Women’s bball loses to UNC
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Coffeehouse blast from past
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Volume 32 | Issue 18
Lynchburg, Virginia March 24, 2015
off to the races
Courtney Russo | Liberty Champion
RACE BEGINS — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke on issues including faith, sanctity of marriage, repealing the Affordable Care Act and abolishing the IRS.
‘Cruzing’ out of the gate Presidential hopeful launches campaign from Liberty University Tré Goins-Phillips dgoinsphillips@liberty.edu
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, 44, announced his candidacy for president Monday, March 23, at Liberty University’s weekly Convocation. “Today, I am announcing that I am running for president of the United States,” Cruz said to an energetic crowd in a packed Vines Center, receiving loud applause and a standing ovation. In announcing his bid, the 2016 hopeful, who placed third in this
year’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll, skipped the longstanding traditional step of first forming an exploratory committee. “It is time for liberty, it is time for truth, it is a time to reclaim the Constitution of the United States,” Cruz said. Cruz, circling the stage in the middle of the Vines Center, declared “unapologetic” support for the nation of Israel, appealing to the evangelical presence on campus. The announcement at Liberty is fitting, as Cruz has joked, “I’m
Cuban, Irish and Italian, and yet somehow I ended up Southern Baptist,” according to Dallas News. Additionally, Cruz advocated for the protection of Second Amendment rights, protection from the National Security Agency and voiced disapproval for President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, a key piece of legislation for the president. “Five years ago today, the president signed Obamacare into law, … and hours later, Liberty University went to court to stop that law,” Cruz said, launching thunderous applause throughout the arena.
Columnist, author and political commentator Cal Thomas spoke Wednesday, March 19, at the Jerry Falwell Library to a group of students and staff about journalism. He told his personal story and gave students advice from his experiences. “I started in radio when I was 16, two weeks after my voice changed,” Thomas said, with crowd laughter quickly following the statement. Thomas has never questioned the career path he chose, and he made that clear to students. “I knew really early that
this was what I wanted to do,” Thomas said. “I was very fortunate.” Two years later, at the age of 18, Thomas joined NBC as a copy boy. Thomas said he used this smaller job as a way to work up to the position he wanted — a network correspondent. “I was in the door,” Thomas said. “This is the most important thing. If you have to become a janitor, if you have to clean toilets at night on the overnight shift, get in the door of wherever it is you want to be. You can’t do anything outside the door. But once you get in the door, you can impress people with your work ethic and desire to learn.” Thomas said he took
See CRUZ, A9
Network lag fixed
Cal Thomas hosts talks Ellie Fraser efraser2@liberty.edu
Cruz’s request to launch his campaign from Liberty’s campus signals that the university has reached a new level, according to Liberty President Jerry Falwell. “We’re honored that political candidates are now requesting to appear at Liberty,” Falwell said. “We never had that happen years ago — we had to invite them. I think it’s a testament to what Liberty students have accomplished and what they are accomplishing.”
IT enlarges Internet capacity
Quinn Foley qfoley@liberty.edu
Joel Coleman| Liberty News Service
WISDOM — Students learn from professional. home scripts at night to learn more about writing. “I learned more on the job than I ever learned in a classroom,” Thomas said. “Real experience is better than theory every time.” Thomas wanted to be a network correspondent by age 30, and he was determined to accomplish his goal. Every year on his birthday, Dec. 2, Thomas said he
checked in with his goals to see if he was on track. And he was. Eventually, he became one of the youngest anchors on NBC radio and television. But, his career suffered a blow in 1973, and he was fired from NBC. At the time Thomas was fired, he had become increasingly interested in Christianity.
See THOMAS, A10
With a rapidly increasing population and a growing demand for more capable Internet, the Information Technology (IT) department at Liberty University has made steps to improve Internet speeds and account for the increased bandwidth usage. According to the Liberty University News Service, the speed of the Internet has been increased by 150 percent since March 2. Mark Norris, director of IT Operations, said before the change, there was an unequal balance between the demand for speed and the
INSIDE THE CHAMPION
News
Officers gear up for SGA elections set to take place in early April. A2
Opinion
“Hands up don’t shoot” misleads society on issue of racial equality. A6
Sports
Sports editor breaks down the science of the Sweet 16. B3
Feature Ben Eppard hitchhikes 4,444 miles, collecting stories from strangers.
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capacity for growth. “The recent issues with Internet speed were related to the speed of demand outpacing the speed at which capacity was increased,” Norris said. “When the demand exceeds capacity, it appears to the student as slow response times on downloads and access to web sites.” To fix these problems, IT added more Internet capacity. “When the overall capacity and throughput of the on campus Internet pipes are sufficient, the student experiences seamless downloads and quick response times,” Norris said.
See NETWORK, A3
News Opinion
A1 A6
Sports Feature
B1 B6
news
A2 | March 24, 2015 | Liberty Champion
SGA elections near Student government prepares for a new year Emily Hoosier eahoosier@liberty.edu
Election day at Liberty is Wednesday, April 15. On this day, student voters will elect student body president (SBP) and student body vice president (SBVP) for the 2015-2016 academic year. “People will take their office at the end of this semester for the entire year,” Jacob Broadway, Student Government Association (SGA) general counsel, said. “Effectively, they’ll take office that Monday after Commencement.” Current SBP Quincy Thompson confirmed his intention to run for re-election. And current Junior Class President Jack Heaphy plans to run with Thompson for SBVP. Current Student Body Vice President Tanveer Bhatia also plans to run for student body president in April. Bhatia has not yet announced his running mate. Student body candidates run together in teams, but they are elected individually. Students can vote for a SBP candidate from one team and a SBVP candidate from the other. The SBP typically manages the election committee and oversees candidate applications. However, due to Thompson’s re-election plans, he transferred that responsibility to the Student Court chief justice. “That Student Court chief justice will be forming the election committee to finalize all the election rules and then start receiving applications,” Broadway said. “You should see that in the next week or so.” Once the election rules are finalized, those interested can submit their application for candidacy. Broadway said the election rules are generally the same each year,
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MR. PRESIDENT — Quincy Thompson serves as head of SGA.
RJ Goodwin| Liberty Champion
RE-ELECTION — Quincy Thompson hopes to maintain his position. but the election committee needs to officially re-adopt them for each student body election. Applicants become qualified candidates if they meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 and have served in SGA for at least two semesters. Student Conduct also reviews each applicant, as applicants who have 12 or more reprimands for Liberty Way violations will not qualify to run for office. “It does tend to narrow the pool,” Broadway said. “(But) there are several people that could qualify. Anyone that is currently serving in an upper leadership position in SGA would qualify.” Broadway said physical campaigning usually starts the Monday before Election Day. Candidates and volunteers can begin setting up tables and posting flyers that Monday at 8 a.m. The rules also usually prohibit social media campaigning until about a week before the election.
“We keep it really compact because we don’t want to bombard campus,” Broadway said. “We’re not here for the spotlight. We’re here as servants. That’s what SGA is all about. We want to be here and engage with the students, show (them) what we do a little bit, but we don’t want to force students.” To help students really get to know the candidates, Broadway suggested students ask candidates personal questions about their beliefs and ideas on student government. Students can vote on the Liberty splash page for student body elections Wednesday, April 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. One student can cast one vote for each office. Class officer elections will be held early in the fall 2015 semester.
HOOSIER is a news reporter.
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Making a difference Thompson leads student body through service Emily Hoosier eahoosier@liberty.edu
Pastoral ministry student Quincy Thompson recently made Liberty University history. Elected in April 2014, Thompson is the first junior to ever serve as student body president for the Student Government Association (SGA). “(A junior being elected) hasn’t been done before,” Thompson said. “Normally the student body president is a senior. It’s been a great opportunity, a great experience.” Thompson said he first gained interest in serving as a part of SGA freshman year when his residential assistant asked for hall senator representatives. After a race to represent Dorm 22-2, Thompson began his career in public service. “It was just an interest,” Thompson said. “I’ve always had a fascination with politics and government. Even though I feel called to be a pastor, I’ve always had that interest.” From a freshman with an interest in politics serving as hall senator, Thompson soon moved into the position of spiritual life committee chairman before going on to be elected into his current position as student body president. Although Thompson does not plan to pursue public office after graduation, he believes the skills he has learned in SGA, such as leadership and hard work, can be practical in any career. “It was definitely a lot more work than I expected, but it’s been good work — rewarding work,” Thompson said. “It’s one of those positions that you never stop working. I’ve learned what to do as a leader and what not to do as a leader.” There was no clear blueprint on how to effectively and efficiently govern a student body, so when Thompson ran for office last April, he wanted to cast a vision for how SGA would work if he were in office. “Overall, the student body was very responsive,” Thompson said. “There are various philosophies in how student government plays a part in the university. Some say SGA needs to be more active like a second Student Activities. I see SGA as more or less a servant leadership position.” According to Thompson, SGA most succeeds when they are servant leaders to the student body and represent the needs of students to the administration. One such responsibility of SGA is allocating funds to the 122 clubs on campus. “One of the largest concerns we started with was club funding,” Thompson said, reflecting on the beginning of his term. “SGA plays a huge role in club life on campus.”
Prior to Thompson’s leadership, each club had access to approximately $1,200, and the process to claim those funds was unnecessarily complicated. Now, clubs have easier access to a larger amount of funding. “Now, most clubs have funds of up to $2,000,” Thompson said. “One of the highlights this year is how much we have simplified club funding.” Thompson said senators care deeply for what the student body really needs. SGA has written and passed bills to simplify complexities on campus and to prepare for anticipated growth in the future. “It’s been fun to work with the club leaders and other SGA leaders,” Thompson said. “My motto is: I try to leave it better than what I found it.” In addition to working with club funding, another of the major projects Thompson tackled this school year was the SGA constitution. “We’ve helped draft a new constitution for SGA,” Thompson said. “We felt like the old one had some holes in it — some gray areas.” After attempts to patch those holes, SGA ultimately decided to write a new constitution in preparation for the growing student body. “By 2020, we’re going to have 16,000 (residential students),” Thompson said. “At the rate the university is growing, we needed to start to draft a document that is going to sustain that growth.” Thompson’s servant leader approach to student government applies to his view of success as well. “I’ve always been a person that thinks success is never defined by how much recognition you have from others,” Thompson said. “Our culture highlights people on major platforms, but there are people in the background that are pursuing hard work. I see success as behind the scenes. (Success) is more of a quiet thing — a private thing. If you are where God has called you, and you do the work with integrity, honesty and excellence, then you don’t need a billboard or a platform saying, ‘Look what this guy has done.’” Thompson plans to run for re-election as student body president in April. His running mate, Jack Heaphy, is currently serving as junior class president. “I look forward to pursing another year in serving students,” Thompson said. “Last year we had three days of physical campaigning, and it was exhausting, but it was fun. This year, I’m running with my good friend Jack Heaphy.” The SGA elections will take place Wednesday, April 15 from 8 a.m.–5p.m. HOOSIER is a news reporter.
news
Liberty Champion | March 24, 2015 | A3
City reaches agreement Council votes in favor of Freedom Aviation as only area FBO Josh Janney jjanney@liberty.edu
A nine-month battle between Freedom Aviation, a subsidiary of Liberty University, and some members within the general aviation community came to a close Tuesday, Feb. 24, when the Lynchburg City Council voted 6-1 to work on a lease that would allow Freedom Aviation to become the sole fixed-based operator (FBO) in Lynchburg. Ever since Freedom Aviation purchased Virginia Aviation, the area’s only other FBO, in June 2014, it had tried to obtain the lease from the Lynchburg City Council despite some concerns that Freedom Aviation could become a monopoly. But it appears that most of the City Council’s concerns have been addressed. Freedom Aviation provides fuel, flight instruction, hangar space, maintenance, charter and other services to general aviation users at the Lynchburg Airport. The Lynchburg Airport Commission, which is a recommending body to the City Council, initially made a recommendation that the city take over the
lease holdings to Virginia Aviation, according to Freedom Aviation President Dave Young. The Airport Commission’s decision was based primarily on a report prepared by a consultant who had been commissioned by the Lynchburg Regional Airport Director Mark Courtney. The lease holdings included the ability to provide, manage and control fuel. “We had an uphill battle because first of all, we had to convince the council that the recommendation of the Airport Commission … needed to be overturned or ruled Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion against,” Young said. LEASE — Freedom Aviation aquired all facilities and supplies from Virginia Aviation. “That was a real obstacle. . reason the Council is And part of that obvi- protect and enhance Regional Airport. “When we purchased not worried about Freeously was, how could we commercial air service. convince them?” “(Freedom Aviation Virginia Aviation in 2014, dom Aviation being the Young said the Coun- was) providing the best we knew that the lease that sole FBO is because the cil believed it was in the level of service to what we Virginia Aviation had with business has not abused best interest of the airport call the general aviation the city would terminate,” its power. “We’ve been doing and the city to sign the customer,” Young said. “I Young said. “The lease allease despite the Airport think those are the main lowed the owner of Vir- this for several years,” Commission’s recom- reasons as to why they ginia Aviation, now Free- Young said. “We’ve been mendation. He said the approved and signed with dom Aviation, to manage operating as we have the hangars and facilities with both companies for signing of the lease pro- our recommendation.” According to Young, and to manage and sell the eight months. And there vides a long-term benefit to the airport in terms of Courtney proposed that fuel. (Courtney’s) proposal has been no indication infrastructure improve- there could be a city- was that the city do that in those eight months that anyone had received ment, construction and run FBO in addition to instead.” Courtney’s proposal preferential treatment.” new facilities, and that the the Freedom Aviation merger between Freedom FBO, and that creating a was turned down by the Aviation and Virgin- new one would enhance City Council. Young JANNEY is the asst. ia Aviation works to revenue for the Lynchburg believes part of the news editor.
