B1
Baseball falls to Hokies
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Beauty and the Beast opens
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Lynchburg, Virginia
Volume 33 | Issue 11 Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Firearms in the dorms Board of trustees approves concealed carry weapons in residence halls Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu
The Liberty University board of trustees recently approved a policy change for concealed carry weapons on campus, which will allow President Jerry Falwell to permit students to have their concealed carry in the residence halls. The previous campus firearm policy stated that “members of the University community that are over 21 with con-
cealed weapons permits can seek permission from LUPD to carry concealed weapons on campus and store them in their locked vehicles.” With the new change, students and faculty must still have a valid concealed weapons permit from the state and be approved by the Liberty University Police Department (LUPD). David Corry, general counsel of Liberty, said students will be required to place their guns in a safe in the residence halls under the new policy.
“The students who are issued concealed carry permits will be in charge of overseeing their own weapons,” Corry said. “They can either be concealed on their person or locked in a safe that only they can open or LUPD can open. There is no open carry or open display of weapons anywhere on campus, including in the residence halls. Violation of the policy results in conduct code violations and revocation of the concealed carry permit.” Corry said Falwell listened to students’ opinions and was in agreement with them
regarding the previous concealed carry policy. He then requested the board of trustees to change the policy. “As Liberty built more residence halls, our residents were having to park further from their rooms,” Corry said. “Students again requested a change, saying they would feel safer if they didn’t have to leave their weapons locked in their glove compartments when walking from their cars to the residence halls, especially at night.
See CONCEALED, A3
time flies
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
FLYBY — The campus of Liberty has undergone several expansion and improvement projects to adapt to the growing student body.
Commencement 2016
Anticipation Students, staff prepare for graduation Taylor Frost tfrost2@liberty.edu Hayden Robertson hbrobertson@liberty.edu
More than 6,700 Liberty University graduates will dress in their regalia and walk down the field at Williams Stadium with “Pomp and Circumstance” playing May 14. This day is a mile marker and an achievement of a lifetime, Lori Baker, associate registrar for operations at Liberty University, said. “This is a celebration for the graduates but also for the family,” Baker said. “Our role is to make sure all the logistics work, but to (also) make this weekend as enjoyable and exciting for the graduates as well as
their guests.” Baker said Liberty is preparing for over 30,000 guests to come onto campus for graduation, making it the largest commencement Liberty has had to date. To prepare for it, Baker said planBAKER ning began last October. This year will be Baker’s ninth year organizing commencement. Baker estimates there will be around 35,000 people in Williams Stadium during commencement. Williams Stadium only seats 19,200 people, so bleachers and chairs will be added, and
there will be standing room as well. Students can check into commencement Friday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the LaHaye Student Union. There students can pick up their reader cards, medallions and cords. Students will also be given the chance to visit with the Liberty alumni department, get pictures in their regalia and buy T-shirts and DVDs for sale. Also on Friday, the graduate reception will take place at the Williams Stadium concourse, where students, parents and faculty will be able to meet with each other for food and drinks.
See GRADUATE, A8
SGA ceremony
2016 inauguration to be held May 3
Elizabeth Lapp elapp@liberty.edu
The Liberty University Student body elected Jack Heaphy and Luke Welgoss as the 2016-2017 Student Government Association (SGA) president and vice president respectively April 1, and they will be formally inaugurated May 3. This year’s inauguration will be held in the Hancock Welcome Center. The ceremony will include speeches from Dr. Mark Hine, Liberty University senior vice president for Student Affairs, and members of the current administration including current Student Body President Quincy Thompson and Student Court Chief Justice Jacob Broadway. “It will definitely be a more formal inauguration than in years past,” Heaphy said. “It is something that Quincy and I had talked about leading back a couple of months even before the election. He said that it would be good for SGA because it would add legitimacy.” After being sworn in, Heaphy and Welgoss will each be giving a brief speech on their plans and goals for the upcoming school year.
Isaac Apon| Liberty Champion
DUO — Jack Heaphy (left) and Luke Welgoss (right) prepare for SGA office. “We’ll be able to share what we hope for SGA and the student body,” Heaphy said.
INSIDE THE CHAMPION
News
A Liberty alumnus won the award for Teacher of the Year at Lynchburg A3 City Schools.
Opinion
President Jerry Falwell gives his opinion on high school debate teams A4 boycotting Liberty.
Sports The Lady Flames swept the Runnin’ Bulldogs in softball. B1
Feature
Preview of the Dash for Dylan 5k race taking place May 4. B8
See SGA, A2
News Opinion
A1 A4
Sports Feature
B1 B6
news
A2 | May 3, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Drumline hits the big stage Liberty’s indoor drumline competes in the WGI National Championships but ended up two spots away. Loftin said they are working to improve on two main areas, those being the talent performing and the show itself, to accomplish that goal of breaking into those top few groups. “We have a base of Liberty students, but our team is open to anyone who can drive here every weekend from January through mid-April,” Loftin said. Loftin and some of his staff are in charge of designing the show and writing the music. Loftin said it changes every year, so they always have to be ahead of the curve. “The group itself really broke new boundaries this year,” Loftin said. “Every year we try to up the ante a little bit and bring a new game.” This was LUID’s fourth year competing in these championships, and Loftin said they plan on going back next year. For more information about LUID, visit www.liberty.edu/band. GEE is a copy editor.
FYI
Ty Hester | Liberty University News Service
ON BEAT — Liberty’s marching band drumline performed at Liberty football games and other events. Kirkland Gee kgee10@liberty.edu
The Liberty University Indoor Drumline (LUID) competed in the Winter Guard International (WGI) National Championships April 14-17 in Dayton, Ohio, and while they did not place as high as they expected, they saw great improvements from last year. Tyler Loftin, assistant director of athletic bands and drumline, said LUID is a branch of the Liberty Department of Bands and provides opportunities for percussionists to perform through the offseason of marching band. “We have marching band in the fall, and that’s our focus from March through November,” Loftin said. “In the offseason we have a chance to put together a group that-
travels and competes both locally in our region and on a national stage.” According to Loftin, the team performs in an area the size of a basketball court. The events are typically held in high school or college gyms to provide room for the performance and a place for spectators and judges to watch from. Loftin said the group did well this year, but not quite as well as they were hoping for. “We didn’t place as high as we thought we were going to place, but that’s just because of the way the activity has grown in the last 5-10 years,” Loftin said. Loftin said that the competitions are separated into different tiers or classes of competition. According to Loftin, A class is the lowest class and consists of groups performing shorter shows and displaying fundamental skills. Once a team moves into
the next class, called open class, they are expected to perform more intermediate and advanced techniques. “We started in A class, and we actually got the bronze medal in 2014 when we went to Dayton,” Loftin said. “That was kind of our crowning achievement.” According to Loftin, the team began competing in 2012, so he was very proud of the team for attaining the bronze medal in such a short period of time. He said that after they won that award, they felt like they needed to go up against stiffer competition. “We decided (since) we’re a college group, we should really be competing in open class, which is more intermediate skills to advanced,” Loftin said. “There’s a lot of groups that are in that area ... it’s even that much more difficult to stake your claim and break into the top groups.” They were hoping to make semi-finals
The Liberty University Indoor Drumline team is made up of students from Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia and East Carolina University because it is one of the few programs in the area that offers an indoor drumline team.
SGA continued from A1 “It gives us the opportunity to share our plans are for next year, and I think that is good to just increase transparency with the student body.” Heaphy is currently serving in SGA as vice president and has participated in many of the changes that took place over the past year including changes to how the legislative SGA members are chosen and how the organization is structured. “Over the last several years we have been working on a new constitution,” Heaphy said. “Overall I think that Quincy laid great groundwork for a system that is built to last, and I think that we will really be able to really capitalize and continue to, instead of
Photo Provided
BLUEPRINT — The previous SGA executive branch contributed to the future planning of the school. focusing on fixing the internals of SGA we will really be able to just
stand on that solid foundation that Quincy built over his four
CAMPUS CALENDAR 5/4 - Dash For Dylan 9 a.m. | Percival’s Island Park 5/5 - Beauty & the Beast Show 7:30 p.m. | Tower Theatre 5/5 - Therapy Dogs 2 p.m. | Jerry Falwell Library 5/6 - Free Massages 10 a.m. | LaHaye Event Space 5/7 - Senior Picnic 5 p.m. | Camp Hydaway 5/9 - Off-Campus Job Workshop 4 p.m. | DeMoss Hall 2042 5/13 - Baccalaureate Service 6 p.m. | Vines Center 5/14 - Commencement 10 a.m. | Williams Stadium 5/26 - Henry V Show 7:30 p.m. | Tower Theatre COLOR KEY:
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years in SGA.” In deciding to run for president, Heaphy felt that his experience working with Thompson made him the most qualified candidate and the best to fill the position that Thompson has held for the past two years. “I just learned so much over just the course of a couple of months working alongside Quincy,” Heaphy said. “I thought that I was the best equipped to lead SGA after he graduated, and so I decided around Christmas time that I was going to run for president.” Heaphy approached Welgoss about running with him in the vice president slot. Heaphy said that Welgoss’s surprise at being asked sealed the deal as it
showed that he was not looking to be moved up in SGA but rather that he was there to service his classmates through SGA. “It wasn’t hard to come to the decision of having Luke as my vice president,” Heaphy said. “I had gotten to know him better over the past year and seen his work ethic and character and I thought he would be someone who would really grow and thrive in the position.” This was Welgoss’s first year serving in SGA however his role working as a club coordinator means that he has seen many of the changes to how SGA works with clubs in person. “Just getting to work together and represent students is something we are both very clearly passionate about,” Welgoss said. “I am very passionate about clubs, I worked in the clubs department this year, so I am interested in seeing the new process that was implemented this past year continue to get better and better.” As the fall school year approaches, both Heaphy and Welgoss are eager to work with both new and returning members of SGA to serve the needs of their fellow classmates. “(SGA) is really a community based thing where it’s a group of students who are passionate about this university and want to see it better,” Heaphy said. “So I’m just excited about seeing more people get involved and being able to walk alongside them to help continue to make Liberty University the greatest campus on earth.” LAPP is a news reporter.
