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Volume 33 | Issue 3 Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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SANDERS

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

Vermont Senator speaks at Liberty about wealth inequality

Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders addressed the student body of Liberty University at Convocation Sept. 14. Sanders focused on his beliefs of creating a moral and just society in which there is wealth equal-

ity, meeting the needs of the underprivileged and providing free health insurance for everyone. After receiving a loud round of applause and shouts from a few faithful supporters, he began by acknowledging the disagreements that he and Liberty students might have but said he is hopeful for tolerance on both sides. “I believe in women’s rights, the

rights for women to control her own body,” Sanders said. “I believe in gay rights and gay marriage. Those are my views, and it is no secret. But I came here today because I believe from the bottom of my heart that it is vitally important for those of us that hold different views to be able to engage in a civil discourse.” Cody Bright, a senior govern-

ment politics and policy student at Liberty recognized the importance of hearing from different viewpoints. “I am grateful that President Falwell brought someone like Bernie Sanders,” Bright said. “I think that he found common ground with the student body and

See SANDERS, A2

Reaching the nations David Platt encourages students to share faith Jacob Clarke jlclarke3@liberty.edu

President of the International Mission Board (IMB) David Platt addressed students at Convocation Wednesday, Sept. 9, urging them to help spread the gospel to those who have never heard the message of Christ. “I look at this arena full of followers of Christ who are getting a world-class education and all sorts of different degrees, and I am pleading for you … to leverage this education, to leverage your degree, to get the gospel to people who have never heard it,” Platt said. Platt, author of titles such as “Counter Culture” and New York Times Best Seller “Radical,” spoke to students during Global Focus Week, a time each semester where students have the opportunity to learn more about cross-cultural work by connecting with international outreach organizations hosted by Liberty. Convocation also featured a performance by the Children of the World choir, who sang popular songs such as “Salvation Is Here” and “Today is the Day.” The group is composed of children who are sponsored through World Help’s Child Sponsorship Program and has visited Liberty on many occasions. After the choir performed, Platt, the former pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama,

See GOSPEL, A2

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

DANCE — The Children of the World choir brought smiles to faces at Convocation.

Appreciating culture Global Focus Week provides diverse experiences Elizabeth Lapp elapp@liberty.edu

Liberty University students experienced the tastes and sounds of different cultures from around the world during this semester’s Global Focus Week, held Sept. 7-11. Culture Breaks took place each day over the course of the week and in-

cluded opportunities for students to play global games, try chocolate from five different countries, learn phrases in different languages and taste coffees and teas from around the world. David Williams, the coordinator of special projects for the Center for Global Engagement, has been planning this event since the end of the last Global Focus Week

INSIDE THE CHAMPION

News

Morris Campus Garden expands to now raise livestock. A3

Opinion

Student’s thoughts on the value of having a biblical worldview.

Sports

Feature

The Lady Flames soccer team defeated the Rams 1-0 Sunday. B1

Training Table chef has a passion for serving students.

in March 2015. “The main purpose for Global Focus Week is to raise global awareness on campus,” Williams said. “Tied in with that, there are a (few) other purposes — to help students learn and grow in their cultural knowledge,

See GLOBAL, A7

News Opinion

A1 A4

Sports Feature

B1 B5

news

A2 | September 15, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Musical modifications Liberty’s Worship Collective becomes unified band of rotational musicians Taylor Frost tfrost2@liberty.edu

Worship groups have made a few visible changes due to a larger, strategic shift happening in Liberty’s worship music culture. The new Liberty Worship Collective, formerly the department of ministry teams, is comprised of six worship bands: the Sounds of Liberty, Exodus, 71, Crimson Flood, Campus Band and Awaken. The Liberty Worship Collective is under the direction of Kenneth Scott Bullman, an instructor of music and worship. Louis Fabrizi, former member of the Campus Band, is the current creative director of music for the Office of Spiritual Programs, and he oversees Campus Band. The Liberty Worship Collective answers to the leadership of David Nasser, senior vice president of Spiritual Development. Josh Rutledge, executive director of Spiritual Development, explained the former campus bands have evolved into the Worship Collective right before Liberty’s eyes into a larger group of musicians and vocalists made up of a rotation of 13 individuals. The hope for Worship Collective is to grow, incorporating all bands into one. “It is an evolution,” Rutledge said. “You will see steady shifts. Instead of six to seven distinct teams, I think you’ll see … one unified, collective team in the future with different expressions.” Rutledge shared the vision for the Liberty Worship Collective is to see Liberty’s worship culture feature “less individualism and more collectivism,” and to move from distinctly branded teams to a more holistic, unified team. This approach mirrors largescale global worship bands like those from

