Coffeehouse a huge success B8
Tennis tournament B2
LIBERTY CHAMPION Today: T.Storms 77/48 Tomorrow: Sunny 72/47
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Libertychampion.com
Volume 29 • Issue 19
Proposed tax hikes, fuel debate
equestrian center
Omar Adams
oadams2@liberty.edu
Tabitha Cassidy tcassidy@liberty.edu
The proposed city budget for Lynchburg, Va. has caused some controversy within special groups working inside city limits. While the City Council tries to prepare a balanced budget by raising various taxes to help offset some service fees, restaurant owners worry about the loss of patronage from the proposed tax increases, and local property owners say they will be forced to pass the costs on to tenants. According to the proposed operating budget for the Fiscal Year 2013, tax increases include a one percent increase in city meals tax. A $.10 increase in real property tax and service charges, such as a storm water management fee, are expected to increase. According to City Manager Kimball Payne, these tax and service fee increases are put in place in order to balance the city budget and to help avoid cutting back on public services. Specifically, the meals tax increase will go toward helping rebuild Heritage High School. The articles on A3 will be part of a series ran on taxes in the following weeks with the Liberty Champion.
Paige Blanton | Equestrian Center
jumps — Students who are trained in horse racing, jumping and showing are able to practice their skill at the barn.
Equestrian Center open Ashley Addington anaddington@liberty.edu
I
n hopes of being able to house more horses, Liberty University’s Equestrian Center will continue with construction throughout the summer. Caroline Martin, the official barn manager, has become the “go-to” person for relations between the barn and the management of the university. “We have accomplished so much so far with the center. There is still much
work that needs to be done. This summer, the center continues to plan to work on pasture fencing for the area to be able to hold more horses. We have 11 right now and hope in the near future to house up to 48. The main entrance to the barn will hopefully be completed this summer, along with progress on the cross country ring and the dressage arena,” Martin said. The barn is focused on making all horse disciplines feel welcome and at home. “We aren’t just particularly great at
See TAXES, A3
just one area of riding. We are very good at a bunch of different things,” Martin said. The barn recently held a CFAW open house where potential students could look around and learn more about horses. This past CFAW, over 65 visitors attended and showed great interest in being a part of the facility. Students who do not know much about horses or would like a chance to experience them are more than
Upcoming Voting Dates April 9, 2012 — last day of voter registration for City Council election April 24, 2012 — last day to apply for absentee ballots by mail or fax
See HORSE, A6
Mass. campus not for Liberty Administration has declined the offer to expand into New England Brittany Laird bhlaird@liberty.edu
After paying a visit to the campus, Liberty officials have reached a decision regarding their interest in the Northfield, Mass. property being offered by the Green family. “The campus was once home to the Northfield Mount Hermon prep school, which was founded as a girls’ school by Moody in 1879,” the Associated Press states. After taking time to weigh the options and seek each other’s council, they were able to come to an agreement on the offer for the property. “The decision was that we
could not justify taking over the operation and responsibility of the entire campus at this time,” Godwin said. The property was purchased by the Green family after the school relocated in 2005. The Greens originally intended to give the property to a college that the C.S. Lewis Foundation was starting until it ran into some financial difficulties. As a result of the uncertainties, the Greens have begun searching for other potential owners, according to the Associated Press. Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr., Vice Chancellor Dr. Ron Godwin, Executive Vice President Neal Askew, Director of
Auxiliary Services Lee Beaumont and several others were given a tour of the property. The tour included a visit to every building on the campus, according to Godwin. Liberty’s use of the campus would be limited to only a select number of buildings during a limited number of weeks each year. The buildings would be used for intensive type classes for students who would prefer to take classes closer to home rather than attending the current campus in Lynchburg, Va., according to Godwin. “It is an absolutely stunning campus and beautiful location,” Beaumont said.
Godwin describes the campus as not only a beautiful location, but a historic one as well. He and the other officials are awaiting the Green family’s response to their decision. “We’re very grateful and appreciative to the Green family for offering this opportunity to Liberty along with, we understand, several other institutes,” Godwin said. “We just appreciate being included in that number of schools that the Greens even considered taking possession in whole or in part of that institution.”
April 27, 2012 — U.S. Senate Primary-absentee voting begins May 1, 2012 — City Council election (Wards seats) May 21, 2012 — Last day of voter registration for U.S. Senate primary June 12, 2012 — U.S. Senate Primary
Photo provided
LAIRD is a news reporter.
Chipotle — Coming soon to Wards? See next issue for more details.
INSIDE THE CHAMPION
News
Birthday
Dr. Harold Willmington celebrates his 80th birthday and many years at Liberty . A8
Sports
Events
Team clinches playoff berth. B1
International students prepared homeland meals for students. B5
Lacrosse
Taste of Nations
News Opinion Sports Feature
A1 A4 B1 B8
NEWS
A2/Liberty Champion
April 3, 2012
Various schools move to fourth floor
Victoria lind
vlind@liberty.edu
In the weeks since spring break, a few changes have been made regarding classroom locations. Science and art classes that were held in the Spiritual Life and Academic Building (SLAB) are now located on the fourth floor of DeMoss because of ongoing construction around campus. The Helms School of Government and Visual Communication Arts gallery are also located on the fourth floor now, bringing new changes for students and staff alike. Following the signs on various halls of the newly furnished fourth floor leads to the new Helms School of Government (HSOG). Dean of HSOG Stephen Parke is pleased with the relocation. “The new location is close to students and close to classrooms,” Parke said. “The move was seamless overall.” The moving process took place the week before spring break and was completed by the time students came back from classes,
Amy Marquez | Liberty Champion
arts — The Visual Communications Arts Department is one of many that moved to the fourth floor. according to Charles Spence, director of planning and construction. The SLAB building is currently in the process of being demolished entirely, signaling a new phase of university development. In the next few years, the
Jerry Falwell Library and a lawn for students to relax on and enjoy will go in its place. The new C. Daniel Kim International Student Center, located on the second floor of DeMoss near the grand foyer, is in a new central location. International
and graduate student Carrie An is planning to go to the center more often thanks to its proximity within DeMoss. “It’s in a very convenient location,” An said. “Even though it’s a little smaller than the one before, it’s still convenient to hang
out with other international students.” Chemistry professor Nancy Richardson is just one of the many professors who had to pack up their classroom to the fourth floor. Richardson says so far, she enjoys the new location and is looking forward to what all the current construction holds for the future. “I’m looking forward to all the new facilities and the overall impression,” Richardson said. Although students may notice a bit more distractions from construction crews hard at work around campus, Spence reassures that all the detours and excessive noise are for a good cause. In the end, it will be “seamless to the education process as much as possible.” “We’re making sure the school has everything they need to educate the students and, in the end, it’s what we know we’re all here for—to educate champions for Christ,” Spence said.
LIND is a news reporter.
Summer class preview Melissa Gibby mfgibby@liberty.edu
Registration is now open for most Liberty University student groups, and some are taking advantage of the courses being offered in the summer to try and knock out a few credits before the fall term. According to Director of Liberty University Summer Programs Kenny Rowlette, Liberty has been offering residential summer classes since 2002, and more than 1,000 students stay in Lynchburg for the summer semester. Most classes being offered this summer are in the English, Math and Worship departments, according to the registrar’s office. During summer 2011, the most popular courses taken by students were Biology and Chemistry classes, in addition to the traditional prerequisites of BIBL 110, New Testament Survey, COMS 101, Speech Communication, CRST 290 and History of Life, according to the registrar’s office. The new Cinematic Arts department will also be offering three core classes required for the Cinematic Arts’ program, according to Liberty’s website. The core courses include Introduction to Screenwriting, Intro Motion Picture Directing and Introduction to Cinematography. “In today’s economy, the average student owes about $20,000 in loans. Therefore, Liberty has given everyone an opportunity to save money by taking summer school courses. What we’re trying to do is provide people with an opportunity to cut back on the total amount of money they’re spending on courses, and also to increase their chances of finishing,” Rowlette said. The price of classes is $325 per credit hour, according to Rowlette. “Liberty University offers a number of
classes with a diverse number of schedules—four week, three week, two week and one week,” Rowlette said. Freshman Emiliy Martsolf is finding the summer session to be a smart financial investment in paying for college. “Over the summer, I am taking four classes,” Martsolf said. “I am going to benefit by jumping over sophomore status into a junior status.” Martsolf also noted that she would be saving money on the cheaper classes and even more money on the cost of room and board. Another asset of staying for summer classes is that it allows the student to expedite their degree program. For junior Tony Hamernick, taking summer classes will allow him to graduate sooner since he changed his major from pre-engineering to aviation after coming to Liberty. “I’m taking Survey of American History in class and Philosophy 201 online. I want to stay on campus to take extra flight training over the summer,” Hamernick said. “If I take extra classes, I can finish by next summer and graduate on time, especially with getting the extra flight training time.” Throughout the summer, the LaHaye Student Union will remain open. Sodexho also remains open throughout the summer and provides students with dining services at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall, according to Rowlette. Registration for summer classes began Jan. 30, and online registration ends April 27. After that date, students will still be able to register for open classes but will have to do so in person or by contacting the Student Service Center, according to Liberty’s website.
GIBBY is a news reporter.
Champion corrections Here at the Champion office we do our best to make sure that everything we run in the paper is correct information. However sometimes we make mistakes, and when we do we want to aknowledge and correct it. The “Dog park” article in the March 6th issue that the Champion said was written by Melissa Gibby, was actually written by Jessica Rowell
PhotoProvided
preperation — Student Rebecca Garrett prepares for her presentation.
Presenting research
Kate Powley
knpowley@liberty.edu
The College of Arts and Sciences will hold its first undergraduate scholarship symposium on April 5 from 6 to 10 p.m., where students will orally present or demonstrate their academic achievements. The goal of the symposium is to allow students from all departments of the College of Arts and Sciences to present and explain research or studies from their fields in a professional atmosphere. Students will be showcasing their detailed posters that have data and models for their research, or other demonstrations within their field of study. Students were required to have the approval of a professor who is overseeing their projects before submission to ensure professional presentations. “As their professor we can work alongside of them. We’re kind of teaching them in a new environment about things like networking and how to be professional,” Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Gary Isaacs said. Isaacs is also a cochair of the Annual Meeting Symposium for the College of Arts and Sciences. According to Isaacs, most students do research on things that have not yet been examined or tested. “ It’s not about getting an ‘A’ but about getting out and doing their job … Most students are trying to find new things to do that professors don’t know the answer to,” Isaacs said. One example of a student working hard for something yet to be discovered is senior Rebecca Garrett, who will be pre-
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senting a poster on epigenetics and Alzheimer’s disease. She worked alongside Isaacs and several other students from the department of biology and chemistry for the research and poster. The study was also something that was meaningful to Garrett. “My grandma has Alzheimer’s, so it’s something that is really personal to me. When I told my aunt and grandma I was doing this, they were really excited for me,” Garrett said. But the symposium meeting has more to offer students than just to showcase work and practice professionalism. “If you want to go into research, this is really crucial,” Garrett said. “It’s really awesome that Liberty is starting something like this so students like me, who want to go into research, can build up their resumes and (curriculum vitae).” Furthermore, Isaacs and the other chairs of the symposium are hoping to have an “administrative push” for students in these fields to participate in the symposium. They are still trying to figure out how exactly to incorporate it into students’ curriculum. Many colleges participate in similar events that are put on by the Virginia Academy of Science (VAS). Isaacs hopes that Liberty can one day be a sponsoring school for a VAS meeting. “Come and check it out,” Isaacs said. “I want other people to be excited about what the College of Arts and Sciences is all about.” POWLEY is a news reporter.
