of their on-campus health facilities. The fee has been added as a separate payment that all residential students are subject to. “This is the first year that student health fees have been itemized as a separate cost for students,” Anderson wrote in an e-mail. “The services provided, their actual costs, and the fees collected from students will be monitored to ensure benefit to the students and cost effectiveness.” The amount of the fee, Anderson said, is not yet set and is something Liberty will look closely at in the coming year. Specific benefits that can be expected from the new fee includes not only cosmetic upgrades such as new paint, pictures and fur-
niture, but also additional patient care and a new radiology system that can be used for taking X-rays and sending digital images to a patient’s physician or a separate consultant as needed, according to Anderson. Additionally, the fee will pay for a new service available for all residential students. The role of the “nurse navigator” will be instituted into Liberty’s Student Health Center where students will have the opportunity to be assisted in coordinating wellness or follow-up consultations. Feedback from students has consisted of a number of questions and comments. According to Anderson, most were concerned with how the fee will affect existing services at the clinic, the new services that will be covered by the fee, and with whether or not the current providers at the clinic will stay the same. “I do have a couple more questions about the fee, but I’m excited to see the changes the health center makes,” Liberty senior Matina Sandara said. “I know as a commuter student, having something to help with appointmentmaking for not just on campus sounds like something that would specifically benefit offcampus students.” Other students such as Junior Corbin Jackson said they are more concerned with the amount of the fee over the type of services
Christianne Gormley | Liberty Champion
WELLNESS — The Health Center is conveniently located in Green Hall for Liberty students. that cost will provide. “I think these fees are a good idea and that the upgrades will help a lot of people, but I also see how some students might be upset about them because it does sound like these fees could be expensive and draining for college kids,” Jackson said. Overall, Anderson said he is optimistic in the new fee’s ability to enhance the quality of student healthcare and upgrade equipment so students will not have to travel far or take a
48%
National Poll
Percent
Virginia Poll
43%
42%
40
30
20 10%
10
10%
Hillary
Donald
Gary
Democratic Candidate
Republican Candidate
Libertarian Candidate
Clinton Trump Johnson Source: Fivethirtyeight.com as of 9/12/16
Sierra Franklin | Liberty Champion
Republicans including Mitt Romney and John McCain, for example, chose to not attend the Republican National Convention this past July. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced that she will not support Trump in any form in the upcoming election. “I think that there are some things Trump can improve on, but down the line, our chapter and myself believe that Trump understands the majority of the issues and has a right approach,” Athey said. “Sometimes he says things that we wish he wouldn’t, but I think in the end he ultimately wants what is best for our country.” Athey urged Liberty students who were wary about Trump to take a pragmatic approach and look at the alternatives. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, he said, cannot be trusted. He believes Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, who has become the go-to candidate for anti-Trump Republicans, does not show knowledge in foreign policy and will not protect religious liberty. On Johnson, Athey continued to say that although he does not believe voting for Johnson is “throwing away your vote,” voting for him in a state where it is a close race could potentially help Clinton win the majority of votes in that state. “In Utah and New Mexico where the race is tight, if you vote for Gary
CAMPUS CALENDAR 9/13 - Open Mic 7 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 9/16 - Bingo Night 8 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 9/23 - Vertical Church Band Concert 8 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 9/24 - Movie Night: Civil War 10:30 p.m. | Williams Stadium 9/27 - Student Concert feat. David Duque and Haley Greene 8 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 9/30 - Laser Tag 8 p.m. | Paintball Fields 10/1 - Lipsync Battle 8 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 10/3 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame 3 p.m. | Tower Theatre 10/15 - Fall Festival 1 p.m. | Camp Hydaway COLOR KEY:
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ALI is a news reporter.
CRLU continued from A1
the polls 50 47%
visit to the E.R. to get taken care of. “The new equipment, more patient care areas and nurse navigation services will immediately benefit the health center,” Anderson wrote in an e-mail. “This, combined with continued relationships with proven providers, we think is a win-win situation for everyone.”
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Johnson then you could be giving the win to Hillary,” Athey said. “In Virginia, it’s also a very close race, so I would encourage someone to look at the state polls if they are choosing between Trump and Gary Johnson.” Trump’s stance on immigration, foreign policy and economic issues has been welcomed for the most part by the members of the CRLU, according to Athey. Though there are some students who have their doubts concerning Trump’s authenticity, he noted that the mood of the members in the CRLU has been largely positive. The momentum of the Republican party and the upcoming presidential debates have Athey and other members of the CRLU hopeful for an eventual win in November — not only in the presidential elections, but in the congressional races also being decided in November. “I would say I’m getting more and more optimistic about the results of the election each day,” Athey said. “I think if you look at the polls, Trump has been catching up. He’s been doing really well in some polls, and there are some where he is up by a few points, so I think it will really come down to the debates.” To keep up with and participate in the events the CRLU is involved with, visit their Facebook page or email Athey at jathey@liberty.edu. YOUNG is the news editor.
Vernon Brewer & Children of the World
Kaká
Darren Whitehead
Tim Hawkins & Bob Smiley
Brian “Head” Welsh
James Dobson
CHAMPION CORRECTIONS In an article about the recent campus master plan expansion, published in the Sept. 6 issue, there was incorrect statement regarding the title of Alan Askew. The correct information should have stated his title as vice president of major construction. In addition in the same article, the APC building was referred to without an explanation of the acronym. The acronym stands for Academic and Performance Center. The Sept. 6 issue also incorrectly stated the first major production in the new concert hall is the Christmas on the Boulevard event. The correct information should have stated there is a production from the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and Liberty University Orchestra taking place in the concert hall October 23.
Check out the weekly world news update! Published Wednesdays our website: www.libertychampion.com the
news
Liberty Champion | September 13, 2016 | A3
9/11 survivor shares story Sujo John spoke at Convocation and inspired students to trust God Emily Bordelon ebbordelon@liberty.edu
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
TESTIMONY — 9/11 survivor Sujo John shares his story with students at Convocation.
Seven years ago, Sujo John spoke to the students of Liberty University. On Friday, Sept. 9 he was on the stage in the Vines Center to share his story with a new group of students. His story is one of realizing God’s call on his life, surviving a horrific event and then following that call. It started when he was in the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001. Sujo John said he and his wife came to America from India and found jobs in the World Trade Center. He worked in the North Tower and she worked in the South Tower. The morning of Sept. 11, he went to work while she decided to have a late morning at home. He reached his office, pondering what the call on his life was. He described how he sent an email at 8:05 a.m. to a friend in India telling how he felt that God wanted to use him and asked for prayer. Forty minutes later, he heard an awful explosion. The first plane had hit the north tower. Survival instinct had everyone on his floor frantically looking for a way out. Then they heard another explosion. The second plane had hit the South Tower. A mass of people streamed down from the 81st floor, where John worked. When they reached the 41st floor, a new sight hit them, but it wasn’t one of destruction and terror. Everyone coming down the stairs saw firemen and policemen working their way up. “It is a sight I will never forget,” John said. He shared his appreciation for the men and women who showed that they were willing to sacrifice themselves to let men like him live. It was an amazing sacrifice as well as an embodiment of a biblical principle, John said. When they made it to the ground floor, they were shocked by the destruction and death that the attack had caused. “I was confronted with my mortality,” John said. “My soul has an eternal destination.” He knew that if he were to die, he would go to heaven. It struck him at the base of the tower that it is Christ who saves. In the face of destruction and with death surrounding him and the people with him, he did something that he had never done before. “I started crying out to Jesus … No one argued with me,” John said. That day changed his life forever. His wife,
SODEXO SPOTLIGHT ABRAHAM ZAHABI
“
I WAS CONFRONTED WITH MY MORTALITY. — SUJO JOHN
“The part of his testimony that stuck with me the most was how he had been basically praying for something to happen to deepen his faith and God brought him through this event,” Liberty University senior Emily Compton said. Surviving the attacks of 9/11 happened through the grace of God. John expressed that to the student body. He felt the Lord call him to “get out of a building and look for broken hearted people.” Now residing with his wife and three children in Dallas, Texas, he runs a ministry against sex trafficking called youcanfreeus. More information can be found at campaign. youcanfree.us. John’s story is a powerful one that expresses the power of God and how He can have a plan for your life. He called for the student body to fearlessly follow God and see where it leads. According to John, God won’t let you fall. BORDELON is a news reporter.
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who was pregnant at the time, had delayed her arrival to work and survived the South Tower’s collapse. John had retained everything precious to him and believed that God had called him to ministry. John used his story to encourage students to “sail away from safe harbors.” He said life is full of stories that should be experienced and expressed, and that God has a specific plan for every person. John told students that they should jump in and follow God. He said his story should be an example of how God can bring someone through a horrible event and then use him or her. “I loved the passion he had behind his message,” Liberty University senior Leah Melcher said. “A lot of people talk about the unsaved, but there’s a lot of Christians who are ‘closet Christians’ like he said.”