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In a recent edition of the Champion published April 26, there was an incorrect spelling regarding one of the Lynchburg City Council candidates. The correct spelling of one of the Ward III candidates should have said “Jeff Helgeson.” While the Champion cannot support a political candidate, we apologize for incorrectly spelling Jeff Helgeson’s name.
news
Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | A3
Awarding excellence
Liberty alumnus wins teacher of the year award for Lynchburg City Schools Taylor Coleman tcoleman64@liberty.edu
Liberty University alumnus Kenneth Burrows Jr. was named Lynchburg City Schools’ Teacher of the Year in a surprise ceremony April 18. Burrows teaches English language learning (ELL) to all grades at Heritage Elementary School. He is originally from the Bahamas and graduated from Liberty in 2010. He has been teaching for the past six years. In order to be nominated for the award, a teacher must be selected by his or her colleagues, including a letter of recommendation from the principal. Burrows is Heritage Elementary School’s first teacher to win the award. The News and Advance reported that with this title, Burrows is granted a year-long lease of a new Nissan from Mabry Automotive Group. He will represent the city of Lynchburg in regional and statewide Teacher of the Year contests. The Teacher of the Year award came as a shock to Burrows, who said he did not think a resource teacher who teaches English as a second language could be eligible. One of Burrows’ first memo-
CONCEALED continued from A1 Dorm students also didn’t appreciate living in the only buildings on campus that were gun-free zones, sending an undesirable message of vulnerability.” According to Corry, the university did research in order to create the best policy. “Liberty looked at the Texas policies in developing
ries of wanting to go into the education field came in the 11th grade as he sat in class going through “teenage angst.” “I was sitting there and not really paying attention, and my teacher came over and said, ‘Kenneth, what’s wrong,” Burrows said. He began to ask his teacher a lot of questions he was curious about. “I wanted to know why we even call a shoe a shoe,” Burrows said. His teacher proceeded to break down the meaning of the word, including its Latin and Germanic roots. “When I saw her do that, I realized I wanted to do that for the rest of my life,” Burrows said. “She could take a word and make it relevant to life.” The decision to specifically teach English to international students came while Burrows was at Liberty. “I had plans to go into education, specifically English, but it was not until I met a friend my freshman year who was from Korea,” Burrows said. “We were in history and at the end of class, he said to me, ‘I do not understand. Could you help me?’” Realizing English was not this student’s first language, Burrows
its new policy for concealed carry in the residence halls, and there are many similarities, such as the requirement to keep weapons in a safe installed by the university,” Corry said. Corry said students should not feel unsafe with the new policy changes, and if they do, they are not required to room with someone that has the concealed carry in the dorm. “First, no one has to have
began helping him and other international students and learned more about the culture. After this encounter, Burrows said he fell in love with ELL and had found his calling. Burrows said one of the most effective teaching methods is allowing his students to act out a “word of the day.” For example, when the word of the day was “appear,” he would have them say the word three times and then act it out in a way that would be meaningful to them. Some would hide behind a table, pop out and “appear.” For others, they would pretend to be a magician and have various objects “appear” out of thin air. Burrows has created multiple learning programs, including PRIDE promotions. He describes PRIDE as a behavior incentive where students work together to write songs, sketches and dances to perform in front of the student body at school assemblies. Another event Burrows has implemented is Culture Night, where students and their families come together to enjoy different cultures throughout the world. In past Culture Nights, stu-
a roommate with a gun in the room if (he or she) is uncomfortable with it,” Corry said. “Everyone in a room has to agree for concealed carry to be permitted by a dorm resident and a safe installed in (his or her) room.” Corry also said that students who conceal carry in the residence halls already have permission to conceal carry in classroom buildings, athletic venues
Photo Provided
RECOGNITION — Kenneth Burrows was awarded for his efforts. dents have performed Taekwondo and Indian Bollywood dances. Burrows said the biggest hit of the event is the food vendors that come. Burrows said he hopes his ELL students are able to adjust to culture and to integrate what they learn in the classroom. “My main goal for all my students is to help them to be problem solvers and overcome adversity,”
and campus dining halls. Because of this, Corry said that students should not feel any less safe. “The guns will be invisible because they can only be concealed on a permitted student’s person or locked in a safe,” Corry said. “So people won’t feel threatened by anyone brandishing firearms anywhere on campus, including the dorms. Students should actually feel more safe because stu-
Burrows said. As a Christian, Burrows said he hopes to be a Christ-like example to those around him by serving others. “My passion really comes from the Scripture,” Burrows said. “Christ was a servant. Christ was a teacher. It is that simple.” COLEMAN is a news reporter.
dents who are armed and can defend themselves can more effectively neutralize a threat and defend their fellow students in the residence halls, just as they can elsewhere on campus.” Corry said he and Falwell do not believe the change will affect the atmosphere on the residence halls. “We don't think the policy change will result in any major change in the residence hall culture,”
Corry said. “Of the approximately 7,000 residents, this year only about 200 were 21 years of age and thus eligible for a concealed weapons permit. Of those 200, only about 20 had the permits.”
RODRIGUEZ is the editor-in-chief.
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OPINION
A4
May 3, 2016
Debate based on false assumptions University president speaks out about controversial campus gun policy Jerry Falwell Jr.
When I spoke to Liberty University students last December to express my concern for the victims of the San Bernardino, California, shooting that occurred just days before and to share with them how Liberty was reaching FALWELL out to help the families with future scholarship assistance, I spent a good deal of time discussing the radical Islamic terrorists responsible for that heinous attack. It was clear to all in attendance that when I said, “if more good people [obtained their concealed carry permits and carried a gun], we could end those Muslims before they walked in and killed,” I was only referring to the Muslim terrorists who attacked innocents in San Bernardino and in Paris, France. I was in no way referring to the many good and honorable Muslims who do not come into public spaces armed to kill innocents. I could not have made it more clear. But the media missed it. Several news reports only used part of the quote above, with no context to the scope of my remarks. As the dishonest reporting continued, groups of people began
to form opinions of our institution based on those articles — groups like high school debate teams who have chosen not to participate in a Virginia High School League state tournament hosted on our campus. It is my understanding that some groups who are opposed to visiting our campus are basing their decision on Liberty’s concealed carry policy. The policy, in place since 2011, states that individuals over 21 who have qualified for concealed carry permits and granted such permits by the state of Virginia (as well as received permission through the Liberty University Police Department) are allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. As the president of a university community of nearly 15,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, I take very seriously my responsibility to keep our campus safe in an increasingly dangerous world. The concealed carry policy has worked well for us. A quick Internet search of “safest colleges in America” will reveal that Liberty is in the top 20 of every list. Some colleges and universities in Virginia have chosen to ban concealed carry, and we believe that those universities have created more dangerous environments for their students, faculty, and staff. Liberty’s Board of Trustees approved the concealed carry policy not because of Islamic terrorism, but because of what happened nine years ago at a neighbor-
Words of advice Highlights from this year’s Convocation lineup
ing institution only a couple hours away. More than 30 innocent students and faculty were murdered viciously at Virginia Tech and none of them had the ability to protect themselves. Campus police simply cannot be everywhere all the time. Having additional responsible adults with concealed weapons throughout campus increases the likelihood that someone might be able to stop an attacker like the one at Virginia Tech before dozens of innocent lives are lost. I’m proud that Liberty was one of the only schools to take that position initially and now dozens nationally have followed suit. Like other universities do, Liberty hosts a number of events for outside organizations, businesses, and schools simply because we have the facilities that can accommodate them. It is a form of community service by Liberty and, because we are centrally located in the state, our campus is a good option for state events. The decision of some debate teams to not participate has very little impact on Liberty’s operation. While we welcome our guests, we do not benefit from their stay as much as they benefit from the use of our facilities. The News & Advance reported on Saturday April 23, 2016 that the VHSL was proposing that most of its events at Liberty University be moved to other universities in Virginia. The article by Ben Cates refer-
enced that VHSL had expressed concerns about my remarks in December but also quoted a VHSL official who stated that the proposal had nothing to do with those concerns or Liberty’s concealed carry policy. I take the VHSL at its word that the proposed move was not politically motivated and, in fact, originated from an October presentation at the VHSL, long before the gun issue arose. The fact that the press continues to mention the “concerns” of a few extremist agitators in northern Virginia every time the VHSL contracts with Liberty come up for renewal and renegotiation is causing Liberty to rethink whether it will continue to provide this community service to VHSL in the future. I urge the VHSL to continue to act in the best interests of all its members, not a few extremists who refuse to practice the tolerance that they preach — through their intolerance of some of the views and policies of Liberty University. And I urge the media to report fairly and accurately about the good working relationship between Liberty and the VHSL.
Editor’s Note: Portions of this op-ed were originally printed in The Washington Post and Lynchburg News & Advance.
“Christians should have more fun than anybody else in the entire world because your past has been forgiven, your future has been settled, and you can live in the present and enjoy it.” — David Stone
“I began to realize, particularly as I read about people of accomplishment in all kinds of fields, that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you in life is you. It’s not somebody else. It’s not the environment. It’s you. And that was incredibly empowering to me.” — Ben Carson
“Your faith has to influence how you think, what you do, and what you say.” — Donnie Smith
“How do you want to be remembered? When you and I die, there are going to be conversations about us — what we meant to the various people in our lives who matter the most — and the cool thing is we can begin to engineer those conversations now … by who we become.” — Michael Hyatt
THAT’S WHAT SARAH SAID...
RODRIGUEZ
Years ago if you had told me that I would have the opportunity to be the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper at Liberty University in 2016, I would have had more than serious doubts. But, here I am, a junior journalism student named Sarah Rodriguez, ready to tackle one of the biggest challenges in my life to date. For a long time, I didn’t even want to come to Liberty. I thought only the “crazy Christians” went to that school where I wouldn’t be able to wear my regular attire of T-shirts and athletic shorts. But lo and behold, God closed enough doors and opened the right ones, and I came to Liberty in 2013 ready to study journalism. From when I can remember, I
have enjoyed writing and asking a billion questions. As a child, my grandparents would ask me if I was a newspaper reporter when I would ask them countless question after question. But as any young child who grew up with a father who loved sports and made a point to teach his children about his passion, my dream was to play professional sports for a living. My severe lack of speed and height didn’t faze my naïve dream, until I began to grow up and realize professional sports wasn’t really going to work out. In elementary school, I began to think of other options to fulfill this passion for sports, and in my little, elementary-minded brain, the only logical thing was to work for ESPN when I grew up.
Each morning before school I would sit on the couch and watch SportsCenter before it was time to run to the bus stop. My obsession with sports was strange for a young girl, but I embraced it. I knew I wanted to be a sports reporter when I grew up. As I grew older, I held onto that dream and worked to prepare myself the best I could for college and beyond. And here I am. After writing as a sports reporter for the Champion for a year, and then as the news editor this past year, I don’t know exactly where I’m going, but my dream is still alive. God may tweak it here and there or he may turn it around 180 degrees, who knows? But I’m excited to see! I am so very excited to have the
opportunity to be the next editorin-chief of such a great newspaper. I am so thankful for wonderful staff members who have pushed me to be the best journalist I can be and who also just enjoy a good laugh when times get stressful. I am so thankful for Nate Haywood, the editor-in-chief before me, who loves a good sports discussion and helped make my first year on the Champion staff one of the best learning experiences yet. Heading into next year, the possibilities are endless. I love telling people’s stories, and I cannot wait to continue that next year. RODRIGUEZ is the editor-in-chief.
opinion
Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | A5
A word of advice for ‘Gen Y’ Research shows the good in a generation acquainted with outside scrutiny
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
OPTIMISM — Despite the often negative outlook, millennials have a lot to offer the world, and they can do it while updating their Snapchat.
Cierra Carter cmcarter18@liberty.edu
Millennials get a bad rap. Whether it is being engrossed in our social media accounts or using our ample amounts of free time to be narcissistic, the rhetoric surrounding our generation is overwhelmingly negative. It is interesting to see that the same generations who trained us up in the way that we should go seems to be displeased with the outcome. Graduation is nearing for some and the journey into the real world with all of our non-millennial friends is approaching for others who are working or interning this summer. I thought it might be nice to look at what our generation is doing well, as told by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in their Millennial Generation Research Review.