The Champion encourages community members to submit letters to the editor on any subject. Letters should not exceed 400 words and must be typed and signed. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Letters and columns that appear are the opinion of the author solely, not the Champion editorial board or Liberty University. All material submitted becomes property of the Champion. The Champion reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any letter received — according to the Champion stylebook, taste and the Liberty University mission statement.
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NEWS
April 3, 2012
Liberty Champion/A3
Tax increases cause ruckus Restaurant owners oppose meals tax doesn’t seem fair to me.” According to the proposal, the meals tax is expected to generate $1.7 million. Plunkett said the city recently borrowed $25 million to build the school, and the $1.7 million is being used to pay off interest that the money accumulated. The fact that tax on meals is already one of the highest in Virginia — Lynchburg currently has an 11.5 percent meals tax — is ruffling the feathers of many restaurant owners, Plunkett said. If the proposal is accepted, Lynchburg would tie with Covington for the second highest meals tax in Virginia and would fall slightly behind the Town of Orange, which charges eight percent before state tax is added. “Eleven point five percent is already a little bit embarrassing to explain,” Plunkett said. “(My customers) look at us for the answer, because it’s on the bill.” A recent survey by the Tax Foundation looked at 50 of the United State’s largest cities and their meals tax rates. Comparing Lynchburg’s proposed tax hike to some major U.S. cities, the city on the survey with the highest meals tax was Minneapolis at 10.775 percent. “You might come from a major metropolitan area that has more major infrastructures and public services than we have here and the taxes there are lower,” Liberty University’s Vice President of Financial Research and Analysis Richard Martin said. This tax, along with the other tax increases being proposed, is necessary to produce a balanced budget, according to Payne. “We have to produce that balanced budget and we have to make those choices,” Payne said. “It’s a challenge. City Council is very diligent in doing their job.” According to Payne, if the budget is rejected then the City Council will need to start considering which public services to reduce or even cut. “Everything from clos-
Tabitha Cassidy tcassidy@liberty.edu
Dining out could get more expensive if the current proposed city budget is accepted. According to the 2013 Fiscal Year budget report released by City Council, the Eat for Education tax proposal is suggesting a one percent increase to raise current local taxes from 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for all meals bought in the City of Lynchburg, raising the total from 11.5 to 12.5 percent. The reason for the tax increase, City Manager Kimball Payne said, is to produce a balanced budget without cutting services to the City of Lynchburg. “In a nutshell, the city has been struggling for the last three years with the recession that we’ve gone through,” Payne said. “We’ve seen our costs for services go up considerably while our revenues have remained flat.” The revenue from this particular tax is going into a fund to help pay for the rebuilding of Heritage High School, according to Payne. A group of restaurant owners recently got together to try to protest the proposal. Bob Plunkett, the group’s spokesman and the director of operations for Shakers Restaurant and the Neighbors Place, said that he believes this tax increase to be unfair. “Why make us the ones that would have to collect the most taxes? Why make us look like the bad guy,” he said. Plunkett said that he also feels that the fund the money is going into does not benefit everyone. “Typically when you build a high school or a school, the people that live in the community where that school is, they’re the ones who usually foot the bill for that,” Plunkett said. “Sure, we get a lot of people (in our restaurant) who eat there from the City of Lynchburg, but we have just as many eating there from the other counties. That
Omar Adams oadams@liberty.edu
FYI
The current budget proposal can be viewed on the City of Lynchburg’s website. Visit lynchburg. gov for exact details. ing fire stations, reducing public safety expenditures, libraries, museums, parks, programs, things like that, would have to be eliminated — some of those to produce a balanced budget,” Payne said. While restaurant owners are not worried in a complete loss of revenue or that 12.5 cents on every dollar will completely stop a person from eating out, they are slightly worried that people may begin cutting back on the amount of times per week that they eat out, according to Plunkett. “If you give anybody a reason not to spend in Lynchburg, this thing could pack a lot,” Plunkett said. According to Martin, if the budget is accepted, then Liberty students’ Flames cash money would not be worth as much. “If the meals tax goes up…, obviously a smaller portion there gets used for food and more on taxes,” Martin said. The art of creating a balanced budget and making everyone in the city happy is nearly impossible, according to Payne. “Some people use services, some people don’t use the same services. So the challenge for any local government is to try to figure all of that out,” Payne said. A public hearing on the proposed tax increases will be held tonight, Tuesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. For more information, visit lynchburgva.gov. CASSIDY is the news editor.
Top 10 meals tax rates among major U.S. cities Minneapolis, Minn. 10.775% Chicago, Ill. 10.75% Virginia Beach, Va. 10.5% Seattle, Wash. 10% Washington, D.C. 10%
Property tax affects students
Phoenix, Ariz. 9.3% Memphis, Tenn. 9.25% Wichita, Kan. 9.3% Nashville, Tenn. 9.25% Omaha, Neb. 9.5%
Lynchburg, Va. 11.5%
College students may face higher rent payments for the fiscal year 2013 as the City of Lynchburg struggles to balance its operating budget with mounting costs from a poor economy, increased state and federal mandates and investment programs intended to revitalize the city. Property taxes are main source of revenue for Lynchburg’s general fund. According to the City Assessor’s Office, property values have been increasing, while the tax rate has remained at $1.05 per $100 of property value. To rectify this, City Manager Kimball Payne has recommended increasing the tax rate by $.10 to $1.15 — the highest since 1995, when it stood at $1.18. “The property tax proposed increase would go into what we call non-dedicated revenue, which will support everything — schools, public safety, parks, libraries,” Payne said. “We have $163 million general fund budget, so that the additional $5 million the tax will generate will just go to support all of those activities.” In the proposed 2013 budget, Payne offered a balance of expenditure cuts as well as the revenue increases. He found 31 personnel positions within the city that could be eliminated to save costs, since personnel make up 60 percent of the budget. Ultimately, Payne cut roughly $4 million in expenses from various programs. Added expenses still outweighed the cuts, including higher Virginia Retirement System (VRS) costs totaling $1.4 million and $3.7 million for increased school mandates and benefits — and the school board has requested an additional $4.7 million. Extra costs like $1.8 million for the Heritage High School debt service reserve, $1.6 million for jail facilities to counter state funding cuts, $533,000 for the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC) and the new EPA-mandated stormwater utility added to the burden. Many local residents still oppose the tax hikes, however, saying that the city could cut other costs such as the proposed fiveyear Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The $165.7 million
“What people don’t realize is that businesses don’t pay taxes per se — they pass it along to the consumer” — Josh Jones
Tax rates — This graphic shows the highest meals tax rates among major metropolitan areas. All of the rates listed are state and local taxes combined. Lynchburg’s 2013 budget proposal would increase the tax to 12.5 percent. Of the 50 cities on the Tax Foundation’s list, all but 17 have meals tax rates below 9 percent, including New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia and Boston. The city with the lowest meals tax was Milwaukee with 5.65 percent.
CIP combines building and infrastructure repair with general improvements and downtown economic redevelopment like the Bluffwalk project along Jefferson and Commerce Streets. The first $12 million of the program is included in the 2013 budget. “Personally, I think it’s a waste of money,” Heritage Park Apartments owner Josh Jones said. “The only thing they’re doing, I think, is they’re spending money downtown when there’s other things they should be spending money on — more important things.” The Lynchburg native said safety and parking are more pressing concerns than redevelopment. Jones said he does not like to take his wife to dinner downtown because the limited parking available is now metered, and he thinks it is a dangerous area. Apartment tenants, including local college students, will end up paying the property tax increase themselves. Jones already pays more than $17,500 in taxes on his apartments, according to the City Assessor’s Office, and the increase will cost him an extra $1,600. He will have to “eat” the costs until current leases expire, but then Jones and other landowners will be able to increase rent fees to make up the difference, he said. “What people don’t realize is that businesses don’t pay taxes per se — they pass it along to the consumer,” Jones said. “Everybody’s going to have to pay it.” Whoever pays the tax increase, Payne feels the most significant issue affecting local residents and their decisions on where to live is $4 per gallon gasoline, not higher taxes. He said residents’ daily commute to work will have a greater impact on their wallets. As the city attempts to balance residents’ concerns, however, Payne said there is no simple solution. “I don’t know if it’s as simple as saying, ‘This is the top thing, and we’re going to do nothing else,’” Payne said. “We have a lot of conversations … about our core services, and I think that most people will agree that if you’re trying to build a community from scratch, you’d first of all want it to be safe. … The question is what level of public safety? We’ve talked about the difference of public safety services in the counties as opposed to public safety services in the city.” The next budget hearing will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at City Hall.
Source: Tax Foundation
ADAMS is the web editor.
Elliot Mosher | Liberty Champion
1. media hope uses videos to express military appreciation 2. Students participate in relay for life — a pro-life event at liberty university 3. the annual junior/senior gala at liberty will take place april 14
Media Hope
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relay for life
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VISIT THE CHAMPION’S WEBSITE AT WWW.LIBERTYCHAMPION.COM. check us out on facebook. gala
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OPINION
APRIL 3, 2012
Congress neglects trafficking Act
Jason Bailey jbailey4@liberty.edu
With Freedom 4/24’s Run For Their Lives race just around the corner, many residents of Lynchburg are turning their attention to the international atrocity that is human trafficking. Despite the rise of awareness about this topic in America — largely thanks to organizations like Freedom 4/24 — it seems that our own government has yet to attend to the problem. According to www.humantrafficking.org, the practice of human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of slavery, commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. Basically, a modern-day form of slavery. This alarming and disgusting practice is occurring both domestically and internationally. Shockingly, most Americans are completely unaware of the commercial practice’s existence. The New York Times recently reported that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a law against such practices, expired at the end of 2011. Even more alarming is the fact that Congress has yet to reinstate the act and continue enforcing it. Ironically, USAToday reported that President Barack Obama declared January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month. “Trafficking networks operate both domestically and transnationally, and although abuses
Runfortheirlives.net
Run for a cause — Run For Their Lives is just one example of Americans’ growing passion for the international atrocity that is sexual exploitation and human trafficking. disproportionally affect women and girls, the victims of this ongoing global tragedy are men, women and children of all ages,” Obama said. “And we recommit to bring an end to this inexcusable human rights abuse.” That’s a great start by our Commander in Chief. I admire the president’s perspective on this topic. It is encouraging to know that he doesn’t ignore dilemmas like this that threaten the innocence and security of women and children. But the victims of this barbaric practice could use a gavel with a little more gravity.