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OPINION
A4
September 13, 2016
Oh, what a saint Mother Teresa’s legacy goes beyond the Catholic church
HAT
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Cierra Carter cmcarter18@liberty.edu
Mother Teresa is a saint. Literally. After Pope John Paul II began the process in 2002, the Vatican made her canonization official Sept. 4, 2016 with a series of ceremonies and celebrations that could be viewed via the Vatican’s YouTube channel. According to BBC, there are approximately 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. The affect of such a large number of people in various places all over is evident. Mother Teresa’s sainthood is meaningful to the whole body of Christ, Catholic or not, as it shows how one believer’s diligence impacted the world. She dedicated her life to serving the less fortunate in Calcutta, India — the homeless, the sick, the needy. Her life highlighted the beauty of a life lived for God and others. While Jesus should always be our ultimate example, in our human condition, we look to the work of others as models of how we should live. As a college student who is trying to figure out how I will be a part of changing the world, Mother Teresa has always been an incredible embodiment of the gospel in my eyes. There are values we all wish we had more of — selflessness, patience and grace — displayed throughout her life. It is very difficult to image a human being so willing to live a noble lifestyle. Mother Teresa’s influence has never been limited to the Church. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work through her Missionaries of Charity. God uses people and their actions to speak to us and help transform us. He always has. Before she was Mother Teresa, she was just Agnus from Albania who chose a life of obedience. Not many people are capable of captivating the world and gaining the respect and incredible reputation Mother Teresa was able to. It is not uncommon to hear, “What are you, Mother Teresa?” when performing a kind deed or gesture. If your name has become synonymous with compassion and love, you probably did something right. Some would say that her life was not lived
SAID Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu
google images | Liberty Champion
SISTER — The canonization process for Mother Teresa began in 2002 under Pope John Paul II . without controversy, with some questioning the conditions of the homes she founded. Criticism does not invalidate her work. It merely makes her human. It is unrealistic to think that everyone could do what Mother Teresa was able to do. Leaving her family behind, she chose to become a nun and to live a life of service. Though God has not called us all to such extremes, he has commanded the same life of love from those who follow him. It is not at all important that we gain the prestige of Saint Teresa, but as the body of Christ, we should be making similar strides to improve
the lives of those around us. Calcutta is not the only place faced with poverty and overwhelming needs. We are all faced with this same poverty, both spiritually and physically, everyday in this world. As Mother Teresa once said, “Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in his love than in your own weakness.”
BEFORE SHE WAS MOTHER TERESA, SHE WAS JUST AGNUS FROM ALBANIA WHO CHOSE A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE.”
CARTER is the opinion editor.
France’s burkini backlash A ban on the Muslim swimwear continues to create division
google images | Liberty Champion
DISCRIMINATION — The ban contributed to rising cultural tension in France following terrror attacks. Leah Depiero ldepiero@liberty.edu
It is ironic that some cities in France, a country known for its revolutionary rallying cry of liberty, equality and brotherhood, should ban something that brings a bit of freedom to Muslim women. In the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in the French city of Nice, around 30 cities along the French Riviera decided to ban the burkini, a full-body swimming suit worn by Muslim women. According to a Pew Research Center estimate, France has the second largest Muslim population of any European Union member nation, around 4.7 million, which is 7.5 percent of France’s population. In the past two years, the nation has seen terrorist attacks from
one that killed around 130 people in Paris in November 2015 to the killing of a Catholic priest in Normandy in July 2016. Because of the frequency of terrorist attacks in their nation and other Western European countries, French are worried about the threat Islamic extremists pose to their nation. To some French, an outer sign of jihadists is the burkini. In an article from the Gatestone Institution, the mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, called the burkini a “uniform that is the symbol of Islamic extremism.” The same article quotes Cannes’s city manager, Thierry Migoule, who called the burkini an “ostentatious outfit that signals allegiance to terrorist movements that have declared war on us.” In other words, by banning the
burkini you’ll put a stop to extremism among French Muslims. But this is where French lawmakers in southern France are wrong. While they believe that banning the burkini will kill religious fervor among France’s Muslims, it could likely end up doing the opposite and cause France more harm than good. Seeing that people in their Western home are trying to suppress their freedom of religion, many French Muslims will likely grow angry and turn to extremism as a way to preserve their religion from what they view as Western contamination. Many young Muslims are exposed to radical Islam in their neighborhoods where they live with other Muslims. After this exposure and seeing firsthand how the West is attempting
to end religious sentiment among them, many Muslims may decide to turn to jihad. Saying that all Muslims frustrated with the West will turn to radicalized Islam is an incorrect assumption about Muslims, however. Some Muslims desiring to fight back against attempts to westernize them will do so using more peaceful methods; some will be vocal by participating in local government. They may also speak out to convince the 64 percent of French that the Gatestone Institution article says are opposed to the burkini to allow Muslim women to wear it. The majority of the French population opposed to burkini usage is also forgetting that while worn by Muslim women, the burkini is not a symbol of extremism. Banning burkinis or the burka and niqab, coverings that Muslim women wear on the street that were also banned in France at one point, will not solve the problem of religious extremism. For Muslim women, the burkini allows them to comply with their religion’s rules on modesty while also allowing them to swim and enjoy the water with their families instead of standing on the beach and watching their family swim. Thus, for Muslim women, the burkini is freeing, and French cities banning the burkini are restricting that small piece of freedom, making those Western cities as restrictive as the Muslim nations many of the women originally came from.
DEPIERO is an opinion writer.
Football is back. I could leave that statement right there and not have to write anything more because those three words express what I’ve been waiting for during the past five months. But because I love football too much, I won’t just leave it at that. Almost nothing compares to the months from August to February where every weekend is filled with professional football, college football and even high school football. The adrenaline rush when your favorite NFL team comes from behind is probably equivalent to what doing drugs feel like, but trust me, I only know what the first thing feels like. The autumn breeze that cuts through your sweatshirt as you’re standing on the bleachers screaming at the top of your lungs as the Flames defeat Coastal Carolina on national television is a feeling I wish I could bottle up and sell. Or that memory of being one of the only girls actually interested in the game when your high school team was trying to make a run at a state title is one I don’t want to forget. Football is so much more than a great feeling though. Watching grown men throw around an oblong piece of leather while running after others carrying that piece of leather while wearing an immense amount of padding is really strange when you break it down. But the strategy, the competition and teamwork makes football my favorite sport to watch. One of the best things about football is the unpredictability. Each game matters more than the next. In college football, if your team loses one or two games, the chances to make the playoffs slip away. In the NFL, if your team loses a crucial game down the stretch, lower playoff seeding might come back to haunt the team later. And a hail mary desperation throw in the closing seconds can change the entire game. Just ask Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Fantasy football is yet another aspect of the football season being back that allows die-hard fans to pretend they’re the best general manger in the pros. The need to watch every single game to see if your players are scoring points and the thrill of beating your best friend make winning a fantasy football league a close second to your team actually winning the Super Bowl. Throughout the season, your team wins some, and your team loses some. But if you’re watching football, you’re always winning. Football is back, and that means the best seven months of the year have arrived. RODRIGUEZ is the editor-in-chief.
T’S ! A H DT OTE ...AN HE WR S ALL
opinion
Liberty Champion | September 13, 2016 | A5
The court of public opinion Captivating docu-series grip audiences, impact long-standing convictions Jordan Jarrett jjarrett4@liberty.edu
Within the last 18 months, a gripping new genre of true-crime documentary has burst onto the entertainment scene under two notable identities: “Serial” and “Making a Murderer.” Each of these now household-name shows has added an unprecedented layer of gritty immersion and real-time drama with audiences who not only watch or listen, but even partake in the unfolding investigation as armchair detectives. The content of each show runs along a similar vein: dramatic murder cases with sketchy outcomes. In the podcast “Serial,” journalist Sarah Koenig reopened the nearly 20-year-old murder case of Hae Min Lee. Adnan Syed, Lee’s ex-boyfriend, was convicted of her murder and imprisoned. However, Koenig further investigates the story, noting the chance that Syed may have been innocent all these years. Koenig chronicles her work through a superbly-produced podcast series, which has accrued over 5 million downloads. Interviews, testimonies and Koenig’s privy narration keep the story moving. After two “Serial” seasons and 17 years of google images imprisonment, Syed has just been granted a new trial this year. CRIMINAL — Steven Avery’s case gained widespread attention following the release of the 2015 Netflix series “Making a Murderer”. Netflix original series “Making a Murderer” reopened the 2005 rape and murder case response. These two shows have been re- ing core of these apparently slipshod inves- derer” still serve as important journalistic of photographer Teresa Halbach. Filmed sponsible for some huge legal decisions be- tigations, these wrenchingly over-stretched staples in our culture and history (although over a 10-year period, the show delves into ing altered by the justice system, which, as a cases, and the “reopened wounds” as put the quality of the journalism itself is a separate issue up for dispute). the story of convicted murder suspect Steven Salon article wryly noted, is “supposed to be by the Lee family. When we watch these shows, are we obHowever, maybe we should not be so Avery, ultimately questioning his actual guilt impervious to these kinds of pressures.” But what else is so off about this whole serving the cogs, wheels and rust of our honed in on clearing convicted individuals in the case. It also focuses on the questioning justice system for deeper insight into how it that we forget to take a few steps back and and prosecution of Avery’s nephew, Brendan phenomenon? Thanks to these shows, we know what’s works and how it may need to be fixed? try to fix the whole system that may have Dassey, who was convicted as an accomplice off about the justice system: mistaken witOr are we voyeurs into an irresistible real- wronged them in the first place. Sure, it may in the crime. This August, Dassey’s conviction was ness testimony, faulty forensic science, life drama, born from a real family’s anguish? cut juicy story material for some; but it may overturned on grounds of unethical interro- unethical interrogation and suppression of Are we simply gobbling up a new high-end also save years of unnecessary pain and quesgation methods employed by the authorities evidence. All of these and many more faults immersive thrill, the likes of which you could tions for others. toward the teenager in 2005. According to are actual, major issues that of course need get from playing an “Arkham” game? That is not to say that the justice-seekthe New York Times, Avery himself may even to be addressed. But the focus of exposés such as “Serial” and Making a Murderer” ing documentary should be held in cynical face exoneration now. The ratings don’t lie, and neither does the seems to pan away from one central, bind- disregard. “Serial” and “Making a Mur- JARRETT is an opinion writer.