NETWORK continued from A1 Norris said IT has increased the capacity to 3,000 megabytes in just seven years, which is an increase in capacity of more than 1,422 percent, an average growth of 203 percent per year. However, this process takes time. According to Norris, the process leading up to this increase took planning well before
it was implemented. “Additional equipment was purchased to prepare for the Internet upgrade,” Norris said. “After that equipment was in place, the Internet was turned up for student access. Also, wireless access points (APs) were replaced with more powerful models, and the number of APs was increased across campus.” Norris said that IT regularly monitors social media and
HelpDesk calls to detect any potential issues that may arise. IT works both on an enterprise level and individually with students in order to solve these issues. However, university officials say the population of residential students will continue to increase and future upgrades are already being planned. “The next upgrade has already been planned, and infrastructure is being purchased to sustain even
faster speeds and greater capacity,” Norris said. “This next upgrade doubles the size of the second Internet pipe and also adds a third pipe. Those improvements are expected to be in place when the students arrive in the fall.” “At Liberty, we take great pride in providing our students with an atmosphere that is both conducive to their academic demands as well as to an enriching social and personal life,” President Jerry
Liberty without power Emily Brown erbrown@liberty.edu
Liberty University was without power for just over an hour Friday, March 20. According to Senior Vice President of Construction Planning Charles Spence, the outage affected everything on main campus, stretching from Liberty Baseball Stadium to dorm 33 at the far end of South Campus. The power went out shortly after 4:45 p.m. and was restored around 6 p.m., according to the News & Advance, which cited American Electric Power (AEP) officials. All Liberty classes after 5 p.m. were canceled as a result of the outage. Spence said the outage was caused by a defective capacitor on the AEP overhead line on Wards Road.
BROWN is the editor-in-chief.
Falwell said. “Our IT Department works tirelessly to ensure students have reliable connectivity, trusted security and helpful support when needed. I am proud of the IT staff ’s commitment to the students in making these upgrades and preparing the university for the future.”
FOLEY is a news reporter.
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A4 | March 24, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Living Well @ Liberty
Kiara Leers | Liberty Champion
SUPPORT — Professional dietician Robin Quay said that people tend to do better in eating healthy and exercising when they have a friend to help them with the process.
Learning to live healthy The Daniel Plan offers students and staff advice for nutrition and exercise Emily Hoosier eahoosier@liberty.edu
At most campus eateries, it is just as easy to choose unhealthy food as it is to choose healthy food. And many times, it is hard to know the difference. Buses will carry students across campus to avoid a walk, and Netflix can distract them from most everything else. At this point, “healthy” might seem like a confusing concept. “Even stuff that looks healthy really isn’t sometimes,” Robin Quay, registered dietitian at Liberty University Dining, said. Quay hosts six weekly meetings each semester dedicated to learning about a healthy lifestyle through the Daniel Plan. The spring 2015 group ended just before Spring Break. “It was actually fantastic,” Quay said. “Everybody lost weight, which is a first. It made me so happy.” Liberty offers two groups – one for students and one for faculty and staff. This semester’s student group attendance was low,
so the two groups combined into one. Quay, along with the six-person group, watched Daniel Plan DVDs with teaching from Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, and different guest speakers corresponding to the weekly topic. The group also used the Daniel Plan workbook to learn about each of the five main points of the Daniel Plan. “It’s not just about what you eat,” Quay said. “There are the five components, which are faith, food, fitness, focus and friends.” Quay said willpower alone usually could not fuel a life change that lasts more than three weeks. She said God’s power is needed to make sustainable changes. Rather than operating strictly as a diet and exercise program, the faith factor is weaved throughout the Daniel Plan. “It’s faith based, so it’s not just about food and fitness, which is what you’ll get if you do most other programs,” Quay said. “It’s very scripturally based. It’s about loving yourself and seeing yourself the way God sees you.” The group did not follow a specific diet
but focused more on eating natural foods and avoiding processed foods. As a dietician, Quay’s appreciation for each food group kicked in when she noticed the Daniel Plan avoiding wheat and dairy. “For me, as a dietician, it’s a little bit antidairy, anti-wheat, which I don’t necessarily agree with unless you have allergies,” Quay said. “For most people, they are fine to eat, but (the Daniel Plan) is a very flexible plan, so you can do what works for you.” Quay said the Daniel Plan is not about depriving or perfecting anyone, but rather appreciating what natural options God offers through creation. The Daniel Plan website sells workout DVDs, but the campus group focused on finding the fitness activity that each person individually enjoyed. The group also discussed some of the negative thoughts that get in the way of a healthy well-being. “Focus is about your thoughts,” Quay said. “How you think really affects what you do, and we have a lot of negative thoughts that pop in our heads that just
aren’t true. So it’s a lot about putting your mind on what is true and what God says about you.” “Friends” is the last component in the Daniel Plan, but it is the first that this group experienced at the meetings. “We all do better in community,” Quay said. “God created us to be in community to support each other, to hold each other up. Studies show that if you want to lose weight, you’ll be 50 percent more successful if you do it with a buddy.” Quay started living the Daniel Plan when she began teaching it two years ago, and since then, she has lost 40 pounds, ran three half marathons and completed two triathlons. “I would never ask someone to do something that I wouldn’t do myself,” Quay said. The next Daniel Plan group will begin in the fall 2015 semester. Those interested can inquire or sign up at ludiningevents@gmail. com. Quay said students can also show up to the first meeting without registering. HOOSIER is a news reporter.
LaHaye expands programs Newly remodeled Student Union offers opportunities for physical training Tobi Walsh twalsh@liberty.edu
Although wellness encompasses a number of different facets, including mental, emotional and spiritual health, Liberty University administrators are also focused on the physical well-being of students, faculty and staff. According to Dean of Students Robert Mullen, Liberty’s recently established Living Well at Liberty Initiative has partnered with the preexisting Live Healthy Liberty program to provide the Liberty community with the convenient options to foster healthy lifestyles. “The Live Healthy team was very strong in the area of physical health,” Mullen said. “And the Living Well group was strong in the areas of spiritual and emotional health. It was a natural partnership.” The Live Healthy Liberty program has the goal of “bringing together departments and coordinating efforts to improve the health of students, faculty and staff,” according to its Web page. The program is a “campus-wide effort spearheaded by Campus Recreation.” One major facet of Live Healthy Liberty is the Wellness Series, which is comprised of lectures geared toward helping people learn how they can develop good habits. Some of the talks are hands-on, while others simply demonstrate and explain how to maintain healthy habits. “Health and wellness is far more than simply exercise,” Jamie Swyers, associate director of fitness at the LaHaye Student
Union, said. “At Wellness Series, we not only invite professionals to give talks of fitness, nutrition and motivation, but we also facilitate presentations on spiritual, mental and emotional wellness for a well-rounded series of talks. I always want to emphasize that wellness encompasses the whole person, and this includes spiritual, mental, emotional, physical and social health.” According to Swyers, the Live Healthy Liberty campaign provides students, faculty and staff access to a number of opportunities to help increase physical wellness. “Over the last year, students have become more aware of our programs, especially with the recent facility expansion,” Swyers said. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we have received our highest participation on record for group exercise and personal training in the history of LaHaye.” Swyers explained that LaHaye stands out from other area gyms and fitness centers because of its high-quality equipment and programs. “Each member of our fitness staff is hand-picked and thoroughly trained so they are able to offer the campus community safe, effective and exciting fitness options,” Swyers said. “The group exercise instructors and personal trainers at LaHaye really care about the members, the students and the staff.” According to Swyers, the LaHaye Student Union offers the appeal of convenience to residential students, faculty and staff. “We are located on campus (and are) easily accessible, with innovative equipment
Courtney Russo | Liberty Champion
INITIATIVE — The LaHaye gym provides multiple ways for students to exercise. and a lot of space to train, as well as six different group exercise studios that host a variety of class formats,” Swyers said. Residential students and staff also have the opportunity to participate in a wellness challenge, which encourages students to attend fitness-centered events and helps keep track of exercises and progress, as a part of the Live Healthy Liberty campaign. “This challenge … encourages students to make healthy nutrition choices, exercise regularly and earn wellness points,” Swyers said. “Students can create teams and win gift cards and prizes.” Swyers said students should strive
for a healthy lifestyle, as it will increase productivity. “When you are healthy, you are able to think more clearly and act more proactively and practically throughout your day,” Swyers said. For more information on Live Healthy Liberty or to sign up for the wellness challenge, visit liberty.edu/lsu. For more information on the Living Well at Liberty, email Mullen at ramullen2@liberty.edu.
WALSH is a feature reporter.
news
Liberty Champion | March 24, 2015 | A5
Living Well @ Liberty
New ministry in the works Liberty to launch Celebrate Recovery to aid students struggling with addictions Emily Hoosier eahoosier@liberty.edu
The Campus Pastors Office plans to launch a Celebrate Recovery (CR) location on campus in the coming fall semester. CR is a program birthed from Saddleback Church 20 years ago, now active in more than 20,000 international churches. A CR group at Liberty is anticipated to begin weekly, two-hour, evening meetings Sept. 10. “CR at its core is a Christ-centered, 12-step recovery program ministry that also uses eight recovery principles based on the Beatitudes that Jesus preached about in the Sermon on the Mount,” Michael Mullins, Liberty campus pastor, said. “It utilizes Christian community — a group of Christ followers who want to honor God and help one another. So the key is Jesus, the Word of God and Christian community.” About 20 volunteers and a fourperson lead team are currently learning the CR material and preparing for the inaugural group this fall. “Recovery is really another word for spiritual growth in Christ,” Mullins said. “The goal is to point participants to their need for Jesus, to live out his word and to not do that alone.” CR addresses a wide range of problems that attendees of the program may be facing. The three terms, “hurts, habits and hangups,” sum up the issues that CR aims to overcome, according to the CR website. “The three key words — hurts, habits or hang-ups — can encompass all kinds of issues that keep us from being all that God wants us to be,” Mullins said. “For example, a hurt could be abuse in your past. A hang-up could be
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COMMUNITY — Celebrate Recovery will provide a safe, confidential environment for students to receive help for their personal struggles. perfectionism or not processing anger. And then a habit could be an addiction of all sorts.” Each CR meeting will begin with an hour of worship, teaching or testimony in a large co-ed group setting. During the second hour, participants have the option to join a same-gender small group called Open Share, each with a specific issue to discuss. Open Share group themes will reflect the needs of students, covering issues such as substance abuse, lust, eating disorders, codependency in relationships and any other issue a student may be dealing with that hinders their personal growth. The Open Share groups will operate within a confidentiality policy. “We want to create different environments, a large group and a small group, and there will be
some one-on-one relationships,” Mullins said. “The small group and the one-on-one (sessions are) supposed to be a safe environment where someone could open up about their personal hurts, hang-ups or habits that are keeping them from being all that God wants them to be.” Mullins has served as a campus pastor at Liberty for more than two years. That time spent with students on campus allowed Mullins the opportunity to learn the issues that students struggle with regularly. “There is a common issue here with lust,” Mullins said. “We have some people who struggle with alcohol and drugs. We’ll have (teachings about) those (topics) in place from the beginning, and over time, we’ll see if there’s a
demand or a need for a more specialized hurt, habit or hang-up subject for an open share group.” The initial CR this fall will meet in a two-hour large group or small group format. Eventually, the CR lead team aims to launch a more in-depth group for students who want to practice the CR 12-steps. “There is another group that would be on a different night that we’re not ready to implement immediately, but it’s called Step Group,” Mullins said. “And that’s where you get to the real depth of the CR process.” Mullins said the Step Group is similar to Open Share, but it is typically a larger time commitment of 9-12 months. Step Group also incorporates more accountability and discipleship than the initial CR group.
“You can start applying the steps and principles right away, and learn about that through the large group and the Open Share group,” Mullins said. “But to really take it to the mature level that CR is aiming for, we’re going to eventually want participants to get involved in the step group.” Those interested in learning more information about Liberty CR group can email celebraterecovery@liberty.edu. The Liberty CR is partnering with leaders of the CR group at Blue Ridge Community Church (BRCC) in Forest, Virginia. The BRCC CR group currently meets Sundays 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Visit blue-ridge.org for more information. HOOSIER is a news reporter.
Speaking out against disorders Dr. Linda Mintle discusses body image issues plaguing college students Lauren Glossner lbglossner@liberty.edu
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 25 percent of all college students struggle with an eating disorder. This struggle affects people of various ages, but it is most prevalent among 18-21 year olds, according to Dr. Linda Mintle, chair of behavioral health at Liberty’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Eating disorders also affect both females and males. Mintle added that this is also the age range in which people struggle with identity issues, one of the core issues involved in the disorders. College is a time when previous eating disorders may worsen, or they can develop for the first time. College students experience a sense of independence, some for the first time. They are constantly balancing freedom and responsibility. Mintle noted that there are many stressful components of college, which can include friends, romantic relationships and academics. All of these issues can influence the development of an eating disorder. A 2013 study done by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) shows a 32 percent rise among women and a 10 percent rise among men who are affected by eating disorders. The stresses of college and the pressures students face are increasing in these technological times. “You look at social media where everybody posts and they want to look perfect,” Mintle said. “They only post the best pictures of themselves, so you do not see what people look like normally. They edit their pictures and control the images. The result is not real life, but a manipulated view of someone’s life.” “This is also true in advertising and media,” Mintle said. “If you think about how many images you see a day and that those images are not realistic for the most part, it does a number on your thinking.” Mintle noted that it is not wrong for
Bre Black | Liberty Champion
BY THE NUMBERS — Eating disorders impact a significant number of students. people to wear makeup or look their best, but culture has become obsessed with physical appearance. “The best thing you can do is to try not to focus so much on your looks but focus more on the character of people,” Mintle said. She suggests pointing out positive, nonphysical attributes of people, such as their kind heart or their cheery disposition. Friends can also help or they can hurt. A group of strong, encouraging people will lift a person up, but a group of critical peers will only lead to self-esteem problems. Mintle notes that from a Christian perspective, there is great power in words. She referenced James 3, which talks about the influence of the tongue, both positive and negative. She added that the way people think of themselves is often not how God
thinks of them. “God isn’t sitting in heaven thinking ‘Aw man, if she could just lose five more pounds, I could send her on a mission field,’” Mintle said. In her book “Breaking Free From a Negative Self Image: Finding God’s True Reflection When Your Mirror Lies,” Mintle explains key concepts to change negative thinking and behavior. “One of the keys is understanding who you are in Christ and developing a very strong God image,” Mintle said. She noted that people should take care of themselves and their bodies, because their bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit and were created by God to use for his service. “There is a balance of looking good, being fashionable and taking care of yourself versus obsessing,” Mintle said. Obsessing
over appearance and weight is one of the warning signs that someone may be dealing with an eating disorder. Mintle shared that other red flags include when people have a hard time loving themselves, sudden vegetarianism, history of depression/anxiety, losing weight, a sudden life event that triggers eating problems, odd eating habits, wearing baggy clothing, refusing to eat in front of others, eating quickly or feeling distressed from eating. Eating disorders tend to manifest themselves in women through dieting and in men through excessive exercising. If someone exhibits some of these warning signs, Mintle advised those around them take action. “The best thing you can do is to speak the truth in love and confront the person, knowing that when you do, the person may deny or get mad at you,” Mintle said. “Later, after they have received help, they will oftentimes come back and be apologetic and appreciative.” Mintle highlighted that an eating disorder does not usually go away on its own. It is a complicated illness with different layers. Professional help is needed in several areas, on the physical side with help from a medical doctor and dietician, and on the therapeutic side with help from a counselor. “The earlier you get help, the better the prognosis is,” Mintle said. According to Mintle, eating disorders are easier to treat before they become habitual, but they can be treated at any stage. She noted that eating disorders are not something to be taken lightly, especially since they have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Mintle urged students to seek help if they think they may have a problem, to confront friends who show warning signs, to be supportive of those around them and to positively affect the culture. GLOSSNER is a feature reporter.
