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Volume 33 | Issue 8 Tuesday, April 12, 2016
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Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion
TRAPPED — Business owners and Liberty alumni Ryan Culkin, Mike Morrison and Dusty Miller prepare to open Locked Up Lynchburg. See A3 for the full story.
Airshow soars Blue Angels, aerial performers to headline Jordan Jarrett jjarrett4@liberty.edu
After a five-year hiatus, the Lynchburg Regional Airshow is finally returning May 21-22, promising to be one of the biggest air shows in the country this year. The show will feature a lineup of aerial performers and historical and interactive displays. The show will honor military and service personnel through its theme, “a salute to service.” A portion of proceeds from the show will be donated to support these individuals, and on Sunday, individuals with military or service credentials will be granted complimentary entrance to the show. Gen. David Young, co-founder of the Liberty School of Aeronautics and president of Freedom Aviation, guarantees that there will be something for everyone, both young and old. “It’s a clean, fun-filled family event,” Young said. “There’s something for everybody, from the noise and excitement of the Blue Angels, to the gracefulness of Julie Clark’s flying. All of our performers are locked in and will be released over the next few weeks to build up excitement about the show.” Along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and aerobatic pilot Clark, the show’s in-air line-up includes Warbirds, several types of military aircraft, and the Navy SEALS jump team, the Navy Leapfrogs. Of particular interest to the Liberty University community will be a “missing man” formation performed in honor of Tom Coble. Coble was a Liberty graduate who served as Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr.’s personal pilot. Coble was also instrumental in both
supporting the foundation of the school of aeronautics and enabling the 2011 airshow. Coble was killed in his personal L-39 plane when it crashed in 2012. His grandson, current Liberty student Ryan Coble, will be riding in an L-39 among the formation of Warbirds in his grandfather’s honor during the upcoming show. There will also be ground events at the airshow, which will appeal to younger audiences. Young and Ernie Rogers, co-founder of the school of aeronautics and current director of the airshow, hold the educational initiative of the event in high regard. “Involving the school kids was my personal quest — expose kids to opportunities in aviation and its history,” Young said. One attraction especially promises to enthrall children: the Candy Bomber, a large C-54 transport whose name derived from its role in the Berlin Airlift following WWII. During the airlift, Army Air Corps pilot Gail Halvorsen and his crew came up with the idea when they saw kids lining the fence at a Berlin airbase to watch the planes. “The crew started dropping them candy,” Young said. “They would take handkerchiefs, tie a candy bar to it, and drop it as they were coming in to land. They became known as the Candy Bomber.” This caught on with other aircrews, who soon began duplicating Halvorsen’s initiative.
See AVIATION, A2
Q E P We e k
Illuminate
Research initiative proves to be a success Kirkland Gee kgee10@liberty.edu
Liberty University showcased its plans for student learning improvement by launching its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) with QEP Week March 21-25 and Research Week March 29-April 2. Elisa Rollins, director of the QEP and the Center for Applied Research and Scholarship (CARS), said the QEP is a five-year plan to improve a specific area of student learning. “The Quality Enhancement Plan is a requirement designated by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) of reaffirmation for accreditation,” Rollins said. “Our QEP focuses on enhancing student learning in the area of research and scholarship.” Rollins said the program, titled “Illuminate: Cultivating a Community of Research,” has been in development since the fall of 2013, and she started with gathering ideas and information from faculty, staff and students.
Johnathan Husker| Liberty Champion
EXPLORE — The Jerry Falwell Library hosted events. “It’s a plan that we began working on two-and-a-half years ago with a call for topic submissions from our faculty, staff and students,” Rollins said. “It was really a grassroots campaign to try and find ... areas that our students, faculty and staff (want to expand).” Rollins said they received around 130 topic proposals in total. Through a content analysis of those topics, they found that “research and scholarship” and “faith integration” were the two most requested topics. In order to present this program to the students, CARS hosted two weeks’ worth of events — QEP-
INSIDE THE CHAMPION
News
Two Lynchburg locals are running for the vacant Ward I seat on City A6 Council.
Opinion
Should families of candidates be off limits to criticism? A4
Sports A closer look at one of the Flames’ starting pitchers, Victor Cole.
Feature B2
A look behind the scenes at the work involved for Coffeehouse: B5 The Legends.
Week and Research Week. Rollins said QEP Week was a tremendous success and was hosted as a marketing campaign to provide awareness of the plan to faculty, staff and students. “(QEP week was held) so that they would understand what the QEP was, why it was important, what Liberty’s focus was, how it would benefit them, and what opportunities would be available,” Rollins said. Rollins said they held a Q&A tent outside of the Jerry Falwell Library Monday, March 25. Current
See QEP, A2
News Opinion Sports Feature
A1 A4 B1 B5
news
A2 | April 12, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Getting in spiritual SHAPE Pastor David Stone spoke to students in Convocation about living for God’s glory Samuel McQuage smcquage1@liberty.edu
Liberty University welcomed David Stone to Convocation Friday, April 8. David Stone is the senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church, a multisite church with locations in Kentucky and Indiana. Before Stone addressed the students, a video was shown in memory of Liberty student Dylan Engel. The video used the slogan “Make everybody feel like a somebody” and encouraged students to support fundraising activities for Engel’s family. Following the video, Sam Stone, junior class president and son of David Stone, introduced his father to the students. “One thing I can say is I have never heard a sermon or a line of a sermon where I could say, ‘That’s not how he lives at home’ or, ‘That’s not how he acts when he’s around me,’” Sam Stone said. “Whatever you hear today — I don’t know every word he’s going to say — but I can promise you this: That’s the man that he is when he’s off the stage.” After the introduction, David Stone took the stage and reminded students that they are blessed to attend Liberty and to not take it for granted. He started his lesson by reminding students that living a Christian life does not mean you should live a boring life. “Christians should have more fun than anybody else in the entire world because your past has been forgiven, your future has been settled, and you can live in the present and enjoy it,” David Stone said. He then told students they were made for a unique purpose, and God has a way to use each and every person he created. “You have to rely on his power rather than your own ability,” David Stone said. “It starts right now. It is not when I am older, when I get married, or after I graduate. It starts now, right where you are.” David Stone outlined five points for
RJ Goodwin| Liberty Champion
AUTHENTIC — David Stone encouraged students to live a life where they take advantage of the passion God has given to them. the lesson with an acrostic form of the word SHAPE. These five letters represent spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality and experiences. He said students must do what they are passionate about if they are to take full advantage of what God has given them. “A career is what you are paid for, but a calling is what you were made for,” David Stone said. He went on to tell how each and
every person is going to have a unique version of SHAPE. “We spend most of our lives trying to be copies, and we forget that God made each one of us an original,” David Stone said. “He made us just the way he did for a purpose. If you want to be a copy, copy Jesus Christ.” David Stone ended with describing the last letter of the acrostic: experiences. He told the audience that sometimes they have
AVIATION continued from A1 Halvorsen will be at the airshow in May. The interior of the Candy Bomber has been converted into a museum, commemorating the Berlin Airlift. Not only will the aircraft be on display, but it will also fly and drop candy for local schoolchildren on days prior to the airshow, replicating the famous candy drop from more than 70 years ago. The show will be hosted at the Lynchburg Regional Airport. The event will be a different experience from the show that was held in 2011. The changes include a new location at the airport with improved views of the show center, 3,000 on-site parking spots, additional entry and exit gates, designated entrances, and a greater safety and law enforcement presence. The majority of the airshow acts will be visible only
Les Schofer | Liberty University News Service
SPECTACLE — The 2011 airshow brought thousands of attendees. within the airport gates. “I want people to appreciate and experience it,” Young said. He said the move will help prevent the previous show’s parking issue from happening again and makes the show in fuller compli-
ance with the Blue Angels’ and FAA’s standards. “The challenge we had the first day of the 2011 show of transporting attendees to and from the airport will not exist this year,” Young said.
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to go through the rough to get to the good. “God never wastes a hurt,” David Stone said. He ended with a question for the audience that alluded back to the acrostic of SHAPE. “How has God shaped you, and how can he use your shape for his glory?” David Stone asked. MCQUAGE is a news reporter.
There were more than 32,000 attendees for the last show, and Young purports that there could be closer to 40,000 this time around. Liberty is the title sponsor of the airshow, making it an “LU Presents…” event. The university will provide support in the way of parking, transportation, personnel and even IMAG screens, which will show air events up close to audiences on the ground. “This show would not be possible without the support of numerous sponsors, including AREVA, Harris, BWXT, Centra Health and many others who have contributed enormously in the way of financial and technical resources,” Young said. Not only do sponsors play an integral role in making the show happen, but the volunteers for setup do too. Setting up begins a week prior to the event. It typically takes about 700 volunteers a day during the event
to maintain and to support any needs of the audience, and it is a great way to see the show. Groups from Liberty are welcome to volunteer and should contact Barry Moore, the director of volunteers, at bnmoore@liberty.edu. “We would love to have volunteers,” Young said. “We generally do it by groups, because if you have 700 individuals volunteer, it’s very difficult to manage.” If a club, school group or church group wants to volunteer collectively, it can. Depending on what the group does to serve, there could be a financial benefit for them. Visit lynchburgairshow.com to get more information or to order tickets before prices increase May 1. JARRETT is a news reporter.
QEP continued from A1 student researchers from the school of heath sciences were there to answer students’ questions about what it is like to do research on campus, and QEP office staff were in attendance to answer any questions regarding specifics of the QEP. Rollins said Research Week was a success, with more than 350 students involved in the week’s events, through participation as a presenter or by volunteering at the event. She said Research Week is actually an initiative that came out of the QEP proposal. It is a combination of undergraduate and graduate research symposia from years past and has been expanded to include additional exposure to what research can do around the world. “This year we added a keynote speaker, Dr. Raymond Damadian, the inventor of the MRI,” Rollins said. “He came on Tuesday evening and spoke about the process that he went through to discover and develop the MRI method.” Rollins said this was an ex-
ample of what can happen when research is taken from the classroom and applied to a real-world environment. She said that while research is the main focus of the QEP, faith integration is equally as important. “Participating in a culture of inquiry and participating in opportunities of discovery allows (students) to know God in a deeper way,” Rollins said. “The more we study creation and the world around us, the more we begin to understand him.” Research Week was the last big event for the QEP for this semester, but Rollins said students should keep an eye out for more opportunities coming up in the fall. Rollins said if students are interested in doing research, they should talk to current student researchers and faculty to become more aware of research that is happening within their programs. More information about the QEP can be found online at www.liberty.edu/QEP.