Commonwealth restoration Virginia governor’s order will help over 200,000 regain the right to vote
google images
REINSTATE — Terry McAuliffe took office as governor in 2014. Cassandra Hernandez chernandez5@liberty.edu
Recently, the timeline for the restoration of voting rights for felons has gone back and forth between government officials. Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an executive order in July that would ultimately allow previously convicted felons in the state of Virginia to vote. According to NPR, this order would only apply to felons who have
completed their terms of incarceration or parole. The move to help felons get their rights to vote back is a noble one. The ones who would be able to vote under the proposed law by McAuliffe would not be current felons, but instead those who have already served their sentence. These individuals (all 206,000 of them, according to NPR) have indeed served their time and deserve restoration of a very vital right. However a month later, the Vir-
ginia Supreme Court overturned the original order and stated that McAuliffe does not have the authority for a “blanket restoration of voting rights to the state’s felons,” according to NPR. Instead, Gov. McAuliffe is only allowed to go over the felons separately and case-bycase. It is suspected by some of the members of the Republican Party that the democrat Gov. McAuliffe has political intentions, assuming most felons are minorities who would vote for Hillary Clinton. Although taking politics into question is a possibility, Gov. McAuliffe has made sure to say that this has nothing to do with it. The importance of social justice is more of a pressing issue than a presidential race. We as Americans have to realize the rights we have are important ones, and to lose them for life for something that you might have already served your time for is excessive. It is not enough that many felons in the United States leave their prison cell and into the real world, with no skills or connections to make it into the real world. A sentence starts to bleed out into more ways than just being locked up. And yes, it is true that many have to pay for their mistakes, and it is a hope that
those who deserve to serve longer than others actually do. But it is not this country’s job to further a sentence that was by law fulfilled. It is a smart move toward trying to give back felons their lives back. Even if the felons have to be looked at case-by-case to ensure knowledge of their crimes, those who served many years ago and who are just experiencing the freedom of voting they haven’t experience in years would finally have their rights back. Although it may take a little longer, trying to make sure the process is constitutional and legal, the idea is something that can change the lives of many. Those who have already served their time will not have to carry the burden of their past, but instead will have the opportunity to create a brighter and a more accomplished future, without the word ‘felon’ following them everywhere.
Current VA Law According to restore. virginia.gov, “Anyone convicted of a felony in Virginia automatically loses their civil rights — the right to vote, serve on a jury, run for office, become a notary public and carry a firearm. The Constitution of Virginia gives the Governor the sole discretion to restore civil rights, not including firearm rights.”
HERNANDEZ is an opinion writer.
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A6 | September 13, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Jonathan husker | Liberty Champion
FUTURE — Work crews and trucks make progress on the construction of Commons III to prepare for the fall 2017 semester.
Making the top of the charts Liberty housing and on-campus safety get recognition in online surveys Kylie Kehrman kkehrman@liberty.edu Colin Schwager cschwager@liberty.edu
Liberty University was named 12th in the nation for on-campus housing and eighth in the nation for overall safety in recent polls and surveys published by college database and ranking organization Niche.com. According to the website, which based their ranking on a poll of 471 students, the average cost of living comes to $8,200 with the housing capacity at 30 percent. Student Housing crime rate averages 0 per 1000 students, and student surveys on campus housing average 4.1 out of 5. “It is exciting that Liberty is getting recognition for student living on campus,” Jamey Sublett, the director of Residence life, said. “When we started building our newest
residence halls, we weren’t doing it to gain national recognition. We were doing it to give students a good environment to live in.” While the intent was not to rank at the top of the list, Sublett says that it is nice to see Liberty being nationally recognized for the achievement. “I would say it’s really great because the gap between the best or most expensive housing and the cheapest housing really isn’t that big of a difference,” James Carignan, a junior economics student said, “By that, I mean, regardless of where you are living, (the on-campus housing) has really good community and really great student leaders. Everyone invests in each other.” In order to get to this level, departments such as the office of planning and construction, field operations and the IT department had to come together. “… They all played a part in making the on-campus living experience the best for students,” Sublett said. “Sometimes we
(had) workers who were here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week trying to make sure everything was complete.” The building of the Commons I, which began in fall of 2012 was a groundbreaking step and vital to setting things in motion. Since the completion of Commons I in fall 2014, Liberty has also opened Commons II and is in the process of building Commons III. Along with improving its on-campus housing, Liberty has upgraded its security and has increased its safety standards. Over the summer safety policies were either improved or implemented completely, beginning with Liberty Convocation. All students are now required to present their flames pass when entering the Vines Center and visitors are permitted to enter only through the visitor’s entrance. “I think it’s a little much, it takes much longer to get into Convo now,” Maurice Jordan, senior said. “It might be better if they
implement card scanners inside the doors similar to the dining hall.” Another policy change involves all visitors and students only using clear bags when attending football games. This policy will allow only specifically sized clear bags to pass through security for all visitors of football games, increasing the safety of both students, players and visitors alike. Liberty is also one of the only schools in the United States to allow students access to guns, and as of last year, keep them in their dorms. Amidst controversy and displeasure among the general public, most students and faculty agree that access to guns could be the thin line between safe or injured students in an emergency.
KEHRMAN is a news reporter. SCHWAGER is a news reporter.
PHARMACY continued from A1 is also available through other healthcare providers. “If (students) go to the health center, they already know what information we need and will send that to us,” Moody said. “If they go anywhere else in town, all they have to do is call us and give us their information.” Moody said the service features same-day delivery. In addition, if customers need a recurring prescription, they can set that up through the Hill City Pharmacy app, which is available in both the Google Play Store and the iTunes Store. “Once the student has received a delivery, they can put their information into our app, and they can do automatic refill, or they can tell us when they need it,” Moody said. “Once they touch it on the app, it comes straight to my pharmacy, and that’s for faculty and staff as well.” Delivery is free, but customers should expect to pay the same copay they would pay with any other pharmacy. “Their co-pay will stay the same,” Moody said. “If it’s $10 elsewhere, it’s $10 here.” Students are also able to receive a discount on non-prescription medications in the store, according to Moody. “We’ve got things like cough medicine and over-the-counter medications, and with their student ID they get 20 percent off,” Moody said. More than that, customers can also have anything in the store delivered as long as it is bundled with a prescription medication. “As long as they are getting a prescription delivered, we’ll deliver anything else from the store with that, and they can order that straight from the app,” Moody said. “If they want a Coke or honey lemon cough drops, there is no ad-
Devin harris | Liberty Champion
CENTER — Hill City Pharmacy, located on Greenview Drive, offers free delivery of prescription medicines to all Liberty students. ditional fee to bring that to them.” Hill City Pharmacy has been open for six months and aims to be different from the “bigbox pharmacies,” according to their website. “We’re locally owned by me, my wife and my family,” Moody said. “We’re excited about servicing students.” Hill City Pharmacy is located at 1215 Greenview Drive in Lynchburg across the road from the Cornerstone apartment complex. They can be reached by phone at 434-237-2221. More information can be found online at hillcitypharmacy.com.
GEE is a copy editor.
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Valerie Pors vpors@liberty.edu
New software launched this summer allows residential students to register themselves for online classes using an automated add/ drop form, eliminating wait time experienced during processing by the Liberty University Registrar’s Office. The new Apex software automatically checks for necessary prerequisites and a required 2.0 GPA or 2.5 transfer GPA in order to confirm registration, Pembrooke Thompson, data analyst for the registrar’s office, said. If requirements are not met, the program will explain why the student was unable to register, she said. “We’re just really excited that before the start of the semester students have that ability now to add themselves to these classes,” Thompson said. “They’re not really sitting and waiting for us to register them.” Under the old SharePoint system, admissions staff had to manually check and approve each request, Thompson said. “We were hitting a point, though, where students were coming in submitting a SharePoint request three weeks ago, and they still hadn’t heard back because we were still trying to sift through them,” Thompson said. At one point during registration for the fall 2016 semester, Thompson said the office had between 3,000 and 4,000 SharePoint forms waiting to be approved, and it took between seven and eight weeks to catch up on them. “It was not working very well,” Thompson said. “We would think we got through them and more would just pile in.” The office staff expects the new system will give them more time to focus on answering email questions and spending time with stu-
dents at the office window. The Apex add/drop form is currently closed for C and D term online class registration as of Aug. 29 but will reopen for the spring 2017 registration period, according to the registrar’s website. During the interval, students may email the office at registrar@liberty.edu. While previous online class registration had the same start date as residential registration, online registration under the new Apex system will have its own start date, Thompson said. Jeanne Davies, Liberty Online admissions counselor, also helps students plan their class schedules. She says that online classes are beneficial for students who have busier lives. “The main pro is you don’t have to go to a residential class, so students that work full time don’t have to uproot their lives to attend school to better their education,” Davies said. Also, residential students taking 18 credits, for example, can break up the course load with online classes. “It was nice sophomore year because I took one B term and one D term class so that I only had 15 credit hours at a time,” Liberty Junior Abigail Chennells said. Thompson said cons include less one-onone time with professors and material condensed into an eight-week term. Many students prefer the online format for some of the most commonly taken online courses, Thompson said. According to Davies, Liberty Online has added new courses including music 209, available this fall semester, and biology 102, available fall 2017. PORS is a news reporter.