Unfortunately, despite the U.S. government’s strong commitment to combat this sadistic practice, www.humantrafficking. org reports that an estimated 14,500-17,500 people — primarily women and children — are trafficked to the U.S. annually. According to the New York Times, President Obama’s response to these statistics remains encouraging in a press release he made in December 2011. “My administration continues to implement our comprehensive strategy to combat human trafficking in America,” Obama
said. “The steadfast defense of human rights is an essential part of our national identity, and as long as individuals suffer the violence of slavery and human trafficking, we must continue the fight.” According to www.humantrafficking.org, the U.S. government has bolstered its game plan to combat this hideous business on national soil by providing millions of dollars in grants to organizations all over the world to implement programs in order to fight trafficking. These programs include disseminating information on the dangers
of trafficking, strengthening the capacity of non-governmental organizations to protect those groups from abuse and violence, and outreach and economic opportunity programs for those at risk of being trafficked. The hearts and intentions of political icons such as President Obama are encouraging. However, the news and statistics shared by credible human trafficking websites makes me wonder if the battle for human rights will ever be completely rectified. Sadly, political prowess, controversy of budget cuts and innovative approaches appear to spearhead the top priority of most politicians. According to the New York Times, a reauthorization bill has also been offered in the House, although it’s not without unnecessary modifications. It would, for example, shift financing for victims’ services to the Justice Department from the Department of Health and Human Services, which is already the focus of much heated debate with the changes to ObamaCare. Meanwhile, the battle for the sanctity of human life continues to wage domestically and internationally. Congress needs to expedite the process of reauthorizing the crucial act that thousands of children and victims of human trafficking so desperately need. BAILEY is an opinion writer.
America needs better Easter mascot Has observing the true religious meaning of holidays become a thing of the past? Troy Dauksys tadauksys2@liberty.edu
Officially, Easter — commonly known as the holiest day of the Christian liturgical year — is the recognition of Jesus’ Resurrection. In addition, Easter is also celebrated through the use of a spectacularly sneaky Easter bunny that hides delectable eggs all throughout lawns and gardens. And the use of a candy-giving bunny to detract from the greatest day in human history is strange in more ways than one. It’s comical to consider how a rabbit could have anything to do with eggs. Don’t get me wrong — I absolutely loved the Easter bunny as a child, even though I never got a chance to spot him. But the real thing to consider is why a bunny was chosen at all. A more sensible approach would have been the use of a benevolent candy-bringing bird, or at least something that could actually produce eggs to begin with. Even
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Journalism is all about controversy — especially when we are talking about opinion articles. Our job as journalists is to present the news and, in some cases, present our opinions on current events. This past issue of the Champion featured an opinion article, written by a student, regarding a very controversial topic — voting. You may say that voting is not controversial and that everyone should just do it. Well, I agree with you there,
a slithery snake could be a believable Easter mascot, despite the fact that a sweet and goofy Easter bunny is less likely to terrify small children than a beady-eyed reptile. But, as with the sleigh-riding, treasuretoting figure of Santa Claus, the inclusion of a popularized comedic figure into a once-religious holiday has only served to detract from the importance of the Easter season. A time when families should be coming together to remember the cost of their freedom from sin has slowly but surely eroded into chocolate-eating contests and egg-painting parties. Now, we wake up to a basket of candy — maybe a small present, if you’re lucky — and a local Easter egg hunt in which hundreds of kids ignorantly celebrate the glorification of a rascally rabbit. Eggs, bunnies and miraculous birds aside, the Christian community should be actively seeking to reign in a holiday that has slipped through our collective fingertips and into the realm of pop culture.
but when we bring into play politics and opinion there are going to be some disagreements. Opinion writing is about getting people to think. We, at the Champion, want people to read our content and develop their own arguments. Voting, in my opinion, is vital to the longevity of our nation. If a person decides to wave their constitutional right to have a say about what Bollinger happens in our nation, then so be it. But, I do not agree. As I stand, I would rather have any of the “not-so-great” Republican candidates sitting in the Commander in Chief chair than the current President. Therefore, I will sign my name to their ticket. It is not about finding a perfect candidate — that is a fairytale longing that simply will never come true.
A natural theme of the Easter season is a new beginning, a fresh start. In recognition of this, a growing number of Christian have taken up the month of Lent, a practice in which a person gives something up for 40 days in recognition of the fasting of Jesus in the wilderness. In this way, Lent is the spiritual precursor to Easter and is a time of penance and fasting to ready Christians for the celebration of Christ’s sacrifice, as well as his victory over sin and death. But many people misunderstand the point of Lent, or don’t want to take into consideration its purpose to stimulate spiritual and personal growth. According to an article in the NY Times, the season of Lent itself is based on a “wilderness” — the one in which Jesus fasted for 40 days after his baptism. An article by Dr. James L. Wilson in Thoughts About God said, “Back in the 1880s Nietzsche declared that ‘God is dead,’ and before the turn of the 20th Century, Shaw and Wells chimed in say-
The only perfect leader is Jesus Christ, and until the day comes that he reigns and rules over all the earth, we will be forced to choose from the candidates he allows to run for President. Daniel 2:21a says, “He changes times and seasons, he deposes kings and raises up others.” God knows what he is doing. Regardless of what we think of the candidates, God already knows the outcome he has ordained. It is our duty as Christians, Americans and followers under an imperfect leader to utilize our right to vote in a way that favors the principles of God. We are responsible for the blood of the unborn who are slain if we choose to sit idly and allow America to elect a President in favor of abortion. We are responsible for condoning the sinful actions committed through the passing of same sex marriage laws. We are responsible. A letter to the editor was written regarding this opinion piece, and in it a great point was made. In Matthew Jesus tells the parable of
ing the 20th Century would mark the end of the world’s ‘religious phase.’” To this, Wilson responded: “Nearly half of the United States’ population attends worship on a regular basis while revival is sweeping through Latin America and Christianity grows behind China’s iron curtain” — a fact that proves religion is far from dead. It is important for us as Christians to uphold the true cause for celebration this Easter. There’s nothing morally repugnant about painting eggs or getting candy, of course. But there is something wrong if we fail to go to church and remember the powerful, earth-shattering story of Christ’s ultimate victory. In the meantime, though, we should still consider petitioning for a more appropriate Easter mascot. DAUKSYS is an opinion writer.
the talents. Specifically, the man with the one talent who hid it as to not make any wrong choice or lose what he had. When his master returned to see what he had made of the talent, he told him he had buried it to keep it safe. He had set it aside, waived his right to use it, and let it gain nothing. The master was furious. He took what the man had and gave him nothing in return. God has given us the right to vote. We are called to use it as best as we can, to further his kingdom. Just because you think there is nothing amazing to say doesn’t mean you cut out your tongue. Just because there is nowhere you see fit to go, you do not cut off your legs. We are all entitled to our opinions. But, as editor in chief of the Liberty Champion I would like to say we do believe voting is important and beneficial. We also believe articles such as Nate Brown’s spur on conversations that, in the end, make us stronger.
NEWS
April 3, 2012
Liberty Champion/A5
Eighty years dedicated to God Bible guide author and Liberty professor prepares to celebrate birthday Brittany Laird bhlaird@liberty.edu
Dr. Harold Willmington has spent half of his life at Liberty University. Turning 80 this week, Willmington has been with Liberty since the second year after its inception and his impact on the university has inspired many students over the years. Willmington is a man of many occupations, including pastor, author, teacher, dean and visiting professor, according to his biographical information. His work as an author began many years prior to the release of his first book—before he had considered writing a book. “I decided when I entered the ministry that I really needed to be able to think my way through the Bible,” Willmington said. To learn more about the Word of God, he gathered 66 sheets of paper and dedicated one to each book of the Bible. On each page he wrote everything that he thought that he, as a pastor, needed to know about each specific book. After finishing the Bible, he created 12 sheets of paper dedicated to the great doctrines, according to Willmington. “When I finished, I had 78 pages of world famous information,” Willmington said. What became the basis for “Willmington’s Guide to the Bible” was taken from those sheets. He has written 20 books beginning in 1974 with “The King is Coming” and continuing through this year. His most recent book is “What the Bible says About the Trinity.” The back of this book describes it as being
Photo Provided
Willmington — Harold Willmington (left) poses with Jonathan Falwell (right) for a photo. “one in a series of ‘basic BibliHe was offered a position at Liberty Home Bible Institute, cal beliefs’ which have been held the school which he initially de- now known as the Willmingby both Liberty University and clined upon his belief that he ton School of the Bible. Since Thomas Road Baptist Church was called to be a preacher. It 1976, over 102,000 students (TRBC) from their very begin- took him between three and four have signed up to be a part of ning.” months of praying to determine this institute. These students This book discusses “finger tip that this was the Lord’s calling have come from all 50 states and facts” such as angels, Satan and for his life and not just an oppor- 40 different countries over the the Holy Spirit, according to tunity, according to Willmington. years, according to Willmington. Willmington. “In June (of that year), my wife Even amid all of his accomIn February 1972, Dr. Jerry and I and Matt, my son who is plishments, Willmington does Falwell canceled a week of class- now the associate pastor of min- not take credit for how far he has es so that students could listen istry development and family come. He believes that the true to Willmington teach about the ministries at TRBC, and our dog hero is his wife, Sue Willminglife of Christ. This was his first drove down,” Willmington said. ton. visit to the campus, according to During his first few years at Sue Willmington took on the Willmington. Liberty, he was able to begin the deaf ministries at TRBC in 1972
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when their family arrived in Lynchburg. “For years I was known as the husband of the deaf interpreter,” Harold Willmington said. The Willmingtons will have been married for 51 years in the beginning of April. Together they have three grandchildren, Nathan, Carissa and Abigail, all of whom are involved with Liberty University or Liberty Christian Academy in one way or another, according to Harold Willmington. Harold Willmington is always looking for ways to invest in the students of Liberty University. He loves interacting with students and learning more about each one as an individual. His advice to students is that they seek the Lord by not only reading but also heeding the instructions in the Bible. In doing this, students have no reason to worry about their futures. “We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future,” Harold Willmington said. The impact that he has had on the Liberty community reaches not only students, but faculty as well. Eva Middleton, his administrative assistant, describes him as a humble, kind and generous man with a great sense of humor. “It’s been my privilege to work for him, and I mean that sincerely,” Middleton said. “He walks the talk. I’ve learned so much from him.”
LAIRD is a news reporter.