“Young people are more tolerant of races and groups than older generations (47 percent vs. 19 percent), with 45 percent agreeing with preferential treatment to improve the position of minorities.” According to the research, you care about people who are different than you, and that is important, especially in a world that is increasingly diverse. It is not bad to be able to see the world from someone else’s perspective. Jesus did it (See Philippians 2). “Millennials score high on IQ tests. They also score higher on such traits as extraversion, selfesteem, self-liking, high expectations, and assertiveness. These traits are purported to often lead to narcissism and entitlement.” You are smart and you know it. While you probably do not need to go overboard in this area, confidence is not a bad thing. Job markets are competitive, and you need to be as well. Let the proof of this show in your work, and you
will gain the respect of those who cannot deny your talent. “Millennials are sizing up to be the most educated generation in history.” Education cannot be taken away from you. Your job can. Your pride can. Your weekly Starbucks habit can. But not your knowledge, which you have worked so hard to obtain. A wise man named Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” You will definitely need that considering the student loan debt awaiting you. Keep learning. Class of 2016 (and the rest of us), keep doing what you are doing. And as the late Dr. Jerry Falwell would say, “Never ever quit.”
CARTER is the opinion editor.
Reflection: how time does fly A student looks back on her Liberty years and what she learned in the process Rachael Graf rgraf5@liberty.edu
I still do not know. About six months ago, I wrote an editorial for the Liberty Champion titled, “Having Faith in the Uncertain,” where I reflected upon the beginning of my senior year, wondering what the future would hold. Well, here I am, almost to the end of my senior year, and I still do not have a plan. This year has flown by, and nostalgia has begun to set in. Four years — four years — finished before I knew what happened to them. It is a strange feeling, this looking backward and forward at the same time. One might call it bittersweet. One chapter ending and another beginning. Insert metaphor of choice here. I sit, staring at my screen, wondering how I can sum up four years in one measly editorial. Where to begin? I never thought I would end up here, at Liberty University. In fact, I said I never would, even though I applied and was accepted my senior year of high school. I may have even told God I would not come here. I am not proud of that, but I have to be honest. My first year of college was spent seven hours away from home, at a university much smaller than Liberty. The homesickness and the work were difficult, and God taught me much that year, both about myself and himself. And while I definitely enjoyed
my time at said university, I left in May 2013 and knew I would not be returning. Now what? I prayed and searched, searched and prayed. As a native Virginian, I knew I wanted to stay in state. I also knew that I wanted a Christian education. So, after narrowing down my options, Liberty was once again on the table. “OK, God,” I said. “I’ll reapply.” And I did. And I was reaccepted. And after spending a week in Honduras with my parents for a mission trip, I came to visit campus. And by the end of the day that Friday in June, I knew where I needed to be. Sometimes, when I walk around campus, I laugh. I laugh because this was never a part of my plan, but I know without a doubt that it was always a part of God’s. I laugh because God certainly has a sense of humor. Now, my three years at Liberty have come to an end, and oddly enough, I am a little bit sad. This is a special place. I am thankful for what I have learned over the past four years. To freshman year: Thank you for teaching me how to brave the single digit temperatures, the unsweet tea, and the confused looks of random people I said hello to up North. To sophomore year: Thank you for teaching me how to ride the bus back and forth from the Annex. Enough said. To junior year: Thank you for teaching me the value of coffee. Lots of coffee. To senior year: Thank you for teaching me. My fellow graduates, I pray that you will
Caroline Sellers | Liberty Champion
RECALL — Graduating seniors reminisce on their undergraduate memories. follow God wherever he leads you. When Jesus calls us to follow him, he often does not tell us where he is going. But we know with whom we go. All of you young’ns with some time left here — I urge you to value it. Strive to do well, but do not make your work an idol. Perfectionism, worry and anxiety will choke the life out of you. Believe me, I know. Make yourself get out of your comfort zone. See the people around you. It will be worth it. And as the quote inside my box of Sun-Maid raisins says, “Keep your hands open, both to receive and to give.” Remember God. That is really all I can say. Even as a Christian, I far too easily forget him. But he is here. Expect much of him.
I am humbled. Humbled by the fact that I have the privilege of graduating from a university that encourages its students to seek Jesus and share his good news with others. Humbled that I am a part of the diverse and passionate body of Christ. Humbled that even in my pride, stubbornness and sin, God forgave me and brought me here, to Liberty. I walk away from this place a changed woman. And for that, I am grateful. Oh, and one more thing. Do not ever tell God what you are not going to do. GRAF is a feature writer.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO Sarah Rodriguez editor-in-chief
Joel Schmieg
Jacob Clarke managing editor
Luke Dillard asst. sports editor
CONTENT
Shannon Moyer
Will Young news editor
Katelyn Rutt asst. news editor Cierra Carter opinion editor
sports editor
feature editor
Carri Garber
PHOTOGRAPHY
SOCIAL MEDIA
Michela Diddle
Amber Tiller
photography editor
Caroline Sellers asst. photography editor DESIGN
copy editor
Sierra Franklin
Kirkland Gee
graphic designer
copy editor
Alexander Doub graphic designer
social media manager
Victor Canas web manager
ADMINISTRATION Deborah Huff faculty advisor
Matt Pierce advertising director
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opinion
A6 | May 3, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Quinn Foley : Asst. News Editor My time here at Liberty University has been an amazing season of my life. Over these past four years I have had opportunities to do things I never thought I could do, and working at The Liberty Champion was one of those things. It is amazing how great your work can be when you love the place you work. I looked forward to going into the office even when I knew there would already be mounds of papers on top of my desk, countless phone calls to make, emails to send, and a tight deadline to make. But no matter the stress or pressure, I love what I do, and I love the team I have been able to work with. Yes, my favorite part of working at the Champion was the work we were able to
produce, but my second favorite part was having a group of nearly 20 people that loved my baking. I loved being able to make cookies every week for my co-workers that I have the privilege to call friends. Though the future of journalism can sometimes look a bit unsure and scary, I am able to leave Liberty confident that I was well prepared to face the world and make an impact. Thank you to everyone at the Champion for being amazing journalists, amazing people and amazing friends. To all the future Champion staff: I encourage you to keep working on making this publication amazing. Be innovative, be professional, have fun and put your very best effort into every single issue. Once again, I
would like to thank all of the journalism and communication professors for upholding Christian values and helping me to become the very best journalist I can be.
Nate Haywood : Editor-in-Chief “Everyone has a story. Some are longer than others, but none is more important. Everyone has a story. And it is my honor to get to tell it.” This claim was the very statement I learned to live by. It molded and shaped me into the journalist I am today. For three years, I have been a part of The Liberty Champion — the greatest college publication on God’s green Earth. I still remember writing my first article. It was a season update on our swimming and diving team. Boy, was I anxious. Nerves were at an all-time high. But little did I know, this very interview would ignite my career as a journalist. The article turned out rather poorly…
which is perfectly ok. If anything, I was encouraged because I was 100 percent certain the next one would be better. And it was. And so was the one after that. But to be honest, I really can’t take an ounce of credit. After all, that is precisely the mission of Mrs. Huff, our faculty advisor, and the other Champion staff members. They strive to take young aspiring journalists and help them refine their craft. I like to believe they succeeded. Who would have thought working for a college newspaper would be described with the word “fun?” I certainly did not. “Fun” and “newspaper” are seldom in the same sentence. But the stories I was honored
to hear and tell, along with the people I was able to meet, made it fun. I have been blessed to have my name in at least 55 issues of The Liberty Champion. Throughout this past year, I led a staff that defied my wildest expectations. I knew each one of them provided something special, but nothing like this. Whether it’s writing, editing or just meshing as a unit, they were exceptional at everything they put their hands on. I did nothing nor could I ever do anything to deserve the luxury of leading such a wonderful group of people. Boy, am I going to miss this place. Haywood, out. *red pen drop*
Lee Sutherland : Opinion Editor I’m so thankful for the time I have been able to spend at The Liberty Champion. I can remember vividly the day I first came to the Champion office to meet with the editor-in-chief about writing for the paper. I had hoped to write about sports but was informed that that section was already full with good writers. But the opinion section needed writers. I remember not being completely sure what being an opinion writer would entail, but not wanting to seem uncertain, I agreed to become a volunteer opinion writer. Two years and dozens of opinion articles later, I’m still not sure I have a full grasp on what opinion writing should look like. Most of my articles were just my thoughts
spilled onto a page in a somewhat coherent structure. Yet for me, that has been the joy of writing for the Champion these past two years — being able to express my thoughts and feelings on a variety of issues. I’m especially grateful for the way everyone at the Champion welcomed me in with open arms. I’m a history major, who had no idea what AP style looked like and did not have any real aspirations of a future career in journalism. Yet despite my ignorance of many essentials of good journalism, the other staff members made me feel at home. The pride they took in their work and the perfection they sought with every article and page motivated me. Eric Liddell, the English Olympic run-
ner and Christian martyr, once said this describing the experience he had when he ran: “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” I can say that every time I sat down to write an article or walked into the Champion office on a Sunday, I felt God’s pleasure and joy in the work I was doing.
Paul Vandenbosch : Sports Editor I hate writing. At least, I always hated it. When I was younger, writing assignments were the assignments I never wanted to do. So naturally, I decided to study journalism. Over the years, though, writing has grown on me. It has been during my time at Liberty University that I have realized something about writers — journalists in particular. We are storytellers. It is more than simply writing down facts. We are painting a picture for those who are not there to see it so that we might, through our writing, bring the reader into the world we are portraying. Oh, there are stories we write that seem trivial and laden with facts, and that comes with the territory. But it is that moment
when you sit down for an interview and your interviewee begins telling you his or her gripping story that makes it all come back to you. This is why you do what you do. As a graduating senior, people will sometimes ask me what advice I would give to a freshman, and my response is generally twofold. To a young Liberty student, my advice is take advantage of every opportunity afforded you. The chances you will have to compound learning with practical experience while at Liberty are numerous, and I promise your time at this university will pass quickly, so make the very most of it. To a young journalism student, I would say be the best storyteller you can be, and
remember to keep writing, even when you feel like no one is reading, because you never know who you might reach. One of my favorite ways to end a story is with a “nail-it-shut quote,” as Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of WORLD Magazine, calls it, and I use it whenever I have the chance. So I will allow Henry Grunwald, former editor-in-chief of TIME Magazine, to close this one out. “Journalism can never be silent: That is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.”
