Liberty Champion Nov 3 2015

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Volume 33 | Issue 8 Tuesday, November 3, 2015

In loving memory

rising to the top

Professor of education dies Nate Haywood nahaywood@liberty.edu

Dr. Connie Lewis McDonald professor of education at Liberty University, died Thursday, Oct. 22 in her home in Lynchburg at the age of 59.

McDonald was born March 18, 1956 in New Orleans, Louisiana to the late Hubert and Rosalie Lewis.

When she accepted a job at Liberty, she fulfilled her dream of becoming a professor. According to her MCDONALD colleagues in the school of education, McDonald worked in various disciplines within the field of education. She had experience working with students from kindergarten through the university level.

Her Ph.D. was in secondary education with an emphasis in teaching English language learners (ELLs). She had a specialist degree and a Masters in Education with concentrations in elementary education and educational administration. She worked as a teacher in the U.S. and Japan. She most recently taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the school of education. Throughout her career, McDonald was a licensed reading specialist, ELL specialist, elementary teacher, school superintendent, principal and supervisor.

She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Steve and her daughter, Maria. The funeral was held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel in Lynchburg. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for contributions to be sent to the Liberty Godparent Home.

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.

GRABBING HOLD — The LaHaye Student Union held its bouldering competition Friday, Oct. 30.

Doves director Student gets experience at ceremony Cassandra Steptoe cbseptoe@liberty.edu

On the set of the 2015 Dove Awards held Oct. 14., the title “12-year-old TD” was a term of endearment to 21-yearold Liberty U n ive r s i t y senior Adrianna Scalzo, who served as the prog r a m ’s technical director (TD).

Producer SCALZO Kim White and Director Dave Chilton were impressed with the young Scalzo’s expertise as TD during the live taping of the show.

Scalzo attributed her knowledge of broadcast to working and learning on the broadcasting crew of the Liberty Flames Sports Network (LFSN). However, Scalzo was not always an aspiring TD or even communications-minded.

Originally planning to be a pilot, Scalzo discovered her love for communication and broadcasting when she transferred to Liberty as a sophomore.

“I found out you don’t really need a degree to become a pilot,” Scalzo said. “So I thought I would just get (any) degree and be a pilot. Then I found

communications and fell in love with it.”

Specifically enjoying broadcast operations, Scalzo began working and training at LFSN in 2013 along with other communication students, according to LFSN Producer Matthew Byrd.

“I started out at LFSN working a camera, and I thought that was the only thing I wanted to do,” Scalzo said. “I actually pegged (technical directing) as something I could never do because … it was really complicated.”

However, once Scalzo tried technical directing, she discovered it was not as hard as she anticipated and quickly excelled in the position, according to Byrd. In September, Scalzo was offered the position of technical director for the Dove Awards by a freelance worker for LFSN,

Russ Hall. Scalzo said Hall and other LFSN directors gave her special instruction on technical directing because of the interest she showed in the position. “(Hall) held training sessions and dedicated his time to personally training me and … other students who showed interest and passion in technical directing,” Scalzo said.

The opportunity was based on more than just her interest.

Scalzo’s desire to excel helped her as she learned and applied her knowledge at LFSN, according to Byrd.

“Adrianna is great at troubleshooting problems within the broadcast and spending the time to fix them,” Byrd said.

“She is organized and thorough and really wants each broadcast to be the best it can be.”

See DIRECTOR, A2

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LAWSUIT — Phillip Kline believed he was treated unfairly in court.

Supreme suit Professor sues Kansas justices Elizabeth Lapp elapp@liberty.edu

Phillip Kline, former Kansas attorney general and current Liberty School of Law professor, filed a civil action lawsuit against the justices of the Kansas Supreme Court for violating the U.S. Constitution and the Kansas Constitution by suspending his law license without due process of law.

The decision to suspend his license in 2013 came as the result of Kline’s investigation of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood (CHPP) and Women’s Health Care Services (WHCS) and their failure to report instances of child sexual abuse.

INSIDE THE CHAMPION

News

A faculty committee is created to prepare students as they leave A6 Liberty.

Opinion

A student’s take on the most recent controversial Republican debate.

A5

Sports Flames soccer defeats Presbyterian 5-1 on Senior Day.

Feature B2

A closer look at Dr. Hindson, who has now taught more than 100,000 students.

B6

The Supreme Court accused Kline of conduct violations alleging that “a fervid belief or desire to see his cause succeed” caused him to mislead judges and juries.

The lawsuit centers around the fact that when Kline’s case went before the Kansas Supreme Court, five of the seven justices recused themselves from the proceedings, and five justices from the Kansas appellate and district courts were selected to fill in.

Kline’s attorney, Thomas W. Condit, said this violates Kline’s right to a fair trial as the Kansas Constitution requires at least four Kansas Supreme Court justices to sit on a case for it to be lawful.

See KANSAS, A8

News Opinion

A1 A4

Sports Feature

B1 B5

news

A2 | November 3, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Loving on Lynchburg Students spend their Saturday helping to remodel the Boys & Girls Club Nguyen Phuong ntphuong@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s Community Care Initiative (CCI), an extension of the Center for Christian / Community Service (CSER), sent out teams Saturday, Oct. 17 to help the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg remodel their facility.

CCI faculty member Will Honeycutt coordinated the event.

According to Honeycutt, the event had been planned since the club came for the CSER fair in August.

“They asked for two teams of 15 students,” Honeycutt said. “(They wanted the) first to go in the morning to do the demolishing work, breaking down and preparing for the next step, which was painting and remodeling, and that was in the evening. I broke it up into two teams in the morning and two teams in the evening. Four care team leaders recruited their team members.”

One of the care team leaders, Jacob Sherrill, said he enjoyed taking part in the project.

“The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg is an incredible organization seeking to make a difference in the lives of students in the community by helping them graduate high school,” Sherrill said. “The care team on Saturday was blessed with the opportunity to help an organization committed to serving others. Although the painting was difficult, the project was a wonderful experience.

It allowed several fellow believers to serve alongside one another for the glory of God. Ultimately this project

brought glory to God through the service and fellowship of fellow believers.”

What makes CCI different than other Christian services such as Campus Serve, Scaremare and 90.9FM The Light is its variety of different projects. The types of projects depend largely on people’s needs. Also, students are not required to serve consistently for a period of time, but they can sign up for a project whenever they feel called.

Recruiting students for CCI is more difficult this year because there are only four hall meetings per semester.

“There used to be a really good means for communicating care projects (in hall meetings),” Honeycutt said. “So we’re struggling with even getting teams of three to five together, and that’s never happened until this semester. One of the things that we do is we announce it in big freshman classes (such as biblical worldview or evangelism). I just want the care team leaders to communicate with their friends, their circle of acquaintances and influences to recruit from that.”

Honeycutt added that the CCI opportunities can be found on the CSER website.

The goal of CCI is to help those in need while also demonstrating faith in Christ.

“You can serve without caring, but you cannot care without serving,” Honeycutt said.

PHUONG is a news reporter.

Joel Coleman | Liberty University News Service

FELLOWSHIP — Liberty students worked together to fix up a local community organization.

Increasing the variety Student center on campus to feature another healthy dining option for students Taylor Coleman tcoleman64@liberty.edu

UFood Grill is the latest dining location that will join the new student center at Liberty University in June 2016.

UFood Grill will offer students a variety of healthy food choices, including fresh grilled burgers (choice of sirloin, bison, turkey or veggie), paninis, whole grain rice bowls, sandwiches, entrees (steak, chicken or shrimp), salads, smoothies and more.

UFood Grill also features their own version of baked French fries, called UnFries.

The full menu can be found

at UFoodGrill.com.

Resident District Manager of Sodexo Anthony Delligatti said students will be able to use Flames Cash at UFood Grill. In addition, the dining location will be hiring Work Study and nonWork Study students.

The 2,500-square-foot location will host a dining area with seating. Each retail location will be set up as a standalone operation.

Vice President of Real Estate and Construction for UFood Grill Walter Pomerleau said Liberty was chosen as the next location due to UFood Grill’s partnership with Sodexo, which propelled the food venue into the college arena.

“UFood Grill is a perfect fit for Liberty,” Pomerleau said. “We offer great tasting, better-for-you menu options that have proven to be a big hit with college students and faculty.

Today’s consumer is much more aware of what they are feeding their bodies.”

UFood Grill also expressed excitement in a press release about coming to Liberty.

“Adding another university to our roster is a huge achievement for our brand, and validation that more college students, faculty and staff deserve the kind of healthful dining options the UFood Grill menu offers,” CEO of UFood Grill Sal Rincione said in the press release. “It is all part of our greater national mission to introduce better food, healthier ingredients and total transparency to a growing customer base across the country.”

Delligatti said construction has already begun at the student center.

UFood Grill will be available for students’ return in August 2016.

CAMPUS CALENDAR 11/3 - Election Day

6 a.m.-7 p.m. | Vines Center 11/5 - Campus Artist Series

8 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 11/6 - Andy Mineo Concert

8 p.m. | TRBC 11/6 -Twelfth Night

7:30 p.m. | Tower Theater 11/7 - Hiking Trip

9 a.m. | Humpback Rocks 11/9 - Coffeehouse Tryouts

5 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 11/9 - Night of Remembrance

7 p.m. | LU Prayer Chapel 11/9 - World Wide Worship

7 p.m.-9 p.m. | Towns Lecture Hall 11/10 - School of Divinity Career Fair

12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. | LaHaye Multipurpose Center Court One COLOR KEY:

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UFood Grill currently has 14 locations in various colleges, airports, Air Force bases and some government buildings.

Beginning in 1999 as Lo Fat Know Fat in Watertown, Massachusetts, the name was changed to UFood Grill in 2006.

“It was founded by a couple of body builders who wanted to offer a healthier alternative to what most concepts were offering the public while maintaining high quality and great taste,” Pomerleau said. “We use a back-to-basics approach in our cooking methods. We bake, we grill, we steam.

We never fry, ever. We provide our guests with all

the nutritional information they need.”

According to the press release, Franchise Business Review named UFood Grill one of the Top Up and Coming Food Franchises of 2015.

UFood Grill will join other previously announced dining options at the new student center, such as Garbanzo’s (Mediterranean), Star Ginger (Asian), The Grid Marketplace (a convenience store concept) and Argo Tea, the campus’ first teahouse.

COLEMAN is a news reporter.

DIRECTOR continued ther her experience in broadcast and easily “slide” into the workfrom A1 Because of her work at LFSN, Scalzo was ready for the unique challenges that the Dove Awards presented.

“I (used) a Sony switcher that I’ve actually never worked on before,” Scalzo said. “I was really nervous that I wasn’t going to be able to pull it off … but then I got in there and I thought, ‘Ok, I know this.’”

While she had experience in broadcast at Liberty, the differences between working at LFSN and the Dove Awards were evident.

“There were a lot of guys who were very obviously not Christians, but within the (production) truck, they tried to keep it very professional,” Scalzo said. “Also, the show was calmer than sports.”

Since her experience at the Dove Awards, Scalzo also had the opportunity to technical direct a Division II NCAA football game between Michigan Tech and Ferris State for the American Sports Network in Big Rapids, Michigan.

Because of her quality work, Scalzo was offered the opportunity to technical direct all Liberty women’s basketball games and is an official LFSN backup technical director. She hopes to fur-

ing world as a sports broadcast technical director.

Her advice for students who want to pursue a career in broadcast communication was to “go for it.” “(LFSN) is such a learning environment,” Scalzo said.

“They want to put you on every position … and (help you) get a feel for stuff so you can find out what you like (and) get trained for it.”