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Cassandra Hernandez | Liberty Champion
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Harrison said. “The price per movie will be low to attract college students and people in the community to come out and watch. We are in the process of doing promotions and advertisements now to get the word out.” Harrison also said the ticket price for college students would be $3 per movie. “We want to keep that price low in order to see an influx of college students come to our theater,” Harrison said. “We are looking into other discounts that we can try and give them as well. Harrison's daughter Tristan said how excited she was to see one of his big dreams come true. “It’s really awesome to say that my family, who loves movies, now owns a theater,” Tristan Harrison said. “People will walk up and just ask us a ton of questions, and we are able to advertise this way.” According to a report from WSET, the theater will be opening in November.
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A8 | September 13, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Mitchell Bryant| Liberty Unviersity News Service
MENTOR — Student Jacob Miller received instruction from Professor Jonathan Washburn.
Kevin Manguiob | Liberty University news Service
TAKEOFF — Liberty’s School of Aeronautics partnered with Textron Systems to help students with piloting UAVs.
FYI The FAA commerical regulations released in June still mandate that the drone always be in the line of sight of the pilot. Such rules still limit companies like Amazon, Inc. that hope to soon use drones to deliver packages as soon as 30 minutes after receiving an order.
Mitchell Bryant |Liberty University News Service
UNVEIL — The UAS program is the most recent addition to the Liberty School of Aeronautics.
Drone program takes flight
New regulations allow school of aeronautics to enhance UAS instruction through the program. “We really focused on creating a partnership with (the industry) to get students Liberty University’s new unmanned drone certifications that they can’t get at other flight program is in full swing this fall semes- schools,” Washburn said. “There’s no other ter with big plans for the future. school offering industry certification on a In June, the Federal Aviation Administra- medium-sized UAS as part of their program. tion (FAA) released regulations allowing the … We are the only school in America that has commercial use of unmanned aircraft sys- that right now.” tems (UAS), or as they are more commonly Students are rapidly showing interest in known, drones. the new program, with around 50 out of 70 According to the FAA, the commercial students declaring the UAS program as the use of UAS “could generate more than specialization for their major. $82 billion for the U.S. economy and cre“I wanted to get involved as soon as ate more than 100,000 new jobs over the I could,” Trey Williams, a senior in the next 10 years.” school of aeronautics who declared a major Liberty proved itself to be at the forefront in UAS, said. “You really come out with a of this movement when it teamed up with Tex- unique opportunity for this degree that you tron Systems, a military tech developer locat- can’t get elsewhere.” ed in Fort Pickett, There are new a National Guard uses being discovTHERE’S NO OTHER SCHOOL ered for drones base in Virginia, and released a constantly, and OFFERING INDUSTRY drone training businesses as well CERTIFICATION. ... WE ARE THE as educators are program to aviation students this finding ways of ONLY (ONE) IN AMERICA. fall semester. putting them into — JONATHAN WASHBURN practice. At the end of the program, “There are students become some people in certified to pilot a small drone for commer- Virginia Beach who are doing some struccial purposes through Textron, which could tural inspecting with drones,” Williams said include taking aerial video or photography, regarding the program. “You’ll get to go out surveillance and data collection and much on a boat and look at some bridges and water more. towers.” “We want to be current (and) want to be Not just aviation students are getting exon the leading edge,” Johnathan Washburn, cited about the new program on campus. professor of aeronautics and one of the heads “The interest has come from all over camof the UAS program, said. “It’s really impor- pus,” Washburn said. “The industry is growtant that Liberty stays engaged in current ing so rapidly, and it touches so many other trends, especially trends that are attached areas —cinematic arts, engineering, even histo an industry that is expected to grow to tory and government. They all see it as a usethe billions.” ful skill or piece of knowledge to add on to While the FAA only allows certified com- what they’re learning in their major.” mercial use for small UAS, Liberty’s partnerDue to the rapid growth in interest, Libship with Textron provides special training erty is looking at opening up the opportunity for students to use medium-sized UAS. for students to minor in UAS training. “Textron flies the medium UAS in a re“We’re going to build this minor and stricted airspace,” Washburn said. “So at hopefully have it available in the next year Fort Pickett ... they have a big, open restrict- or two,” Washburn said. “The goal is to put ed area of airspace, and they fly the Aero- together a program that students from other sonde there.” colleges and schools can come take it and get The Aerosonde is a medium-sized this experience.” UAS owned by Textron that is unique to the training the students receive PANYARD is a news reporter. Jack Panyard jepanyard@liberty.edu
Mitchell Bryant| Liberty University News Service
PREPARE — Students were given in-depth instruction into all aspects of UAS flight.
Kevin Manguiob|Liberty University News Service
LAUNCH — Students received hands-on training with drones when enrolled in Liberty’s UAS program.
SPORTS
September 13, 2016
B1 Former Liberty All-American quarterback Josh Woodrum replaced Hudson in his first career start Sept. 16. He would go on to set multiple program records including most passing yards and completions.
This week in Flames history
(Brian Hudson) has definitely come a long way ... as the starting quarterback. -Flames wide receiver Pat Kelly
2012
Lady Flames stay hot
fried dolphin
Another game, another victory Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu
Fans gathered beneath a hot sun to witness the Liberty University women’s soccer team (4-3) claim victory 2-0 against the previously undefeated George Washington Colonials (6-1) in Osborne Stadium Sunday, Sept. 11. The Lady Flames demonstrated athletic aggression early in the game, shooting over twice as much as their opponents. Led by freshman forward Gabrielle Farrell, the Flames fought their way to an astonishing victory. “Obviously George Washington was a very good team,” Head Coach Nate Norman said. “We did a good job competing in the first half, and then we raised the level of play in the second.” In the second half, Farrell took it upon herself to score the first goal. She demonstrated incredible athletic prowess as she split defenders at the top of the box, then took her shot. “It felt really good to score that goal,” Farrell said. “Once we get a goal, our momentum picks up.” Norman said that Farrell has been a tremendous player and that she has added a lot to the team. “Her ability to run at players and go one-on-one causes other teams nightmares,” Norman said. “I love watching her play, and she’s so fun to coach.” With the 1-0 lead, the Lady Flames continued to relentlessly attack the goal. Play after play, they executed their offense, resulting in a well-earned victory. One of the biggest challenges Liberty faced during the match was containing George Washington’s leading scorer, senior forward MacKenzie Cowley.
Caroline Sellers | Liberty Champion
DROWNED — Jacksonville could not handle Liberty’s high-powered offense, including senior wide receiver Zac Parker.
Football gets first win Flames football wins home opener versus Jacksonville Jacob Clarke jlclarke3@liberty.edu
The Liberty Flames (1-1) spoiled the Jacksonville University Dolphins’ (0-1) season opener in blowout fashion with a 55-7 win at Williams Stadium that was dominated by the Flames from the start. On the first drive of the game, the Flames capped off an 81-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to the corner of the end zone from junior quarterback Stephon Masha to sophomore wide receiver B.J. Farrow. Masha finished with 181 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in just over two and a half quarters of play. The Dolphins took over the ensuing possession, and the Flames defense forced the Dolphins into a three-and-out, a defensive stand it would make on each of the Dolphins’ first three drives. The Flames held the Dolphins to just seven yards in the first quarter and had no difficulty containing their spread option offense that looked to fool the defense with fakes and misdirection.
M. Soccer Buffalo
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WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME
“Our defense continues to play lights-out in a whole different type of offensive scheme,” Liberty Head Coach Turner Gill said. “They threw all sorts of looks at us offensively, and our coaches did a great job.” The Flames scored their second touchdown of the first quarter on a 37-yard pass from Masha to senior wide receiver Dante’ Shells. Their running game was led by strong performances from three backs: junior Todd Macon, redshirt freshman Frankie Hickson, and junior Carrington Mosley. Macon ran for 128 yards, followed by Hickson with 116 and Mosley with 87. Hickson tallied two touchdowns and Macon and Mosley scored one apiece. “We’ve got a powerhouse back there,” Macon said. “If you stop one, you’ve gotta stop the other. If you stop that one, you’ve gotta stop the other one. It’s good to have all three of us back there. When one’s down, the other can go back in.”
See HOT, B2
FYI The Flames next game is against SMU in Dallas, Texas. The Mustangs fell to nationally-ranked Baylor 40-13 after being tied at halftime on Saturday. The Flames are scheduled to play Baylor in Waco next season.
Caroline Sellers | Liberty Champion
RUN — Sami Santos looked for space.