OPINION
A6
March 24, 2015
‘Hands up’ hurt justice Media-perpetuated narrative on Ferguson shooting distracts from reality Tré Goins-Phillips dgoinsphillips@liberty.edu
After the August 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black Missouri teenager, by then-police Sgt. Darren Wilson, “Hands up, don’t shoot” became the polarizing posture and mantra that defined a firestorm media frenzy under the banner #BlackLivesMatter. The problem — it was all a lie. “Brown never surrendered with his hands up, and Wilson was justified in shooting Brown,” Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart said after reading the Justice Department’s (DOJ) report of the incident. According to the DOJ, three autopsies and multiple reports from eyewitnesses confirm that Wilson was in his vehicle and that Brown did, in fact, reach into the police SUV for the officer’s gun. Additionally, several medical examinations confirm the report that Wilson fired only after the struggle to regain control of his gun, which was in Brown’s hands. No shots were fired at the teen’s back, as was inaccurately reported shortly after the incident. Autopsies revealed injuries to Brown’s hand and a gunshot to his jaw, consistent with Wilson’s self-defense claim. “(The left) knew it was a lie when they found out the size of Michael Brown,” talk-radio host and conservative commentator Kevin Jackson told the Champion. “When they found out he was a six-foot-plus, close to 300-pound guy, … that was the instant they knew it was a lie.” But do not take anyone’s word for it. Read the report for yourself. My conclusion: many in the media threw an innocent, law-abiding police officer to the wolves.
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LIES — News media, congressional representatives and activists perpetuated false narrative even after official report proved it to be untrue. As a free society built upon free speech and free press, the law — and the honest practice of it — is necessary. Yes, even when it does not serve to further line Al Sharpton’s deep pockets. Ever since the August incident, many in the media reported it as fact that Brown threw his hands up in the air, pleading with the officer, “don’t shoot,” relying 100 percent on testimony from only a couple of witnesses. From the St. Louis Rams and “Happy” singer Pharrell Williams to a CNN panel of contributors and several Congressional representatives declaring “Hands up, don’t shoot,” the narrative continued to dominate headlines. But not long after the shooting, reports led to the conclusion that “Hands up, don’t shoot,” most likely did not happen. But
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR A call to action, asking students to remain informed on the Israeli state.
by Emily Brown In the month of March, apparently there is more to life than basketball — although this is news to me. For years, I have been enamored with the NCAA Tournament and March Madness, and this year is no different. I am one of those crazies who will have three different games open at the same time during the first few rounds. People have plenty of opinions as to what the greatest sporting spectacle is every year, but I will take the magic and madness of March any day. For the teams that enter the tournament on both the men’s and women’s
the media pushed forward. Then, in early March, the official DOJ report was published, confirming, “Hands up, don’t shoot” never happened. But, regardless, the media pushed forward. It was not until last week the media faced the music — the truth, that is. According to Jackson, who described himself as “likely the most outraged participant” of a CNN panel he appeared in on the issue, businesses were looted and burned to the ground “over nothing.” Ferguson’s local business owners, along with Wilson, are the real victims. Because of national attention in the name of “justice,” entire communities have been destroyed, with little to no hope of recovery.
The press, being the only established organization specifically mentioned in the First Amendment, has a responsibility to honesty. And it failed. In an age when entertainment is king and activism — on any issue — is this generation’s favorite pastime, one can see why sensationalism replaces accurate and honest news. But is it not interesting to see how dishonest sensationalism has served only to sully the great activist cause the media was determined to promote? “‘Hands up’ is the ultimate truth, and the reason why ‘hands up’ has gone viral across the country is because it’s a posture known to black people,” Monifa Bandele, senior campaign director for MomsRising.org, said of the “Hands up,
To the Editor: Students at Liberty often hear that we live in this “bubble.” Now, whether the people saying this are referring to our Biblical beliefs or to the Vines Center, I cannot quite be sure, but when I do hear it, I cannot help but think of the one place that truly lives in a bubble: the nation of Israel. The Iron Dome that surrounds Israel’s land has served as an effective military defense system against enemy missiles sent their way. Just this last summer, it deflected roughly 4,000 rockets targeted at its cities and people. But as the threats grow in strength and number, the bubble will only be able to handle so much. On the morning of Feb. 3, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke before a joint Congress on the dangers of allowing the current negotiations with Iran to end with little to no sanctions or restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. “(The deal) doesn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb, it paves Iran’s path to the bomb,” Netanyahu said. The implications of this are understood, especially for Israel, considering Iran’s past and current political state. Look at either Testament and basically any book of the Bible and it is clear the Israeli land was, is and forever
sides, they simply try to survive and advance, hoping to take home the coveted title of national champion. For the fans like me, the NCAA Tournament is a time to relish every moment of exciting basketball and hope our brackets are not busted too quickly. And for others, the tournament means so much more. This is the case for Sylvia Hatchell, the head coach of UNC women’s basketball team, and her players. In the 2014 women’s tournament — and the entire 2013-2014 season — Hatchell was separated from her team, as she spent her days receiving treatments for Leukemia. According to Hatchell, at this time last year when all she wanted to do was see her team, she was not allowed to make the short trip to Carmichael Arena four miles from her house, even with a surgical mask. The risk was too high. “Watching what she had to go through last year, that really is an eye-opener,” UNC sophomore forward Stephanie Mavunga said following the Tar Heels win over the Liberty Lady Flames in the first
don’t shoot” narrative. Yes — you read that right — it is the “ultimate truth,” according to Bandele. While that perspective is most certainly poetic, it is not the media’s job to proselytize an abstract campaign touted as fact in order to go “viral.” “Who … have you heard apologize for the nonsense that occurred in Ferguson?” Jackson said. “You’re not going to hear it.” An entire movement was built on a lie, and the only way to reverse the damage is hold those who purported that lie accountable. It is true, black lives matter. Every life matters. And, for life’s sake, we should give honesty a try. GOINS-PHILLIPS is opinion editor.
will be near and dear to God’s heart. Being the largest Christian university on the planet, I think it is time to make this land and people group loved and valued by us as well. But how can we do this? We can start by being informed both politically and scripturally on the issue. Take a few minutes every day to read a couple articles about it. Follow Israel-related twitter accounts. Trust me. Staying informed does not take much time, and it definitely will not be a waste. A blind eye does not mean the problems cease to exist, nor does it mean the outcomes will not affect us. These decisions being made are ones that will affect the world. It is time we stop being silent, and it is time we start staying informed. It is time we stand with Israel and show our support. Netanyahu said that even if no one comes to Israel’s aid, the people there are resolute enough to stand on their own. Well, Prime Minister Netanyahu, you don’t have to worry, because you will not ever stand alone. God stands with you, and I am asking the students of Liberty University to stand with you too. Taylor LaForest Sophomore at Liberty University
round of the tournament Saturday. “She had to go through a lot. I don’t know if I could’ve done it.” This year is a different story, though. Hatchell, a Naismith Hall of Famer who has more than 900 career wins, has won her battle with Leukemia and is back at the helm for the Tar Heels. “It’s a whole different thing (with Hatchell back),” Mavunga said. “It’s like, ‘Man, my mom’s here.’ She’s like a mama bear around us. She really takes care of us on and off the court. If I get hit (in the post), I’m getting hit, and Coach Hatchell’s not having it. She’s like, ‘Hey, my player’s getting killed in there!’ ... It’s different when your mom’s coming out there and saying, ‘Yo, watch it, they’re hitting my kid!’ She’s not going for that.” And Hatchell’s team is ready to play for her, more than for themselves or for the desire for glory. “I know last year, (Hatchell) had the possibility of going to the Final Four with us if we would’ve made it, and we didn’t,” Mavunga said. “So having her back, we want to cherish those moments.
… Coach Hatchell loves to win, and so we’ve got to do it for her.” UNC senior guard Latifah Coleman echoed Mavunga’s sentiments. “(Having Hatchell back adds) more fuel to the fire,” Coleman said. “There’s more purpose behind what we do.” In the same way, Hatchell is in it for her team — not herself. “I’m just glad to be back out there,” Hatchell said. “… This whole week I have been so stressed out, and it’s a good stress, because I was so excited about the tournament. … I cherish this week and opportunity to coach these kids and to be here. I just don’t want to let these kids down.” So to those who think us basketball fans are crazy for devoting so much time to the sport of basketball or that it is not important in the grand scheme of life, think again. March Madness is more than a collection of embarrassing brackets filled with laughable picks, and basketball is more than just a game.
opinion
Liberty Champion | March 24, 2015 | A7
Boston bomber defenseless Dzhokar Tsarnaev on trial for deploying deadly bombs in name of religion Matt Ozburn mozburn@liberty.edu
The trial for the two-yearsremoved Boston Marathon Bombings is underway, and the mounting evidence and information is proving to make a Dzhokhar Tsarnaev defense nearly impossible. The jury was shown the homemade bombs that the Tsarnaev brothers hurled at police during their last big shootout before Dzhokar was captured, according to ABC News. The defense lawyers for Dzhokar Tsarnaev are saying he is not a committed terrorist and that he was under the influence of his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev. However, the evidence is not working well for that defense. “When you attack one Muslim, you attack all Muslims,” Dzhokar Tsarnaev’s note read, reported to have been found in the boat in which he hid during the manhunt. When someone blows up a bomb with the intent to harm, he or she is a terrorist. What matters is that — in the name of religion — people were injured and killed, and the families will never be the same.
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CATASTROPHE — Emergency responders rushed to the scene of the April 2013 marathon bombing. According to Fox News, Dzhokar Tsarnaev is facing the death penalty for killing three people and causing injury to 260 people. He is pleading not guilty to all 30 counts against him, including charges of using “a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death,” according to ABC. Survivor Rebekah Gregory lost
half her leg and had 18 surgeries following the Boston Bombing. She gave an emotional testimony in court while looking straight at the person who caused her trauma. The judge and jury need to speed up this trial and not waste our taxpayer dollars. We see evidence that this man is responsible
for the bombing. According to the Islamic Society Newsmax, the mosque Dzhokar Tsarnaev attended was home to six other people with terrorist ties, including its founder and a prominent member of the Islamic State. Additionally, several news outlets have video evidence of him
and his brother strategically placing these bombs to be set off at the marathon. Police officers have even given eyewitness accounts of their final standoff with the brothers, in which the law enforcement officials were pelted with gunfire and explosions and feared for their lives. These witnesses and survivors have been through enough trauma and deserve justice for the horrible acts committed on that day. Dzhokar Tsarnaev is guilty, and we can quit with the speculation. He deserves the death penalty. We need not complicate in the name of political correctness what is so simple. It is time that the justice system starts calling things what they are. The law is no respecter of persons or beliefs. It judges on one thing alone — right and wrong. In the eyes of the law, Dzhokar Tsarnaev is guilty of the actions of which he is being charged. And for that, the justice system has a responsibility to hold him responsible. OZBURN is an opinion writer.
Hillary Clinton buried in emails Former secretary of state caught in contention over breach of mail protocol Lee Sutherland lsutherland6@liberty.edu
Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and senator from New York, is in the news once again. During her time in President Barack Obama’s cabinet, Clinton used a
personal Internet domain for her emails instead of using the “.gov” email address given to her. A House committee investigating the attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi originally uncovered this. Clinton stated in a press conference last week that
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TRAPPED — Hillary Clinton stuck in email controversy.
she used the personal email exclusively out of convenience, as she did not want to manage two separate emails. She went on to inform the reporters there that she deleted around 30,000 emails from that account. The New York Times reported that as recently as two months ago, Clinton’s aides went through her personal email and chose which emails they wanted sent to the State Department to abide by federal record-keeping laws. This is in direct violation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and former White House advisor on interpreting the FOIA Daniel Metcalfe stated that Clinton’s conduct was “laughable.” “There is no doubt that the scheme she established was a blatant circumvent of the Freedom of Informa-
tion Act, atop the Federal Records Act,” Metcalfe told the Canadian Press. This revelation has major ramifications on the investigation of the Benghazi attacks Sept. 11, 2012. Congress has been investigating whether the true intentions of the attacks were covered up for political purposes, and this discovery could bring up more speculation as to the Obama administration’s handling of the situation. “The need for a thorough accounting of the events of Sept. 11, 2012 is greater than ever,” Mark Hemingway wrote in the Weekly Standard. “We can, however, say for certain that Hillary Clinton has deliberately and brazenly erected roadblocks that have so far prevented us from learning the truth.” A further result of this debacle is the potential
openness of the Democratic presidential field in 2016. Democrats have been relying heavily on Clinton as a candidate for president in the next election, and an alternative is nowhere to be seen. Yet, the Clinton campaign seems to be taking hit after hit it cannot withstand, and the former secretary looks every hour like less of a viable candidate. “She seemed like a 20thcentury figure in a 21stcentury world,” Wall Street Journal editorialist Peggy Noonan said of Clinton’s press conference on the emails. “Her critics complain it’s the 1990s returning, but it isn’t. It’s only the dark side of the ’90s without the era’s peace and prosperity.” This could be an opportunity for lesser-known liberals to take the spotlight, and the nomination, from the former
CONVO CONNECTION “We need to go back to the founder. We need to reboot. We need to go back to Jesus.” Alan Hirsch spoke these words in Convocation Wednesday, March 18, giving every student a deeply significant truth to ponder. KELLY When we look at our nation and the church, what do we see? Do we see a people passionate about God and his kingdom? Has our nation stiff-
armed Christianity? Is the church chained to the altar of religion? “Religion is what binds us,” Alan Hirsch said. “Jesus doesn’t sit well with religion.” Ultimately, it is all about Jesus. Not religion. Not politics. Not this world. Just Jesus. We were reminded of this on Friday through a letter written by a family about our women’s hockey team. I had the privilege of reading this letter to the student body during Convocation. The family had met the women’s hockey team before its National Championship game. They were in awe of the team’s compassion and kind-
ness extended to their young daughter, who shared a common love for hockey. Although this family may have been overwhelmed by the team’s kindness, what they were really experiencing was the love of Christ. Because that is what we do and who we are at Liberty — ambassadors of the King of kings. Congressman Trey Gowdy from South Carolina brought the week to a close with one of the most moving and powerful Convocation presentations this semester. “What do you believe in enough to march forward into certain defeat?” Gowdy said. “Which do you
first lady. Leaders such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should see the issues with Clinton as an opportunity to do what Obama did in the 2008 primaries and take the party by storm. Other, more famous Democrats like Vice President Joe Biden or even current State Secretary John Kerry might throw their hats into the ring, as Clinton seems to be reeling. Overall, this could make for a much more interesting 2016 primary season on the Democratic side.
