Liberty Champion, Jan. 22nd, 2013

Women’s basketball takes on the Fighting Camels ‘Dirty God’ book signing

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

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Volume 30 • Issue 12

Campus experiences improvements The flurry of construction projects enhances academic and athletic facilities

Tabitha Cassidy tcassidy@liberty.edu

Melanie Oelrich moelrich@liberty.edu

Amidst the clamor of construction noises on campus, sizeable progress has been made on the various buildings Liberty University is erecting.

The addition of multiple facilities, including an incoming Osteopathic Medical and Health Sciences School, the Jerry Falwell Library, a baseball stadium and a multi-level dorm that will eventu-

ally replace South Campus have already begun making their presence known across Liberty’s campus.

According to Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr., progress on the new South Campus dorms began this week, starting with the relocation of students previously living in Dorms 1-4. Those students have since been moved to the “Liberty Annex,” formerly known as the Quality Inn on Odd Fellows Road.

According to Executive Vice President Neal Askew, the university has remodeled the hotel to mirror the

dorms on campus so that it consists of three students per room, one bunk and one loft, and three desks.

“They like it so well.

They’re so blown away by how nice it is, the word is spreading, and there are students asking if they can move from their dorm to over there,” Askew said.

“We have everything set up for them — the bus transportation is set in place, and the students will be dining over at the original Annex.”

See PROJECTS, A3

Photo Provided

LIBRARY — The new Jerry Falwell Library is still under construction.

‘Finding Faith’ opens

back to school

The new faith-based film premiered Jan. 19 Melanie Oelrich moelrich@liberty.edu

The worship center at Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC) filled to capacity Saturday, Jan. 19, as the world premiere of the new faith-based movie “Finding Faith” was introduced to a crowd of cast members, family, friends, local police and community members.

In association with TRBC and Liberty University, “Finding Faith” is a film that focuses on bringing awareness to the dangers of Internet child predators. The film stars Erik Estrada, formerly known as “Ponch” from the ‘70s show “CHiPs.” Estrada portrays Sheriff Mike Brown, the Bedford County sheriff who has been in

See FAITH, A6

New food options Tabitha Cassidy tcassidy@liberty.edu

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

BUMPER CARS — Andrea Carper and Dimitri Chambers (Pictured) were among the students who enjoyed a variety of activities Saturday, Jan. 19, in the Schilling Center at the Back to School Bash. Put on by Student Activities, the event featured bumper cars, miniature golf, inflatables and board games. To read more about the event, see B8.

INSIDE THE CHAMPION News Liberty students traveled to New York to aid in Hurricane Sandy relief. A8

Sports

Andrew Woolfolk addresses the recent Manti Te’o girlfriend scandal.

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Feature Student Activities hosted their second Back to School Bash in the Schilling. B8

Liberty University students with dietary restrictions may find some comfort in the allergen-free station at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall referred to as “Simple Servings.”

This relatively new development with Liberty dining, still in the pilot stage of planning by Sodexo dining services, caters to the needs of students with seven of the eight most common allergens, including gluten, soy, wheat, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and

See ALLERGY, A8

News Opinion Sports Feature

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NEWS

A2/Liberty Champion

January 22, 2013

Former professor dies, 90 Samantha Boontjer sbboontjer@liberty.edu

“Well Glory!” Those are the words former Liberty University professor Dr. C. Sumner Wemp pronounced in an email he had written to be released upon his death. “If you’re reading this, it means I have seen Jesus and heard Him say those cherished words, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’”

Dr. Clifford Sumner Wemp died shortly after midnight Dec. 25, 2012.

His five children, Clifford Wemp, Elaine Grill, Carolyn Wemp, Chuck Wemp and his wife Donna, Janet Herlyck and her husband Jack, his three grandchildren and Jean Medley survive him.

Born Oct. 26, 1922, Wemp was known as a “firebrand” for giving the saving Gospel of Je- WEMP sus Christ to every single person he came into contact with.

In a testimony written for Wemp’s website, his story is told. He had never held a Bible or heard the Gospel until the age of 17, when one night in Jacksonville, Fla., a fellow paperboy invited this young man to church at 4:00 a.m. while they were rolling papers.

Three weeks after this invitation, Wemp accepted Christ as his personal Lord and savior, and as he was known to say that “he never got over it.”

Dr. Wemp had been a Liberty faculty member so long that Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. reminisced about having Wemp as one of his professors when he attended Liberty.

“An important part of this university’s history was lost … but when I spoke with Dr. Wemp recently, he sounded like we all remember him — upbeat and praising God.” Commenting on losing his father on Christmas Day, Chuck Wemp said, “If you knew my dad, you know it couldn’t have been a better day. I don’t know anyone that was as excited as my dad to go to heaven.”

Wemp received his Bachelor of Arts from Samford University in Birmingham Ala., which was then known as Howard College. He also received his Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, where he also met his future wife, Celeste Magee Zimmerman. He and Celeste ministered together until her death at 86 in July 2010. He received his Doctorate in Ministry from California Graduate school of Theology and his Doctorate of Sacred Theology from Liberty University.

After seminary, Wemp pastored different churches around the country for 13 years until he received an invitation to join Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill. as Director of Practical Christian Work. He also went on to serve as President of Southeastern Bible College before joining the Liberty family in 1973 as Vice President of Spiritual Affairs, where he served until his retirement in 1989.

The last years of his life were spent in “retirement,” which for Wemp meant mentoring pastors, missionaries and evangelists and preaching every other weekend around the country.

Wemp’s heart for things of the Lord is evident from his life, and it is difficult not to share in his sentiment when he wrote, “Well Glory!”

BOONTJER is a news reporter.

Photo Provided

SERVICE — A Liberty student works on a mosaic near Amazement Square in downtown Lynchburg.

Student initiative seeks to serve Mark Tait mtait@liberty.edu

Liberty University is now providing opportunities for students to show their care for the Lynchburg community through regular short term service projects.

Since Sept. 6, 2012, Liberty students have been reaching out to the Lynchburg community through the Community Care Initiative (CCI). Will Honeycutt is the program’s faculty coordinator.

“You can serve without caring, but you can’t care without serving,” Honeycutt said. “If you care, you get down and help people.”

Throughout the first few months of CCI’s existence, students have displayed genuine care for the community.

Care teams have assisted the elderly, cleaned up local parks, finished a mosaic in Amazement Square and performed many acts of service in the community.

According to the Liberty University News Service, in less than a semester, volunteers in the program have worked together to complete more than 1,450 “hours of care.”

Troy Cosner, a care team leader, has enjoyed caring for the community with CCI. “I just think that it is great that we as Christians can show the love of Christ in practical ways, showing the world that we do care about them and that we aren’t just all talk,” Cosner said.

CCI care projects are typically completed Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Requests are received from the community, and projects are assigned to care team leaders who largely come from the Office of Student Leadership, according to the Liberty University News Service.

Honeycutt said CCI endeavors to recruit volunteers who care about the community because they love the Lord and love their neighbor and are not

Courtney Sharp csharp2@liberty.edu

Students and local residents alike may know already that Lynchburg was ranked in a nationwide survey that placed it as the second lowest cost of living city in the commonwealth of Virginia.

“The price of residential living is one of the reasons I decided to move off,” Will Quirion, Liberty senior business major, said. “Lynchburg is significantly cheaper to live in as a college student than my previous college town was. It’s nice to know that I had that affordable option to get off campus.”

According to the city’s website, the low cost of living in Lynchburg draws many

Tabitha Cassidy

Shelanne Jennings

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“Lynchburg is significantly cheaper to live in as a college student than my previous college town was.”

— Will Quirion people and encourages small business growth.

“As a native Midwesterner, I can easily understand why Lynchburg is such a popular choice to live and work,” Rex Hammond, president and chief officer of the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, said.

Over the past five years, the Lynchburg area cost of living has continually declined from 102.8 to its current value of 91.0. The

Derrick Battle

index is set at 100, which means that anything above that is higher than the national average. Anything below is considered under the national average. The categories evaluated are grocery, housing, utilities, transportation, healthcare and miscellaneous, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research.

Hammond also said that having a wonderful community and an excellent business cli-

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mate aids in the operation of the city.

“Certainly, we have witnessed demonstrable business and residential growth in the past decade,” Hammond said. “A constant challenge for a city our size is to generate sufficient jobs to be able to offer positions to more of the graduates produced by our colleges. Still, I see this as a blessing to have our colleges producing a constant stream of graduates for jobs.”

Lynchburg is the fifth safest city based on crime rates and the ninth most secure place to live in the U.S., according to Sperling’s list of best places to live. “(I) wouldn’t agree with the idea that our population is stagnant,” Hammond said. “By

Virginia standards, we aren’t growing as fast as a few cities, but, from a national perspective, Lynchburg is growing at a normal, sustainable rate.”

Hammond made reference to the lack of interstate highways as a “limiting factor,” but not a negative one.

“Slow growth allows local government sufficient time for planning and development of efficient and appropriate infrastructure,” Hammond said.

For more information about the cost of living in Lynchburg and any other questions or concerns, contact the local government affairs office at lynchburgva.gov.

SHARP is a news reporter.

The Champion encourages community members to submit letters to the editor on any subject. Letters should not exceed 400 words and must be typed and signed. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Letters and columns that appear are the opinion of the author solely, not the Champion editorial board or Liberty University.

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

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TAIT is a news reporter.

Current living expenses in the Hill City are well below the national average

1971 UNIVERSITY BLVD, LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24502

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into their house in February.”

Honeycutt said that care team members have grown closer as they have completed “dirty projects” like painting.

David Pearce bonded with his teammates as he worked with four students to paint a room for the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center.

“It was a lot of fun, and just a great practical way to show a practical Christ and show that Liberty truly cares for the community,” Pearce said. “I got to know the people I was with a lot better as well. It was a good way to start a Saturday.”

Students wishing to become involved in CCI can ask their spiritual life director or prayer leader for more information or email the CCI office at cci@ liberty.edu. The CCI is not limited to students though.

Any staff or faculty that would like to become involved or know of needs in the community should contact CCI.

Low cost of living in Lynchburg

LIBERTY CHAMPION administration

worried about credit.

According to Honeycutt, the program also strives to “leave a mark,” while caring for the community.

The CCI Facebook page says that volunteering in CCI gives students the opportunity to have an influence on the surrounding community through physical projects.

Brittannie Hedrick, a care team leader, recently had an impact on the community by caring for local home owners.

“The first thing that we did when we got to the work site was to pray over the day and the work that we would be doing, a good reminder and literal application of Psalm 127:1, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.’ Throughout the day, we installed insulation throughout the house and built the frame for a back deck and handicap ramp. The homeowners were so excited and grateful that we were there to help them. Lord willing, they will be able to move

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NEWS

January 22, 2013

Liberty Champion/A3

Photo Provided

BASEBALL STADIUM — This rendering provides a look at the new baseball stadium that is nearing completion for the 2013 season.

PROJECTS continued from A1 According to Falwell, the new dorms, while still being separated by gender, will include a co-ed social area on every floor for students to have more places to get together. Construction on the new dorms will be completed in phases on an as-needed basis, and, according to Vice President of Auxiliary Services Lee Beaumont, the administration is currently discussing the possibility of having food options in one of the new, eight-story dorms.

Falwell also said that student growth over the next few years is not expected to exceed the number of dorm rooms available, as the new buildings will go up as the student population grows.

“The enrollment management department has informed us that each year, a few hundred more students will be accepted into the university, and by 2020, we should be close to about 16,000 students,” Falwell said. “Once we build the second dorm building on South Campus, that will more than allow for that growth.”

