“All My Sons” premieres at Tower Theater
Women’s basketball honors seniors B1
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LIBERTY CHAMPION Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Today: Rain 52/35 Tomorrow: Snow 39/29
libertychampion.com
Volume 30 • Issue 17
Liberty bus crashes near tunnel
Derrick Battle
dbattle2@liberty.edu
Greg Leasure gleasure@liberty.edu
A Liberty University bus veered off the road, fell down a hill and crashed into the retaining wall near the entrance of the East Campus tunnel Saturday night, March 2. The accident, which left the bus leaning at a 30-degree angle about 56 feet from the entrance to the tunnel, took place at the intersection of Liberty Mountain Drive and Towns Court around 8:30 p.m. Freshman Jake Beerel and three friends boarded the bus at North Campus and were seated
near the front when the crash occurred. “We were just heading toward the bus stop at the tunnel and we started to drift,” Beerel said. “I first felt like something was wrong, and everybody started screaming.” Beerel was released from the hospital Sunday morning, though he was still experiencing dizziness and nausea. According to university spokesperson Johnnie Moore, the accident was handled with the utmost attention. “Liberty University and Lynchburg Police responded to the scene of the accident immediately, and handled it all with the highest degree of care and professionalism,” Moore said.
“Our entire community is grateful that none of the 19 passengers on board sustained serious injuries. Only four passengers were sent to Lynchburg General. They were sent only as a precaution for further evaluation, and each was released on the same evening.” Liberty freshman Brian Travers witnessed the accident while sitting in the passenger seat of the car directly behind the bus. “I saw it from the corner of my eye,” Travers said. “The bus was kind of driving along the sidewalk, and we looked at each other like, ‘Is this really happening?’ The bus kept on going until it crashed.” Travers and his prayer group
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Greg Leasure | Liberty Champion
COLLISION — A Liberty bus carrying 19 passengers crashed on East Campus Saturday night.
#Shorty Awards
luck of the Irish
Melanie Oelrich
moelrich@liberty.edu
Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion
CELEBRATION — Liberty student Austin Edwards aided in bringing Irish spirit to the kickoff Friday, March 1.
“I nominate @LibertyU for a Shorty Award in #BNcollege because we believe Jesus turned his tomb into a door that saved the world,” or, “I nominate @LibertyU for a Shorty Award in #BNcollege because in the Old Greek, ‘Liberty University’ actually translates to ‘Shorty Award.’” These tweets from Johnnie Moore and Campus Praise worship leader Justin Kintzel, along with other social media campaigns such as online voting and numerous Twitter postings, launched Liberty University and the School of Communication into first place for the fifth annual Shorty Awards. The Shorty Awards, for which Conan O’Brien, Neil Patrick Harris and NASA have all been winners, recognizes the best universities, people and organizations in social media. According to the Shorty Awards website, every year, millions of people visit the site to support their favorite social media content creators by tweeting
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SAO moves Irish American month kicks off Office now in DeMoss
Students, faculty and staff gathered with Center4ME to celebrate March’s heritage
Daniel Bartlett dbartlett@liberty.edu
Melanie Oelrich moelrich@liberty.edu
T
he Center for Multicultural Enrichment (Center4ME) hosted its third-annual Irish American Heritage Kickoff Friday, March 1, where students, faculty and staff donned their favorite green and orange garb in celebration of the country’s culture. The front steps of DeMoss were covered with roughly 700 students, and Center4ME staff dressed in their best Irish attire as students enjoyed cotton candy, greenfrosted shamrock cookies,
green-dyed pink lemonade and chocolate coins. “My roommate mentioned the event to me, and I heard they had themed music, so I came out to see what it was about,” Liberty student Nicole Davis said. “I really enjoy the Irish music.” According to Associate Director of the Center4ME Joy Jefferson, the center has been open since 1996, but was originally named the “Minority International Office” before switching to the Center for Multicultural Enrichment in 2004. Jefferson said that the Center4ME has been celebrat-
ing Irish American Heritage month for three years. “At the beginning of each Irish American heritage month, we always have a kickoff where we serve refreshments and give students a calendar so they know when the events are for that month,” Jefferson said. “We celebrate Irish American heritage because we celebrate cultures that have minorities within the U.S.” Center4ME will also host additional events this month, including a deliberative dialogue on Irish legacy Tuesday, March 5 in DeMoss Hall 1090, a cultural excursion
festival Saturday, March 23 in Richmond, a “Faces of America” screening Tuesday, March 26 in Green Hall 1878, and “Shamrock Friday,” March 29 in Green Hall 1878. “Our goal at the Center4ME is to educate students about all cultures,” Jefferson said. For more information about Irish American Heritage Month, contact the Center4ME at Center4ME@liberty.edu or visit the website at liberty.edu/center4me. OELRICH is the news editor.
INSIDE THE CHAMPION News The Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society recognized their seniors. A6
Sports
Tim Tebow is scheduled to speak in Convocation Friday, March 8. B3
Feature Bliss Bridal Expo offered ideas for upcoming weddings B8 and celebrations.
The Student Advocate Office (SAO) hopes that its new home in DeMoss Hall will help increase the office’s ability to meet student needs. Once located in Green Hall, the office recently made the move to DeMoss 2247, which is located between the computer lab and the grand lobby. According to Justin Mercer, director of retention and orientation of the SAO, the new location is much more accessible for students. The SAO consists of six student advocates: Timi Plyter, Leigh Detzel, Christina Nolton, Michael Morrison, Katie Moore and Tanner Hoyt. According to their website, the role of these student advocates is to help
News Opinion Sports Feature
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