SUTHERLAND is an opinion writer.
B Y: E R I N K E L LY emkelly2@liberty.edu
value more — truth or freedom?” With deep emotion, conviction and resolve, Gowdy inspired us to communicate hope to our hopeless world by living a life of conviction and virtue. To live out what we believe, no matter the cost. Because if we do, we will be the change this world so desperately needs. I am grateful that we have a godly man like Gowdy walking the halls of the U.S. government. Hopefully, after hearing Gowdy, Liberty students will put their faith into action, and maybe more men and women will passionately and fearlessly lead our nation back to God.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO Emily Brown editor-in-chief
Tré Goins-Phillips
PHOTOGRAPHY
SOCIAL MEDIA
opinion editor
Courtney Russo
Josh Gordon
Gabriella Fuller
Alex Tichenor
photography editor
social media manager
graduate assistant
sports editor
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Tom Foote graduate assistant
Nate Haywood asst. sports editor
Leah Seavers asst. photography editor
ADMINISTRATION
Amber Tiller
DESIGN
CONTENT
Breann Black
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Dave Van Dyk news editor
Josh Janney asst. news editor
feature editor
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All material submitted becomes property of the Champion. The Champion reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any letter received— according to the Champion stylebook, taste and the Liberty University mission statement. © Copyright 2014 Liberty University, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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A8 | March 24, 2015 | Liberty Champion
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news
Liberty Champion | March 24, 2015 | A9
Trey Gowdy visits Quinn Foley qfoley@liberty.edu
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
ACHIEVEMENT — From left to right: Joshua Gordon, Emily Brown, Jomer Bunque, Bre Black and David Van Dyk.
Celebrating success Champion staff wins awards for various accomplishments
Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu
In the midst of a busy semester, five of the Liberty Champion staff members received recognition for their achievements and publicized work. Editor-in-chief Emily Brown recently received the David L. Adams Apple Award for Best Copy Editing at the College Media Association’s spring convention March 11-14. Brown, a senior journalism major, has been involved with the Liberty Champion since her junior year, editing articles with AP errors and grammatical issues as a copy editor. During her senior year, Brown stepped up to the editor-in-chief position. “It’s really cool to know that my hard work over the last couple years with the Champion has really made a difference,” Brown said. “… I love helping writers to get better, and I honestly love AP style. All my co-workers make fun of me and all the marks from my turquoise pen, but now I have something to show for it.” Josh Gordon, the social media director for the newspaper, earned the title of vice president of member services on the national committee of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) March 14. This specific committee is composed of nine members that run for each office every year out of the more than 11,000 PRSSA members nationally. “(It is) my proudest accomplishment to date,” Gordon said. “I was so incredibly
CRUZ continued from A1 Quincy Thompson, Liberty’s Student Government Association president, called Cruz’s choice to launch his campaign in Convocation as “brilliant.” “To come to the world’s largest Christian university is a statement in and of itself,” Thompson said. “I think he was very clear in his commitment to Christ.” Cruz, advocating for traditional conservative values, said he was raised Christian, reminiscing of his journey to faith at Clay Road Baptist Church in Houston.
happy and blessed because of the people who have poured into my life to get me to this moment.” Noticed on a state level for her accomplishments, Bre Black, a senior graphic designer for the Liberty Champion, was awarded first and second place for infographic design by the Virginia Press Association (VPA). Unbeknownst to Black, she was entered into the contest and was informed of her award during spring break. Black received the news of her award as a pickme-up during the final weeks of her undergraduate career at Liberty. “Sometimes you just get wrapped up in the semester and you are just tired,” Black said. “… Before spring break, I was just worn out creatively, spiritually and emotionally. So when (I was told I had won), it was kind of like a pat on the back, like you can keep going.” Another Liberty Champion staffer, junior Jomer Bunque, was also acknowledged by VPA for the layout of the Liberty Champion Web page. Though Bunque changed his major from web development to business management and information systems with a cognate in information assurance, he is still involved with the newspaper. “Even though that’s not my major anymore, it’s kind of cool that (web is) not my concentration and I still put a lot of hard work into it, and it pays off,” Bunque said. Bunque, the Liberty Champion’s web manager, will be accepting a third place award for Best Website in the VPA
“Imagine a federal government that works to preserve the sanctity of human life and to uphold the sacrament of marriage,” Cruz said, as students waved American flags, creating campaign fanfare. Falwell said he believes Liberty has become a “regular stop” for politicians seeking national office. “From a student’s perspective, I’m very, very proud,” Thompson said. “I’m blessed to be at a university that has such a major platform … that stands for Christian values.” In response to those who claim this is a political endorsement for Liberty, Falwell said the university plans to have
April 18 at a ceremony for the VPA in Roanoke, alongside Black. David Van Dyk, news editor, was recently published by the Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC), a naval warfare nonprofit think tank. The report featured the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ seminar concerning the revised document “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower,” signed by the three Sea Services. Van Dyk found the opportunity through a blogger who was asking for a journalist to cover the event. Van Dyk drove three and a half hours to Washington, D.C. March 13 to cover the event and was later published on CG Blog. He also sent the article to CIMSEC, which later published his work, titled “The Coast Guard’s Role in 21st Century Seapower.” Van Dyk highlighted the fact that his experiences with the university newspaper provided him the tools to report on the event, and ultimately to have it published. “What I learned at Liberty definitely prepared me for covering an event of this magnitude,” Van Dyk said. “Keeping a good flow throughout the article and knowing which facts to use and which facts to leave out are things I learned and practiced in class and with the Champion.” While Van Dyk has been published in the Liberty Champion multiple times, he commented that it was nice to see his work in another publication. TILLER is the feature editor.
many candidates visit before the 2016 campaign is over. After Cruz’s announcement, Falwell explained to many media representatives that Convocation is “not a worship service” and that “it’s an opportunity to hear from speakers of all walks of life.” “Liberty, of course, by law, can’t endorse candidates, and we don’t plan to break the law,” Falwell said. According to Falwell, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the originally scheduled keynote speaker for Monday’s Convocation, was informed of Cruz’s plan to visit. McAuliffe was given the opportunity to share the stage with Cruz or
to remain the only speaker, in which case Cruz’s event would have been moved to the afternoon, Falwell told the Champion. “His folks decided that he had some important things that he wanted to say to Liberty students,” Falwell said. “He wanted to come back when there wasn’t so much else going on at Liberty.” According to Falwell, the governor’s assistant is working with the university, and McAuliffe is tentatively scheduled to visit the campus in the fall 2015 semester. GOINS-PHILLIPS is the opinion editor.
Students had the opportunity to hear U.S. Congressman Trey Gowdy give an encouraging and convicting message at Convocation Friday, March 20. Michael Hamlet, a longtime friend of the congressman, introduced Gowdy, who represents the fourth district of South Carolina. “I have always seen (Gowdy) as someone who cares (for others),” Hamlet said. Gowdy opened his message with 2 Chronicles 7:14. Gowdy said GOWDY this verse applies to people both past and present. “That verse is directed to the very same people who founded, protected, fevered and nurtured this country,” Gowdy said. “It is (also) directed toward you. So if you think that that call to action … is for someone else … then you are wrong.” Gowdy continued by asking students to think if the influence of the government has gone up or down and if the influence of the church has gone up or down. “What would you believe in enough to lose?” Gowdy said. “What do you believe in enough to march forward, even if you knew that you were marching forward to a certain defeat?” Gowdy also told students they must decide about valuing freedom more than truth and diversity more than unity. “You have to figure out what you believe, and more importantly, you have to figure out why you believe it,” Gowdy said. Gowdy continued to speak passionately about the law. “(The law) is the most unifying and equalizing force we have in this country,” Gowdy said. “It is the only thing that makes the richest person in this county drive the same speed limit as the poorest person. It is what makes the richest person in Virginia pay their taxes on the very same day as the poorest.” Gowdy also gave a word of advice to Christians going into politics. “If you are going to say that the Lord called you into politics, then you better act like it,” Gowdy said. “And if you are not going to act like it, then leave his name out of it.” Gowdy ended his message by telling a story of a man who was in a plane crash in the Potomac River. Gowdy explained that the man was offered a rescue ladder from a helicopter but kept passing it to others in the icy water. Gowdy encouraged students to be more like that man and live a quiet life of conviction and virtue and to actually live out what they profess to believe.
FOLEY is a news reporter.
CALCULUS TUTOR NEEDED Looking for an upper level student (e.g. math major or similar) able to provide tutoring sessions twice per week, 1 hour per session, to a CVCC student currently taking Calculus. I can pay $25 per hour and the sessions can be at the location of your choice. Please contact Kevin at kevinbowen54@aol.com if interested.
Live, learn and work overseas as a Peace Corps Volunteer Find out more at an info session: March 24 / 5 to 6 / Career Center
peacecorps.gov/learn
news
A10 | March 24, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Medical school sees growth The College of Osteopathic Medicine builds new research facility and clinic David Van Dyk dvandyk@liberty.edu
During the planning stages of Liberty University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM), Liberty had been preparing to open a medical clinic next to Kmart on Wards Road. The clinic would provide a place for students to shadow and learn from LUCOM physicians, thereby gaining experience while learning from faculty and staff of the medical department. The new medical clinic will be operational in the coming months, according to Dr. Ronnie Martin, dean of LUCOM, and it will offer services capable of providing care to families, athletes and children. “(The clinic) will offer preventative and primary services in family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, sports medicine, internal medicine and Osteopathic manipulative medicine,” Martin said. “It will have X-Ray, laboratory, ultrasound and cardiac diagnostic services on site.” Martin highlighted the fact that future plans for more clinics will depend on demand and the opportunities offered with regional partners. “We anticipate opening additional clinic sites for the training of our students in partnership with these groups and others to expand access to health care,” Martin said. “The decision to
THOMAS continued from A1 “(Getting fired) was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me, because it forced me to choose,” Thomas said. At the National Prayer Breakfast office where his wife worked, Thomas heard a powerful speech by a federal judge who said everyone can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
EXPANSION — LUCOM’s new research lab was designed to expand the school’s resarch capabilities. expand into more extensive medical clinics, diagnostic centers, surgical or birthing centers will be made in conjunction with these partners and based on the needs of the community.” Another expansion of LUCOM is the new 7,500-squarefoot research lab. According to Martin, the research facility can handle “Level II Bio Hazard requirements to support the medical research of the students’ faculty.” According to Martin, the new facility will provide students the chance to further their education
which sparked his interest. Thomas and his wife began attending a Bible study, where his curiosity in following Jesus grew. “God began to work some things into my life,” Thomas said. “First, he worked me out of my life in order to have space for himself.” In 1983, Thomas wrote a column for the first time in his life. He took it to the New York Times, who, to his surprise, printed the
and allow them the opportunity to specialize in their unique field of study. “All students will have access to education in research procedures and protocol as well as the opportunity to engage in state-of-the-art research projects based on their interest and ability,” Martin said. “Although smaller in scope than many mature facilities, it contains state-of-the-art equipment and capability and the potential for expansion as the research mission and capability of the COM grows over the next decades.” Partnerships with regional
column, which he now has framed in his house. The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times also printed columns Thomas sent in before he was officially hired at the Los Angeles Times to write a column twice a week. Since then, Thomas has written several books, appears on Fox News regularly and continues to write his column. April 17 will mark Thomas’s 31st year writing for the Times organization.
medical establishments have furthered the mission of LUCOM, according to Martin. “We are committed to being a good partner to the physician groups and institutions in the region, and we have worked hard to put our actions in alignment with our words,” Martin said. “The college is working with local physician and institutional groups, among which are Central Virginia Family Practice, Medical Associates of Central Virginia, Centra Health Systems, Orthopedic Associates and Johnson Health, etc. to expand clinical services in
Thomas gave advice to all students on how to handle coworkers with egos. “Ego covers up a deep sense of insecurity,” Thomas said. “That’s where you in a newsroom, or wherever God places you, can have the biggest affect on other lives.” Thomas gave specific advice to students concerning being a Christian in the media industry. “If you are a follower of Jesus of Nazareth,
the region.” Since LUCOM began its inaugural class in the fall of 2014, the growing school has seen development in several forms, one of which was an agreement with Centra Health Services. The agreement, according to Lynchburg News & Advance, benefits both parties while maintaining a lasting partnership. “Centra … has signed a 30-year affiliation agreement with Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, a substantial change from the five-year, non-exclusive agreement initially signed in 2013, prior to the college’s opening,” the News & Advance reported. “Dr. Ronnie Martin, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, said such lengthy affiliation agreements between health care systems and medical schools are uncommon, and this one benefits both parties.” According to the report, before the college had officially opened, Centra was more conservative with the original agreement, which was signed in 2013. When the school opened its doors and filled its inaugural class with 162 students, Centra formed a more lasting partnership with Liberty that continues to benefit both parties.
