Liberty Champion April 1

Lacrosse draws record attendance

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Alpha Lambda Delta holds banquet

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Today: AM Clouds/PM Sun 75/48 Tomorrow: Mostly Sunny 80/51 Liberty University

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Volume 31 • Issue 19

Lynchburg, Va.

“Midnight Memories”

Students register

Representatives encourage peers to vote Emily Webster ewebster@liberty.edu

With City Council elections right around the corner, Liberty University’s Dean of Students Office has positioned students in the hallway of DeMoss to provide their peers with the opportunity to register to vote in the May 6 elections as well as to communicate the importance of voting.

Bradley Milks, assistant director of programming for the Dean of Students Office, expressed how important it is for students to register to vote for the City Council elections.

“Registering to vote, and voting, allows students the opportunity for their voice to be heard by local politicians,” Milks said. “If students fail to register to vote, or vote, local politicians will not know their specific needs.”

Those running in the citywide race for the three at-large seats in the City Council include Keith Anderson, H. Cary, Joan Foster, Randy Nelson, Rhonnie Smith and Treney Tweedy.

Milks pointed out that those elected will make decisions regarding the Lynchburg City Code, which will have a direct impact on Liberty students. He said the City Council helps govern the city of Lynchburg and “is the chief legislative body of the municipal corporation.”

See REGISTER, A8

Courtney Russo | Liberty Champion

TEAHOUSE — Jordan West jams out at Student Activities’ British Invasion themed Coffeehouse. Story on B8.

Wallace premieres movie Students attend free screening of “Heaven is For Real” at Lynchburg theater Sophia Hahn shahn3@liberty.edu

“It is a story about a father… and this father … was a man I admired,” Randall Wallace said about Todd Burpo, author of “Heaven is for Real.”

Wallace, the director of “Heaven is for Real,” and Burpo visited Liberty University Wednesday, March 26, to encourage students from the Zaki Gordon School of Cinematic Arts to pursue success in filmmaking as well as show a screening of their film.

Both Wallace and Burpo explained they had many obstacles to overcome to get to the place they are at today, and none of it would have been possible without God. “Everything I am is nothing unless God transforms it … ,” Wallace said. “I happen

to know how weak and worthless I am unless God makes me into something new, and it happens everyday. So the creative process … is an act of faith, and you can’t make that act of faith unless you believe you are going to fall into the arms of God.” In a question-and-answer session with cinematic arts students, Wallace spoke about his journey of becoming an Oscar award-winning Hollywood director and screenwriter. He explained how he first majored in religion before trying to become a songwriter in Nashville, Tenn., and then finally writing “Braveheart,” the movie that kick-started his career.

“Over and over I was rejected,” Wallace said. “How easy do you think it should be to talk to the whole world?”

According to Wallace, he

Amber Lachniet| Liberty Champion

DIRECTOR — Wallace spoke with cinematic students. wrote 12 drafts of “Bravehe- Wallace said. “You are here art” before it was even con- to be leaders, but what will sidered by a production com- you do with that leadership? pany. He encouraged students I believe the only way to be a to never quit, but always fin- true leader is to be a follower ish strong. of Jesus.”

“You don’t have to be perfect today, you just have to be willing to learn tomorrow,” See HEAVEN, A3

INSIDE THE CHAMPION News

Sports

Feature

Mark Warner visited campus to talk with students and local businesses. A8

Flames football enters spring practice with high expectations.

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The Senior Graphic Design Exhibit is now open through April 13.

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Anderson campaigns Dean of students runs for Lynchburg City Council Josh Janney jjanney@liberty.edu

Keith Anderson, Liberty University dean of students and pastor of HiliFavrd Ministries, has been fighting to run in the May 6 election as an independent for Lynchburg City Council.

Anderson is no stranger to serving and taking on a leadership position, he explained. He spent 15 years as a military officer and has been pastoring for more than 21 years. But he has not been ready for campaigning for City Council until now, as the past two years of his life were shaken by the death of his daughter, Stacia Nicole Anderson, in January 2012.

“I’m just now getting to the point where my life is stable enough to return to my natural personality of community service at work,” Anderson said. “So when I looked down, and I saw an opportunity to be a part of helping advance Godly principle and really come alongside in helping citizens of this community, I thought this was a perfect time to continue what I’ve always known, and that is helping people.”

See ANDERSON, A6

News Opinion Sports Feature

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NEWS

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APRIL 1, 2014

QBOT rewards dining Brittany Jones bljones24@liberty.edu

Sophia Hahn shahn3@liberty.edu

Liberty University has recently introduced a rewards app that allows students to keep a virtual punch card to earn free drinks and food at restaurants on campus.

According to QBOT’s website, the app works similarly to your standard punch card of any loyalty program, but includes a few extra benefits.

The user can search for participating locations by city or category. The next step is to “love” a merchant, which earns an automatic reward.

“I downloaded it because I love innovation,” freshman Anna Schlueter said. “QBOT created a new way of expanding the term ‘coupon.’”

By selecting Lynchburg, Va., students can see that the participating restaurants on campus are Brioche Dorée, Dunkin’ Donuts, Flames Zone, Pizza Hut Express and the Sub Connection in DeMoss Hall.

According to the website, the app was created in 2012.

“QBOT is specifically designed for you, the merchant, with one goal in mind, and that’s to keep your customers coming back,” QBOT’s website states.

QBOT’s instructional video to potential clients says that the “love” feature is offered as a way of reeling the customer into the merchant’s location and opening the door to future loyalty purchases.

“The QBOT app encourages me to try products that I never would have tried before,” Schlueter said.

By “loving” a business, the customer has given them permission to send emails and push notifications, according to QBOT’s website.

When a customer purchases an item, they may scan the QBOT QR code displayed in the business. This earns them a punch, which QBOT calls a “loyalty scan.”

Rewards can be redeemed by punch amounts of two, four and six. A customer may cash in the two punches they saved up, or they can continue collecting in order to accumulate six for a higher-priced reward.

The QBOT app tracks your savings in dollar amount and allows you to earn badges.

“Its very basic format makes it easy and fast to use, perfect for running on a budget and a schedule,” Schlueter said. “I will continue to use it, because I can’t wait to see what other coupons and promotions it will add.”

For more information on QBOT, visit qbot.com.

JONES is a news reporter.

HAHN is the news editor.

Photo Provided

FIGHT FOR FREEDOM — Speaker Dr. James Robertson will give a speech entitled “How the Civil War Still Lives.”

Remembering the Civil War The History Department will host the 18th annual seminar April 4-5 in DeMoss Hall James Ebrahim jebrahim2@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s History Department will be hosting a Civil War seminar April 4 and 5 with keynote speaker Dr. James Robertson. This is the 18th year that Liberty has had a Civil War seminar, according to Kristina Burdeaux, office administrator for the History Department.

“Eighteen years ago, Kenny Rowlette and Cline Hall were the ones who started it,” Burdeaux said. “They just had a passion for the Civil War. They wanted to get that information out about the war and teach young people.”

Robertson is a distinguished professor of history at Virginia Tech and is one of the most sought-after speakers on the Civ-

il War in his field, according to Virginia Tech’s website. He will be giving a speech Friday, April 4 entitled “How the Civil War Still Lives” and another Saturday, April 5 entitled “Johnny Rebs and Billy Yanks: Uncommon Soldiers.” Other speakers at the event include Dr. Jonathan White, Dr. Kyle Sinisi and Greg Starbuck.

According to Burdeaux, this year’s seminar will focus on the year 1864. According to the United States National Park Service, Lynchburg, Va, played a part in the Civil War June 17 and 18 of that year, when Union Gen. David Hunter attacked Confederate depots in Lynchburg. Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early fought Hunter back, resulting in a Confederate victory. The battle resulted in 900

casualties out of 44,000 troops, according to the National Park Service.

Usually, there are approximately 150 people from the public who attend the event each year, Burdeaux explained.

“The amount of Liberty students that attend varies each year but it is usually close to 100,” Burdeaux said.

The seminar is free for Liberty students to attend and will include door prizes, according to Burdeaux.

“It would be successful if some of the students learned something they hadn’t learned about the Civil War before, and enjoy the speakers that we are having this year,” Burdeaux said. “It is good for everybody to learn more about our country’s history and be aware of what sacrifices

were taking place so that we can keep our freedom.”

Liberty students already have this opportunity, as Liberty is home to the National Civil War Chaplains Research Center and Museum Foundation that features Civil War artifacts and guided tours. The museum was created by Rowlette and exists to educate the public on the role of chaplains during the Civil War, according to the museum’s website.

“Come on out,” Burdeaux said. “We’d like to pack the rooms completely.”

Tickets may be purchased at the ticket center. For more information, visit the seminar webpage at liberty.edu/civilwar.

EBRAHIM is a news reporter.

SA offers new Loyalty Program

Student Activities now offers free prizes for those participating in sponsored events Jesse Spradlin jspradlin@liberty.edu

Free prizes. That’s what Student Activities (SA) began offering students through their new Loyalty Program in the 2014 spring semester.

The Loyalty Program provides students with a loyalty card that gets stamped at SA events and can be turned in at the SA office in exchange for free prizes, according to the SA website.

“We decided to create this program because we recognized a lot of the same people at our events,” SA Event Supervisor Elizabeth Karr said.

“We thought the loyalty program would be a great way to thank them for their support and to keep them coming back.”

Karr said loyalty cards can be received and stamped at every SA event at the promotion table.

Students must attend 10 events to fill the loyalty

1. TAU SIGMA NATIONAL SOCIETY HELD AN INDUCTION CEREMONY MARCH 31.

card, according to the SA website.

“I think it (will) bring more people to come to student activities, especially if it’s giving away free prizes,” senior Chelsi Murray said. “Students always like free things.”

Resident Advisor Hannah Solem said she is excited to introduce the program to the girls on her hall.

“We really encourage girls to go (to SA events),” Solem said. “You can grab a group of friends and go off to an activity, and for them to get prizes—that’s a great idea.”

Karr said there is no limit to how many cards can be filled out per student, and the program restarts every semester.

“Once you finish one card, you can go ahead and grab another,” Karr said. “We have exclusive (SA) promotional items for people who have 10 punches on their card.”

She said students can win prizes such as a ce-

2. THE SGA HELD A SCREENING OF “SEX + MONEY” FOR ABOLITION WEEK.

Courtney Russo | Liberty Champion

FREE FUN — Each student can fill out as many cards as they want. ramic tumbler mug or a coming in,” Solem said. counted prices throughlarge gym bag with the “It gets them involved out the school year, acin school right away, … cording to its website.

Liberty logo on it.

“The cards are free, (and) it’s a great way for Events include concerts, they’re easy, and you can them to make friends.” movies, trail races, trips Karr said students and more. win exclusive items just for being loyal to our have responded very well For more information to the Loyalty Program. events,” Karr said. about the Loyalty Pro“It’s an opportunity gram and SA events, call According to the SA website, the loyalty pro- for them to get awesome the SA office at 434-592gram is “just one more prizes for coming to awe- 3061 or email studentacway to say a very spe- some events,” Karr said. tivitiesinfo@liberty.edu. cial thank you” to their “Who wouldn’t love that?” supporters.