Byrd agreed and cited Scalzo as an excellent example of LFSN student success. He also hopes many aspiring communications professionals will take advantage of LFSN and its student program.

“LFSN is a great opportunity for students to build upon what they learn in the classroom,” Byrd said. “Our broadcasts are real-time, live-world experiences that push them to be better, more creative, and take pride in their product.”

Scalzo desires to train students new to LFSN and broadcast as well as to excel in her craft, though perhaps with a different title than “12-year-old TD.” STEPTOE is a news reporter.

news

Liberty Champion | November 3, 2015 | A3

Pressing into prayer Campus pastors speak about how to have healthy communication with God Quinn Foley qfoley@liberty.edu

15-DAY PRAYER

Students had an opportunity to hear from Liberty’s campus pastors about the power of prayer and how it can affect their lives and spiritual walks. This event was one of many taking place this semester as part of the Live Healthy Liberty initiative.

The event took place in the Terrace Conference Room of the Jerry Falwell Library at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The session started when Timothy Griffin, executive director of the Campus Pastors Office and a campus pastor himself, opened up the time in prayer and asked God to be with all of the students.

Griffin asked students to define the word “prayer,” to which students agreed on the definition of “communication with God.” Soon after, Griffin proposed the question of when people should pray, to which he received the response “always.”

“

CHALLENGE The Campus Pastors Office is sponsoring a 15-day prayer challenge that began Monday, Nov. 2 at the Prayer Chapel with a prayer walk around campus.

For the next 14 days, students are encouraged each weekday to visit a specified spot on campus and pray for specific items at each location.

After praying, students should take a selfie in front of the location and then tweet the photo with “I prayed today! #LUPray #PLGL(your prayer leader’s name).” The parenthesis around the prayer leader’s name is necessary to include.

When the challenge ends Nov. 20, the tweets will be totaled up and the prayer and life group with the most participation will be recognized.

To find the specific locations for the prayer challenge, scan the QR code below.

two other members of the campus pastors staff, Emily Woody and Tim Voogd, would cover.

The first point was “realize and revere,” the second was “reveal the real,” and the third was “reflect and respond.”

Griffin took the first point and explained it.

“The thought there is realizing who we are praying to … and not just to realize who we are praying to but revering who we are praying to,” Griffin said.

Woody, a life skills coordinator, took the second point, “reveal the real” and shared some of her story about her personal prayer life.

“Because of who I am talking to, I truly can come before him with this realness and rawness of

The thought there is realizing who we are praying to ... (and) revering who we are praying to.

— TIMOTHY GRIFFIN

Griffin went on to explain that prayer does not necessarily mean you have to be down on your knees with your eyes closed, but instead prayer is being in constant communication with God. “We are praying to a God … who is listening and to a God who is not only listening but who hears. (He) not only ... hears, but (he) is capable of answering,” Griffin said.

Griffin then jumped into the three points that he, along with

who I am rather than trying to put forward this front of who I think he wants me to be,” Woody said. “I know so many times in prayer that I would try to fit it into this mold and try to make it sound good … rather than remembering and just trusting his love and who he is.”

Woody read from Hebrews chapter 4 starting in verse 12 about how nothing is hidden from God. Voogd, who oversees the

Curtis Pierce | Liberty Champion

KNOWING — Emily Woody spoke on God's omniscience in prayer.

Prayer Center, took the third point, “reflect and respond.”

Voogd gave the example of professors making students write essays. He said the reason students are assigned to write out their thoughts instead of just reading from a textbook is because they get a chance to reflect and respond. He related his anal-

ogy to students’ prayer lives.

“It takes that thought,” Voogd said. “It takes that process.”

The session ended with questions from the crowd of students and a raffle for a few small prizes.

FOLEY is the asst. news editor.

Champion corrections In last week’s feature article "In the theater" we stated that two discounts could be applied to the showing of "Twelfth Night." Only one discount could be applied.

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OPINION

A4

November 3, 2015

Jim Webb out of primary Democrats lose another candidate, signifying a shift in the party’s ideology Anna Charuhas acharuhas@liberty.edu

Sen. Jim Webb’s recent decision to drop out of the Democratic run for president was a surprise to some. I think his choice makes sense in light of the political realm today and highlights some interesting points about the partisan split that has been evolving in the Democratic Party over the years. The tale of Webb exemplifies this change in some ways.

Originally a Republican, Webb changed to become a conservative Democrat (or a “Blue Dog” as some refer to them). Now, he is not even sure he desires to stay a Democrat. Webb expressed his frustration with the Democratic Party and even went as far as to declare the need for “a new Declaration of Independence” to better serve the American people.

It is a rather dramatic statement to make after an anticlimactic race for Webb thus far, as his campaign gained little support.

He is considering running as an Independent, but this remains to be seen.

The announcement to perhaps continue without the Democratic label surprised even some of Webb’s friends, according to CNN. One of Webb’s friends

and advisors, Mudcat Saunders, told CNN that Webb had not mentioned that he would drop out, though they both expressed mutual frustration with the changing ideals of the Democrats.

“We just don't like the Democratic Party's strategy," Saunders said.

Webb’s longtime friend, Dr. David Charney reminded everyone that "you are dealing with a person whose first career was military, so that colors his strategic thinking,” and this was Webb’s next move in the battle for president.

Webb also used war rhetoric in his official statements, saying, "The very nature of our democracy is under siege due to the power structure and the money that finances both political parities.”

Is Webb right? If he is, it should be of little surprise that he dropped out. The Democratic Party has definitely been shifting further left in recent years. According to data from the Pew Research Center, Democrats and Republicans are more significantly divided by ideological principles now than they were only 10 years ago, as 94 percent of Democrats sway more consistently liberal than the average Republican. This correlates with

Google Images

DEMOCRATS — Sen. Jim Webb’s exit from Democratic primary was telling of party’s move further left. why people like Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist, are gaining support.

Webb, meanwhile, is a liminal figure, not truly belonging to either the Democrats or Republicans. Though, as the associate editor of the Daily Caller pointed out, with people like Donald

Trump and Sen. Rand Paul racing on the right, Webb could almost fit back in with his former party association. Webb has made a point, both with his story and recent decision.

The Democrats have slid further left in the “Cha-Cha Slide” of political ideology. This is con-

cerning to Republicans, as further research from Pew shows. People like Webb do not know where they fit into the ever-changing dance of American politics.

CHARUHAS is an opinion writer.

A Christian view of social media Technology is distracting believers from the surrounding Christian community Rachael Graf rgraf5@liberty.edu

Facebook. Twitter. Instagram.

Scroll, click, swipe. Upload, download, reload.

Overload.

One month ago, I attended a lecture in the Jerry Falwell Library titled, “Antisocial Media: Communal Transformation and the Barriers of the Technology” given by Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, professor of English, and Dr. Chad Thornhill, professor of theology.

For an hour and a half, I was faced with the possibility that social media may be destroying the image of God in humanity.

Prior spoke first and discussed some rather frightening aspects of social media usage. She added that it is decreasing our intelligence, making us more depressed and shortening our attention spans. Thornhill added that connectedness is no indicator of true community. Rather, it gives us a false impression of our relational health as human beings.

We are more connected than we have ever been. We have a 24/7 news cycle, smartphones and Internet radio. We can share more about ourselves and know more about others than was previously thought possible.

So why do we still feel lonely and unsatisfied?

Because humans were never meant to relate solely through screens.

In Genesis 1:26-27, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. … So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (ESV).”

When God decided to create mankind,

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MEDIA — Our connection with others is being torn apart by the social media we use. he used the phrase “our image”— “our” signifying more than one. A key belief of the Christian faith is that of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit exist as one. God himself is community.

Yes, we may be able to be maintain connections with others through social media and communicate via text, but what are we losing by doing this?

We are becoming less authentic people. We are denying the image of God

“

in ourselves.

I am not against using social media. I am a Facebook user and occasionally bingewatch comedian Tim Hawkins’ videos on YouTube. I am thankful for the ways that social media allows me to stay in contact with friends who live in different states or out of the country.

But after listening to the lecture, I had to stop and think. Why do I use social media?

What is it adding to my life? I am pretty sure that I am not actually friends with all

When Jesus called his disciples, he was not reducing them to pixelated images on Facebook.

— RACHAEL GRAF

of my friends on Facebook.

And that is the trouble. Facebook has redefined what it means to be a friend, just as Twitter has redefined what it means to be a follower.

When Jesus called his disciples “friends,” he was not reducing them to pixelated images on Facebook. And when he called them to follow him, he most certainly was not asking them to sign up for Twitter.

He was extending an invitation into the joyous, messy, beautiful thing we call community.

Digital communication is like fast food.

It is quick, cheap and easy. It requires no significant investment of time or money and is often consumed on the go. It does not leave us full for long, so we come back for more, which, in the long run, is detrimental to our health.

Face-to-face communication is like a feast. Unlike fast food, it requires a commitment of time, money and energy. You lay aside other pursuits for the sake of spending time with the person in front of you. A feast is a multi-course meal, designed to satisfy the partakers. A feast cannot be rushed.

And this is what Jesus offers us, with himself and with others. But we often choose the fast food over the feast.

I am not suggesting that you give up all of your social media outlets or texting.

But what I am asking is that you remember that you were created for more than virtual reality.

Let us focus on the faces made in the image of God — not just Facebook.

GRAF is a feature reporter.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO Nate Haywood editor-in-chief

Paul Vandenbosch

Gabriella Fuller graduate assistant

Joel Schmieg asst. sports editor

CONTENT

Amber Tiller

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Leah Seavers

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photography editor

Michela Diddle asst. photography editor DESIGN

news editor

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graphic designer

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opinion

Liberty Champion | November 3, 2015 | A5

Theology and Christianity

Christians need an understanding of apologetics to combat false teaching Austin Eagen aeagen@liberty.edu

The great Christian apologist C.S. Lewis once said, “Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.” Christian culture used to be teeming with intellectual champions of the faith, but that time has been fading fast.

In recent decades, Christian culture has moved away from the study of God in favor of service to God. Within the Church, there has been a focus on conversion rather than discipleship. We have traded depth of understanding for breadth of participation. As a result, the modern generation of Christian believers contains a myriad of activists but a startling lack of apologists.

The majority of Christians can recite John 3:16 but are not able to explain the concept of the Trinity. Youths immersed in Christian culture seem to enter faith with little skepticism or understanding.

They rely on the contributions and beliefs of our Christian forefathers without taking ownership of their own faith.

Instead of carrying on the banner of that former host of saints, we seem content

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THEOLOGY — The church has not had a proper view of theology and apologetics, and this must change. to look back on it as nothing more than a reference point. Reference points are useful when theological dilemmas are clear. Unfortunately, false teaching is usually disguised in halftruths and persuasive rhetoric that muddy even the clearest of quandaries.

Without an anchor in apologetics, modern Christians are susceptible to all sorts of bad philosophy. A prime example of this is the

idea of universal salvation and the denial of hell.

In 2011, Rob Bell, an upand-coming leader in the Church, authored “Love Wins.” The book advocated universalism, the idea that all people will become reconciled to God through divine love and mercy, regardless of human decision.

This concept, while attractive, is ultimately antithetical to what Scripture teaches. Regrettably, many

believers were ensnared by this false teaching because they lacked a strong theological foundation.

They had focused themselves solely on God’s love and mercy, ignoring his justice and wrath.

This trend should be wholly unacceptable and abhorrent to the Church.

We are called to know God and make him known.

Knowing about him is not enough. Listening to

what others believe is not enough. Being passive in our faith is not an option.

Christians are mocked and persecuted by proponents of secularism because we allow them to mock and persecute us. We have given society no reason to think that our belief is founded in anything other than good feelings and empty promises.