VAN DYK is the news editor.
realize that the most important thing you do is that you’re carrying him around in you,” Thomas said. “You’re taking him where he wants to go.” Additionally, Thomas said the only solution to solve America’s problems is God. “We have tried everything,” Thomas said. “We’ve tried liberals and conservatives and republicans and democrats and white papers and blue
ribbon commissions and study groups and the best and the brightest, and we can’t solve some basic problems. The one thing we’ve left out is trying God.” Thomas ended the speech by saying Christian journalists bring a different perspective to their job that nonbelievers will never have. FRASER is a feature reporter.
With special guests
Audio Adrenaline and Finding Favour
Student
$10
in adv.
Public
$12
ARTIST CIRCLE (FLOOR)
$15
in in adv. Visit www.liberty.edu/SA for tickets and adv. more info
SPORTS
March 24, 2015
Baseball
Baseball
B1
M. Tennis
Softball
M. Tennis
Liberty
Radford
Radford
Liberty
Liberty
Princeton
Liberty
Presby.
Liberty
Coastal
3
0
12
3
2
1
4
3
4
3
North Carolina 71, Liberty 65
Kevin Manguiob | Liberty News Service
AT THEIR HEELS — Junior guard Sadalia Ellis attacks the paint against the Tar Heels in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Tourney heartbreak Lady Flames unable to come back from 14-point halftime deficit Emily Brown erbrown@liberty.edu
With about nine minutes to go in the second half in an already loud Carmichael Arena on the University of North Carolina (UNC) campus, the Carolina faithful began to yell their common “Tar” “Heels” chant, and the fans clad in red — more than 600 of them, according to Liberty Athletic Director Jeff Barber — shouted back the “L” “U” chant with just as much fervor. “I noticed (the Liberty fans and noise) before the game started,” UNC sophomore forward Stephanie Mavunga said. “I remember … all this red was walking in, and
that came in before the blue. … I’m thinking, ‘OK, we’re bordering states, but still.’ … Liberty did a good job of bringing those fans in for sure.” However, despite having the support of the “sixth man” in the form of hundreds of Liberty students who traveled two hours to Chapel Hill to watch their team Saturday, March 22, the No. 13 seed Lady Flames (26-7) were unable to complete the comeback over fourthseeded UNC. Even though they outrebounded the Tar Heels 52-35, the Lady Flames could not overcome a 14-point halftime deficit and poor shooting to pull off the upset, ultimately losing 71-65.
“We’re happy to come out with the win,” UNC Head Coach and Naismith Hall of Famer Sylvia Hatchell said. “It’s been a couple weeks since we’ve played. (We were) very rusty at times. … These (girls), they worked hard and it pulled it through for us. … I knew it was going to be a tough game, because Liberty is tough. This is just typical of these first-round games you’ve been seeing in the men’s and women’s tournaments.” A fast-paced, up-and-down first few minutes favored the Lady Flames, who went into the first media timeout with the 8-6 lead. But the lead was short-lived, and Liberty’s shooting went ice cold for the remainder of the half.
Liberty shot a measly 25 percent from the field on 8-32 shooting, including 0-7 from three-point range, in the half. A 7-0 UNC spurt at the end of the first period put the Lady Flames in a tough position as they went into the locker room. UNC made 51.6 percent of its shots in the half. “We made some mistakes during the first half, and (UNC) shot the ball very well and put us in a hole,” Lady Flames Head Coach Carey Green said. “We showed determination and character in the second half, and certainly came back and showed what we’re made of … (I’m)
See HEARTBREAK, B2
Softball splits double-header
Lady Flames win one, lose one of Saturday games at newly completed stadium Cierra Carter cmcarter18@liberty.edu
The Lady Flames softball (12-14) team ended a weekend homestand with a tough 4-1 loss to the Toledo Rockets (12-16) Saturday, March 21 in front of a supportive home crowd. Earlier that evening, the Lady Flames took on the Quinnapiac Bobcats (4-17), coming away with the win following an offensive surge in the fourth inning. Liberty's offense got going with four doubles from freshman Alexia Taylor, juniors Kassidy McCoy and Mickey Loveridge and senior Megan Robinson.
WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME
Blair Lawrence, a junior from Hampstead, North Carolina, singled, giving the Lady Flames the 4-1 victory over the Bobcats. Redshirt junior Chandler Ball improved to 8-5 on the season, pitching her second complete game of the weekend's Liberty Softball Classic. According libertyflames.com, Ball’s 27 wins give her the 10th most in program history. In the 7:30 p.m. matchup against the Rockets, the Lady Flames bats were not as hot. The Rockets started strong with two quick runs scored in the first inning. After allowing four consecutive hits, Liberty was able to halt the Rockets,
leaving the score 2-0. The Lady Flames attempted to rally back several times, but could not get the hits they needed, leaving 10 runners stranded. Freshman Alexia Taylor and Loveridge each had solid showings at the plate, both going 2-4. “We took the momentum from yesterday and just brought it into today’s game and we made adjustments, and as a team we did a better job at certain things,” Taylor said. “We came out ready to play today.” The Rockets extended their lead to 4-0 at the top of the fifth inning with a Jessica Lemieux
Toledo 4, Liberty 1 Liberty 4, Quinnapiac 1
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
See SPLITS, B2 THE WIND-UP — Chandler Ball prepares for one of her 112 pitches.
Baseball vs. Duke
Baseball vs. Virginia
M. Lacrosse vs. Georgia
W. Tennis vs. Coastal
March 24 @ 3 p.m.
March 25 @ 3 p.m.
March 27 @ 11:59 p.m.
March 28 @ 12 p.m.
Baseball vs. Presby. March 28 @
3 p.m.
Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage
sports
B2 | March 24, 2015 | Liberty Champion
The French connection Senior golfer Mathieu Fenasse brings unique mindset to Flames program Paul Vandenbosch pvandenbosch@liberty.edu
Most athletes love the idea of being part of a team — the unity, the fellowship, the bearing of each other’s burdens. While Liberty Flames golfer Mathieu Fenasse values that team connection, the individual aspect of the sport is something that he finds alluring. “I liked the fact that (golf) is an individual sport,” Fenasse said. “You don’t play for a team or anything, you just play for yourself first.” To some people, this might sound selfish, but there is more to this softspoken golfer than that. “If I play good, it’s up to me,” Fenasse said. “If I play bad, it’s up to me.” In fact, the individualization of golf is what draws Fenasse to the sport. “Golf is a sport where perfection is impossible to attain,” Fenasse said. “So each and every day you have to re-establish what you are doing and always think of new ways to improve. I’m also an individualist, so golf is a really good sport for people like me.” Fenasse was born and raised in the city of Toulouse, France, which lies about an hour and a half northeast of the French-Spanish border. As an only child, he developed a love for sports at a young age, playing a variety of different sports such as tennis, rugby, soccer and golf. He began playing golf when he was 10 years
HEARTBREAK continued from B1 certainly pleased and very proud of this team.” Much like the first half, Liberty started the second period strong, scoring four points right out of the gate. However, another rough shooting stretch following the 4-0 start left the Lady Flames in the same position they were in at halftime. Liberty continued to fight through the remainder of the half, and the Lady Flames were
old, keeping a family tradition that began with his grandfather. As a student, Fenasse always had to set aside time for sports since the majority of his time was dedicated to school. In France, there are no universities or colleges that offer successful athletic programs, so many students often come to America to further their education. Fenasse wanted to do just that — something he said is his favorite part of America — and to continue to play golf. “In France, we are pretty much in school all day,” Fenasse said. “So if you liked to play sports, you could only play them on Wednesday afternoon and during the weekend.” So Fenasse used his agent, a type of advisor that many European athletes utilize once they finish their secondary education, to help him find a good school. His agent discovered Liberty and contacted men’s golf Head Coach Jeff Thomas about Fenasse. Fenasse decided to do his own research on Jerry Falwell’s university and made his decision without ever stepping foot on the campus. “I didn’t take a visit (to Liberty) because I didn’t want to go to college anymore,” Fenasse said. “Then three months before school started, I actually changed my mind. I only heard about Liberty two months before coming here, so it was pretty fast.” Fenasse found his college, but then he faced another challenge — he did not speak English. So, at age 18, he traveled to Florida, where he
able to drastically increase their shooting percentage to 43.2 percent. Behind solid performances from redshirt senior guard Karly Buer, who finished the game with 14 points, and redshirt junior forward Ashley Rininger, who ended the day with a double-double on 19 points and 13 rebounds, the Lady Flames were able to cut into the deficit. Although the Lady Flames seemed to be clicking and connecting more on offense, they were never able to get closer than six, as they were unable to
stayed for six months to compete in golf tournaments and to learn to speak English. He spent the next six months at Liberty learning to write in English. Fenasse, now a senior, frequently reflects on how far he has come since his arrival in Lynchburg a couple years ago. “My first two years, I was just trying to be on the team and prove that I could compete with the other guys,” Fenasse said. “Now, I’m more of a leader and people are looking up to me, and I have to be an example.” Though a self-proclaimed individualist, Fenasse does acknowledge one person in his life as his greatest motivation — his father. “(My dad) taught me how to be successful in life,” Fenasse said. “He taught me what I have to do each and every day to be better and to be a good person. So when I’m on the golf course or when I’m studying or anything, that’s who I’m looking up to.” Fenasse will graduate in May, after which he plans to return home to France and join the European Tour, the European equivalent of America’s PGA Tour. He said he will likely move to Spain, where the weather is more suitable for golf year-round and his family is nearby. VANDENBOSCH is a sports reporter.
string together defensive stops. Every time Liberty got within close range, UNC answered. “North Carolina is a very, very good team, and they’re tough,” redshirt senior guard Emily Frazier, who finished the game with seven points, seven assists and eight rebounds, said. “We’d go on a run, and they’d just knock us out. … I do feel like (a defensive stop) would have given us a lot more confidence. It would have given us a boost.” In the final minutes of the game, Buer hit Liberty’s first
Kevin Manguiob | Liberty News Service
HAUNTING THE HEELS — Redshirt junior Ashley Rinninger led all scorers with 19 points.
photo provided
IN THE ZONE — Mathieu Fenasse hones his craft, putting from the fringe of the green. three — the Lady Flames finished 3-18 from behind the arc — but it was not enough, and Liberty ultimately lost by six to the storied ACC team. UNC senior guard Latifah Coleman finished the game with 15 points. Sophomore guard Allisha Gray led UNC with 17, and Mavunga battled Liberty’s height in the post to score 12 points. Liberty finished the game shooting 34.8 percent, while UNC hit 49.1 percent of its shots. Despite the rough shooting display, a height and rebounding advantage led to 22 second-chance points for the Lady Flames. Liberty’s bench also outscored the UNC’s, 22-14. In addition to what Liberty was able to accomplish on the court, Green acknowledged the contributions of the fans in the Lady Flames final game of the season. “I’m biased when I make this statement, but I think our fans were louder than the Carolina fans,” Green said. “I think they may have had us outnumbered a little bit, but it was almost 50-50. … The buses that came down, and the fans, hopefully they got their money’s worth. They should have. That’s their fault if they didn’t. They picked us up. They were the sixth man to encourage us, … and we’re thankful for that.”
SPLITS continued from B1
BROWN is the editor-in-chief.
CARTER is a sports reporter.
single followed by a Celeste Fidge home run. The Lady Flames offensive efforts finally came together in the bottom of the sixth, as Loveridge hit a leadoff triple. Madison Kotchey brought her home with a single, scoring Liberty's only run of the game. While Liberty fell to the Rockets in its last game of the Liberty Softball Classic, the Lady Flames went 3-2 in the opening weekend in the new stadium. “It was kind of like we weren’t hitting, but yet we had 10 hits. … They weren’t timely hits, that was the difference,” Richardson said. Richardson is excited to have the new home stadium completed and open to the fans that are coming out to support their Lady Flames. “You looked up (from the field) and there were people all in the stands and also in the hill, just watching the games,” Richardson said. “We want people to realize how amazing these young athletes are.” The Lady Flames will travel to Hampton for a doubleheader Tuesday, March 25 for their next challenge. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium.
sports
Liberty Champion | March 24, 2015 | B3
Tich’s Take Alex Tichenor atichenor@liberty.edu
College basketball can be ugly. Like, step-sister in Cinderella on a bad day right after she wakes up ugly. Scoring droughts can last as long as it takes to make a frozen pizza. Some guards cannot dribble, some big men cannot finish at the rim and some coaches just cannot help themselves with the amount of hair TICHENOR gel they use. It is an allaround smorgasbord of awful more often than high-level basketball should be. But I still love it. To be clear, I am not one of those “college basketball is more pure than pro basketball” people. The NBA makes a better basketball product. NBA players do play hard and play defense, despite what some people (who never watch the NBA in 9,999 of 10,000 cases) may believe. For some reason, we live in a world where we have to choose between liking the NBA or college basketball. Do we have to choose between liking tacos or pizza? Not while I am alive. Why would you have your cake if you could not eat it too, anyway? I want to live in a world where all forms of basketball are appreciated, flaws and all. Sure, fixing blemishes in the game should always be a focus. There is no reason for college basketball to not switch from a 35-second shot clock to a 30-second clock for instance, but to not watch college games because scores are not in the 100s is dumb. That is like not eating a perfectly good steak just because it is not the best steak you have ever had. Sorry, I promise at least three more paragraphs until another food reference. And even the most bitter, anti-college basketball person has to love March Madness. March is a magical time in the world of sports. The first four days of the NCAA tournament feature 13 straight hours of basketball. Yes, I said 13 hours. In a row. Good thing basketball gluttony is not a sin. Those 13 straight hours are then filled with upsets, buzzer beaters, crying fans/ players/piccolo players. Sounds a little bit like sports heaven to me. This past Thursday, when the tournament kicked into gear, marked the first legitimate “you can roll the windows down in your car and not be cold” day of the year. Coincidence? Well, probably. But it was still awesome. Everything about that day felt like a holiday. And it does almost every year. Once I get a place to call my own, I will immediately invest in four televisions, strictly so I do not accidently miss something on those first two opening days of the tournament when up to four games are going on at once. I will always make more money to pay for the TVs. I will never be able to shed the regret of not watching a magical sports moment happen live. Gotta keep priorities in order. While the sheer volume of awesomeness dies down after the first superweekend (Thursday through Sunday) of the tourney, the importance of the awesomeness ratchets up. Some of the best things to ever happen in human history have been a part of March Madness. Lorenzo Charles’ dunk to beat a Clyde Drexler/Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston team is right up there with Neil Armstrong walking on the moon or even Louis Armstrong playing his meanest concert ever. Christian Laettner’s shot to beat Kentucky and cement himself as the most annoying legendary college athlete ever was at least as cool as when John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence. Bottom line: college basketball is awesome, and if you do not think so, then you probably should just learn how to hibernate for about a month and then hibernate for all of March. The rest of us will just sit back (or stand up and yell at the TV) and enjoy the Madness.