SA creates more than SPRADLIN is a news “I think it’s really good, especially for freshmen 80 events for free or at dis- reporter.

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NEWS

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APRIL 1, 2014

‘Killology’ expert speaks to CJUS majors Former West Point professor and Army ranger discusses mental impact of exposure to killing and combat Lt. Col. Dave Grossman spoke to students about killology, the study of killing, at a Criminal Justice Club meeting in Williams Stadium March 27, according to Katie Godwin, president of the Criminal Justice Club.

Grossman is a former West Point psychology professor of military science and an Army ranger who has become the founder of a new field of scientific endeavor called killology,

according to Godwin.

Grossman spoke to the students and law enforcement about his research with killology and his book, “The Bulletproof Mind.”

“Today, he is the director of the Killology Research Group, and in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he is on the road almost 300 days a year, training elite military and law enforcement organizations worldwide about the reality of combat,” Godwin said.

Godwin explained she

Success can be volatile in the church, Burpo said. After he wrote “Heaven is for Real,” many people left his church, cutting his attendees nearly in half, from 140 people to 80 people.

“A pastor is not supposed to have a lot of money, and a pastor isn’t supposed to be important,” Burpo said.

“He is supposed to be the waiter for everybody in the church, and all that stuff changes when you have success.”

Despite the uncertainty created by his success, Burpo said he does not regret sharing his story.

“With our story, I think everyone recognizes that you aren’t going to get a more pure or more innocent or more accurate witness than a child,” Burpo said. “People cannot explain away what he saw by the drugs or the chemicals creating memories he never had. He either experienced this or he didn’t and, if he did, a heavenly answer is the only answer

you are going to come up with, period.”

Wallace said he contributes the success of “Heaven is for Real” to faith in God. “I felt Todd’s story was about true living,” Wallace said. “If we didn’t believe where we were going, we weren’t going to be able to do it. It was a leap of faith. … Faith is not the absence of doubt, faith is what you do in the presence of doubt and the presence of the unknowable.”

As Burpo and Wallace finished talking with cinematic arts students and faculty, Liberty students were already lining up at the Regal Cinema for the free showing of “Heaven is for Real.” Although Liberty rented out an extra theater for the screening, creating 1,000 more seats for students, seating filled quickly and many people had to be turned away, according to Johnnie Moore, Liberty senior vice president for communications.

Zachary Pinkston zpinkston@liberty.edu

Photo Provided

SACRIFICE— Grossman discussed the psychological effects of exposure to combat.

HEAVEN continued from A1 Cinematic arts senior Zach Boyd said he enjoyed being able to hear from Wallace about his experiences in the film world.

“It was great, he is real down to earth,” Boyd said.

“You would never think he is the ‘Braveheart’ writer and director. It was like ‘Wow, gosh, he is a legend.’

It was definitely really cool to listen to his story.”

Wallace then spoke about his writing process and how he loves to create stories about love, hope and honor, explaining how these qualities motivate him.

“My job is to inspire others, and I can’t do it if I’m not inspired myself,” Wallace said.

Burpo and Wallace also discussed “Heaven is for Real” and what it was like to make the story based on true events come to life. “‘Heaven is for Real’ is about the biggest conflict

— what do you believe, and when do you believe it,” Wallace said. “I’m proud of … Todd (for) standing up for his son and the guts to share the story.”

According to Burpo, he was nervous about telling the story to the public, because he did not know how people would receive it.

“Everyone thinks I was a willing servant to this process, but I have been reluctant the whole way,” Burpo said. “I wrote ‘Heaven is for Real’ years after it happened to protect my son.”

Burpo explained how his success had an effect on his church and himself as a pastor.

“Success is something church people cannibalize each other for,” Burpo said. “Do you know how many people are mad at me because my son came back, but their child didn’t?

I get that all the time. ‘Well what makes you special?

Why did God answer your prayer, but he didn’t answer mine?’”

was challenged by two mentors to try and reach out to Grossman.

“My mentors and professors proposed he would be a great speaker for our club,” Godwin said. “They know that when something is put out as a challenge, I try that much harder to achieve it.”

Godwin explained she was able to contact Grossman through his website, killology.com.

Although the event was only open to the Criminal Justice Club, Godwin said she is hoping Grossman

will be able to return to Liberty in the future, possibly for a larger event.

This event is a steppingstone for the Criminal Justice Club, who only three years ago had a total of five members, Godwin said.

“Our (Criminal Justice) Club has grown to be one of the most active clubs on campus and has some of the most hands-on involvement in our field,” Godwin said.

PINKSTON is a news reporter.

Amber Lachniet| Liberty Champion

INSPIRE — Wallace believes that faith in God is key.

President Jerry Falwell, Jr. explained that he is excited for the future of Christian films and Christian filmmakers coming from Liberty.

“I think they are going to make a huge impact on society,” Falwell said. “The attention span of students these days, they won’t sit and watch a two-hour sermon anymore … but they will watch a film, and I

think that is the medium of the future to spread the good news.”

The movie will open in theaters nationwide April 16. For more information about the movie, visit sonypictures.com/movies/ heavenisforreal.

HAHN is the news editor.

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APRIL 1, 2014

Republican party behind the times If the GOP has any hopes of political revival in 2016, it must seek to actively engage millenials’ interests Tré Goins-Phillips dgoinsphillips@liberty.edu

Phrases like “edgy,” “ahead of the curve,” “cuttingedge” and “hip” are not what we think when we see an advertisement, article or statement endorsing the Republican Party. It seems as if the Democratic Party has moved forward, leaving the Grand Old Party (GOP) in the dust of their laced-up hipster boots.

The Republican National Committee has kicked off an advertisement campaign starring Scott Greenberg, a young, hip Public Relations firm owner from Washington, D.C. “So much of my paycheck ends up going to gas,” Greenberg said in the advertisement. “We haven’t even talked about my heating bill at home.”

However, from the moment the 30-second web promo starts until the screen fades to black, you can tell Greenberg is reading off of a teleprompter. His words may be true, but they could not sound more lifeless.

I could not tell you if it is Greenberg’s lack of eye contact or his straight reading off the script that is more distracting. In any case, this cheap attempt to compete with the millennial zeal of President Barack Obama’s marketing techniques is a flop.

Here is my proposal to the GOP: Get new marketing.

Too often, we speak too kindly of those we align with, whether it be politically or otherwise. Honesty is the only way to fix the campaigning problem.

Forty-eight percent of millennials say word-of-mouth is their sole influence, according to a 2010 Intrepid Study.

That being the case, advertisement campaigns must be personal, emotional and reminiscent of our experiences.

After all, if what we are seeing does not draw us in, more interesting content is only a click, swipe or scroll away.

I could place two advertisements in front of you on

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GOP — Republicans should take notes from the Democratic Party on marketing and advertisement campaigns. the economy: one talking about quantitative easing and monetary economics and the other telling you a story of a single dad, working two jobs, trying to raise his 7-yearold daughter.

We are more often drawn to the latter. It is raw and vulnerable. It is human. We are hearing a story — not getting a lesson in statistics and economics. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) gets this, even to a fault.

Emotions and entitlement have taken center stage in the ongoing battle over the heated contraception controversy.

Religious liberty is being threatened, in part, because of the DNC successfully pandering to our natural self-centered desires — a difficult strategy to compete with.

According to the Pew Research Center, only 50 percent of all eligible voters from age 18-28 voted in the 2012 election. In order to be successful in the 2014-midterm

elections, and ultimately the 2016 presidential election, the GOP needs to depoliticize politics. Ditch the establishment “politics as usual,” and jump on board with Rand Paul-style energy.

In the grand scheme of elections, you want to make real connections. When Americans see an advertisement campaign, they want to see themselves on the screen. In other words, it cannot be “the Republicans say” or “the Democrats say.”

As a millennial myself, I can tell you, I want to see something that resonates with me. That is why Paul’s campaign style works. I care about Internet freedom and privacy. So do millions of other 20-somethings.

GOINS-PHILLIPS is an opinion writer.

Attkisson’s abdication a bigger problem Government officials are becoming increasingly afraid to speak with the press under Obama’s administration David Van Dyk dvandyk@liberty.edu

I used to think the news was a form of information given to the public in an objective and truthful manner, putting accuracy and honesty first. Then I watched MSNBC after watching Fox News, and I realized I was young and naïve.

As I discovered the reality of media bias and what it means for us as American citizens, I thought about the implications that our political system has on the newsgathering industry and how it has affected investigate reporters trying to do their job.

One of these investigative reporters is Sharyl Attkisson, a journalist who always questioned the questionable and never took no for an answer. Her reporting was seen by many as objective and exhaustively investigative. Unfortunately, this honest and accurate reporting caused a chasm of inordinate measure between her and the CBS brass, resulting in her departure from “America’s Most Watched Network.”

As I read through the reports and looked into her reporting, I saw an interesting pattern that CBS denied. Her thirst for truth and transparency in a White House administration most adverse to these qualities did not line up with that of CBS’ agenda.

However, something deeper lies within the problem of Attkisson’s conflict with CBS. It is not just the issue of media bias.

The real problem lies within what investigative reporters have been saying about the Obama Administration. After promising transparency and openness, Obama’s administration is now known as one of the most closed-off and opaque White

by Greg Leasure I attended my last Liberty University Coffeehouse Saturday night, March 29.

Like many of my friends and fellow graduating seniors, I expected to be overcome with a bittersweet feeling watching the biannual Student Activities (SA)-held showcase for the last time.

However, with each LEASURE British-themed act to take the stage, the realization that this was the begin-

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RESIGN — CBS investigative correspondent announced she was leaving March 10.

House administrations in the history of the presidency.

“In the Obama Administration’s Washington, government officials are increasingly afraid to talk to the press,” Leonard Downie, Jr. wrote in a special report for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

“Those suspected of discussing with reporters anything that the government has classified as secret are subject to investigation, including lie-detector tests and scrutiny of their telephone and e-mail records.”

As I studied the report, I started to realize the real issue.

“An ‘Insider Threat Program’ being implemented in every government department requires all federal employees to help prevent unauthorized disclosures of information by monitoring the behavior of their colleagues,” Downie wrote.

Media bias has been around for a while, and will continue to be. However, in a nation where journalism is encouraged and

ning of the end of my time as a Liberty student became overshadowed by the extraordinary amount of talent on display.

Despite the recent trend of focusing on disappointing Coffeehouse acts, the response to Saturday’s Coffeehouse was overwhelmingly positive. Even President Jerry Falwell, Jr. expressed his approval of the show.

“Tonight’s #SAcoffeehouse is the best that I have attended in the last seven years at LU!” Falwell tweeted Saturday night.