We have allowed false teachers to thrive within our

churches and communities.

We have allowed them to foster a culture of intolerance and indifference. We have allowed them to be the image bearers of the Church. We have allowed ourselves to be neutered.

When false teachers infiltrated the church at Corinth, Paul did not stand idly by and allow the church to flounder and die. Paul confronted their false teaching head on with sound doctrine and divine authority.

With righteous indignation, he rebuked them.

Christians were never meant to be docile. The apostles were not just dynamic actors of the faith, but they were also dogged defenders of it. They were rooted in truth and empowered by faith.

The modern Church cannot continue on its current course. We must shake our apathy toward apologetics and secure ourselves in the bulwark of sound theology.

We are commanded to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and with all of our mind. It’s time we obeyed.

EAGEN is an opinion writer.

Rubio, Cruz win third debate Republican candidates attack CNBC moderators for adversarial questions Lee Sutherland lsutherland6@liberty.edu

The third Republican debate Oct. 28 turned out to be much more controversial and interesting than I expected initially.

CNBC, and specifically the moderators, were the big losers of this debate. The questions asked were beyond ridiculous and rarely dealt with any policy issues.

Beyond this, the moderators were flat out rude and nasty in many of their interactions with the candidates.

Ed Rodgers wrote in The Washington Post that “the moderators’ approach to this debate was beyond properly adversarial and was probably a game-changer in more ways than one.”

This set up one of the night’s most entertaining moments, as Sen. Ted Cruz calmly and coolly embarrassed the moderators for the questions they were asking.

“The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don’t trust the media,” Cruz said.

Cruz had a big night and seems to be rising from an angry tea party candidate to a viable Republican nominee. Many across the media believe the Republican nomination could come down to Cruz and Sen. Marco Rubio. Rubio had the other highlight moment of the debate when he shut down Jeb Bush’s attack on him over his voting record in the Senate.

Following up a question from the moder-

NOTES A

ator to Rubio about his lack of attendance at votes in the Senate, Bush tried to seize the moment for himself by asserting that Rubio should step down from his Senate position if he could not show up to vote.

However, Rubio was not caught off guard by this attack.

“I don’t remember you ever complaining about John McCain’s vote record,” Rubio responded. “The only reason why you’re doing it now is because we’re running for the same position, and someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you.”

This was NBA legend Larry Birdesque when, playing Atlanta Hawks forward Dominique Wilkins for the first time, he told him, “I don’t know why they have got you guarding me, Homes. You can’t guard me.”

This seems to have marked the end of the Bush campaign’s relevance. His poll numbers have been dropping substantially for a number of weeks now, and reports have come out that many of his major donors are having strong second thoughts about their support of him.

“Could Bush ride out the storm?” Nate Silver, editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight, wrote. “Maybe. But his problem isn’t mere lack of ‘momentum’; his candidacy has always been flawed. Instead of being the most electable conservative — the traditional profile of the Republican nominee — Bush has never looked all that electable or all that conservative.”

“The questions asked in this debate illustrate why the American people don’t trust the media.”

Presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) uttered this alarming yet valid claim during HAYWOOD the Republican debate Oct. 28. In an opportunity to broadcast to the American

people the strengths, weaknesses and differences of possible presidential candidates, financial reporting media hotshot CNBC, albeit a station known for its liberal bias, fell flat on its face.

In a world and a nation filled with economic uncertainty, international instability and an ever-growing array of social issues, questions involving fantasy football made the docket.

Yes, candidates should be challenged.

Yes, candidates should be asked questions involving fields they may not be comfortable with. Yes, candidates should be asked “the hard questions.”

These are all reasons to host these debates. They provide voters with the opportunity to get a personal glance at who

Google Images

DEBATE — The Republican National Committee cut ties with CNBC after last debate.

What may be the most interesting change that comes out of Wednesday night is the state of future debates. The Republican National Committee rightly cut its ties with CNBC after the debacle of a debate last week, and Cruz has been calling for a debate moderated by Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and Rush Limbaugh. While this may not be plausible, the RNC should look for new, outside-the-box ways to show off the candidates and their policies to

they may want to cast their vote for.

But nothing of that nature transpired Wednesday evening. The CNBC moderators — Carl Quintanilla, John Harwood and Becky Quick — were bombarding the GOP candidates with questions that were, as Fox News’ Howard Kurtz stated, “condescending, snide, hostile and borderline insulting.”

I understand each network has its favorites. That comes as no surprise. But moderators are expected to be professional and cast aside at least some of the bias. But apparently, Quintanilla, Harwood and Quick did not get the memo.

This brings me back to Cruz’s quote.

Can the media be trusted? Can the group of men and women, whose sole purpose

the American people. Maybe Republicans should live stream a debate on YouTube, cutting out the middleman and allowing them to choose whatever moderators and format they want. Whatever the change is, the Republican Party is in the driver’s seat as millions of people continue to sit through multiple hours of debates this election cycle.

SUTHERLAND is the opinion editor.

is to inform the American people with honest and fair truth, be taken seriously?

Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to that question. And that is reason to raise concern.

A Gallup poll taken in September reported that 60 percent of Americans do not trust mass media. And as much as it pains me to say, after CNBC’s most recent showing, that may just be a good thing.

HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.

news

A6 | November 3, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Knowledge in Christ

Dr. Ronald Hawkins starts new committee to help professors guide students Ashley Bunner abunner@liberty.edu

“Who is God?” Liberty University has created a new committee to help students be better prepared to answer big questions such as this that they will encounter after graduation.

Liberty Provost Dr. Ronald Hawkins feared that new graduates would walk away from Liberty with a degree and a wealth of knowledge in their chosen profession but not have the knowledge to articulate some of the important questions surrounding their faith.

From this desire stemmed the idea to start a committee where faculty members would gather together to discuss some of the big questions in life that students should be able to answer and articulate in a biblical worldview perspective.

“Rather than being legalistic or taking some true or false, multiple choice or matching tests their senior year in order to answer what they believe about God, Dr. Hawkins wanted them through classes or a capstone course (to be able know) the biblical responses to key questions (framed within the context of their particular major),” Liberty School of Divinity professor Lew Weider said.

Weider, who is the chair of the committee, along with other committee members including Dr. Emily Heady, Dr. Mark Allen, Anthony Thornhill, Kevin Conner, Dr. Ed Martin, Dr. Fernando Garzon, Esther Aleindor, Brad Burgess and Dr. Melanie Hicks, came up with five “big questions” for which students should be able to give a well-thought-out biblical answer.

The five questions are “Who is God?,” “What is humanity?,” “What is the natural world?,” “How is God at work?,” and “What is our responsibility?”

The Five Big Questions

Ty Hester| Liberty University News Service

LEARNING — Teachers encouraged students to answer big spiritual questions in class.

In addition to students answering these questions, Hawkins felt it was of great importance to have faculty members address these questions. This way, faculty members could lead by example. This semester, Hawkins and the committee led a faculty forum. During the forum, members of the committee took turns answering the questions from the perspective of their particular field of study.

“How do I as a faculty member reflect my savior by the way I treat my students, the way I talk about my colleagues, my authority, my community, my children and my wife?” Weider asked. “How do I put it all in proper perspective? Do I reflect Christ in the way I teach (and) the way I communicate by email and Facebook? Is it consistent?”

According to Weider, students take courses such as biblical worldview, philos-

ophy, Old Testament survey, New Testament and theology during their freshman and sophomore year where they learn how to answer these questions, but due to the nature of the education, students do not remember all the information.

The committee will serve as a way to dive deeper into these questions and give both students and faculty a better understanding of them.

“I believe the goal of the provost is to create a dialogue within departments — for faculty to dialogue within their departments, in their major and within their courses — to implement this concept, these big questions into a capstone or key course they could provide assessment,” Weider said.

Who is God? – Students answering this question should “be able to articulate Father, Son, Holy Spirit, his nature and his holiness,” according to Weider.

What is humanity? – “What does it mean to be a human created in God’s image?” Weider asked. “Why do all people matter? What is the sin nature and its implications? How do we even gain the nature and extent of human knowledge?

(We must) understand that knowledge isn’t just something that we acquire, but we’ve learned from God, that we don’t create truth, we discover truth, and that knowledge in and of itself isn’t just a human function, but a God function that he built within us.”

What is the natural world? – “What is the nature and origin of our natural world?” Weider asked. “What responsibilities do humans have to take care of the world and its resources?”

How is God at work? – “How is God at work in humanity and in nature itself ?”

Weider asked. “How is God at work in allowing humans to be a part of His plan?”

What is our responsibility? – “How do we fit into God’s will and plan?”

Weider asked. “A component that often needs to be addressed, but sometimes isn’t, is what is my responsibility to be the best academically prepared student that I can be? Do I have a responsibility not just to study the Scriptures but to be excellent in whatever I go into so that I’m a reflection of God in my field?”

BUNNER is a news reporter.

Safely secure Liberty holds cyber safety seminar Taylor Frost tfrost2@liberty.edu

Liberty University held a security awareness seminar Oct. 26 to recognize National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The goal of the seminar was to inform students and the community on how to reduce personal risk of cyber-attacks.

Using precautions and monitoring cyber security is something every computer user should be aware of when accessing the Internet.

“It’s an issue to take seriously,” Mark Shaneck, associate professor of computer sciences and online chair of cyber security, said. “Be careful what you click, what attachments you open and where you enter your credentials.”

Shaneck explained that updating software and turning on automatic updates by default are essential. Most software, such as Windows, will update automatically. These two security tips alone will help protect one’s personal computer.

Everyone has passwords they use on a daily basis. According to Shaneck, users need to create different passwords for each system or website. This is because if one site is hacked, the password is leaked and then all the other accounts with that same password are at risk. Shaneck said a strong password consists of a total of 107 characters, eight random words, 28 random letters and 20 random characters.

“I don’t recommend writing passwords on a separate sheet of paper,” Shaneck said. “Use Password Safe to store passwords. … Never save passwords on a browser.”

Using discretion when surfing the

Internet is also very important. Shaneck warned the audience that they must check if the site is a credible website. Usually, if the web address includes “https,” it is a credible site.

“Five years ago I was cyber attacked,” sophomore Minho Kim said. “I think it was because I let my friend use my email and he registered for a website. … Now I use only “https” websites and disable tracking cookies.”

Shaneck explained in his presentation that phishing is a real problem on the Internet today. According to Shaneck, fake websites are easy to create.

If a pop-up appears on the computer indicating a prize can be claimed or a trip has been won, it is more than likely a phishing scam.

“I’ve seen phishing emails, but I’ve never been attacked,” senior Janelle Chew said. “I’m aware on the Internet.

I guess being in cyber security classes help me to understand threats.”

Shaneck said that when traveling, using open Wi-Fi networks are not a good idea. Also, he cautioned against trusting computers in public settings such as hotels or libraries. Sometimes those computers will have key loggers which save passwords.

“Security is really about risk management,” Shaneck said. “Our security is in the hands of others, like banks and Google.”

According to Shaneck, cyber-attacks are something that can be prevented. Taking proper precautions such as using strong passwords, antivirus protection and browsers that are safe and up-to-date will help protect against hackers.

FROST is a news reporter.

FBI.gov

Joel Coleman | Liberty University News Service

HEARD — Town hall meetings gave students time to have questions answered.

Have a voice Town hall meeting allows students to share their thoughts and opinions

Kara Sherrill kesherrill@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s Dean of Students Robert Mullen is holding a town hall meeting for students to ask questions in an open forum setting Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. in DeMoss Hall room 3028 The purpose of the town hall meeting, which is held once a semester, is to provide the opportunity for students to get some of their most pressing questions answered. Students are able to ask questions at any point during the meeting.