In the past, universities and other institutions needed to fill out and get a conditional use permit (CUP) signed and approved in order to construct more buildings on any land. However, the new institutional zoning plan currently being approved by the City of Lynchburg, Falwell said, is expected to eliminate this requirement.

The new baseball stadium that is being built on the site of the old David’s Place is still planned to welcome guests on opening day, Feb. 22, according to Director of Planning and Construction Charles Spence. Final touches will not be completed until June 2013, but the stadium will be opened to accomodate games and fans as soon as the season begins.

“All of the facilities and upgrades are part of our effort to make our athletic facilities mirror what you would see at FBS (football bowl subdivision) schools,” Falwell said. “We want to join an FBS conference, and for the most part, we’re there.

The baseball stadium is sort of the last piece.”

The Jerry Falwell Library, which currently sits behind DeMoss as a framework, is expected to finish on time, according to Spence. Having hired top-notch architects and an interior designer who has been busily planning for six months to ensure that the minutest detail is met, both Falwell and Spence guaranteed that the Jerry Falwell Library will house the best of the best — every detail, from the technology that will be used to receive and return books, down to the type of material used for seating. The library will also feature a food court on its ground floor.

“Our plan is to bring in a Pizza Hut, a sushi bar, Starbucks and a

Photo Provided

LIBRARY — This sketch provides a view from the front of the Jerry Falwell Library, which is under construction behind DeMoss Hall. brioche/Panera Bread type of eatery,” Askew said.

Structural steel for the new School of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences is ready for placing on Liberty Mountain.

Before bad weather hit Lynchburg, the concrete flooring and walls of the soon-to-be basement were set in place. Falwell anticipates the completion of the building to be May 2014, ready for classes the following semester.

“The plan is to be finished with the construction primarily between April and May of next year, because there is a tremendous amount of set up time needed with it being a brand new school,” Spence said. “The doctor and his staff need to get their procedures and training plan in place.”

The School of Osteopathic Medicine, according to Falwell, will also host a clinic on the first floor for Lynchburg residents and Liberty students.

An additional change to the campus that may somewhat alleviate traffic backup is a new tunnel that will run underneath the railroad tracks and come out at the intersection of Wards Road and Harvard Street. This new tunnel, which will include four lanes and a pedestrian and bicycle lane, is expected to near completion July 2013.

“All of our growth in the future is going to be engineered so we don’t increase the number of off-campus students commuting from two to three miles away,” Falwell said. “In other words, all growth is going to be in new dorms on campus for resident students, and it’s going to be in housing projects that are close enough to (have students) bused.

I really don’t think our roads and our parking lots can handle any

Photo Provided

LIBRARY — This digitized photo provides another view of the Jerry Falwell Library. more commuter traffic.”

The new Sears building that Liberty purchased in Oct. 2012, according to Falwell, should also take care of some of the on-campus traffic. While the city is still drawing up plans for the civic center that will eventually take the place of the old Sears building at River Ridge Mall, the administration plans to move some of the departments currently at Green Hall there. Only departments that students do not need access to will be moved, Falwell explained.

“The city is still trying to put the civic center proposal together,” Falwell said. “Even if everything falls in place, we still won’t have to move out of the Sears building for three years, and that gives us plenty of time to finish everything else here.”

Among the many projects happening over campus, one of the original buildings at Liberty is also expected to receive some

additions. DeMoss will eventually be expanded to incorporate two additional academic buildings to its posterior side, as well as a new food court that will include many different eatery options. According to Beaumont, the food court will include an additional Chick-fil-A, as well as healthy or organic options that are yet to be confirmed.

The LaHaye Student Union will also be expanded to include more rooms to meet student needs, according to Beaumont.

Both the cardiovascular workout space and the weight room space will be doubled, more multi-purpose rooms and at least one more basketball court will be added, and the student union will begin towel service for those students using the facilities, Beaumont said. The food court will also be expanded, though the administration has not finalized exactly which ones will be coming to Liberty as of yet.

“You’re going to have a lot more space, and a lot more equipment, so that gives us the ability to offer additional exercise classes and more workout options,” Beaumont said.

As Liberty administration continues to brainstorm ways of improvements, students should expect nothing but the best. After all, as Jerry Falwell Sr. always said, “If it’s Christian, it ought to be better.”

CASSIDY is the editor in chief.

OELRICH is the news editor.

OPINION

JANUARY 22, 2013

Guns are not the problem, we are

In a nation of waning ethics and lack of morals, stricter laws will not eliminate unjust deaths Andrew Woolfolk alwoolfolk@liberty.edu

Where were you when the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Conn. happened? I imagine most people reading this were doing something close to what I was doing, savoring the first few days of a month of freedom from school. I was at Myrtle Beach, enjoying the beginning of my Christmas break, when I heard of the tragedy.

You knew soon after the misfortune, when President Barack Obama stated that “these tragedies must end, and to end them we must change,” that action would follow.

Wednesday, Jan. 16, it came.

Obama presented guidelines for 23 executive actions to crack down on background checks, licensing and mental health requirements for future firearm purchasers. The new laws will change the way the average person and the hunter go about buying guns.

I am as avid of a gun supporter as they come. I have hunted with my father since I was 5 and had the rules of gun safety pounded in my head from the onset. I can still hear my father’s voice every time I pick up a gun, saying, “Don’t ever point it at anything except the ground or the animal you plan on shooting.” Even if I am hunting alone, I still hear him saying, “Is your finger on the trigger or the safety?”

I do not agree with all, if not most, of the changes, but there are some understandable ones.

Even I will say that some of these actions, such as the elimination of the loophole that allows people to purchase guns at gun

Mike Saechang | Creative Commons

CONTROL — The people behind the weapons, not the weapons themselves, should be scrutinized. shows sold by unlicensed dealers, and in almost all states without any proof of identification or background checks, are a good move.

Gun control, as a whole, is not the answer — but neither are more guns.

Want to know why? Guns did not create this issue, and they certainly are not the focal point of this problem in America.

The problem is that we are numb to violence. Our culture bathes us in it, and as a result, the value we place on human life slowly trickles away.

Recently, the Parent Television Council found that there are 4.41 instances of violence per hour of prime time television. In a 2008 study, appropriately named “Comfortably Numb,” researchers from the University of Michigan and Iowa State University

found that college age students who watched violent movies or played violent video games were less likely to take real life violence around them seriously.

Do not get me wrong, I am not the person who thinks that video games or movies make you a murderer or that these activities should serve as a scapegoat.

However, when we expose ourselves to violence, perhaps even with the innocent intention of watching the local news, it begins to numb our senses.

It does not take a genius to see that our morals, in general, are fading fast as well. Last year, Pew Research found that those who identified themselves as “Christian” had fallen five percentage points in only five years, while those professing “no faith” had consequently risen five percent.

The trend of births to un-

married couples is also on the rise, with the National Center for Health Statistics stating that 40 percent of newborns are to unwed mothers. Many times, these children grow up without a strong family support system or a father figure, a consistent characteristic of the ever-growing list of shooters in these mass murder cases.

Are we not angry enough to make a difference?

Sure, when we heard the news, we were hurt. Most of us were even mad enough to dedicate a few of our status updates on Facebook to the crisis. But let us be real, most of us did not call or email our local government officials asking how we could help.

Most of us did not donate money to the school or families involved.

If I could check, I am curious to know if many of us even stopped

our busy schedules to take time to pray the moment we heard the news.

Instead, we politicize these problems. We draw partisan lines that are too thick for us to see past. We create issues that perhaps do not even exist.

Rather than point fingers, perhaps we could take a lesson from God. In Galatians 6, we are commanded to “reach out to those who are oppressed.” Paul tells us to “help the weak” in Acts 20. How many times are we commanded to love our brother?

The people who commit these types of heinous crimes are too often the people we leave sitting in the corner alone to fester. I find it hard to believe that if the Christians around these shooters had treated them like brothers, that they would not have at least seen warning signs to prevent these crimes.

I am not saying that if we do our moral duty as Christians — or merely human beings for that matter — that the shootings at Sandy Hook or Aurora would not have happened, but the odds would be much lower.

We cannot keep closing our eyes to those around us who need it most. We cannot become numb to the violence that seems to surround us. Our country and fellow countrymen deserve better. Those children and teachers deserved better.

We can do better — but do not trick yourself into thinking that laws will make that happen.

WOOLFOLK is the opinion editor.

2012: The world changed. Did we as well?

Andrew Woolfolk alwoolfolk@liberty.edu

As the ball makes its annual descent in Times Square to mark the beginning of a new year, I always enjoy taking the time to reflect on the 12 months that were. I keep a journal throughout the year, marking down not only what is going on in my life, but also what is occurring in the world around me.

Whether we realize it or not, a lot of change occurs in our lives in 365 days — or 366, this past year. Let us take a look back on the time that has passed us by.

Packed with numerous events, 2012 was quite the year. Those who doubted the credibility of the predicted Mayan apocalypse were right, Karl Rove’s

As the final semester of my undergraduate degree beings, I find myself with an odd mixture of both panic at what the future holds and serenity about where I am at in my life at this very moment.

It is much easier to get

vehement prognosis of a Romney victory was wrong, and the jury is still out on whether Robert Griffin III (RG3) can save Washington, D.C. fans from an insufferable future with the pigskin.

We lost some illustrious and talented Americans in 2012, too. Neil Armstrong, Andy Griffith and Whitney Houston all died during the 12 months of 2012. Yet, we also discovered people like Jeremy Lin, Gabby Douglas and that Honey Boo Boo kid.

Last year also marked the first time that I can remember where a song with lyrics that are mostly compiled of an entirely different language dominated my Internet, my television and my radio. The allure behind South Korean art-

caught up in the feelings of dread and confusion than it is to revel in the moment and just enjoy the position you are currently at in life. The decisions you have been putting off about the rest of your earthly existence

ist Psy’s worldwide phenomenon Gangnam Style is still beyond my range of understanding, but I applaud h i m nonetheless.

It was a year where we WOOLFOLK were inspired. Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner’s world record jump from over 24 miles up, a jump where he fell over 800 miles an hour and became the first person to break the sound barrier, boggled our minds and made anyone who watched the live stream wince at the feat.

NASA impressed us as well, landing yet another

rover on Mars, a planet we sometimes forget is 250 million miles away. The landing marked the end of an eight-month trip to the red planet for the rover named Curiosity, a piece of machinery that is as big as a car and a little more expensive, with a total cost of about $2.5 billion.

Not only were we encouraged by the feats of thrill-seekers and space explorations in 2012, but we were also subject to some of the worst tragedies the nation has seen since the new century. We learned where Aurora, Colo. and Newtown, Conn. were, though in the worst possible way. Regardless, the outpouring of love and support throughout the calamity showed that we still care for our fellow man.

since you entered college are beginning to draw nearer. They are starting to become a reality.

The doors that open to you seem innumerable, but somehow, you are expected to pick just one.

For me, making a decision that is meant to be permanent is terrifying.

In high school, instead of choosing one thing to pursue, I did it all — varsity soccer, bowling, basketball, cross-country, track and field, student council, drama club, national honors society, band, choir, quiz bowl, math club. You name it, and I probably did it at

one point.

Even when it came to college, I had difficulty determining which path I was supp o s e d to follow, what path God wanted me on. At the very CASSIDY last moment, as my high school principal was asking what college I was going to attend in order to announce me to my fellow graduates as their valedictorian, I chose Liberty University, not because it was the most prestigious of uni-

Our country’s generosity was also shown after Hurricane Sandy made her way down the East Coast. According to the New Jersey newspaper The Record, donations to the seven major charity organizations totaled more than $220 million.