After performances of songs such as The Beatles’ “Come Together” and The Who’s “Baba O’Riley,” as well as one of the funniest Coffeehouse videos in recent memory involving one Liberty student awkwardly holding hands with strangers set to The Beatles’ “I Want

transparency is rewarded, the Obama administration is waging a war on leaks and thorough investigation for fear of their actions being shown to the public.

“I think we have a real problem,” New York Times national security reporter Scott Shane said in a statement to CPJ’s special report. “Most people are deterred by those leaks’ prosecutions. They’re scared to death. There’s a gray zone between classified and unclassified information, and most sources were in that gray zone. Sources are now afraid to enter that gray zone. It’s having a deterrent effect.”

Attkisson herself will be speaking about the challenges of investigative reporting within the Obama Administration in her book entitled “Stonewalled: One Reporter’s Fight for Truth in Obama’s Washington.”

Reading through this special report — which I highly suggest you read — I was amazed as 30 journalists from a number of news agencies talked of the struggles they

to Hold Your Hand,” I have to agree with Falwell.

Despite attending the event with multiple friends who will also graduate this May, the nostalgia of past Coffeehouses and the knowledge that this would be our last before graduation faded as our focus shifted to the stage, and with good reason.

The amount of talented Liberty students I have watched in the eight Coffeehouse shows I have attended is nearly immeasurable. After almost every one of those eight shows, Liberty students took to Facebook and Twitter to express their amazement at the gifts God has given their peers. Whether through dance, music or comedy, Liberty students never cease to amaze me.

Although I am sad that my last Coffeehouse is behind me, I am

faced as they attempted to investigate and uncover the truth of the current administration, just like Attkisson tried to do while under the leadership of CBS. Whether the reports were on the Benghazi attack, the Fast and Furious gun scandal or the IRS targeting conservative groups, the White House Administration has been closed off and belittling of any journalist who dares look any further.

Some may question why so much attention should be given to things which have been proven to lead nowhere. To this, I respond by asking how much attention a robbery in a hotel, which happened to be called Watergate, should have been given. However, two journalists knew there was something deeper, and they began one of the biggest political investigations in American history, eventually leading to the impeachment of the president of the United States.

If a hotel robbery was given this much attention, why should an attack on our own embassy in a highly dangerous area be swept off the table?

I am disappointed in this administration’s efforts to keep information within the white-washed walls of a building once known for serving, protecting and informing the American people. I can only hope the future president will restore integrity and transparency to the White House so people like Attkisson can do their job effectively and accurately.

VAN DYK is an opinion writer.

glad that the final one I attended exceeded the enormous expectations that students often have for the event, thanks to SA and the students who performed.

As Liberty quickly becomes a part of my history, the nostalgia that neglected to overwhelm me that night is slowly making its way to the forefront.

As I reminisce about my time at Liberty, I have realized that this year’s Coffeehouse stands as a monument of my time here. Though there have been ups and downs, good grades and difficult classes, good friends and trying times, I will leave this place knowing that my collegiate career far exceeded my expectations.

For that, I will be eternally grateful.

So in the spirit of the British, “Cheerio.”

OPINION

APRIL 1, 2014

Movie Reviews

Liberty Champion/A5

Big-budget epic Hollywood reconstructs Noah’s ark Gabriella Fuller gfuller2@liberty.edu

The year 2014 has brought the Bible to the box office with a bang. The most recent of these Bible-based epic releases was director Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah,” starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly.

Even before “Noah” hit theaters, it received a flood of controversy and reviews from both mainstream and Christian sources. The numerous blogs, social media posts and commentaries — most of them criticizing the movie’s departure from accurate biblical portrayal — made the movie a must see in my mind.

Wanting to join in on the conversation, I did my research and bought my ticket, excited to see how Hollywood would tackle one of the Old Testament’s best-known and most dramatic stories.

What I found was a movie that was refreshingly unpredictable — a feat difficult to accomplish with a story as recognized, and oftentimes trivialized, as Noah. Was the movie an exact biblical representation? No, absolutely not. In fact, there were numerous extra-biblical elements in the film. But was

it a movie worth watching?

Yes, I believe that it was.

Despite the non-biblical elements of the film, Aronofsky captured a visual picture of the flood that has never before been brought to audiences via such a widespread and powerful platform as the big screen.

More importantly, audiences were given a glimpse of the powerful thematic elements of justice and mercy.

Aronofsky and writer Ari Handel worked diligently and extensively — 16 years in fact — to create a thoroughly researched script.

Great lengths were taken to build the ark to exact biblical proportions, and Paramount Studios was respectfully willing to post a disclaimer that “the film is inspired by the story of Noah” in order to inform audiences that artistic license was indeed taken while still attempting to retain the value and integrity of the original story.

Rather than the typical, Sunday school version of the story, filmmakers created complex characters that challenged audience members to take a second look at the story in a whole new light. With this movie, I saw possibilities I had never

before considered.

While these possibilities may indeed be subjective, and there is no way to ever prove their accuracy either biblically or historically, the movie highlighted the grotesqueness of humanity and the depravity of a fallen, sinful world.

For the first time in a long time, a Bible-based film took a spectacularly fearsome and unabashed look at sin.

This adaptation was audacious, and in the end, audiences were reminded of the extraordinary saving grace of God and the greater ideas of mercy, forgiveness and basic goodness.

Whatever extra-biblical elements may be present in the film, it does not overcome the fact that Hollywood spent hundreds of millions of dollars to produce and promote a Bible story. There is evidently something extremely compelling and captivating about the Bible, and by avoiding a predictable retelling of the story, Aronofsky was able to combine grandeur with grace in an ambitious, visionary motion picture that showed millions its irresistible power.

Paramount Pictures is first and foremost a business, and a secular film business at that. Should we as Christians

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really expect for the movie to be 100 percent accurate?

Rather than being hostile toward the inaccuracies, Christians ought to recognize the opportunity we have to participate in what will be a national conversation for the next few months. Rarely do cultural events emerge that allow Christians to present their side of the story.

And yet, with this incredible opportunity placed before us, Christians stand to waste the opportunity if we are not willing to watch and engage with those who are watching.

Instead of withdrawing from the discussion, we should seize the opportunity and use this film to our advantage.

Instead of making Hollywood the enemy, we should look at it as a mission field and strive to lead and direct the emerging conversations.

When we attack and petition against biblical films in the box office, we damage the powerful opportunity we

have to share our faith in a hostile culture, and we stifle the effort of those who seek to produce films based on the Bible when, instead, we should be supporting it.

Nothing has been detracted from the power of God’s word through the release of this film. Biblical truths remain as absolute as they did before this film, and they will continue to stand despite any of society’s attempts to alter or distort them.

Separate the motion picture and the pulpit. Recognize the powerful medium of film and applaud the efforts of those who seek to expose millions to a piece of the greatest story ever told.

Enjoy “Noah” for what it is and have intentional conversations with those around you about the heart of the story: Christ’s redemption.

FULLER is the opinion editor.

Low-budget hit

Christian film goes beyond subculture Emily Webster ewebster@liberty.edu

The recent release of the movie “God’s Not Dead” has stirred Christians and non-Christians alike, causing many to run to their computers and post their thoughts and opinions on social media as to why Christian films continue to miss the mark of good filmmaking.

I must agree that Christian films lack a quality that the big names in Hollywood create, and “God’s Not Dead” is no exception. Cheesy scripts and bad acting continue to plague faith-based films, and I have begun to expect this whenever I sit down to watch a Christian movie.

However, I went into the theater with high hopes for “God’s Not Dead,” and despite the occasional chuckle at the poor performances of a few of the actors, I thought this movie showed more professionalism than other Christian films of similar budgets.

Despite this, many have taken the release of another unashamedly Christian movie as an opportunity to bash the Christian

filmmaking industry. John Speed, a Christian blogger, published his opinions on his blog Gospel Spam, stating “God’s not dead, but Christian screenwriting is.”

His argument provides positive qualities of the movie, but the majority of his blog states this movie is littered with blasphemy.

“God does not need us to defend him, as the hero of this movie states,” Speed wrote. “The atheist needs us to declare the truth to him so that he can be rescued from the wrath of God. To state the former and miss the latter is blasphemous. When we — even with the best of intentions — place God on trial in our personal evangelism or in big screen movies, we give the enemies of God occasion to blaspheme. And they are doing exactly that.”

Others made comments on the website Rotten Tomatoes such as “God may not be dead, but I’d be willing to wager this movie at least gave him a faint wave of nausea” and, “Any just God would likely recoil from the ham-fisted and spurious defense put forth in this film.” However, despite the fact that the website award-

ed the movie with a 20 percent rating, the general audience gave it 87 percent.

I would have to agree with the 87 percent of people who voted for this movie. While some, like Speed, believe that evangelism should be left to “everyday Christians,” and “Jesus did not command us to go into all the world and show movies,” we, as Christians, have the responsibility to reach as many people as we possibly can with the hope of the gospel. And this movie does just that. If we have the opportunity to use an industry that people all over the world have access to, then we need to take advantage of this industry in order to spread the name of God to all nations.

True, the evidence provided by the young college student in his defense of God may not give airtight proof for the existence of God, and not all atheists show the same hatred as the professor in the movie, but the story was powerful and provided an unashamed message of our forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

As with anything in the public eye, critiques, both

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positive and negative, come with the territory. But the critiques from Christians should not simply bash an industry that is continuing to grow. True, it is frustrating to watch faith-based films with the expectation that they will not be equal to that of a film produced in Hollywood, but how helpful is it to those who create and write these films when all they hear consist of reviews that tell them how terrible their work is?

Will this encourage them to continue striving to make better movies, or will it deter them from continuing to try and improve if their fellow believers will not stand behind them?

If there are aspects of this movie that contradict our beliefs, as Speed felt, then this is an opportunity to take a deeper look at the Bible and decide how we would provide our own answers

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO

if someone told us God is dead. Will we all have the chance to stand up in front of a class and an atheist to defend our beliefs? Probably not. But this movie provides an example of how necessary it is to be able to defend your faith, regardless of the quality of the script or the performance of the actors.

1 Peter 3:15-16 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

WEBSTER is a copy editor.

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

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Computer labs consolidated

Second floor of ILRC undergoes large renovation over spring break, third floor closes Shae Leitz sleaitz@liberty.edu

When students returned from spring break, they found the second-floor computer lab remodeled while the third-floor, once bustling with commotion, was gutted and locked.

Students had been noticing changes in the second and third-floor computer labs since Christmas but a majority of the big changes happened over spring break, Connie Allison, director of IT communications, explained.

“It is difficult to do this kind of change while classes are happening but Liberty did an excellent job of juggling the classroom moves in a non-disruptive manner,” Allison said.

Despite the elimination of the third-floor computer lab, jobs were not lost during the process. According to the Chief Information Officer of Information Services Matthew Zealand, there were approximately four - six local contractors per day assisting on the IT installation and rollout.