Students can expect to see six to eight people from administration there to field questions. There will also be a time for students to voice any concerns or complaints.

“Not only are we there to answer questions, but we are open to hear complaints as well,” Mullen said.

In addition to representatives from administration, representatives from the

Office of Student Housing, Sodexo, Office of Student Leadership, Liberty University Police Department and Commuter Services will be answering questions as well.

The issues covered at the town hall meeting are dependent on the types of questions students bring. There are no set issues to cover.

In the past, there have been questions regarding food services, parking, bus services and questions regarding the Liberty Way. Students have the opportunity to bring their questions in a setting specifically geared for them.

“We take those questions, and we go and try to find the answers,” Mullen said. “We then report back with the answers at the beginning of the next meeting. … We don’t just come and listen and dismiss the concerns. We really try to take them seriously, and every year there are questions that are raised that we are able to address and get things changed because students

came and asked questions.”

Mullen said he would highly encourage students to come and let their voices be heard, as these meetings are set up for the purpose of letting the university hear students’ questions or feedback.

“A lot of times when students come out they will really benefit from another student who asks a question they maybe hadn’t thought of,” Mullen said.

According to Mullen, there will be free giveaways.

Students will sign in and be entered into drawings for the chance to win various gift certificates.

If a student has a specific question, they do not have to wait until the next town hall meeting to get an answer. Students are encouraged to email deanofstudents@liberty.edu with any questions they may have throughout the year.

SHERRILL is a news reporter.

news

Liberty Champion | November 3, 2015 | A7

Cadets commended

Seven freshmen in the Army ROTC program make Liberty University history Shannon Ritter sritter2@liberty.edu

Seven freshmen at Liberty University were awarded with the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) National Scholarship this year, the highest number of awards in Liberty Army ROTC program history.

The scholarship winners are Cody Clinebell, Kassidy Seaba, Nathaniel Gafford, Steven Wiseman, Joshua Bell, Jordan Harris and Nathaniel Parker.

Liberty’s Army ROTC Enrollment and Scholarship Officer Jordan Scanlan said this national scholarship is very competitive, and only cadets who excel in areas of academics, fitness and leadership are awarded.

“Last year, we had just over 13,000 applicants across the country, and about 20 percent of them were offered scholarships,” Scanlan said.

Scanlan said the ROTC program at Liberty typically averages about three scholarships per year.

“We focused a considerable amount of time and energy last fall all the way through May of last school year working through several hundred applicants and bringing the best of them to campus for face-to-face interviews and tours,” Scanlan said.

In order to qualify for a national scholarship, candidates must be a U.S. citizen between the ages of 17 and 26, have a high school GPA of at least 2.50, have a high school diploma or equivalent, score a minimum of 920 on the SAT or 19 on the ACT, meet the medical and physical standards, and agree to accept a commission and serve in the U.S. Army on Active Duty or Reserves, according to goarmy.com.

For the application process, Scanlan said applicants have various components that must be completed. Their SAT and ACT scores make up about 25 percent of their overall score. A 95 question survey constitutes another 25 percent of their score, and a Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) makes up 10 percent.

Next, they must interview with a professor of military science, a component worth 20 percent. Lastly, the applicants fill out a

Photo Provided

TRAIN — Army ROTC members worked hard academically and received scholarships. form, which asks various questions about their involvement in activities such as boys or girls state, leading varsity sports teams, or leading in their churches. This final section is the remaining 20 percent of their overall score.

Scanlan said the winners are not chosen by meeting the baseline requirements alone.

The criteria they must meet include scholar, athletic and leadership aspects, which are all equally important.

Seaba came to Liberty and initially decided against joining the ROTC program.

However, things changed when she heard about the scholarship.

“Over the summer, my dad found out about this scholarship, The Minute Man Scholarship, and told me about it,” Seaba said. “As soon as I heard about the scholarship, I knew I wanted to do it. For me, the scholarship gave me ROTC, and ROTC is really like a family. It’s really been the best part of coming to college so far.”

According to Scanlan, Seaba is the first cadet from Liberty to win one of few Minute Man Scholarships offered

across the country.

These scholarships have impacted each cadet differently. Harris said after visiting Liberty one time, she was hooked after realizing it was the largest Christian university in the world and one of the few Christian colleges offering an ROTC program.

Gafford said he has always wanted to serve in the Army and attend Liberty after visiting several times. Although he originally received the scholarship for a different school, he was able to transfer it to Liberty.

“This scholarship has positively impacted my self-confidence, drive for excellence, and ambitions for the future,” Gafford said. “I now have a head start on my Army career even before graduation.”

Although Scanlan is responsible for many legal elements and marketing for the ROTC program, he said he spends the majority of his time counseling and advising not only cadets but also students outside of the program seeking more information. To him, this is the most rewarding aspect of his job.

“This is very rewarding in that I’m put-

ting 18-, 19-, 20-, 21-year-old folks who have no clue what they want to do in life onto a path,” Scanlan said. “I don’t let (the students) leave here without having a game plan. I spend a lot of my time counseling: ‘Where do your strengths lie? Where do you think you can apply those strengths to become truly talented both for yourself and for the mission that you’re serving?’”

Scanlan said many students outside of the ROTC program decide to take the program’s classes simply to learn those leadership skills and knowledge so they can apply them to whatever field they are studying.

“We still have students take our classes that have no aspiration to become an Army officer, but they take our classes to glean leadership development and knowledge to go apply in their civilian careers,” Scanlan said. “That’s kind of a byproduct of the program. We’ll have an additional 20-30 students every term that are here (simply) for that.”

However, Scanlan, who has been in the Army for 12 years and at Liberty for threeand-a-half years, said he is most satisfied by seeing cadets go out after college and make a difference for the Army. He purposefully measures and selects them based on the criteria they will be measured against in four years, in order to set them up for success. “(This is) a merit-based organization for individuals that want a challenge and that want a professional career when they leave here,” Scanlan said. “To me, this is a no brainer. When you’re standing there at graduation looking at several thousand peers doing the same thing, you have to ask yourself, ‘What’s the difference between me and them?’ I think every year our lieutenants stand out. They’re better equipped to go out there and do great things.”

For more information about Liberty’s ROTC program or scholarships, visit http://www.liberty.edu/studentaffairs/armyrotc.

RITTER is a news reporter.

news

A8 | November 3, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Relying on God’s gift Pastor Paul David Tripp teaches students about grace during Convocation Patricia Barnes pbarnes5@liberty.edu

Paul David Tripp, president of Paul Tripp Ministries, encouraged students at Liberty Convocation Wednesday, Oct. 28 by reminding them of the impact God’s grace can have in their lives.

“You haven’t (just) been chosen to be a recipient of his grace but an instrument of that grace in the lives of other people,” Tripp said.

Josh Rutledge, executive director of Spiritual Development, introduced the well-known pastor and church planter as the “modern-day Renaissance man of the church.”

Tripp, an author of 16 books and the producer of 14 teaching series, referred to the grace of God as the greatest gift we could ever receive.

Tripp told a story about when his son was young and only played with the boxes of the gifts he received, and he used it as a metaphor in his teaching.

“You’ve been given the most awesome gift that could ever be given … the gift of grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,” Tripp said. “Don’t be content to play with the box.”

The pastor then encouraged students to allow the gift of grace to

KANSAS continued from A1 “Due process requires a fair hearing in front of an impartial judge in a properly constituted tribunal,” Condit said. “The idea of replacement judges per se is not a problem and not unlawful. The problem is that the Kansas Constitution says that all cases must be heard with at least four justices sitting.”

The unconstitutional nature of the handling of Kline’s case is amplified by evidence showing bias among the panel of three attorneys set up to hear the ethics charges. In Kline’s

affect the way they live their lives.

Tripp instructed students that in order to be an instrument of grace, they must live by faith.

“God gives me the precious gift of his grace, which I do not deserve at all,” Katie Fisher, a sophomore at Lib-

“

the theology of uncomfortable grace to one another so that they can demonstrate the “grace of refinements.”

For God to craft his people to live by faith, he must let them endure a challenging season so that he may express to them the uncomfortable grace

You’ve been given the most awesome gift that could ever be given … the gift of grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

— PAUL DAVID TRIPP

erty said. “This gift is something that every human being, from their first breath to their last, desperately needs.

God gave us grace so that we can let it reign in our lives.”

Tripp referred to Mark 6:45-52, a passage in which Jesus showed his grace to the disciples. Tripp also explained that God will allow them to experience a difficult time in order to transform them into someone that they could not become on their own.

“The Bible calls that grace,” Tripp said.

Tripp encouraged students to offer

lawsuit, he points out ties of two of the three lawyers to his political opponents.

“One of his panel members donated to that guy who said that, and some of the ethics charges were about mishandling of medical records,” Condit said.

“It’s just scandalous that the Supreme Court of Kansas, in such a high profile ethics case after such a high profile political campaign, would let two of the three lawyers judging Kline actually have contributed to his opponents.”

It began back in 2003 when Kline entered the Kansas attorney general’s office and began investigat-

because that is the kind of grace we all need, Tripp explained.

Tripp concluded his message by reminding the students to reflect on the way they are living their lives.

“Are you holding on to that gift of grace with both hands with a deep sense of privilege, amazed that you were given the gift?” Tripp said. “Or are you content to play with the box?”

Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion

BARNES is a news reporter.

ing state medical providers.

According to the lawsuit, Kline found information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that indicated 166 abortions had been performed on children under the age of 14 but only four cases of sexual abuse had been reported.

In 2004 a Shawnee County judge issued subpoenas for medical records from CHPP and WHCS; however, they were able to avoid compliance for more than two years. A few weeks after receiving the documents, Kline lost the reelection and the ability to pursue the evidence

he had obtained.

After the election, Kline was appointed Johnson County District Attorney and as such continued to hold jurisdiction over CHPP. In 2007 Kline filed 107 charges of criminal acts against CHPP including 23 felonies. Condit sees the failure to try any of the charges against CHPP as one of the great tragedies to come from this case.

“Phil Kline, over the course of his six years and two jurisdictions, brought his evidence in one form or another before four different judges, and in every case all four judges found probable

GIFT — Paul David Tripp taught students about God’s love for them. cause that crimes had been committed,” Condit said.

The new attorney general, Paul Morrison, defeated Kline in the election through a smear campaign, accusing him of threatening women’s privacy and mishandling women’s medical records.

“His one opponent said Phil Kline wanted to scatter women’s medical records all over Kansas,” Condit said.

“This was the kind of stuff that was said, and it was just vicious stuff.”

Condit is hopeful that the lawsuit against the Kansas Supreme Court will restore Kline’s license and his reputation.

“He is really a straightlaced guy, really believes in the rule of law, ... (and) had no reason to ever lie,” Condit said. “He had all the evidence. He didn’t have to lie. So Planned Parenthood and their friends in Kansas have really succeeded in destroying his reputation on a bunch of fiction and a bunch of things that themselves were lies. And Phil Kline is the kind of guy that the last thing he would do is lie to a court. … He believes in the rule of law too much.”

LAPP is a news reporter.

NOV. 6 . 8 P.M. THOMAS ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH STUDENTS: $7 ADV. PUBLIC: $10 ADV. PURCHASE ONLINE AT LIBERTY.EDU/SA FOR TICKET INFO CALL (434) 582-SEAT FOR EVENT INFO CALL (434) 592-3061

SPORTS

November 3, 2015

W. Soccer

Volleyball

Hockey

Liberty

Winthrop

Liberty

Ohio

Liberty

Radford

2

0

1

4

1

3

B1

M. Soccer Presby

Liberty

5

1

Field Hockey (OT) Liberty

Duke

2

3

Moving on Flames advance to semifinals Bobby Keating rfkeating@liberty.edu

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

CONCENTRATION — Liberty senior midfielder Rebekah Page sends a pass downfield against Winthrop.