news
Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | A7
LUCOM treats for free
Students use osteopathic manipulative medicine to improve wellness Matthew Pierce mpierce17@liberty.edu
During the month of April and continuing into the month of May, students of the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) are providing treatment for members of the Lynchburg and Liberty communities. All four sessions have already filled up for the opportunity to receive a free diagnosis from students under the supervision of their professors. This is one of the first opportunities these students have with real patients looking for treatment. These clinics offer osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) to help address structural issues a patient may be facing to help with the overall wellness of their body. “In addition to managing a patient’s problems with medicine or surgery, osteopathic physicians are trained to address structural issues as well,” Dr. James Kribs, department chair of LUCOM and Osteopathic Principles and Practices programs, said. “That is the osteopathic medicine component of their education. It is what makes (doctors of osteopathic medicine) unique.” Kribs explained that there are two different types of approaches used in OMM, which he described as the “direct” and “indirect” approaches. According to Kribs, the
Matthew Pierce| Liberty Champion
CLINIC — Students get to practice giving treatments with OMM. direct approach uses the patient’s own muscles to help with the treatment, where the indirect approach looks “for a neurological reset within the tissues.” Depending on the actual issue at hand, Kribs and other osteopathic medicine doctors will choose a direct or indirect approach to help resolve the patient’s issues by restoring the body part that is in complaint to its intended purpose. OMM is appropriate and beneficial at all ages but is used for different issues depending on the stage of life. “Newborns often will have compression at the base of their skull that may interrupt or interfere with their suckling reflex, and decompressing that area can
help facilitate that child latching on,” Kribs said. “Then for adults, the obvious treatments are neck pain and lower back pain, but in addition to that we treat asthma, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal problems with osteopathic manipulative medicine in addition to normal standards of care with medicine.” Before this clinic, some students gained experience working with real patients on missions trips to Martinsburg, Virginia and Guatemala. Zach Jensen, who is on track to graduate in 2018, was able to use what he had learned in the classroom to help a woman in Guatemala. She had been told she had arthritis, which they found out was not true. “We used all our OMM tech-
niques and loosened all those muscles,” Jensen said. “Once you loosen the ones that were spasming, she had enough control that she could have a normal gate. Over in Guatemala, if you don’t have mobility, you can’t get water for your house, you can’t get your food, or your firewood, and all that kind of stuff because they live on hills. That was probably the biggest effect I’ve seen on someone.” When working with patients, two students will pair together to assess the patients’ complaints as well as give suggestions for treatments and any medicine that may be necessary. All of this is done under the supervision of their professors, who will sometimes watch the evaluations during the clinics from an observation room with one-way glass. According to Kribs, he has never had to interfere with any students’ recommendations or handlings of a patient in the middle of their interaction with the patient. Before coming to work at LUCOM, Kribs was a faculty member at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He described the opportunity to work in a Christ-centered environment as one he simply could not pass up. Kribs has high hopes for the new medical school both in the spiritual and academic realm. “It is my hope that as challenging as medical school is, that
these students have felt loved here,” Kribs said. “It is exciting to watch them now go out and share the love of Christ through humility, serving, compassion and kindness in providing excellent patient care.” Some students who are participating in the OMM clinic believe it to be going well and that it is a great learning experience for them. Thomas Ulmer described his experience as different from all of the practice they have done before interacting with actual patients, but he is thankful for this learning opportunity. “I think it is somewhere in the middle, where you have a sense that we’re not 100 percent ready because we’re not,” Ulmer said. “We’re in our second year and have tons of stuff to learn, but at the same time we have been well-trained.” Ulmer further explained that for him, working in pairs has helped as they navigate through this new challenge together. After the appointment is complete, he and his partner will go back over their notes before the check-up appointment to see what they can do better in their next interaction with their patients. The final clinic will take place May 9 and for now will continue to be a part of the training process for students in their second year of medical school. PIERCE is a news reporter.
Oil spill in the James Authorities find what caused the cargo train derailment and spill two years ago Jordan Jarrett jjarrett4@liberty.edu
A train crash two years ago dumped thousands of gallons of petroleum crude oil into the James River. The train was carrying petroleum crude oil through Lynchburg on a route into Yorktown when it derailed. Three tanker cars detached, rolled down an embankment and ruptured after the train crashed. Yet despite the amount of oil that spilled, a new report revealed no lasting damage to the river. According to the Roanoke Times, the National Transportation Safety Board reported March 2 that the accident was caused by a rail defect “that had been discovered the day before the derailment and was scheduled for repair the day after the accident.” Despite the magnitude of the accident and the 30,000 gallons of oil that spilled into the James River, there was very little environmental damage that resulted from the crash. Almost all of the oil from the ruptured cars burned away, as petroleum crude oil is very flammable. There are currently no lasting effects from the spill. “In general terms, it was pretty fortu-
nate,” Bill Hayden, public affairs director at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in Richmond, said. “There was a short-term air pollution problem afterward, but the amount of oil that escaped and got into the water was relatively small. We did not see a lot of environmental impact from the spill.” The Virginia DEQ not only has its central office located in Richmond, but also has an office in Lynchburg. This allowed an environmental staff member to arrive at the scene of the crash in 2014 very quickly. The office in Richmond was responsible for coordinating the resulting oil containment effort and water testing activities. “The immediate steps were to contain the oil that had spilled, and that was done fairly successfully since not much escaped,” Hayden said. “The extent of the damage was in an oil sheen on the James River’s surface and soil, and to the plants living along the river.” There are no current problems in the James River concerning oil. What little amount that was in the river washed away quickly, and the soil along the embankment of the accident site was removed and replaced by the clean-up efforts of local
Shannon Ritter| Liberty Champion
CLEANUP — The James River and surrounding area is largely oil free since the spill two years ago. cleanup crews. There was also new shrubbery replanted along the riverbank to replace that which was affected by the oil. “There are no long-lasting effects as far as we’ve been able to tell,” Hayden said. As for minimizing the risk of another spill like this in the future, there is not much that the DEQ can do regarding the train and its rails’ placement along the river.
“As far as environmental concerns go, we try to minimize the threat in the first place which means having a stable riverbank that keeps the train tracks stable,” Hayden said. “We do try to work with the railroad company to keep the tracks in good shape.” JARRETT is a news reporter.
news
A8 | May 3, 2016 | Liberty Champion
James Hancock| Liberty University News Service
STADIUM — President Jerry Falwell opened the 2015 commencement ceremony before former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush addressed the crowd of graduates.
Staying spiritually connected Students receive practical steps to stay accountable during the summer Kirkland Gee kgee10@liberty.edu
With summer fast approaching, students are looking for ways to stay spiritually plugged-in without the Liberty University support system of prayer leaders and professors behind them. Every year, students are given countless resources to help them continue growing in their spiritual lives while at Liberty. Prayer groups, Convocation and religion classes offer opportunities for students to pray together and be discipled, but once they enter the summer, they lose those resources. Dean of Students Robert Mullen said that while Liberty offers online resources to help students, there is one primary way for them to stay connected wherever they spend their summer. Mullen said Liberty offers videos, communities and past Convocation messages online, among other things, but these are not a replacement for a local body of believers. “Liberty University is not God’s plan for personal discipleship,” Mullen said. “It’s one of the tools, but the main plan is the local church. Plan A is the local church. Plan B is the local church. There is no substitute for God’s plan.” In the case of students who already have a local church, Mullen also had
Joel Coleman| Liberty University News Service
SUPPORT — Liberty’s team of campus pastors is ready to help and disciple students. advice for them. “We encourage students that when they get back home for the summer, to go back and reintroduce themselves to their pastor,” Mullen said. “Not that a reintroduction is necessary, but just a ‘Hey, I’m back.’ Tell them a little about how school was, and that you are going to be here for the next
two or three months and would like to get plugged in serving.” He said it provides a foundation and support system for students for when they are at home. “There’s kind of this sense of spiritual accountability that you’re back under the care of your local shepherd in a very direct
sense over the summer,” Mullen said. Mullen also said that while churches are flawed, they are God’s first priority for spiritual enrichment. “(Churches) are not all perfect,” Mullen said. “In fact, none of them are because they have people in them, but that is God’s plan and God’s resource. Rudy Hornberger, a second-year Resident Assistant and seminary student, had similar advice for the summer based on his own experiences. “Two things: spiritual discipline and get plugged into a local church,” Hornberger said. When referring to spiritual discipline, he said he meant developing a daily quiet time with God. “Specifically, you want to get into a habit,” Hornberger said. “How do you get into a habit? By setting a practical goal. So in the beginning of the summer, set a goal about your prayer time and Scripture time, and hold yourself to that goal. Celebrate when you meet that goal, and you’ll build a habit, and through that habit, you’ll grow.” To access the resources from Liberty, students can go online to liberty.edu/spirituallife/campuspastorsoffice.
GEE is a copy editor.
GRADUATE continued from A1 -
The gates for commencement open at 7 a.m. Baker explained that seating is limited, so she highly suggests arriving early when the gates open. Graduates need to arrive between 7:30 and 8 a.m. The processional will begin at 8:45 a.m. After commencement, each degree program has its own ceremony, which will last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, Baker said. Since there will be so many people on campus, Baker said to look for parking on East, but to also try to park close to their friend’s or relative’s degree ceremony. “We have about 45-50 buses running that day,” Baker said. “We have 50 golf carts that we’ve rented to help those that need assistance. … Anywhere that you park you will have access to shuttles to be able to get you to the stadium.” Baker also said that handicapped guests with valid credentials will have access to the Speakman lot, which is located directly behind the bookstore. Seating for handicapped guests will be
James Hancock| Liberty University News Service
CELEBRATE — Graduates and families filled Williams Stadium for commencement May 2015. located in the top five rows under the tower. For out-of-town guests, Baker said it is too late to get a hotel in Lynchburg. However, there are still some hotels available within an hour radius. “You are going to have to go to
Charlottesville or about an hour away,” Baker said. “You don’t want to just show up and try to find something. You are playing roulette at that point.” Guests travelling on Rt. 460 West to get to commencement will drive into construction be-
ing done to the road. Lynchburg VDOT spokeswoman Paula Jones assured travelers that there will be no delays on the road on the day of commencement. “You should not see any problems with getting to Liberty’s commencement in the next few
weeks,” Jones said. “We have reduced the speed limit to 45 to help with the traffic flow. There should not be a great deal of traffic entering or leaving the highway.” Baker said that in the case of inclement weather, there are 30,000 ponchos set aside for all the guests. There are no umbrellas allowed in Williams Stadium, therefore, guests and graduates should dress according to the weather. Baker said it is very important for guests and graduates to plan ahead. Guests should dress in business attire. She said everyone should eat a good breakfast, wear comfortable shoes, bring sunglasses and sunscreen and have their camera ready. For any last minute questions, graduates and guests can email commencement @liberty.edu or go www.facebook.com/LibertyUniversityCommencement.
FROST is a news reporter. ROBERTSON is a news reporter.
news
Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | A9
Commencement contribution Spiritual life coaches continue their service at Liberty by helping at 2016 graduation Abby Sweeney asweeney8@liberty.edu
Even as the semester closes, student leaders continue to volunteer and serve in a big way on Liberty University’s campus. Associate Director of Student Leadership Kelsey Baker leads the team of Spiritual Life Coaches (SLCs) that will volunteer their time and skills at 2016 commencement. “They ask all of the SLCs who aren’t graduating to help in some sense, just because we are such a large force,” Kelsey Baker said. The SLCs will help at the baccalaureate service with Evangelist Tim Lee Friday, May 13 at 6 p.m. in the Vines Center. They will also volunteer at commencement with keynote speaker Rashad Jennings Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m. at Williams Stadium. Kelsey Baker will assign nearly 200 SLCs to different tasks including passing out programs, greeting guests and directing the graduates. “We just kind of scatter them everywhere just to ensure our guests are having the best experience possible,” Kelsey Baker said. Kelsey Baker believes having people in student leadership volunteer for large campus events and activities can show the willingness and hearts of Liberty University as a whole. “When people need volunteers, they want to ask the student leaders first because
they know that they’re servant-hearted, that they’re strong leaders, that they represent the school well and that there’s usually large numbers of them,” Kelsey Baker said. Graduation takes a lot of manpower from many different departments on campus, according to Kelsey Baker. “Student leaders — yes, they’re involved with it, but we’re just a small piece in making a very, very huge event happen,” Kelsey Baker said. Kelsey Baker said the woman behind all of the graduation planning is Lori Baker, associate registrar for operations. “She coordinates all of it and works with all the different departments and just does an amazing job making sure everything is ready to go,” Kelsey Baker said. Planning happens year-round for commencement, but planning really begins in October of each year, according to Lori Baker, who is planning her ninth commencement. “Commencement would not be as big of a success each year if it wasn’t for the SLCs involvement and assistance,” Lori Baker said. Lori Baker estimates a crowd of 35,000 graduates and guests will be in attendance for this year’s commencement. “For years, we have received feedback from guests about how well that they were treated by the students working in the stands, and I think that this is an important testimony to the willingness and kindness
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
HELPING HAND — Liberty’s student life coaches play a big part in commencement. of our student body in helping others,” Lori Baker said. The SLCs stay after finals in order to help make graduation possible. Baker said their hard work and sacrifice does not go unnoticed. “Their willingness to stay after classes are done to work on a normally hot, humid day to make our graduates’ day a great one shows how awesome that they are, and we
so appreciate them,” Lori Baker said. Kelsey Baker spoke highly of her team of SLCs and their willingness to serve the student body and guests on campus. “SLCs — they love doing it. ... They’re servants, they want to be available, they want to love on our guests that are coming in,” Baker said. SWEENEY is a feature reporter.