These tragedies taught us that we as a nation can still pull together — for however short of a time that may last — in times of unthinkable cruelty.

The Summer Olympics in London showed us that our world can still pull together and get along for a few days — yet again, for however short of a time that may last. More than 200 nations and nearly 11,000 athletes captivated us for two-and-a-half weeks. Although, I am still

versities that I had been accepted to, but because it was the first one that popped inside my head.

But throughout all of the panic and confusion about the future, one thing remained consistent: God was with me every step of the way.

And he will be there for all of the decisions I have to make in the upcoming months.

While you may have numerous opportunities before you, and while it may seem almost impossible to make a decision, one thing is certain: if you follow God, you will never miss an opportunity for

not certain about what was going on during the opening ceremonies.

But the biggest accomplishment of 2012 is that we made it. God has blessed us with another year of life, another year to make a difference.

Though the days ahead of us may seem daunting, especially as the schoolwork incrementally increases on top of our desks, do not forget that we have a chance to change the world.

There is no questioning that the world around us changes, it is just a matter of whether we want to be the reason that it does.

WOOLFOLK is the opinion editor.

greatness.

After all, is greatness not the thing we seek most in this world? Greatness of love, of life, of reputation, greatly serving the Lord with all that we have — these are all things for which we strive.

If you are satisfied with where you are in life, if you have no regrets about what you chose, then just delight in the moment and remember that you were once apprehensive about this moment in time as well, but you made it through.

CASSIDY is the editor in chief.

OPINION

January 22, 2013

Plunging off fiscal cliff

Liberty Champion/A5

Congress must agree on a solution to financial crisis before America collapses Jacob Tellers jtellers@liberty.edu

Like many college students, Congress has the habit of procrastinating whenever it has something difficult to do.

However, just like college students, procrastinated work does not turn out nearly as well as it could have.

The recent fiscal cliff crisis is a perfect example of this.

Congress knew for months that it had a problem on its hands. The fiscal cliff, the expiration of President Bush’s tax cuts as well as the enacting of some automatic spending cuts, was set to occur at the end of 2012.

Yet, despite ample time to reach some sort of compromise on this issue, Congress did not pass a bill to resolve these issues until after the Dec. 31st deadline had passed.

The resulting bill was H.R. 8, entitled The Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012.

Despite its grandiose name, this bill was a feeble attempt to solve the problem and really ended up just pushing it to a later date.

According to ABC News, the results of this bill included a 4.6 percent increase in taxes on individuals earning more than $400,000 and on couples earning more than $450,000, a permanent extension for President Bush’s tax cuts for those earning less than $400,000 and a two-month delay for the scheduled spending cuts.

George Young of Liberty University’s School of Business gave this example to show how small the tax increase on the wealthy was.

“Sixty billion, they spent that in an afternoon with Hurricane Sandy. Everybody’s taxes that they talk about for 5,000 years, the rich people, raises $60 billion a year, and they spent that in an after-

Donkey Hotey | Creative Commons

LAME DUCK — The cliff has turned Congress into a circus. noon,” Young said.

What the bill did not do was extend the payroll tax cut, which, according to the Huffington Post, will result in a two percent tax increase for 77 percent of Americans.

“In 2012, that 2-percentagepoint cut in the payroll tax was worth about $1,000 to a worker making $50,000 a year,” Stephen Ohlemacher from the Huffington Post said.

Andrew Light, an economics professor at Liberty, explained that the tax increases on the middle class will be harmful because they will directly decrease disposable income, which results in fewer consumption of goods and a weakening of the economy.

Congress’ solution to the fiscal cliff does not solve much, but the U.S. government faces an even bigger problem not too far in the future — the national debt ceiling.

The debt ceiling, as explained by Alan Blinder of the Wall Street Journal, is simply the amount of money the U.S. government is allowed to borrow. Currently, it is at $16.4 trillion. Sometime around March,

the U.S. will not be able to pay its bills because it will be out of money and unable to borrow more unless the debt ceiling is raised by Congress.

As explained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, failing to increase the debt limit could have devastating consequences if the U.S. is no longer able to pay its bills.

“The ensuing financial crisis from a default would have catastrophic economic consequences, potentially including the loss of millions of American jobs,” the Department of the Treasury wrote in a fact sheet entitled “Debt Limit: Myth v. Fact.”

Even if the budget was trimmed and taxes were increased, it is still likely that the debt ceiling would need to be raised. However, there are limits to how much the nation can borrow.

“This process of the national debt increasing eventually will push the interest rate higher, and that is not good for the economy,” Light said.

The more the U.S. borrows and the deeper in debt it is, Light explained, the harder

it will be to pay off this debt, so any loans that the U.S. gets will have higher interest rates in order to account for the risk of the loan.

The question then is, what can be done to reign in the deficit?

“Taxes, to get us out of this hole, are going to have to increase … there is no doubt about that. But our (spending) costs will have to decrease,” Scott Hicks, Dean of Liberty University School of Business, said. “We are going to have short-term pain. It is going to have a negative effect on the economy, but (the) deficit is having a negative effect on the economy.”

However, this process will have to be done carefully.

“There is no way you can cut spending so much to bring down the deficit to $200-300 billion,” Light said. “That’s maybe too (many) cuts, but you just have to show the will to cut the spending, and you do it gradually because the problem is our economy is too weak. … The economy cannot sustain a strong spending cut.”

It is easy to try to pin the blame for this on either the Democrats or the Republicans, but the fact is that the blame for this budget deficit should be on every member of Congress for their collective and frustrating inability to compromise.

If the deficit is to be resolved, Democrats must agree to serious spending cuts and Republicans must raise taxes. This is not the ideal scenario, but there is no likely alternative.

While the situation is certainly complex, the deficit has grown to be a problem too big to ignore. Congress must act to reduce the deficit before it becomes too late to fix.

TELLERS is an opinion writer.

Convocation set to impress Gabriella Fuller gfuller2@liberty.edu

Liberty University distinguishes itself from educational institutions around the world in a myriad of ways, but perhaps the most unique distinction of Liberty culture is convocation.

This triweekly, mandatory campus event inevitably produces wide-ranging sentiment. For some of the student population, the time could not be more inconveniently squandered — and why must it be held so torturously early in the morning?

For others, the set hour of collective worship and teaching is an anticipated event that is both refreshing and enjoyable.

Regardless of the category into which you fall, one thing is certain: the spring 2013 convocation schedule is already receiving exceptional publicity. Ever since the optimistic rumors began last semester that Tim Tebow would appear as a guest speaker, the campus has been humming with elation.

The list of noteworthy speakers, however, does not end with the NFL quarterback and Heisman trophy winner. In fact, Tebow is just the beginning. In

Jeffrey Beall | Creative Commons

TEBOW-MANIA — The quarterback highlights a great semester of speakers. addition to this highly anticipated guest, students may also expect an assortment of renowned visitors ranging from politicians to pastors, sportscasters to superstars.

Those who love music can look forward to hearing from Christian hip-hop artist LeCrae this March. For those more interested in politics, keep an eye out for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. For all those diehard sports fanatics, James Brown, host of NFL Today on

CBS, is scheduled to make an appearance.

And if you have not heard of him yet, you will want to look up Jeff Bethke, a Christian author, poet and YouTube sensation.

Johnnie Moore, overseer of the Office of Spiritual Programs, said that he is thrilled to be hosting such prominent Christian names as Franklin Graham, Judah Smith and Bobby Gruenewald.

“This semester, we’ve prepared another one of the best convocation

line-ups in the history of Liberty University,” Moore said. “For sure, people will talk about this semester for a long time.”

It is faculty like Moore and events like convocation that earn Liberty the reputation of a school committed to its students. Where else can thousands of students join together to personally hear from the world’s most important professional, political and spiritual leaders three times a week?

“No university in

America exposes its students to these types of leaders on such a regular basis,” Moore said. “It is a repository of wisdom that makes a Liberty University education unique and invaluable.”

So despite what your feelings toward convocation may be, this semester is sure to bring in at least one speaker that will leave you motivated, encouraged and ready to take on the world as a champion for Christ.

If you are not in the regular habit of attending convocation, research the schedule and make note of key dates you will not want to miss — I guarantee there will be quite a few of them. And to the customary campus attenders, get ready for a semester of convocation unlike all before.

Be sure to make the most of every opportunity presented to you as individuals of reputable stature prepare to pass through our extraordinary university. Have a book signed, shake a hand and take a moment to speak to prestigious people with the knowledge and advice that just might leave a lifelong impact.

Open Source Way | Creative Commons

Greatness in freedom

David Van Dyk

dvandyk@liberty.edu

What defines greatness in a nation?

According to HBO’s “The Newsroom,” written by Aaron Sorkin, greatness is defined by statistics, figures and measurements of society as a whole.

However, I argue that the greatness of a nation lies in its virtues, not its statistics.

The setting of the discussed episode is a question and answer symposium, and the context is a sophomore girl in college asking three panelists why America is According the greatest nato statistics tion in the world.

A YouTube vidfrom the eo featuring a clip U.N., the from the show has United gone viral. In the clip, called “The States’ most honest three GDP of minutes of televiaround sion,” three panelists are posed with $15 trillion is an interesting more than question. double An interesting that of question, but one I could not help China, but think was very which is subjective.

The second first panelist says diversity and op- with a GDP portunity.

The of $7 trillion. third panelist responds by saying that freedom is what makes America the greatest.

Then, the second panelist, a news anchor named Will McAvoy, is called to answer. With a sarcastic tone, he replies, “The New York Jets.”

Laughter is heard throughout the gathering as he grins at the audience.

However, the host professor keeps McAvoy accountable and holds him to an honest answer. McAvoy accepts the professor’s gauntlet, pauses, and for the next minute, the news anchor goes on a tirade of statistics proving why America is no longer the greatest nation in the world. McAvoy quotes such figures as being seventh in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy.

The cherry-picked numbers are indeed saddening. Our education system needs to be looked at with a critical eye, and hardworking values need to be encouraged. However, there is such an abundance of statistics that one could easily find other facts to refute these.

Facts and figures are all well and good, but it comes down to the individual. I believe the greatness of a nation is defined not by its credentials but by its convictions, the core values that hold a nation together and define it. It is the bedrock of a country, the substance that makes it what it is: a nation.

Sadly, our footing is becoming unstable as our foundation starts to shift.

The very values that formed this nation into existence are being challenged by those who believe that the idea of the American Dream is no more than an illusion of pride and arrogance. Yet, some still hold true to the values and ideas to which our forefathers held fast.

America has been and will continue to be great. The freedoms we enjoy and the democracy which has served our nation will prosper so long as we hold each other accountable and stand for the beliefs of our great nation.

There will always be people who will speak out and voice their minds.

They will try to dissuade the people and convince them that our best days are behind us. They will say we are no longer the land of opportunity, that Old Glory is old news. Thanks to our freedoms, they have every right to say what they will. This is part of what makes us great.

FYI

VAN DYK is an opinion writer.

FULLER is an opinion writer.

NEWS

A6/Liberty Champion

January 22, 2013

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

NEW EQUIPMENT — The Cessna Skyhawk 888LU (Left) and a flight simulator (Right) are two of the additions to the School of Aeronautics.