Liberty’s women’s soccer team defeated the Lady Eagles of Winthrop 2-0 Sunday, Nov. 1 at Osborne Stadium to advance to the semi-finals of the Big South Championship.

Crystal Elmers notched her third goal of the year just five minutes into the second half to give the Lady Flames the advantage. Elmers received the ball from fellow senior Jaime Bouffard at the left corner of the box before she dribbled past two Winthrop defenders and buried the shot in the upper right of the goal.

“It felt really good once it finally got in there,” Elmers said. “I was relieved after that,” All seven of the team’s seniors (five of whom are starters) said the one-and-done format of the tournament added extra pressure, as each game could be their last.

“As a senior … I had never thought about a game so much as this one because it could potentially be the last game I ever play in women’s soccer,” Elmers said.

Later in the game, with just over 10 minutes to go, freshman midfielder Amanda Barrett put a shot into the back of the net to shatter Winthrop’s hope of a comeback. Sophomore forward Jennifer Knoebel crossed the ball to Barrett, who buried

it into the left corner. The goal was the freshman’s first in her Liberty career.

The spurt of second half goals came after the Lady Flames failed to create any dangerous scoring chances in the first 45 minutes of play. Although Liberty controlled possession and probed around the offensive third with solid passing and footwork, the team never had any quality shots on goal.

“What we talked about (at halftime) was you can’t generate that kind of offense without the purpose of seeing the ball in the back of the net,” Head Coach Jessica Hain said. “So can every shot this second half end with a shot is basically what I challenged them.”

The shutout was the team’s fourth in a row. The streak began Oct. 21 with a 3-0 win against the same Lady Eagles team that was defeated Sunday.

“The last four games … they’ve grown a lot in their maturity as the senior class has come through,” Hain said. “I think it’s really cool to see there’s a lot of maturity with their soccer IQ.” The recent streak of shutouts has partially been due to the play of last year’s Big South Defender of the Year, Holly Van Noord.

Although the redshirt junior goalkeeper has 107 saves this season and has let in an average of only 0.85 goals per game

See MOVING, B3

Coach McKay is ready to play Returning for his second stint at LU, McKay explains his transition from UVA Nate Haywood hahaywood@liberty.edu

Photo Provided

STARS — Coach Richie McKay with former Flame Seth Curry.

WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME

Some did not believe it. Others would not. A couple professors chalked it up as some ill-advised April Fools’ Day prank. There was simply no way Ritchie Lawrence McKay was bolting the University of Virginia Cavaliers to fill the Liberty Flames men’s basketball team’s head coach vacancy. After all, just a few years prior, he left Liberty for the ACC powerhouse. There was simply no way he was returning.

But on April 1, 2015, exactly six years after he left, all doubt and uncertainty were removed. During a press conference held in Williams Stadium, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr., along with Athletic Director Jeff Barber made an announcement that potentially altered the trajectory of a struggling program. McKay was coming back. “…There is really no other place in the country I’d rather coach,” McKay said.

McKay has had his foot in the door of coaching for nearly 30 years. The former Indiana native has 28 years of coaching under

his belt and explained how coaching was more than a job. It was a calling.

“I got called into coaching,” McKay said. “I didn’t have a career pursuit other than playing professional basketball. I didn’t know what I would do after that. …

My playing career came to an end when I was 23 years old. But before my career ended, I got a taste of coaching and really enjoyed it.

It’s the calling that I’ve wanted to fulfill.”

And with each year, he grew to love it more and more. There were multiple aspects to the world of coaching that made the occupation so appealing to him. It allowed him to further establish his competitive nature. It allowed him to remain involved in one of his favorite sports.

But there was one more variable coaching provided which stood out more than the rest.

“For me, once I got into coaching I realized something,” McKay said. “I could have an impact, or even the small chance to influence people like I was influenced by coaches. That captivated me.”

And he has been dedicated to the coaching world ever since. Earning his first head-coaching job at Port-

Volleyball vs.

High Point

Field Hockey vs. App. State

Volleyball vs. Campbell

Football vs. Presby’

Nov. 6 @ 7 p.m.

Nov. 7 @ 11 a.m.

Nov. 7 @ 2 p.m.

Nov. 7 @ 3:30 p.m.

land State in 1996, he has been at the helm of all of the programs he relocated to — all but one.

After a short stint as head coach for the Flames from 2007 to 2009, McKay headed to Charlottesville with the newly appointed head coach of the Cavaliers, his close friend Tony Bennett. What made his decision particularly peculiar to some was the unconventional voluntary transition from head coach to assistant. Some saw it as a step down for McKay. “Not many people voluntarily leave a head coaching position to become an assistant,” McKay said in a 2009 press release. “It speaks to my relationship with Coach Bennett and the opportunity that I have in assisting him to build a great program.”

So McKay and his family loaded up and headed an hour north for the next chapter in his coaching career. He was no longer preparing for the likes of the Big South Conference. Instead, he would be strategizing against legendary coaches Mike Kryzewski of Duke University and Roy Williams of the University of North Carolina.

See MCKAY, B4

M. DI Hockey

vs. Stony Nov. 7 @ 7 p.m

Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage

sports

B2 | November 3, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Success for the seniors

11 senior men’s soccer players step off the pitch for the final time at Osborne Denton Day dday26@liberty.edu

Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion

BLESSED — Blessing Tahuona played his last home game.

The Liberty Flames men’s soccer team (6-9-1, 2-5-1) cruised to a senior day victory at Osborne Stadium, knocking off the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (015-1, 0-7-1), 5-1, Oct. 31, to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Four different seniors scored, including the final goal from Kurt Meyers, a redshirt-sophomore who will graduate this year and is unsure of whether he will return to the team as a graduate student, hence his participation in senior day.

Head Coach Jeff Alder said he was proud of the seniors and what they had accomplished.

He especially highlighted their loyalty to the program and each other as key components of the graduating class.

“One of our core values is loyalty, and I think that describes this group of seniors,” Alder said.

“They have been loyal to God. They have been loyal to Liberty.

They have been loyal to our coaching staff, and they have been loyal to each other. Their character, their Christian testimony and their willingness to serve have been off the charts.”

The rout began in the 13th minute with senior defender Tim Harbison scoring from the top of the box on a cross from senior attacker Blessing Tahuona.

The Flames took a 2-0 lead into halftime on senior forward Sachem

Wilson’s team-high sixth goal of the season in the 23rd minute.

Senior defender Connor Fleming sent the ball high to the right side of the box that senior defender Jamie Foxwell hit to Wilson for the score.

With a 2-0 lead at the half, Alder told his team to play with more vigor and that it was critical to get a third goal.

Tahuona delivered that third goal in the 59th minute after receiving a long pass from junior midfielder Kyle Carr. Tahuona stopped the ball on a dime inside the box, causing the defender to go sliding past, and placed the ball in the left corner just past the keeper’s outstretched fingertips, sending the crowd into a roar of approval. “(Tahuona) was able to get through and score that third goal and broke (Presbyterian’s) spirits,” Alder said.

The Blue Hose finally got on the board in the 68th minute on a goal from midfielder Steven Huppe. The Flames lost possession of the ball on a clearing attempt near the top of their box, and Huppe netted the lone goal for the Blue Hose.

Redshirt sophomore midfielder Brady Mazzei, entering the game on a late substitution, extended the Flames lead to 4-1 on a rocket of a free kick from roughly 25 yards out that flew straight past the goalie to the far post in the 70th minute. Insanity ensued for the Flames and the fans as Mazzei excitedly ran to his bench to celebrate the first goal

of his Liberty career.

Meyers also recorded the first goal of his career on a pass to the top right of the 18-yard box from Mazzei, his former roommate, that he one-timed up and over the keeper into the net in the 81st minute of the contest to give the Flames the 5-1 lead. The five goals were the most the Flames have scored in a game all season.

“I thought our movement was good,” Alder said. “We created some chances and ultimately we were able to put (Presbyterian) away.”

After a rough season, the seniors left Osborne Stadium with many emotions, but were ultimately happy they went out with a bang.

“We have been through a lot of heartbreaks (and) a lot of frustration,” Wilson said. “We love each other so it is going to be tough saying goodbye to these guys. It has been tough, (but) it has been a pleasure. It feels good to leave our house the way we want it.”

A ceremony before the game honored the Flames 11 seniors, all of which received framed jerseys.

The Flames will visit Big South opponent Campbell in the last game of the regular season Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. The Flames are currently eighth in the conference and will make the Big South tournament if the standings remain as they are.

DAY is a sports reporter.

Blue Devils beat the heat Lady Flames fall to top five ACC opponent for the second time in three days Jonathan Husker jhusker@liberty.edu

Some called it a must-win game for the Liberty Lady Flames field hockey team, as they hosted No. 4 Duke Saturday afternoon Oct. 31. Unfortunately, the Lady Flames fell to the Blue Devils 3-2 in overtime.

Duke’s overtime goal effectively ended the Lady Flames chances of moving on to the NCAA tournament, dropping the Lady Flames to 11-6 on the season.

The first period of play was a back-andforth contest, with both teams swapping possession every minute.

“I thought given all of the other games this season that we’ve competed against the ACC, we’ve really started out slow, but I thought today the girls started the first half pretty strong,” Lady Flames Head Coach Jodi Murphy said. “I know for sure the second half they came out a little bit stronger, but on the whole I was pleased.”

It was not until the 33rd minute of play that Duke scored the game’s first goal off a set piece. The goal was Blue Devils junior forward Heather Morris’ first of two goals.

The Lady Flames would tie the game at the top of the second period, when senior defender Hannah Jones scored off a penalty corner.

“We didn’t have to make a ton of adjustments in halftime in terms of our

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

ONLOOKERS — Lady Flames field hockey fell to No. 4 Duke in overtime. press that we were running,” Murphy said.

“I just think it was them recognizing when they could take their moments, and really step up and win the ball, and not just let Duke carry out their plan. I think that was a big difference. I think just the way that we were attacking with more intensity, more of a drive, with more intention to get into

the attacking third.”

The game continued at a 1-1 tie until well into the second period. With a little more than 10 minutes remaining in the game, Duke racked up an astounding eight penalty corners in just seven minutes, the eighth of which lead to Duke’s second goal of the game. Blue Devils sophomore midfielder

Alyssa Chillano scored, giving Duke the 2-1 lead with just minutes remaining. “[Penalty corners] is what it boiled down to: those set pieces, and the girls being able to execute on corners,” Murphy said. “Equally to our demise as well. You come in and you give up that many penalty corners to this strong of a team, and they’re going to find a way to put them in.

I thought that a lot of those calls down the stretch there were really tough breaks for our girls. In that regard, it stings a little bit more.”

Liberty was able to fight back, as sophomore forward Alynn Richardson tied the game 2-2 in the 68th minute, sending the game into overtime.

Unfortunately for the Lady Flames, the Blue Devils’ Morris would score the game-winning goal in just the third minute of overtime.

In Saturday’s game, Duke outshot Liberty, 15-10, but it was the Blue Devils’ 12-6 advantage in penalty corners that ultimately gave the Lady Flames the most trouble.

With an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament seemingly out of the picture, the Lady Flames will play their final game of the season Nov. 7 against Appalachian State at the Liberty Field Hockey Field.

HUSKER is a sports reporter.

sports

Liberty Champion | November 3, 2015 | B3

The surprising news of ESPN shutting down Grantland, the company’s offshoot sports and pop culture blog, came when the network issued a AUL statement saying the site VANDENBOSCH would be “suspended,” effective immediately.