GEE is a news reporter.
news
Liberty Champion | April 12, 2016 | A3
Unlock an hour of fun New challenge activity Locked Up Lynchburg coming to Wyndhurst this month
William Rice wsrice@liberty.edu
After spending countless hours studying each semester, Liberty University students can finally test their intellect in the ultimate exam: Locked Up Escape Rooms. Locked Up Lynchburg is the newest entertainment activity in Lynchburg, centered on combining human intellect, team building, fun and competition while giving students and locals a unique experience. Located in Wyndhurst, Locked Up Lynchburg hosts a new escape game offering three themed rooms — the Dream, the Agent, and the Professor’s Study — where groups are given one hour to escape their room by finding clues, deciphering codes and solving real-world puzzles. Co-owners Ryan Culkin, Dusty Miller and Mike Morrison give a few tips for escaping before the clock runs out. “There’s something for everybody,” Morrison said. “The smartest people are not always the best at this because they can sometimes overanalyze or overthink. It’s best to have a room full of different people.” Although customers can try and figure their way out of a room alone, Culkin, Miller and Morrison advise people to come in groups, with a maximum of 10 people to a room, for diversification in thinking methods. As Liberty alumni, the owners wanted to give both students and the Lynchburg community something entertaining to do. However, they have been surprised at the various uses for this game, one of which is that businesses have been utilizing the rooms for team building purposes. Escape rooms can be found in Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, New York City, Miami, Charlotte, and other large cities. “It’s great because you can see what kind of people you have,” Culkin said. “(Business owners) will sit back and watch the clips to see how their employees are doing. You can see who the natural leaders are, who the work horses are, who’s going to overanalyze things, and who gets frustrated under pressure.” Along with business applications, Locked
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
CHALLENGE — Locked Up Lynchburg will provide entertainment to students, businesses and Lynchburg locals. Up Lynchburg has shown potential with sports teams, as some Liberty coaches are planning to take their new recruits to these rooms for team building purposes as well. As all three owners are active and competitive, they encourage competition in their escape rooms and are reaching out to campus Resident Assistants (RAs) to set up brother/sister dorm battles. “I know of a Bible study that’s coming,” Morrison said. “They’re breaking up the group — the men in one room and the women in the other — and then they’re switching (when they are done) to see which group can do it the fastest. (It’s) kind of a battle of the sexes.” The Locked Up Lynchburg lobby holds a board listing the groups with the fastest times, with a cash prize to be awarded to the overall fastest group. Prices at other Escape Room loca-
tions can exceed $30 a person, while Locked Up Lynchburg charges only $18, with a 15 percent discount for Liberty students during the first month of operations. Despite how real the game may seem, the doors are never locked, to cater to the frightened and claustrophobic. “You can open the door and ask us questions if you get really stuck,” Morrison said. As the owners are currently in the process of approving Flames Cash as a method of payment, the rooms will open to the public April 15, focused on challenging Liberty and the Lynchburg community in a fun and unique way.
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
RICE is a feature reporter.
TEST — Locked Up Lynchburg will feature three different themed rooms.
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OPINION
A4
April 12, 2016
Are families off limits?
Trump’s attack of Cruz’s wife raises questions of whether relatives are fair game Samantha Rozenblum serozenblum@liberty.edu
In the presidential campaign thus far, voters have seen it all. Candidates ranged from billionaires and neurosurgeons to a former first lady and a self-proclaimed socialist. One thing voters have not seen a lot of, however, is decency. Recently, Donald Trump threatened to “spill the beans” on Ted Cruz’s wife, Heidi, in retaliation to the meme that showed a nude Melania Trump, apparently targeted to Mormons and evangelicals. “Meet Melania Trump, your next First Lady,” the ad read, with an image certainly worthy of a conservative cringe. “Or, you could support Ted Cruz on Tuesday.” The ad was produced by an antiTrump super PAC, Make America Awesome, which has no known connection to the Cruz campaign. Though the ad was not produced directly by Ted Cruz, Donald Trump still took it upon himself to settle the offense via Twitter. “Lyin' Ted Cruz just used a picture of Melania from a G.Q. shoot in his ad. Be careful, Lyin’ Ted, or I will spill the beans on your wife!,” Donald Trump tweeted just minutes before polls closed in Arizona. Donald Trump later retweeted a paparazzi shot of Heidi Cruz alongside a glamorous photo of Melania Trump with a caption reading: “no need to ‘spill the beans;’ the images are worth a thousand words.” Ted Cruz responded by retweeting Donald Trump and writing, “Donald, real men don’t attack women. Your wife is lovely,
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FAMILY — Businessman Donald Trump attacked Sen. Ted Cruz’s wife, Heidi. and Heidi is the love of my life.” Since the dispute, both wives have taken a more forward and noble stance in campaigning with their husbands. An ever-ridiculous campaign conversation again turned away from the important issues (national security, immigration, the economy, and health care, to name a few) and instead prompted hours of media focus on the ads, the wives and the candidates’ responses. The drama. It is unfortunate but true that American presidential campaigns have a rich history of low blows. Just because can-
didates’ families should be off limits in political campaigns, does not mean that they are ever actually left alone. In fact there is a long history of political attacks against candidates’ family members. From negative campaigning against Andrew Jackson’s wife to attacks against Bill Clinton’s half-brother, politicians’ family members have constantly been under scrutiny. “Families have to be off limits,” Ohio Governor and Republican presidential candidate John Kasich said in an interview with NBC News. “There’s got to be some
rules, and there’s got to be something that gets set there. Some decency.” What message does this send to Americans, particularly young women? These young voters are left to observe the politics and poise of Melania Trump and Heidi Cruz as they stand by their husbands and show a brave and lovable face to the watching world. The fact is that neither of these women are running for president, and families of politicians should not be subject to the unfair criticism they have received. However, the American public does want to feel as though they truly know their candidate, which again is perhaps why Donald Trump is doing so well in the polls. To many voters, truly knowing the candidate involves knowing the candidate’s spouse and family. As both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz place their wives — women that could not be more different — in the spotlight, it becomes more evident just how much American conservatism has changed. “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” (Proverbs 12:4; ESV) This saying is true, and though each wife certainly reflects her husband in some way or another, their beauty and success should not be capitalized on or preyed upon by the supporting or opposing media. Republican candidates in particular need to realize that if they want to earn the respect of this nation, they might just have to try showing it to each other. ROZENBLUM is an opinion writer.
Carolina law upholds barriers New transgender law sparks controversy over bigotry and personal privacy Carrington Garber cgarber6@liberty.edu
One word can describe the direction the U.S. will go in if the transgender movement is allowed to run rampant — “hen.” How can hen be significant to transgenders? While its traditional meaning is “female bird,” its new use abolishes tradition in every sense of the word. Hen took on a new meaning in April 2015 when it was added to the Swedish dictionary as the first gender-neutral pronoun. Lann Hornscheidt, a gender studies professor at Humboldt University in Sweden, supports the adoption of the term. “Sweden is really the pioneer,” Hornscheidt said. “No other country has made such an effort to break down gender barriers among children.” Barriers have existed between male and female restrooms and locker rooms for decades — and for good reason. In schools, restaurants and public areas, gender-motivated boundaries exist to make members of both sexes feel comfortable and safe. North Carolina’s lawmakers have taken steps to main-
tain these boundaries for the safety of their citizens. In response to an anti-discrimination ordinance passed in Charlotte, North Carolina, the state’s legislature passed a bill March 23 that contradicts the ordinance and bars people from using restrooms that do not match their birth gender. This act is a step in the right direction to keep America from entering the slippery slope that changed Sweden’s vocabulary. This North Carolina decree is an intentional effort to prevent the specific issues already cropping up in regards to laws that blur the lines between male and female. One example occurred at a Seattle swimming pool in February. According to an article written by Seattle’s King 5 News, a man repeatedly entered the women’s locker room, and finally undressed there in front of young girls there for a swim class. Women who felt uncomfortable alerted the staff of the man’s actions, and he cited the state’s rule that allowed him to choose a bathroom based on his gender identity rather than his actual gender. Upon discussing the issue, Seattle Parks spokesman David Taka-
A TES NO
HAYWOOD
It is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in our nation and around the world. It damages and ruins hundreds of thousands of innocent lives every day. It separates children from their parents and lands them in the clutches of some of humanity’s worst monsters. The aforementioned tragedies stem from the sick, detestable world of the sex trade — humans selling other humans for sexual exploitation. To some people, the life of a human being has a price. And within the time it took you to get to this point in the article, one child’s price was named and purchased. Fortunately, there are some devoting all they have to ending this evil. And one documentary put on full
mi is cited in the article saying that they are “still working on the issue.” Right now, there is no specific protocol for how someone should demonstrate their gender in order to access a bathroom. Because of this uncertainty, as it now stands, any man can cite the law to enter a women’s facility. While many oppose the unifying of restroom facilities for both genders, advocates in opposition are simply more outspoken — the minority is far more vocal than the majority. Matt Walsh, a writer for The Blaze, feels that transgenders are having an impact on society that far outweighs the number in their ranks. “Liberalism is ... ultimately dominated by the most quantitatively insignificant group on the planet,” Walsh wrote. “There are a handful of genderconfused people in this country, but their demands and desires trump everyone’s.” In demanding new restrooms specifically for transsexuals, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender movement is mandating special attention and costing businesses money that they do not have. In demanding that transgenders be allowed into the rest-
display the lengths one man is willing to go to put a stop to the sex trade. The Evangelical Press Association hosted a screening of “The Abolitionists” April 6 at their annual conference. The documentary follows the journeys of Timothy Ballard, a former special agent for the Department of Homeland Security and Criminal Intelligence Agency (CIA). During his time serving our country, he was assigned with addressing crimes with emphasis on children. He used what he learned in the CIA and Homeland Security to ignite a movement of his own. Thus, Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) was born. According to ourrescue.org, Ballard founded O.U.R. in 2013. With a team composed of former CIA agents and Navy SEALs, Ballard’s organization mobilizes to rescue children and prosecute their captors. I was blessed with the opportunity to see the film a month before re-
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LEGISLATION — New North Carolina law received pushback. rooms of their chosen sex rather than their actual sex, they are infringing upon the privacy rights of others in the facility. Former presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson succinctly summarized the issue in an interview with the Huffington Post. “I think everybody has equal rights, but I’m not sure that anybody should have extra rights — extra rights when it comes to redefining everything for everybody else,” he said. North Carolina’s legislature is receiving both positive and negative feedback for their act. Madeleine Gause, a transgender
lease. As I sat in front of the screen, I really did not know what to expect. Honestly, I knew this nightmare existed, but I had no idea how real it truly was. But once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, it became more real than it had ever been in my life. “The Abolitionists” follows Ballard’s story and provides a close and personal view as to just how dark this world is. Viewers watched as Ballard and his team risked their lives to save others. He said this film was made for one purpose — saving children. The film features a team of experienced, seasoned producers such as Darrina Fletcher, Chet Thomas, and Academy Award winner Gerald R. Molen. Molen, producer of titles such as “Jurassic Park” and “Minority Report,” likened this documentary to another one of his productions, “Shindler’s List,” because of the effect it may have on viewers.
woman, spoke out in opposition, stating that the men’s room is uncomfortable to use. “I can’t use the men’s room,” Gause said. “I won’t go back. It is unsafe for me.” Dan Bishop, a House Republican who sponsored the bill, described his support of the ordinance as a protection of the common citizen. “What we are doing is preserving a sense of privacy that people have long expected,” Bishop said. GARBER is an opinion writer.