See DOLPHINS, B4
W. Soccer GWU
Volleyball
Volleyball
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Upstate
Liberty
Furman
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Davidson
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M. Soccer vs. American
Sept. 16 @ 4 p.m.
Sept. 16 @ 7 p.m.
M. D1 Hockey vs. Richmond Sept. 16 @ 7 p.m.
Field Hockey vs. Longwood Sept. 20 @ 4 p.m.
Football vs. Jax St. Sept. 24 @ 7 p.m.
Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage
sports
B2 | Semptember 13, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Heartbreak Flames lose off penalty in extra time Lindsey Ball lcball1@liberty.edu
The Liberty Flames (3-2) and the Buffalo Bulls (6-0) went head-to-head during the Sept. 11 match at Osborne Stadium, and the Bulls emerged with a 2-1 overtime victory. The match commenced with the crowd standing to their feet for a moment of silence in remembrance of the tragedies that occurred 15 years ago. Buffalo began the game with force, scoring the first goal three minutes into the game when freshman forward Rikard Lindqvist scored off a corner kick. Although this set the tone for the game, the Flames did not relieve any defensive pressure on the Bulls. “They got five corner kicks in the first five minutes and ended up scoring on one,” Head Coach Jeff Alder said. “Once we got through those first five or eight minutes, we were really able to start playing. I thought we took the game to them after that.” Although the team’s communication was strong, 10 minutes into the game the Flames still had not attempted any shots while the Bulls took four. Despite the strong, unified offense displayed by Buffalo, goalkeeper James Knoebel blocked a total of eight Bulls’ shots. With 24 minutes left in the first half, Knoebel saved a shot down the center only to have it rebound toward the goal and save it a second time. Soon after, with 22 minutes left in the half, sophomore forward Tresor Mbuyu dribbled the ball up the right side of the field and took a shot, however, the Bulls’ goalkeeper Joseph Kuta made the save. Liberty started the second half with persistent but unsuccessful shots. The goalkeeper had not let one ball past him all season until the clock reached 88:24 in the match when sophomore midfielder Kevin Mendoza kicked the ball from the right sideline to Mbuyu. With 1:36 left in the second
Jeff Thomas | Liberty University News service
WINNER — Kieran Vincent shows off his first-place trophy with the rest of the golf team.
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
FORWARD — Tresor Mbuyu runs ahead.
half, Mbuyu scored the equalizer. For the final 30 seconds, Knoebel stalled his goalie kick, running the clock and sending the game into overtime. Neither team shot for the first five minutes of overtime, but instead sent the ball up and down the field. Buffalo’s senior midfielder Russell Cicerone ended the game with a penalty kick that barely slipped past Liberty’s goalkeeper. “This is a defining moment in our season,” Alder said. “They talk about character not being built, but revealed through adversity. Our guys showed a lot of character today.” The Flames next match will be Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. against American University at Osborne Stadium.
BALL is a sports reporter.
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
AIRTIME — Flames forward Martin Agredo delivered a stunning scissor kick.
Hole in one Liberty golf team proves ready to go Will Collier wcollier@liberty.edu
After a successful 2015-16 season, the Liberty men’s golf team entered this season looking to win another Big South Golf Championship and go beyond their ninth place finish in last year’s NCAA Regionals. “Last year, we started four sophomores and a freshman, so we returned all of our starters,” Liberty Men’s Golf Head Coach Jeff Thomas said. “Anytime you do that, hopefully you’ll be better the next year.” In order for the Flames to improve from a year ago, juniors Mickey DeMorat and Isaiah Logue will have to match their consistent production that was instrumental in the success for the team. Logue ranked fourth in the Big South and led the team with a 72.62 season stroke average, landing him a spot on the All-Big South team for the second year in a row. “I spent all summer working on every aspect of my game,” Logue said. “I always feel that you can improve, whether that’s practice with your clubs or just the mental side … to get myself back into playing condition for this season.” DeMorat earned a spot on the All-Big South team swinging a 72.92 season stroke average just behind Logue and led the team during the spring with a 72.48 stroke average. With last season’s accomplishments in the rear view, DeMorat went into summer focusing on improving his short game and putting. “Mickey’s had a great summer,” Thomas said. “He’s a solid player, and he will continue to get better.” To add to the excitement of the upcoming season, Thomas was able to bring in a couple new, young talents to boost the team’s roster. According to Thomas, Erving Chang and Kieran Vincent are the type of freshmen that will see some starts this season. “I was worried about fitting in with this new team, but they have accepted me as family with opened arms,” Vincent said. “I don’t have any more fears—just go out there, play my game and just play golf.” Chang’s coaches and teammates had plenty to say about his personable character, strong play and love for verbal communication. Vincent gave an abstract comparison when questioned about whether Chang talks a lot. “To that question, let me ask, does a homeless man want a ham sandwich?” Vincent asked. “Usually when we’re around Erving, we’re laughing pretty hard. Everybody loves having him around.” Former four-year player Andrew Nelson found his way back to Liberty this offseason
to become the new assistant coach for the Flames. Thomas brought in Nelson because he knows team expectations, and he wants him to develop personal relationships with the team. “There’s a mental side to the golf game, as far as the swing and technique is concerned,” Nelson said. “Jeff’s awesome at that. I’m more of the gamemanagement side.” Nelson wants to use his playing career as a guide to help form bonds to reach the players on a level besides golf alone. “I’m here to serve, lead and coach these guys,” Nelson said. The Flames hope to start hot with the push of last season’s success and a deeper team than Thomas has had in recent years. “You want to make sure everyone is staying motivated and that everyone understands what we’re trying to do,” Thomas said. The Flames travel to River Hills, Wisconsin for the Marquette Invitational hosted by Marquette University Oct. 2 at the Milwaukee Country Club.
COLLIER is a sports reporter.
FYI The Flames finished in second place at the 2016 Rod Myers Invitational Sunday, Sept. 11. Freshman Kieran Vincent earned top medalist honors with a winning score of 15-under par 201 (6767-67).
HOT continued from B1
Caroline Sellers | Liberty Champion
ON THE MOVE— Caroline Boone dribbled the ball away from pursuing George Washington defenders.
“We had to make sure to always have pressure on her,” Norman said. “We had to make it uncomfortable for her when she had the ball.” Junior defender Ashleigh Hill said Coach Norman stressed the importance of containing Cowley in practice. “We were smart and efficient in how we pressured them,” Norman said. “I thought we also did that well, especially in the second half.” With five minutes left to play, Farrell passed to the right side of the box, where the ball met junior forward Isabella Habuda. With effortless precision, Habuda drilled it passed George Washington’s goalkeeper, Miranda Horn, sealing Liberty’s win.
“The thing we really did well was keeping George Washington from developing a rhythm,” Norman said. “That is always our goal: to never let our opponents feel comfortable.” Farrell’s father, who had driven nearly seven hours to watch her play, said he was thrilled to witness the Liberty win. “It was so cool to have my dad here,” Farrell said. “I’m glad he saw me score.” The Lady Flames will take on Florida Gulf Coast Friday, Sept. 16 at Osborne Stadium. “We do not adjust much of our game,” Norman said. “We just try to get better every single day. Our whole philosophy is trying to get our opponents to change for us.” SMITH is a sports reporter.
sports
Liberty Champion | September 13, 2016 | B3
Momma, we made it The road to becoming a Flames football walk-on is a long journey TJ Davis adavis331@liberty.edu
According to cbsnews.com, only 16 percent of high school seniors will go on to play football at the collegiate level. Attempting to walk on to a college team makes your chances even slimmer, but five players beat those odds to join Flames football this fall. Spencer Jones, Benjamin Alexander, Joshua Carlin, Cole Gibson and Thomas Sargeant all impressed the coaching staff enough to be added to the roster, according to libertyflames.com. In order to walk on at Liberty University, a student must have an eligible GPA, be a fulltime student with at least 12 residential hours, complete the walk-on tryout form along with the liability and waiver forms and obtain a physical and blood test results, also accompanied by proof of valid health insurance, according to libertyflames.com On top of that list, football walk-ons must also provide a letter of recommendation from their previous coach, a link to their highlight film and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Summed up, walking-on to Liberty football is a process that is difficult both physically and mentally. “It can be defeating at times,” freshman safety Benjamin Alexander said. “Just do what you’re supposed to do and work hard, (is) what the coaches have told me.” According to the players, the coaches have been instrumental in helping the players get settled into their respective roles. “Coach Dailey has helped me in every aspect to learn what I’m doing,” freshman quarterback Spencer Jones said. “(Coach Wagner) has guided me and helped me a lot,” freshman offensive lineman Josh Carlin said. Making the team is only the first part of the process. Once allowed to join the team for practice, the walk-ons had a lot of catching up and standing out to do. “(I came) in July, and everybody’s already here,” Jones said. “Trying to learn everything as quick as you can so that you can be beneficial on the practice field — that’s the hard-
est part. As a quarterback, there’s a bunch of stuff you need to know. You have to know everybody’s position — know the basic reason why we’re running the play. It’s a part of the game.” For others, the biggest adjustment has been the challenge of putting on weight to match competition. “For me personally, I just have to put on weight,” Alexander said. “I just need to get bigger, stronger,” Carlin said. All of the players now face the challenge of competing for a starting spot. It’s even more challenging considering the same teammates they are proving themselves to and building relationships with are also the players they’re competing with for a starting spot. “Competing with (freshman kicker Alex) Probert, we go back and forth and we push each other,” freshman kicker Cole Gibson said. “We both do really good.” Many of the Flames’ past walk-ons have panned out to become starters, some even captains. Alex Burgess, a senior guard for the Flames last year, worked his way from being cut, to walking on, to captain status during his career at Liberty, according to libertyflames.com. Zachary Schreiber, a 2016 Rare Disease Champion finalist, was a linebacker for the Flames who got his spot on the team after walking on, according to upliftingatheletes. org. The Flames’ current starting safety, Alpha Jalloh, also walked on to the team after transferring from Stevenson University, according to libertyflames.com. In the season opener, the Flames played 15 people who had not previously had a single rep in a college football game, nine of whom were freshmen, according to newsadvance.com. “We did plan to play a lot of freshmen this year,” Liberty Head Coach Turner Gill said in a weekly press conference. “I’m willing to play some guys precisely on special teams.” Joel Coleman | Liberty University News Service
DAVIS is a sports reporter.