Aeronautics receives donation The program has added three new pieces of equipment to assist students in hands-on techniques Jeremy Angione jangione@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics (SOA) recently formed a partnership with Dynamic Aviation, a partnership that will provide numerous benefits, including the donation of a King Air 90 Turbine aircraft.

Dynamic Aviation is the selfproclaimed “leading provider of innovative solutions for government and commercial organizations worldwide.”

According to Dean of the SOA Gen. David Young, the

King Air is a non-operational aircraft that will serve as a learning tool for students in the Aviation Technician Maintenance program. Young said that the new aircraft will be very helpful to aircraft mechanic students.

Capt. Ernie Rogers, associate dean of the SOA, said in an article by the Liberty University News Service that 100 percent of the students in the Aviation Technician Maintenance program graduate and are immediately placed in the job market.

“We did not have a large training aircraft that contained com-

FAITH continued from A1 command of the Safe Surfin’ Foundation since 2000.

“I’m so jazzed to see how far Safe Surfin’ has come,” Estrada said. “We’re just trying to make people aware of a case that actually occurred. These kids are losing their innocence before their time.”

Estrada strongly believes that this movie is a good start to not only ending such crime, but also educating this generation about Internet safety needs.

“The best way for protection is prevention, and the best way for prevention is education,” Estrada said.

According to the Safe Surfin’ website, “Finding Faith” is based on a compilation of actual events that Sheriff Brown has investigated through his Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. Jason Campbell, the Executive Producer of the film, began the screenplay for the movie after he heard the story of a victim who courageously came forward about how she was abducted by a child predator and how she remained captive for three days before being rescued by law enforcement.

“My daughter and I were eating at a restaurant in Jacksonville, Fla., and we sat down and began the screenplay for the movie,” Campbell said. “It took a few hours, but it all came together.”

Sen. Steve Newman and Delegate Scott Garrett both attended the premiere to award Brown with a flag of the commonwealth of Virginia, which was flown over the Capitol in Richmond to honor Brown’s work protecting children from such crimes.

“Sheriff Mike Brown has tremendous support in Bedford County, but when it comes to Richmond, the state police in Northern Virginia have formed an ICAC unit based on Mike’s program,” Newman said. “What an impact he’s made on lives throughout Virginia and throughout the country.”

Garrett also spoke highly of Brown, referring to him as a “great leader.”

“He has inspired men and women to do things that they may not have thought they could do,” Garrett said.

“On behalf of Sen. Newman and others, we have this opportunity now to acknowledge Sheriff Mike Brown on how much his work means to the commonwealth of Virginia.”

Jonathan Phillips, who plays Internet predator Edwin Doss, credits a friend for his role in the film.

“I had a friend who wanted to audi-

plex systems such as pressurization, oxygen, retractable landing gear and other systems and components on which our students need to train and become knowledgeable,” Young said.

Another donation made to the SOA came from George Arthun, uncle of SOA dispatcher Amanda Spence. The aircraft was a Cessna 172 and will be used in traditional flight training, according to Young in a 2012 Liberty Champion article.

The SOA is growing in national prominence due to the excellence of its graduates, training

tion for the movie and asked me to go along with her,” Phillips said. “I actually got a smaller part in the beginning, but a few of the casting workers knew me from before, so they upped my role to be the bad guy.”

According to Phillips, one of the biggest things about this premiere is the meaning behind A crowd of the movie and more than knowing that it could touch and 5,500 save a life. people “ O bv i o u s l y, it’s exciting to attended the see all of this.

‘Finding We’re excited to Faith’ see the movie, premiere and it’s great to be here with my Jan. 19 at beautiful bride,” TRBC. Phillips said.

“You know, if we can save one child through the impacts of this movie, then we’ve done our job.”

With all of the research and time spent on studying online predators to get more into his character, Phillips, a father of five, felt the need to go home and hug his children that much more.

“This movie is real. You don’t really see films like this, and there’s no way you could come away from this movie not thinking more about how you can protect your teenagers at home.”

According to Pastor Jonathan Falwell, the film is just another tool to keep kids from the danger that the Internet brings, but he also believes that, if used properly, it can be a great asset to everyday life.

“The Internet is a great tool and is almost to the point where it’s needed for everything these days,” Falwell said.

“But obviously, anytime something is that pervasive and that good, there can be a lot of bad to it. Focus on what’s good — it’s the same thing in life.”

Following the premiere, a few of the cast members, along with Campbell and Estrada, will tour the country and play the film in various venues in hopes of touching lives and spreading awareness about Internet crime.

resources, growing curriculum, performance in aviation competitions and the quality of its faculty and instructors, according to Young. The support of partners like Dynamic Aviation and Express Jet, as well as generous donors, provides student aviators with new opportunities.

“Without the support of organizations and individuals who believe in our program, we would not have been able to grow as we have, nor would we have attained the same level of excellence,” Young said.

To date, more than $1 million

in cash and aircraft equipment has been donated to the SOA, according to Young in a 2012 Liberty Champion article.

Additionally, the state-of-theart flight simulators that were previously introduced into SOA curriculums are now operational.

“These simulators perfectly replicate the aircraft and jet operations and will enhance the preparation of our students for a career in various types of aviation,” Young said.

ANGIONE is a news reporter.

FYI

OELRICH is the news editor.

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

NEWS

January 22, 2013

Liberty Champion/A7

Liberty’s Wingate purchase a ‘quality’ investment The university now has the ability to offer discounts for Liberty-related visitors who need a place to stay Kara Smith kasmith8@liberty.edu

Liberty University recently purchased the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel on Candlers Mountain Road this past summer at an auction where they out bid two other participants.

The hotel was built in 1998 and auctioned for $9.2 million due to foreclosure, according to the Liberty University News Service.

During the auction, Liberty was represented by Executive Vice President Neal Askew, who currently serves on the school’s Board of Trustees. “When Liberty University learned that the Wingate Hotel was available for purchase last summer, we immediately began the process to determine our uses and what the financial impact could be,�

Askew said. “We knew we were interested in obtaining the property based on the location and possibilities it offered. Since the hotel is basically in the middle of all the property that Liberty owns, it was a perfect fit.�

According to Askew, ideas of converting the hotel to student housing were thrown around, but after some thought and research, it was determined that the hotel should remain as it is. “We knew we would make every attempt to improve and upgrade the facil-

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

WINGATE — The hotel purchased by the university sits on the campus. ity to become a quality hotel property,�

Askew said. “The view of the campus alone makes the property a huge asset for Liberty as an investment and meeting facility for all who come to visit Liberty University. We also believe it can become a vital part of an academic hospitality program in the near future.�

According to Vice President for Financial Research and Analysis Richard Martin, the hotel has discounts available for Liberty affiliates such as students, alumni,

online students and parents. It also provides the thousands of Liberty Online students coming to campus for intensives a convenient place to stay since the hotel is located right on the existing transit system.

According to Martin, Liberty administration is aware of the impact Liberty makes on out-of-town guests and wishes to continue to uphold that reputation of high-quality lodging. “Soon after taking over the property, it became evident that we had one of the

best hotels in Lynchburg, with a perfect location, an exceptionally qualified staff, and growth potential that could support the growth of the university,� Martin said. “With the help of the management company, we retained to operate the facility, we have been successful in gaining approval to convert the property into one of the strongest hotel brands in the market today.�

Martin also said that the hotel has been a good investment for Liberty so far and presents an opportunity to significantly improve the experience for the guests that visit the university and surrounding area. “The strongest brands have the ability to provide the highest and most consistent guest experience while maintaining very strong sales and brand loyalty,� Martin said. “High guest satisfaction and strong sales means continued improvement of the financial stability of Liberty University. The Wingate is one of the highest rated properties in Lynchburg, and we believe after this conversion that we will have a facility that the entire community can be proud of.�

SMITH is a news reporter.

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NEWS

A8/Liberty Champion

January 22, 2013

40 years of Roe v. Wade Ashley McAlpin akbollinger@liberty.edu

As Liberty University celebrates 42 years of “Training Champions for Christ,” the pro-life community mourns 40 years of lives lost.

Roe v. Wade, legislature that “held unduly restrictive state regulation of abortion to be unconstitutional,” according to Britannica, was passed in 1973.

Though the 2012 figures have not been released, according to the Virginia DepartNearly ment of Health, there 50 million were 25,404 abortions performed at recogabortions nized facilities within have been the state during 2011. performed Of the 25,404 abortions, three were perin the formed within LynchU.S. since burg City. the Roe Though Roe v. Wade may seem to have been v. Wade the downfall of the prodecision life movement, it was legalized actually somewhat of an opportunity, accordabortion. ing to Janelle Basham, director of the Liberty Godparent Home.

“It is a sad day,” Basham said. “Knowing that over the past 40 years, we have lost a whole generation. But our mission is to save a life, while changing another.”

The Liberty Godparent Home began 31 years ago after a journalist confronted Jerry Falwell Sr. about his action within the pro-life community.

“The journalist asked Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. what he was offering to these young women, so he took that vision and put it to action,” Basham said. “(Roe v. Wade) made it possible for there to be centers like the Godparent Home,” Basham said. “We give hope to women who think they have no other options, when in reality there are a million families willing to adopt these babies.”

During 2011, the Liberty Godparent Home assisted 12 women in choosing life over death for their child, and since its commencement in 1982, the center has helped nearly 1,000 women, according to Basham.

“Our goal is to be there for these women,” Basham said. “We will always be a part of their lives, whether they choose parenting or adoption. We will be there to help them celebrate in recovery and get back up if they ever fall down.”

Basham came across the Liberty Godparent Home when she was 16-years-old and facing an unplanned pregnancy.

“For me, Roe v. Wade is very real,” Basham said. “I was faced with a decision. I could end my pregnancy, but I found the Godparent Home, and I knew that there were options. I did not have to get an abortion.”

On the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Basham urges the Lynchburg community to be active concerning their beliefs.

“For us, everyday is a day to remember,” Basham said. “Instead of just being pro-life, we have to think about those lives. You could be speaking for the child who is going to grow up and change the world.”

FYI

Photo Provided

RELIEF — Members from a group from Liberty work in New York to restore houses damaged from Sandy’s destruction.

Liberty offers Sandy relief The Center for Ministry Training funds trip to New York

Sara Warrender sewarrender2@liberty.edu

Walking carefully through homes, students peered from behind oversized goggles, their breath ragged through the respirators they had to wear as they witnessed the chaos left in Hurricane Sandy’s wake.

Amid the debris, Liberty University students came from Jan. 6 to Jan. 11, offering relief to tired homeowners in a neighborhood in Staten Island, N.Y. The trips were completely funded by Liberty’s Center for Ministry Training (CMT), which took applications and interviewed more than 100 hopeful Liberty students who showed an interest in volunteering.

“We try to focus on getting people involved in some aspect of ministry. This particular case was servant evangelism,” Scott MacLeod, the associate director of CMT, said.

During the trip, Liberty’s ministry team partnered with the Southern Baptists Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV), a group widely known for their work offering relief to areas affected by disaster. Throughout the history of SBCV, Liberty

ALLERGY continued from A1 milk, according to Robin Quay, the registered dietician with Liberty.

“Initially, we just put in a gluten-free station. Then our corporation, Sodexo, was piloting this allergenfree station, and since we had already started, and since we are a fairly big university … they asked if we would pilot the Simple Servings station for the company,” Quay said.

Anaphylactic allergic reactions, according to family medical doctor Carrie Beaumont, are one of the most serious reactions that a person can have to an allergen.

“A true allergic reaction usually happens pretty quickly,” Beaumont said.