When the producers were asked how we as an audience can help, Fletcher provided those in attendance with an honest piece of wisdom. “At the end of the film, there’s an icon that says, ‘Everyone can do something,’” Fletcher said. “And its obligatory for you guys. Now that you’ve seen the film, you’ve been exposed to (the world of the sex trade). … Us telling you what to do is nowhere near as powerful as you deciding yourselves what you can do.” The film will be in select theaters for a special one-night event May 16, according to its website. For more information on this devastating yet inspiring film, visit theabolitionistsmovie.com.
HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.
opinion
Liberty Champion | April 12, 2016 | A5
To punish or not to punish? Pro-life Christians should fight for justice and life and not for vengeance Lee Sutherland lsutherland6@liberty.edu
Donald Trump’s worst period in his campaign for the Republican nomination came Tuesday, April 5. Trump lost by a significant margin in the Wisconsin primary to Ted Cruz, making it even more difficult for him to reach the 1,237 delegate majority he needs to become the nominee. One of the most controversial and damaging moments during this period for Trump came at a town hall interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. In a discussion on the topic of abortion and its enforcement, Matthews asked Trump that if abortions were made illegal, whether he believed that a woman should be punished for an illegal abortion. Trump, clearly looking perplexed, answered, “The answer is that — there has to be some form of punishment.” Trump would eventually change his stance on this issue but not before many expressed outrage over the idea of punishing a woman who has an abortion. Writers, like Anna Quindlen of Newsweek, posited that this displays the inconsistencies of the pro-life argument. “There are only two logical choices: hold women accountable for a criminal act by sending them to prison, or refuse to criminalize the act in the first place,” Quindlen writes. Yet Quindlen is creating a false dichotomy that is not consistent with the history of the pro-life argument. Pro-life supporters have never argued for the punishment of the woman who has had the abortion, like Trump stated. The focus has always been on the physician administering the abortion. Prior to the now infamous court case Roe v. Wade, states never treated women who had abortions as criminals. In a National Review symposium responding to Quindlen’s article, Villanova Law Professor Joseph Dellapenna displayed the history behind anti-abortion laws. “None of the laws overturned by Roe v. Wade (that is, the abortion laws of every state) treated the woman as a criminal,” Dellapenna writes. Even in the post-Roe era, abortion laws have never punished the woman. In the same National Review symposium, Dorinda Bordlee of the Bioethics Defense Fund supports this argument. “Abortion bans with post-Roe activation clauses … explicitly state: ‘Nothing in this section may be construed to subject the pregnant mother upon whom any abortion is performed or attempted to any criminal conviction and penalty,’” Bordlee wrote. This discussion of whether or not there should be some form of punishment for the woman who has had an abor-
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ABORTION — In an MSNBC town hall, businessman Donald Trump called for punishing women who have abortions. He later retracted his statement. tion distracts from the real issue behind the pro-life move“The almost uniform state policy before Roe was that ment. The fight against abortion should be focused on the abortion laws targeted abortionists, not women,” Clarke life of the baby in the womb and convincing mothers that D. Forsythe, Americans United for Life senior counsel, the best path is to bring their baby into the world. It is not wrote. “The states expressly treated women as the secfocused on some sort of crude vengeance against anyone ond ‘victim’ of abortion; state courts expressly called the who was involved in the abortion process. woman a second ‘victim.’ Abortionists were the exclusive “Being pro-life means wanting what is best for the moth- target of the law.” er and the baby,” Jeanne Mancini, president of the March In a country that is continually embracing aborfor Life Education and Defense Fund, said in a statement. tions as moral, pro-life Christians should be fighting “Women who choose abortion often do so in desperation for the rights of the baby inside the womb and seekand then deeply regret such a decision. No pro-lifer would ing to minister to those women who are thinking about ever want to punish a woman who has chosen abortion.” or have had an abortion. We cannot become distracted This is not saying that there should be no form of with enacting vengeance. criminal punishment for abortions. The legal precedent has always focused on punishing the physician who performed the abortion, and not seeking to prosecute the “accomplice,” the woman. SUTHERLAND is the opinion editor.
Christians bombed on Easter 72 people killed in suicide bombing of Easter celebration in Lahore, Pakistan
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ATTACK — Bombings in Pakistan are a reminder of the suffering of Christians. Brianna Young bdyoung4@liberty.edu
On Easter Sunday, Christians all over the world gathered together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the U.S. and many other countries, people congregated without fear for their safety, a privilege many American Christians take for granted. In the Pakistani city of Lahore,
a suicide bomber killed 72 people and injured 342 who were celebrating Easter at an amusement park. Terrorist organization Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a militant Islamic group, claimed responsibility for the attack. Unfortunately, this is only one of many attacks aimed at Christians that have recently occurred in Pakistan. “Last March, two bomb blasts at church-
es in Lahore killed 14 and injured more than 70 people,” Joe Carter of The Gospel Coalition wrote. “A twin suicide bomb attack at a Peshawar church in 2013 also left around 80 dead. And in 2009, nearly 40 houses and a church were burnt by a mob in Punjab, burning alive eight people.” Although the attacks claimed several innocent lives, including women and children, Americans do not seem to have taken any notice. The U.S. State Department and White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest released a statement condemning the actions of the terrorist organization. “The fact that you have an extremist organization targeting religious minorities and children is an outrage,” Earnest said. Coverage by the U.S. ends there. The media soaked up the story for a couple days and then it disappeared. More importantly, Christians forgot. In our complacency, American Christians easily forget that our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world are hurting, and we do nothing about it. Hardly even a prayer is said for the survivors who lost loved ones at the hands of terrorists. So what can American Christians do from so many thousands of miles away? First of all, talking with friends and family about Christian persecution happening around the world spreads the word that it is an ongoing issue that cannot be ignored. By talking about these acts of terror, people cannot claim that they were unaware. Once
someone’s eyes are opened to the truth, he or she is far more likely to want to do something to help. The Church cannot sit idly by, protecting their congregation, and pretend that nothing bad happens in the world. At the least, church leaders must provide prayer for those Christians being persecuted and offer a way for members to help in any way they can. Showing fellow Christians that they are being prayed over and they are loved gives them hope during a crisis. As Americans, it is also our responsibility to speak to our leaders about what we care about most. Writing a letter or calling your senator is one way to tell them what is truly important. Tell your senator that you condemn terrorism and acts of violence against Christian minorities in the Middle East. If enough people speak up, elected leaders who have the power to create change will get the message. American Christians must wake up and realize that if they continue to ignore the acts of terror committed against our brothers and sisters in Christ, the terror will continue to grow and consume Christians all over the world.
YOUNG is an opinion writer.
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news
A6 | April 12, 2016 | Liberty Champion
LOCAL POLITICS OTE 2016
The Liberty Champion is seeking to provide information on all candidates running in the May 3 local Lynchburg elections. Coverage of more candidates will continue in the upcoming weeks. These two candidates are seeking to fill the Ward I seat on City Council that will be left vacant by current mayor Michael Gillette.
CANDIDATE WARD I
Google Images | Liberty Champion
Financial planner Christian DePaul is seeking the Ward I Lynchburg City Council seat in the local office election May 3. Mayor Mike Gillette will vacate the seat this year and not seek re-election. DePaul, 56, is the Republican nominee. MaryJane Dolan, 74, will oppose him and run as an Independent. DePaul said he grew up in poverty in Central New York and lived on public assistance. “Anybody that we knew (who was well-off financially), by the time it came to retirement, they always moved some place else,” DePaul said. “I always figured, like most people in poverty, you are never going to amount to much, because you just have that mindset of everything around you.” While attending Syracuse University, DePaul began researching various places throughout the country to live. Based on the cost of living, geographic location, and four seasons, Lynchburg seemed to be the best fit for him. DePaul moved to Lynchburg in the mid-90s and began working with Ameriprise, a finance company. DePaul explained that ever since he was a young boy, he has had a fascination with numbers. “I remember my first Monopoly game,” DePaul said. “After that first Christmas, no one wanted to play with me because I took it so seriously. I was beating my folks.” DePaul was with Ameriprise for 25 years, but within the past year, he left to start another broker company. He said focusing on clients’ needs is what prompted him to form DePaul Wealth Management. “I have always put a priority on my clients and doing what is the right thing for them,” DePaul said. “That is why I changed from the big company into a smaller company. I wanted to have a career where I had upward potential and was able to help people in general.” Running for public office was never in his longterm plans, but DePaul said being appointed by the
city council to be on the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company board was his first experience with politics. “I started learning about the greater workings of the city,” DePaul said. “This city is a great place, and I want it to stay great. That was my opportunity to help.” DePaul said that months before Gillette announced his decision to not seek re-election, he had considered one day taking a seat on city council. When a spot opened up, he felt the timing was perfect. DePaul hopes to put his critical thinking and experience in financial planning toward making Lynchburg more business friendly. “We need to attract the businesses here so that the people that are here have the jobs,” DePaul said. “It is a balance. As long as we are more efficient, we are going to be able to do more things.” When it comes to qualifications over his opponent, DePaul believes that he is able to relate to the needs of those in the community, based on his upbringing. “I am much more in touch with what is going on in the city and what is going on with the people as a population,” DePaul said. “I am much more in touch with the issues they are facing and the means by which to stay within a budget and prosper at the same time.” DePaul feels that his passion for the city council seat comes from the city of Lynchburg and those who live in it. He said he hopes to preserve what has made the city great. “I think what motivates me for this job is my love for the area,” DePaul said. “This is where I moved so that I could spend my years in retirement. I want to see it stay great. I recognize some issues we are facing, which could eventually become a problem if we don’t address them now.” For more information on DePaul and his campaign, visit votechristiandepaul.com.
CHRISTIAN DEPAUL TAYLOR COLEMAN tcoleman64@liberty.edu
CANDIDATE WARD I
Google Images | Liberty Champion
COLEMAN is a news reporter.