Keeping in touch with Liberty Students have many ways to stay connected with the school after graduation Katelyn Rutt kerutt@liberty.edu
After commencement, graduates enter a new and exciting stage of life. Unfortunately, many alumni lose contact with their alma mater and fail to take advantage of the many resources available through their school’s
alumni department. Liberty University offers lifelong support for their graduates in order to ensure that they are most successful in their lives, careers and witness for Christ. “Once you finish at Liberty, things are different,” Director of Alumni Relations Tyler Falwell said. “Departments change and the contacts you used to have
James Hancock| Liberty University News Service
PREPARE — Students face tough challenges transitioning into the workforce. Alumni networking can make it easier.
are no longer there. The Alumni Relations office is the liaison, or the gap-filler, for all Liberty needs after graduation.” Falwell said Liberty’s Alumni Relations office helps students stay up-to-date with the university by sending newsletters and event flyers, as well as frequently updating the alumni Web page. Additionally, the office staff works to regularly contact each graduate by phone and email. “It’s our job to carry that relationship forward,” Falwell said. “It needs to be where we’ve hopefully built up enough relationships and helped enough people to where they feel comfortable enough to call on us for just a general question.” Aside from academic assistance, Falwell also said the office is available to help alumni on a more personal level. “With the number of alumni we have, I can assure you that we’re going to have some people in your neighborhoods,” Falwell said. “As a department, we can help bring you together and eliminate that post-graduation feeling of loneliness.” Falwell said that in order to take advantage of these opportunities, alumni must make a purposeful effort to stay connected with Liberty. The school encourages its graduates to volunteer on campus, attend alumni events and support the Flames at local sporting activities. They also have the option to financially give back to the school by sponsoring a student in the scholarship program, donating to campus projects or personally helping new graduates. “In the years following graduation, many alumni choose to give back by helping current students or new graduates,” Career Center Assistant Director Kathleen Welch said. “We motivate them to post jobs on Liberty’s job network or advertise their company in the Virtual Career Fair.” Welch said the Career Center team is also available to help long-
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
GUIDANCE — Students receive assistance from the Career Center. time alumni who are considering and ensure that the tradition of new job options. “Training Champions for Christ” “In anyone’s career life there continues through its alumni. comes a time where you want “My hope for the graduates is to do career transition because that they continue to live the lives you’ve gone as far as you can with that would make God proud, Liba company, want a new job op- erty proud, their families proud portunity or your company gets and that they find success through downsized,” Welch said. “The that,” Falwell said. “Not through Career Center is an office of peo- titles or achievements, but that ple with different backgrounds they continue to be the example
“
THERE TRULY IS NO END BECAUSE YOU ARE ONCE AND ALWAYS PART OF THE LIBERTY FAMILY.
who can make a proactive strategy for alumni both remotely and in-person.” Falwell suggests that students immediately get involved with Liberty’s alumni programs following commencement. He adds that long-time graduates should never feel separated from the help of the school. “We should all be guided by God, faith and others,” Falwell said. “We shouldn’t do anything apart from a good support system.” Overall, Liberty’s mission is to create advocates for the university
— TYLER FALWELL of who Liberty represents.” Falwell encourages graduates to get deeply involved in their new careers, passionately serving their neighbors and co-workers and be a light for Christ. “A lot of students see commencement as the end,” Falwell said. “In reality, it’s the beginning, and there truly is no end because you are once and always part of the Liberty family.”
RUTT is the asst. news editor.
news
A10 | May 3, 2016 | Liberty Champion
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SPORTS
May 3, 2016
Softball
Baseball
Baseball
W. Lacrosse
(series)
Va. Tech
Liberty
Radford
Liberty
11
10
2
1
(2OT)
Coastal
9
B1
Liberty
W&M
Liberty
8
7
10
Softball (series)
GWU
Liberty
0
3
Comeback Hokies score eight in the eighth to win Paul Vandenbosch prvandenbosch@liberty.edu
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
RELEASE — Pitcher Julia DiMartino threw a no-hitter in the first game against GWU.
Sweeeep
Fueled by a no-no, Flames take series Luke Dillard mdillard1@liberty.edu Will Collier wcollier@liberty.edu
Game 1: Liberty 1 Gardner-Webb 0 Freshman pitcher Julia DiMartino pitched her second no-hitter of the season as the Lady Flames took the first game of an evening doubleheader against the Gardner-Webb University Bulldogs 1-0 Friday, April 29 at Kamphuis Field. DiMartino struck out nine Bulldog batters and walked only one. She is the fourth pitcher in Lady Flames history to record multiple no-hitters in a season. “It feels pretty good (to throw a nohitter),” DiMartino said. “I know I had my team behind me because I couldn’t do it without them.” Lady Flames Head Coach Dot Richardson said performances like DiMartino’s are nothing new for the Lady Flames star pitcher. “Julia has really been on all season,” Richardson said. “She gets a lot of swing and misses, and that’s what you love to have in the circle. She’s really throwing well.” The game was a duel between the pitchers, as junior Bulldog pitcher Summer Darnell only gave up one hit to the Lady Flames. “The offense wasn’t there in the first game, but the realization is we hit the ball,” Richardson said. “I think we went to the warning track five or six times. Sometimes when pitchers are throwing slower like that, (batters) have to generate all the power. If you miss the ball a little bit, that will cost you hitting it over (the wall).” The only offense of the game came in the bottom of the second inning from the Lady Flames. Darnell walked both freshman right fielder Deidra See and senior first baseman Katie Han with two outs. Senior third baseman Kassidy McCoy stepped to the plate
WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME
and hit an RBI single up the middle that scored See from second base. “It’s important to take advantage of those situations and do what you can,” McCoy said. “Coach (Richardson) told us to be the one at the plate (to make a play). Don’t wait for the person behind you to do it.” The win gave the Lady Flames their 14th Big South Conference win of the year, breaking the program record of 13 set in 2010. Game 2: Liberty 4 Gardner-Webb 1 DiMartino’s dominance on the mound earned her the start for the second game of the doubleheader. She pitched the first three and one-third innings, giving up one run on five hits. She was relieved by fellow freshman pitcher Chase Cassady, who struck out four Bulldogs and did not give up a hit in three and two-thirds innings of work. “I’m really excited to see that Chase Cassady is stepping it up, because she has really been working hard,” Richardson said. The Lady Flames struck first in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single from McCoy that scored freshman second baseman Rylee Reynolds to take the 1-0 lead. The one run for the Bulldogs came on a solo shot over the left-field wall from junior shortstop Megan Gibbons in the top of the fourth inning. The Lady Flames extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double from Reynolds that scored freshman shortstop Sarah Robertson to make the score 3-0. The final run for the Lady Flames came in the bottom of the seventh. With designated player Jaclyn Amader on second, sophomore center fielder Tori Zavodny bunted, and the Bulldogs misplayed the ball, allowing Amader to score.
Baseball vs. UVA May 3 @ 7 p.m.
See SWEEP, B3
The Liberty baseball team (22-22, 7-8 BSC) allowed the visiting Virginia Tech Hokies (15-29, 5-18 ACC) to rally from a 10-2 deficit with an eight-run eighth inning, dropping an 11-10 decision Tuesday, April 26 at home at Liberty Baseball Stadium. Junior right-hander Eric Grabowski made his first start of the season for the Flames, taking the no-decision in just 3 2/3 innings of work. Grabowski, the first of seven pitchers used by the Flames, allowed two runs on two hits, while striking out three and walking one. Junior reliever Shane Quarterley (5-4) took the loss, dropping his third straight decision in as many games. “We didn’t really want to throw (Quarterley) because he’s thrown a lot,” Flames Head Coach Jim Toman said. “That’s why at 10-2 he wasn’t in there. He’s had a lot of appearances, and we were hoping to rest him.” Redshirt sophomore Nick Anderson also made his debut as a starter for the Hokies and lasted only three innings, allowing four runs on four hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Freshman righthander Nic Enright picked up his first win of the season in relief for Virginia Tech. The Flames jumped on the board first with a four-run second inning that began with a leadoff single from Yacyk and a walk for Britt to put runners on first and second with no outs. Sophomore third baseman Josh Barrick was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman right fielder Jack Morris then ripped a double down the leftfield line to score two runs and give the Flames a 2-0 lead. Artis followed with a soft line drive up the middle for a two-run single to make it 4-0, Flames. After sitting down the first six batters he
faced, Grabowski ran into trouble in the third and fourth innings. He put runners on first and second with one out in the third, but he struck out the next two batters to avoid further trouble. In the fourth, however, the Hokies cut into the deficit after Grabowski allowed a single which was then book-ended by two hit batters to load the bases with nobody out. Senior first baseman Phil Sciretta scored on a wild pitch from Grabowski to get the Hokies on the board. With runners on second and third, redshirt sophomore left fielder Garrett Hudson hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Anderson and trim the Flames lead to 4-2. The Flames extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Yacyk grounded a single through the left side to score Artis from second and give the Flames a 5-2 lead. Britt and junior catcher Payton Scarbrough followed with back-to-back RBI singles to stretch the Flames lead to 7-2. Liberty tacked on runs in the sixth and seventh innings to add to the advantage. With two outs, Shepherd hit an RBI single over the glove of Hokies senior second baseman Matt Dauby, giving the Flames an 8-2 lead. In the seventh, Taormina crushed a two-run shot into the visiting bullpen in right field for his second home run of the season to increase the Flames lead to 10-2. Then came the eighth. Hokies senior catcher Andrew Mogg reached base on a throwing error by Barrick to lead off the inning. Then Flames right-hander Thomas Simpson, the fifth Flames pitcher of the night, hit the next batter and walked the following one to load the bases with no outs. Hokies redshirt junior centerfielder Saige Jenco followed with a groundout to first to knock in a run and make it 10-3. Tufts drove a double off the left-field
See COMEBACK, B4
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
RUNNING — Freshman outfielder Jack Morris jets to first in the loss against VT.
Baseball vs. Coastal
Baseball vs. Coastal
May 6 & 7 @ 7 p.m.
May 8 @ 2 p.m.
Big South Baseball vs. Old Dominion Outdoor T&F May 11 @ Championships 3 p.m. May 10-12
Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage
sports
B2 | May 3, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Change can be good
Nate Norman named seventh head women’s soccer coach in Flames history Joel Schmieg jaschmieg@liberty.edu
It was 22 days from the time it was announced Jessica Hain would no longer be the head coach of the women’s soccer team to the time Nate Norman was named the seventh head women’s soccer coach in program history. Norman was previously the women’s head coach at Western Michigan, where his team won multiple MAC conference championships, but he could not pass up the NORMAN offer to come to Liberty when it was presented to him. “I love the faith aspect of the school,” Norman said. “I love that I can sort of weave in a ministry aspect of coaching. … Having those options is something I have always had a passion for and something that I think, not that I couldn’t do it at a past place, but I can do it a little more directly here.” Norman brings a wealth of experience not only as a coach but as a player. He was a McDonalds All-American during his senior year of high school, a four-year NCAA tournament participant at Notre Dame and the 21st pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. Norman said it was good for him to have those few years of professional soccer experience because he was able to gain valuable insight into three different coaching styles. “I played for three different teams (two in the USL), so I had three different coaches,” Norman said. “I don’t know what that speaks to my playing career, but preparing me to be a coach, I think it was valuable,” Norman said.