“People can go from eating it to having itchy lips, breaking out in a rash, hives, feeling their throat close up to having their airways shut down in minutes. Often times, those people are calling 911 and trying to take Benadryl

has been the only college contacted by the group to closely partner with their relief efforts, according to MacLeod.

There were four teams working to bring relief, composed of 11 Liberty students, staff and CMT faculty who worked daily to completely dismantle damaged houses, leaving only beams. All material touched by the rising flood waters needed to be ripped out and replaced.

The remaining foundation was then power washed, bleached and sanitized before rebuilding could begin.

“It was a mixed feeling to go into somebody’s house,” Liberty senior Cassie Marroquin said. “You know you’re helping them, but at the same time, you’re pulling apart their house.”

Timothy Moroz, the administrative assistant for CMT, recalled the reactions of some homeowners as broken and angry. Moroz said that the sorrow felt by the area allowed the Liberty team the chance to provide comfort as an acting body of Christ.

“It was one of those situations where you had to rely on the Holy Spirit to come into the situation and pre-

quickly. It can be a very scary thing.”

While those with food intolerances might not react as harshly or as immediately as those with allergies causing anaphylactic reactions, according to Beaumont, gluten and lactose intolerances can be just as bothersome.

“Gluten intolerance is a little bit different,” Beaumont said. “It affects my intestines, so the problem is that my reaction might be two to three days later.

So, two to three days after I eat food with gluten in it, I will have a stomach ache and feel bad for a few weeks.”

According to Beaumont, even foods that have been prepared with the same cookware as something that an individual is allergic to can cause a severe reaction. Even small traces of peanut oil left on a pan can cause people with a peanut allergy to go into anaphylactic shock.

Those individuals who are already aware of their allergies and have severe, life-threatening reactions,

pare their hearts and your heart for how you were going to be called to serve them,” Marroquin said.

While visiting the area, the team stayed in tents assembled in a local church courtyard. Trailers served as showers, and outdoor sinks met their basic needs. Being in the center of the devastation provided the team with the opportunity to connect to homeowners on a more personal basis. According to Andrew Cheatham, a CMT staff member, one Buddhist homeowner personally cleaned his damaged home carefully before the team’s arrival and brought the team lunch while they worked.

“By letting him serve us, it served to bridge a gap to his heart,” Cheatham said.

“I think he felt like he was a part of our lives and we were a part of his. You could see in his eyes the visible change from ‘this is a historical story’ to ‘this is something real because you guys are here.’”

According to MacLeod, students who serve on CMT trips are immersed in devotionals and times of worship during the trip. These devotionals are dedicated to teaching students lessons on certain topics such as coun-

seling, inner city work and evangelism.

“It’s not just an experience, but an educational time,” MacLeod said. “Every single student that I talked to loved the trip and would do it again in a heartbeat.”

CMT also reconnects with team members upon their return to Liberty to hear how the trip helped them spiritually and how the trip affected their relationship with Christ, according to MacLeod.

“There’s definitely a place for any skill set on these trips, and you will grow a lot.

Absolutely go,” Marroquin said.

Many areas in New York have yet to be repaired, and CMT has been invited back in the spring by SBCV to continue the relief efforts.

Students and faculty are encouraged by both ministries to join the team’s efforts.

Contact the CMT office at (434) 592-4161 for more information.

WARRENDER is a news reporter.

MCALPIN is a graduate assistant.

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

DINING HALL — Students with food allergies are offered special options. should carry around an epinephrine pen in case they accidentally consume their allergen, Beaumont said.

The Simple Servings station, however, tries to eliminate all risks of cross contamination, according to Quay. Each chef goes through training in order to better serve students with allergies, and then every pot, pan and utensil

is cleaned and separated according to what it is supposed to prepare.

“We have to make sure that we keep everything separate from the other foods that are being prepared, because even a crumb of wheat can affect someone who has a gluten intolerance,” Quay said.

Before Simple Servings was introduced as a food station at the Reber-

Thomas Dining Hall, many students with food allergies and intolerances had to choose their meals very carefully, according to Liberty senior Darren Boyd.

“I felt kind of cornered by the options when I went to eat at the (Reber-Thomas Dining Hall),” Boyd said. “Sometimes, my dietary restrictions aren’t in line with what they’re

serving on a daily basis, so I had a really hard time choosing what to eat.”

Eating from Simple Servings and making a meal plan with dietician Quay is not reserved only for those students who have food allergies, though, according to Quay.

“Most of the people, interestingly enough, do not have allergies,” Quay said.

“They just like that the food is really simply prepared, that it’s made with basic ingredients. They feel that it’s higher quality and healthier than the other foods in the dining hall.”

Those students wanting to make a better diet based off what Liberty University serves are welcomed to contact Quay via phone at 434-592-6166, or email rquay@liberty.edu to schedule a time to discuss their needs.

CASSIDY is the editor in chief.

SPORTS

JANUARY 22, 2013

Swimming

M. Basketball

W. Basketball

W. DI Hockey

M. DI Hockey

Liberty 164 Duquesne 98

Presbyterian 68 Liberty 60

Liberty 65 Campbell 58

Robert Morris 1 Liberty 0

Liberty 5 Virginia Tech 2

Athletic program updates Liberty athletes, coaches garner national attention Kyle Harvey kharvey@liberty.edu

Though most students may have been on break the last five weeks, Flames athletics did not enjoy the same rest. In addition to all the on-field and court accomplishments of the last month, Liberty’s athletes excelled off the field as well.

Below are just a few highlights of the Christmas break.

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

RESURGENCE — After losing to High Point, Liberty was able to get back to its winning ways versus the Lady Fighting Camels.

Lady Flames down Campbell Omotola’s fifth double-double of the season helps lift Liberty to 65-58 victory

Derrick Battle dbattle2@liberty.edu

Despite shooting 34 percent from the field, the Liberty Lady Flames (14-6, 6-2 Big South) heavily out-rebounded the Campbell Lady Fighting Camels (12-6, 4-3 Big South), leading to a 65-58 victory Saturday, Jan. 19.

Forward Tolu Omotola tallied her fifth dou-

ble-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

“Crashing the boards was the most important thing,” Omotola said to the Flames Sports Network. “Everyone was rebounding, and it was the most important thing for us, everybody crashing the board and being aggressive.”

With 11:08 remaining in the first half, guard Reagan Miller hit a three-pointer,

which sparked a 7-2 spurt. By the end of the first half the Lady Flames were able to cling to a 36-26 lead.

At the beginning of the second half the Campbell spouted an 8-2 run of their own, reducing the lead to four. But the Lady Flames answered with seven straight points

See REBOUND, B3

Stadium due date draws near Barber: Field will be ready for season opener, Feb. 22

Courtney Tyree cntyree@liberty.edu

Students returned for the spring semester to a change of scenery across from Green Hall. Construction workers have dedicated hours to finishing the new baseball stadium as soon as possible.

“Well, right now there is a lot of dirt being moved,” Athletic Director Jeff Barber said in an interview for Flames Sports Network. “I think we are making a new mountain over here and putting a stadium on top of it.”

Barber estimated that the new $5 million stadium should be finished and ready to be played in by Feb. 22, when Liberty hosts Penn State University.

“It will give us a stadium that we can compete with and recruit in, and it is obviously a big part in everything that we do,” Barber said.

The stadium will include 2,500 chair backed seats and additional grass seating along each sideline. The stadium will also include two suites, a club room and a picnic area. The stadium’s media space will accommodate up to 40 media members and will include a 24-seat press box.

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

NEW STADIUM — Construction is near completion in time for Liberty’s home opener.

The field itself will be equipped with the latest turf and feature major league style dugouts. The baseball offices and team room will also be in the facility overlooking the baseball field.

According to Barber, design ideas were pulled from existing stadiums at the University of South Carolina, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Barber explained that one of the main reasons for the new stadium would be to allow Liberty to host regionals and super-regionals.

“When you have an 18-year-old young man or lady coming into your campus to look at a sport, they want to know that you care about their sport and want to know that you are invested in it and committed to it,” Barber said. “So, when folks come in and see this stadium, they are going to know we are very serious about our baseball — just like we are with our other 19 sports.”

TYREE is a sports reporter.

Football Senior tight end Justin Gunn was selected to perform in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Senior Scout Bowl Dec. 15 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Gunn finished the 2012 season with 18 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

Quarterback Josh Woodrum was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award given annually to the top freshman in the FCS, finishing 13th in the voting.

Volleyball The university announced Dec. 20 that the Lady Flames volleyball team set a fundraising record at their annual Volleyball-a-Thon, Dec 5.

The event, a 43-team all-night tournament hosted by Liberty’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Academic Affairs for Athletics Office, raised more than $3,000 for Lynchburg City schools and will help send kids to summer camps.

Field Hockey Midfielder Natalie Barr and Head Coach Jodi Murphy were featured in the December issue of Sports Spectrum magazine.

Entitled “Bringing Liberty to Uganda,” Brett Honeycutt’s story is about how Barr and her coach were brought together by their shared love for the people of the Central African nation.

The story is available to read in part at sportsspectrum.com/ articles/2012/12/17/bringingliberty-to-uganda/.

Baseball Perfect Game USA writer Kendall Rogers tabbed Head Coach Jim Toman as one of the top 10 baseball coaches on the rise in a Dec. 16 article.

Citing a three-year record of 118-62 between 2010-2012, Rogers says that it is Toman’s consistency that is so impressive. Others who made the list include Stanford University’s Casey Dunn, Duke University’s Chris Pollard and Indiana State University’s Rick Heller.

HARVEY is the sports editor

SPORTS

B2/Liberty Champion

January 22, 2013

Men’s DII Hockey picks up two victories Mike Williams mwwilliams5@liberty.edu Thomas Foote tfoote2@liberty.edu The Kennesaw State DII men’s hockey team entered Friday’s contest riding a huge wave of momentum and a 16-0 record. That momentum hit a wall at the LaHaye Ice Center when the Liberty Flames defeated the visiting Owls in a shootout, 4-3.

Facing a 3-1 deficit in the third period, Liberty freshman forward Kyle Davis chipped in a goal from the left circle to bring the Flames back within one goal.

Five minutes later, sophomore defender Clinton Nigh slapped in the equalizer on an assist from Davis.

Both sides had numerous opportunities to win in the overtime session, but neither did. With no score at the end of the overtime period, there remained only one logical solution — a shootout.

The Owls opened the shootout with a goal when Max Cousineau squeaked the puck by the glove of Flames goalie Nick Devine, putting the Owls on top, 1-0. The Flames response came in the form of a goal by Caleb Allison. The senior forward tied the game with a backhander to the top right of the net.

After five more skaters, the score was unchanged until Liberty freshman Peter Kamzierczak scored the deciding goal — the first goal of his young career. Kamzierczak drove the opposing goalie all the way into his net before tucking the puck between his legs to give the Flames a 4-3 victory.

The loss was Kennesaw State’s first of the year. The win gave the Flames their second victory in a row.

Sloppy puck handling during a power play in the first period led to a counterattack by Kennesaw’s Graham Lieding, resulting in the Owls first score. Within six minutes, Kennesaw State doubled their lead on a goal by Eric Miledi, giving them a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

In the opening 10 minutes of the second period, Liberty coughed up 12 turnovers. However, Devine kept the Owls lead at two, standing tall in the face of an unending barrage of shots at his net.

The Flames finally got on the board with a rebound by John Cotton, making the score 2-1 heading into the final period of play.

Saturday, Jan. 19

The Flames won their second game in two nights, defeating the Delaware Blue Hens 8-5 Saturday, Jan. 19. The Flames were powered by the strength of a highlight reel goal by freshman DJ Dinnison.