MaryJane Dolan is running for Lynchburg City Council in Ward I. She announced her campaign March 10 at Elizabeth’s Early Learning Center (EELC) in Lynchburg. Dolan chose to announce her campaign at EELC because one of her focuses is providing for the future of Lynchburg. “This site is so important to me because EELC is representative of what I embrace and hold near and dear — the preparation of our youngest children for educational success,” Dolan said. “The central focus of this dynamic center is the promise of our future — children. My campaign is about the future, and that is why I (announced) my candidacy (there).” According to Dolan, the priorities of her campaign are advancing educational opportunities, encouraging economic development, moving families out of poverty, increasing infrastructure, and creating accessible and excellent healthcare for all. “We are truly fortunate to live in a city that has a solid quality of life, a safe environment for our children, a strong public education system, one of the finest medical systems in the country, a quality public safety system, a healthy business environment and a beautiful city in which to live and enjoy,” Dolan said. “I am running for the Ward I seat on Council because I treasure what we have here and want to preserve, strengthen and advance these values.” Dolan is currently involved in the Lynchburg community. She serves at the Centra Foundation, United Way of Central Virginia, the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust and on the Lynchburg College board of trustees. In 2007, Dolan received the Mayor’s Award of Excellence. She has also received other awards for her service to Lynchburg. In 1978, Dolan moved to Lynchburg to marry her husband, Ron. Dolan then started a life insurance
company and an annuity brokerage firm, Colonial Brokerage House, which services customers living in the mid-Atlantic region. She retired in 2008, but the company is still thriving in downtown Lynchburg. During Dolan’s speech at EELC, she said she was one of the first women in America to build a brokerage firm from the ground up. Throughout her career, Dolan has learned how to run small and large businesses. In turn, she gained leadership skills and believes those will help her be effective on the city council. “My experience in leadership is evidenced by my long history of serving the community not only through my work on numerous non-profit boards serving our community but also from my hands,” Dolan said. “We are an interdependent community, and we all need to work together to face the challenges ahead.” According to Dolan, she is not running for what is wrong with Lynchburg but for what is right. She said she believes in the people who call Lynchburg home and wants to preserve it for the future. “My candidacy is about the future,” Dolan said. “I want to preserve what is good and strong today and advance, strengthen and protect our quality of life for future generations.” Editor’s Note: Due to extenuating circumstances, MaryJane Dolan was unavailable for an interview. Per her request, all quotes are from her campaign announcement March 10 at Elizabeth’s Early Learning Center, her donor rack card and donor letter.
MARYJANE DOLAN TAYLOR FROST tfrost2@liberty.edu
FROST is a news reporter.
news
Liberty Champion | April 12, 2016 | A7
LOCAL POLITICS CURRENT MAYOR NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION
Google Images
After serving 12 years on Lynchburg City Council, Mayor Michael Gillette announced in February that he will not be running for re-election. “I think that our democracy does better when there is some sort of rotation in elected office,” Gillette said. “I think the power of the incumbency can be very strong. The longer you’ve been in office, the harder it can be for someone to challenge you. You just have that ability to hold your seat, and that can result in a reduction of how the electoral system works.” Gillette was first elected to the Lynchburg City Council in 2004 as the representative for Ward I. He was then elected mayor by the city council in 2006 following the resignation of then-mayor Joan Foster. “I think that it takes a good few years to learn what you need to learn and get up and running, and in your second term you are hitting all cylinders and doing really well,” Gillette said. “By my third term, I felt like I was really doing well, and I think that I could continue to do well, but I think that it is a good idea for there to be some fresh ideas.” Out of everything that he worked on during his time in office, Gillette said that he is most proud of getting Heritage High School built. “(Heritage High School) is about to open this coming summer, and it took a lot of work,” Gillette said. “I chaired the task force that studied the issue to come up with a strategic plan for that, and I worked hard with some of my fellow council members to figure out how to do the financing for it. I am proud of the fact that we are going to be giving our students the high quality school that they deserve.” Gillette is also proud of how he and city council members have been able to work well together to address the needs of Lynchburg. “I think that we have really been able to work together very nicely as a team,” Gillette said. “We are actually getting city business done in a very orderly fashion and a respectable fashion. So I am very proud of the tone that city council has maintained over the last couple of years.” While there have been several occasions where Gillette was on the dissenting side of a vote, he does not view these instances as failures. In-
MICHAEL GILLETTE ELIZABETH LAPP elapp@liberty.edu
stead he has respect for the decisions of his fellow council members and is thankful for the opportunity to contribute in city decisions. He also feels that while there is still more work for the city council to do, it is time for someone new to address them. “I don’t look back on my time with any regret,” Gillette said. “I think that there is always more to do, and if anybody says, ‘I have to run again. I have unfinished business. There is more that I need to do,’ oh come on. I don’t care how many times you are on council, there is always the next thing that needs to get done. There is always new business.” Some new business that the new city council members and mayor will have to address are the ongoing water-main and infrastructure projects in downtown Lynchburg. Gillette said that the changing marketplace will need to be addressed, as some employers, including Nationwide Insurance, have been moving their operations and jobs out of the city. “I think that we need to keep our eye on the ball in terms of recruiting and maintaining employment here in Lynchburg and making sure that we have the full array of employment opportunities,” Gillette said. “If we can maintain that, then we’ll be able to achieve some other issues like helping people deal with poverty, which is a problem in town, and making sure that our public school system stays strong. Those are all things that you can do when you have a strong economy.” Gillette does not have anything specific outlined for when he leaves office. Right now, he is planning to devote more time to running his medical ethics consulting business. He is confident that the city council members will continue making decisions that are best for Lynchburg in the years to come. “I can confidently say that 100 percent of the people who are on city council are doing it because they want to make Lynchburg a better place,” Gillette said. “We may have different philosophies, different ideas about what that means or how to make that happen, but I think that everyone is doing that for the right reasons. The only reason to be on council is because you have a sense of civic obligation, and you are trying to serve your community. I think that is true of all my colleagues. I know that is why I did it, and I am confident that that is why my successor will be doing it, whomever that person may be.” LAPP is a news reporter.
Responding to questions
Dean of Students Office holds town hall meeting to address students’ concerns Hayden Robertson hbrobertson@liberty.edu
As the 2015-2016 school year draws to a close, the Dean of Students Office held a Q&A panel discussion for students to voice their ideas for the upcoming year. The Dean of Students Office panel discussion Tuesday, April 5 gave students the opportunity to voice their opinions and ask questions about what they wanted changed or brought back for the next school year. The Registrar’s Office, the Center for Multicultural Enrichment, Student Housing, LUPD and Dining Services were just a few of the departments present in the panel discussion. With students voicing their concerns and opinions, the three most-discussed topics were transportation, security and dining. Students spoke on these topics due to the recent changes they have seen on campus. Student Body President Quincy Thompson spoke on behalf of the Student Government Association (SGA). He gave insight on what happened last Q&A panel, saying students talked about dining and parking often, and several problems with parking were fixed. “A lot of students have always raised concerns about parking,” Thompson said. “We have made some headway on that, and the Student Government Association was privileged to meet with university planners to recommend some solutions. Two parking garages will be coming in 2017, and in addition to that, they are building a gravel lot (which) will have 600 parking spots that will replace the band practice fields.” Another topic that was covered
Seth Dodson| Liberty Champion
CONCERNS— Liberty officials facilitated discussion with students. during the discussion was the transportation system. The question was from a commuter student who needed to be dropped off at Green Hall, but the Transit Affairs Office removed the apartment bus stop there. “There is no Cornerstone (Apartments) bus stop at North anymore,” student Michael King said. “I was wondering if that could be brought back? I will be a commuter next year, and since the (studio and digital arts) department is at North, having that bus stop would be crucial.” Assistant Transit Manager Robert Smith responded with providing the reason the stop was removed. “We eliminated it because over 90 percent of the commuter students were going to DeMoss Hall,” Smith said. “This semester, we’ve reinstituted our 70 express route which goes directly from the Vines Center to Green Hall. It is actually faster for you to get off at DeMoss, grab the next 70 and go to Green Hall.” Smith also mentioned that since
the class transition is now only 15 minutes instead of 20 minutes, they are looking into faster ways to get students around campus. He said the 70 bus was brought back because of the change in class transition times. President of the Commuter Student Association Kelsey Gold asked transit services about getting buses to come to Cornerstone Apartments on weekends to bring students to campus. “I know many off-campus students completely rely on transit systems to get to school,” Gold said. “They rely on it to get to the library or the gym.” Smith also responded to Gold’s question regarding weekend bus services to Cornerstone. “The commuter route exists to get students to class, and the university also offers any student a pass to ride GLTC at no cost to the student,” Smith said. “We are actually working with GLTC to encourage them to establish a route to Cornerstone.” Smith went on to say that it was not possible for Liberty buses to
go to the apartments on weekends. He also recommends the GLTC pass for off-campus students who need to come to campus on weekends. After the recent bomb scare the school had, questions about potential security changes were brought up. “I understand that we can call (LUPD), and pulling the fire alarm might be a way of getting attention to the situation,” a student at the Q&A said. “(But) is there any system in the works or (other) plans for the future?” Associate Vice President for Security and Public Safety Ron Sloan represented LUPD and gave an answer to the student’s question. “We continually research other campuses and what local law enforcement would recommend, and the BlueLight is something that we are looking at,” Sloan said. “We do instruct the concealed carry (course), and we just had two officers come through the Refuse to be a Victim program through the NRA. That will come out shortly for all students and staff to take.” Sloan went on to mention how great the program is and how the students and faculty of Liberty University should take the course. “We are trying to empower the students so that you have the ability and the knowledge of what to do and when to do it,” Sloan said. “We are (also) doing a full camera assessment for the university right now.” Dean of Students Robert Mullen added that the students’ most powerful device they have is their cellphone. He encouraged them to use it if they were to see anything suspicious or
strange happening on campus. Another topic covered was the dining services department. A student asked if there were any plans for applications being developed for students to order their food over the phone and then pick it up after class. “We actually have, and we are going to test it next fall with our first pizza delivery concept on campus,” Director of Food Service Operations Louis Campbell said. “It’s going to be in the drivethru section of Doc’s Diner, and we are converting that whole side into the pizza concept.” Campbell also gave students a bit of insight about new food concepts that are going into the new Student Center on campus behind DeMoss Hall. He said these new concepts will be a great add-on for the university. “We are going to have six new retail locations in there,” Campbell said. “We have a Mediterranean concept, Wood Fire concept, a healthy burger concept, an Asian concept, a tea concept, and a convenience store concept in there.” Campbell also said that if students have the commuter plus meal plan or the residential plus meal plan, they will be able to use swipes at these new concepts in the fall. He said that students will have access through the back part of DeMoss Hall to get to these places. If students have any questions about next year, they can visit the Dean of Students Office located in Green Hall 1830 or email deanofstudents@liberty.edu. ROBERTSON is a news reporter.