“For years, we have offered free computer support to students in the Green Hall IT Help-

James Ebrahim | Liberty Champion

VACANT — The third-floor computer lab has been closed and emptied.

Desk location,” Zealand said. “Having the location in Green Hall meant that students had to travel across campus from where the majority of their classes were held to get support. The new office will offer all of the same services our Green Hall location offers at a location that is more convenient to students.”

This support provided by the HelpDesk includes software support, virus and malware removal and hardware repairs on certain brand

computers by Liberty certified technicians, Zealand explained.

According to Zealand, by combining the second and third-floor computer labs and moving the IT HelpDesk, students are now able to access and communicate all of their computing needs in one single location. These changes have also freed up space on the third floor for purposes that have yet to be announced.

“A walk-in location for the IT Marketplace is

ANDERSON continued from A1 Anderson said economic growth is his No. 1 goal for Lynchburg. He also wants to find ways to promote small business vibrancy.

“The measures that I would take to keep (small businesses) is to keep taxes low. … We have one of the highest food taxes in the nation, and that is all in an attempt to generate revenue for (the) municipality,” Anderson said. “I think that if we had a more vibrant local economy, we have more people in a tax pool, and we won’t have to have such a high tax rate in order to generate the revenue needed to provide general services to the municipality.”

Student education is another issue that Anderson, who served for six years on the Lynchburg City School Board, is passionate about. Anderson attributes a large part of his increased investment in Lynchburg’s students to his daughter.

“The passion through which I engage life now is to not allow her memory to die and reinvesting

Ana Campbell | Liberty Champion

ELECT — Anderson is running as an independent. myself in the success of students, regardless of their age group,” Anderson said. “Especially to the Lynchburg city children, I have a lot of love. I have a lot of fathering experience that I don’t have the benefit of pouring out on one child. … I have a vested interest in the success of those young people. And much of that is fueled by my faith and by the love that I have to share for my daughter who is no longer with me.”

According to Anderson, he wants the people of Lynchburg to know

that he is not just Liberty’s candidate, but he has the interest of the entire city in mind.

Integrity is a large part of his campaign. Anderson said he believes the attraction to his campaign comes from voters who know his story and have a personal connection with him.

“Those who know me and know my work have been totally supportive,” Anderson said. “The people that I personally come in contact with who know my personal integrity, who know my history, who know my

also being established in the second-floor lab, allowing students to enjoy educational discounts on a large variety of computers and software titles,” Allison said. “The combination of these services should make the new computer lab very beneficial for the student body.”

There are currently 208 computers in the open lab on the second floor, according to Zealand, which is approximately the same number of computers as before. stance on promoting business, who know my stance on addressing social issues such as improving education and student achievement, they are the ones who are supportive.”

According to Anderson, the biggest struggle in the campaign is the lack of resources and delivering his message to the roughly 77,000 people who live in Lynchburg.

“I have the desire to reach as many people as I possibly can, but because I run as an independent, I don’t have the political endorsements and resources in order to have the propaganda and those types of things,” Anderson said.

“The challenge is helping communicate my message.”

Schea Communications founder Isaac Schea, who is involved in Anderson’s campaign, said he believes Anderson’s biggest obstacle is the fact that he is a newcomer to this type of election, as he has never run for office before now.

“Where some of the other candidates that we are running against are experienced and

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However, 73 seats will be added once the construction of the quad stations — 4-sided tables used for collaboration purposes with a computer on each side — have been completed. A total of 18 open-lab computers have been gained due to the renovations in DeMoss Hall.

“As a senior, it’s a little unsettling that there are times when I walk around campus and say, ‘Wow, that’s new,’” Keyla Dalee Mori Ramos said.

“But it’s definitely worth it in the spirit of change and advancement. I also appreciate how it feels more structured instead of one big hangout room. I can study easier now.”

Junior Katie Rhebergen described how much easier it is to find a computer without having to walk around searching for long periods of time.

“I think it’s great that everything is all on one floor now, it’s definitely more convenient,” Rhebergen said. “There is also a lot more computer availability, which makes it easier for me to find a seat.”

LEITZ is a news reporter. have had some prior campaigns that they’ve worked with or have been a part of, this will be Keith’s first rodeo,” Schea said.

Another challenge for Anderson is running against two members who are currently holding office for one of the seats on the council, Anderson stated.

“I would say that for the most part, there are five candidates who are running, two of which are incumbents,” Schea said. “The primary obstacle would be, since there are two incumbents, usually those candidates have a shoe-in on the position. So it’s really three candidates fighting for one seat instead of five candidates fighting for three.”

According to Anderson, his position on City Council would not affect his role as dean of students at Liberty University, as the meetings for City Council are only twice a month.

JANNEY is a news reporter.

APRIL 1, 2014

Officials to review policies Students get chance to voice opinions Evelyn Hylton ehylton@liberty.edu

The Dean of Students Office invited students to participate in the Town Hall meeting April 1, the second of two Town Hall meetings this year.

According to Dean of Students Keith Anderson, Town Hall meetings are designed to give students the chance to voice their questions and concerns regarding Liberty administration.

Through this special event, students have a chance to develop a sense of leadership and “alleviate the communication barrier” between themselves and officials from all departments.

Anderson said administrative officials from various offices of Liberty will take an hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in DeMoss Hall 1101 exclusively to address student questions from the audience about anything from dress code to campus safety. Officials from the departments of Student Conduct, Auxiliary Services, Liberty University Police Department and Transportation Services will participate in the event.

“It is a platform where I give students the opportunity to speak directly to the administration regarding issues that might affect the student population,” Anderson said.

The last Town Hall meeting brought some noticeable changes around campus, Anderson said, including permission for men to wear T-shirts and non-collared shirts as well as approved use of R-rated films for educational purposes.

“If they provide a viewing list from the academic dean’s office to my office, they wouldn’t be banned (from viewing certain R-rated films),” Anderson said, emphasizing the education-only criteria for the films.

According to Anderson, one of the main goals for the Town Hall is simply to encourage students to become active in local government.

HYLTON is a news reporter.

FYI

The Dean of Students office held its first Town Hall meeting Oct. 2, 2012. The meetings have become a semi-annual tradition.

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APRIL 1, 2014

Liberty Champion/A7

Leah Stauffer| Liberty Champion

HONOR — This was the first gala organized as a benefit event by the Young Women of America for the Wounded Warriors Project.

Gala benefits ‘Wounded Warriors’ Veterans share inspirational stories about their experiences before, during and after joining the U.S. military Jesse Spradlin jaspradlin@liberty.edu

Abolition Week at Liberty University concluded with the Military Appreciation Gala at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at Williams Stadium.

Tau Sigma National Honor Society President Erica Stewart and Junior Class President Chelsea Andrews organized the event through Young Women of America.

Stewart said that 2014 is the first year the Military Gala was a benefit event.

According to Andrews, the Gala provided dinner for the guests, donating 100 percent of ticket proceeds and other contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project.

U.S. Army retiree R. James Cook and former U.S. Marine Mark Finelli addressed the audience, sharing their military experience and encouraging the

audience in their support for wounded warriors.

Cook shared the importance of respecting veterans when they return from service.

“We don’t need to pamper them,” Cook said. “The pendulum needs to go into the middle — we need to balance it.”

Cook shared that he joined the military at age 17, but not simply to defend his country.

“It was a job,” Cook said.

“But at some point, this job became a profession, and at some point, this profession became a passion.”

Finelli, a native New Yorker, was in the South Tower of the World Trade Center the day of 9/11 and escaped by running down 61 flights of stairs.

“All of a sudden, the North Tower just exploded,” Finelli said. “By the time I got to the ground floor, it was complete anarchy.”

Finelli said the bravery of New

York firefighters inspired him to join the military.

“I ran down and out, they ran up and in,” Finelli said. “After seeing the firemen run into that building … I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do something.”

Finelli cautioned those in the service not to “expect a Swiss picnic” when they leave the military.

“It’s going to get harder, not easier,” Finelli said. “You got to take your time to readjust.”

Finelli shared that 22 service members commit suicide a day, and most people have the toughest time of their lives when they first get out of the military.

“Don’t get down on yourself when you get out,” Finelli said.

“There’s hope, there’s good things. Follow the good waves.”

To benefit wounded warriors, Finelli started a fundraiser called the 100 Mile Hump. The fundraiser is a hiking event currently active in Arizona and Virginia

and raises between 8,000 and 12,000 dollars a year.

“These people put their lives on the line for you,” Stewart said. “Help us honor them by getting involved in the wounded warrior project.”

Associate Dean of the Helms School of Government Stephen Parke said the Military Gala is a yearly event that every student who honors the military should attend.

“I am so humbled and honored to be a part of the Military Gala,” Parke said. “It is well worth (the) time. It is a fantastically well-prepared and welldone event, and the food is outstanding.”

Andrews said the Wounded Warrior Project is a great cause people need to be more aware of.

“We think about (soldiers) on the front lines, going through battle,” Andrews said. “We don’t think about what happens when they’re done with that term.”

Sophomore Rachel Leininger said she was shocked to hear the suicide statistics of service members.

“It was heartbreaking,” Leininger said. “It’s nice to see that there’s hope, and there are people working to stop that and support people when they return.”

Andrews encouraged people to reach out to the wounded warriors in their communities.

“Any way that you can get involved, whether it’s money or it’s time … they just need assistance and help,” Andrews said. “Get involved as much as you can.”

The donation page will be open until Saturday, April 5. To donate to the Wounded Warrior Project, visit support.woundedwarriorproject.org/group-fundraising/liberty.

SPRADLIN is a news reporter.

NEWS

A8/Liberty Champion

APRIL 1, 2014

U.S senator speaks at campus events

Mark Warner discusses facing failure, emphasizes need for bipartisan effort dedicated to resolving issues

“

Mark Tait

We are in a business plan right now that is totally unsustainable.

mtait@liberty.edu

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, visited the campus of Liberty University to speak with students at Convocation in the Vines Center and talk with local businessmen at a preceding Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce event in the Caudell Reading Room of the Jerry Falwell Library, March 26.

In a brief address during Convocation, Warner praised Liberty for its stable financial infrastructure and encouraged students to persevere through failure.

Warner said he invested $5,000 and went to work for a startup company after graduating. In six weeks, he had helped the business go entirely bankrupt.

“I failed in that, and I failed in my first time in politics,” Warner said. “One of the most important things you can learn, I believe, in college is you’ve got to be willing to try and fail.”

Facing failure was not only a theme of Warner’s Convocation address. It was also a key component of his discussion with Lynchburg business leaders at the chamber event.

The senator expressed concern for the current national deficit as well as inefficiencies in the

ObamaCare plan.

“We are in a business plan right now that is totally unsustainable,” he said.

In an effort to lessen the more than $17 trillion of national debt, Warner said he hopes to work with both Republicans and Democrats to modify entitlement programs and reform the tax code to create more predictability for the private sector.

In addition to discussing plans to lessen the national debt, the senator said he supports the Affordable Care Act but believes some issues need to be resolved.