Liberty took an early 1-0 lead in the first period when assistant captain Brad Docksteader sent a perfect pass to junior forward Bobby Cervone, who tapped in an easy goal. Delaware tied the game later

Kyle Milligan| Liberty Champion

VANQUISHED — Liberty easily defeated Delaware 8-5 behind Brad Docksteader’s two goals. in the first period, but the Flames quickly retaliated with a backhanded goal by freshman Peter Kamzierczak to make the score 2-1.

Late in the first period, Liberty’s third goal was easily a contender for the goal of the season. Dinnison deked his way past three defenders in the open ice before finally beating the keeper and sliding the puck into the back of the net.

“Not too many come like that particular one,” Dinnison said. “I was really just letting the instincts take over there, and it just ended up becoming a really fancy goal. I don’t usually get those kinds of goals, but it’s awesome when it happens.”

Head Coach Chris Lowes was very complimentary of Dinninson’s skills. “(Dinnison) is a dangerous player, especially on the rush,” Lowes said. “He sees the ice well, and that is just an example of the finish that he has. He is one of the few guys on our team that are natural goal scorers.”

The Blue Hens got off to a fast start in the second period with a quick goal.

However, the Flames were able strike back when Docksteader scored his first of two goals, giving the Flames a 4-2 lead.

Later in the second period, freshman Jeff Boschman scored a fifth goal for the Flames, and the Blue Hens answered with a goal of their own. Docksteader then added his second goal on a power play as the

Kyle Milligan| Liberty Champion

INSTINCTS — The Flames played two solid games in as many nights.

Flames closed a busy second period with a 6-3 advantage.

“Playing disciplined was a big thing,” Lowes said. “The first two periods we played great. We didn’t have a single penalty.”

But that discipline did not last until the final buzzer. The third period brought a hard-hitting and emotional 20 minutes of hockey that was full of penalties.

The Flames were able to capitalize on an early power play opportunity in the third period before piling onto their lead in a four-versus-four to create a sizeable 8-3 margin.

Delaware was able to manufacture two late goals, but it was not enough to overcome a five-goal deficit.

“It started getting chippy, and there were lots of big hits. Guys were emotional,” Lowes said. “I thought we handled ourselves pretty good. But we unfortunately gave them an opportunity to close the gap a little.”

The Flames will return to the LaHaye Ice Center Jan. 27 to play Christopher Newport University.

WILLIAMS and FOOTE are sports reporters.

Editorial: Charles Barkley was right, sort of…

Andrew Woolfolk alwoofolk@liberty.edu In 1993, Nike released a 30-second commercial that caused a national uproar. In the advertisement, former NBA superstar Charles Barkley declared that he was not a role model, stating, “Just because I dunk a basketball WOOLFOLK doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” Barkley has repeatedly stated from then on that athletes should not be used as role models by parents for their children.

And with the recent developments in the Manti Te’o girlfriend hoax — which I will proceed to refer to as “Girl-Gate” from this point further — Barkley appears to have a very valid point.

News broke Wednesday, Jan. 16 that Te’o, the standout middle linebacker for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and runner up in this year’s race for the Heisman Trophy, had either completely fabricated a story about his girlfriend dying of cancer near the

beginning of the season, or had been duped by an online impersonator. Either way, Te’o undoubtedly lied or embellished details about a woman whom it appears he never met.

Before the story, Te’o was seen as an inspirational figure. On game days, networks focused cameras on him on the sideline as he rallied his team to critical defensive stands during big games.

Te’o frequently alluded to his faith and the church as to what kept him grounded as an individual. He was seen as a fighter with class and grit for dealing with not only the death of his girlfriend, but also his grandmother — who did actually pass away during the season.

Now, in the blink of an eye, that reputation is gone. It went up in smoke, just like any evidence that his girlfriend existed appears to have as well.

While his draft stock may be hurt, Te’o will undoubtedly be drafted in the first or second round of this April’s NFL Draft.

Jerseys will be sold with his name on the back. Tickets will be sold that bear his likeness on the front. Kids will get his signature at training camp publicity events.

But anyone with children or college-age students who will one

Neon Tommy|Creative Commons

CATFISHED — Manti Te’o was the victim of a hoax by a friend. day be in that situation, let this incident serve as a lesson — a confirmation of what Barkley said. Te’o just serves as yet another reminder that athletes, no mater how clean their image may seem, are very often flawed human beings.

The problem is that Barkley was only halfway correct. Athletes certainly are not required to set an example for children. It is

not in their contract, and it is not their obligation to make sure that children behave.

Unfortunately, parents portray athletes in a way that says they should be placed on a pedestal.

But for every Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin or Mariano Rivera-esque athlete who is not ashamed of his faith and appears to be a person of high moral character, there are many who are not.

Let us not make these athletes with superior physical abilities become more than what they are. Athletes are, like everyone else, fallen human beings whose harmful desires get infinitely more publicity than most of ours.

While these athletes are in such high positions that it is impossible for children not see them as role models, it is crucial that we become actual role models who they can experience and learn from firsthand. Mothers, fathers and respected members of the community serve this purpose much better than most athletes ever could.

So take this advice when mentoring a young person, or remember it for your future children.

There is nothing wrong with teaching the youth how to make that fade away jumper like Kobe, how to have a deadly crossover like Iverson or even how to dunk like vintage Barkley, but save the off-the-field role model part for yourself.

WOOLFOLK is the opinion editor.

January 22, 2013

SPORTS

Liberty Champion/B3

Flames downed twice in Big South play Panthers, Blue Hose overpower Liberty Derrick Battle dbattle2@liberty.edu

Midway through the season, the Liberty men’s basketball Head Coach Dale Layer and his revamped Flames team continue to struggle. With several additions from the offseason and the return of center Joel Vander Pol from a back surgery, the team is working to build momentum.

Over the past week, the Flames progressed Big South Conference play. Liberty (5-14, 1-4 Big South) first lost a nailbiter to the High Point Panthers (8-9, 3-2 Big South) in double-overtime 77-72, and were then defeated by the Presbyterian Blue Hose (4-15, 1-4 Big South) 68-60.

Game One

As the seconds dwindled in the second half, High Point guard Alex Wearly made a layup to tie the game at 58-58, forcing the first overtime.

With 30 seconds left, Liberty guard Davon Marshall drained two clutch free throws to tie the game 66-all and forced a second overtime. However, High Point pulled away and scored six of their 11 points in the period from the charity stripe to seal their third victory in the Big South.

Guard Tarvares Speaks scored a career-high 20 points and three steals.

Guard John Caleb Sanders chipped in with 19 points and four assists.

The Panthers out-rebounded the Flames 50-39, primarily due to forward Allan Chaney’s 22 points and 12 rebounds as well as forward John Brown’s 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Game Two

Liberty managed to have three players scored double figures, but it was still unable to pick up its second victory in the

Ruth Bibby| Liberty Champion

SETBACKS — After a 1-4 start in conference play, the Flames hope to right the ship against the Longwood Lancers.

Big South against the Blue Hose Saturday, Jan 19.

Presbyterian broke a four-game losing streak on the shoulders of its guard Khalid Mutakabbir’s 26 points. Mutakabbir scored 19 of his 26 points in the first half and helped the Blue Hose take a 31-25 lead heading into the halftime.

The Blue Hose led as much as 11 in the second half. However, with 3:41 left in the game, Marshall hit a three-pointer, which sparked an 8-2 Liberty run that reduced Presbyterian’s lead to 59-54.

After both teams took consecutive full timeouts, the Blue Hose widened the margin again and made five free throws down the stretch, clinching a win.

Marshall led the Flames with 14 points. Guard Casey Roberts added 13 points, including three three-pointers and two steals. Speaks also tallied 11 points in the loss.

Mutakabbir and guard Jordan Drowning combined to hit eight three-pointers in the Presbyterian triumph.

Liberty looks to end its two-game losing streak when it hosts the Longwood University Lancers (3-16, 0-5 Big South) Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Big South Games

BATTLE is the assistant sports editor.

Jan. 26 vs. Charleston Southern Jan. 29 vs. Campbell Feb. 2 at Winthrop Feb. 5 vs. Radford Feb. 9 at Gardner-Webb Feb. 13 at Campbell Feb. 16 vs. High Point Feb. 19 at Longwood Feb. 26 vs. Va. Military Institute Mar. 2 vs. Radford

REBOUND continued from B1

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

AGGRESSION — Reagan Miller hit one of two three-points and scored seven points in 65-58 victory.

and pushed their lead back to 10.

Liberty continued to pressure the Lady Fighting Camels, scoring and holding their largest lead of 14 points with 6:53 remaining in the game.

Campbell reduced the lead to single digits, but was unable to pull any closer.

The Lady Fighting Camels came into the game fourth in the country in three-point field goal percentage, but the Lady Flames held them to 22 percent (2-17) from behind the arc.

While both teams struggled from the field, the Lady Flames made up for it from the freethrow line and had heavy production from the bench, outscoring Campbell 31-14. The Lady Flames also posted a plus-27 margin rebounding (59-23).

“I think our determination, especially on the boards, was the difference,” Head Coach Carey Green said to the Flames Sports Network. “We were able to get

second chance because we were able to go to the offense boards so well. If it was not for that, then I do not think we could have pulled this one out.”

Liberty went 25-34 (73 percent) from the free-throw line.

Center Ashley Riniger went 9-11 from the charity stripe and scored 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Guard Devon Brown struggled from the field, shooting 2-16.

She also grabbed 11 rebounds and three steals.

Lady Fighting Camels guard Tonisha Baker finished with a game-high 21 points and four assists. Forward Kiera Gaines added 12 points four rebounds and three steals in the defeat.

With the win, the Lady Flames remained second in the Big South Conference, behind the Longwood University Lancers (9-9, 6-1 Big South). Liberty travels to face the Lancers Saturday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m.

BATTLE is the assistant sports editor.

SPORTS

B4/Liberty Champion

January 22, 2013

Eyes on the prize Track and field to focus on adding to its trophy collection Emily Brown erbrown@liberty.edu

After losing all of its national runners, Liberty University’s track and field program has strived to improve, according to Liberty Head Coach Brant Tolsma. With returning athletes and a solid recruiting class of talented newcomers, Tolsma hopes to form a team that can become a top competitor among Division I schools.

The team’s primary goal for this season is to continue to build a legacy of success, which consists of 54 combined men’s and women’s Big South Titles.

With decent depth, both teams have the tools to accomplish its goals, according to Tolsma, and will be a threat in the Big South. While Tolsma said that neither the men or women have a guaranteed national scorer, both teams boast several athletes with the potential to be national qualifiers.

Ryan Smith, a redshirt senior thrower, and Kyle Wheeler, a sophomore jumper and last year’s Big South Men’s Freshman of the Year, can qualify for NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. They also can continue the team’s eight-year streak of scoring at the Division I national level.

Sophomore thrower Mychelle Cummings is the athlete to watch. She was the Co-Big South Women’s Freshman of the Year and was the shot put and discus

champion last season.

In November, Liberty hosted the ninth annual Liberty Open and won 14 events.

Now, the track and field athletes are gearing up for a stretch, including a handful of smaller, indoor meets in preparation for Big South competition. The team then hopes to continue its dominance in the conference by adding another win to a perfect home record against Big South challengers.

Following Big South Competition, Liberty’s track and field team will compete in the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America/Eastern College Athletic Conference meet, which typically consists of 70 or more teams from across the nation. Liberty hopes to once again join the elite teams of the meet, after having scored in the top 15 of the meet on both the men’s and women’s sides a year ago.