NEWS
A6/Liberty Champion
April 3, 2012
Liberty busing system to change soon Tabitha Cassidy tcassidy@liberty.edu
The possibility of severing ties with GLTC has Liberty University considering increasing the amount of service that it selfoperates. According to Director of Auxiliary Services Lee Beaumont, Liberty is still looking to purchase roughly 20,000 hours of service from GLTC next fall. However, the majority of bus transportation provided to students will either be from a self-operated busing system by the university, or a private company will move into Lynchburg to provide its services, according to Vice President of Financial Research and Analysis Richard Martin. “Regardless of what this decision is about, who operates what, there are a couple of things that will remain,” Martin said. “Our focus is to be efficiently moving people within the campus, but primarily focusing on getting commuters and employees to campus and reducing the mandatory dependency on a single occupancy vehicle.” Vice Chancellor Ron Godwin said that one of the reasons Liberty has decided to begin siphoning off the hours it purchases from GLTC is because of costs. “All of those factors play some part in the decisions that are being made,” Godwin said. “It is absolutely true that providing the best possible, most timely service is a very significant expense. So managing the costs and at the
Ashley Elia| Liberty Champion
new system — Liberty may be initiating its own transit system. same time balancing our concerns of rising costs and continuing to provide the best service is part of the challenge.” According to Martin, a decent amount of GLTC’s operating hours, roughly one third, comes from Liberty. This year, GLTC received 1.1 million passengers from Liberty, with an expected 1.25 to 1.3 million riders next year, Beaumont said. With so much ridership originating from Liberty students, costs to keep students satisfied and to meet ridership needs have been rising. According to a report released by the GLTC earlier in the year, the actual annual operating expenses for Liberty averaged out to be $1.4 million. And the price was expected to continue growing. This is a decent rate in terms of the service that Liberty is receiving, Martin said. To understand the reasons
behind the split, then, becomes tricky. According to Martin, the GLTC receives public funding from the federal and state government that is used for various routes run by the transit company. Despite this, Liberty still has to pay a certain rate for service, Martin said. “That top line cost before grants is going up fast,” Martin said. “And we wouldn’t have too much of a problem with that if the type of service that GLTC currently provides was the only way of providing transit services to a large campus. But we’ve been studying other colleges and bigger schools. There’s a lot of different ways that are much more cost effective.” After meeting with GLTC again, Martin said that the school has had another opportunity to address its concerns. The main concern was that regardless of what Liberty did, the cost of
services was dependent on third party factors either not in control of the GLTC or that were decisions of GLTC board members that impacted the school. “If the city does not increase funding for the GLTC, they either have to cut more routes or increase Liberty’s cost so that money can be used to fund those routes,” Martin said. “And our concern was that we really needed a scenario where the Liberty University community was held harmless to that.” According to Martin, that scenario was possibly expanding its own transit system within the Liberty community, since the university already operates half of the services. “There are some private folks we can pull into Lynchburg that will be able to help,” Martin said. “We’re also confident that if it came down to us, we would be able to operate the system by ourselves.” Currently, Liberty operates between 44,000 and 45,000 bus hours, Martin said. Of that number, roughly 22,000 are already being run independently of GLTC and completely by Liberty, he said. Most of those self-operating hours provide late night services around Liberty’s campus and from the university to various apartment complexes. University administrators are trying to help make it easier for students and faculty to get back and forth from campus without needing to use a vehicle, Martin
ALD says farewell to graduating seniors Melanie Oelrich moelrich@liberty.edu
The Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) Honor Society hosted an annual awards banquet honoring 122 graduating seniors Saturday, March 31. ALD is a cross-disciplinary honor society that looks at student’s grades during their first year and initiates them during their sophomore year when they can serve as “officers.” Associate Professor for the School of Business Dr. Colleen A. McLaughlin was the keynote speaker for the evening. McLaughlin spoke on the topic of “Finishing well,” with reference to the Scripture passage of Ephesians 6:10-18. She told the students to close their eyes and imagine their dream job after graduation. “God gave you that dream, and you should focus on developing goals and surrounding yourself with godly men and women as mentors,” McLaughlin said. She
proceeded to share her testimony of being abused as a child, her road to salvation following abuse, the diagnosis of a rare, incurable muscular disease and earning a PhD with a 4.0 GPA. Several distinguished awards were handed out during the banquet. The Maria Leonard Senior Book Award, named after the organization’s first national president, is offered by the National Council for each chapter. The award is granted to the graduating member with the highest GPA in the class. This year, 10 students tied with 4.0 GPAs. As a result, National Geographic’s book titled “Through the Lens” will be donated to the library in their honor. The Jo Anne Trow Award for the Liberty University Chapter is an award that includes an undergrad or graduate scholarship, ranging up to $6,000. Recipients from Liberty were 201112 ALD Chapter Officers
Brian Mauldin (president) and Katherine Wood (co-president of external communication). National winners will be announced in July. Dr. Marilyn Gadomski, a psychology professor and ALD faculty advisor, attended the banquet Saturday evening and shared how watching the seniors graduate is similar to a special chapter of life. “It’s kind of like raising children. They start very young and immature, and it’s just so good to see them on the other end of that, becoming much more mature students,” Gadomski said. “Because the students come in as sophomores, we see them when they don’t have very much leadership ability, and we watch them leave here with life plans made,” Gadomski said. Sophomore pre-law major and ALD president Brian Mauldin expressed his pleasure of the overall turnout of the event, describing it as “inspiring.”
In regards to future plans, Mauldin expressed interest in continuing his law degree at law school. “I’m really interested in Constitutional law, but we’ll see where the Lord leads,” Mauldin said. Wood said the banquet was really encouraging for her. “I thought I would just be serving and seeing what it would be like when I’m a senior, but I received a lot of motivation just from talking with people at my table,” Wood said. Wood, a member of the honors program, mentioned that even if she doesn’t win the award, it was still a good experience just to apply for it. She also recognized how watching the seniors graduate with high honors is an important example to follow. “I think it’s really exciting, just knowing that they’ll carry out what they learned here.” OELRICH is a news reporter.
said. Students that rely on the GLTC to get them back and forth from campus will not need to worry about their transportation next fall, according to Martin. “Regardless of what happens with GLTC, it’s our intention that the students can continue to ride the city GLTC routes to and from Liberty for free next year,” Martin said. Liberty is planning to expand service to commuters in several areas, according to Martin. Route 86 — service to Old Mill, Forestbrook, Walden Pond and Park Place apartments — will be extended to 9 p.m. The existing Old Forest Road Wal-Mart park and ride route will be converted into a commuter/apartment/ park-and-ride lot that will operate hourly from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Liberty is also designing “innovative” park-and-ride/apartment route solutions to Wards Road and Fort Avenue to use the new tunnel and bridge. Martin said they are working with apartments that have “expressed interest” in supporting the new routes. He expects them to be beneficial to many students. “We’re going to do our best to continue those services,” Godwin said. “We’re certainly not sitting here plotting and scheming on how to deprive students of transportation.” CASSIDY is the news editor.
HORSE continued from A1 welcome to come up and take a lesson. “Students who want to become more involved can email me and we will set them up with a time to come up, get personal instruction, and enjoy some time in the saddle,” Martin said. Riding is free for current Liberty students. Those interested in bringing their horse with them are able to use the barns for boarding. “I have been riding since I was five years old,” Cecily Marker said. “I came to Liberty because I could bring my horse Winnie, who is a 14-year-old Arabian Quarter horse cross. This place has turned into a tiny community for me and it has been absolutely great to find my own niche with people who all have the exact same interest as me.” The center plans to have more publicity and become better developed as time goes on, including adding on potential club teams in the next year. “I think this whole addition to the university is
really great. I remember when I was a student, how I wished something like this was here,” assistant barn manager Mary Hedrick said. “I think it will greatly attract more students in the future so they can continue to ride along with enjoying their studies.” According to Hedrick, the new center gives students a chance to experience the outdoors and try something that captivates so many people. “I absolutely love the staff here. They are so caring for my horse Robinhood. The center is so individualized for every single horse that is here. I love having my horse here at school with me, especially since I live in Michigan. It’s like having a little piece of home with me,” Chelsey Jordan said. Students and faculty are encouraged to check out the new center and discover their inner equestrian capabilities. For more information, contact Martin at cgmartin4@liberty.edu. ADDINGTON is a news reporter.
April 3, 2012
NEWS
Liberty Champion/A7
Photos provided
Japan Earthquake — Williams (left) was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan when the 2011 earthquake and tsunami hit. Navy Barge YON-287 carries 225,000 gallons of fresh water for Fukushima (middle). Sailors aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier received their orders to head north and assist with the recovery effort (right).
Petty Officer 2nd Class Todd Williams: Reservist
Omar Adams oadams@liberty.edu
Liberty University student Petty Officer 2nd Class Todd Williams spent one year in college before enlisting in the U.S. Navy — in part to help pay for the year’s $15,000 in student loans. After enlisting in November 2005, he worked as a Full Time Support (FTS) office worker stationed in Virginia Beach. “More or less, (FTS) is active duty reserves,” Williams said. “I worked at the different commands where the reservists would come in and do their two days a week and two weeks a year, and I was in support of the reservists.” Following his three-year station in Virginia Beach, Williams shipped out to Yokosuka, Japan — a city at the mouth of Tokyo Bay and 200 miles south of the now-infamous Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Williams continued his FTS work at Yokosuka Naval Base as one of only two FTS sailors at his command. “We had multiple exercises about every month that the reservists would come out to, and I did logistics for all that,” he said.
“I made sure all their orders got paid for, made sure they got their orders in on time before they got there, made sure they had a hotel and made sure they had all the proper paperwork handed back to them when they were leaving.” Just as Williams was preparing to leave Japan after his two-year station, the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami shattered the country March 11, 2011. Even though he was hundreds of miles south of the quake, he felt its effects immediately. “Oh, I felt it,” Williams said. “I was about 400 miles south (of the epicenter) still.” Williams was in the process of turning his apartment back over to the landlord to move out when everything started shaking. “My apartment was on the fourth floor, and there was another building maybe within 50 feet from our building, and you could feel and see them shaking,” he said. Japanese ingenuity saved the surrounding areas from any major damage, according to Williams. Newer buildings were built specifically to survive large earthquakes. “The way it works is that, in the newer
parts of Japan, the buildings aren’t attached to the ground physically — they’re set on rollers, so when the ground shakes, the buildings don’t break,” he said. “The main area that got hit, though, was an old part of Japan, so that’s why the earthquake just decimated everything — everything was torn down.” Every ship in port left immediately to help with the recovery effort, including aircraft carrier USS George Washington, and fleet staff were flown in to oversee everything. The fleet detected minor traces of radiation, Williams said, but it was nothing to be concerned about. “Within a few days, there were very minor detections of radiation in Yokosuka, which is about 200 miles south of Fukushima, but the amount of radiation was so minor that it didn’t mean anything,” he said. “It’s only within those 12 miles (around the Fukushima Daiichi power plant) that it’s really nasty.” After leaving his FTS role and officially joining the Navy Reserves, Williams returned to his old command at Yokosuka in July and August 2011. Some of the other sailors told him they had been on 12-hours-on, 12-hours-off shifts for two
months straight assisting the Japanese people. The U.S. government has a Status of Force Agreement (SOFA) with Japan. According to Williams, it is basically a contract saying that the U.S. agrees to station forces in the country to help in times of crisis. “Japan has asked us to be there, and it’s more or less what we do here (in the U.S.) — be on guard,” he said. “Having duty stations and ships all over the world is just a quicker way to respond to different catastrophes.” While the Navy may call upon him to help with crises in the future, for now, Williams will be studying mathematics for three more years at Liberty. He goes to Greensboro, N.C. once a month and to Norfolk, Va. two weeks a year for his Navy commitment. Following graduation, he intends to enroll in a master’s program and renew his Navy contract for another six years with the ultimate goal of becoming a math teacher. ADAMS is the web editor.
NEWS
A8/Liberty Champion
April 3, 2012
Forensics team to compete again Cherie Jamison cnjamison@liberty.edu
Liberty University’s Forensic Speech Team won in its division at the National Christian College Forensics Invitational in March and came in fourth place overall. Following this success, the team held a showcase of their work Wednesday, March 28, in the Department of Communication Auditorium in DeMoss Hall. “We’re the top Christian school for how many students we had participating,” Forensics Coach and Graduate Student Assistant Meagan Roper said. Roper, who has been working with the forensics team since August, introduced the showcase by giving a short history on the team. The forensics team began in the 1970s under Dr. Cecil Kramer but was inactive for years before being revived in 2009. “We now have seven active students and this year alone have brought home 166 awards,” Roper said. According to Roper, the forensics team competes in 20 different tournaments per year over the course of 10 weekends. There are three different branches in which the team members can compete, including platform speech, interpretive speech and limited preparation.