“The rollout of the health care plan was a disaster,” Warner said. “I would have fired people if it was that poorly rolled out.”

According to Warner, he will soon introduce a series of “fixes” for the bill. His proposals include adding cheaper plan options and heightening the number of employees needed for a business to be required to purchase insurance from 50 to 100.

While Warner said he believes the Affordable Care Act needs

REGISTER continued from A1 According to The City of Lynchburg’s website, lynchburgva.gov, the members of the City Council are the community’s decision makers.

“The Council also focuses on the community’s goals, major projects, and such long-term considerations as community growth, land use development, capital improvement plans, capital financing and strategic planning,” the website states.

Liberty encourages students to register and vote by making announcements during Convocation, providing registration

— SEN. MARK WARNER changes, George Caylor, a financial advisor in the Mass Mutual Financial Group, challenged the bill altogether in a question-andanswer session following Warner’s Chamber address.

“I manage money,” Caylor said after the session. “I’m not managing as much money now, because the people that were putting money into their 401k and (individual retirement account), they haven’t got it to put in … because they’re spending so much more on insurance.”

Along with domestic policy, Warner mentioned the need for changes in foreign policy, particularly in America’s relationship with Russia and Ukraine.

He said he believes the United States should ensure Ukraine is operating within the boundaries of the law before providing any financial support, and he shared a plan for the Ukraine to export natural gas to Europe.

“That would create more American jobs, and that would cause (western European) countries to be less dependent on

forms for students and inviting candidates to speak with students and staff in order to provide awareness, according to Liberty’s website.

According to Milks, Liberty should continue to educate students on their civic responsibilities through the use of staff and resource materials that would enhance the registration initiative.

The City of Lynchburg receives citizen participation during the decision-making process for the City Council, according to the website.

“Because professional local government management offers government of the people, by the people and for the people, it sets the stage for citizen activism by en-

Hannah Lipscomb | Liberty Champion

POLICY — Warner noted current problems and shared some of his proposals for the future.

Russian energy sources,” Warner said.

Warner currently holds a 15-point lead over opposing Senate candidate and former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie in

couraging open communication between citizens and their government,” the website states.

Liberty student Nathan Munson said he has registered to vote in the past and believes it is important for other students to register as well, because they are citizens of Lynchburg.

“I think we do have a voice in this city itself, because we are a big part of Lynchburg, and we should be at the forefront and making decisions and trying to get the best people in office,” Munson said.

Lynchburg citizens vote for members of the City Council on even numbered years, according to The City of Lynchburg’s website. The Council has two regular

the Quinnipiac University poll, released March 24. He will defend his seat in the upcoming Nov. 4. election.

TAIT is the asst. news editor.

meetings each month, which are broadcast live on Lynchburg Government Channel LTV 15.

Virginia voter registration forms can be picked up at the Dean of Students Office in Green Hall 1830, DeMoss Hall near the Career Center, or online at sbe.virginia.gov/forms.html.

WEBSTER is a copy editor.

FYI The last day to register for the election is April 14.

SPORTS

APRIL 1 , 2014

Baseball

Liberty 8

Presby.

0

W. Tennis

Liberty 6

Presby.

1

M. Lacrosse

M. Tennis

UNC Ash. 5

B1

Liberty 2

Liberty 18

Auburn 4

Softball

Liberty Charl. So. 4 2

Titans seek to conquer

exit light, enter night

Liberty alumnus leads semi-pro team Nate Haywood nahaywood@liberty.edu

Leah Stauffer | Liberty Champion

UNDER THE LIGHTS — The Flames delivered a 9-7 victory against the North Carolina State Wolfpack Friday night.

Wolfpack chased down

Liberty defeated both N.C. State and Auburn this weekend to improve to 9-3 Derrick Battle dbattle2@liberty.edu

After losing their last two games by three points, the Liberty Flames (9-3, 2-0 SELC) collected two victories against the North Carolina State University Wolfpack (5-4, 2-1 SELC) and the Auburn University Tigers (011, 0-3 SELC) March 29-30.

Attacker Ryan Miller led the way for the Flames, scoring five goals in two games.

LU 9, N.C. State 7 Early in the fourth quarter with rain drenching the turf, midfielder Miguel Lozada picked up a ground ball

and charged the left side of the field. After maneuvering through the Wolfpack defense, he launched a shot into the back of the net, bringing 4,000 fans two their feet.

After the goal, Liberty’s defensive intensity increased, eliminating the Wolfpack’s momentum.

“I just wanted to step up,” Lozada said. “I’m one of the seniors on this team, and I wanted to rally the troops a bit.

My goal wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t receive the picks from Kurt (Tobias) and Ryan (Miller).”

In the first quarter, the Flames jumped out to an early 4-0 lead.

However, the Wolfpack stormed back and tied the game at four.

At halftime, the game remained tied, but N.C. State exited the first half on a wave of momentum.

“Once we got the lead, we got a little lax,” Lozada said. “We started to make mistakes and (N.C. State) started to capitalize on our mistakes.”

The steady rain did not help either, forcing the Flames to commit several unforced turnovers and placing the defense in bad situations.

“The weather did not help, especially when it

See CHASED, B3

Leah Stauffer | Liberty Champion

HUNGRY LIKE WOLVES — The Flames devoured the Wolfpack.

During one of his business classes as a Liberty University student, David Polley was asked to draw what he wanted his ideal job to look like.

He proceeded to draw a basketball arena with fans, a parking lot and a team. He knew what his dream was, and he did whatever he could to accomplish it.

In 2011, the Lynchburg Legends, an American Basketball Association (ABA) team played its first game.

Founder, CEO and Liberty graduate Polley watched as his dream of creating a semi-professional basketball team had finally come to fruition after two years of rigorous planning and preparation.

“I had to start it back in 2009,” Polley said. “That’s when I first started laying the groundwork for the Lynchburg Legends. I had to do a mini-feasibility study in the city of Lynchburg to make sure it could support a semi-professional basketball team, and that was just getting to know the demographics — picking a target audience, finding a venue, locating the sponsors … from 2009 to the fall 2011, which was all spent doing the groundwork for Legends.”

The Liberty alumnus said he had to “wear many hats” while creating his team. He did not have the money to hire a staff to aid in the project and had to do most of the heavy lifting himself, such as creating a website and marketing plans.

Funding soon came through sponsors and other companies willing to support Polley and his project, and 2011 became the inaugural season for the Legends.

See TITANS, B4

Flames claim three event victories Liberty’s track and field teams set two new program records and a conference record after competing in multiple meets Emily Brown erbrown@liberty.edu

Ruth Bibby| Liberty Champion

RECORD RUNS — Liberty broke school records in the 400-meter hurdles and the sprint medley relay.

WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME

Baseball vs. Duke April 1 @ 6 p.m.

After a busy weekend March 27-29 at three different meets, Liberty’s track and field teams returned home with three event titles and several program and conference records.

Despite slippery conditions on the track due to rain, redshirt junior Caleb Edmonds and senior Josh MacDonald finished in the top 15 of the men’s 5,000-meter race at the Raleigh Relays. Edmonds finished in 14:02.84 for 10th place, while Mac-

Softball (DH) vs. UNCG April 2 @ 2 & 4 p.m.

Donald crossed the finish line a few seconds later at 14:05.87 for the 13th spot.

Liberty also sent several athletes to compete in the 87th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, where four Lady Flames combined for two new program records and a Big South Conference record.

Redshirt sophomore Ansley Gebben broke the Liberty record she tied last year in the 400-meter hurdles. Gebben finished in 1:00.42 for 14th place out of 62 competitors.

Gebben captured another program record with the help of junior Abigail

M. Tennis vs. Radford.

April 4 @ 2:30 p.m.

Flower, freshman Oasis Hernandez and redshirt senior Meghan Burggraf in the sprint medley relay.

After two 200-meter legs, a 400-meter portion and an 800-meter anchor leg, the quartet came out with a time of 3:53.34. The team won their heat and finished seventh overall, breaking both the Liberty and conference records in the process.

The group bettered the previous program record, which was set in 2001, by more than four seconds and broke the Big South record, set in 2008, by more than three seconds.

Baseball vs. VMI April 5 @ 3:00 p.m.

In addition to their success on the track in Texas, the Lady Flames received a boost from junior Jennifer Nicholson in the field.

Nicholson threw the discus to a new personal best of 164-11 for second place in her section. The discus landed farther than all but six of her competitors in either section. Her throw currently sits atop the Big South season rankings by more than 30 feet “My performance this weekend was a great encourager, because even though I had a

See VICTORIES, B2

M. Lacrosse vs. G. Wash.

April 5 @ 3:00 p.m.

SPORTS

APRIL 1, 2014

Liberty Champion/B2

Editorial:

Kolter’s plea Northwestern University football team unionizes Derrick Battle dbattle2@liberty.edu

Leah Stauffer | Liberty Champion

GETTING STARTED — Liberty opened up spring practice March 19 in preparation for the season in August.

‘We talkin’ about practice’ The Flames have already begun their training for the upcoming season Alex Tichenor atichenor@liberty.edu

One week into spring at Liberty University, there has been a little bit of snow, rain, sunshine and, for the first time of 2014, a little bit of football. The Flames finally got out onto the Williams Stadium turf after months in the weight room when spring practice began March 19.

“It feels good to be back,” Flames running back Desmond Rice said. “We’ve been in the weight room the past two months, and we’ve been working hard down there, but it’s all about getting the pads on and getting to fly around to get ready for this upcoming season.”

The last time the team suited up was Nov. 23 for its final game of the regular season against Charleston Southern. After a fourmonth hiatus from football, everyone has had to brush off some dust.

“The first three practices, you could definitely tell we hadn’t been out here together,” quarterback Josh Woodrum said. “Everyone was kind of rusty. But (now), I think we’re clicking pretty well.”

However, with games not on the horizon until late August, practices do not have quite the same feel or strategy that a mid-October session would.

“We’re not scheming, we’re not game-planning

(during spring practices),” Flames Head Coach Turner Gill said. “This is more experimental and for looking at specific things that we might want to change from what we did last year.”

Also, not only does the routine differ from a regular-season practice, a familiar bookend to the week is also missing — game day.

The annual intrasquad spring game will take place April 12, but that still is not the same as a regular-season game in the minds of the players.

“Spring ball is a really tough scenario to be in, because you practice all week and you’re expecting to play the game at the end of the week, but we come out and

Leah Stauffer | Liberty Champion

SPRING BALL— Liberty football players stretch before practice.

VICTORIES continued from B1 personal-best throw, I still have some areas that I can still improve on,” Nicholson said. “My goal at the moment is to (throw more than two feet) further this season. … (I’m) really taking every practice as a growing time so that I am able to compete to my full potential.”

The Flames also excelled at the Winthrop Invitational. In the field, the Flames recorded top-three finishes in six different events despite rain, mud and waterlogged throwing circles.