news
A8 | April 12, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Clubs prepare for elections Liberty students become informed on the direct impact young adult voters can have Emily Stotmeister estotmeister@liberty.edu
With the presidential election just around the corner, Liberty University’s clubs and students are gearing up to make this election count not only for campus but for the Lynchburg community. “We as an institution do a great job by pushing (people) to vote and having the ability to even vote on campus,” Young Women of America Club President Savannah Berry said. Berry said millennials emphasize certain issues when deciding who to vote for. “We have a unique craving for justice in our society, but we always go to the quickfix solution,” Berry said. Jonah Athey, president of Liberty University’s chapter of the College Republicans, said Lynchburg is full of potential to make a difference in politics. “There is a lot of energy in Lynchburg,” Athey said. “We can bring more attention with a lot of voters and swing the state of Virginia with it.” To match the energy the Lynchburg area gives off, the university offers students opportunities to be engaged with the clubs that it offers. Be2016 sides Young Women of America and College Republicans, Liberty also offers others such as Ladies for Liberty and Stand with Israel. Another topic emphasized throughout the clubs is the importance of voting and researching to make that vote. The assumption that one vote does not count is debated on Liberty’s campus. “We want the students to know that voter registration does matter,” Athey said. “We have impacted many elections in the past, such as increasing Scott Garrett’s votes by almost 200 points on the campus voting site alone.” Assistant Director of Programming at the Dean of Students Office Morgan Hanson has had a direct role in the various elections on campus. Her team has set up posters in the hallways, in the
OTE
classrooms and other places around campus to promote registering to vote and other events on campus. “We have organized voter registration drives and made sure the students are informed about the upcoming events,” Hanson said. “The clubs on campus have really done a good job about spreading the word as well as raising awareness and staying up to date on everything.” The clubs want to emphasize telling students they have the power to swing elections and letting them know that their vote counts in the political sphere. “When it comes to local government, Liberty students have to be informed because it will affect them the most,” Athey said. “For example, they have to read up on the agenda of each person on their position on meal tax and other similar topics.” Through Young Women of America and College Republicans, the students have attended events such as debate watch parties, informed students to vote, and gotten them connected with the community. Students are getting involved with local government by hosting galas and working with different organizations to emphasize that politics does not start at the national level. For example, Young Women of America have worked at the local pregnancy center as volunteers, raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project, and held a March for Life Lobby day with Concerned Women of America in Washington D.C. “The gala that we put on last year was able to raise around $6,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project, so we hope to continue that this year,” Berry said. Even the students who have no interest in politics or do not pay attention feel that they are well-informed just from campus events. “I do not have time to keep up with politics, but with the posters around campus and the speakers in Convocation, I get the gist of what is going on,” Thomas Kennedy, a junior at Liberty, said. Hanson said that even if a student is not from Virginia but does consider voting in a local election, there are many advantages. By knowing they have a role and can make a difference, voting lets them better the Lynchburg area during their time here.
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
VOTE — Students had the opportunity to vote in the Vines Center in previous elections. “The Dean of Students Office really encourages students to vote in Lynchburg because driving back and forth from home can be lengthy, and many of the laws being passed impact college students,” Hanson said. Several students expressed the advantage of having opportunities available to them on campus. Kennedy said it made it convenient, and it felt like he was doing something that was needed. “From what I can tell, not many colleges have as much presence when it comes to politics and elections as Liberty,” Kennedy said. “Especially with the recent national media coverage on Liberty, we are becoming a place that can stand up for a lot of different things.” Students such as Kennedy have the opportunity to get plugged into organizations that match their views. Whether that is College Republicans or the Pre-Law Society, students can get involved with the help and support of Hanson and her team. Therefore, the upcoming presidential election will prove how involved the student body is in the future of this country.
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“I think the presidential election will have significant impact on our community through the turnout we predict that we will have and the preparations that we have in place for this year,” Hanson said. Hanson provided dates and deadlines for students to keep in mind throughout the election year. May 3 is a local election, where students will be able to impact the local policies and politics. Oct. 17 will be the last day for students to register to vote or submit a change of address for the Nov. 8 presidential election. Students can sign up for election reminders and can register to vote through liberty.turbovote.org. If students want to volunteer on Election Day and earn CSER, or have questions regarding voting, they can visit Green Hall 1830 or email vote@liberty.edu.
STOTMEISTER is a guest writer.
SPORTS
April 12, 2016
M. Tennis
M. Lacrosse
Campbell
Liberty
Tennessee
Liberty
3
4
3
20
W. Lacrosse
Softball
(series) Presby Liberty
1
B1
2
Campbell
Liberty
11
10
Baseball
(series) CSU Liberty
1
2
Anna Dollar
rounding third
Star freshman is money for the Lady Flames Denton Day dday26@liberty.edu
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
HEADING HOME — Nick Walker went hitless in Saturday’s matchup with Charleston Southern, but earned one walk in the second.
Flames sink Bucs
Baseball takes two of three games for a win over CSU Bobby Keating rfkeating@liberty.edu Luke Dillard mdillard1@liberty.edu
Game 1: Liberty 10, CSU 4 The Flame Train rolled to a 10-4 victory over Charleston Southern Friday, April 8 at Liberty Baseball Stadium. Charleston Southern failed to score a single run after loading the bases in the top of the first inning with no outs. Following three singles in a row, Liberty Pitching Coach Garrett Quinn made a visit to the mound to calm down his starter. Victor Cole got himself out of a potentially disastrous opening frame by striking out two along with forcing a pop fly. “You just have to keep battling with what you have that day,” Cole said. “I just have to keep a positive mindset no matter what.” Scoring began in the third inning as Mike Sconzo knocked in a run with a single to left field. Following a rare mound visit by Head Coach Jim Toman, Cole gave up a second run off of a Kevin Hickey single to right field. The Flames chopped the Buccaneer lead in half by scoring a run in the bottom half of the same inning. Following a lead off double, third baseman Eric Grabowski scored on an
WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME
errant throw by CSU shortstop Cole Murphy as DJ Artis stole second. Throughout the game Cole struggled to keep runners off the bases. CSU left runners on base every inning, including leaving the bases loaded twice up through the fourth inning. “It seemed like Charleston Southern was really swinging the bat well early, but we wiggled out of some jams and (Cole) only gave up two runs early,” Toman said. “He found a way to get out of innings. I was proud of him.”
“
man Jack Morris crossed home plate standing up as Artis easily made it into second. “They’re good kids who work really hard,” Toman said. “They’re getting some experience in college baseball and they just keep getting better.” Walker added another RBI single to tack on another run for the Flames in the fifth inning and give them a 4-2 lead. The Buccaneers were forced to pull Evan Raynor, their starting ace, in the sixth inning after giving up three earned runs
They’re good kids who work really hard. They’re getting some experience ... and they just keep getting better. — JIM TOMAN
Liberty tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Andrew Yacyk hit a double to lead off the inning as the ball bounced in and out of the glove of left fielder Sly Edwards. Yacyk scored the tying run as Nick Walker, who uses the Star Wars theme song as his walk up song, hit an RBI single to center field. The Flames took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Freshman DJ Artis drove home the go-ahead run with a laser shot to right field. Fellow fresh-
in five innings pitched. At the end of the inning, Payton Scarbrough hit home a run to enlarge the Flames lead 5-2. Liberty added five runs in the seventh inning to score in five consecutive innings. Artis added two more RBIs on a single to centerfield in the inning. “I was just trying to put the ball in play because I knew if we got those runs it’d pretty much be done, we’d kill their self esteem,” Artis said. The bottom third of the lineup, comprised of Dalton
Britt, Grabowski, and Morris, combined to score six runs. Artis raised his batting average to .417 on the season after going three for four on the night. Game 2: CSU 6, Liberty 1 The Flames (18-15, 4-4) tied thier season-high in errors with four en route to falling to the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (13-18) by a score of 6-1 Saturday, April 9, at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The loss broke a 15-game winning streak for the Flames over the Buccaneers. The Flames were powerless against the dominant pitching of sophomore Daniel Johnson of the Buccaneers. Johnson held the Flames to only three hits and one run while striking out six batters in seven innings of work. “(Johnson) was really working the corners,” Britt said. “He was really locating well. He had all of the pitches everywhere he wanted them. He was really working the outside. We just couldn’t make the adjustments. He had everything going, and he hit his spots.” On the other side, Flames pitchers struggled throughout the game, giving up 11 hits and five earned runs. The Flames scored their only run in the first inning.
See SINK, B2
For some, sports are a hobby, something to kill time and have a good time with friends. For others, sports are a real passion. Flames true freshDOLLAR man tennis player Anna Dollar has the game of tennis running through her blood with both her sister and her mother playing the sport. Dollar’s parents are missionaries so although she is listed as being from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she spent the majority of her life living in the Ukraine. When she was not playing tennis, she and her family were making quick trips across the border to Austria to ski. Dollar experienced faith at a very early age. She grew up in the church and learned how to play worship songs on the piano and the guitar. Ultimately her faith is what led her to Liberty. “It had a lot to do with my parents being missionaries,” Dollar said. “I have two older sisters and they each went to (Division I) Christian schools. I felt like Liberty was the best option.” The traditional high school experience that most college kids get to go through was something that Dollar missed. Not because her parents were missionaries, but because she was so focused on playing tennis and getting better at the sport she loves. Not attending high school meant coming to Liberty was the first time Dollar had played on a team. “It was really weird at first because I had never done that before,” Dollar said. “But I really like being on a team. I like playing for other girls and not just myself.” Before coming to Liberty, Dollar was ranked a Top-300 player in the ITF Junior World Rankings and the No. 2 prospect out of Pennsylvania according to Liberty Athletics. “I played my whole life and it is something I cannot imagine living without,” Dollar said. “Everyone in my family plays and it is just my life, I’m so passionate about it.” While Dollar loves tennis, she also realizes that it can be used as a platform to share the Gospel. A platform she has taken full advantage of and used to help show the love of Christ to opponents that she meets. Like most college athletes, she has dreams of playing at an even higher level, simply using collegiate play as a stepping stone. Yet, Dollar has already experienced that professional level of play. She said she has played in a few professional tournaments. She won a few games and lost a few, but the experience was something most collegiate athletes do not get to undergo. “It has always been my dream to go pro,” Dollar said. “But depending on how well I do in college will (determine) what I do after college. I just need to work hard.”
DAY is a sports reporter.
M. Tennis vs. GWU
Softball vs. Campbell
W. Lacrosse vs. GWU
Football Spring Game
W. Tennis BSC Qtr. Finals
Apr. 14 @ 2 p.m.
Apr. 15 @ 5 p.m.
Apr. 16 @ 1 p.m.
Apr. 16 @ 4 p.m.
Apr. 16 @ 9 a.m.