The team hopes to finish the indoor portion of the season by sending athletes to the Division I championships, which will take place in March.

In addition to indoor meets, Liberty’s track and field team expects to continue its success as they transition to outdoor competition.

Liberty will begin conference competition at their newly refurbished outdoor facility, the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex. The new facility provides another

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

FAST AFOOT — The men’s and women’s track team continues to build a legacy. means by which Liberty can become a “good team” and means that there is no longer any excuse for the team not to do well, according to Tolsma. This season, the team is in position to achieve its main goal of winning in the Big South.

At the Wake Forest Invitational, the men’s track team finished first, buoyed by

ConRoy Smith and Andre Washington.

The women finished second, led by Janae Jones and Cummings.

BROWN is a sports reporter.

Elliot Mosher Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

CIAO! — Former Flames standout Jesse Sanders has taken his talents to Italy, where he will play for the Aurora Basket Jesi.

Jesse Sanders goes pro in Italy

Kyle Harvey

kharvey@liberty.edu

Time and again, spectators who watched Jesse Sanders play basketball in the Vines Center commented, “Wow, that young man is going places.”

They were right — Jesse Sanders is going places.

He and his wife Courtney,

whom he married over the summer, went to Jesi, Italy, to be exact.

Sanders, who made a name for himself at Liberty as the only NCAA basketball player ever to record a triple-double in all four of his seasons, packed up and moved to the small town on the eastern coast of Italy to play professional

basketball in the Lega Due for the Aurora Basket Jesi.

Lega Due, translated as “League Two,” is the second highest level of professional basketball played in Italy. Sanders’ team is supported as most teams are, through corporate and private sponsors. The two chief sponsors are Fileni — a chicken com-

pany that Sanders likens to Tyson in the U.S. — and BPA — a large Italian bank. Because of this, the team is commonly referred to as Fileni BPA Jesi.

League rules indicate that teams are only permitted to have two American players on the roster. Sanders’ American teammate, surprisingly, is

Eric Griffin — a center who played against the Flames as a member of the Campbell University Fighting Camels.

A language barrier, you say? Hardly.

According to Sanders, most teammates speak a little English, and he is picking up a little Italian. Besides, basketball

is chalked full of hand signals which allow court communication to be largely non-verbal.

To keep up with Sanders’ new career, stay tuned to future issues of the Liberty Champion.

HARVEY is the sports editor.

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FEATURE

January 22, 2013

Liberty Champion/B5

Liberty professor brings in 2013 with Baby New Year Darren and Tracy Wu welcome Karis Wu, the first baby of the year in Lynchburg nursing staff informed us that no one had delivered yet, so we were in the runDuring the early hours of ning,” Darren Wu said. the morning, the cries of the “The credit really belongs first baby born in the new to my wife. She delivered year echoed the halls of Vir- quickly and naturally.” ginia Baptist Hospital.

Darren and Tracy Wu exKaris Singperienced inferun Wu was tility problems born Jan. 1 to until the birth of Darren and their son Caleb Tracy Wu at in 2010, thanks Karis Sing-un 4:02 a.m., to a treatment Wu was the weighing a administered by healthy seven the Reproducfirst baby pounds and tive Medicine born in the five ounces. and Surgery Lynchburg “It was quite Center in Chararea in 2013. a shock,” Darlottesville, Va. ren Wu, CSER The couple used Statistics for coordinator the same treat2012 have and assistant ment in order yet to be professor at to have their Liberty Unidaughter. released, versity’s School “‘Karis’ but there of Religion, means grace, were 2,634 said. “Karis’ because she is due date was God’s grace to babies born Jan. 1, but we my wife and in Lynchburg weren’t expectme,” Darren Wu in 2011. ing her to actusaid. “As I am ally come on Chinese by ethher due date nicity, her midsince that’s pretty rare. My dle name is Sing-un, which wife and I were actually is comprised of the two hoping that she would come Mandarin Chinese characearly due to the Christmas ters for ‘grace’ and ‘joy,’ and break and the tax benefits of together it means ‘rejoice.’” having her in 2012. Howev“My hope for my family er, it appears that God’s tim- for this new year is that both ing for her was Jan. 1 and to Caleb and Karis will conbe the first baby in the area. tinue to experience healthy When we got to the hospi- growth and to learn to love tal, it was already 2 a.m.” each other as they are nurAs part of an annual tured by my wonderful wife, contest for the first baby of Tracy,” Darren Wu said. each new year, the couple “We are thankful to God for received a red wagon filled our two little miracles.” with baby supplies provided by the hospital.

“We thought the contest SKINNER is a feature was over already, but the reporter.

Melissa Skinner

mjskinner@liberty.edu

FYI

Photo Provided

NEWBORN — The Wu family won a red wagon full of gifts after the birth of their daughter, Karis.

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MIRACLE — The name “Karis” means grace, and the name “Sing-un” means rejoice, in Mandarin Chinese.

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INDIA — Kalley Long prays with a woman during the two-week long trip.

Serving God overseas Liberty students sacrifice their break for mission trips Sophia Hahn Shahn3@liberty.edu

At a time when other students are typically at home with family members, a few groups of Liberty University students traded in the comfort of their own homes and Christmas traditions in order to travel to different countries and spread the Gospel.

Junior Kalley Long, a music education and performance double major from Virginia, said that she had the privilege of going to Nagpur, India from Dec. 16 through the 31. Thanks to Crossroads Worldwide, an organization started by Clayton King, Long and 20 others were able to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

During her time in India, Long ministered by Christmas caroling, playing with children at an orphanage, spending time with lo-

cal Bible college students, preaching and praying.

According to Long, praying over a staff member of the Bible college opened her eyes to the power of God. “What a big God we are praying to, that He listens to my prayer in English, and her prayer in Hindi,” Long said. “Not only does He listen, but He cares and He answers. Never take for granted the awesome privilege we have to talk to the God of the universe.”

Student Kathleen Dewitt, a freshman journalism major from Virginia, went on her first mission trip over the winter break to East Asia. Through Light Ministries, she and 13 other students brought in the new year sharing the Bible.

“It broke my heart to see the darkness and hopelessness of those living without knowing the truth, but we could see God’s light shin-

ing even in the darkness,” Dewitt said.

According to Dewitt, ministering in East Asia was a new experience that helped her fully rely on God. She said that seeing how the people lived there was a shock, giving her a new appreciation for all the luxuries that are available to Christians in America.

“In America, it is easy to forget that many people don’t have the freedom to go to church, evangelize or even own a Bible,” Dewitt said.

Both Long and Dewitt said that they look forward to future mission trip opportunities. These two students, along with countless others, willingly gave up their holiday time for the most important mission, the spreading of God’s love.

HAHN is a feature reporter.

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FEATURE

B6/Liberty Champion

January 22, 2013

‘Dirty God’ released Johnnie Moore highlights the human side of Jesus Greg Leasure gleasure@liberty.edu

Ask anyone on the campus of Liberty University to describe God. There is no shortage of adjectives in the Bible to pick from, but the word “dirty” would probably not find its way onto most people’s list. Call it unconventional, but Liberty Vice President Johnnie Moore has set out to convince his readers that God is dirtier than most people think.

Moore released his new book, “Dirty God,” Jan. 1, and since then, he has received some interesting reactions to the title of his second book.

“Secular people are discovering it because they think that it’s controversial,” Moore said.

According to him, he chose the unusual name because Christians sometimes become enthralled with the divine nature of God and lose sight of the fact that Jesus was also fully man.

“I think if we look at the human side of Jesus, the way he lived his life when he was here, we can get a glimpse into how to live our own. So this is a book about grace through the lens of the human side of Jesus.”

In the book, Moore points out that Jesus did not hesitate to associate with lepers and

chose to be born in a small, relatively unimportant town. Ultimately, Moore’s reference to God “getting dirty” is a metaphor for Jesus’ willingness to live among imperfect people, give grace to people who did not deserve it and provide a way for them to get spiritually clean — salvation.

“Jesus is the polar opposite of every other idea of God in history,” Moore said.

“You’re beating down the wall to get God to pay attention to you, but Jesus is the God who dropped the ladder down from Karly Kryza | Liberty Champion heaven to be with us.”

MEET AND GREET — Moore’s new book shares how to get and give God’s grace.

In addition to providing a picture of what God’s grace looks like, Moore also Moore celebrated the launch of “Dirty most recently for Liberty professor Karen shared what kind of effect that grace had God” with a book signing in the café at Swallow Prior’s new release, “Booked: on his faith.

“I say in the book that one of the most the Liberty Bookstore, complete with live Literature in the Soul of Me,” in the fall profound truths I ever learned is that God music from the Campus Praise Band. Stu- of 2012.

“If (readers) took away one thing from isn’t angry at me,” Moore said. “God gen- dents waited in line to get a signed copy of uinely cares about me. He’s concerned the book, and Moore returned the favor, the book, I would say that God is more about me. He’s patient with me. He’s spending multiple minutes with each per- kind than you ever imagined him to be, and it is the greatest privilege in the world kind. It’s his kindness that draws us to re- son and personalizing each copy.

“These particular events, the release to know his kindness and to introduce othpentance.”

Moore has also been given a chance to parties, are a lot more fun because we ers to it,” Moore said.

“Dirty God” is the follow-up to Moore’s explain what the book is all about on a get an even more relaxed environment,” Brian DiGia, trade manager at the Libfirst book, titled “Honestly,” in which he national stage. He has written online arerty Bookstore, said.

“It’s a great way to addresses the topic of hypocrisy in the ticles about “Dirty God” for CNN, which appeared on the front page of the news push and promote the book, and it’s a lot Christian faith. He also plans to release a third book in 2014. station’s website for multiple hours, and of fun.”

The Liberty Bookstore has hosted the Washington Post. He also appeared multiple book release parties in the past, LEASURE is the feature editor. on Fox News.

Excerpt: “Dirty God,” Chapter 4 Jesus is the God who comes to us without fanfare. He seems weak when he arrives in that manger, but he’s anything but weak. He’s powerful enough to hold back his glory as he begins his journey of wading through the muck of man’s sin, and all the way to the cross, he demonstrates that the values of the kingdom of God are different from the values of this world, or of the Romans or the Pharisees or Herod himself. Jesus taught that it was by grace that you enter into this new way of living and this renewed relationship with God.

When you think about it, the whole story really is absurd.

Gods are primarily thought of as “powerful” — like Zeus with his lightning bolt. They don’t waste their time meddling in the lives of humans.

They’re too busy being gods.

And Jesus is all-powerful.

Jesus can hold the universe, which he created, in the palm of his hand. Even so, Jesus comes to us totally differently from any other god. He entered history as a God who looked more like a man.

Jesus didn’t care about impressing the barons and the

politicians. He didn’t have time for the rabbis with their long prayers and outward adornments.

Jesus came for everyone, and especially for those who didn’t deserve God’s attention.

He came for the regular men and women who claw and fight their way through life, trying to make this world a little better place. He came fully aware of man’s inadequacies, and he didn’t intend to rub them in.

He came not to judge the sin of the world but rather to take onto his own shoulders the burden of giving a second chance to people who didn’t deserve one.

Jesus didn’t just send a mes-

sage to man through yet another prophet. Instead, he dropped a staircase from heaven so that he can walk with us, touch us, talk to us, feel like we feel, hurt as we hurt, struggle as we struggle, and eventually help us get to where we ought to be — in the presence of God again.