Redshirt sophomore David Scouten won the hammer throw with his 179-6 heave. Scouten beat out 2012 and 2013

conference champions with his throw, which was also a new personal record by more than 16 feet.

Scouten also finished second, and first among college athletes, in the discus with his personal-best throw of 167-5. The mark currently ranks first on the Big South season rankings list by more than six feet.

“I am excited about the results in the hammer and disc considering the amount of rain and mud,” Scouten said. “Those conditions make throwing more difficult, so I am excited to see what I can do in more optimal conditions.”

Redshirt senior Jacob DeValve followed with first and second-place finishes in the javelin and shot put, respectively.

we just hit each other for a scrimmage,” Woodrum said. “You have to have a lot of internal motivation.”

Still, the team knows practice in March and April is all about preparing for a season-opening date with Football Bowl Subdivision opponent University of North Carolina (UNC). Flames defensive end Chima Uzowihe said he is already hearing the buzz around the team and around campus about the Aug. 30 matchup with the Tar Heels.

“Our focus is on UNC,” Uzowihe said. “The only way we’ll beat UNC is to get better every day, so every day I come out here (and say to myself) ‘UNC.’ Every day I visualize (playing UNC), and it pushes me to get through something I don’t want to do.”

Despite some of the difficulties of spring ball, Gill said he has been happy with the energy and focus of his players. The damp air was filled with encouraging football chatter mixed in with plenty of chest bumps and high fives during the Flames March 28 practice session.

“Everybody’s trying to get better, focusing on being a teammate, encouraging each other.” Gill said. “Guys are motivated, and we want to improve from last year.”

TICHENOR is a sports reporter.

College football players generate plenty of revenue for institutions across the United States.

And now, for at least one university, the student athletes are one step closer to getting a piece of the pie.

The National Labor Board in Chicago granted the Northwestern University football team permission to unionize March 26, saying scholarship athletes are employees at the school and Northwestern is their employer.

The decision came after a petition led by former Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Cain Kolter argued that football players at the school work 20-50 hours a week and generate millions of dollars for the university.

While Kolter may not be far off in his assertion, with college sports generating $16 billion annually according to bloomburg.com and Northwestern’s football team producing a large portion of the $235 million the school takes in from its athletic programs, the football players are definitely getting their share.

Northwestern’s 85 scholarship football players are each awarded $75,000 a year for playing, according to theblaze.com, which is more than enough to cover the average cost of attendance per year — $63,228.

When a reporter questioned the exorbitant scholarship amount, Kolter responded by saying the football players are given the money “to play football, to perform an athletic service.”

Kolter’s petition also contained the idea that Northwestern football players should be provided with better medical coverage, especially in light of a seeming influx of concussions and other serious injuries taking place in the sport.

Although Kolter has a legitimate reason for wanting the medical care, his idea that football players are performing an “athletic service” should not be reason enough to grant the opportunity for players to unionize.

The football players’ athletic ability will last for only a few years in time in the grand scheme of things. Academics is the area in which Northwestern excels, and getting a quality education should be the main objective for any student attending school, not getting money to play a sport.

Kolter has opened the door for other schools to form unions not only in the football realm but also in other college sports. Colleges are now feeling pressure and are bracing themselves for a ripple effect to occur, as other student athletes may soon follow Northwestern football players’ example.

Schools should not be considered the employers of student athletes. They provide a service by promoting athletes’ talents on a national scale.

Scholarship athletes receive more benefits than regular students, and athletes should be satisfied with what they have. Although giving more medical coverage to student athletes may be a good idea, allowing college athletes to unionize is a giant step in the wrong direction.

BATTLE is the sports editor.

DeValve’s first javelin throw soared to 182-7 and was the best throw of the day.

In the shot put, DeValve added a secondplace finish with his 52-10.25 throw. The throw was the farthest among all collegiate competitors in the event and is currently at the top of the Big South season standings.

Freshman Zach Davis also brought home an event title for the Flames with his personal-best 22-1.75 leap in the long jump. Davis also tied for third place in the high jump with his 6-8.75 jump. “(W)inning long jump was a huge blessing,” Davis said. “… I am working toward clearing seven feet in the high jump. … I plan to do everything within my capabilities to improve, and then let God do what

he does best.”

Liberty will again divide its teams for the next two meets. A few distance runners will race in the Stanford Invitational, while most of the athletes will compete in the first home meet of the outdoor season, the Liberty Collegiate Invitational, Friday and Saturday, April 4-5.

BROWN is a copy editor.

FYI

Jennifer Nicholson’s top discus throw currently ranks 31st among NCAA Division I athletes.

SPORTS

APRIL 1, 2014

Liberty Champion/B3

Dunk prank video goes viral

Students from dorm 7-2 dunked on random people and students across the campus of Liberty University Ryley Rush rarush@liberty.edu

Earlier this spring, a handful of guys from dorm 7-2 at Liberty University were dunking on a miniature basketball goal they had laying around their dorm when Cabot Phillips had an idea.

Inspired by the dunk pranks made popular on Vine — holding a goal over a blissfully unaware victim’s head and posterizing them, sneak-attack style — Cabot Phillips, his twin brother Hudson Phillips and friends Timmy Steffens, Christian Glackin and Jon Milograno decided to give the video a shot (no pun intended).

No stranger to viral videos — Cabot Phillips was also behind a clip of a friend catching a fish with his hair — the group put substantial thought into the project.

They gathered dunk ideas and spent one day gauging the reactions of their unsuspecting participants.

“We didn’t want to do it if it was going to make people upset,” Cabot Phillips said, “But everyone was really cool about it.”

Sufficient positive responses gathered, the guys decided to make a full video — one much longer than the six seconds of fame the prank usually garners — that involves several famous faces of Liberty.

They dunked on Flames football Head

CHASED continued from B1 came to picking up ground balls,” Lozada said. “The ball was slick, and it was also difficult to maneuver with our sticks.”

N.C. State continued to place pressure on the Flames but was unable to gain a lead.

Goalie Ethan Kamholtz had 11 saves, while Miller and Tobais scored two goals apiece.

LU 18, Auburn 4 Liberty extended Auburn’s losing streak to 11 games, defeating the Tigers 18-4 Sunday, March 30.

Courtney Russo | Liberty Champion

“WE OUTCHEA” — Nobody on campus was safe from being posterized.

Coach Turner Gill, courtesy of some assistance from his daughter, and Campus Band’s Justin Kintzel. The highlight of the video, though, was an appearance by Flames power forward Drew Smith, who has appeared in SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays twice.

“I didn’t know him, but I’ve been to

Yet again, the Flames got out to a quick start, scoring five consecutive goals in the first quarter.

By the end of the second quarter, Liberty added six more goals to go into halftime with an 11-1 lead.

In the first half, the Flames stayed aggressive and outshot the Tigers 26-11.

At the beginning of the third quarter, Liberty continued to add to their lead by taking advantage of the Tigers mistakes.

Although they were limited to only four shots on goal, the Flames converted on three of their opportunities.

Auburn was limited to 25

basketball games and knew if we were going to make the video, we had to have someone like Drew doing it,” Cabot Phillips said.

On a whim, he fired off a Facebook message to Smith. To his surprise, Smith not only responded the next morning but was excited about the idea.

“He gave us about 40 minutes of his time — really nice guy,” Cabot Phillips said. “We were all just, like, marveling at his ability to dunk on people, so it was pretty funny.”

Now, more than 23,000 YouTube and 300,000 MSN views later, all the work that went into the making of the video has more than paid off, according to Cabot Phillips. Not motivated by class credit or career goals, Cabot Phillips said he enjoys making videos, and the group plans on making more. Cabot Phillips explained that because he does not intend to pursue anything in the film or media realm professionally, the project was nothing more than good, clean fun. He said the video was, first and foremost, a sort of celebration for the dorm as a whole.

“This is the last year of dorm seven,” he said. “They’re tearing it down (for the new dorms), and we’re going to be splitting up, so we wanted one final hurrah for all the guys together.”

While the simple idea for that hurrah turned out to be a slamming success — literally, it is unlikely it will be as final as Cabot Phillips’ group previously thought.

Their growing fan base is clamoring for more videos, and the guys of 7-2 plan to deliver.

RUSH is a sports reporter.

shots on goal for the entire game. Kamholtz had 14 saves, and Miller and midfielder Chad Moore had three goals each. Tobias, attacker Stephen DiPaola and midfielder Derek Haywood had two goals each.

The Flames have not lost a home game since falling to the Richmond Spiders April 15, 2012.

Liberty will host George Washington University Saturday, April 5 at 3 p.m. at the Liberty Lacrosse Fields.

BATTLE is the sports editor.

Leah Stauffer | Liberty Champion

RAINING GOALS — Liberty scored a combined 27 goals in its two weekend victories over N.C. State and Auburn.

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SPORTS

Liberty Champion/B4

APRIL 1, 2014

Student plays key role in local martial arts

Brian Preiser was elected vice president of tournament operations in the Atlantic Collegiate Alliance of Taekwondo Elizabeth Brownd ebrownd@liberty.edu

Liberty taekwondo assistant coach and sophomore Brian Preiser has many accomplishments under his belt. Now, he can add one more to that list.

Preiser was recently elected vice president of tournament operations in the Atlantic Collegiate Alliance of Taekwondo (ACAT).

“With his new title ... Brian will work alongside students of other colleges in order to bring a level of competition to the southeast never before seen on the collegiate level,” Jesse Wilson, head coach of Liberty’s taekwondo team, said.

Wilson became the coach two years ago when Liberty first decided to add taekwondo as a club sport. At the time, there were no college taekwondo competitions in the southeastern United States.

“I started making phone calls, sending emails, looking through Facebook for any college that had a taekwondo team in the southeast,” Wilson said. “It turned out that all of the major colleges in the area had a team.”

Wilson met with the coaches from Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia, and together, they created the idea of the Virginia Collegiate Alliance of Taekwondo. By the end of the year, the name was changed to Atlantic Collegiate Alliance of Taekwondo due to the inter-

est of out-of-state schools such as Duke and the University of North Carolina. Wilson said that today, ACAT includes 11 official member schools.

ACAT is run primarily by students, and in January, it released the names of its official board of directors, which now includes Preiser.

“I was excited to begin a new chapter in my martial arts career,” Preiser said. “For many years, I was the competitor. ... It was good to be able to step to the other side of the table.”

Preiser began studying martial arts when he was 8 years old. He said his parents actually signed him up because his sister wanted lessons. Preiser was initially reluctant, but when his sister quit six month later, he chose to continue.

“Fourteen years later, and I still have never quit,” Presier said.

In 2013, Preiser received his third-degree black belt in United States Black Cat Kanpo, a fusion of taekwondo and a few other martial arts.

“I love the martial arts,” Presier said. “It is something that has drastically changed my life.”

In spite of Preiser’s strong competition background, Wilson decided he would make a better leader than competitor. He made Preiser the team captain first before promoting him to assistant coach.