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TACTICAL — Coach Norman was previously the head coach at Western Michigan. Norman started his coaching career on the men’s side, but while he was at Covenant College in Georgia, love pushed him to make a change. “My fiancé at the time, now wife, was in Michigan, and she had a job up there,” Norman said. “I was just trying to get a coaching job back in Michigan, and I was fortunate enough to get the assistant coaching job at Western Michigan. So that kind of got me in the women’s side, and I’ve been in it ever since, and I don’t think I would go back at this point.” Norman’s main goal right now is to get to know the players the best he can and motivate and inspire them before they leave for break. “The very first thing I did was I met the team as a whole group, and then over the last few days I have met with each kid individually, which has been a great experience getting to know them and their hearts and what their goals are for themselves,” Norman said. “I think that’s been a really beneficial thing to be able to do that.” Not only is Norman getting to know the players he already has, but he is getting
ready to start recruiting future year’s players this summer. “You always want to get the most talented kids, but I think there’s a lot of kids that maybe don’t get that recognition,” Norman said, “It’s definitely recruiting the top player but making sure you’re finding the kids that people are missing as well.” In addition to bringing in the best players, Norman plans to schedule the toughest competition out there so his team never has to ask, “What if ?” “I want to play against the best players in the country,” Norman said. “You’re gonna be pushed hard on the field and off the field. … You’re gonna play in practice every day with some of the best players in the country, and you’re never going to have to ask what if I would have gone and played there.” While Norman wants to win, he also wants to see his team develop into true leaders. Norman said “true leadership is being a servant leader,” and it “goes hand in hand with success.” Norman studied theology at Notre Dame, and although coaching was not on
his mind at the time, he said he uses the experience he gained from his education, in coaching. “I think it taught me to really think critically about things and challenge me in my faith and help me grow and become stronger in my faith,” Norman said. While Norman has plenty to be proud of, he does not shy away from his past mistakes, including those he made in his first year as a head coach. His only losing record came in that first year at Western Michigan, and he attributes that to being “a little naïve about a lot of things.” “I think as a first year head coach sometimes you have a view of how a program should be ran,” Norman said. “I thought some things would work, and they just didn’t. … You do make mistakes sometimes as a coach, and you’ve got to be accountable to that. It was a tough experience that first year as a head coach. … That was a really great growing experience for me.” While Norman feels he will not repeat those same mistakes he made at Western Michigan, he said he does not love to talk about goals in the sense of a season outcome but more of what the everyday process will be in getting there. “We want to win a conference championship — we want to advance in the NCAA tournament — but it’s really, ‘Can we work hard every day?’” Norman said. “‘Can we serve each other? Can we push each other? Can we inspire each other? Can we motivate each other? Can we truly care about each other more than yourself ?’ Yes, come out to make yourself better, but can we also come out to push our teammates?”
SCHMIEG is the sports editor.
Three times the fun
Liberty triathlete places 21st at the USA Triathlon National Championships Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu
Racing into the water at the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club 2016 National Championships held at Clemson University April 22-23, junior Megan Merryman competed for the second time at Nationals. Last year, she placed 163 out of 461 with a time of 2:36:09 in the Olympic race, a 1500m swim, 40k bike and 10k run, according to teamusa.org. This year, she ranked 21 out of 500 women in the competition with a time of 2:26:52. Since 2014, Merryman, an exercise science student, has competed with the triathlon team under the coaching of Parker Spencer. Merryman’s journey began standing at the edge of a pool preparing for a 300m swim that later transitioned into a 25k bike ride through the streets of Lynchburg ending in a 5k run. She started with her first sprint triathlon. Merryman never would have imagined joining, but after participating in the Angels Race sprint triathlon that takes place
every April in Lynchburg during her freshman year, she found a passion for the sport. Wanting to push herself and test her personal limitations, Merryman took up the task of training for the race early in the spring semester of 2014. After the Angels Race, Merryman considered joining the triathlon team, but she never pursued the opportunity. “I feel like triathlon found me,” Merryman said. One day as Merryman walked through the second floor of DeMoss Hall, she was noticed by a member of the triathlon team. Merryman was wearing her bright blue Angels Race T-shirt that day, and the girl asked if she was interested in being part of the team. Immediately, the girl emailed Spencer, asking if Merryman could join, and within the next few hours, the coach had called Merryman. She agreed to join the team. Two days later, she integrated the practice schedule into her daily routine. “The reason I joined is because I just wanted to push (my) limits,”
Merryman said. “I always ask myself, ‘Can I actually do this?’ so I wanted to find out if I could.” After nearly two years with the team, Merryman trains 1316 hours per week, but even though the practice schedule keeps her busy, she said she has learned to follow the instruction of Spencer. “I guess a big thing (in order to succeed) is trusting my coach,” Merryman said. “When he gives me the work out plan, he’s just setting me up for success.” Merryman plans to compete with the club team again next year, hoping for a better season. She said ranking No. 21 will push her to do better, perform harder next year and always improve. Merryman said she hopes to one day obtain a procard and compete in an Iron Man competition.
TILLER is the social media manager.
Ty Hester | Liberty University News Service
TRANSITION — Megan Merryman competed at Nationals April 22.
sports
Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | B3
This last year seems to be the year of farewells. Don’t worry, I’m not going to compare my goodbye to Kobe or Peyton Manning, but since I‘m the sports editor, I had to mention it. As a sports editor, I have been given many AUL opportunities and covVANDENBOSCH ered some great games for Liberty University. If I’m being honest, there have been quite a few disappointments, but all in all, I’ve still loved it. As many athletes or any retirees in general often do, I can recall my fondest memory of covering sports as a student reporter for Liberty this year. When I think of outstanding games, Liberty football’s win over Montana always comes to mind. I was on the sidelines for this game, and I will never forget the atmosphere of that night. The Grizzlies came in ranked No. 8 in the nation and the Flames were No. 15, and the pulse inside Williams Stadium that day was electrifying. As the team prepared to make its entrance, the “red jacket guy” ran through the human path formed by the marching band and screamed into the microphone, urging the fans to get louder. He led them in the “L-U” chant in a manner more deafening than I had ever experienced or ever will, and the team burst onto the field like bullets from a gun. Throughout the game, the Flames were playing with an unidentifiable purpose and drive that made them simply better than their higher ranked opponent. I was standing at the front corner of the end zone in front of the visitor section when running back Desmond Rice scored the
SWEEP continued from B1 Game 3: Liberty 4 Gardner-Webb 0 The Liberty women’s softball team shut out Gardner-Webb 4-0 in its regular season finale April 30 on a gloomy day to complete the series sweep on senior night. The Runnin’ Bulldogs dropped their 11th straight game falling to 18-32 and 4-17 in conference play. Liberty gained its 30th win to finish the season 30-26 with a 16-8 conference record. The Lady Flames held Gardner-Webb to just one run for the weekend series, clinching the record for the fewest total runs
first touchdown of the game, and from then on I knew this would be a Liberty win. I looked around me to see every section of Williams Stadium packed with fans on that warm September evening, and even the grass next to the visitor’s locker room was teeming with red shirts. The crowd that night possessed a magnificent energy, as every hit, every first down and every score was met with resounding cheers that echoed across the mountains. When the final seconds ticked off the clock, and the fireworks were set off in victory, I logged it all away as a game I would carry with me for the rest of my life. Now my time at Liberty and as the sports editor have come to an end, and it is time to end this column one last time. To my assistant editor Joel: we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but we did a pretty bang-up job running this section, and your Spotify playlists are always on point. To our newest member Luke: always remember to disagree with Joel as much as possible — it keeps things interesting. So, as Dunder Mifflin Regional Manager Michael Scott once said, “Catch you on the flippity-flip.” Just for you, Joel.
VANDENBOSCH is the former sports editor.
ever allowed by Liberty in a threegame Big South series. “I got very emotional, and to see them emotional as well, you knew how much it meant to them,” Richardson said. “I started tearing up, but I realized there is no crying in softball.” After a few tears were shed, the Lady Flames took to the field and continued the dominance they had displayed in the first two games. Senior pitcher Chandler Ball took command of the circle, pitching her second shutout of the season, holding the Runnin’ Bulldogs to just three hits for the game. In the bottom of the second,
The end is here. The very last edition of Sports in our P.J.’s. It has been a fun ride, but it is time to hang it up. Paul and I greatly appreciate the support from our few loyal readers over the past year. Some have said our column is “only of interest to sports fanatics.” To that I say, you are correct. The column was meant to be for more than just the casual sports fan. It was meant to stir up debate and of course make you laugh (hopefully). Others have said the column “sounds like an argument in a watering hole on a weekend evening.” The funny thing is, that was said in a negative way, but I see that as a positive. Paul and I created a column that featured banter back and forth every week on multiple sports topics. Not only that, but it was laid back and without much of a set structure. We just argued about whatever seemed most interesting at the time. Unfortunately, Paul, the P to my J, is moving on to bigger and better things. He will be graduating, and I will be taking his place as sports editor. While I don’t know the very next step for Paul, I do know one thing. One day he will look back on our weekly column in The Liberty Champion, and it will give him inspiration. I don’t know how, and I don’t know if it will be negative or positive inspiration, but it will definitely happen. Now that I’ve gotten all emotional, I present to you the final topic up for debate on Sports in our P.J.’s. A few nights ago I asked Paul what his favorite moment of the year for the Flames was, and that inspired this
Liberty got on the board when Han hit an infield single and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt. Senior shortstop Mickey Loveridge then hit a single to right field, plating Han to give Liberty the 1-0 lead. The third inning saw Liberty plate three more runs to push the lead to 4-0. Darnell kept the Lady Flames cold for the rest of the game, and Ball retired the last five batters to seal the shutout. “It’s big to have all three of these wins to sweep GardnerWebb,” Richardson said. “You always want to have that good feeling when you go into the biggest tournament of the season.”
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final debate. My second year as a Flames sports fan was what I imagine it is like after the honeymoon phase is over in a relationship. You start to notice all the things you ignored before. You are no longer able to enjoy all the positive while OEL overlooking the negative. SCHMIEG But there were still a few awesome things that happened this year for the Flames. My freshman year saw Liberty Football have its best season in the history of the program. That was going to be hard to top regardless. This year was a rocky one from the start as the Liberty Football program never could reach its full potential. But that did not stop them from creating the greatest football game I have ever witnessed in person. When the Flames took down Coastal Carolina at home on national television, what ensued was utter chaos and absolute beauty. Fireworks, fans rushing the field, Turner Gill giving God the glory. It was a great evening for the Flames. While it could have been better if it had sent Liberty to the playoffs — in a vacuum — it was phenomenal. It was my first and last Coastal game at home as a fan, and it certainly lived up to the hype. That was my favorite Flames moment of the year. With that, Sports in our P.J.’s is no more. So long sports fanatics. I look forward to seeing you at a watering hole in heaven.