TICHENOR is the sports editor.
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
BUSTED — Brackets across the nation are going up in flames after several unlikely underdog victories.
Tich’s
Sweet 16 science Things to know about each remaining tourney team is 1. Kentucky better than
should 2. Arizona have been a
Xavier gonna is not a 3. Utah pushover five-seed. 4. Xavier.
There are a few good teams still left in the tournament. There are a few very, very good teams left in the tournament. And then there are the Wildcats, who are pretty much the Monstars from Space Jam. It is going to take a perfect game from one of those very, very good teams to end the Wildcats’ perfect season.
Besides Kentucky, no team in the country has a longer win streak. And not only do the Wildcats have a 13-game win streak, but 12 of those 13 victories have been by double digits. In other words, Arizona is swallowing up and digesting anything and everything in its path.
It was trendy to pick against the Utes to make a deep run in most bracket pools, only most of those people had not watched a single Utah game all year. Delon Wright and Jakob Poeltl are as good of an inside-outside combo that exists in the college game and the rest of the Utes provide plenty of supporting firepower. Watch out, Duke.
Virginia’s 5. West press is
State is 6. NC dangerous (and
State UCLA’s results 7. Wichita might have another 8. are catching up
The Mountaineers led the country in steals per game by more than one per game during the season, averaging 10.94 swipes per contest, thanks to a hellacious attacking full-court press. Maryland coughed up a whopping 23 turnovers against West Virginia in their Round of 32 duel. Kentucky has not seen much full-court pressure all year, so the Mountaineers could cause some problems during their Sweet 16 matchup with the Wildcats.
After watching the Wolfpack play all season, one thing is clear — nothing is ever clear about this team. Their big men had been chronically underwhelming up until tournament time when, suddenly, aliens invaded their bodies and turned them into productive basketball machines. Still, a concerning note for NC State fans: the Wolfpack have not played in the Elite Eight since 1986.
Probably under-seeded as a seven-seed, the Shockers handled in-state foe Kansas easily in the Round of 32. Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker form one of the best and most experienced backcourts in the nation — they have led Wichita State to a 95-14 record in three years as teammates — and will cause problems for pretty much anyone. If the Shockers can beat Notre Dame, they will most likely have their chance to spoil Kentucky’s undefeated season just as the Wildcats did to the undefeated Shockers in the 2014 Big Dance.
On paper, the Bruins should have been one of better teams in the country all year. But an earlyseason swoon during which Team Alford (the Bruins are coached by Steve Alford, and his son Bryce Alford starts at point guard) lost five consecutive games by an average of 27 points per loss. After somehow squeaking into the field, the Bruins have handled SMU and UAB with relative ease and actually match up fairly well with Sweet 16 foe Gonzaga. March is crazy.
Carolina 11. North is not actually
still 12. Louisville has Rick Pitino.
everyone else.
something out of a horror movie.
State 9. Michigan and Tom Izzo are money in March.
one-seed.
unpredictable).
is an 10. This old-school Duke team.
Since 1998, the Spartans have been to the tourney every year. In those 18 consecutive trips, Michigan State has only not reached at least the Sweet 16 five times. Izzo’s Final Four appearances during that same time frame: six.
Before this year, two of the past three Duke teams bowed out of the tournament during their first game. However, the Blue Devils have not had this much talent since they won the national title in 2010. Good luck guarding Jahlil Okafor, Justice Winslow, Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones.
13.
Gonzaga 14. This might be the
Wisconsin is vulnerable.
There will be a one-seed that will go down in the Sweet 16, and it will be Wisconsin. North Carolina has more length and athleticism than the Badgers have faced all year. Frank Kaminsky’s college career will end at the hands — or um, heels — of the Tar Heels.
best Gonzaga.
The Zags have had some very good teams over the past decade and a half, but none have been as well rounded and all-around talented as this year’s. Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer is the star, but Kevin Pangos, Przemek Karnowski, Domatas Sabonis, Byron Wesley and Gary Bell, Jr. all fill their roles perfectly. This might be the year they finally make it to the Final Four.
run in them.
doomed.
There is no better school starting with the letter “x” come March. The Musketeers have played in the Sweet 16 in five of their past seven trips to the Big Dance. The last coach to lead Xavier to the Elite Eight — current Arizona head coach Sean Miller, who will face his former team in the Sweet 16.
with the “eye test.”
Anyone with friends who are Tar Heel fans has heard some form of the “Roy (Williams) has lost it/we are not getting big recruits anymore” spiel. It turns out the sky is not really falling. Wisconsin should be very afraid of UNC.
Among active coaches, only Mike Krzyzewski has been to more Final Fours than Pitino. Also, the Cardinals have not been eliminated before the Elite Eight since 2011. Pitino’s teams always seem to peak at the right times, and this year’s team seems to be no exception.
Notre Dame 15. Ifgets lucky …
16. Oklahoma proves that the
The Irish are supposed to be lucky or something, right? If there is any team that can get hot from beyond the arc and beat anybody (yes, including Kentucky), it is Notre Dame. No team left in the tournament launched as many threes during the season as the Fighting Irish. Not to mention, four players in their rotation shoot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc.
The rest of the top Big 12 teams fizzled out more quickly than Antoine Walker’s bank account. But there is one who survives yet. Michigan State is a notch above the Sooners’ previous two opponents Dayton and Albany, so the Sweet 16 could be the end of the road for Oklahoma and the Big 12.
Big 12 lives.
sports
B4 | March 24, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Early postseason exit Flames D1 hockey falls to No. 4 seed Ohio University in first playoff game Ryley Rush rarush@liberty.edu
Liberty University men’s division I (DI) hockey team went oneand-done in this year’s American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) DI National Championships with a 5-2 loss to fourtime national champion Ohio University, March 5. The 11th-seeded Flames (2511-5) fell to the 4th-seeded Bobcats (27-7-6) despite jumping out to an early, two-goal lead. It seemed an unfortunately fitting ending to an inconsistent season. On a team comprised of more than one-third new players and riddled with injuries all season long, the team was proud of its accomplishments and the foundation it laid for the season to come. “Overall it was a good year,” Head Coach Kirk Handy said. “I’m most proud of our guys this year for not giving up and eventually checking out. It would have been really easy when we didn’t know who would play goalie next game, or who (was) going to play with who on a line because of the injuries we had on the back end and on our front end. Give our guys a lot of credit. They were able to find ways to overcome obstacles that were put in front of them.” Handy named the Flames depth their greatest on-ice strength moving forward, with four lines consistently contributing to the offensive cause and a diverse, experienced group of defensemen patrolling the blue line. When healthy, the Flames executed their system and consistently saw wins as a result. Handy pointed to the West Virginia series and, in particular, the
Courtney Russo | Liberty Champion
GOING DOWN THE LINE — The Flames D1 hockey team graduated a group of seniors, but stilll maintain a promising freshman class. Minot State University series. The Flames will be tested by the departure of graduating seniors Matt Sherry, Lindsay LeBlanc, Ryley Egan, Cam Bakker, Christian Garland and Ryan Kerr, as well as Cary Byron and Ian Harris, Liberty division II (DII) and division III (DIII) goalies who joined the team midseason after their DI counterparts went down with injuries. Handy called LeBlanc “night in and night out one of the
fiercest competitors,” naming LeBlanc and Egan as two of the team’s key scorers. He also called Kerr and Garland the “heart and soul” of the penalty kill unit and “unsung heroes of the team.” Handy mourned the loss of leadership and a defensive anchor in Sherry, and he called Bakker “an all-around dominant defenseman.” He expressed his gratitude for Harris and Byron stepping up to carry the team when needed. “It’s an excellent senior class,
MONDAY IS ZAXBY’S COLLEGE DAY ®
and I think we’re going to have a tough time replacing them,” Handy said. The good news is that while the seniors leave behind big skates to fill, the rising senior class and freshmen such as alternate captains Luke Hannon and Ben Hughes, among others, already seem to fit nicely. “We had a meeting last week and I was able to talk to Luke and Ben and the senior class and cast a bit of a vision for them on the
start of next year and what we want out of them,” Handy said. “But I have no doubt they’re going to be big and really take ownership for us next year.” It was a bittersweet season to be sure, but the Flames are already gearing up for a deeper run at nationals next season.
RUSH is a sports reporter.
Clinical Trial | Asthma Study
Do You Have Asthma? Asthma Study Participants from Liberty University Needed
Volunteers are needed for a study about asthma and the common cold.
You must have asthma, not smoke and be 18-40 years old.
Screening at UVA is in progress now and involves 2 visits ($40 for the 1st visit; $60 for the 2nd). $30 reimbursement for gas mileage for Liberty University participants will also be provided. Those who qualify can participate with payment of up to $1,870 for completing the study. For more information, please contact the UVA Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center via email at ddm9q@virginia.edu or 434.982.3510. (HSR#12656 and 14427)
Liberty University students and faculty receive 20% OFF any meal on Mondays, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Must present valid ID. Offer valid at this location only: 1038 Wards Ferry Rd. • Lynchburg 434.237.2651 Limited-time offer. Valid on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. only. Must present valid ID. Each restaurant independently owned and operated. Offer not valid at any other locations. © 2014 Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. “Zaxby’s” is a registered trademark of Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc.
UVA Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center ddm9q@virginia.edu | 434.982.3510
sports
Liberty Champion | March 24, 2015 | B5
BE THE VERY FIRST TO KNOW WHEN THE
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B6 | March 24, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Uphill battle 5K race will present challenges Brianna Young bdyoung4@liberty.edu
Photos Provided
RECOGNIZE — Faces of Liberty took inspiration from the Humans of New York website in order to feature everyday students at Liberty.
Faces of Liberty Facebook page shares individual stories from around campus Greg Castel gcastel@liberty.edu
As students, faculty and staff move from place to place around campus, they can pass by dozens, or even hundreds, of people. But in those fleeting moments, it is hard to glean more than simply the outward expressions on the faces of those they move past. Behind each of those faces, though, is a story. And one by one, the people responsible for the Facebook page Faces of Liberty aim to tell those stories. Created in October of 2013 by junior Haley Greene, the Faces of Liberty page is a collection of photos of people around Liberty. Pictures are accompanied by the stories of those featured, ranging from testimonies of God’s faithfulness in their lives to their interests and dreams. In almost two and a half years, the page has
GLOBE continued from B10 performed various tasks appropriate to their perspective locations. Even though the day-to-day activities of each team differed, their overarching purposes remained the same — to serve and share the hope of the gospel in
garnered more than 3,500 likes. According to Greene, the venture of starting the page forced her out of her comfort zone. “I was going through a very personal trial and I wanted to give back to the community, because I felt like I (had) been really closed off,” Greene said. “It was out of my personality to just go up to people and ask them questions.” Greene said Faces of Liberty was inspired by the similar Facebook page Humans of New York, which was created by Brandon Stanton about five years ago. “I really liked Humans of New York, which just blew up recently, and I just really wanted to bring that idea onto Liberty’s campus and meet new people, make new friends and get their stories out there, because our testimonies are one of the most important things we can share,” Greene said. According to Greene, Faces
of Liberty is different from other offshoots of the Humans of New York page, as Liberty’s Christian environment provides for stories that often point toward God’s goodness. After running the page for one year, Greene decided to focus on her musical career, passing Faces of Liberty to junior Matt Johnson. “Last May, after watching an interview of Brandon Stanton, I asked (Greene) if I (could) have (Faces of Liberty), and she said if I (could) get myself a nice enough DSLR camera, to go right ahead,” Johnson said. “I saved up over the summer — I actually bought her camera from her — and pretty much this entire school year has been me doing the page.” Johnson has been at the helm since the fall of 2014. According to Johnson, part of the appeal of running the page is having the
opportunity to hear the unfiltered stories of his peers and others around campus. “People are so much more willing to open up to a stranger,” Johnson said. “I think (sharing) teaches people to be more engaging.” Johnson also said he believes the page fosters a sense of individuality. “I like the thought that people enjoy seeing what makes others unique, because it helps them realize their own uniqueness,” Johnson said. To learn more about the faces around campus, visit facebook. com/FacesofLiberty or visit the Instagram account @facesofliberty for the newest facet of the photo-blog.
each unique, cultural context. “The CGE connects the teams with people who are working locally,” according to the report. “The teams are sent to places where they can help the workers with what is being done there.” According to CGE, many of the students on the Global Teams plan on serving overseas in some capacity after graduation. The
short-term trips allowed them to be exposed to other cultures and allowed them to build relationships with the partner organizations and hosts. Sophomore Emi Oyama traveled as a part of the group in Bosnia. The group assisted a local organization that coordinated activities for the youth in the area. “Every day was really filled,”
Oyama said. “We taught English and distriuted food around the town.” The food distribution provided the team the opportunity to converse with the locals. “It was a great chance to hear their stories, and, in turn, we got to tell ours,” Oyama said. Junior Rachel Gross was a part of the team in Thailand that worked primarily with university students and with hosts that taught English classes. Gross said she believes the group was valuable in helping their hosts connect with students. “It can be difficult for them to build relationships with so many students,” Gross said. “They really appreciated having a team of Liberty students there that could serve their students and relate to them.” As Oyama and Gross both prepare to serve full-time after graduation, they both believe their education at Liberty will continue to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively share the story of hope. “When you’re able to form a relationship with someone, you’re able to have a bigger impact on their life,” Gross said. More information about Global Teams and upcoming trips can be found on CGE’s website at liberty.edu/globalteams.