The network had previously parted ways with the site’s founder, Bill Simmons, five months ago when Simmons had a run-in with the network’s higher-ups.

Now, of course this decision affects not just the readers of Grantland, but more importantly, the employees. More than 40 writers, producers and editors will be affected by the network’s decision.

Obviously, when people lose their jobs, it is always first instinct to blame the big, bad corporate machine for their troubles.

But they forget that when it comes down to it, this is a business, and executives have to make decisions that are best for the company.

When Simmons left, a large wave of talent followed him, so in the network’s eyes, the site lost a bit of an edge with its content. Simmons was also the biggest reason why Grantland was popular in the first place, and his shoes were simply too big to fill. Without him, the site took a step back.

ESPN also promised to honor employees under contract and some employees will simply be moving to other divisions of the company. For example,

S i m m o n s ’ replacement, Chris Connelly, will return to his previous role on Spor tsCenter.

Others will work for ESPN’s website or for ESPN Films.

Grantland is also not the only entity that is being shut down. This decision comes at a time when the network is enforcing extensive cutbacks. ESPN makes major profits from its parent company, Disney, and has been under pressure, mainly because of “broader television marketplace challenges.”

Lastly, ESPN is refocusing its vision, and that vision does not include Grantland. A source from the company clearly stated ESPN was moving away from the pop culture business, which was something of a staple for Grantland.

Simmons has done nothing but badmouth the network since being let go, but the fact of the matter is this is not about bad blood; it is about taking ESPN in a new direction. Shutting down Grantland was a necessary move by a company looking toward a future that did not involve remnants of the Simmons debacle.

You simply cannot please everyone.

Everyone knows ESPN does whatever they want, and pretty much everything is about money. Neither of those two things are inherently wrong.

But to go about things the way ESPN has lately is quite simply disgusting.

I am specifically talking about the way ESPN has handled the Grantland situation. What the sports mecca did to their employees is “simply appalling,” a thought echoed by Bill Simmons, Grantland founder and former editor-in-chief, in a tweet after the news broke.

It all started when the former ESPN employee had the audacity to criticize the King of ESPN — ­ Roger Goodell, NFL Commish — resulting in his suspension.

Roughly five months after the heinous act, ESPN announced they would not renew Simmons’ contract. ESPN President John Skipper said in a statement “it was clear it was time to move on.” He also commented on the future of Grantland without the Founder at the helm.

“We’re going to continue to do it, and continue to do it at the same level both financially and staff-wise that we’ve been doing it,” Skipper said.

Oh, how quickly things change. Five months after ESPN and Simmons parted ways, Grantland was no more.

“After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy go-

PICK A SIDE

VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.

MOVING continued from B1

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

ELATION — The Lady Flames have had plenty to celebrate thus far.

per game this season, she refuses to take praise for the outstanding results of late.

“I credit my whole entire team,” Van Noord said. “Defense starts from the forwards to the mids, all the way back to me, so it’s definitely a team effort.”

Despite the encouraging result and dominating performance against Winthrop, the Lady Flames are not satisfied.

“We have to be better,” Van Noord said. “We have to put more effort out there.”

MONDAY IS ZAXBY’S COLLEGE DAY ®

Liberty University students and faculty receive 20% OFF any meal on Mondays, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Must present valid ID. Offer valid at this location only: 1038 Wards Ferry Rd. • Lynchburg 434.237.2651 Limited-time offer. Valid on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. only. Must present valid ID. Each restaurant independently owned and operated.

Offer not valid at any other locations. © 2014 Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. “Zaxby’s” is a registered trademark of Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc.

ing forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise,” ESPN said in a statement released to the media.

To break that down, OEL ESPN decided that in SCHMIEG order to have a “broader and more significant impact” it needed to cut the only arm of ESPN that did not talk about the same boring sports stories everyday. To be fair to ESPN, Grantland only ran three Tim Tebow stories in the last three years, an obvious sin.

One of the most despicable parts of what happened to Grantland is the way many employees found out that they no longer worked for Grantland.

“Well that’s the first time I’ve ever found out I was laid off via Twitter,” Michael Baumann, a former Grantland writer, said on Twitter.

Does that sound like the way a giant company like ESPN should treat its employees?

“Look, we’re a big company. If it was just dollars and cents, we would have figured something out,” Skipper said to reporters after the decision not to renew Simmons contract.

The funny thing is, everything ESPN does is “just dollars and cents,” so why haven’t they “figured something out” yet?

SCHMIEG is the asst. sports editor.

The team’s next test will be in the semi-finals against the same High Point team that took out the Lady Flames in the championship game last season in a penalty shootout.

After the teams finished 90 minutes of regulation tied 2-2 and went scoreless in two overtime periods, High Point won 5-4 in penalties. Bailey Beattie, a redshirt freshman at the time, scored the winning penalty with the teams tied 4-4.

She now has two goals and two assists this season as a redshirt sophomore.

High Point went on to lose to

Virginia 8-0 in the first round of the Women’s College Cup. “I think there’s significant motivation from the girls to play well,” Hain said. “This meeting will be especially emotional probably for both teams.”

The semifinal matchup with High Point is set for Friday Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina.

KEATING is a sports reporter.

sports

B4 | November 3, 2015 | Liberty Champion

In perfect Carmany

Brothers Paul and Joe Carmany work alongside one another for Flames athletics Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

The endless nights and weekends filled with out-of-town travel can take a toll of the family life of a college sports information director (SID). But for Liberty University’s Paul and Joe Carmany, the opportunity to spend time with family is part of the job.

Paul and Joe Carmany, brothers only distanced by three years of age, are two of Liberty’s sports information directors.

Paul Carmany, the eldest brother, joined Liberty’s athletic communications staff in June 2006. Joe Carmany began his time at Liberty in June 2011.

The Middletown, Ohio natives work hand-in-hand with student athletes, the media and the university, coordinating interviews, handling statistics for specific teams, traveling with sports teams and reporting to the Big South Conference.

Paul Carmany is an associate athletics communications director and the media contact for men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s cross country and women’s basketball. Joe Carmany is an assistant athletics communications director and the media contact for women’s volleyball, softball and swimming.

Though the Carmany brothers may have different sports to focus their time on, Paul and Joe Carmany use their brotherly bond to work together to help Liberty athletics run even smoother.

“Sometimes it can be kind of stressful keeping stats at games,” Paul Carmany said. “Since we know each other better than we know our coworkers, sometimes we can interact with each other and help each other solve problems in ways that we might not be able to interact with just a regular coworker. We know how each other operates.”

As the time came for Paul Carmany to head off to college, he decided to study mathematics at Ashland University because of his childhood love for sports statistics.

“I loved sports stats growing up, and I kept sports stats just on my own and for

Joel Coleman | Liberty News Service

FOCUS — Paul (far left) and Joe (middle) Carmany work together for Liberty athletics. high school teams,” Paul Carmany said.

“But, I didn’t really realize that it was a future, and there was a job like this out there.

The sports statistics angle is what got me excited about math.”

After graduating from Ashland in 2004, Paul Carmany began working as a graduate assistant while earning his master’s degree in sports education.

At the same time, Joe Carmany was working on his undergraduate degree in sports ministry at Malone University. When Joe Carmany was preparing to graduate with his bachelor’s degree, Paul Carmany was seeking his next life move that would soon bring him to Liberty.

“It’s definitely a God-thing that brought me here,” Paul Carmany said. “I applied to over 20 different jobs and most of them were around the Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Michigan (area). I kind of wanted to stay in that area where my family was.”

Paul Carmany said when he saw Liberty’s SID job posting asking for a Christian as the first requirement, he felt he should apply for the job because he had not seen anything like that before. The job also required knowledge in volleyball, women’s basketball and track and field, all of which Paul said he felt he had adequate understanding.

“Out of all of those (applications), Liberty was the first one, only one to offer me a job,” Paul Carmany said. “So even though it was kind of out of my comfort zone and further away from home than I was looking, the job description itself plus God closing doors and opening this door (is) why I’m here. I feel like Liberty was the best place and was where God wanted me to be even though it was frustrating at the time.”

Joe Carmany on the other hand, had a different journey to reach his current spot as a SID at Liberty. Though Paul Carmany was working at Liberty when Joe Carmany was deciding on his next step in life, Joe Carmany said following in his brother’s footsteps to become an SID was only in the back of his mind.

After graduating from Malone in 2007, Joe Carmany said he sent out job applications but nothing was working out, so he decided to take a year off while working some odd jobs. After no luck for more than a year, Joe Carmany received an email from a SID at Mercyhurst University. Joe Carmany said he forgot that he had even applied for a graduate assistant job at Mercyhurst.

Following two years at Mercyhurst and earning a master’s degree in organizational leadership, Joe Carmany applied for internships in hopes of securing a permanent job.

Over 20 applications later, Joe Carmany earned a 10-month internship at Charleston Southern University, and then as a job as a SID at Liberty opened up, Joe Carmany secured the position, which he still holds.

Working with student athletes on a daily basis, Joe Carmany said his own personal experience benefits him greatly. At Malone, Joe Carmany was a racewalker on the track team.

Joe Carmany said as a junior in college, he took a walking class, which was taught by the racewalking coach, and his friend who happened to be a racewalker both of which were instrumental in getting Joe Carmany to begin to racewalk.

During his time at Malone, Joe Carmany attended the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship for the racewalk on three separate occasions, with eighth as his highest finish as a senior.

He currently holds the Malone men’s 5K outdoor racewalk record with a time of 23:25:00 in 2007.

“It was a good experience also to be a student athlete,” Joe Carmany said. “Now that I work with student athletes, I know kind of what they’re going through, the pressures and time management that goes with it.”

Joe Carmany said he now only racewalks at the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) national conventions, in which he won the racewalk championships in the CoSIDA 5k Run/ Walk in 2012 and 2013.

Though Paul and Joe Carmany may have reached the role of Liberty sports information director in different ways, their brotherly bond is clear as they work as a team to excel at their jobs, while still spending time together outside the office.

“I wouldn’t want to get through it with anybody else,” Paul Carmany said.

RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

Fresh start

Assistant coach feels right at home

Paul Vandenbosch prvandenbosch@liberty.edu

There are 690 active hockey players in the National Hockey League, many of which will play for an average of about five to six seasons.

But for some players, their careers are cut short by injuries and they are forced to retire early. While disappointing for aspiring hockey stars, hanging up the skates BOURDON can be a chance for a new beginning. Just ask Marc-Andre Bourdon.

Bourdon was born and raised in Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, an agricultural town of 53,000 people about 25 minutes east of Montreal. The oldest of two boys, Bourdon left home at the age of 16 to play junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he played for three years before being taken in the third round (67th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers as a defenseman.

Bourdon made his NHL debut on Nov. 21, 2011 and played a total of 45 games with the Flyers in the 2011-12 season. Due to the 2012-13 Lockout, he spent the next two seasons going back and forth between the Flyers and the Adirondack Phantoms, their AHL affiliate, and was limited to 24 AHL games due to concussions. After the 2013-14 season, Bourdon officially retired from hockey at the age of 24. After his first season with the Flyers, through a relationship with Dan Edwards, the team’s chaplain, Bourdon gave his life to Christ. “(Dan) was so great at showing me the love of God,” Bourdon said. “He showed me the positive side of it, instead of making me feel like it was a burden to believe … it was true love and grace and he really brought it to me in the right way.”

Bourdon started working with Hockey Ministries International (HMI) in the summer of 2012, and connections with Joe Smith, a former Flames hockey play-

er, who also works with HMI, sparked Bourdon’s interest in Liberty. He visited Liberty for College For A Weekend in the spring of 2015 and was offered an assistant coaching position with the Flames Division I hockey team. He also enrolled as an undergraduate student for the fall semester at 26 years old.