SCHMIEG is the sports editor.
The pitching has been a constant for the Flames success with the postseason right around the corner, and Richardson was pleased with the pitching across the board for the series. “It’s really important to get Chandler doing what she was doing today, which is keeping the drop low, keeping the change up low,” Richardson said. “Chase, to come in like she did in the previous game that we had last night, it was great to see her keeping the ball in the zone and hitting it to a pitcher’s zone and not the batter’s zone.” The Lady Flames travel next to Terry Field in Rock Hill, South Carolina for the 2016 Big
South Softball Championship held May 4-11. “We’ve had that goal from the beginning to win Big South,” Han said. “We’re really versatile, and we have a lot of talent.”
DILLARD is the asst. sports editor. COLLIER is a sports reporter.
sports
B4 | May 3, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Flying high Track and field preps for conference finals Denton Day dday26@liberty.edu
The Liberty University Flames men’s and women’s track and field teams are a week away from the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 10-12, that are being held at the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex at Liberty. The men’s team has dominated competition since 1994, winning 20 of 22 outdoor championships. The women’s team has had its fair share of success since 1998, when the first women’s outdoor championship was held — winning 10 of the 18 outdoor championships. Leading the charge for the Flames is Head Coach Brant Tolsma, who has been with the team since 1986, according to the Flames’ athletic website. Tolsma has been a crucial part of every Big South Championship the Flames have won. “I like the way we’re looking,” Tolsma said. “It is not the way I wish we looked, but I like our chances as we go into Outdoor Big South.” The Flames have battled through their share of injuries this season, like every other team in the conference. However, the team has enough
depth to keep them going strong. “Our biggest strength is primarily in our depth,” Tolsma said. “When there is a weak area in events that are not as tough, we have people who can get a lot of points in that event. A lot of other schools have more holes than we do.” Liberty has one more meet before the Big South Championship meet to get prepared and to have any final athletes qualify. On Wednesday May 4, the Flames will compete in the Liberty Twilight Qualifier at the Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex. After the Big South Championships there will be an NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet in Jacksonville, Florida held May 26-28. The top 48 athletes in each event will compete there, and the top 12 finishers in each event at that meet will move on to the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon June 8-11. May 16 is the official date that the 48 athletes will be chosen to compete in Jacksonville, and a few Flames have very high chances of getting an invite to the meet. For the women’s side, senior Mychelle Cumings will look to represent Liberty in the shot put alongside sophomore distance runner Ednah Kurgat.
COMEBACK continued from B1
Michela diddle| Liberty Champion
PITCH — Parker Bean had three Ks.
wall to score another run and trim the deficit to 10-4. After Simpson walked Sciretta to load the bases yet again, he was replaced by junior righty Caleb Evans. The first pitch Evans threw was lined into right field for an RBI single by Anderson to make it 10-5. Evans then hit Fragale with a pitch to force in another run for the Hokies and bring the score to 10-6. Hudson notched his second sacrifice fly of the game, flying out to left to score Sciretta and put the tying run at the plate. With two
Joel Coleman | Liberty University News Service
SPRINT — Women’s track and field team competed in the Liberty Collegiate Invitational. On the men’s side, senior javelin thrower Steve Feister, freshman javelin thrower Denzel Pratt, senior discus thrower Fred Fulton and sophomore jumper Darrel Jones all hope for a trip to Jacksonville. More athletes can add their name to that list with good performances at the Big South Championship meet. “We want our confidence to be not in
outs, Mogg walked on four pitches to load the bases for the third time in the inning. After fouling off a few pitches, Hokies redshirt sophomore pinch hitter Tom Stoffel smacked a three-run double into right center field, tying the game, 10-10. “They had some key hits,” Toman said. “We walked some guys, and we hit some guys, and the inning started off with an error, but we didn’t expect them to put up eight runs. We couldn’t stop the bleeding in the eighth.” Quarterley was brought in to get the elusive third out of the inning and got redshirt junior right fielder Rahiem Cooper,
our ability but in the fact that God can use us,” Tolsma said. “If we have the right mindset, and we faithfully prepare, there is nothing to lose. Just go out there and give your best. If it does not turn out the way you want but you gave your best, you have nothing to feel bad about.” DAY is a sports reporter.
the 12th batter of the inning, to ground out to short to end the inning. The Flames allowed the eight runs on just three hits. The Hokies would carry the momentum into the top of the ninth against Quarterley. After a fielder’s choice to second put runners at the corners with two outs, Fragale singled to leftcenter to score Tufts for the goahead run and give the Hokies their first lead of the night. In the bottom half of the inning, the Flames attempted to stage a rally after junior third baseman Andrew Kowalo was hit by a pitch with one out. Down to their last out, junior pinch hitter Josh Latta struck out to end the game and give
the Hokies an 11-10 win. The eight runs surrendered in the eighth were the most given up in an inning by the Flames. Flames pitchers walked eight batters and hit five in the game. “You certainly couldn’t (pit -ch) worse than we’re (pitching) right now,” Toman said in regards to the bullpen. “We’re going to have a meeting to figure out what we need to do.” The Flames begin an eightgame homestand Tuesday, May 3 when they host the defending national champion Virginia Cavaliers at Liberty Baseball Stadium at 7 p.m. VANDENBOSCH is the former sports editor.
sports
Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | B5
Leah Seavers
Leah Seavers
Leah Seavers
Michela Diddle
Michela Diddle
Leah Seavers
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Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | B6
L E A H ’S G O O D BY E “Writing has never been one of my strengths. So instead of telling stories through words I tell them through photographs. The past three years working at the Liberty Champion as a photographer have not only pushed me to grow beyond what I ever thought was possible, but also have given me some of the most
incredible memories and friendships I could ever ask for. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my passion for photography from day one. I would not be who I am today without you.” -Leah Seavers
Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion
HIGHLIGHTS — Leah Seavers captured the spirit of Liberty University by photographing sporting events, theater and concert performances and other campus events. Leah ended her career at the Champion with a first place award for best sports photography from the American Scholastic Press Association and an award of achievement from Adobe.
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Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | B7
Together for prayer Campaign seeks to gather one million people at the National Mall for revival Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu
Nick Hall started praying for a revival in the United States of America 10 years ago as a student at North Dakota State University. Many prayers and countless hours later, Hall hopes the event July 16, 2016 will prompt a “reset” for the country at the Together event at the National Mall in Washington D.C. “‘Reset’ means to get the system working again — to get it working towards its intended purpose,” Hall said. “We really believe our nation needs a shift.” Hall is the author of “Reset,” visionary for Together and founder of the Pulse Movement, “a prayer and evangelism movement on mission to empower the
WASHINGTON D.C. // 7.16.16 // FREE ADMISSION
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PRAY — Attendees will all pray as a group.
church and awaken culture to the reality of Jesus,” according to Pulse’s website. The event will host speakers and artists such as Hillsong United, Lecrae, Francis Chan, Ravi Zacharias, Passion, Kirk Franklin, Christine Caine and others who will take the stage throughout 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., according to reset2016.com. The only expenses come from the commute to and from Together. Through fundraising and even selling a donated tractor, Hall said Together managed to make the event free. “We’re praying for over a million people to gather on the National Mall for a generation defining moment,” Hall said. “It’s all about Jesus. … In a time of division, people are really hungry … for unity. I think Jesus is the only leader who can bring us together.” Hall said the event will focus on answering questions such as “What does it actually look like to follow Jesus?” and addressing the issue of biblical illiteracy in the U.S. “Study after study in the last quarter-century has revealed that American Christians increasingly don’t read their Bibles, don’t engage their Bibles, and don’t know their Bibles,” Christianity Today’s article “Biblical Illiteracy by the Numbers Part 1: The Challenge” by Ed Stetzer, published Oct. 17, 2014 said. “It’s obvious: We are living in a post-biblically literate culture. Pew Research tells us that 23 percent of us didn’t read a single book in the last year. That’s three times the number who didn’t read a book in 1978.” Hall said he also wants the event to be “the largest day of Scripture engagement in global history.” Together plans to release follow-up materials and an app later in the year, according to Hall. Ultimately, according to Hall, he wants to see people come together collectively and worship Jesus, then go back into their communities and share the gospel. Hall said Together picked Washington D.C. because he believes the
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UNITE — The movement aims to bring believers together to seek God. event will make a historic impact. “You need to be there,” Hall said. “(Together) is gonna be a moment that we believe will be talked about as we look back on our generation as a defining moment.” Hall believes the positioning of Together, in the nation’s capitol holds significance. Considering past influential movements have taken place in the city such as Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and women’s suffrage efforts, Hall hopes Together will rally people together for a “catalytic movement” in order to bring people back to the local church. “We really believe the church is God’s plan A, and there is no plan B,” Hall said. “… We want to do something that’s going to serve and empower and send a generation back into the church.” Hall said Together is “no one’s,” and what he aims for at the rally is to have “John 17 unity.” Using the hashtag, #JesusChangesEverything, Together wants to keep the focus on Jesus, according to Hall. “It’s one day around one leader, (Jesus),” Hall said. “But really, we’re praying that it would result in a generation called and commissioned. And so obviously, the day’s gonna come and go, but what’s not gonna come and go ... (are) going to be the lives that are changed.”
As of Monday May 2, reset2016.com showed 253,237 people have already signed up to attend the event, one-fifth of the way to the goal. “Just imagine a million people on the (National) Mall and then all of these voices and movements all coming together to seek God—all coming together to seek Jesus,” Hall said. “And we really believe Scripture tells us that when (people gather), change happens, ... that’s when God moves.” Hall offered encouragement to anyone with dreams like the Together movement that took 10 years of prayer and five years of planning, according to Hall. “For the people that have a burden and vision from God, I just encourage people — don’t let go,” Hall said. “There’s a million people that will tell you it can’t happen. … God is looking for people who are listening to him and willing to do what he says. … When there’s a heart that’s willing to say ‘yes’ and willing to put feet to their faith, anything can happen. The National Mall can be booked.” For more information about attending Together or volunteering at the event, go to reset2016.com.
TILLER is the social media manager.