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sports
B2 | April 12, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Reigning Victor-ious Flames senior has been a dominant force since he first picked up a baseball Paul Vandenbosch prvandenbosch@liberty.edu
Victor Cole had only a short amount of time to make an impact at Liberty. After transferring before his junior season of baseball, the race was on to make his mark on this program, which he has done. And he is not through yet. Like many kids, Cole began playing baseball at a very young age. His father, Victor Sr., was a professional baseball player who had a short stint at the major league level with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, before heading back down to the minor leagues. Cole recalls as early as two years old, he found himself at the ball field with his dad, which he says has helped to build his foundation not just as an athlete, but also as a person. “(Having a dad who played professional baseball) was nice,” Cole said. “He has a lot of experience and knowledge about the game, and even stuff off the field, which helped me to keep my foundation strong in baseball and everything else.” From 1994-2002, Cole’s father, a righthanded pitcher, went back and forth between the minor leagues and semi-professional teams in Taiwan and South Korea. During that time, the family was able to travel with Cole’s father to most of the places he played, though they stayed based in Memphis, where Cole was born and went to high school. Growing up, Cole tried his hand at a few different positions on the diamond. When he was not on the hill, he played outfield and first base, but discovered quickly that he was gifted at pitching. “I was an okay hitter, and I could get the job done, but pitching was just something that I had more resources for to succeed,” Cole said. The result of his decision to stick with pitching was a stellar high school career. Cole, a lefty, was a four-year letter winner at Memphis University School and a threetime all-state first team selection. In his junior season, he went undefeated with a 10-0 record and a 0.56 ERA. He followed that up by going a pedestrian 9-1 with a 1.56 ERA in his senior year and graduated as the school’s all-time leader in wins, ERA
SINK continued from B1 Artis got the Flames started with a leadoff walk and later scored on an RBI groundout from junior right fielder Will Shepherd. The Buccaneers responded in the second inning on a two-RBI single from senior second baseman Ryan Maksim that scored sophomore catcher Mike Sconzo and junior designated hitter Brandon Gragilla to take the lead 2-1. The Buccaneers first capitalized on a Flames error in the sixth. With Sconzo on third, Maksim bunted and Flames junior pitcher Zander Clouse mishandled the ball, allowing Sconzo to score. After three straight outs in their half of the sixth, the Flames were plagued by errors again in the top of the seventh.
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
SOUTHPAW — Victor Cole has tasted success from the moment he first took the mound, a trend he has continued at Liberty. and strikeouts. Fresh out of high school, Cole made the decision to attend Tallahassee Community College (TCC), where he was a two-time All-Panhandle conference selection, twotime Florida College System Activities Association (FCSSA) Academic All-State first team member and Honor Roll member. He worked primarily as a relief pitcher his freshman year at TCC, going 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA and eight saves in 2013 to earn the conference’s Fireman of the Year award, given to the conference’s top reliever. He was also named the TCC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2014. Though he dominated at TCC, it seemed odd that a pitcher of his talent and caliber would be pitching at a junior college, but Cole regretted none of it and knew it was part of a plan. “It was just another good opportunity to be in a different environment,” Cole said. “At the moment, my heart just told me to try (TCC). And it might have been God’s plan, so I wanted to take that leap of faith, and I’m really blessed with where I am now.” In the summer before his sophomore year, Cole decided that he wanted to get back to being a starting pitcher and knew he needed to work to regain that stamina. He made a call to his old summer league
Buccaneers center fielder Sly Edwards reached second base on a dropped fly ball in deep right field by Shepherd to start the inning. Right fielder Chris Singleton singled the next at-bat to move Edwards to third. Senior pinch hitter Kevin Hickey stepped to the plate and placed a bunt into the left infield, which Klaus recovered and threw over the catcher’s head, allowing Edwards to score and advancing Hickey to second base. Sconzo hit a sacrifice fly into the outfield that scored Singleton from third, increasing the lead to 5-1. The Buccaneers added one more run in the eighth when senior shortstop Cole Murphy scored from third on a wild pitch to make the final tally 6-1. Toman was not pleased with his team’s play, calling Saturday’s game the Flames’ “worst performance
team that he had played with the year before and asked if he could get some playing time. The coach told Cole to meet him at an event in Indianapolis to throw a few innings. It was there that Liberty Flames Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Jason Murray noticed Cole and liked what he saw from the southpaw. Murray called Cole after the game and encouraged him to visit Liberty before he returned to TCC, which Cole did and immediately loved it. He ended up starting the entire 2014 season for TCC and transferring to Liberty at the end of his sophomore year. Cole burst onto the scene at Liberty as a junior in 2015, going 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings pitched. He held opponents to a .208 batting average against him, which was third in the Big South and even took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Bryant Feb. 28, 2015. The key to Cole’s success is not power, but finesse. Cole possesses a six-pitch arsenal that consists of a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a changeup, a curveball, a recently-added slider and a split-finger fastball, which is one of the more difficult pitches to throw. With his dad always there to coach him, he learned early to master his command and change speeds effectively. “I’ve always worked on different pitches
and trying to master them,” Cole said. “But my dad always told me ‘Just hit spots and change speeds.’ And at any different time I can change speeds or hit a different spot with another pitch, so I’m confident in all my pitches.” While some pitchers isolate themselves to focus before heading out to the mound, Cole spends every game before a start with his teammates. He uses the time to encourage his teammates and get them in a positive, game-ready mindset before they take the field. “I just try to keep everybody lose and positive, and what bad can come from that?” Cole said. Now a senior in the twilight of his collegiate baseball career, the reserved, cerebral Cole remains focused on the remainder of the regular season and, potentially, the postseason. However, to be drafted by a Major League team would be a dream come true and an honor, he said. Though he says he tries not to think about it, he became part of a program that has seen 64 players drafted by Major League teams — and he could be next.
VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor
of the year.” “(Charleston Southern) outplayed us in all three facets,” Toman said. “They out played us offensively. They pitched better than we did. And they played better defense. We probably made six or seven errors. We missed a couple of fly balls, and we don’t normally do that. Give credit to Charleston Southern for a really good game. They outplayed us.” The Flames beat the Buccaneers 9-6 to take the series Sunday. The Flames visit Big South Conference foe Campbell in Buies Creek, North Carolina, for a threegame series April 15-17.
KEATING is a sports reporter. DILLARD is a sports reporter.
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
YOUNG GUNS — Jack Morris swings away as leadoff hitter D.J. Artis waits on deck.
sports One. That is the number of games that Kobe Bryant has left in the NBA. Bryant played his final game in Oklahoma City Monday night and will conclude his career at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. AUL Bryant was the headVANDENBOSCH liner for one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the NBA and will go down as one of the all-time greats, and people all over social media have been posting farewell speeches and photos recalling their fondest memories of “The Black Mamba.” I am not a Lakers fan and never will be, but I have always had respect for Kobe and will always remember the 81-point game against Toronto in 2006. I was 12 years old when that happened. Every generation has theirs. That athlete who captures the hearts, minds and attention of the nation and transcends the very sport itself. And each of us has that specific group of athletes who will always hold a special place in our hearts. While that list for me personally is quite long, there are two shining examples to which I will point. These are players that I watched growing up and made me love the sport they played even more. The first is “The Captain,” Derek Jeter. I will be the first to admit that I do not care for the Yankees at all, but I always had an enormous amount of respect for No. 2. This was one of the most successful athletes in all of sports, winning five World Series rings, including three in a row from 1998-2000, among countless other individual achievements. But beyond that, he was an all-around good guy off the field. Perhaps the most shining achievement of Jeter’s career, though, was that he managed to make it through the Steroid Era unscathed. While Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire (among others) were busy blasting home runs at an alarming rate and putting up tainted numbers, Jeter re-
Liberty Champion | April 12, 2016 | B3 mained as the face of baseball and one of the most consistent hitters in the game — and he did it without steroids. Because I am a big Philly fan, I cannot help but mention a hometown guy. For years, he was the cornerstone of a great defense and the motor that kept a team going, and his name is Brian Dawkins. From the moment he delivered his first bone-crushing hit, he won the hearts of Eagles fans everywhere. He made receivers afraid to run over the middle, and he was the epitome of the big hit when big hits were actually allowed in the NFL. He played with reckless abandon unlike any Eagle before him and no one could ever question his heart or his effort on the field. But he was more than just a big-bodied safety that left opponents wondering what hit them; he was the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles. As he went, the Eagles also went. He was the fiery catalyst of not just an entire team, but an entire city. And in a city that demands so much from its athletes, he exceeded expectations every time. If you do not believe me, I encourage you to try and watch one of his pre-game speeches without getting goose bumps. Unless of course you are a Cowboys fan, then I do not care what you feel. Off the field, he was one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. Many teammates and coaches that knew Dawkins well likened him to a teddy bear. But once he threw on that No. 20 jersey, he became “Weapon X,” and there will never be another like him. This list goes on and on, but you get the idea. It is players like these that make sports so great, and players like these that will continue to change the games they play forever. VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.
April 13, 2016, Kobe Bryant will play his final basketball game in the NBA, ending the career of one of the best to ever lace up on the hardwood. Bryant was the Michael Jordan for kids growing up when I did. He won his first three championships right before Jordan retired, and then won two more later on. With Bryant retiring, some have called it the end of an era — the end of a player who changed the game and brought so many young boys and girls to fall in love with the game. With that being said, there are two men who did that for me as a kid. The first athlete to make me fall in love with a sport was Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, more commonly known as Ronaldinho. That man could do anything he wanted with a soccer ball, and of course I could barely dribble, so he seemed like the natural person for me to admire. With 94 goals in five seasons for the Blaugrana, I loved to watch Barcelona play long before Lionel Messi came along and became the greaest player in the world. He also made me a fan of Brazil, this was of course before I was old enough to have American pride. Ronaldinho is not the reason I started playing soccer, that was my parents trying to keep me from getting fat, but he is the one who made me dream of playing professional soccer one day. Because of him, I dreamed of playing in the World Cup. Now that may sound outlandish, but I genuinely believed that I could do it, because that is the power that professional athletes have on young kids. While I obviously never made it onto the U.S. Men’s National Team, I certainly do not regret the big dreams that I chased as a young boy. It never hurts anyone to dream big. In fact, for some, those dreams even become reality. My other childhood hero was Cincinnati Reds star Ken Griffey Jr. Yes, I know
to most he was a Seattle Mariners star, but not to Cincinnati fans. For us, Junior will always be a Red. Although I never played baseball, there was something about Griffey that you could not help but love. Obviously, I was not the OEL only one, as he broke the SCHMIEG hall of fame record with 99.32 percent of the vote to get in. Griffey batted .284 over his entire career, including his best career year when he hit .327 at the age of 22. Griffey is also sixth in MLB history with 630 home runs, according to MLB.com Not only was Griffey one of the best home run hitters ever, but he did it without using steroids, like so many around him at the time. Griffey was a solace in the steroid era for kids and grown men alike. Just because a kid grows up, does not mean he loses that piece of him that admires great athletes. I doubt I will ever see a day when I do not have at least one hero in the world of sports. That is the crazy thing about professional athletes — they have the ability to charm anyone, no matter their age. Some of them choose to throw their talent down the drain. Some of them are not as good as they were expected to be. But occasionally, someone special comes along. Guys like Griffey, Ronaldinho and of course Bryant. April 13, 2016 will be a sad day for so many kids at heart, who still see Bryant the way they did when they were a little boy or girl, but all good things must come to an end. Thank you, Kobe, for inspiring so many kids just like me.