NEW START — Benjamin Alexander shakes hands with Head Football Coach Turner Gill.
fire at will
ON THE MOVE — It was a busy weekend for athletics on campus, as football and men’s and women’s soccer hosted opponents for matchups.
michela diddle | Liberty Champion
sports
B4 | September 13, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Fan the Flames Football players help rescue boy in summer fire Luke Dillard mdillard1@liberty.edu
Marquel Franklin sat on the secondstory ledge of his burning house with nowhere to go, just seconds before the floor beneath him would crumble. A group of Liberty University football players stood below encouraging him to jump if he wanted to survive. Franklin leapt, escaping the flames seconds after the floor underneath him collapsed, and the football players carried him away to safety. The athletes were riding in a vehicle through a neighborhood in Lynchburg in July with their windows down when they felt a sudden rush of heat surround the car. They looked over and saw a house almost completely engulfed in flames. “We felt the heat through the car,” Liberty defensive end Juwan Wells said. “We immediately parked somewhere safe, and then we went across the street, and we asked the family if there were any more people inside.” Two children had escaped the house, and they told the players on the sidewalk that Marquel Franklin, a 13-year-old boy, had not made it out. “We heard a scream from the back of the house, so we ran to the back of the house,” Liberty defensive end Javon Frazier said. The players found Franklin at the rear of the house, trapped on a ledge on the second story of the home as the fire continued to spread. “He was pretty much sitting in the flames,” Frazier said. Like any 13-year-old, Franklin was afraid of jumping out of his window. “He was scared to jump,” Wells said. “We encouraged him to jump. We finally got into his head that the
Trevor Williams grew up going to professional baseball games with his dad in San Diego. At the age of 24, Williams got to take his dad to a MLB game, while he was on the mound. Sept. 6 was the day Williams got the call to the show, and the very next day Williams made his debut in the 6th inning of a 3-2 ballgame with the PittsSCHMIEG burgh Pirates. With two outs, Williams gave up a run, making it a tie ballgame. Thankfully, Jung Ho Kang homered in the bottom of the 8th, and the score held at 4-3 in favor of the Pirates, giving Williams his first career win in his major league debut. After the game, Williams climbed into the stands to embrace his wife and baby boy. With his dad looking on in pure elation, tears of joy began flowing down his father’s face creating one of the most memorable scenes in sports. Williams then engulfed his dad in a hug before giving him the game ball. “You dream about it your entire life, and you picture it happening, but it’s one of those things where you let the emotions take control of you, and there’s no one else I would rather share that moment with than my dad,” Williams told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune. “He’s been with me since the very beginning.” It is moments like this one that remind me why I love sports. There is a reason some of the best movies made are about great moments in sports history. Sports stories write themselves. In almost every great game, someone makes the comment that you could not have written a better script for the game. They typically involve a large amount of defeat, despair and agony. But that is what makes the triumphant victory all the sweeter. From little league, to travel ball, to high school, to college, to the minors and then to the pros, Williams had a long ride to his first major league game. But it was all worth it when he got to share the moment with the man who inspired him to love the game in the first place. “When I called (my dad) the other day, I didn’t think that moment was going to get any better,” Williams told Biertempfel. “I didn’t think I was going to share a moment with him that was better than that, but this definitely outdid it.” Whether Williams becomes a major league star, or only lasts a short while in the bigs, he will always have the moment he shared with the people who mean the most to him. And who knows? Maybe one day Williams will get to cry in the stands while his son gets his first major league win, or writes his first story, or does whatever it is that makes him happy. After all, there’s not much better in this world than tears of joy from dad.
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best thing to do was to jump.” Franklin jumped just in time. He landed in the arms of his cousin, one of the children who escaped earlier. Marquel injured his foot from the jump and was unable to walk. “I carried him to the neighbor’s house and put him on the ground,” Frazier said. “That’s when we got him out.” The players also assisted responding firemen by carrying the large, heavy hoses for them across the street so the fire could be put out before it spread to the homes of neighbors. Frazier and Wells both believe this event serves as an exceptional representation of the Liberty football program as a whole. “I think it really goes by what Liberty stands for, just serving people through Christ and doing what we can to help the community,” Frazier said. “(Head Football Coach Turner Gill) wants good, positive role models in the community. It feels good to say you can help somebody in a situation like that. It’s just a blessing you can help somebody’s life for a quick second with what you do.” “We have guys that are willing to step out into the community any time something goes wrong,” Wells said. “It shows that we have high character for our community and the city we live in.” Franklin’s mother, Shalita Franklin, had the opportunity to come visit the Flames football team after a recent practice and told them how thankful she was for their bravery in saving her son. “She was just thankful that we put our lives on the line to save a complete
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stranger we didn’t know anything about,” Frazier said. “She came out here in front of a bunch of strangers and expressed her gratitude toward us. She was in tears.” What impressed Shalita Franklin the most was the complete lack of selfishness displayed by the Liberty athletes. “The football players could have been injured or hurt,” Shalita Franklin said. “They put their lives at risk and their football careers at risk. They didn’t think twice about it. All they cared about was helping my kids, and they helped the firemen to contain the fire. They didn’t just save my kids. They helped save the lives of others around me. When I talked to them, I couldn’t talk to them without being in tears. They were my heroes. They’re a great group of guys.” Marquel Franklin also made the trip to football practice with his mother to show his gratitude to the team. “(Marquel) was real happy,” Frazier said. “He was more excited that there (were) football players around him than anything.” In total, nine players from Liberty’s football team were identified by the Lynchburg Fire Department for their service: Javon Frazier, Juwan Wells, Will Brown, Rion Davis, Mitchell Lewis, Malik Matthews, Korell Evans, Michael Anderson and Cameron Jones.
DILLARD is the asst. sports editor.
SCHMIEG is the sports editor.
Classic Dad Move of the Week Takes family picture with his selfie stick.
Joel Coleman | Liberty University News Service
HEROES — A total of nine football players were recognized for their service in saving Marquel Franklin from a house fire.
DOLPHINS continued from B1
Micehla Diddle | Liberty Champion
GROUND GAME — Junior running back Todd Macon had 128 yards rushing and a TD.
The Flames took a 31-0 lead into the half. After forcing the Dolphins to punt on the first possession of the second half, the Flames continued to expand their lead with an 86yard touchdown drive that ended with a 35yard touchdown pass from Masha to Shells. “It makes it way easier (to throw) having the three-headed monster back there,” Masha said. “With the defense seeing so much run, it opens up the pass in the backfield.” The Flames struggled on offense in their season opener against Virginia Tech, but Gill said he was pleased with the way the team responded one week later. “You’re going to have ups and downs in life, and you’re going to have ups and downs in games and ups and downs in weeks of the season, and the question is, ‘How are you going to respond?’” Gill said. “We got the right response out of our players.” On Jacksonville’s second possession of the second half, redshirt junior quarterback Rylan Wells started to put together a poten-
tial scoring drive with a 36-yard completion to redshirt sophomore Prince Gray. Two plays later, Wells was picked off by junior cornerback Tyrin Holloway as the Flames grabbed their fourth and final turnover of the game. With less than six minutes left in the third quarter, Liberty’s freshman quarterback Stephen Calvert entered the game. His first drive ended with a 37-yard field goal by freshman kicker Alex Probert. The Flames’ final score came on a 1-yard rush up the middle with 0:57 left in the fourth quarter. The team travels to Dallas, Texas to face Southern Methodist University, its second FBS opponent within three weeks, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.
CLARKE is the managing editor.
feature
Liberty Champion | September 13, 2016 | B5
horseplay
Taylor Coleman | Liberty Champion
BARN — The Liberty University Equestrian Center created multiple barns and pastures on its property, with specific barns for horse boarding and for housing competition horses.
Just horsing around
Equestrian Center offers horseback riding to students of any skill Ryan Klinker rmklinker@liberty.edu
“I think the feeling of being on a horse and developing a certain trust with it is an experience like nothing else,” senior Cassandra Steptoe said. The Equestrian Center offers students the same opportunity to enjoy horseback riding, regardless of skill level. Steptoe, one of Liberty’s English Equestrian team captains, has seen the changes made to the Equestrian Center throughout her time at Liberty. Located in Rustburg, Virginia, the Equestrian Center now boasts 400 acres of land and a total of 78 horse stalls, equipped with air conditioning and heating. Home to the Liberty Equestrian team, the facility is also available for any Liberty student to use. When asked what advice she would give to someone interested in giving horseback riding a shot, Steptoe described the unique experience of horseback riding.