“I just loved the school and I wanted to come here,” Bourdon said. “And even though I’m not getting paid to be coach, for me, it’s not about that. It’s about God and it’s about having an impact on (player’s) lives. Through my life, I learned that money is just a material thing and that the real satisfaction comes from God.” Bourdon is primarily in charge of the defensemen and coaching the power play unit for the hockey team, and has been the perfect fit from the start. “(Marc) brings a lot of enthusiasm to our team,” Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said. “He’s a younger voice to our staff and a voice that players respect because of where he’s played and what he’s had to do to get to the NHL level.”

Bourdon said that the transition from player to coach and student is not an easy one, but the benefits make the job well worth it.

“What is so great about Liberty is that we work with hearts,” Bourdon said. “In the NHL and other leagues … they want you to perform and that’s it. But (at Liberty) we invest in the player’s hearts first. And for me, I don’t go halfway in anything, and I want to pour all my knowledge and heart into these kids.”

Bourdon is currently majoring in exercise science and hopes to stay with the team as long as he can. But the 26-yearold freshman also knows that no matter what his plans are now, everything can change in an instant.

VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.

Photo Provided

INTENSE — Coach Ritchie McKay has his game face on during his first LU coaching stint.

MCKAY continued from B1 “The competition (in the ACC) was unrelenting,” McKay said. “Honestly when you go into Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Dean Dome, or the Yum! Center, all of a sudden you got these raucous crowds, Hall of Fame coaches and McDonalds All-Americans.”

Admittedly, McKay knew just how intense the completion awaiting him would be. Yet he embraced it and had full confidence and belief in his new team and Coach Bennett.

“I enjoyed it … I enjoyed competing,” McKay said. “But I also had great confidence in my boss Tony Bennett and in our players.”

During his time under Bennett, he learned and grew as a coach. But there were two key things McKay learned from his friend, two things that he will never forget: the packline defense — a defense created by Bennett’s father — and how to truly be a coach of integrity.

“Even though I’m older than (Bennett), I’ve learned a lot from him,” McKay said.

McKay’s time at UVA was a fruitful one.

He and Bennett led their Cavaliers to multiple NCAA tournament appearances and ACC Championships. Each year, UVA improved.

Life was good.

So Liberty began the search for a new head coach, few expected McKay’s name to make the short list. But McKay felt his calling was leading him back.

“I think the leadership (at Liberty) is outstanding,” McKay said. “I think the coaches here are tremendous. I’m excited to be a part of a coaching staff that’s really mission oriented. I wanted to be an extension of what (Dr.) Jerry Falwell started years and years ago in training Champions for Christ.”

When the announcement unveiling the new head coach was made, the only group of people more excited than McKay’s family, may have been the team itself.

“I heard he was an incredible offensive coach and he gives you a lot of freedom (on the court),” redshirt sophomore Ezra Talbert said. “I also knew with him coming from UVA, they had an incredible defense … I was just excited about the whole thing. I had only heard positive things about how great of a man he is.”

Redshirt junior guard Ryan Kemrite echoed his teammate in saying how excited he was to learn and improve under his new coach.

Kemrite added that with the limited time he has had under McKay thus far, he has still seen improvements in his overall game.

“His confidence level in us is unbelievable,” Kemrite said. “The confidence he infuses is unmatched with anyone I’ve ever had coaching me.”

Now, as all of the hype and excitement of the change in management subsides, the focus has shifted to witnessing what this team can do. The Flames are less than a month away from their season opener, and McKay has a unit that boasts a combined 20 career starts.

Half of his team just met a few months ago.

With the evident lack of chemistry, experience and size on this team, McKay is ready to face any difficulties this next chapter may bring.

“I would not put anything past this group,” McKay said. “I think they are like-minded. I think we are going to compete. We are going to try to represent Liberty University in an excellent fashion.”

McKay will get to finally get to see his team compete when the Flames take on DIII opponent Covenant Scots, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. at the Vines Center.

HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.

feature

Liberty Champion | November 3, 2015 | B5

Coffeehouse planning

Student Activities prepares for ‘Fa-la-la-la-la’ performers to take the stage Emma Jane Maurer emaurer@liberty.edu

The Christmas lights being strung up on University Boulevard can only mean one thing: Christmas is right around the corner.

One of the annual Christmas festivities students look forward to is Student Activities’ (SA) Christmas Coffeehouse.

According to the event website, auditions will be held Nov. 9-13 from 5-10 p.m. in the LaHaye Event Space. Musical acts, video submissions and skits are encouraged. Auditions are on a first-come, first serve basis and all group members must be present.

The theme this year is “Fa-la-la-la-la.”

Although medleys and mashups are welcome, more traditional songs are encouraged.

“The idea of the theme came from a general consensus that Christmas music is so distinct and lovable,” Stephanie Ward, director of SA, said. “It’s a big part of the holiday season and we’ve never highlighted it as a theme before. Christmas season isn’t complete without the music and we want to highlight that at the event this year — from the theme to decorations to the live acts and videos.”

According to the website, there are stipulations regarding group acts. For groups of three or less, all members must be current

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

CHRISTMAS CHEER — Coffeehouse hosts keep the event festive and fun between acts.

Liberty students. Groups of four or more must currently be 75 percent Liberty students. Groups should have a group name and act title prepared when they arrive at the auditions.

The website also discourages students from participating in multiple acts, as it may inhibit the chances of each individual act getting into Coffeehouse. Solo acts are

encouraged to add additional performers to their act.

For all musical acts, a drum kit and cymbals will be provided, however, any additional instruments and equipment must be supplied by the individual groups. Groups may not sing to a track and single a cappella performances are not allowed.

Video submissions can be up to five min-

utes long and must be submitted by 10 p.m.

Nov. 13. They can be on a flash drive or a CD and saved as a .mov file in 16x9 format.

Videos can be submitted to the SA Office Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or during auditions between 5-10 p.m. Videos containing footage of illegal or unlawful activity are prohibited.

Ward and her staff are working hard to make Christmas Coffeehouse an enjoyable event for all.

“Christmas Coffeehouse season, from building decorations to the show, is my favorite time of year,” Ward said. “We grow even closer as a staff and have the best time putting on this show for the student body.

It’s always fun seeing the talent the student body has.”

The show will take place Dec. 11 at 11:30 p.m. in the Vines Center and is an approved late-night event. Tickets may be purchased at the Vines Box Office or online. Early bird general admission tickets are $3 until Nov. 21. The price then increases to $5 through Dec. 11. Tickets are $7 at the door.

Tables are sold out.

For more information regarding auditions and the actual show, visit liberty.edu/studentactivities.

MAURER is a feature reporter.

‘Uncomfortable’ tour Andy Mineo, Propaganda and JGivens come to Liberty University Nov. 6 Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu

Joel Coleman | Liberty University News Service

COMING SOON — Andy Mineo will be performing at Thomas Road Baptist Church Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.

Hip-hop artist Andy Mineo will bring his “Uncomfortable” tour to Liberty University, narrated by Propaganda with special guest JGivens, according to the Liberty Student Activities (SA) page.

Mineo’s “Uncomfortable” album released Sept. 18, 2015 according to andymineo.com and topped the Billboard “Top Christian Albums” chart Oct. 10.

The album’s inspiration came from Mineo wanting to try something new with his music.

“Really, I’m just trying to find my sound,” Mineo said.

“I’m trying to not ride the current wave of music, but really create something different. …

Innovation is something that inspires me.”

In addition, Mineo said he did not want to make “part two” of

fan favorite songs such as “You Can’t Stop Me” and “Paisano’s Wylin” according to theboombox.com’s article “Andy Mineo Goes Against the Grain on ‘Uncomfortable’ Album.”

“I’m gonna try and to step out of the safe space (with this album), to kinda curate my own sound,” Mineo said to theboombox.com.

Mineo will perform at Thomas Road Baptist Church Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $7 in advance for students and $12 at the door, and tickets for the public are $10 and $12 at the door. For more information about the concert, visit liberty.edu/campusrec/ studentactivities.

TILLER is the feature editor.

MILITARY EMPHASIS WEEK NOVEMBER

6

MILITARY CONVOCATION Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Vines Center

7

DEDICATION OF THE MIKE DONAHUE TRAIL Time: 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Location: Snowflex Centre

7

MILITARY TAILGATE Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Location: Hancock Welcome Center

7

MILITARY APPRECIATION FOOTBALL GAME Time: 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Location: Williams Stadium

9 11 13

CARE PACKAGE DRIVE Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Convocation, Vines Center Section 124

9 9

MILITARY EMPHASIS CHAPEL WITH CHAPLAIN DONDI COSTIN Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Location: 701 Thomas Road, Old Pate Chapel NIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE Time: 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Location: LU Prayer Chapel

10

ONLINE COMMUNITIES MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Online Communities

11

VETERANS RECEPTION Time: 11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Location: Hancock Welcome Center RSVP Deadline: November 4, 2015

12

MILITARY APPRECIATION BLOOD DRIVE Time: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Location: Jerry Falwell Library, Terrace Room

12

HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE WEBINAR Time: 8 p.m. - 9 p.m.

RSVP: Required

13

CARE PACKAGE WORKSHOP Time: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Location: Jerry Falwell Library, Terrace Room

14

14

MILITARY APPRECIATION VALLEY VIEW/MIKE DONAHUE MEMORIAL 5-MILER Time: 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Location: Snowflex Centre MILITARY STUDENT CONNECTION Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Location: Camp Hydaway RSVP Deadline: November 9, 2015 MILITARY APPRECIATION HOCKEY GAME - POSTPONED

FOR MORE INFORMATION VIST: LIBERTY.EDU/MILITARYAFFAIRS

feature

B6 | November 3, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Timeless teaching Dr. Ed Hindson has served as a Liberty faculty member for more than 40 years Will Young weyoung@liberty.edu

If you enter the lobby of Dr. Ed Hindson’s office, the first thing you will see is the collection of paintings hanging on the walls. Art showing the stories that dramatically portray Jesus walking on water and washing disciples’ feet are eloquently framed, and evenly placed above the desks of assistants.

Inside his office, the School of Divinity Dean and long-time professor at Liberty University, showcases a vast collection of books prominently displayed on large, wooden bookshelves that take up most of the wall. The books, similar to Hindson’s own area of authorship, cover an innumerable amount of subjects in Christian scholarship.

“My interests in writing are quite broad,” Hindson said, glancing at his collection of neatly-stacked books. “I’ve written on subjects ranging from Philistine archaeology to Bible prophecies and everything in between.”

Hindson has taught more than 100,000 students residentially and online. Most students know him for teaching Old Testament Survey, an introductory course, but his resume also includes teaching in-depth classes on specific books of the Bible including Matthew and Revelation.

His expertise in Christian studies and theology stems from his three doctoral degrees in philosophy, ministry and theology.

Hindson studied under respected Christian theologians such as Norman Geisler and Walter Kaiser, who he said were some of his favorite teachers, and whose teaching style influenced his own.

Since Hindson’s first time teaching at Liberty in 1974, he has built a strong reputation among theologians, speaking at the country’s largest churches and receiving an Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Gold Medallion for excellence in

Christian authorship. His career at Liberty reached its apex in 2013 when he was offered the job for Dean of the School of Religion, replacing Liberty cofounder Elmer Towns.

“I was surprised when Jerry (Falwell Jr.) offered me the job,” Hindson said. “But I accepted because I felt a real sense of obligation to the university to strengthen and diversify our programming of the biblical and theological studies.”

Since being named dean, Hindson has pursued building a strong relationship with the heads of other schools at Liberty. Last year, he oversaw the merger of Liberty Seminary and the Liberty School of Religion to create the Liberty School of Divinity. He said the advantage to this is being able to let experienced professors teach at both the graduate and the undergraduate level.