He handles us with care.

He relishes the opportunity to make something beautiful out of our messes.

He arrived on the scene with a certain everydayness. When you imagine him there in the feeding trough in Bethlehem, you could almost miss that this was a moment of such cosmic importance — a time when

God grabbed history in his two hands and ripped it apart.

Jesus’ arrival was, in fact, the most significant moment in all of history, and it was his grace that brought him here, and his grace that defined the revolutionary way he taught us to think about God and his kingdom.

You would think that the wonderful news of God’s grace would be received with open arms. But grace, like a glimmering diamond, shimmers most brightly when it’s placed squarely on something dark as night.

Jesus arrived with a great gift — a gift that almost no one wanted.

Trading textbooks for technology?

Increases in e-book availability allow students to save money, but some are not ready for the change just yet Daniel Bartlett dbartlett@liberty.edu

According to the 2012 College Board Report, students spend on average approximately $1,200 per year on college textbooks, and this figure is steadily increasing. To combat further increases, college bookstores have worked to provide different ways for students to save money, E-books and one popular strategy are now has been to offered provide textfor 2/3 of books that can be accessed LU’s textonline. books.

Over the past several years, the use of technology at the Liberty Bookstore, as well as other college bookstores, has vastly increased. Now devices such as the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook allow for thousands of books to be stored on a light and easy-to-carry device. The Liberty University Bookstore, part of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, currently offers “e-books,” or digital versions of textbooks that can be accessed on both Mac and PC computers, as well as iPads. This alternative method allows for cheaper costs for students.

“E-books, on average, are typically 35-60 percent cheaper than a print copy,” Amber Kaufman, the textbook manager of Liber-

FYI

Greg Leasure | Liberty Champion

OPTIONS — Technology is now a common sight in college bookstores since the advent of e-books, access codes and clickers. ty’s bookstore, said.

According to Kaufman, the Liberty store currently offers e-books in about two-thirds of their inventory of textbooks, allowing students a cheaper, more affordable alternative to those clunky, expensive books. The option to rent certain books also allows students to use a physical copy of the book while still saving money.

“We’ve seen a pretty big increase in our digital sales in the

fall of 2010, and the spring of 2011 was the first semester that we rolled out the rental program,” Kaufman said. “Having the rental price has made the books cheaper and more comparable to the digital price.”

Although trends tend to lean more toward the digital movement, Kaufman said that current students still seem to prefer the old paper and ink.

“I would always buy the print version, because I think

there will always be something special about holding a book in your hands and turning a page,” Liberty graduate Zachary Schoonover said. “You don’t have that with a digital copy.”

“It depends on if I’m going to keep the book or resell it,” Liberty student Gabe Hernandez said. “If I’m planning on selling the book back, I would buy the hard copy. If it’s a book I know I would find an enjoyable read and want to keep, I would buy

the digital version.”

For more information on how to save extra cash on books, or Barnes & Noble specials, visit liberty.bncollege.com.

BARTLETT is a feature reporter.

January 22, 2013

FEATURE

Liberty Champion/B7

FACS Dept. plans to explore Italy Students will depart on the 11-day tour in May Emily Webster ewebster@liberty.edu

The travel bug is going around the Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Department as faculty and students prepare to set out on an 11-day trip to Italy, May 16-26.

Ruth Gomes, an assistant professor in the FACS Department and the organizer of this trip, said that she is looking forward to her students being able to experience a different culture as they learn firsthand what Italian fashion, architecture and interiors look like.

The trip will take them to popular Italian sites such as the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum, the ruins of Pompeii and more.

Gomes believes that it is very important to be knowledgeable about the ideas of other cultures before going over to see those designs displayed. She said that she plans to have each of her students study a different Italian designer and give a presentation to help students be more knowledgeable on the subjects of Italian fashion, architecture and interiors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(I want to) give them opportunities that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never had before, as far as seeing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out there in the world,â&#x20AC;? Gomes said.

One such student, Rebecca Floros, has been studying the growth of Italian fashion as she prepares for the trip. Floros, a double major in fashion merchandising and cinematic arts, said that she is looking forward to seeing the city of Venice and all the art that it has to offer

through its buildings and people as they demonstrate their crafts, such as glass-blowing and leather making. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll definitely gain knowledge on how to make our own merchandise, as well as just how to distribute it and market it, from Mrs. Gomes,â&#x20AC;?

Floros said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be learning about the psychology behind the fashion, how these people are selling their clothing, why theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making it and how theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making it.â&#x20AC;?

Gomes wants others to have the same opportunity that her students will have as they walk the streets of Italy and take in not only the fashion, but also the beautiful architecture, interior designs and history that Italy has to offer. For this reason, the trip is open to anyone interested in learning more about the Italian culture.

A private fashion tour will give the team the opportunity to see firsthand some of the products that the Italian designers are creating. The designers will share their perspectives on fashion, which, according to Gomes, is completely different than the perspectives that American designers have on fashion.

Emilie Joyner, a sophomore FACS Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion major, said that she is excited for the FASHION â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The trip is open to students of all majors, as well as Liberty staff. chance to see the culture, fashion and people of Italy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been overseas before,â&#x20AC;? back to America.â&#x20AC;?

For more information on the Italy Joyner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It sounds like such a The deadline to sign up for the trip, visit the Liberty FACS Departgreat experience going over to see trip is Feb. 6, but Gomes said that ment homepage at liberty.edu. all the culture, the people and just students should also be on the lookthe beauty of Italy. (I want) to get an out for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trip. According WEBSTER is a feature reporter. idea of their idea of fashion, cloth- to her, if it is approved, the FACS ing, design and architecture, and Department hopes to make another just bring what I learn over there trip to Paris or London.

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FEATURE

JANUARY 22, 2013

‘ClassyLU’ thrives Liberty student creates website for classmates Daniel Bartlett dbartlett@liberty.edu

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

EYES ON THE PRIZE — Liberty students competed in a wide variety of games Saturday night at the Student Activities event.

Back to school with a bang Student Activities gives students a chance to start the semester with a bash Shelby Sayer ssayer@liberty.edu

Student Activities scored a hole-in-one with the Backto-School Bash Jan. 19. The Schilling Center was filled with students Saturday night as they played their way through a 9-hole miniature golf course and practiced their athletic skills with a football toss. Games such as Twister and pingpong gave students the opportunity to play interactive games together.

“The lines may be a bit long for games, but it is well worth the wait,” Liberty student Haydyn Bibby said. “I love that Liberty gives us the opportunity to have such fun activities right on campus.”

Despite the lines, students

turned out in big numbers, as socialize and play some awethey had in the fall. some games.”

“This is our first year ever Clayton said that Student doing a Back-To-School Activities awarded prizes to Bash,” Kristin Claystudents, includton, a volunteer for ing a 16 GB iPod Student Activities Touch, Bose headwho helped orgaphones and iTunes SA also nize the event, said. gift cards. Popcorn, “We’re going to baked goods and holds its continue it each secandy were also ofannual mester.” fered to students as Block Party they made their way According to Clayton, they were around the Schilling in the fall hoping to bring in at Center to particiof each least 800 students for pate in the various semester. the event. events.

“This event is very “It was wonderpopular with the ful to see how closefreshmen,” Clayton said. “It’s knit the school community is,” a great way for the students to Cameron Williams, a prospecimmerse themselves in what tive Liberty student, said. “One Liberty has to offer, and it’s thing I was looking for in a just fun to meet new people, school is the support and dis-

FYI

cipleship of its students. With events like this right on campus, the student body has a fun, safe environment to connect with fellow students and really grow together. I am excited to be a part of this student body in the fall.”

Student Activities was able to hold this event thanks to Your Event Source (YES) for the rental equipment and is planning another bash for students in the future. To find out about more events, review the Student Activities page at liberty.edu/sa.

SAYER is a feature reporter.

With the rising cost of tuition, college students now have to pay more money for an education than ever before, but one Liberty University student found a way to make that burden a little easier for his peers.

Liberty junior Daniel Bolton came up with an idea to organize buying, selling and much more in a convenient and safe environment. He calls it ClassyLU.com.

Bolton had an idea, and with most ideas, it started with a problem that needed solving.

“Sophomore year, I had some things to sell, mostly textbooks, but I didn’t want to post it on Craigslist. This was right during the time of the Craigslist killer, and I didn’t want to use eBay because that costs money, and Flameslist didn’t have that many users,” Bolton said.

In response to this problem, Bolton created the Liberty Book Exchange, a group on Facebook that allows Liberty students to find buyers for the books that they want to sell. The group exploded, cultivating almost 700 members in just a few short days.

The explosion of membership confirmed for Bolton that he was heading in the right direction, and Jan. 3, 2013, ClassyLU went online. Since then, it has seen almost 5,000 page views, spanning 30 states and 13 countries.

ClassyLU offers many different options for students to buy, sell and post practically anything, and allows them to come together to meet their school needs in a friendly and safe environment.

“You can post prayer requests, post rides to and from different locations, textbooks, post or apply for a job, sell tickets for events, buy or sell Liberty gear, search for roommates and even offer tutoring services,” Bolton said.

“Everything is similar to Craigslist, but I wanted to make it better looking and better functioning.”

ClassyLU also caters to off-campus students, and all posting is free. There is an option called “featured listing,” where for $2, students can have their listings posted on a featured scroll bar on the homepage for 30 days, making it the first thing people see when they come to the site.

Bolton said that for those wary of finding a good roommate, ClassyLU offers a detailed search that is much more precise then Liberty’s own roommate search, which makes it easy to find the roommate you are looking for.

For more information, visit ClassyLU at ClassyLU.com or contact Daniel Bolton at djbolton@liberty.edu.

BARTLETT is a feature reporter.

Bass Fishing Club grows

The year-old Liberty group hopes to expand despite funding challenges Josh Brandenstein jbrandenstein@liberty.edu

On the waters of Ivy Lake, the Liberty Bass Fishing Club is at home. However, according to Vice President George Amedore, they are planning on relocating to Smith Mountain Lake in the future. The 25-member Student Government Association (SGA) approved the club’s hopes to grow and expand over the upcoming year.

According to President Chris Parent, the Liberty Bass Fishing Club began in January 2012 and competes throughout the U.S. According to the group’s official Facebook page, the club allows students to learn and improve their skills and provides a venue to meet students whose interests align with their own.

Forrest L. Wood (FLW), a tournament

fishing organization named for the founder of Ranger Boats, is one of the organizations Liberty University is partnered with, providing them with boats and travel allowances for college students to compete in events. The FLW divides the U.S. into five regions, and the Liberty Bass Fishing Club competes in the northern division.

“We have placed pretty well for being a new team,” Parent said.

The team placed seventh out of 40 teams on Lake Champlain, and they are looking to make a top-five finish this year, according to Amedore.

Parent said that they are currently running into some trouble raising funds to provide boats for their new club while still providing events and opportunities for students already in the club. According to Parent, they are in a tough place getting off the

ground and are always open to sponsors.

According to Parent, the club is hoping to be able to buy some smaller boats and leave them at Ivy Lake for members of the club to use whenever they desire.

The club’s goal over the coming year is to spread the word and build up their group so that they are capable of becoming the club they want to be.

“With a lot of hard work this semester, I can see this club doing very well, and, in the future, becoming as great as all the major universities’ clubs,” Parent said.

For more information about the Liberty Bass Fishing Club, visit their Facebook page or contact Chris Parent at cparent@ liberty.edu.

BRANDENSTEIN is a feature reporter.

Photo Provided

BASS — David Plunkett displays his fish.