Photo Provided
PACIFIC OCEAN — Students experienced life on the other side of the world through international trips.
CASTEL is a sports reporter.
CLARKE is a guest writer.
Dedicated to bringing exciting events to the Liberty University community, Student Activities (SA) has implemented several different races and marathons throughout the school year. Each race varies in length and offers students of every background the opportunity to get outdoors and challenge themselves physically. The half-mile run is a new race set to take place March 31 at 6 p.m. The evening run requires both strength and endurance, according to Director of Outdoor Recreation Josh Yeoman. The King of the Mountain race sets itself apart from other races SA holds throughout the year because the event is free to the public. According to Yeoman, anyone interested is encouraged to participate in the challenge. Although the race is only a half mile, Yeoman said it will not be easy. “This is a really tough challenge,” Yeoman said. “The race is straight up (a hill) for a half of a mile.” Due to the race’s difficulty, Yeoman encouraged students, faculty and staff to compete. He also suggested that those interested in participating train for the race by running hills. The race will start in the intramural fields just below the Liberty monogram and will end when each racer reaches the top of the monogram. The run takes place on a single-track trail, only adding to the difficulty of the event because of the lack of space on the path. “This is more of a fun, competitive challenge,” Yeoman said. “Because (it) is free, we are not providing chip timing or T-shirts at this event. But we will have some drinks and pizza.” At the end of the event, one male and one female will be crowned as winners. Several staff and volunteers work hard throughout the year to plan each race put on by SA. According to Yeoman, approximately 20 to 25 people have helped with this event. “We plan approximately four races per semester,” Yeoman said. “Careful planning must go into every aspect of the event. We do it all, (including) hospitality, course set-up, promotion and risk management. Student Activities tries to provide a very competitive event for a very reasonable price.” In addition to the King of the Mountain run, two more races will be held this semester. The Liberty Mountain 5K Trail Race was originally scheduled to take place Feb. 21 but was postponed until March 26. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Camp Hydaway. Advance student tickets are $10 while public tickets are $15 in advance. The last race of the semester is the Bald Mountain 10K Trail Race. The evening run begins at 6 p.m. and takes place April 16 at Camp Hydaway. A training run will be held April 14 at 6 p.m. Student tickets for the Bald Mountain 10K Trail Race are being sold in advance for $15. Advance tickets for the public are $20. Each race offers varying degrees of difficulty, giving anyone the chance to find the one that works best for them. More information on prices and registration for each race can be found at liberty.edu/races. YOUNG is a feature reporter.
feature
Liberty Champion | March 24, 2015 | B7
Exhibit honors senior designers The Kaleidoscope art show features award-winning graphic design work Rachel Graf rgraf5@liberty.edu
When one looks through the small lens of a kaleidoscope, a world of shifting colors and shapes appears, delighting the eye and enlivening the imagination. But it all depends on how one looks through the lens and moves the scope around. The same is true of graphic design. Kaleidoscope is the name of the graphic design exhibit currently featured in the Liberty University Art Gallery. The exhibit features the work of 52 senior graphic design students who are part of Liberty’s department of Studio and Digital Arts (SADA). “One of the main reasons for the exhibit is to allow students to showcase the work they have done throughout the duration of their program here at Liberty,” Todd Smith, SADA chair, said. “The program stresses that student work is done to give God glory and reflect his creativity. Our goal is for students to go into the fields of art and design to act as salt and light, so the senior show is one of their first opportunities to do that.” Luke Stevens, a senior who designed the promotional items for the Kaleidoscope exhibit, said he thought the name was fitting. “I think that’s a good description of culmination,” Stevens said. “Multiple pieces and colors make this one whole, and I really think that’s what they were going for. … I guess, for me, designing all of these things, designing the postcards and the handouts and the poster, it’s kind of the same thing. All these little pieces that make one branding project for the show.” Despite the damp, rainy weather, dozens of students, faculty and community members attended Kaleidoscope’s artist reception at the art gallery Thursday, March 19.
“In each case, you can see the personality of the designer, even (in) the colors or the fonts,” Taylor Fedena, a sophomore studying graphic design, said. “The fonts express different moods — bright, cheerful colors express happy and joyful emotions, whereas deep, dark colors like black or brown are expressing more of a deep sentiment, … maybe inner turmoil. … The work is astounding, and the ability at this school is outstanding.” Because of the individual personality inserted into every piece of artwork and the many hours spent perfecting a composition, Liberty has the ability to boast in the award-winning talented artists. According to an article by the Liberty University News Service, 39 SADA students won a combined 75 American Advertising Awards at the Western Virginia Advertising Awards competition in Roanoke, Virginia, Feb. 28. Of the awards given, 34 were gold and 41 were silver, in addition to Judge’s Choice and Best of Student Work categories. Some of these awardwinning pieces are being featured as a part of the Kaleidoscope exhibit, along with other senior portfolio work. Stevens was one of the students who won a silver award at the Western Virginia Advertising Awards competition for his handdrawn, frame-by-frame animation, “Rebirth.” The animation is composed of more than 300 hand-drawn frames and took Stevens four days to complete. Soren Conrad, a senior whose work is featured in Kaleidoscope, won two gold awards at the competition in Roanoke: one for her “Teavana Ad Poster,” and another for her book design, “Making It: A Freshman Girl’s College Survival Guide.” Conrad appreciates the professional experience the exhibit provides. “Kaleidoscope feels like an acknowledgement of our undergrad(uate) adventure and
Courtney Russo | Liberty Champion
PUT ON DISPLAY — Guests walked through the art gallery and admired artwork from current seniors. evokes the feeling of our class being propelled into the real world of design,” Conrad said. “I personally am extremely grateful for the SADA department here at Liberty and everything the faculty has taught us. Liberty is an excellent school for liberal arts and sciences, but it also has an amazing SADA degree. I’m so thankful that I (get) to earn my graphic design degree from Liberty.” Kelsey Bengston, a senior at Liberty, won a gold award for “The Wilderness Logo,” a logo she designed for her proposed restaurant called “The Wilderness,” an upscale eatery specializing in wild game. Bengston said Kaleidoscope helped her see where she came from as a transfer student to Liberty and where she is headed as a graduating senior. “When you look through a kaleidoscope, it’s always changing, always rotating, and so
(in graphic design), you’re always developing as an artist,” Bengston said. “(Graphic design) is always changing, whether it’s in the field or different trends or styles that are coming out. … Kaleidoscope shows the process and it shows the change.” Kyle Fletcher, a senior who created a promotional billboard concept for the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre, considered it a privilege to have his work on display as part of Kaleidoscope alongside the work of his fellow students. “Having my work featured in the exhibit is such an honor. Not only to have something I created being put on display, but that my art is surrounded by some of the most talented graphic designers out there,” Fletcher said. “It’s a humbling experience, and I’m proud of everyone who has worked so hard these past four
years to get to this moment.” The Kaleidoscope exhibit is on display until March 26 and is not only a celebration of the creativity and diversity among the Liberty University student body, but it is also a reflection of a master artist. “‘Kaleidoscope’ simply means light being used to bring out beauty in something,” Fletcher said. “So personally, I see us as artists using the talents given to us by God with his light being illuminated through us, ultimately (producing) work that is so attractive and creative, (and) in my opinion, more appealing. Sometimes when I create art, I think, ‘There is no way I could ever come up with something worth looking at,’ but I am constantly reminded that God has given me something and that his light prevails over my insecurities.” GRAF is a feature reporter.
Student runs for awareness Ken Aden will race 1,000 miles to raise funds for Ray of Hope Food Pantry Ashley Bunner abunner@liberty.edu
Running a 5K race or a half marathon is no small feat, but it is not impossible. Running 1,000 miles across four states in the span of 12 days, however, seems a bit daunting. For Liberty University Online (LUO) senior Ken Aden, the cause behind the Running 4 Hunger race is what gives him the strength and determination he needs to make it through this long trek. This 1,000-mile, crosscountry, endurance race is the first of its kind to be completed for the Ray of Hope Food Pantry located in Russellville, Arkansas. All funds pledged will go toward the construction of a multi-use facility for the homeless and economically disadvantaged within Pope County, Arkansas. Aden will be starting the race from the office of Ray of Hope Food Pantry July 31, 2015, and is expected to end his journey at Liberty University in Virginia before midnight Aug. 11, 2015. Aden majored in religious and biblical studies through Liberty’s online program and is currently working toward starting his master’s degree in religion education this coming fall. His ultimate goal is to further his studies at Liberty
Photo Provided
SPEED — Ken Aden, pictured above with his wife, must run 1,000 miles in 12 days. by pursuing a doctorate in philosophy and apologetics or education. The first long-distance run held by Ray of Hope Food Pantry was the Run 2 End Hunger event, which was 210 miles in seven days, according to the Running 4 Hunger press release. The second run was the Run 2 End Hunger 2, which was a total distance of 253 miles in seven days. According to Aden, he was chosen to take on the Running 4 Hunger race because of his previous involvement with the Run 2 End Hunger series. “I have always enjoyed running and was rather
good at it,” Aden said. “I was discharged from the Army in late 2010, and I guess it just followed me. The last two nicknames that I got on the previous runs were Forrest Gump and The Running Man.” According to Aden, he faced mental and physical challenges during the last two long-distance races he ran. During the 253 mile race, Aden’s body was not able to keep up with the higher demand for calorie intake, which resulted in him losing nearly 15 pounds. “(B)y the seventh day, I was in pretty rough shape,” Aden said. “The weather
wasn’t very cooperative either. (There) was lots of wind and what seemed like endless sheets of rain on the second half of the run. The best part, however, was meeting lots of great and friendly people along the way.” Weather conditions and the long, grueling distance are what Aden believes will be the biggest challenges during the duration of the race. “There is a huge difference between 253 miles in seven days and 1,000 miles in 12,” Aden said. “However, at the very least, awareness about the serious issue of hunger will be increased.
It is doable. Faith in God and the correct frame of mind will be essential to success.” At the start of the race, live video feeds and a GPS tracking of Aden’s journey will become available for viewers to watch and keep track of his daily progress. More information about tracking his journey can be found online at 1000miles4hunger.com. In order to meet the goal of 1,000 miles in 12 days, Aden will have to cover a minimum of 83 miles per day. According to Aden, he will be allowed to take breaks as needed throughout the day for food and water. “In the previous races that I competed in, once I met that mileage mark for the day, then I had the option of resting at a nearby hotel or pressing on for a few extra miles to get ahead,” Aden said. “Of course, as long as the total mileage is covered within the 12 days. That is what matters.” In preparation for the upcoming event, Aden has been running every day to achieve maximum endurance and stamina. Time, however, is a big component that comes into play with his training, according to Aden. “When I was in the Army, (training) seemed easier to do, as physical
exercise was something that we did throughout the day,” Aden said. “I am married now with four beautiful children, and in addition to school, … I am employed full-time. So time is a major factor.” According to Aden, Ray of Hope Food Pantry serves several hundred families a month through food distribution or by helping others through various community projects. Last year, approximately 3,500 families were provided with nonperishable food items and general household goods. “I believe (Ray of Hope Food Pantry) has a target goal of 30 tons of food set to be raised this year,” Aden said. “They are a relatively small organization and only have a staff of five. That staff of five is being kept busy and focused on Christ.” Individuals will have the opportunity to pledge a minimum of $10 toward the Ray of Hope Food Pantry in order to help fight hunger in Arkansas. Pledge offerings are only payable if the race is completed within the allotted 12-day period. For more information about how to pledge to the Running 4 Hunger race, visit 1000miles4hunger.com.
BUNNER is a feature reporter.
feature
B8 | March 24, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Drama tells redemption story Department of Theatre Arts presents a narrative of morality in ‘Everyman’ show Emma Jane Maurer emaurer@liberty.edu
The gospel was presented in a whole new way by the Department of Theatre Arts when its movement-conceived adaptation of “Everyman” opened in the Tower Theater Thursday, March 19. Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Chris Nelson, who directed the show, estimated that 98 percent of the show is told without words. Because of the vitality of the show’s message, cast members hoped that this unique retelling would captivate the audience’s attention in a different way than a verbal story would. “With words, it’s so easy to zone out,” freshman Ryan Hippe, who portrayed Everyman, said. “You hear enough words in a given day that they eventually start to lose their value. On this stage, there was no zoning out. There was no possible way you would ever lose the attention of what went on the stage.” Senior Caleb Towns, who portrayed God, agreed with Hippe. “This show tapped into a raw part of humanity,” Towns said. “Let’s cut the words and fluff and get right down to those hard-hitting themes (such as redemption and morality), which this show was packed full of.” However, cutting the words provided the cast with a challenge, as there were no stage directions to help the actors to get to know their characters on a personal level. “With acting, there’s internal and external action,” junior Heather Reed, who portrayed Death, said. “At least for my role, I didn’t have a lot of external action. I had to find things inside of me, in the thoughts that I’m having, that would force my feelings to come through externally so that the audience understood what had happened. Because I’m an Angel of Death, the idea is that I’m a good character. A lot of times people associate death as a negative concept. Trying to take the internal as a human and understand an angel and perform it with grace was the biggest challenge for me.” A team approach between the cast and the director also gave this show
Joel Coleman | Liberty News Service
GOOD VERSUS EVIL — “Everyman” focused on the moment a man is told that his death is imminent and wants to change his fate. a unique twist. “Many times in rehearsals, I asked students for their ideas, making this a truly collaborative process,” Nelson said. According to Towns, the students appreciated the freedom they received from Nelson. “This whole show has been very free,” Towns said. “Nelson let us do a lot early on in rehearsals, giving us some basic blocking and allowing us to express ourselves as actors. It’s been one of the most freeing shows we’ve done as a department because there’s no script or stage direction.” Senior McKenzie Connell, who portrayed the Minion Leader, agreed with Towns. “(Nelson) basically gave us an idea of what he wanted the scene to look like and some words we could draw some
meaning from and told us to interpret it as we could,” Connell said. “The movements were based off things our bodies could naturally do and we built off that.” Despite having very few words, the cast hoped the message of the gospel was not lost with the audience. “(The play is) so pertinent to every person because it really is the story of how man relates to God and how God redeems us when we come back to him,” Connell said. “ ... The story of temptation and evil drawing us away really shows how much we need God.” Reed hoped the theme of redemption resonated with the audience. “As cliché as it sounds, the gospel is such good news,” Reed said. “Seeing that our father is standing there with open arms, especially the moment at the very end when
Everyman ran into God’s arms was such a big moment for me in my faith. I hoped the audience could see that God is there, even when we cry out (to him). … Even in those moments where we don’t hear him, he’s there for us.” Through his movement-based approach, Nelson felt he was able to explore the theme of the story more in depth by really relating to the moral condition of man. “When you look at ‘Everyman,’ what’s hidden, of course, is the temptations and the dark side,” Nelson said. “There’s other sides to a story you can explore when you open up a story to expression, which we were able to explore.” Everyman ran March 19-22 with a special sold-out midnight show March 20. MAURER is a feature reporter.