Michael Johnson | Liberty Champion
forensics — The Liberty Forensics Speech team presents at an exhibition. “The platform speeches are all written by us. The interpretation speeches are things we pull from literature,” junior Colin Dowd said. Dowd has been involved with the forensics team since his freshman year. Dowd and junior Josh Wade, a fellow team member, performed a duo interpretation entitled “What Teachers Make” at the showcase in addition to their solo interpretative work. In order to put these interpretive pieces together, Dowd said the forensics team pulls from different mediums of literature,
including newspaper clippings and books. “We’ve been doing our duo speech since October. When we first put it together, I would say we probably put 40 hours into it,” Dowd said. “Once you get the actual speech written, you have to tweak it constantly.” Freshman Whitney Rutherford, whose informative speaking piece called Philanthrocapitalism won first in the nation at the National Christian College Forensics Invitational, said she puts hours of research into perfecting her
Day of Life success Lindsey Birchfield lsbirchfield@liberty.edu
Five pro-life leaders came to Liberty University to share their testimonies and encourage students to minister to women affected by abortions Friday, March 30. Students who are members of Lifeline, which hosted the Day of Life event, go weekly to the Planned Parenthood facility in Roanoke, Va. to pray for and minister to the women going to have an abortion, according to President of Lifeline Lillian Otieno. Day of Life was a two-day event that featured a panel discussion Friday night and sidewalk counseling at Planned Parenthood Saturday. Otieno felt Day of Life made the issue Lindsey Birchfield | Liberty Champion of abortion more real to students. “It brings the issue home in a tangible logo — The pro-life club logo and way to individuals of how they can make flier was pasted all over DeMoss hall last a difference,” Otieno said. week. The panel discussion began with a testimony from the Senior Minister of Pulse Basham expressed how grateful she was ProLife Ministries Joshua Edmonds. that her family to encouraged her not to Edmonds said that hearing the statistic have an abortion. “Thank you, God, that you gave me that every 60 seconds three babies are aborted in America inspired him to get parents that wouldn’t let me go through with an abortion,” Basham said. involved with the pro-life movement. Basham encouraged students as they Edmonds explained that many people see abortion murder. He said that society sidewalk counsel to have resources to should take the value of a human person offer the woman in need. A veteran sidewalk counselor, Shirley back to the basics. “Personhood is determined at the Joslin, organized many pro-life events in very moment of conception by God,” Roanoke, such as 40 days for life. Joslin struggled for years with the pain from her Edmonds said. Edmonds encouraged students to focus choice to have two abortions. “I knew God forgave me, but in my on the future, not the past, and said that heart I couldn’t forgive myself,” Joslin their voices will save lives. Four women who had experienced said. Liberty’s Lifeline continually works at least one crisis pregnancy spoke on the panel and shared their testimonies. alongside Joslin in sidewalk counseling at Three out of the four women had at least the Roanoke Planned Parenthood. Nicole Cooley was once one of those one abortion themselves. Lori Meetre is the executive director women walking into an abortion clinic to of the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center in terminate her pregnancy. Cooley is the Lynchburg and shared the mission of Virginia Project Director at the Center the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center and for Bioethical Reform. Cooley shared her story of how she the story of the abortion she had when was date raped while she was in the she was 18. “I was 18 and in a crisis pregnancy, military and then chose to abort the baby. “I thought this abortion would make and that’s what I chose,” Meetre said. Meetre explained she was pro-life the rape go away, but after the abortion I before she became pregnant and after felt I was raped again, only worse because the abortion she experienced many emo- I consented to the assault,” Cooley said. Along with the other speakers, Cooley tional and spiritual consequences. The scars not only affected her, but also the especially encouraged the students as baby’s father, who is now her husband, Christians to get involved. “If Christians don’t care about aborand the four children they had years later. According to Meetre, it is important to tion, then we have no hope to end it,” show genuine care for the women them- Cooley said. Students who are a part of Lifeline selves, not just the baby, because they also then took the knowledge they learned need counseling and love. Another facility in Lynchburg that from the panel discussion and went out reaches out to women in crisis pregnan- in the field for pro-life ministry. cies is the Liberty Godparent Home. Godparent Home Director Janelle Basham went through the Home herself when she became pregnant at 17. BIRCHFIELD is a news reporter.
speeches. “I’m checking week by week – even day by day – to get new sources,” Rutherford said. In addition to her informative piece, Rutherford performed an improvised speech at the showcase. She was given two minutes to prepare and five minutes to perform a persuasive speech based on a random quote handed in by a professor attending the event. During the time she was given, Rutherford pieced together a speech connecting the Disney film “Finding Nemo,” Starbucks
CEO Howard Schultz and Thomas Jefferson to the Tina Turner quote “What’s love got to do with it?” Rutherford, who has been doing forensics and debate since high school, said she sees herself continuing in forensics for the foreseeable future. Rutherford and Dowd both expressed that people interested in doing forensics should try it but warned that joining the team takes dedication. “It’s not something you walk into perfect. It takes growing a passion for it,” Rutherford said. “It’s definitely an experience. You grow so much as a communicator and as a person. The professionalism you gain from this experience is absolutely incredible,” Dowd said. The forensics team will compete in the American Forensics Association (AFA) National Individual Events Tournament April 6-9 at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. The following week they will participate in a National Forensics Association (NFA) competition at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, from April 19 to 23.
JAMISON is a news reporter.
Assesment Day A B C D
Elliot Mosher | Liberty Champion
Tests — Students will be assessed on basic collegiate knowledge for accrediwwtation purposes.
Assessment day
Required SACS testing day quickly approaching Brittany Laird bhlaird@liberty.edu
Liberty University will hold its annual Assessment Day April 18, but this year there is a new twist. While the morning departmental sessions, which begin at 8 a.m. and run until 12:30 p.m., remain similar to the ones in previous years, the afternoon surveys will be completely different than in the past. This portion of the assessment process has been recreated in such a way that students can take the survey digitally, eliminating not only the hassle of waiting in lines but also the need to come to campus for some students, according to Associate Director of Assessments Monique Baucham. Although this is a required event, it benefits students in the long run. Assessment Day gives students the chance to express their point of view on the campus and their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the school. This, in turn, allows the university to grow and change, giving students the best possible education and college experience, according to Baucham.
“We use the results for planning and campus wide improvements,” Baucham said. Every department is effected by the results of Assessment day, including Information Technology, the Registrar’s Office, Student Accounts and many others, according to Assessment Specialist Liz Pyburn. “From here forward, we will be able to identify issues that were addressed by the students,” Baucham said. The digital portion of the assessment can be accessed through handheld devices and computers from 1 p.m. until midnight on Assessment Day, according to Baucham. Pyburn believes that with the minimal amount of effort that this digital assessment requires, participation will not only remain constant, but will potentially increase, especially for commuter students. Upon the completion of the survey, each participant’s name will be entered into a drawing. The prizes include items such as Liberty logo hoodies, Flames Cash, Nintendo Wii Consoles, iPod Touches, iPads and Nook e-readers, according
to Baucham and Pyburn. As done in years past, convocation and all classes that day are canceled, with the exception of classes that only meet once a week on Wednesday. Students will be notified by their particular department if they will be required to participate in the morning departmental assessments. The afternoon assessment requires the participation of all residential students. One of the surveys administered on Assessment Day is through the Card Services Office. This survey will include questions regarding the ways students use Flames Cash, according to Pyburn. Assessment Day will give students the chance to express their point of view on a wide variety of topics. This is their chance to make a difference in the operation of Liberty University, according to Baucham. “A lot of students want to give their opinion. This is their opportunity to speak,” Project Coordinator Crystal Beams said. LAIRD is a news reporter.
SPORTS
APRIL 3, 2012
Beach volleyball added to intramurals
top of their game
Jay Sir ysir@liberty.edu
Students trodded bare-foot on white sand, casually dressed in shorts and Tshirts, while referees watched from the side, standing on the red tape boundaries that marked the volleyball court outlines. Others sat in the grass nearby, sifting the sand between their toes while they chatted in the sun. The intramurals office held an openplay preseason day for the new beach volleyball league on Wednesday to commemorate the return of beach volleyball to Liberty University. Beach Volleyball was originally a part of intramural sports but, due to poor conditions of the playing fields in it’s previous location at David’s Place, it didn’t blossom into a regular sport. Now at its new location next to the lacrosse fields on Campus East, students can enjoy beach volleyball anytime they want and even get a feeling of being near the ocean, as sprinklers in the lacrosse fields will occasionally bring some “ocean spray” over to the volleyball courts. “We’re excited about the new volleyball courts,” intramural volleyball supervisor Bethany Sgandurra said. “There will be 48 teams that will be participating in the league and it will be a lot of fun.” The regular season beach volleyball games will run for three weeks, with each game being played on Sunday nights at Campus East. After the season, there will be a week of playoff games to decide the season champion. The teams will consist of four members — two male and two female. Although registration for the teams has already passed, all students are invited to come and enjoy the volleyball courts. “It’s a great place to hang out,” league participant Joseph Collins said. “We can just relax here, play volleyball and get some sun while we do it. We’re excited to play in the season. We’re not very good at volleyball, but hopefully it will go well.” The Liberty Intramural Sports program organizes and hosts seasons for a variety of sports including basketball, soccer, flag football and now, beach volleyball. SIR is a sports reporter.
Ruth Bibby| Liberty Champion
in stride — Men’s lacrosse clinched a playoff berth after Friday night’s win over Southern Virginia.
Liberty nixes Knights
McQuillan’s Flames were able to flex their muscles against Southern Virginia Paul Frazier pfrazier2@liberty.edu
T
he Flames hit the back of the net less than two minutes into Friday night’s lacrosse matchup and never looked back as they went on to crush in-
state opponent, Southern Virginia, 21-6. The Flames improved to 7-1 on the season and clinched a spot in the playoffs. “I think we played well,” junior captain Michael Zumpano said. “Obviously, the score dictates a well-played game. We still
made a few mistakes but we’re a young team, and I think we’ve made a lot of improvement and we’re only going to get better.” The Flames imposed their will early, scoring five unanswered goals to start the game. The closest the game
ever got was when the Knights scored two unanswered goals, one late in the first quarter and the other early in the second, to make it 7-3. The Knights had momentum on their side,
See LAX, B4
Lady Flames take one of three from Winthrop In Big South play, the Lady Flames drop the doubleheader against Winthrop, but win Game Three
and I wish we could have won for her because she pitched so well.” Lady Flames right fielder Jenny Law led the team with a double and a single, and Nichols reached base twice against Winthrop’s Natalie Becker, who threw seven scoreless innings for the win. The Lady Flames had no trouble getting runners into scoring position, but they could not scratch out a run, stranding a runner on second base in five out of seven innings. DiMartino thought a lack of aggressiveness at the plate might have caused some problems. “I guess today we got caught watching third strikes,” DiMartino said. “Other than that, we’ve been doing better than we have been over spring break. We’ve slowly been improving even though the results don’t show it.”
Greg Leasure gleasure@liberty.edu
Jonathan Pearson jwpearson@liberty.edu
Mark Meyers mameyers@liberty.edu
All it took was one home run off the centerfield scoreboard for the Liberty Flames softball team to let a 1-0 game slip away against the Winthrop University Eagles on Friday afternoon. The opener of the three game series, played at Liberty’s softball field, featured brilliant pitching by both teams, but Lady Flames starting pitcher Alyssa DiMartino allowed a fourth-inning home run to Winthrop’s Chelsey Schoenfeldt that turned out to be the game’s only run. “The other team had noticed the catcher was giving the changeup sign, and they yelled ‘changeup,’” DiMartino said. “I didn’t know, and they just sat right on that changeup and took it right over.” Aside from Schoenfeldt’s blast, neither team was able to get a runner past second base all afternoon. “Other starts, I’ve had a shaky start and I would not get com-
Kate Schoener| Liberty Champion
Wound up — Ayssa DiMartino pitched two solid games for the Lady Flames. fortable until maybe like the third or fourth inning, but I seemed to settle in right in the beginning
this time which is good,” DiMartino said. She threw a complete game, allowing only five hits.