SCHMIEG is the asst. sports editor.
sports
B4 | April 12, 2016 | Liberty Champion
The drought is over
Women’s lacrosse snaps eight-game losing streak with win over Longwood Will Collier wcollier@liberty.edu
The Lady Flames lacrosse team edged the Longwood Lancers 12-11 on a chilly afternoon to end their eight-game losing streak April 6 at the Liberty Lacrosse Field. The win marked the first time Liberty had defeated Longwood in Liberty’s short women’s lacrosse history. Liberty pushed the Lancers to 6-6 on the season and 1-2 in conference, while Liberty improved to 2-10 and 1-2 in Big South play. “On our end, we were giving up a ton of shots and we’re not generating shots and we kind of flipped that today,” Liberty Head Coach Kelly Nangle said. The brisk breeze cooled down the Flames to a slow start, while the Lancers came out firing. Longwood senior and reigning Big South defensive player of the week Shiloh McKenzie netted two early goals back to back to give the Lancers a quick 2-0 lead. A free position shot by Lancer sophomore Hollyn Royster pushed the lead up to 3-0, but the Flames would have an answer. Seconds later, Flames freshman Brianna McCaffrey scored her fourth goal of the season to cut into Longwood’s early lead. At the 16-minute mark, Liberty freshman assist leader Kayla Foster set up junior Michaela Rich’s goal that cut the lead to one. Lancer’s McKenzie stayed hot collecting another goal to return Longwood’s lead back to two. The Lady Flames stormed back to take the lead with three unanswered goals when Senior Kallie Britton scored two goals just seconds apart. Foster followed up with a goal of her own to grab the lead for Liberty at 5-4. Longwood closed the half with a couple of goals to take a 6-5 lead into the break. “I had to kind of keep them, just tell them, ‘Hey you’re doing all the right things, it’s going to fall,’” Nangle said. “If we just keep executing what we’re doing trust me we’ll win this game.” After being corralled for the entire first half, the Lancers leading scorer Katie McHugh finally found the net to get the
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
POSITIONING — Abby Britton carries the ball down the field in the Lady Flames win over Longwood. first goal of the second half. Britton helped Liberty answer first with an assist to sophomore Katy Pridemore. Britton then followed by netting two goals to help Liberty take the lead back, 8-7. Senior Callie Francis surged pass the defense to score giving Liberty its largest lead of the game at 9-7. The Lancers battled back once again with three goals from three different players to regain the lead 10-9. A second goal from Francis tied things up again at 10 apiece in this game of runs. Liberty took the lead for good when Foster scored her second goal of the contest with the assist from freshman Hannah Pridemore. Rich then cushioned the lead to 12-10
with a crucial goal with 1:54 remaining on the clock. But just seconds later, the lead was cut to one by Longwood’s senior Lisa Schell’s goal with 1:41 in regulation. With 45 seconds left, Liberty turned the ball over and the Lancers charged up the field with a chance to score. “Even at the end of the game when we turned it over, we said in our huddle that we’re going to get it back,” Nangle said. The Lady Flames defense clamped down to force a clutch Longwood turnover with 20 seconds on the clock to seal the game. “Our team has never been one not to play with heart,” Britton said. “We have a lot of heart, a lot of energy, and I think it was just tapping into that in the second half.”
Nangle praised her defense’s effort and highlighted the hustle of senior Melanie Via who faced guarded the Lancers leading scorer McHugh. “We held her to one goal, that’s something that’s really overlooked because it’s a tough job,” Nangle said. “You don’t get any stats face guarding someone.” The Lady Flames hit the road and head to High Point, North Carolina to play the High Point Panthers, Wednesday, April 13 at 4 p.m.
COLLIER is a sports reporter.
‘Walk a little taller’
For Dot Richardson, being a coach means much more than athletic success Cierra Carter cmcarter18@liberty.edu
Most coaches have great passion and skill within their field of play, helping them to lead their teams to success. Dot Richardson is the epitome of that statement. Hired in July 2013, Richardson hit the ground running, helping to design the Liberty Softball Stadium and bring in a whole new class of recruits who buy into her system. The Lady Flames softball team has continued to improve and see increased success since Richardson arrived in Lynchburg — an event she recalls as a call from the Lord, as she also considered retirement or political involvement. “I said my prayers, and this time pretty diligently … ‘Lord, how can I serve you more, I know that you have a plan for me … Whatever it is … I will be 100 percent in, all I ask is that you make it perfectly clear,’” Richardson said. “The next morning I get a phone call from the athletic director Jeff Barber of Liberty University.” The 2015 season was the team’s first in the new stadium, and with it came a new level of competition. In front of the home crowd, the Lady Flames boasted a 13-10 record, their first winning home record since 2011. The 2016 season looks promising, as they hold a 7-3 home record. As her many achievements within the sport would show, Richardson certainly is the ideal woman for the job. As a two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time World Champion, five time AllAmerican, among many other accolades, Richardson’s experience on the field has given her the
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
LEGEND — Flames Softball Head Coach Dot Richardson has turned the Flames into a winning program in less than three years. ability to lead well. “Softball and coaching is really about mentoring, it’s really about being that role model,” Richardson said. “I want to be that Christcentered role model as much as I can.” In February 2016, Richardson was named one of Sport Management Degree’s 30 most influential women in college sports with the likes of
Pat Summitt and Lisa Leslie. “It’s definitely humbling,” Richardson said. “When you think of all of the women that are involved in collegiate athletics, to be considered in the top 30 is, like I said, a big honor.” Back in 2006, the NCAA celebrated its centennial with a list recognizing the athletic and academic achievement of 100 former student athletes. Richardson
was chosen as 43 on the list in the company of Dean Smith, Vince Lombardi, Mia Hamm, and Michael Jordan, just to name a few. Richardson insists that no matter what successes may come on the field, only one thing truly matters. “The most rewarding (thing) is to see the difference in the lives of our student-athletes,” Richardson said. “When you see them
walk a little taller, you see them more self assured and more confident that their life has meaning, meaning beyond the softball field and sport, that is what is impactful.”
CARTER is a sports reporter.
feature
Liberty Champion | April 12, 2016 | B5
Lights, camera, prep Student Activities and Event Productions collaborate to produce Coffeehouse
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
BEHIND THE SCENES — Event Productions worked for more than 12 hours April 9, starting at 11 a.m., sound-checking the acts. Abby Sweeney asweeney8@liberty.edu
Liberty University’s Coffeehouse showcases the finest talent and musical performances of the student body every semester, all thanks to two departments: Student Activities and Event Productions. Each semester, Student Activities decides on a theme. This Spring Coffeehouse was The Legends, paying tribute to musical legends that have influenced music for decades, like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. “In the spring we pick a theme pretty early on and start developing from there,” Director of Student Activities Stephanie Ward said.
Ward leads a team of more than 20 people that work together from the Student Activities side of Coffeehouse. “This is an ‘all hands on deck’ event, so our entire staff of 20 plus play a role in making Coffeehouse happen,” Ward said. The weeks leading up to Coffeehouse are spent preparing and planning for the one event. “From marketing to stage production to tryouts, there’s always something going on behind the scenes to bring students the best for each show,” Ward said. The other half of planning and preparation comes from the Event Productions department. While Student Activities plans the event, Event Productions is largely in charge of the creative aspects,
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such as how the stage and lights will look. “As you watch Coffeehouse, each performance has its own look to it,” Operations Manager of Event Productions David Lenehan said. “It will have its own design.” According to Lenehan, Coffeehouse is different from the weekly Convocations because of how large an event it is and the type of performances. “(These are) all music performances,” Lenehan said. “There (are) giveaways going on, there’s a lot of audience hype, there’s emcees, and it’s just a gigantic production. This is the biggest student event that we do on campus each semester.” According to Lenehan, Event Production starts working with Student Activi-
ties early in the semester. After reviewing tryouts, the Event Productions team begins building the layout of the stage and planning the lighting needed. With Coffeehouse being such a largescale production, the Event Productions team uses the most of the production equipment on campus. “When we do really large concerts or Coffeehouses, we bring in essentially twice as much as we have for Convocation or other things throughout the year,” Lenehan said. According to Lenehan, the entire Event Productions team is involved in setting up for Coffeehouse the weekend of the show, which consists of about 18 student workers and 15 full-time employees. “It’s a huge number of man hours that go into the show, for sure,” Lenehan said. The Event Productions team spent the day setting up for Coffeehouse after Convocation Friday, April 8. They ran sound checks with the acts Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. up until just before the show at 11:30 p.m. “It’s a lot of work, and it’s a lot of fun,” Lenehan said. While Event Productions sets up the technical side of Coffeehouse, Student Activities spends the weekend setting up the decorations. “I am proud of the Student Activities team and impressed semester after semester with their hard work and dedication,” Ward said. “We love serving the student body in this way.” After months of planning and preparing for the event, it all comes together on the night of the show. “My favorite part about Coffeehouse is the moment when the lights go off and the show begins,” Ward said. “Hearing the crowd laugh, sing and cheer easily tops the cake — those are the moments that remind me that what I do matters.”
SWEENEY is a feature reporter.