“No matter how much you know, there is always so much to learn,” Steptoe said. “It is a lot of work, but (it is) so much fun and so rewarding.” The Equestrian Center teams with the Kinesiology department to offer lessons for beginners, as well as more advanced riders. There are trails stretching for miles in the nearby mountains where students can take 30-45 minute rides. According to the Equestrian Center’s website, trail rides are available Saturdays at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., and are free of charge to students. One of the captains of the Western Equestrian team, senior Kayla Sims, also encourages people to try horseback riding. “I would certainly say it’s … worth it, and it’s never too late to start riding,” Sims said. “Liberty has presented students with an amazing opportunity.” Back in the 2011 school year, according to Western Equestrian Coach Lauren Eagles, the Equestrian Center was solely a place for casual riders. Seeing the opportunity,
the school proceeded to expand the facility and its uses until an official equestrian team was formed. “We started with only a couple of horses and a small facility, and over the past five years it has really blossomed into what it is today,” Eagles said. The Equestrian Center has updated its buildings and resources since 2011. Some of the new resources included making one of the largest indoor arenas in Virginia, an expanded outdoor arena, and new team barns and locker rooms. For veteran rider Steptoe, the additions to the center have made great improvements to what was in place when she first came to Liberty. “When I started at Liberty, there was just the one eight-stall barn and the outdoor arena,” Steptoe said. “As construction grew, we eventually were riding in a 100x100 makeshift arena for most of the year.” The two senior riders are thankful for their sport and for the people that support their
participation. When asked about their plans after graduation, both Sims and Steptoe planned to keep horses in mind. Sims, who aspires to become an equine veterinarian, made clear her appreciation for her equestrian experiences. “Riding has given me countless opportunities for the future and (has) given me many lifelong friends along the way,” Sims said. “It’s something I know will always be a part of my life.” Steptoe hopes to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, have a minor in music and possibly write for an equine publication. “My coach, fellow captains and teammates have made such an impact on me through riding, and … have given me so much,” Steptoe said. “I have met so many talented and kind people through riding and LU’s barn that have encouraged my growth, not only as a rider, but also as a Christian and a person.” KLINKER is a feature reporter.
RAINN Day
Title IX office to host awareness event Janae Williams jwilliams453@liberty.edu
The Title IX office at Liberty University will host its first Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) Day on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on the Vines lawn. RAINN Day will focus on educating Liberty students about sexual violence on college campuses. The event will highlight the Title IX office’s #SpeakUpLU campaign, with an umbrella display
SEND continued from B8 The financial factor can be a hurdle for college students such as Victoria Dissmore. However, through working over breaks and raising support, Dissmore was able to travel to Israel with LU Send over spring break this past year. “It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life,” Dissmore said. “I’m so thankful that Liberty has opportunities through LU Send for students to go on trips.” Dissmore, who received credit for Bible 105 through the trip, appreciated the wisdom she gained from the faculty members, particularly Professor and Vice Provost Dr. Ben Gutierrez. “Seeing all the different places in Israel was one thing, but also when (Gutierrez) talked to us, everything he said to us enhanced
which will be aligned on the grass beside the Vines Center. During the event, students can follow @LUTitleIX on Twitter and Instagram, mention and post photos under the hashtag #RAINNDAY and #SpeakUpLU as well as tag Liberty University Title IX Office on Facebook. Representatives from RAINN and the Sexual Assault Response Program (SARP) of Central Virginia will be readily available at information tables to help educate students on sexual violence, crisis intervention and ways to advocate
what we were seeing even further,” Dissmore said. Milks, who led the Israel trip with Gutierrez, was encouraged by the response from students last year. “I was shocked to see how many students we got for London and Paris at first, and then for Israel in just a couple of months,” Milks said. Students should begin preparing for these trips as early as possible, Milks said. The application for spring trips will be available Sept. 7 on LU Send’s web page. The cost for these international trips varies based on the location, but the amount is between $2,000 and $4,000. According to Milks, most people associate LU Send with their disaster-relief branch, LU Send Now. Students interested in serving with that program will have a one to two week window to apply which will be
for men and women who were and know someone who has been affectGoogle Images ed by sexual UMBRELLA — A display of yellow umbrellas will cover the lawn of the Vines Center. assault. Title IX intern Lori Mercer who works as the assault and hopes that RAINN Day event or to report an incident of office’s events coordinator for their will inform students about this sen- sexual harassment, discrimination victim advocacy and awareness sitive issue,” Mercer said. or assault, see the Title IX web projects looks forward to this event Liberty’s Title IX office encour- page or contact the Title IX office and the response it will evoke from ages Liberty students to #SpeakUp at 434-582-8948. the student body. by raising awareness to advocate for WILLIAMS is an “The Title IX office looks to those afflicted by sexual violence. educate Liberty Students on sexual For more information on the opinion writer.
announced soon. LU Send Now transports students to domestic and international locations to work with other organizations to provide humanitarian aid. During the last several weeks, the program sent two trips of more than 50 students to Louisiana in response to the flooding. As LU Send grows, Milks and the other staff “want to start creating a culture here on campus that we call the internationalization of our campus.” He hopes these trips can spark future international internships and careers for Liberty students. “We want to see our students get this global mindset,” Milks said. “We want to look at the Great Commission with something more than eyes. … We want to put feet to that.” COVEY is a feature reporter.
Kasey Lange| Liberty Champion
HELP— Students helped on construction projects during the recent Louisiana trip.
feature
B6 | September 13, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Let’s get downtown
Lynchburg event draws both college students and locals for a night on the town Local businesses and vendors in downtown Lynchburg prepared for their busiest night of the year as thousands of people swarmed the city for the eighth annual Get Downtown festival Friday, Sept. 9. More than 160 vendors and businesses filled the storefronts of Main Street for six blocks, using promotions, free giveaways and samples to attract and connect with attendees. Businesses located on Main Street such as the White Hart Café, Market at Main, and Scene 3, a skateboard and bicycle shop, were joined by local colleges and organizations such as Liberty University, Gospel Community Church, Cheesy Rider Food Truck, and Open Porch Cafe. In just a minute’s walk, guests could visit a clothing store or a food truck, learn about the mission of a non-profit, or purchase handmade crafts and artwork. Scattered throughout the festival were local bands and street performers, and many businesses on Main Street brought elements of their stores outside to bring their products right to guests. United Way hosted an event on the roof of the Bank of the James. Ashley Kershner, executive director of Lynch’s Landing, an organization who regularly coordinates events to promote downtown Lynchburg, said that the goal of the event is to introduce people to the businesses downtown. “For some people, this is their first introduction to downtown,” Kershner said. “They’re seeing some of these businesses for the first time.” One such business was the Patriotic Peacock, a local art studio that offers painting lessons for new or experienced artists. Founder Kathlyn Wade started the business from her home but moved into a store on Main Street less than a month ago. She said Get Downtown allows her to meet potential customers who may not have known about the business before the festival. “We couldn’t have moved in here at a better time,” Wade said. “We’re going to start out on a high note. We get to have a lot of exposure and a lot of new faces.” Wade allowed guests to practice their painting and learn more about the classes she
Katelyn Rutt | Liberty Champion
FESTIVAL — Event attendees walked through downtown Lynchburg, visiting local businesses and learning more about downtown. offers as she handed out brochures and raffle tickets for free night classes. Retail supervisor at Altus Chocolate Kaitlyn Lauderbaugh said the store had employees outside who offered cheesecake samples as they connected with guests. She said she hoped the genuineness of the team would encourage future visits and that guests would follow the store on social media. Kershner said events like Get Downton give people a chance to change their perspective on the city. She said new restaurants have recently opened up and that Lynch’s
Landing holds other events to attract locals to downtown Lynchburg. “Over the last five years, (with) the number of people who have moved into downtown and that have businesses opening up, there’s no doubt to me that the events are a part of that catalyst,” Kershner said. “A big win for (Get Downtown) is that people attend and they say, ‘Wow, I had no idea all of this was going on downtown,’ and they become a loyal downtown visitor.”
CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS: KATELYN RUTT JACOB CLARKE RACHAEL CARNEY CHRISTIANNE GORMLEY
PREACH— Clayton King preached to students Wednesday and Thursday night during Campus Community’s Spiritual Emphasis Week.
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
Growing collectively
New Campus Community study program “Vinyl” debuts, runs for five weeks Nathaniel Fraticelli nlfraticelli@liberty.edu
Liberty University students can expect new things from Wednesday night’s Campus Community this year. One difference returning students will notice about Campus Community is a change of source material. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, which has been the primary study text in Campus Community for the better part of three semesters, is being retired in favor of a new study program titled “Vinyl.”