“She did really well,” freshman third baseman Hanna Nichols said. “She pitched her heart out,
Game Two In the second game of the day, the Lady Flames lost 4-2 and their troubles seemed to stem from the plate. Lady Flames pitcher Alyssa DiMartino was
See SOFTBALL, B3
SPORTS
B2/Liberty Champion
April 3, 2012
Les Schofer, Ruth Bibby| Promotional Publication, Liberty Champion
it’s all love — Rebekah Jenkins (left) and the Lady Flames have been rolling since the end of spring break, winning the last six of seven matches. Tristan Stayt (right) and the men’s tennis team looks forward to travel to Farmville and face the Longwood Lancers Tuesday.
Lady Flames keep hot with win, men stumble Lady Flames keep improving as they won six of seven matches Kyle Harvey khavery@liberty.edu
The Lady Flames tennis season has been a tale of two halves. Fans that followed tennis prior to spring break would have barely recognized the team of girls that took to the courts Friday in their 4-3 victory over the visiting Campbell Fighting Camels. Prior to spring break the Lady Flames had only managed a 1-9 record, but since the break the team has pulled off a nearmiraculous string of victories, going 9-1 and hitting the .500 mark with just three matches left in the season. “We’ve been talking over the last several weeks about courage and what it takes to overcome the fears that come with what we do,” head coach Chris Johnson said. “We started in the book of Psalms with David, and we learned about the humility he had before the Lord and how it correlates with bringing courage to the court. I was just really proud of them because, obviously, we had a tough start and now we’ve won nine out of 10, so it’s pretty obvious that we’ve really achieved the humility and the courage that it takes to overcome the fears.” The team traveled together over spring break down to Florida and played several non-conference matches that put them back on track. “We had such a rough beginning of our season and over spring break we worked a lot of things out,” sophomore Rebekah Jenkins said. “We just decided, ‘You know what? We’re not going to be defeated and I’m going to step up and win some matches because I put Liberty on my back.’ I think I represent something way more awesome than all these girls (opponents) out here.” Jenkins wore her Liberty blue proudly against Campbell, claiming two victories and scoring two of Liberty’s four points.
Jenkins and her partner, sophomore Alexandra Sheeran, won the deciding doubles match 8-6 to put the Flames on the scoreboard first. She continued her winning ways in the singles round, claiming a 2-0 victory (6-4, 6-1) over Campbell’s Katya Yegoreychenko. “When we overcame some things in doubles and came up with that doubles’ point it really put us in the driver’s seat with this match, and that’s one of the things that we talked about in between doubles and singles,” Johnson said. Jenkins match tied the overall team score at two. Campbell went on to claim the fifth singles match to go up 3-2, but that was the last of Campbell’s wins as Liberty sophomore Cameron Richard and freshman Nicola Wellman each defeated their opponents to seal the sixth straight win for Liberty. Nicola Wellman, whose match finished last and thus became the deciding factor in the final score, played the last set of her match with all eyes on her court. “I love when I’m the last one on because I just feel so confident,” Wellman said. “I was already up a set. Even though I was kind of down the whole second set and was getting really tired and wasn’t really playing my game, I knew this was up to me. I knew I could pull this out.” After evening their record at 10-10, the Lady Flames will look to finish the season with a winning record and make some noise in the Big South Tournament. Johnson has high hopes for what his team can do down the stretch. “We’ve really turned it around, and when we get to the tournament people are going to see the results and that we came to play,” Johnson said. The Flames will host their final conference match against the University of North Carolina, Asheville April 6. HARVEY is a sports reporter.
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Jessica Grigg jgrigg@liberty.edu
It was a close match-up as Winthrop defeated Liberty’s men’s tennis team in four of six singles matches Saturday. Following the loss, Liberty is 13-6 and 2-3 in the Big South. Liberty senior Mandeep Yadav won the only singles match for Liberty, 6-0, 6-2 against Winthrop sophomore Chase Altieri. The Flames benefitted from Winthrop defaults in their doubles matches as they won 3-3. With the Eagles defaulting in the No. 3 match, Liberty junior Siim Tuus and senior Giancarlo Lemmi defeated Winthrop seniors Guy Kubi and Nadav Ruppin with ease in the No. 1 match-up. Winthrop freshman Dylan Comerford and sophomore Yuta Hirokawa were defeated in match No. 2 by Liberty sophomore Shea Thomas and junior Tristan Stayt.
The Flames closed the door on doubles matches with an 8-5 win. Both of Liberty’s doubles duos grabbed their 10th win of the season with the victories, according to libertyflames.com. Winthrop defaulted yet again in the No. 6 match, but Liberty was only able to add one point from then on. The Eagles put two more team points on the board to tie the overall match, 3-3. The deciding match-up was forced into a third set. Thomas took the first set from Yuta, 6-2, but the Eagles took the match with a 6-3 second set. Fans watched with heavy anticipation as Yuta stole the lead, 3-0. Rebounding quickly, Thomas took the next three games, only to lose the final two to Yuta. The Eagles claimed victory in the final seconds, 4-3. The Flames are scheduled to face off against Longwood on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. GRIGG is a sports reporter.
Road Recap Gymnastics finished first at UNC Liberty University’s gymnastic teams traveled to the University of North Carolina and captured multiple first-place finishes. Both men’s and women’s teams finished first overall at the meet that featured Clemson University, the University of Maryland, James Madison University, Virginia Tech and UNC, among others. Strong floor performances by senior captain David Tighe and senior
Stephen Lucia were critical in securing the men’s crown. Senior captain Rachel Steele’s first place finish in the women’s bars and freshman Alyssa Frost’s second place finish catapulted Liberty’s women’s team to a first-place overall finish. The squad’s next event is not until the third week of April, when the men and women travel to Utah for the national competition.
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The men’s and women’s track and field teams’ road trip to the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas and the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C. was a successful campaign in both cities. In Austin, redshirt senior vaulter Kolby Shepherd turned in a seasonbest 16-6.75 mark. Shepherd’s vault was good for 10th place in the finals, beating out competitors from the University of Texas and Texas Tech. Freshman Michelle Cummings placed fifth of 15 in her discus event with a total of 150-10. In Raleigh, Liberty’s men’s relay teams shone the brightest. Maxwell
Asante, Chad Ellis, ConRoy Smith and Kyle Gill teamed up for a sixth place 4x100 (41.43) out of 24 teams. Asante, Ellis, ConRoy and Kevin Reddington took a third place finish in the 4x200 (1: 25.80) and Andre Washington, Gill, Paul Arslain and Talyor Courtney turned in a fourth place finish in the men’s 4x400 (3:13.76). Liberty comes back home to host the Liberty invitational April 6 and April 7. This is there final event before the Big South Outdoor Track Championships which takes place April 1921.
SPORTS
April 3, 2012
Liberty Champion/B3
Editorial: Sanford, Miami connection
Wade, James, Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat voice their opinion on a high profile case Derrick Battle dbattle2@liberty.edu
The story of Trayvon Martin is on America’s mind. What we know from the on-going investigation is that a 17-year old African American youth was walking to his father’s house from a convenience store when an unknown man approached him. A scuffle ensued, resulting in the death of Martin within a gated Sanford, Fla. community. Martin was a star football player but made the decision to hang up his football cleats in order to pursue a career in aviation. George Zimmerman is the 28-year-old neighboorhood watch volunteer who is accused of the shooting. According to reports, it was a rainy evening when Zimmerman spotted Martin and called police complaining about seeGoogle Images ing a suspicious character in taking a stand — The Heat didn’t take the death of Trayvon Martin lightly, posing for this photo in support of the Martin family. the neighborhood. He told police that he was wearing a dark hoodie with sweatpants. Acting otherwise. by some to be a case of racial professional team voicing an Even though the Heat are realone, Zimmerman pursued The shooting occurred Feb. profiling. opinion on such a delicate topic. garded as the most hated team Martin and confronted him. 26, 2012, the same night of the The Heat paid tribute to MarIn any standard, I believe the in the NBA, I can’t help but From then on it is unclear 61st NBA All-Star game. After tin March 23 by releasing a pho- Heat are correct for standing applaud them for their role in what happened between the Martin was slain, the communi- to of the team wearing hoodies up for what they believe. Miami bringing awareness of this situatwo. Reports say Martin died ty and civil rights activists were with sweatpants — the same and Sanford are 250 miles away tion involving the death of Traywith a cell phone, skittles and ice livid that an arrest had not been thing Martin was wearing on the from each other. Orlando is only von Martin to the public. tea in hand. Zimmerman, along made. night of his death. 18 miles away. Surely the city of with his family, said that he actThe Miami Heat, led by What the Heat did was bold, Orlando, along with the Magic BATTLE is the asst. sports ed in self-defense, that Martin Dwayne Wade, LeBron James expressing their support of the organization, heard about this editor. looked suspicious and up to no and Chris Bosh, expressed their Martin family. It is rare too. I slaying, but it was the Heat that good, but many people believe concern for what is considered have not heard of any other took a stand.
SOFTBALL continued from B1 solid for pitching her second game of the day, only allowing six hits. However, the Eagles were able to capitalize on each one. The two errors in the second inning did not help the Flames defense either. Dimartino ended the game with four strikeouts and one walk. “Even though we gave up those hits and those last couple runs, I had confidence in our team that we could come back and I still found a way to compose myself, but runs happen,” DiMartino said. The game started out with the Lady Flames scoring first in the first inning, but the Eagles came back in the second with two runs scored on two errors and two hits. The women were not able to put anything together offensively until the fifth when Katie Zavodny came in again to give Meredith Crisante her second RBI of the game. “I thought we played extremely well in both games,” head coach Paul Wetmore said. “We did not get any hits to support ourselves … Our batters have got to have better bats, which we did, but it comes down to getting those key hits.”
Game Three The Liberty Lady Flames softball team went from agony to jubilation in a matter of minutes in their 4-3 come from behind win over the Winthrop Eagles to avoid being swept at home. “We fought back today,” Wetmore said. “The girls gave it everything they had today and fought right to the end. There was no quit in these girls.” Liberty played small ball to load up the bases for senior right fielder Jenny Law with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Law answered the call with a line drive two run RBI single to left field, giving Liberty the 4-3 win. “[The Winthrop pitcher] pitched a curve in and I saw it was a pitch I could hit, and I hit it,” Law said. Freshman pitcher Chandler Ball pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts. The Lady Flames continue their home stand Wednesday, April 4, when they take on UNC Greensboro in a double header at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Liberty returns to conference play against Charleston Southern for a three game series Friday, April 6, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 7, at 1 p.m. Kate Schoener | Liberty Champion
LEASURE, PEARSON and MEYERS are sports reporters.