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B6 | April 12, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Creative contestants
Six students advance to finals in annual Photographer’s Forum competition
Katelyn Rutt kerutt@liberty.edu
Six Liberty University students were recently announced as finalists in the Photographer’s Forum (PF) 35th Annual College & High School Photography Contest. Their photos are featured in the PF 2015 book and given distinct recognition. The yearly PF contest is open to high school and college photographers across the country. With a small entrance fee, students are allowed to submit an unlimited number of their own black and white or color photographs. “I first heard about this contest from a friend who entered last year and won,” finalist and graphic design student Joel Isimeme said. “Professor Isaacson (a photography professor at Liberty University) also talked about it in class and really encouraged me to give it a shot.” Originally from Nigeria, Isimeme spent his summers at home drawing and painting. Shortly after arriving at Liberty, he began experimenting with a friend’s camera and quickly discovered his passion for photography. He saved his money and eventually bought his own camera and lens. “I started shooting a lot wherever I went,” Isimeme said. “The picture I entered was one that I took while working at a camp in the summer. … Every Sunday the counselors would paint their faces in tribal colors, so I thought it would look really in-
tense if I could capture it in low light.” Finalist and criminal justice student Hannah Baker also said that she chose a dramatic look for her photo entry. “We don’t ever get snow where I live, so I was taking a lot of photos and trying to see how it would work in the evening,” Baker said. “I used flash on it and modified the settings and was able to get a good picture out of it.” In elementary school, Baker found her niche for art. During high school, she took a few camera classes and fell in love with photography. She is currently taking it as a minor at Liberty and plans to enter other photo contests in the near future. Digital media student Dylan Harrell also added photography as a minor after he arrived at Liberty. He said that he has always enjoyed taking pictures and videos as a hobby. “Even as a kid, I loved messing around with cameras,” Harrell said. “At the start of high school, I did videos and photos of me and my friends playing paintball and airsoft. … That’s what really got me doing it consistently.” Currently, Harrell enjoys landscape photography and takes a majority of his favorite shots during his hiking adventures. “The photo I entered was from one morning when my girlfriend and I went to Humpback Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a sunrise hike,” Harrell said. “We went up when it was completely dark,
and right when we got to the top, the sun peaked over the horizon and it made for an ideal shot.” Graphic design student Brian Funderburke also uses hiking as a chance to practice his nature photography. His contest entry featured a scenic view of Sharptop Mountain in autumn. “My passion for photography started when I went on a mission trip to Ethiopia (sometime) after my freshman year,” Funderburke said. “I borrowed a cheap pointand-shoot camera from my sister for the trip and the whole time I was taking pictures nonstop.” During his time at Liberty, Funderburke’s passion for photography has grown. He said the PF contest gave him a chance to get a sense of his competition, as well as gain exposure in the field of photography. Ronald Johnson, a graphic design student, also used the contest as a platform to share some of his work. Initially, Johnson was hesitant to enter because he was unsure of his skills as a photographer. “In one of my classes, I was forced to enter a photography contest, so I decided to enter in this one while I was at it,” Johnson said. “Sometimes you don’t feel as talented as other people, so I’m extremely grateful that my parents were willing to sacrifice their money so that I could test my skills and get that kind of encouragement.” Johnson said he took the photo last year at the weekly Farmer’s Market on campus.
Interestingly enough, it was the last photo that he submitted into the contest. “I didn’t think it was good enough for the competition,” Johnson said. “My mom actually made me enter it, and looking back I’m so glad she did.” Graphic design student Michela Diddle also entered one of her older, yet favorite photos into the contest. In fact, she shot the picture in high school and rediscovered it when considering an entry for the PF contest. “When I was a senior, I was editor of the yearbook and did a lot of the school’s photography,” Diddle said. “I asked if I could shoot a dress rehearsal because I love ballet, so I went backstage and that was one of the scenes. … It was just perfect.” Diddle said that since then, photography has given her a unique opportunity to break out of her comfort zone and build many new relationships. She adds that she enjoyed participating in the contest because it gave her a chance to share both her work and passion with others. “It’s such an honor to have your photo chosen out of all the other entries in the country,” Diddle said. “It’s all about exposure, recognition and getting your stuff out there.”
RUTT is a feature reporter.
Photo By Brian Funderburke
Photo By Hannah Baker
Photo By Dylan Harrell
Photo By Joel Isimeme
Photo By Michela Diddle
Photo By Ronald Johnson
feature
Liberty Champion | April 12, 2016 | B7
Upcoming activities LaHaye Student Union offers several events throughout the month of April Alexandra Ramey aramey3@liberty.edu
From fitness to fun, the LaHaye Student Union has been hosting more than 100 different events annually for many years, according to Sam Seaborn, the assistant director of the LaHaye Student Union. Seaborn said the role he plays in these events is to inform the LaHaye staff of the events approaching in the near future, answer questions people may have, and reach out to those planning the events. According to Seaborn, the goal for hosting these events is to encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle. “I think a lot of it is … to help people (and) encourage people too,” Seaborn said. “It’s just good for the mind and the body. … We wanna promote what we have to offer.” Heather Callahan, the fitness coordinator for the LaHaye Student Union, said LaHaye wants to engage its members in its culture. “We strive to provide quality services to our patrons, and through these programs, we can really get them excited and involved while enhancing their overall well-being — socially, spiritually, mentally, and physically,” Callahan said. In preparing for the events, the co-workers of LaHaye meet together to discuss different needs and logistics. Callahan said an outline is also created for the individual events and the staff involved with it. “The prep work for each event is unique to the event, but they all need some form of marketing, outlining and staffing,” Callahan said. According to Callahan, the Bench Press Competition has been an event hosted for more than 10 years now. Callahan said some other regular events are the Flow Arm Balance Workshops and the Inversion Workshops. She said that
Kallie Britton| Liberty Champion
ENGAGE — LaHaye Student Union encourages students to accomplish their fitness and lifestyle goals through workshops. LaHaye typically tries to balance different events that hold innovative programs to intrigue its members. “When you purchase a LaHaye Student Union membership, you have the opportunity to utilize a variety of recreation facilities including the LaHaye Recreation and Fitness Center, Thomas Indoor Soccer Center, David’s Place and Outdoor Pool,” according to the LaHaye Student Union page on Liberty University’s website. Seaborn said some of the other events coming up include a Wellness Series Event April 19 in the aerobics studio about caf-
feine and whether it is a dangerous supplement or whether it enhances an individual’s performance, and a log-rolling competition at the David’s Place pool on Liberty’s campus April 19, 21, 26 and 28. “The fitness programs coming up are the ... Bench Press Competition on April 23 and the Flow and Myofascial Release Workshop on April 30,” Callahan said. Callahan said the events for each semes-
ter are planned before the semester starts. Jamie Swyers, the associate director of fitness and programs, gathers together events from different parts of the department at LaHaye and puts them into a programming calendar which is made available at the start of each semester. For more information about these events, go to www.liberty.edu/campusrec/ studentunion/index.cfm?PID=30329.
RAMEY is a feature reporter.
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B8
FEATURE
April 12, 2016
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
TAKE CENTER STAGE — LU2’s front man, Charlie Eivens, sang a rendition of U2’s ‘With or Without You’ Saturday night, April 9 at “The Legends” spring Coffeehouse.
Legendary performance Student Activities’ Coffeehouse showcases student talent with classic style Hannah Elliott helliott9@liberty.edu
rium as members David Duque and Abby Muller of the band Stained Glass Windows serenaded the audience with a Civil Wars cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean.” “This Coffeehouse was unique for me,” Duque said. “In previous coffeehouses, I’ve played with a full band, (but) this time I liked the intimacy of it being a duet, and I think this song suited Abby and I well. I also felt that the stage being in the crowd added to the intimate nature of the song (and) it allowed us to really connect with the audience. I would say tonight ranks up there as my first or second favorite experience.” In between acts, videos submitted by students depicting “Legends of Liberty” were displayed on the screen. One video called “What Liberty University Students Say,”
featured some of the most common and humorous things students discuss in their weekly routines on campus from Convocation to adventures at the Reber Thomas Dining Hall. Other videos such “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “Liberty Legends” showcased some of Liberty’s most beloved faculty and staff singing along to “I Wanna Dance” by Whitney Houston and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Liberty President Jerry Falwell Jr. and wife Becki Falwell even joined in on the fun in “I Wanna Dance.” During “Liberty Legends,” appearances from former professor and co-founder Dr. Elmer Towns, Evangelism professor Dr. David Wheeler and Liberty Flames Men’s Basketball Coach Ritchie McKay had the
crowd screeching sporadically with excitement. However, when former campus band leader Justin Kintzel surprised the audience with a special cameo on the video sharing the message, “#Imissyou,” screams from the crowd could not be contained. “The video clip of @justinkintzel at #SACoffeehouse made my night #wemissyouJustin,” Liberty student Cameron Thacker tweeted. Justin Kintzel, a recent member of Liberty’s Campus Band moved with his family during the 2014-2015 school year to Colorado and now lives in Oklahoma according to his Facebook page. “Screamed a little too loud at that @ justinkintzel appearance and felt heavily judged by the freshman around me #missyoutoo,” Liberty student Brittany Shearin tweeted. Throughout the night SA also presented awards in between videos and performances for “Best of ” categories, which featured best male and female actors, best country artist, and best rock band as well as best male and female artist. They also offered a chance to win gift cards by playing a game of “Name that Celebrity,” showing various pictures of well-known legends to students retrieved from the audience. After a long night filled with laughter, dancing and some guitar smashing, Coffeehouse ended even more intensely than it started. While all the performances showcased incredible energy and talents, the last act of the night astonished listeners with its musical ability. The Vegan Llamas ended the evening with a legacy all their own after the group’s mind-blowing guitar solos during its cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” according to Liberty student Will Grahams. “I cannot even put into words how incredible their performance was,” Grahams said. “The riffs from the bass guitarist left me absolutely speechless. I don’t know that it’s possible to play “Free Bird” better than Lynyrd Skynyrd, but if it is, they definitely did it.” As the spring semester reaches its close, many students will look ahead to the fun awaiting in December’s Christmas Coffeehouse while graduating seniors will reminisce about what some students called a legendary night. “My last #SACoffeehouse was nothing short of Legendary,” Liberty senior Amanda Baldwin tweeted. “I wouldn’t have wanted to go out any other way.”
Colossal roars shook the ground of the Vines Center April 10 as opening band Smooch, decked out from head to toe in black apparel, metallic spikes and painted faces, prepared the crowd to “Rock n’ Roll All Night” at this semester’s “The Legends” themed Coffeehouse. Hosted by Liberty’s Student Activities (SA), more than 5,800 students enjoyed the night set to honor some of the most influential performers in music, television and film according to Director of SA, Stephanie Ward. The Coffeehouse stage welcomed returning performances from dance crew the Peacemakers, Swing Dancers and D-Trex, who creatively remixed songs made famous by legends such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Elvis Presley to showcase their thrilling moves. “In my four years at Liberty, that was the greatest performance D-Trex has ever done,” Liberty student Makayla Maddox said. “They are always amazing, but they absolutely killed that routine tonight.” The night also featured returning bands such as Jake Zeigler and the Locals, who rocked Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and got the crowd up and moving with their energized performance. “Jake and Rachel are incredible performers,” Liberty student Jason Wells said. “The way they hit those notes and just the level of personality they have on stage blew my mind.” Throughout the evening, students heard a range of genres from R&B, pop, rock and heavy metal from bands such as the Undecided Majors, Punch Face Champions, Stewie Dew and the Crew, LU2, High Hopes, Prior Knowledge as well as Harry and the Champions for Christ. Students were encouraged to tweet during the event using #SACoffeehouse to share their thoughts on the many acts prepared for the night as well as take to the concourse, where scenes from movies, shows and bands were staged as picture booths. Acapella group the Trebles in Paradise took the crowd by storm in their rendition of Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time,” receiving a standing ovation for their harmonic medley. “Treble in Paradise had me swooning today,” Liberty student Katey Roshetko tweeted. “They were simply phenomenal!” Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion The shining lights of camera phones swaying from side to side filled the audito- LYNYRD SKYNYRD — Vegan Llama’s, Noah Felten, played ‘Free Bird’ with the band. ELLIOTT is a feature reporter.