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B8 | May 3, 2016 | Liberty Champion
Dash for Dylan
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PRSSA holds 5k race in memory of Dylan Engel Hannah Elliott helliott9@liberty.edu
Liberty’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will hold a “Dash For Dylan” 5k race on May 4 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Percival’s Island Park. The race will allow students and members of the Lynchburg community to commemorate the life of Liberty student Dylan Engel as it raises funds to support his family through its loss. Engel, who was an active member of Liberty’s PRSSA, died during a hiking accident Wednesday, March 9 after falling nearly 75 feet off a trail at Apple Orchard Falls, according to reports from WSET. Liberty’s PRSSA Vice President Nichole Acosta recounted memories shared with Engel, as well as his charismatic yet humble nature that attracted many of his abiding relationships. “Dylan was that guy that would go out of his way to talk to you, to find out how you were doing even if he was going through his own stuff,” Acosta said. “He would always want to know more about you. He was able to connect with people from completely different circles of life. He just had that type of personality that you wanted to be around, that drew you in to him.” According to Acosta, PRSSA wanted “Dash for Dylan” to represent Engel’s vibrant personality and thought of no better way than to make the race a 5k color run that would memorialize his spirit. “We wanted to do something that would celebrate his life because Dylan was just so fun and had such a colorful personality,” Acosta said. “He led a life of
joy, so we wanted something that would instill joy and be something that would allow us and others that knew him a way to let go. We all agreed that Dylan wouldn’t have wanted to be mourned but instead, celebrated, and we felt a color run would capture that perfectly.” Acosta explained that despite the heartache of losing a beloved friend and classmate, Engel’s life and death continues to teach valuable lessons about impacting the lives of others. “His death is a good reminder of how fragile life is,” Acosta said. “It’s a reminder of how good God is even in the midst of something so tragic and knowing that He has turned it into something good that still impacts people. Dylan’s life left such a good fruit behind. … We hope to pursue what he taught us which is to ‘Make Everybody Feel Like a Somebody,’ to not take people around us for granted. He taught us to be intentional in all that we do and the relationships that we build with the people around us.” Engel’s lesson of intentionality has been the self-proclaimed focus of PRSSA’s social media campaign. Through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the society has incorporated ways for students and friends to donate money toward funeral costs to support Engel’s family. PRSSA hopes to raise $3,000 of the $8,000 goal through its #5Dollars4Dylan campaign as well as through merchandise and the event’s ticket sales. According to PRSSA’s social media, various items such as Tshirts, bracelets and kindness cards with Engel’s self-designed bearded logo and phrase can be purchased at the PRSSA table out-
side of the Jerry Falwell Library every Friday following Convocation until the end of the semester. Tickets for the event can be purchased through Engel’s gofundme page (www.gofundme. com/4ytjggzg). Those interested in purchasing tickets can donate $15, comment “DashForDylan” along with an email address and bring the email confirmation to the race to receive a running number. More information is on the “Dash For Dylan” Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
ELLIOTT is a feature reporter.
Photos Provided
COLORFUL — The 5k Dash for Dylan logo was designed by Miranda Peege to highlight Engel’s personality and spirit.
STUDY
BEAUTY continued from B10 After graduating from Liberty in spring 2013, Day-Hughes has performed in various shows in Georgia, Pennsylvania and most recently Kentucky. She returns to Liberty on occasion to perform in Alluvion shows. “I absolutely adore Belle,” DayHughes said. “I love that she’s not a princess in the beginning, and I love that she’s ... a little nerdy.” Day-Hughes read the original French novel, “La Belle et la Bete” and used an English translation in order to prepare for her role in the musical. She would also write and journal in order to relate to the character. “I think she wants badly to live in the world of books and fairytales, so even though she knows better, she sort of expects that for her life,” Day-Hughes said. “The Beast is what changes her to realize that life’s not a fairytale, but it can still be beautiful.” Day-Hughes said the love story is her favorite part of the musical and is what makes it so special. “I think I love most the arc of falling in love with the Beast,” Day-Hughes said. “That’s my favorite part to act.” The show is easily relatable by all “90s kids,” according to DayHughes, since it is a childhood classic most students remember watching as kids. “I think people are just going to love being swept back into it,” Day-Hughes said. “It’s different, for sure, but it is, at the core, the story from our childhood.” Liberty University’s “Beauty and the Beast” will be opening May 4-7 at 7:30 p.m., with showings running until May 15. For ticket information and additional showtimes, visit www.liberty.edu/ index.efm?PID=14619.
SWEENEY is a feature reporter.
ABROAD INFORMATION
• Offered to residential and online students of any major. • At least 24 credits and a 3.0 GPA is required. • Federal financial aid and scholarships available. • Prices vary depending on country and program. • If interested, contact studenttravel@liberty. edu.
Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion
SHOWTIME — “Beauty and the Beast” will run until May 15.
feature
Meet Mr. Rot Learn about dining services’ general manager
Will Young weyoung@liberty.edu
The long lines and over-crowded tables in the post-Convocation rush at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall — also known as the “Rot” — is where Duane “Duke” Davis said he feels most at home. Davis, 48, is the general manager of Liberty University Dining Services, but most know him by his student-given DAVIS nickname. “A few of the students came up to me one time and told me, ‘You have a new nickname. We don’t know if you know what it is,’ and they told me some students have been calling me Mr. Rot,” Davis said. “I’ve lived with that name for the last year and a half, and I’m still embracing it.” Before Davis began his career at the “Rot” in February 2014, he started his career in food service at a fine dining restaurant right after college — where Davis majored in business management. He later became a training manager at T.G.I. Friday’s and started his own restaurant before getting his current job at Sodexo. To Davis, his current job stands
out from those before. After six years of working at Sodexo and being posted at six different college campuses, Davis said he loves working at Liberty because of the students and the school’s dynamic environment. “It’s really just about the students for me, who are awesome, and the facilities are great to the vision of the campus (which) is so progressive,” Davis said. “I love being a part of making Liberty what it is now.” As general manager, Davis is in charge of all dining services on Liberty’s campus. He oversees the staff at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall along with all other retail locations, and he manages event catering and concessions carried out by Sodexo. Davis said his number one priority as general manager is servicing the needs of the students. In the past, he has talked with student government representatives and students while they are eating lunch to find out where they think dining services can improve. Specifically, Davis focuses on enforcing and maintaining high standards at all of the dining locations on campus. “I want to improve service and quality and be able to serve students in a timely manner so they’re not waiting in long lines to get fed, especially with the overall engagement and bringing new innovation and fun to the campus,” Davis said.
To work at Liberty, Davis lives away from his family during the week. Though he owns a house in the Raleigh area, he lives in an apartment he rents locally in Lynchburg during the week and commutes back to see his family during the weekend. Despite the constant commute, Davis said his job at Sodexo let him stay more connected with his children while they were in high school. “You’re not doing that dayto-day grind with long weekends,” Davis said. “My kids are in college now, so it was great being able to see them progress through their high school careers with their sports. I wouldn’t have been able to do (that) in the restaurant world.” In the future, Davis said he hopes to further advance his career with Sodexo by securing the job of district manager, which would allow him to further be involved with Liberty’s on-campus growth. “I’ve worked at colleges where there is no growth, no renovations and no changes or improvements being made,” Davis said. “Being at Liberty, it’s different. They have such big plans, and I want to be a part of that. I want (to) help grow Liberty and be the face of dining services.”
YOUNG is the news editor.
Liberty Champion | May 3, 2016 | B9
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FEATURE
May 3, 2016
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
BREAK A LEG — The Alluvion Stage Company helped bring “Beauty and the Beast” to life at the Tower Theater with a cast of both undergraduate and alumni performers.
Tale as old as time
‘Beauty and the Beast’ debuts at the Tower Theater, features Liberty alumni
Abby Sweeney asweeney@liberty.edu
A beloved Disney classic has made it to the stage of the Liberty University Tower Theater with the help of Alluvion Stage Company. “Beauty and the Beast” debuted at the Tower Theater April 29 at 7:30 p.m. This is the second time the musical has been shown at Liberty, but it is the first time it has been produced with Alluvion. Directing the musical is Linda Cooper, chair of the department of theater arts. She believes the musical will speak to students and viewers because of its familiarity. “They already connect to the characters, so I think it will be good for them to see this musical that they probably saw as a cartoon come to life on stage,” Cooper said.
“I think it just will be reliving a childhood memory and allowing themselves to be children again.” Actors Timmy Williamson and Rachel Day-Hughes, both Liberty University alumni, perform as part of the Alluvion Stage Company. Together they play the lead roles — the Beast and Belle. Williamson graduated with undergraduate degrees in worship and music studies and theater performance in spring 2014. Since then, he has performed in six Alluvion showings, “Beauty and the Beast” being his seventh. According to Williamson, the musical will have the same lovable characteristics as the Disney movie but will also include a few special additions. “I think those who know the movie will see that all the things you love about
the movie come to life on stage, but then there’s added songs and added lines, so there’s definitely some things you don’t recognize,” Williamson said. “Our goal was to put our own feel on it … but still stay true to the characters that everybody loves.” In preparation to play the role of the Beast, Williamson focused on harboring not just the angry and rough side. He aimed to appropriately capture the compassionate side of the Beast. “The side I really tried to work on was his transformation ... (and) the softening of his heart when Belle comes into his life and sort of the fact that she brings love and light back into his life,” Williamson said. “So I think a lot of my character work was just finding places to bring humanity to him and not just anger or the animalistic side.” Williamson believes the audience will en-
joy the familiar characters and songs everyone attributes to “Beauty and the Beast”. “You love characters that you grew up watching, like Mrs. Pots,” Williamson said. “Whenever you just say her name, it makes you happy.” “Beauty and the Beast” is a story about true, genuine love and not superficial love based on looks, according to Williamson. “It’s very much on a deeper level and almost explores the true meaning of love — what is love?” Williamson said. “It’s not just a feeling. It’s something much deeper, and true love should be based in truth.” While Williamson plays the Beast, his friend and former colleague, Day-Hughes, plays the role of Belle.
See BEAUTY, B8
A race for freedom
Freedom 4/24 holds eighth annual 5k to benefit victims of human trafficking Amelia Whittaker awhittaker1@liberty.edu
Freedom 4/24 hosted its eighth annual Run 4 Their Lives 5k and fun run April 30 on Liberty University’s campus. The organization exists to raise awareness of the sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and children around the world, according to its website, freedom424.org. It provides financial support by partnering with organizations that are dedicated to bringing freedom and justice to those women and children. Run 4 Their Lives is just one event the organization takes part in to help raise awareness and fundraising for partnering organizations. Joy Marinelli, national race director for the organization said this event in particular helps greatly. “Our Lynchburg run is one of our biggest, so we feel that the success of this event will help us move even more positively toward our annual financial goals,” Marinelli said. This race brought in almost $5,000 from over 85 different donors. Marinelli believes this is partly because of the increased opportunity of sharing the beliefs of the organization at Convocation. One of the main goals of the organization has been to increase the audience reach, according to Marinelli. “Aside from increasing our speaking engagements this year, we also had the amazing opportunity to share about Freedom 4/24 in Convocation,” Marinelli said. “This was a major accomplishment for us.”
Besides increasing the awareness by adding events, the organization is also working hard to increase the monthly donors. They are looking to increase their overall income to be able to give more financially to their partners. According to the Freedom 4/24 website, it costs $155 per month to provide aftercare to girls rescued from brothels in Nagpur, India. That is just the beginning of the work that the organization strives to accomplish. It takes even more money to be able to begin searching for and rescuing girls and women from the slavery they are in. Looking towards the future, the organization’s vision remains the same as in wanting to increase the funding to partners both domestic and international, according to Marinelli. Freedom 4/24 also wants to increase trip opportunities for the organization. “We love taking teams to visit and work with our partners,” Marinelli said. Liberty University has its own Freedom 4/24 chapter on campus for students to become easily involved and partner with the organization. Sarah Finkbeiner, chapter president, shared how the group has been working to increase its presence on campus. The year has been busy with many campus events, including fundraising volleyball tournaments and prayer vigils. “As a club we would love to reach a larger portion of the student body with our various events so that we can better financially support our domestic and international partner organizations,” Finkbeiner said.
The chapter’s desire is for students to become passionate about joining the fight in some way, according to Finkbeiner. “Our hope is for students to be educated and enabled so that they will then be inspired to take action themselves and carry the movement across the nation,” Finkbeiner said. Those interested in learning more about Freedom 4/24 can visit www.freedom424.org to learn about and get involved with the work they continue to do to help end sex trafficking around the world. More information about the Liberty chapter of Freedom 4/24 can be found at www.facebook.com/Freedom424atLU/. WHITTAKER is a feature reporter.
Photos Provided
FUND RUN — More than 85 donors raised nearly $5,000 for Freedom 4/24 during the Run 4 Their Lives 5k.