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SPORTS
B4/Liberty Champion
April 3, 2012
Editorial: A Trip to the Track Andrew Woolfolk alwoolfolk@liberty.edu
Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion
downing hearts — After a week off, the Flames easily handle SVU. LAX continued from B1 win,� McQuillan said. “I’m happy with the way the guys but the Flames seized it right played.� McQuillan was not shy back, scoring two quick goals when asked about his team and if he felt they could compete on themselves. The Knights did not find the the national stage. He thinks he back of the net again until the has one of the more talented game was 14-4 and all but over. teams on the East Coast, and their biggest “enemy� could be themselves. Bigger Picture “As soon as we figure out we The success in this game, as well as the success this season, are better as a team than we has not clouded the vision of are individually, the sky is the the Flames, who still have their limit, but these guys are getting eyes fixed on the ultimate goal it and we are starting to see us of competing for a SELC cham- play Liberty lacrosse rather than selfish lacrosse a lot more often,� pionship. “Seven-and-one is nothing to McQuillan said. The Flames are be ashamed about and that’s a winding down the season with great record so far, and we still only three games remaining and have a lot of work to do,� Zum- have already clinched their spot pano said. “We have an ulti- in the playoffs. Whether it is as a mate goal of winning an SELC No. 1 seed or a No. 2 seed is yet Championship so we have work to be determined. The Flames to do, but this is a great start so have a bit of a layoff before they will be back in action against far.� Head coach Kyle McQuillan the Richmond Spiders at home, April 10, at 7 p.m. echoed those comments. “I think we still have a lot of work to do to be competitive FRAIZER is a sports in playoffs and on the National reporter. level, but we’re happy with the
This past weekend, my roommate and I participated in an inter nship opportunity at MartinsWoolfolk ville Speedway in Ridgeway, Va. for the Goody’s 500 Spring Cup race. Our assignment was to help the head of public relations, Mike Smith, in the everyday duties that arise during a NASCAR race. From handing out race statistics to encountering journalists in the pressroom to taking pictures of the racecourse for the track’s Facebook page, it was an experience for the ages. It’s hard to beat a weekend that includes walking along the pavement, shaking hands with Jeff Gordon, and snapping a photo or two with the king of NASCAR himself, Richard Petty. But before a majority of those reading this story shrug their shoulders and denounce the sport as nothing more than a few non-athletic rednecks making constant left turns while its hillbilly fan base screams in support, let me say this: I once held a similar view, and I was wrong. After attending a few races, I realized that NASCAR is a sport you must experience. It’s not like football or basketball in the sense that it’s not as television friendly to the average viewer, and NASCAR officials would likely even admit that. In football, the action seems to increase after every single play. Likewise, in basketball, the excitement seems to be continuous. From
a fast break to a slam-dunk to a fade away three pointer, audiences are hooked. But the thrills and spills of NASCAR are harder to transfer through a television screen. You can’t explain the roar of the engines, the speed of the cars, the crunching sound of a crash, or the smell of the burnt rubber to someone who hasn’t been to a race. Watching on cable just doesn’t engage your senses. Nor can you fully grasp the amount of skill the drivers have if you are watching it on television. Each inch is critical. Move one inch too close to the left side and you’re crashing into someone’s front bumper, which
“You can’t explain the roar of the engines, the speed of the cars, the crunching sound of a crash, or the smell of the burnt rubber to someone who hasn’t been to a race.� could easily send you both into the wall. One too many to the right, and you’re bumping into the wall. There goes your paint job and more importantly, there goes your speed. As for the drivers as people, it’s hard to not respect them when you see them work. The focus it requires to drive how they do is unbelievable. Outside of the car, drivers are just as impressive, regularly stopping to say hello to fans and sign autographs whenever possible. You begin to realize that these drivers aren’t the stuttering redneck drivers from “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.� They’re friendly and approachable, yet vastly complex and
competitive people. And with race weekends come the little thrills. Truck Series races, which serve as a minor league of sorts for NASCAR, are held a day or two before the Sprint Cup races. For most of those drivers, a win could mean a few more weeks of sponsorships, and a crash could mean they’re out of a job. Pressure is an understatement. Another pleasure of being at a NASCAR event is not having breaks from the action with commercials or timeouts, and who doesn’t enjoy that? It’s nonstop racing from start to finish. This fast race was the fourth one that I have had the privilege to work at, and I can say that this last race was just as good as the first. Still, many won’t realize the significance of race weekends until they give it a try. Liberty’s sports management program has provided trips to students to experience all of the ins-and-outs of the sport in past semesters. Other than Martinsville Speedway, recent classes have also been to Richmond International Raceway, one of the best tracks in the sport. For those who have a bad image of NASCAR, I would simply say, “try it.� You don’t even need to go to a cup race. South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va. and Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. are both nearby racetracks less than two hours away that provide outstanding races for cheap prices this spring. Give them a shot and see if you’re not hooked when all the dust settles.
WOOLFOLK is a sports reporter.
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FEATURE
April 3, 2012
Liberty Champion/B5
Global buffet teases taste buds Students enjoy exotic cuisine served with big smiles at “Taste of Nations” Daniel Garcia dtgarcia@liberty.edu
The aroma of a multi-continental smorgasbord and the chatter of students filled the air of the Tolsma Indoor Track Center on the evening of Wednesday, March 28, as the International Student Center hosted its annual “Taste of Nations” event. “Our students look forward to sharing their culture and sharing some of the foods from their country,” International Student Center Office Manager Tanya Panell said. National flags, covered tables and international students clad in their respective traditional garb helped mask the facility’s athletic appearance, transforming it into a cross-cultural dining center. Students paid the requested $2 donation and then sampled a wide variety of food, including dishes from Myanmar, Ethiopia and Ghana. Panell said that approximately 20 nations were represented, in addition to local businesses La Carreta and Shanghai Express. “I really like it because people get to try food from different countries without having to go around the world,” sophomore Sarida Smitthimedhin said. “It’s really cool because the international students get to share their culture and their food with people, and I think it’s really exciting for people to get to try my food.” Born in Thailand, Smitthimedhin said she lived in her native country for 15 years before moving to America. Her table served several Thai dishes, including Pad Ga Prao, a basil chicken entree. Among the nations represented was Yemen, a Middle Eastern country that borders both Saudia Arabia and Oman. Dressed in his native Yemeni attire, graduate student Ali Al-hada shared several traditional Yemen dishes, including cooked goat. Although Al-hada prepared the food, he said that he did not start cooking Yemeni food until he was living in the U.S. “My mom’s a really good chef, and when I came over here, I actually missed the food my parents used to make,” he said. “I used to call my mom and be like ‘How did you do this?’ or ‘How did you do that?’ There’s no measurements,” Alhada said, laughing as he spoke. “It was trial and error then.” Among the Yemen food offered was an apple and chicken stew called dajaj biltofah, Al-hada’s personal favorite. In addition, he served mhashi zurbia, a beef-
Ruth Bibby| Liberty Champion
sampling the world — International students and volunteers served hot dishes to faculty and staff from their native countries at the annual Taste of the Nations. “It’s good that all the international kids are coming out, especially with their food, which really explains their culture.” - Amanda Isidro and-rice-stuffed vegetable platter, as well as flatbread and hummus. Taking part in the evening’s event was sophomore Amanda Isidro, an international student from the Philippines. “I think it’s pretty cool with all the countries coming together, because not a lot of people know the different cultures that exist in our school, and there are a lot,” Isidro said. “So, it’s good that all the international kids are coming out, especially with their food, which really explains their culture. “It feels good to recognize people from home, especially when you’re in a different country, and to have food from back home, because you don’t get that a lot.” Isidro’s comments complimented the International Student Center’s goal for hosting the event. Panell said that the International Student Center hopes to bring in students and promote fellowship between both international and domestic students. “We would love for everybody to just come (to the center) and hang out and know that this is a place to relax, fellowship, get to know each other and learn different things about each others’ culture.” GARCIA is a feature reporter.
Cultural talent show highlights global customs and traditions Courtney Wiest cwiest@liberty.edu
Students from around the globe showcased their unique talents in an international talent show for all students on March 26. The Cultural Talent Show transformed the Tilley Student Center atmosphere into an entertaining blend of singing, rhythm, poems and music. Ten students from Jordan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Argentina, Tanzania and the Bahamas took the stage in hopes of awing the crowd with their talents. Allen Takudzwa Mavunga emceed the event. “Hosting the show was amazing and a lot of fun. I got to meet some of the most talented International students,” Mavunga said. “I got to work with great organizers who
made the event a success, and they made my job very easy.” Junior Public Relations major Gabriela Dominguaz was one of the performers, singing two tangos. “(This was an) awesome experience. I love the fact that we can express more of our culture and also interact with our other international students,” Dominguaz said. Office of International Student Services Operations Assistant Kristina Venable said that this was a successful event. “(We) had students come for the talent show, and students that did not know it was going on were able to experience cultural talents while eating and hanging out,” Venable said. The cultural talent show
Kate Powley | Liberty Champion
Culture shock— Students from around the globe showed off talents and traditional music as part of International Week. was inspired by students during a focus group at the International Student
Center. “These are nights when we have students from a
certain demographic share what is good and bad about our office, events and Liberty as a whole,” Venable said. Students wanted more than the Taste of Nations and Parade of Nations. “(This) led us to the full International Week to allow [international] students to show their country and culture to the American students at Liberty,” Venable said. “I absolutely loved it tonight. There are so many international students here and tonight gave them a chance to shine and share a part of their lives with us,” junior psychology and youth ministry major Diana Nelson said. “Our job at the International Office is to take care of those students (by) helping them to overcome culture shock. Part of over-
coming culture shock is to get involved,” Venable said. “This week they are able to remember where they are from and show it to other students.” Mavunga encourages students to get rid of their fear and use their talents to bring glory to God. “I realized that we are all talented in the manner God blessed us. I was blessed so much to be amongst students who are not shy to show off what God has blessed them with,” Mavunga said. “God has blessed these events through students being able to feel more at home through talking about and sharing their experiences. This has been a great week of showing and learning,” Venable said. WIEST is a feature reporter.
FEATURE
B6/Liberty Champion
April 3, 2012
Students showcase international teas Kendra Alleyne kralleyne@liberty.edu
Students and faculty were given the opportunity to taste different coffees and teas from around the world, March 27, and learn about the cultures from which they come. “Coffee and Tea from Around the World,� an event in collaboration with the International Student Center’s International Week, allowed students to talk about their homes and showcase a beverage from their culture. Chung Moo Le, a Chinese native, spoke openly about Jasmine Pearls Green Tea and Organic Blueberry Tea. “In China, different teas are used for spiritual events,� Le said. He also went on to explain the significance of coffee and where it originated from. “They found coffee in Egypt at first and it gave them energy, and so they brought it back to China to help the people,� Le said. In China, tea is used not only for spiritual events, but also in training for war as well as for entertaining guests. “Soldiers are given tea when they are about to enter battle to calm their nerves,� Le said. Some teas in China can also be used as medication for common ailments such as a headache or a common cold. “Teas are always used for many different aches and pains in China. They are home remedies,� Le said. Several other countries displayed their teas for guests to try. Rayanne Boley, a worker for the international student office, served Masala Chai Black Tea from India and Apple Pie Chai Rooibos Herb Orisin Tea from
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Alyssa Bockman | Liberty Champion
Cup culture — DeMoss Hall transformed into a buffet of beverages March 27, allowing students like Paula Tan (right middle) to discuss cultural differences and the significance of tea and coffee in different countries. South Africa. “Although I don’t know much about teas, I think this event is a good way for people to learn about other countries,� Boley said. Paula Tan, a volunteer at the event, stressed that most teas in other countries are made with natural products. “Here we use tea bags that we buy from the store, but in places like Sri Lanka, they use natural tea leaves and flowers and put them directly into the tea,� Tan said. Several other countries displayed their teas, such as Sri Lanka with Papaya tea and Safari Pure Tea from South Africa.