“Brian immediately, unknowingly started to motivate the rest of the team,” Wilson said. “He

was very straightforward with everyone, but his demeanor was one in which he drew respect.”

Preiser said that he has learned a great deal about leadership while studying martial arts. He said his new position as tournament operator gives him the chance to utilize those skills. He is now responsible for organizing

and planning the competitions, which includes coordinating with everyone from referees to coaches to venues.

“From the registration to the game-day events, my hand is in each and every aspect of the tournament,” Preiser said.

According to Wilson, Preiser now has the ability and op-

portunity to take tournaments to another level with his new position.

“Brian is a natural leader and has the vision to see how (ACAT) has the potential to grow into something huge,” Wilson said.

BROWND is a feature reporter.

Lauren Adriance | Liberty Champion

KICKSTART — Brian Presier practices the art of taekwondo.

TITANS continued from said the league has athletes who have once played for NBA teams B1

Google Images

PLAY BALL — MLB Hall-of-Famer Ozzie Smith started a petition to make Opening Day a holiday.

Editorial:

Crossing the line

Should MLB Opening Day be recognized as a national holiday?

Dylan Friberg dwfriberg@liberty.edu

“MLB Opening Day is more than just the beginning of the season. It’s a symbol of rebirth.

The coming of spring. The return of America’s national pastime. It’s a state of mind where anything is possible.”

So reads part of the petition that was led by Budweiser and Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith and submitted to the Obama administration on the White House website. The petition to make MLB Opening Day a national holiday reached almost 103,000 signings March 26 — just over the threshold to require a response from the White House.

Seriously? A federal holiday for baseball? This is a whole new level of ridiculous. This idea belongs in an April Fools’ Day prank.

There is absolutely no solid reasoning to support the idea that MLB Opening Day should be a federal holiday. The proponents of this idea — which are a staggering minority of American sports fans — just want an excuse to skip work for their favorite source of entertainment.

MLB fans may have dubbed the sport “America’s pastime,” but it is far from being the most popular sport in America. The Harris Poll, which has been conducted by Harris Interactive

since 1985, clearly shows that the NFL is America’s chosen form of sports entertainment.

An overwhelming 35 percent of Americans say the NFL is their favorite sport. While only 14 percent of Americans claim it as their favorite — hardly a larger group than college football lovers at 11 percent.

According to Gallup polls, baseball has not been the most popular sport in America since professional football took over in 1972. Baseball viewership and ratings have steadily declined ever since.

Even more substantial than the opening day of baseball’s lack of popularity is how marginal its importance is to other significant days in the year that are not federal holidays.

Halloween is not a federal holiday. Neither is Father’s or Mother’s Day. Good Friday is not a federal holiday. Valentine’s Day is not a federal holiday. Even Election Day, which is arguably one of the most important days of election years, is not a holiday.

A minority of the American people think they should get a federal holiday to spend time watching their favorite sport, when the day that every American citizen gets to exercise his or her right to vote does not have that distinction?

That is insane.

Baseball fans need to realize

a simple thing: just because you want to go to a season-opening baseball game instead of going to work does not mean that your behavior should be validated or encouraged.

When Halo 4 came out in 2012, I skipped classes and took off work the next day so that I could stay up all night playing.

I did it because it was a hobby that I enjoyed with friends and millions of players online.

That might sound like a stupid use of time to a lot of people, but it is uncomfortably similar to playing hooky from work to go to an MLB game.

I never had the audacity to claim that my hobby should warrant a day off, even though millions of Americans shared my particular interest. I chose to sacrifice going to class and work to instead be a part of something that I considered special.

It is the same thing that more than one million baseball fans do every year on opening day.

No sport is worthy of a national holiday, especially not baseball. Recognize hobbies for what they are: a pleasurable way to pass time. Federal holidays should signify more than just people’s pastimes.

Please, fight and petition for something worthwhile instead of this nonsense.

FRIBERG is an opinion writer.

During the Legends three-year tenure in the ABA, Polley’s team has produced six players that have received contracts from professional teams in different countries. Legends games were also broadcasted live on the radio and television through local Comcast providers. Polley had created something that was functioning, and it caught the attention of Tom McGinn, commissioner of the Premier Basketball League (PBL).

“I was originally contacted by the commissioner of the PBL in the earlier part of 2013 while I was still in my ABA season,” Polley said. “They just reached out to me and said they liked what was going on with the organization, particularly my game-day operations, (because) we had live broadcast of radio, and we had the TV broadcast. … We had the commentators. We had live entertainment. So they liked the way we carried ourselves as an organization, and that on the court, we were competitive. … We had structure.”

The PBL has existed for around six years as the secondhighest semi-professional basketball minor league in the United States. According to Polley, the PBL originated in the Midwest, which is where the majority of the teams were once located. This made him initially reluctant to join the league, as traveling would be very difficult to fund.

However, the PBL expanded and added an eastern division, which allowed the Legends to join without sustaining a major financial setback. But joining came with one minor condition. Polley would have to change the name of the team.

“When we switched leagues, there was already a team out of Lafayette,” Polley said. “They were the Lafayette Legends. I really wanted to keep the name.

You know, I already grew attached to it, but the team in Lafayette already had the name, and so it came with the territory.”

In December 2013, the Lynchburg Legends left the ABA and became the Lynchburg Titans.

According to Polley, going to the PBL allows his team to play in better venues, provides the team with better publicity and gives his team better competition. According to Polley, the league has plenty of recognition around the world for the talent it produces. He also

such as the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Starting back in 2011, you could see a level of commitment that the guys had to the game,” Polley said. “Forty-eight minutes in a professional basketball game is a long time, and to be able to play at a high level for that long, you have to train harder. You have to be a lot more dedicated.

You have to be able to train your body physically. So the guys knew after our first game that, ‘Hey this is something I’m going to have to take seriously.’ So I can see the commitment level.”

The Titans first game as a PBL team was a 35-point loss to the Pee Dee Vipers from South Carolina. The Titans currently have a 1-10 record in their inaugural season, but neither Polley nor his team are discouraged.

Following the Titans two remaining games of the season, they will begin preparations for their second season. They will adjourn with the current leagueleading scorer, Jamal Francis, and an owner who has a love for basketball and his team. Polley said that after his first season, he is much more prepared and ready to go into the offseason and do all that is necessary to bring success to his team.

“Every day that I wake up, every game that we have, every time I talk to a player, or when I’m recruiting, or when I’m here doing an interview, it’s kind of surreal,” Polley said.

HAYWOOD is a sports reporter.

Google Images

TITANIC— The Lynchburg Titans hope to continue their growth in the PBA.

FEATURE

APRIL 1, 2014

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Liberty Champion/B6 ART continued from B8 for underclassmen who have won ADDY awards.

One such exception is junior Cassie Foster’s work. Foster garnered three ADDYs for her photographs in both the color and black and white categories.

Foster is a graphic design major with a minor in both advertisingpublic relations and studio art. She expressed her excitement at being a winner of multiple ADDYs and having her work displayed as a part of the Senior Graphic Design Exhibit.

“Winning three ADDYs in one year is amazing,” Foster said. “Having my work displayed as a junior was an incredibly awestruck moment for me. The fact that the ADDYs ranked me with the seniors was a sweet and rewarding moment.”

Having work displayed in the exhibit allows family and friends from outside Liberty to see the work.

“On opening night of the exhibit, the line was wrapped all the way from the art gallery to the elevators,” O’Neal said. “It was so cool to see all these people had come out just for our work. … My family got to come and actually see my work off a computer screen, framed and hanging on the wall. … It was great.”

Foster also commented on how great it was being able to share her vision behind her work and see the reactions from loved ones. “(T)he best part had been being able to share my stories behind the photos,” Foster said. “Two of the three were taken while doing missions work in Guatemala, so I am able to tell them about my passion of using photographs to show the need of clean water wells in rural countries.”

The exhibit is located on the fourth floor of DeMoss Hall in the art gallery and will be on display through April 13. The display is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

For further information on the Senior Graphic Design Exhibit or the SADA Department, email Todd Smith, the department chair, at tasmith2@liberty.edu.

JORDAN is a feature reporter.

FEATURE

APRIL 1, 2014

Gourmet business grows Alumna Juli Peak’s business comes from a childhood nickname, Snookie Snookerwitz Olivia Brown obrown5@liberty.edu

Liberty University alumna Juli Peak made the leap from teaching in Amarillo, Texas, to creating her own business of gourmet foods when she discovered her talent for mixing hot cocoa flavors and developing unique recipes of cider, tea, cocoa, coffee and popcorn.

She called the business Snookie Snookerwitz after a nickname her father gave her.

The shop is currently located at the Lynchburg Development Center near Graves Mill Road.

“We started with cocoa, coffee and cider,” Juli Peak said.

“We added on the chai later.”

Snookie Snookerwitz sells a variety of types of cocoa, including frozen chocolate cocoa, cinnamon cocoa and original chocolate cocoa. In addition to cocoa, the shop also sells coffee flavors such as hazelnut mocha, peppermint mocha, vanilla mocha and vanilla caramel latte.

Snookie Snookerwitz’s selection of teas includes chocolate chai, spiced cider, spiced chai and vanilla chai. All drinks come with directions on the bottles for preparation as hot or cold beverages.

Along with specialty drinks, Snookie Snookerwitz also offers an assortment of popcorn flavors, including chili-pepper popcorn, cinnamon-toast popcorn, classic kettle corn, jalapeno-cheddar popcorn and salted buttercrunch popcorn.

While the original idea was hers, Juli Peak is not alone on her adventure with the business.

She and her husband, Kevin Peak, became a team soon after they met in 2006 while studying at Asbury seminary in Wilmore, Ky. “As our relationship grew in those early years, we realized that

we complemented one another as a hope-giving team to those who were hurt, stuck and broken,” Kevin Peak wrote on the Snookie Snookerwitz website.

“I always wanted to start a business,” Kevin Peak said.

“But, I didn’t have the same kind of personality (Juli) has to help it take off. She is very organized, and she makes a strategy.”

According to Juli Peak, what makes her business so unique is that all of her products are tailor-made.

“Everything we make is totally from scratch,” Juli Peak said.

“We get all of the raw ingredients, then we blend all of them, put them in the bottles, and we label them. We do everything, (from) start to finish.”

The Peaks believe that their beverages and popcorn snacks can be very beneficial for students, especially since all of their products can be ordered online and delivered by mail.

“I think there (are) a lot of opportunities for students to buy and enjoy the products, because if you don’t want (to go out to buy) coffee and cocoa, you don’t have to go off campus,” Kevin Peak said. “You can have a bottle in your room or a bag in your room … and you just make it with hot water.”

While Kevin Peak notices the practicality of the products, Juli Peak keeps the fun of their unique items in mind. “(Our products are) also kind of a cute, little, cheap gift, like for your friend’s birthday,” Juli Peak said. “And the shelf life is long. It is about a year. So, people can get, like, six bottles and just give them whenever their friends’ birthdays are, and that’s kinda fun.”