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Liberty Champion | March 24, 2015 | B9
Stories from the road Alumnus hitchhikes more than 4,000 miles collecting tales from strangers
Emily Brown erbrown@liberty.edu
“Why would anyone go out of their way to help someone else?” Approximately 4,444 miles later, Ben Eppard now has an answer — or, more precisely, 143 answers — to that question. After quitting his job as director of communications at the University of Virginia student volunteer center, Eppard, a 2004 graduate of Liberty University and former Liberty Champion editor, set out on an East Coast hitchhiking journey. According to Eppard, a guitar player, his trek began in April of 2014 when he made his way to Lynchburg, Virginia, for the first stop on an album tour. From April 2014 to June 2014, Eppard completed the southern leg of his adventure, and the northern loop took place from August 2014 to October 2014. The journey extended as far south as Key West, Florida, as far north as Maine and as far west as Nashville, Tennessee. The idea was birthed out of a previous backpacking trip in which Eppard and a friend hitchhiked in order to get home. This time, however, Eppard wanted something more than a lift from place to place. According to Eppard, as he went from gig to gig during his album tour, he came up with the idea of writing a book that would be a collection of the drivers’ stories. “It was mostly a long, dusty wait in the broiling sun, but along the way, I met some interesting people,” Eppard said. “I was fascinated by the stories of each driver that picked me up. Perhaps because they knew they’d never see me again, they told me an unfiltered version of their lives.” Along the way, Eppard met and heard the stories of a wide variety of people, from a “living statue” to an actor and many others. Eppard listened to the candid story of a woman on her way to a Veterans Affairs hospital for addiction treatment. He also took a detour to go hiking with a man named Dan. But while sharing unique experiences added
interesting stories to his daily log, Eppard quickly realized that the good Samaritans’ motivations for picking him up, rather than their life stories or the fun diversions, offered even more insight into their lives. According to Eppard, the drivers often questioned why Eppard had chosen the hitchhiking mode of transportation. But Eppard would quickly respond to their question with his own “why”question. “Usually they would say to me at some point, ‘You seem like such a nice guy. What are you doing out here? It’s dangerous,’” Eppard said. “To which I would say, ‘If it’s dangerous, why did you stop for me?’” While some drivers could not put into words why they helped Eppard, others offered pronounced answers to the question Eppard posed. “I’ve done some hitchhiking, and I’ve hypothesized that drivers stop because they see some part of themselves in you on the side of the road,” a good Samaritan said. “There’s some part of them that thinks, ‘I’ve done that. I’ve thought about doing that. I wish I could do that.’” Another driver explained that picking Eppard up was a tangible way to show her philosophy on life. “I can’t live life afraid of other people,” she said.
“
Photo Provided
NEED A LIFT — Ben Eppard traveled the east coast taking rides and gathering stories from new friends. always depended on other people for help in that way.” Another man explained that he learned what it really means to serve when he lost everything. “Bro, I’ve walked for hours — hours,” he said to Eppard. “I’ve been there. I was homeless before. I went my whole life doing good, always having mon-
Perhaps because (each driver) knew they’d never see me again, they told me an unfiltered version of their lives.” — BEN EPPARD
Still others seem to have helped Eppard because they experienced hardships in the past and wanted to help others who might seem to be going through tough times. “I grew up without a car,” one man said. “My mom died when I was one, and I was raised by my grandmother and we didn’t have a vehicle. We used to walk everywhere we went. I never really ended up going many places. We
ey, always having everything that I needed, and then, when I was like 40-41 — boom — broke, homeless. And then I really knew what help is.” Eppard said that in addition to learning some of the reasons people chose to help others, he also gained the virtue of resilience. On top of logging every conversation he had, Eppard also counted the number of cars that passed —
more than 19,000 total by the end of the trip — and the amount of time he waited for someone to stop at each leg of the journey — an average of 39 minutes and 28 seconds. According to his blog about the 4,000-plus-mile journey, “The hitchhike interviews — A ride across America,” Eppard learned that “the alternative to the possibility of rejection is a life without human connection.” “I think I learned a lot about people, but personally, I learned resilience,” Eppard said in an interview. “When you’re hitchhiking, 100, 200, 300 cars might pass you at a time. That is a lot of rejection. You get a lot of looks. But then the 300th car stops — maybe it’s someone who is incredibly interesting or says, ‘You know, I’m really inspired by what you’re doing.’ And that one person is worth the other 299.” According to Eppard, after 143 rides across 4,444 miles, he learned to really appreciate those who genuinely wanted to help and cared, and those who were unafraid of being rejected. “Love is a risky thing,” Eppard
wrote on his blog. “Love, and you could be lied to, betrayed and have your heart broken. This is especially true when we talk about those that really need love — the homeless, addicted and mentally ill — anyone on the margins of society. Love someone like this, and it’s only a matter of time until you’ll be burned. And yet, people do it.” After nearly six months of hitchhiking, Eppard explained that even the simple act of helping out a hitchhiker can make a real difference. “People go out of their way to help others, even when there’s a risk to it,” Eppard said in an interview. “And I think that’s powerful.”
Research contributed by Danae Samms. BROWN is the editor-in-chief.
Combating hacker attacks Liberty Cyber Defense Club will compete in 10th annual regional finals Hannah Elliott helliott9@liberty.edu
Liberty University’s Cyber Defense Club will be competing in this year’s 10th annual Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition’s (MACCDC) regional finals at John Hopkins University in Laurel, Maryland, March 25-28. After placing in the top 10 in the virtual qualifier round of the competition, the Cyber Defense Club will be making its second appearance in the MACCDC regional finals. The team claimed second place to Maryland’s Townson University in the same competition last March and are hoping to move on to nationals this year. The Cyber Defense Club equips students with computer safety techniques to combat existing threats and bolster systems to withstand future attacks from destructive hackers, according to club president Dustin Bowe. It teaches students to implement their skills in computer safety to prevent hackers from gaining personal information and executing malicious plans toward security databases.
David Duncan | Liberty News Service
SAFEGUARD — Cyber security classes prepare the defense club for national competitions. “As more of our personal information is being digitalized, having even a basic knowledge of securing that information greatly reduces the risk of exploitation,” Bowe said. According to the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), the theme for this year’s regional finals is “Operation Transit Storm.” Teams from 10 regional schools will be charged
with the task of defending a virtual, mass transportation computer system against a full-scale cyberattack. JHUAPL will provide a scenario by which the teams “will attempt to operate a simulated version of a commuter rail system’s (Information Technology) infrastructure and be responsible for defending and maintaining the system for the duration of the competition.”
Bowe expects that this year’s tournament will be extremely competitive. “Naturally, our goal is to take first place this year and move on to nationals,” Bowe said. “I think we can make it happen. Our team looks a lot different than last year and many of the skillsets have been shuffled around, which I think is something we can use to our advantage.” Dr. Mark Shaneck, as-
sociate professor of computer science and director of Liberty’s Center for Cyber Security, will lead the Cyber Defense Club in the tournament again this year and expects the trials to be exceptionally difficult, yet rewarding. “The upcoming competition is a grueling experience for the students that (will) give them invaluable experience,” Shaneck said. “It (will) stress them above and beyond what they have experienced in the past and push them toward greatness.” Shaneck believes the team is more prepared than it was last year, especially because the members know more of what is coming with this year’s competition. He is looking forward to seeing the team compete and hopes it will be met with success and move on to nationals. “I am optimistic about our chances,” Shaneck said. “… However, the competition is tough and anything can happen. I am positive that they will do well, and I believe that there is a good possibility that we will win and move on. We have a great group of students this
year who have worked very hard to prepare and have shown great dedication.” The opposing teams in this year’s competition include Anne Arundel Community College, Capitol Technology University, County College of Morris, East Carolina University, James Madison University, Townson University, University of Maryland (Baltimore County), University of Maryland (College Park) and Wilmington University. The winning team will compete in the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition April 24-26 in San Antonio, Texas. For more information regarding the competition, visit maccdc.org and jhuapl.edu. The Cyber Defense Club is an on-campus club and open to all students. Any students that are interested should contact Shaneck at mshaneck@ liberty.edu or visit the club’s Facebook page at facebook.com/g roups/ libertycyberdefense.
ELLIOTT is a feature reporter.
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FEATURE
March 24, 2015
Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion
TALENT — Throughout the night, students showed their artistic abilities by performing popular ’90s songs and presenting videos about the decade of their birth.
Nostalgic for the ’90s Student Activities’ annual Coffeehouse event reminisces on decades past Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu
The crowd roared as the DTREX dance team stepped under the yellow, pink and blue neon lights beaming on the stage. Opening the spring ’90s-themed Coffeehouse March 21 at 11:30 p.m. with a medley of popular songs from the decade, the DTREX dancers matched their moves with beats such as MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” and TeenNick’s “All That” TV show theme song. Throughout the evening, the acts varied from the Peacemakers dance team to bands including Lenny and the Kravitz playing “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” MCN rocking out with “Enter Sandman,” The Frontstreet Boys singing “Hallelujah,” and Jonny and the Peaches performing the Newsboys “Jesus Freak.” As was expected, Dogwood and Holly also made an appearance performing for the sold-out Vines Center crowd. “Playing at #SAcoffeehouse has definitely been a highlight of my life,” Kinshiro Shimochi, a performer with the band The
Boombox Saints tweeted. “(I) can’t even put into words how happy I am to have had the opportunity (to do this).” During the night, the students tweeted with the #SACoffeehouse, and during the event, the hashtag made the top ten trending list, according to HashGurus.com. Even an old Liberty University celebrity decided to comment on the popularity of the hashtag. “And #SACoffeehouse is trending nationwide because we are @LibertyU … and that’s how we roll,” Johnnie Moore, former senior vice president for communication and campus pastor, tweeted. Students sang, or rather shouted, along with recognizable tunes throughout the performances and videos, and many students loudly screeched as they watched montages specifically focusing on each of the years of the ’90s. The videos, designed by the Student Activities (SA) team, allowed students the chance to express their excitement about particular TV shows, brands, pop culture or songs from the ’90s era. “I love everything about the ’90s,” Harrison Mead, lead singer for Lenny and the Kravitz, said. “I love
the fashion from the ’90s. I love all the music from the ’90s. It’s a great decade.” Mead, who wore a grungy, black T-shirt, along with black pants, fit in well among the ’90s-style imitations of the evening. Some students supported fashion statements such as baggy flannel shirts tied around their waists while others dressed for the evening by wearing apparel with ’90s-specific logos such as Reptar, Nirvana, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and many others. From fashion trends to favorite pieces of culture from the decade, the ’90s brought back memories from a childhood not too long ago. This is especially true for sophomore JT Filegar. “I cannot imagine that there was one person in here tonight that did not recognize something that was displayed here in Coffeehouse,” Filegar said. “… I grew up on (this). I’m going to go YouTube a bunch of ’90s music, and I’m probably going to start wearing a bunch of plaid.” For some, the ’90s also brought to mind a certain toy with good and bad connotations attached to its name. The Area 51 Film crew displayed this love-fear relationship between a
young man and his new toy, a Furby. The video set the scene for an older boy to receive a package with a Furby inside. While he neglected to pay attention to the Furby by throwing it back in the box, taking out it’s batteries and leaving the toy in another room, the Furby consistently came back to it’s new owner. “Liberty: … where we sing Brittany Spears together, do the Macarena together and have nightmares of Furby together #SACoffeehouse,” Blake Pilgreen tweeted. As SA Coffeehouse wrapped up for the evening, students exited near the upper concourse and snapped pictures with friends next to ’90s props like a gargantuan, imitation Nintendo 64 and a look-alike Central Perk couch from the hit show “Friends.” “Time to put my hair up in a scrunchie, pull my ankle socks up (and) tighten the flannel on my waist. Thanks for the great night,” Emily Gibson tweeted. For more information on SA events, visit liberty.edu/campusrec/studentactivities. TILLER is the feature editor.
Teams traverse the globe Students from CGE journey to 10 locations around the world sharing hope Jacob Clarke jlclarke3@liberty.edu
Nearly 150 Liberty University students spent their spring breaks not sprawled out on warm sand in Florida or road-tripping across America, but traveling overseas to serve others while sharing the message of hope. Each of the 11 Global Teams, under the guidance of the Center for Global Engagement (CGE), spent a week and a half serving the people of Ghana, East Africa, the Philippines and many other locations across the world. While some of the countries were familiar to past teams, CGE also sent teams to work with new partner organizations in areas such as Cebu and the Balkan Peninsula. “The Center for Global Engagement’s desire is to raise awareness
on Liberty’s campus and foster a global perspective across the student body,” a report released by CGE stated. “This is in part accomplished through the global programs and trips that we offer.” Liberty aims to design their Global Studies programs and the Global Teams’ trips to provide students with the necessary experiences to build relationships with whomever they are in contact with through their vocation. Students received training during the months prior to the trips to assist them in understanding the beliefs and values of the cultures they would visit. Once teams arrived to their destinations they each
See GLOBE, B6
Photo Provided
CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT — Students experienced the unique architecture of Southeast Asia.