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Over six different countries were represented at the tasting. Katrina Alleyne attended the event and came away with some new information. “I learned how teas from different cultures vary and how important tea is, especially in China,� Alleyne said. This event was free of charge and open to all Liberty University students. It was sponsored by the Office of International Student Services, located on the second floor of DeMoss Hall. ALLEYNE is a feature reporter.
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FEATURE
April 3, 2012
Liberty Champion/B7
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Sunrise worship — Natural bridge hosts one of many sunrise Easter services each year.
3 ways to celebrate Easter Alyssa bockman | Liberty Champion
Talent displayed — Five Liberty seniors unveiled their artwork, March 29, in the new DeMoss Art Gallery, including Lindsey Foley (pictured here).
Seniors’ art reflects creation Kayla Gurley
kgurley@liberty.edu
The Liberty University Art Gallery premiered “Genesis,” an exhibit displaying the works of senior studio art majors Sierra Clearwater, Emily Davis, Lindsey Foley, Ashleigh Weniger and Abby Wilson on March 29 in DeMoss 4069. The senior art show is an annual event at Liberty that showcases graduating seniors talent and passion for art. According to Clearwater, this show is unique because its theme, “Genesis,” means more than the obvious. “When the five of us were trying to think of a theme for the gallery, we came up with Genesis because of God’s creation being reflected in art,” Clearwater said. “But then we also wanted it to represent our own growth in our artwork from freshmen year to now.” Clearwater said that all of her pieces are drip paintings and that one of the hardest parts about deciding what the paintings would be was deciding what medium she wanted to use. “We all had to pick a medium and stick with it,” Clearwater said. “It helps to show unity within the individual pieces.”
The other seniors’ artwork ranged from acrylic paint, to pallet knives, to digital photography — a medium unforged prior to this year’s event. “I chose to do digital photos of people because I love painting in Photoshop, and I wanted a consistent theme,” Lindsey Foley said. “This is a complicated technique but has beautiful end results. It’s basically taking a picture and turning it into a painting.” Many of the seniors said they were inspired to major in art as a result of an art teacher in high school that made a difference in the way they viewed art. Weniger was one of these students. “My passion for art happened in high school,” Weniger said. “I could see my teacher’s passion for art, and I think her passion is what made me realize I wanted to pursue a career in the field.” Smith agrees that a career in studio art is a worthy calling. “Jesus had the right concept,” Smith said. “He was a creator here on earth for his occupation. He was a carpenter who created things for people, and that’s how he made a living. He could have snapped his fingers and made a chair, but he didn’t. He understood the importance of the process of creating something.”
Smith said he tells his students that everything on earth is from the Creator and that all of creation is an expression of who God is. “I think what makes this exhibit so unique is that all of the students are Christians,” Smith said. “I really believe that what you see in their paintings is a reflection of the students themselves.” The Genesis Senior Art Expo was the first exhibit to premiere in Liberty’s new art gallery. The gallery moved from its previous location in SLAB Hall to room 4069 in DeMoss Hall along with the rest of the Visual Communication Arts classes. According to Smith, the new gallery is approximately 1500 square feet, much more spacious than the old gallery which was only 1140 square feet. The new gallery also has more lighting and an up to date security system. “The gallery acts as an education venue for students in that it provides the opportunity to see artwork in person, as well as interact with the artists who create the work. It is also one of the cultural centers of the university, (as) the gallery regularly hosts exhibits by nationally known artists each fall,” Smith said.
Shelanne Jennings snjennings@liberty.edu
Spring blooms, an empty campus and nothing to do, right? Wrong. Central Virginia has plenty to offer over the Easter weekend. Here are three ways to celebrate: 1.Worship God in Nature’s Cathedral Celebrate Easter at Natural Bridge. Worship the risen King surrounded by the glory of His creation. For more than 50 years, Natural Bridge’s Easter Sunrise Service has been an annual Easter tradition for families across Virginia. Admission is free and gates open at 6:30 a.m. The service will begin at 7 a.m. For location details, visit Naturalbridgeva.com 2. Hunt for Eggs at a National Memorial The Patrick Henry Memorial invites children ages 0-12 years old to join the hunt for eggs and goodies scattered around the historical grounds. Bring a camera and watch as children from the community discover and remember what Easter is about. Members of local churches will tell the Easter story every 30 minutes. The event is free of charge. For more information, call 434-376-2044. 3. Enjoy Sunday Brunch with family Visit one of the many businesses across Virginia for a family outing and delicious meal. Brunch options around Virginia include: - Easter Buffet at Natural Bridge in Natural Bridge near Bedford. Call 540-458-3750 for details. - Easter Brunch at Skyland Resort in Luray. Call 540-843-2100 for details. - Easter Sunday Brunch at Delfosse in Nelson. Call 434-263-6100 for more information. JENNINGS is the feature editor.
GURLEY is a feature reporter.
FEATURING BEN RECTOR
MONDAY, APRIL 23 VINES CENTER - 8:00p
For ticketing information call 434.582.SEAT or purchase online at liberty.edu/sa For more information email studentactivitiesinfo@liberty.edu or call 434.592.3061
Liberty Students: $10 adv General Public: $20 adv Floor Seats: $25 adv
FEATURE
APRIL 3, 2012
Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion
back to the ’80s— Dance group, D-Trex, performed a Michael Jackson tribute which included the famous “Thriller” dance (left). Musical group Dogwood and Holly (right) sang a cover of “Where the Streets Have No Name,” by U2.
SA hosts ’80s flashback Betsy Abraham
babraham3@liberty.edu
The Vines Center was a blast from the past Friday, March 30, as students donned side pony tails, plastic sunglasses and plenty of neon for ’80s Coffeehouse. Throughout the night, videos highlighting the popular people, events and trends in music and movies of the decade reminded students, the majority of which were born after 1990, of what life was like back then. Although the majority of Coffeehouse attendees were born after 1990, many students still cheered at the timeless movies and events which still affect today’s society, such as Star Wars and the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. The majority of the acts
featured musicians covering popular ’80s songs such as U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” With the recent deaths of notable singers Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, both who rose to fame and released a majority of their hits in the ’80s, Coffeehouse was full of tributes to the pop icons — which, of course, included “Thriller.” “Liberty’s Coffeehouse would not have been complete without someone dancing to Thriller. I’m so glad they did it. It was so awesome to see,” Jill Davis, a former Liberty student, said. “I liked the Michael Jackson tributes and the Whitney Houston tributes. The singing was fantastic. I knew there was
talent at Liberty, but never that many diverse voices or dancers. They really surprised me tonight,” senior Jeremy Carden said. Humorous videos submitted by students, such as senior Allie Carico, were also a big part of the night’s festivities. “I loved it. It’s my senior year and my last Coffeehouse, so it was pretty awesome to come and be in it as well,” Carico said. “It was a goal to be in Coffeehouse (while we were) at Liberty, so we finally did it. It was definitely something to get off the bucket list.” One of the most memorable acts of the night was the finale, which featured Joe Mielnicki, James Black and Pat O’Hara doing a synchronized dance
routine. Mielnicki, who performed a magic act at last year’s Coffeehouse, said the motivation for trying out was simply to make other people happy. “We decided to audition because we wanted to please the Lord through it and make our fellow students laugh their faces off, because we love bringing smiles to people,” Mielnicki said. And while performing at Coffeehouse was a great experience, Mielnicki says that the best part of participating was becoming closer to Black and O’Hara. “Before this, James and I never really knew each other, but eventually I became even closer to (them) as if they were brothers. I never expected something like
that would happen. It’s such a great way of closing off my last semester at Liberty with a bang. These are definitely the moments that I’m going to treasure forever,” Mielnicki said. Carico echoes Mielnicki, saying that whether you’re an audience member or performer, the best part of Coffeehouse is always the company. “I think the best part about Coffeehouse is experiencing it with your friends and laughing and getting together with groups of people for one purpose. It’s a lot of fun, especially just dressing up and wearing goofy clothes and letting off the seriousness of day-to-day classes,” Carico said. ABRAHAM is the assistant feature editor.
Hundreds run to bring clean water overseas
5k organized by local teen raises money to build wells Shelanne Jennings snjennings@liberty.edu
As the gun went off, a sea of nearly 300 people rounded the track, March 31, running with the purpose of bringing clean water to Guatemala. As he watched each racer pass, 16-year-old Hunter Smith smiled. What started as an idea to raise money to build wells in impoverished Guatemalan villages finally cumulated into a fundraising effort that would provide more than five wells for the Guatemalan people. “God’s really pulled everything together and the rain held off. Just looking at the group (of racers), I just thought, ‘God is so cool,’” Smith said. “(It’s amazing) to see him bring out so many people for the cause of clean water.” The Agua Pura 5k race is the first race in Lynchburg to benefit Cause Life, an organization dedicated to providing developing country with clean water. Smith, a Lynchburg resident, created, promoted and directed the event which took place at Liberty’s outdoor track, all for the purpose of bringing hope to Guatemala. Smith was burdened for the Guatemalan people after seeing their needs first hand on a church mission trip last summer. “Being there and seeing
the poverty taking place really impacted me and caused me to want to make a difference,” Smith said. “One clean water well is $5000, but it will provide clean water each day for the next 10 years. We just started brainstorming on how to do that and the idea of planning a race came about.” After only three months of planning, the event featured a kids course and a 5k cross-campus race, and was a major success, according to Smith and other race organizers. “It’s really been amazing to see such a great turn out,” Smith said. Liberty student Hunter Nash teamed up with Smith to fundraise for the cause. “I think today went really great,” Nash said. “It’s good to see the word get spread about Cause Life and basically providing clean water, which saves lives and provides the spiritual and physical needs of people around the world, including Guatemala.” Cause Life’s president, Noel Yeatts, also participated in the race, supporting the work of Smith and his passion for the people of Guatemala. “I think it went great. I’m so proud of Hunter. This race is obviously benefiting Cause Life, but he’s done all the work on his own and gone out
raquel harmon
| Liberty Champion
seeking Water — Runners of all ages ran, March 31, in support of Hunter Smith and his efforts to build wells for villages in Guatemala. there and got media cov- clean water. I think Hunter individual funding, was nual event, reaching other erage and sponsors and just took that and ran, and $26,000. With that money, countries that lack clean nearly 300 people, which really built on that.” Cause Life will be able to water. is incredible for a first time Smith and Hunter, to- build more than five wells. “I plan on hosting this race,” Yeatts said. “I think gether through fundrais“God’s really blown me race year after year,” he’s a perfect example of ing outside of the race and away with this,” Smith Smith said. “I want to see what Cause Life’s all about. the contribution of busi- said. “We’ll be impact- it grow and to really make The message we try to get ness sponsors, raised more ing 2,500 people through a difference in the world.” across is the difference that than $20,000. The total these wells.” one person can make and amount fundraised for Smith plans to continue how little it takes. Fifteen building wells in Guatema- to fundraise, making the JENNINGS is the dollars can give somebody la, between the race and Agua Pura race an an- feature editor.