Juli Peak first developed the business’s basic products in Texas before moving to Kentucky. In 2007, the couple then

Abby Kourkounakis | Liberty Champion

SWEETS — The gourmet shop offers a variety of uniquely created food and drinks. moved to Virginia, bringing an end. So, that is really what the business with them, and in the business is to us, and maybe 2009, Juli Peak began working we fall in line with what Liberty on a master’s degree in counsel- is trying to do.”

Snookie Snookerwitz will ing at Liberty. She graduated in September 2012 and is now have work positions opening in a counselor who is working on the summer and welcome any her licensure in addition to run- Liberty students who would like to apply. All of Snookie ning her business.

Though the business is begin- Snookerwitz’s products can be ning to take off, the Peaks view purchased individually or as it as a way to connect with peo- gift baskets at snookerwitz.com. ple rather than a way to make More information on the business and ways to contact Kevin a profit.

“We’re not in (the business) and Juli Peak can also be found just to make money,” Kevin on the website.

Peak said. “In our business, we look at it as a means to do min- BROWN is a feature istry. This is, kind of, a means to reporter.

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Liberty Champion/B7

ALD recognizes senior members Jeremy Beale jbeale3@liberty.edu

James Ebrahim| Liberty Champion

CARE — Fundraisers help support the shelter’s mission to become a no-kill facility.

A slobbering success Event raises money in support of Lynchburg Humane Society James Ebrahim jebrahim2@liberty.edu

On the rainy Saturday afternoon of March 29, more than 60 dog owners attended Lynchburg Humane Society’s Slobberfest at Boonsboro Ruritan Club in order to help raise money for the organization.

Dogs of many shapes, sizes and breeds, from Mastiffs to Chihuahuas, competed in games like Snoopy Says (a canine version of Simon Says), Musical Chairs (with hoops), Tennis Ball and Frisbee Toss and an Agility Course, among other events.

This is the second year that the Lynchburg Humane Society has held the event, according to Kim Haywood, development and outreach manager for the Humane Society.

“Attendance has doubled since last year,” Haywood said. “We definitely plan on doing it again.”

According to the Lynchburg Humane Society website, the Petco Foundation was the title sponsor of the event, but many other organizations sponsored

Slobberfest as well.

“I thought the event was extraordinarily successful,” Makena Yarbrough, executive director of the Lynchburg Humane Society, said. “With the weather being what it was, we were a little nervous, but I was pleased to see this many people coming out.”

The Boonsboro Ruritan Club allowed for most of the events to occur indoors, an option that was not available at last year’s Slobberfest, which was held at Peaks View Park.

The Lynchburg Humane Society is striving to become a no-kill organization, according to Yarbrough. The save rate for Lynchburg Humane Society last year was 92 percent, which is up from 73 percent in 2009, according to the organization’s website.

“Events like this help us support our no-kill mission,” Yarbrough said. “It helps support the programs and enables us to save the animals that we help and we care for. We are at about (a) 92 percent (save rate) right now.”

Though the total amount of money raised has yet to be tal-

lied, the Humane Society had raised more money going into the event than the total amount raised at last year’s Slobberfest, according to Yarbrough.

The Lynchburg Humane Society has many opportunities for volunteer services, and approximately 45 percent of the volunteering at the Humane Society is done by Liberty University students, who can receive Christian/Community Service credit, according to Haywood.

“We love having the Liberty students coming in and volunteering,” Yarbrough said. “There is a real surge when they are in town to come and help us in these events, to help walk dogs, to help socialize cats, to help clean.

I mean, they do everything in our shelter.”

For more information on the Lynchburg Humane Society’s future events or how to become a volunteer, visit lynchburghumanesociety.org.

EBRAHIM is a news reporter.

Members of the Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) Honor Society, which are Liberty University honors program students, gathered in the DeMoss Hall Grand Lobby Wednesday, March 26 for an evening of whimsical music, fine dining and celebration of academic accomplishments.

In anticipation of Commencement in May, ALD recognized more than 150 students for their academic achievement and generosity to their community.

“Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society was founded in the spring of 1934 at the University of Illinois,” the ALD website says. “It was established to encourage superior academic achievement among students in their first year in institutions of higher education while promoting intelligent living, a continued high standard of learning and assistance to men and women in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society.”

As the evening progressed, members of the Liberty University ALD Honor Society and keynote speaker Barbara Sherman, director and associate professor of individualized programs of study at Liberty, offered congratulations and words of wisdom to the seniors.

“All work is worship – a gift to the Lord,” Sherman said.

“What a person carries out into the world is emblematic of all that they have learned in life.”

According to Sherman, it is what these seniors remind themselves of in scripture and prayer each day that will ensure their success, as well as the fulfillment of the late Dr. Jerry

Falwell, Sr.’s vision.

As the attendees sat attentive to Sherman’s message, students, their families and Liberty faculty absorbed all she said with silence, laughter and applause.

“Professor Sherman spoke extreme wisdom into the students,” sophomore and ALD Historian Lauren Creekmore said. “Her words were unforgettable and definitely something that the seniors could carry out into the world for the rest of their lives.”

After Sherman’s address, Dr. Marilyn Gadomski, faculty advisor to the Liberty chapter, and the ALD officers presented students with honors cords, senior certificates and other academic awards.

“These cords are a symbol of all the hard work that these students accomplished in their first few years at Liberty University,” Gadomski said.

One of the students to receive the awards was Maria Vitullo, a graduating senior in the nursing program.

“The event was a beautiful reflection of all that we have accomplished over the last four years,” Vitullo said. “Receiving my cord was very humbling and just a great representation of all my hard work.”

However, the cords were not the only awards presented, as former ALD President Brian Mauldin received the Maria Leonard Senior Book Award, an award presented to the student with the highest GPA. After receiving their awards, seniors in the honors program now only have to wait until May 10 to accomplish the final step of their undergraduate careers.

BEALE is a news reporter.

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APRIL 1, 2014

Courtney Russo| Liberty Champion

‘Come Together’ at Coffeehouse PERFORMANCE — James Bond, Queen, Adele and other parts of British pop-culture made appearances in Saturday night’s show.

From The Beatles to One Direction, Liberty let the British invade the Vines Center Saturday, March 29

Olivia Brown obrown5@liberty.edu

When the doors of the Vines Center opened an hour before showtime Saturday, March 29, students eagerly pushed their way to the front of the line and quickly filled the stadium to enjoy Student Activities’ (SA) British Invasion Coffeehouse.

As they waited in anticipation of the acts to come, students answered British trivia questions and relished the chance to be seen on the jumbotron, posing for the video cameras and entertaining their classmates.

At precisely 11:30 p.m., a video portraying how the British have invaded America through television and music set the stage for the upcoming acts. Then, the students cheered as David and the Dukes opened by playing the Beatles’ hit song, “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

Returning Coffeehouse host Dylan Stine came on stage after the first performance of the night to give his opening speech for the event. Stine explained that

SA chose to go with the British Invasion theme to commemorate The Beatles’ first performance in America on the Ed Sullivan Show 50 years ago. “(The Beatles’ performance started) what is commonly and peacefully known as the British Invasion led by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, and The Kinks,” Stine said. “The British Invasion was the start of, basically, America’s obsession with everything in British culture, including bands that start with the word ‘the.’”

For the next hour and a half, spectators watched performances by the Last Minute Lads, Tea in the Harbor, Melodies from Heaven, London, Argyle Architects, The Dundys and Juan Direction, among others.

The bands performed mash-ups of popular songs by British artists, including Coldplay, Adele, The Who, The Beatles, Ellie Goulding and One Direction.

Haley Greene, a sophomore at Liberty and founder of the Faces at Liberty Facebook page, said that this Coffeehouse was one of the best she has seen at Liberty so

far. She has been to four Coffeehouse events since becoming a student.

Between on-stage performances, students in attendance saw videos that depicted anything British, and Stine also found people in the audience to play games like British Trivia or read notecards in British accents.

Greene said her favorite video involved a male student walking around campus grabbing strangers’ hands, titled “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” Mark Jones, a senior at Liberty, said he enjoyed the “Doctor Who” enactment video, which featured Johnnie Moore as the Doctor.

“For the people that were Doctor Who fans, it captured the goofiness of the show with references to pretty much everything, combined with a unique Liberty twist, which made it really funny,” Jones said.

Jones said this was the first spring Coffeehouse he attended at Liberty, although he has been to two Christmas Coffeehouses in the past.

“I thought that this Coffeehouse was

better than the other Coffeehouses that I’ve been to,” Jones said. “It was more entertaining. It was a little bit longer, (and) I thought the talent was better.”

Toward the end of the night, Stine returned to the stage and thanked everyone who was involved with Coffeehouse for their hard work before introducing the last performance of the night.

“It has been an honor to be here tonight,” Stine said. “Now, we just saw a Beatles song, we started the British Invasion with a Beatles song, so what better way to close out the show (than) with something that is continuing the British Invasion. So, please, welcome to the stage Juan Direction. Pip pip, cheerio and goodnight.”

Juan Direction closed the night with a mash-up of One Direction songs such as “The Story of My Life” and “Midnight Memories.”

For more information on SA events throughout the semester, visit liberty.edu/sa BROWN is a feature reporter

Seniors display years of hard work Students show off their artwork through an annual graphic design exhibit put on by the Studio and Digital Arts Department Jessica Jordan jmjordan3@liberty.edu

Seniors from the Studio and Digital Arts Department (SADA) were given the opportunity to showcase their best work from their college career in the Senior Graphic Design Exhibit that began Thursday, March 20.

Students submitted various types of work, from photographs to digital paintings. Stacy Cannon, a SADA professor, said the exhibit only happens once a year and is required for all seniors graduating in May. “All seniors have to take a portfolio class, which requires them to submit a piece for the exhibit, but they ultimately get to

pick their favorite piece overall,” Cannon said.

According to Brianna O’Neal, a senior SADA student, the Senior Graphic Design Exhibit is an excellent opportunity for students to show off their work to not only their professors but also to their families.

“I think it is a good experience for the students, because at this point, we haven’t really had to professionally show our work,” O’Neal said. “It is so cool to show off your work to your family, friends and the whole university.”

O’Neal has a few pieces displayed on the ADDY wall of the exhibit, a wall that showcases the work from American Advertising Awards winners. O’Neal won

five gold ADDYs, and one of her pieces went on to win silver at the district-level competition. All of her winning pieces are in the ADDY portion of the exhibit, along with the piece she chose to showcase from her portfolio.

“I love seeing my former students’ work in the exhibit, I just get really proud,” SADA professor Monique Maloney said.

“I really only teach them in the foundational classes, so to see them advance and win awards is so exciting. … I get to see all their hard work pay off and say, ‘I told you you could do it.’”

While the exhibit is exclusive to seniors, there are exceptions

See ART, B6

Christieanna Apon | Liberty Champion

DIGITAL — Students had the option to submit photographs or other digital work.