The merger comes at a crucial time, too, Hindson noted. Due to the changing questions of his students over the years, Hindson said that he sees a much greater need for the flexibility of professors. Undergraduate students, he said, are wanting to know answers to theological questions that students years ago would not look at until studying for their doctorate.

“I try to know my audience when I’m lecturing and try to anticipate the questions they may have,” Hindson said. “I’m seeing the nature of students’ questions change because of the influence of a more aggressive atheism and an angry secularism that is trying to undermine the credibility of the Christian message.”

The result of a Christian school that does not adapt to the new questions of the millennial generation, Hindson said, is the watering down of Christian faith and a rise of liberal Christianity — something that Hindson believes Liberty has done a good job of preventing in the past.

“Teachers today have to be more alert on adding an emphasis of effective apologetics and biblical truth in a culture where

David Duncan | Liberty University News Service

FULFILLED — Ed Hindson finds joy in hearing how former students serve the Lord. tolerance undermines the evangelical movement,” Hindson said. “My concern is that conservative Christianity will lose its strength.”

Hindson has had experience with such schools of religion that do not exhibit the same conservative standard that Liberty does. He has spoken at many nonsectarian schools of religion, including the Harvard School of Divinity and Balliol College, a constituent school of Oxford University.

Hindson’s speeches at Harvard were well received. He was given a standing ovation from the crowd after his speeches on evangelism and social involvement. At Balliol, Hindson met with highly respected British and American religious scholars such as Martin Marty and the Bishop of London.

Hindson, though, does not consider the

defining point of his career to be his visits to the world’s most prestigious universities or his authorship of more than 40 books.

“The high point is definitely teaching here at Liberty,” Hindson said. “Students come back to me 20 or 30 years after I’ve taught them and tell me how they’ve been serving the Lord since then. It’s the greatest fulfillment you could possibly have.”

Hindson said that he is now dedicating his time to preparing the move of the School of Divinity into Liberty’s Freedom tower — to be completed in 2017 — along with continuing to recruit top quality, conservative teachers to serve in the divinity school.

YOUNG is a feature reporter.

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Liberty Champion | November 3, 2015 | B7

Video gaming marathon Event raises more than $2300 for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu

Throughout five rooms on the fourth floor of DeMoss Hall, Liberty students and Lynchburg locals alike gathered for a video gaming marathon from 8 a.m. Oct. 31 until 8 a.m. Nov. 1 for the Extra Life event hosted by the Liberty University Video Game Club and Anime Club.

“Extra Life is a grassroots experience that mobilizes passionate games of all types to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals treat sick and injured kids in their communities,” Extra Life’s Facebook page reads. “Extra Lifers raise money yearround, culminating a massive international day of play each fall.”

Jack Whisler, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Coordinator, said the group wanted to have an extra hour because of daylight savings time instead of waiting for the international day Nov. 7.

According to the club’s president, Sam Adams, this is the fifth consecutive semester the club has coordinated an Extra Life event, and more than 300 people attended.

“Play Games. Heal Kids.” is the motto for Extra Life, and the clubs raised more than $2300 for Lynchburg General Hospital and Virginia Baptist Hospital.

Amber Tiller | Liberty Champion Children’s Miracle Network works through these hospitals and “locally pro- GAME ON — Jason Lynch gamed sporting headwear from a military surplus store for added effect during part of the 25-hour event. vides pediatric and neonatal medical equipment, facilities, and transportation were accessible once the $15 admission generally occupied by a video game or ers prior to the event and cosplay winners.

Also, the total amount of fundraising — equipment for the hospitals” according to was paid. Donated food included 400 board game. wings from Buffalo Wild Wings, 20 pizzas In other rooms such as 4066, comput- since some club members are still raising childrensmiracle.net.

Many participants stayed into the night, from Papa John’s Pizza. Also, an XS Ener- ers and televisions surrounded the prem- funds until the night Nov. 4 — will be anand as the event continued, people were gy Drink represented at the event donated ises as gamers claimed spots and some nounced at the gathering. played individually while others worked For more information about the Liberty seen coming and going, playing anything proceeds to Extra Life.

And anything from cords to consoles together or competed in tournaments University Video Game Club or the gamfrom the card game “Superfight” to roleplaying in “Dungeons and Dragons” or the could be found within the maze of tables for games such as “Smash Brothers” and ing marathon in the spring visit the club’s and chairs strewn in different directions “League of Legends.”

Facebook page. video game “Halo.”

In addition, prizes such as GUNNAR The hub of the event, room 4075, held throughout the room. Movies such as the food supply which included Gamer “The Lego movie” and “Avengers: Age gaming glasses will be given Nov. 5 at BufFuel Mountain Dew as well as Doritos, of Ultron” streamed through projectors falo Wild Wings not only for these tournaCheez-Its and many other snacks which partly for background noise as people were ments, but also for the top three fundrais- TILLER is the feature editor.

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Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

SCARECROWS — Students raced in style to compete for the Best Dressed award.

RUN continued from B8 run for participants but more for them to come out with their friends, dress up and enjoy a good work out.

“The only real challenge with this race is that it is in the dark so it might be a bit difficult for some people, but overall it is supposed to just be a fun night,” Herring said.

This was Herring’s third year working on the Costume 5K and she thinks people love it so much because the race’s theme is focused on having fun.

This year, 138 people registered to participate in the Costume 5K, making it one of the largest night runs Student Activities has hosted.

Another aspect of this race that makes it special is that awards are given to the best-dressed runners rather than the fastest.

This year, Lynchburg local Anthony Krysiewitz and his 5 yearold son Brady were awarded Best Dressed for their matching

costumes of the superhero, The Flash.

‘This was our first year running in this race,” Krysiewitz said. “I have run races up here before and I follow the Liberty website to see when they are having races coming up. When I saw this one was close to Halloween, I thought this 5K would be really fun for Brady and me.”

The Holy Cross kindergartner Brady Krysiewitz was in charge of planning the duos matching costumes and he picked ‘The Flash’ because it is his favorite superhero.

This Costume 5K was a great way for students and locals to take part in the fall festivities.

Student Activities plans many other 5K’s and events throughout the year and all information can be accessed on their website liberty.edu/campusrec/ studentactivities.

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B8

November 3, 2015

Tis the season Holiday sale in Lynchburg Nov. 7 Taylor LaForest tblaforest@liberty.edu

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

ECCENTRIC EXERCISE — Runners showed their Halloween spirit by completing the costume 5K trail race at Camp Hydaway.

Costume fun run Student Activities hosted sixth annual 5K trail race Kayla Humphreys knhumphreys2@liberty.edu

This past weekend on the eve of Halloween, Liberty University students and Lynchburg locals took part in the Student Activities (SA) Sixth Annual Costume 5K Fun Run. There was a wide array of costumes, with people dressed as everything from

bags of jelly beans to the more traditional Halloween zombie. Everyone showed their creativity when it came to putting together their costumes.

The SA team also brought the course and event space to life through hours of prep work.

“It took us several days to mark the course with mile markers and flagging tape,” Student Supervisor of SA Mariah

Herring said. “In addition to getting the course ready for the race, we decorated the pavilion at the end of the race where runners can enjoy food and drinks and where we will award the runners for best dressed after they finish.”

With this race being a “fun run” the course was not set up to be a challenging

See RUN, B7

Food drive launches Fifth annual drive seeks to end hunger across Virginia Katelynn Rutt kerutt@liberty.edu

Liberty University has partnered with Sodexo to host its fifth annual Thanksgiving food drive on campus.

“Sodexo, as a worldwide company, has several initiatives,” Casey Guise, Sodexo unit marketing coordinator, said. “However, everything centers around the main goal

of fighting hunger. Each Sodexo location is called to improve the community around it. Here in Virginia, we notice a major problem of hunger and our goal is to end it.”

This year, the drive will begin Nov. 2 and will benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank of Verona, Virginia. Not only does this organization seek to meet the needs of those in the local community, but it also works to help other food

banks across Virginia. The Southside area of Virginia, in particular, is one of the main locations the food bank will be aiding.

Students and faculty have until Nov. 18 to donate canned goods and other nonperishable items to the various bins across campus. Item drop off will be open in three locations: the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall, room 1880 in Green Hall and the Liberty

Mountain Snowflex Centre.

Sodexo plans to financially match any donations given by the school pound-for-pound.

Darren Wu, Christian community service coordinator at Liberty, noted that Liberty hopes this food drive will be another platform to share Christ with the community.

RUTT is a feature reporter.

Not everyone has a knack for recognizing a need, envisioning a creative solution and following through with it. But Vintage Lynchburg founders Leah Wiebe and Kelly Pittman are among those who not only see, but know how a little creativity can change a space and shape a community.

In 2012, Wiebe and Pittman wanted to showcase their own handmade goods. They found, however, there was no place for them to do so.

“At the time, it was very rare to have a place where these people who maybe did this on the side, had an Etsy shop or had a little business out of their home,” Wiebe said, “(But) they didn’t have a store front, they maybe had kids, and it was a part time thing and they didn’t have a place to showcase their items.”

This led them to the idea of Vintage Lynchburg. What started as just a couple vendors and shoppers has grown into an event of more than 90 local vendors and 3,000 shoppers.

For the past three months, Wiebe and Pittman have been gearing up for their 7th annual Vintage Lynchburg Holiday Sale.

The sale is a unique event in which artisans and vendors from the local area can come together and showcase their wares for the enjoyment of the community.

Saturday, Nov. 7, is the date for this year’s Holiday Sale at the Urban Arts Garage on 10th and Commerce Street. The various vendors will offer a wide collection of goods including home decor, jewelry, clothing, art, furniture, antiques and handmade goods. “(Vintage Lynchburg is) good for the vendors and it’s good for the community,” Wiebe said. “I just think it’s a neat pairing.

The vendors want to showcase it and the community wants to come see and shop and experience.”

Wiebe and Pittman both have a passion for giving back to those who are doing good in the community, and donate a third of the proceeds from ticket sales to a local nonprofit organization. This year, donations will benefit the Motherhood Collective.

“This group is doing some really neat things in the community (by) trying to educate and support women and care for them through infertility and postpartum depression and through the ups and the downs of the motherhood process,” Wiebe said.

In addition to supporting local artisans, entrepreneurs and the community, Wiebe and Pittman also want Vintage Lynchburg to have a social element for people to enjoy.

The Holiday Sale will have live music, food trucks, a free photo booth, balloons for kids and a vintage fashion show presented by The Clutch Guide. Opera on the James will also be performing random acts of culture throughout the event, so guests can expect serenades and performances as they peruse the booths.

“I think one of the things that makes Vintage Lynchburg unique is the time and effort that not only Leah and I put into it, but I think our vendors as well, as far as the looks and aesthetics of it,” Pittman said.

In celebration of the approaching holiday season, Christmas lights will be strung throughout the space and shoppers are encouraged to wear their favorite Christmas sweaters. Volunteers will be walking around and handing out gift certificates from the vendors to the shoppers wearing their sweaters. The recipients can then take the certificates to the vendor’s booth and pick out an item.

The Holiday Sale provides a great opportunity to find the perfect gift, especially with the Christmas season just around the corner. Whether it be for a friend, family member, that special someone, or even a family pet, the Holiday Sale will have something to suit each shopper’s need.

Tickets for the Holiday Sale are available at the door for $3, cash only. A limited number of early bird tickets are available online at www.vintagelynchburg.com for $10.

These tickets would allow shoppers to preshop for an hour before the crowds start filling in. Doors will be open for regular admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

LAFOREST is a feature reporter.