“Sometimes you’ve just gotta come up for air and address the why,” Senior Vice President of Spiritual Development David Nasser said. “Vinyl was a chance for us to actually stop and talk about that why.” According to Nasser, the idea for Vinyl came to him while he was listening to a record at the beach with his daughter. Nasser equated the process of a Christian receiving the words of God and applying them as being similar to the sensitivity of the needle of a record player moving through grooves in a vinyl record’s surface. This process, he said, causes sound waves after
proper amplification. Vice President of Spiritual Development Josh Rutledge explained why Vinyl was chosen as the source material for Campus Community. “The key focus on (Vinyl) is what it looks like to ground yourself in the Word of God,” Rutledge said. “The point of Vinyl is: Are you sensitive to the Word of God? Do you let the Word of God get deep into you? Do you respond to it appropriately? If you want to be loud for God, you have to be incredibly sensitive to the way God is moving in his Word.” The main book that will be studied for the Vinyl series is Hebrews;
however, according to Rutledge, other books including Psalms will be touched on during the study. Even though different books are being introduced to Campus Community, the lessons will remain expository. LU Stages has more planned for Campus Community for the rest of the semester. Vinyl is only scheduled to run for five weeks. After students return from fall break, Campus Community will have moved on to another new series. Despite its new direction, Campus Community is, at its core, a Bible study that allows students a way to connect with each other and create fellowship on campus.
“Wednesday night as a whole seems to be the main intersection of community and discipleship as it relates to spiritual development,” Nasser said. “Those who are a part of Wednesday night, that gathering where we come together and go after God and worship, are certainly part of something where they’re getting God’s Word and discussing it and pouring into each other in community.” Campus Community takes place Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Vines Center. FRATICELLI is a feature reporter.
feature
Liberty Champion | September 13, 2016 | B7
Hope and healing found Student Counseling Services offers six free sessions to any Liberty student Abby Sweeney asweeney8@liberty.edu
A new school year can bring feelings of excitement and anticipation, but it can also bring stress and uneasiness during a period of transition. Liberty University’s Student Counseling Services are available to help students cope with difficult transitions, whether it is an immediate crisis or a part of everyday life. Executive Director Mike Kunzinger explains the process that begins once a student contacts the office for support. “It’s not a one-size fits all,” Kunzinger said. “People are complex and should get all different levels of care and treatment.” According to Kunzinger, the student takes an initial crisis assessment, to help determine if the student’s situation calls for immediate attention. Then, the student will meet with a counselor to discuss the situation. The student will then be referred to either a counselor in the Lynchburg area, or to stay within the Counseling Services Department, depending on their circumstances. The counseling model, according to Kunzinger, consists of six sessions. The student meets with the same counselor throughout those six sessions. Counselor Michael Trexler stresses that confidentiality and a safe environment are very important. “We create a safe environment for them to really share,” Trexler said. “We’ll help guide them through that process of what would be helpful.” Students have client confidentiality when they attend counseling services, meaning that all information they share will be kept confidential and will not be reported to the school. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as if a student states they want to hurt someone else or themselves. According to Trexler, the department is doing more to connect to different areas of the school in order to reach more people. “We’re reaching out to the different departments of the schools,” Trexler said. “We really connect our department with all the schools and help them to get students to us — develop a relationship, if they have any questions about particular needs that they may have or see. We’re … the person to be able to talk to about those things.” Kunzinger believes that therapeutic counseling can be beneficial for everyone, whether they are experiencing a life crisis or not. “I would recommend everyone taking the time to look at their lives,” Kunzinger said.
PLAYERS continued from B8 The evangelistic program, “Which Way,” was originally written by Mrs. Lloyd. David Allison wrote their Easter musical, “Days of Glory.” The drama “Days of Glory” is a musical retelling of Jesus’ last week on Earth. The story spans from Jesus’ triumphant entry to his resurrection, and includes the cleansing of the temple and Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. The play has a large cast and often incorporates alumni, faculty and friends who play extras. The number of cast and crew varies depending on when and where the play is performed. At times, the choir has included as many as 110 singers, and its orchestra, 40 performers. David Allison describes “Days
“Learn a little bit more about how they tick and make sense of the world, and how they relate to the world – that’s important for everybody.” The counselors strive to help guide students and provide a safe environment for healing to take place, according to Kunzinger. “Hope, healing and wholeness is a part of what we offer, and … we make a space where, hopefully, those things can be experienced,” Kunzinger said. To contact the Student Counseling Services department, visit www.liberty.edu/ studentaffairs/studentcare or call 434-582265. The department is located in Green Hall 1830 and walk-in visits are welcome.
SWEENEY is a feature reporter.
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
REACHING OUT — Counseling Services offers mental health information and advice.
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
HELPING HAND — Student Counseling Services offers consultations, counseling, and emergency assistance for all students.
of Glory” as the ministry’s most popular, and said the team performs it at several locations every year. Most notably, “Which Way” has been performed at many prestigious military bases. According to David Allison, The King’s Players has performed six times at Fort Lee, four times at Fort Belvoir, and six times at Parris Island. The ministry is open to students of any major who are interested.
DODSON is a feature reporter.
Photo Provided
PERFORM— The King’s Players performs the Easter story each year with a cast of students and alumni.
B8
FEATURE
September 13, 2016
fruit of the Spirit
Kasey Lange| Liberty Champion
REBUILD — Liberty University students, using their time and talents to assist others, traveled to Louisiana to help rebuild parts of the state that were ravaged by the recent flooding.
Have Bible, will travel LU Send offers students short-term travel opportunities with a lasting impact Erin Covey ercovey@liberty.edu
Liberty University students have the opportunity to travel far beyond their classrooms and experience the cultures of Switzerland, Romania, Central Asia and many other locations while representing Christ. Through LU Send, students can take advantage of these travel opportunities over breaks and earn course credit. The organization, which was formed in June 2015, merged separate entities that coordinated trips to create a more holistic approach to
student group travel. Previously, the Center for Student Travel focused on academic trips while the Center for Global Engagement was more missionsminded. LU Send was established to unite both of these goals, said Brandon Milks, associate director of LU Send. “What (David Nasser) and Dr. Hawkins saw, along with executive leadership, was that as a large Christian university, we should be fusing those two together,” Milks said. “That’s where this mindset came in of creating excellent trips that encompass … academics, missions and cultural engagement.”
LU Send is one of several new branches under the Office of Spiritual Development, headed by David Nasser, but it also reports to the Office of the Provost when it comes to the academic components of trips. During spring and summer break next semester, LU Send will offer a variety of trips. Trips to locations such as Germany or Israel will count as course credit for Bible or theology courses required for all students. Other trips are tailored to specific majors. LU Send is hosting a crisis counseling trip to Ukraine, a history trip to Germany, and a government trip to Guatemala. For a complete list of trips, students can visit the LU
Send Student Portal on Liberty’s website. Milks believes students have opportunities through travel that cannot be experienced inside a classroom. Some of these benefits include engaging with other cultures, building resumes, and connecting more deeply with faculty, Milks said. “There’s always a barrier that’s going to be there—whether it be finance or not wanting to miss out on what friends are doing—but there’s huge benefits to going,” Milks said.
See SEND, B5
Mission-focused drama
King’s Players ministry uses drama to spread the gospel across the country Seth Dotson scdotson@liberty.edu
Liberty University’s oldest continuous ministry is The King’s Players, a family-led outreach that began in 1977. Run by David Allison, the drama ministry has been a part of his life for nearly 40 years. Having first joined the drama team as a college freshman, Allison now runs the ministry team with his wife, Connie. The couple has four sons, three of which have been involved in the ministry directly, being cast in various roles and leadership over the years in the company’s plays. David Allison said that in the coming months, he and his wife plan to pass the mantle of leadership down to their youngest son, Chris, who recently graduated from Liberty with his wife Rachel. Chris has worked with the ministry for seven years, performing in a variety of theater roles and in leadership. Rachel Allison is also heavily involved in The King’s Players and recently penned a play for the group titled “Light in the Darkness.” Mark and Helen Lloyd founded The King’s Players in 1960 while serving at Asbury University. The Lloyds had been teaching as faculty members at Asbury and were on the eve of retirement. Upon retiring, the couple took their budding ministry to Liberty. “In 1973, Liberty was two years old,” David Allison said. “There were hardly any faculty with earned Ph.D.’s from accredited schools. … Dr. Lloyd had a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, and he came (to Liberty) and started what’s now the school of communication and he started the speech and English departments.”
Meanwhile, Helen Lloyd focused on writing and directing the plays performed by the drama group. According to David Allison, the ministry performs at an average of 30-50 venues a year. David Allison began his ministry career while a student himself, performing as a freshman and acting throughout his college career. At Liberty, Connie Allison serves in the Office of the Provost. In the King’s Players, she serves as the team’s music director. Ryan and Phillip Allison, their oldest two sons, have served on The King’s Players drama team for at least seven years in their Easterthemed play “Days of Glory.” Ryan Allison played Pontius Pilate while his brother played Jesus. Both Ryan and Phillip Allison have since moved on and Chris, the youngest, now performs the role of Jesus. The King’s Players circulates through four different plays over its eight-month season, which spans from September through April. Three of those plays, “Light in the Darkness,” “Family Outings” and “Which Way” are rotated September through March while “Days of Glory” is performed during three weekends in April. “Light in the Darkness” by Rachel Allison, is meant to reach out to struggling high school students. Paul McCusker, of Adventures in Odyssey, penned “Family Outings” to target the family-friendly demographic.
Photo Provided
See PLAYERS, B7 FAMILY — David Allison leads the King’s Players with his wife, Connie, and their children.