SANDERS continued from A1 presented a unique way to address those pressing matters. Obviously we don’t agree on certain things, including how these issues should be addressed. But we do agree that something in this nation needs to be done.” Sanders then acknowledged how easy it is to speak to a crowd of people that agree with one’s point of view, but he said to Liberty, a school founded by Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. on conservative values, that they must work to find “common ground.” Sanders, a self-identified socialist, said he is motivated by a vision stated in Matthew 7:12 where Jesus said do unto others what you would have them do to you. Acknowledging that many Liberty students hold conservative views and are pro-life and against same-sex marriage, Sanders said he believes that he and conservatives can agree on some issues that are of a great importance

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

GATHERING — Students from the Worship Collective led the student body in songs of praise. Passion City Church or Hillsong Church. Nasser explained his vision of seeing different genres of music and a diverse group of students coming together to form the Worship Collective. Nasser’s objective is to have the Liberty Worship Collective reflect the diversity of Liberty’s campus.

to America. “In my view, it would be hard for anyone in this room today to make the case that the United States of America … (is a) just society or anything resembling a just society today,” Sanders, who has been serving in the Senate since 2007, said. “In the United States of America today there is a massive amount of injustice in terms of income and wealth inequality.” He said though the U.S. is the wealthiest country in the history of the world, most of the wealth is in the top one percent. Sanders passionately described how he does not believe that a few can have the majority of the country’s wealth while there are many people, including children, struggling at or below the poverty line. “There is no justice when so few have so much and so many have so little,” Sanders said. “ … In your hearts, you will have to determine the morality of that and the justice of that.” Sanders asked the student body how they could believe in morality and justice when many children

“The Worship Collective is our worship team coming together to become songs for the world,” Nasser said. Rutledge said that there will not be many obvious changes at once. This is just the beginning of the Worship Collective, and it will be a process for all the bands to merge as one. In the coming weeks, Lib-

in the U.S. are not being treated as he believes they should. Sanders cited many statistics explaining that the wealth in America is heavily contained in the top few percent. Sanders moved on to explain his view on the necessity of free health insurance for everyone. He said it is unjust and immoral for people to be dying from the inability to seek medical care. Sanders also added that he believes in family values and that mothers should receive 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. “(I) believe in family values,” Sanders said. “ … I want you to think if you believe it is a family value that United States of America is the only major country on earth that does not provide paid family and medical leave.” Sanders said the U.S. has enough money to put so many people in jail, but young people are not receiving the jobs and education they deserve. Over and over again, Sanders emphasized the necessity of people living in a just society, not a society that wor-

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erty can look forward to seeing lots of new faces on stage. “(The Worship Collective) is doing together what they can’t do alone,” Nasser said. FROST is a news reporter.

ships money and wealth. “Money and wealth should serve the people,” Sanders said. “The people should not have to serve money and wealth.” After his personal address, Sanders fielded pre-submitted questions from Liberty students during a Q&A session. When Sanders was asked about how, as a potential president, he would deal with racism in America, he said reform is needed and no one should be discriminated against for the color of their skin. He said Americans need to stand up and act on the fact that racism is not acceptable in the U.S. Sanders was also asked how he could reconcile his pro-choice view and his passion to help the most vulnerable with many Liberty students’ views that an unborn baby is the most vulnerable. The senator stated that though he respects those who choose not to have abortions, he believes the government should not tell women what to do with their bodies. The last question Sanders was asked was what he believes the

U.S. should do about the Syrian refugee crisis and religious minorities being persecuted in the Middle East. Sanders said the U.S. has the moral responsibility to work with the world to assist refugees. He also added that international conflict should attempt to be resolved, with war being the final option. The democratic presidential candidate left with the hope that some in attendance would be compelled to change the society in which they are living. “I would hope very much … that some of you will conclude that if we are honest in striving to be a moral and just society, it is imperative that we have the courage to stand with the poor, to stand with working people and, when necessary, take on very powerful and wealthy people whose greed, in my view, is doing this country enormous harm,” Sanders said.

RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

GOSPEL continued from was struck by the reality of eternity. “Nobody even told them how A1 they could get to heaven,” Platt said. began his message by citing that there are approximately 2.8 billion people in the world today who have never heard the gospel. “No one has told them what God has done to make eternal life possible for them,” Platt said. He said that Liberty is a unique place in which all students are trained to use their gifts to play a role in spreading the gospel, and he encouraged them to “make it (their) ambition to get this gospel to them.” “What if missionaries are not just people who leave their jobs to take the gospel around the world, but missionaries also include people who leverage their jobs to take the gospel around the world?” Platt asked. Platt taught from Romans 15:20, using the apostle Paul as an example of someone who was committed to preaching the gospel to those who had never heard. He told a personal example of how his trip to Nepal gave him an even greater burden for the unreached. “We would go up to them and ask, ‘Do you know Jesus?’ And they would say, ‘Who is that?’” Platt said. After witnessing a funeral ritual of burning dead bodies on funeral pyres that the locals believed would help the deceased person in the process of reincarnation, Platt said he

“What will it take for the concept of unreached people to become totally intolerable to us in the church?” Platt spoke with urgency as he reminded students that unreached people stand guilty before God, just like those who have heard the gospel but reject it. “(But) don’t just memorize the bad news,” Platt said. “There’s good news. God has presented Jesus as the sacrifice and atonement through faith. …God has chosen to pour out His holy wrath, due to you and me, upon His son in our place. …This is the greatest news in the world.”

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

PASSION — David Platt preached about unreached people.

news

Liberty Champion | September 15, 2015 | A3

Moo-ving to the farm New livestock additions to change Campus Garden, improve soil conditions Ashley Bunner abunner@liberty.edu

New seasons bring change, and this fall, the Liberty University Morris Campus Farm is updating, expanding and improving with the changing season. Within the past month, the Morris Campus Garden changed its name to the Morris Campus Farm. Primarily a vegetable garden practicing sustainable agriculture, the Campus Farm plans to incorporate livestock in order to improve soil conditions. According to Campus Farm Manager Alicia Cripe, the name change was inspired by the addition of livestock to the land. “Most people think of a farm rather than a garden if it includes livestock,” Cripe said. The long-term plan for the farm is to incorporate chickens, both egg layers and meat birds, pigs and cows to the landscape. “The animals will be part of a multispecies, intensive rotational grazing system where the livestock will be periodically moved to fresh paddocks to allow pastures time to regrow before being grazed again,” Cripe said. This method of farming is modeled after the pasture-based, organic farming of Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm located in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. “This system not only provides animals with fresh pasture, it allows the land to absorb the nutrients from manure more evenly and gives grass time to regrow — thus strengthening the roots — between grazings,” Cripe said. Over time, this method will greatly improve the soil conditions of the farmland, and the livestock will provide the Campus Farm with another product to offer to the public, according to Cripe. Just this month, the Campus Farm ordered its first batch of 160 broiler chicks. Once the chickens are fully-grown — around seven to eight weeks old — they will be processed by the Campus Farm team and sold to the public. With the continued growth of the farm comes the need for more Christian

Service (CSER) volunteers and full-time employees. Over the summer, two new full-time employees, an education and events coordinator and a livestock coordinator, were hired. This fall there are 20 CSER volunteers. Also new to the Campus Farm this year is the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), or as the Campus Farm calls it, the Summer/Fall Harvest Shares. According to Cripe, the Harvest Share is a membership to farm produce for a specified number of weeks for a lump sum. Members of the Harvest Share receive a share of the Campus Farm’s produce

each week along with their pick of fresh herbs and flowers. The reason for the Harvest Share was to diversify what was offered at the farm and raise awareness within the Liberty community, Cripe said. Currently, the Harvest Share is marketed to Liberty faculty and staff. “We have really enjoyed bringing more people to the farm, and members seem to enjoy their time at the farm,” Cripe said. “We will continue to offer the Harvest Shares each year and, at some point, we hope to include other products such as eggs, honey and meat.” During the first week of September, the Campus Farm added a timber frame pergola archway, which Cripe described as a space to “invoke community” at the farm. “Our pergola was built out of cedar beams that were sustainably harvested and will last for years to come, as well as sourwood beams that were harvested

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

CHIRP — The Liberty Farm will now feature egg-laying chickens and meat chickens. from the property at the Campus Farm,” Cripe said. “The sourwood beams add a natural curve to the pergola and remind us of the way in which we are influenced by our surroundings.” With a growing team of employees, additional livestock and building projects, the Campus Farm continues to grow and flourish with each passing season. For students looking to get involved at

the Campus Farm, open hours at the farm are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information about the Campus Farm, visit liberty.edu/campusrec/garden or email campusfarm@liberty.edu.

BUNNER is a news reporter.

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OPINION

September 15, 2015

Value of a biblical worldview

George Will defends physician-assisted suicide in Washington Post article Lee Sutherland lsutherland6@liberty.edu

George Will is one of the most important conservative political voices in American history. Will, a graduate of Trinity College, Oxford University and Princeton University, has written a twice-weekly column in The Washington Post since 1974. Additionally, he served as a contributing editor of Newsweek magazine for 35 years. Will has received numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Through his columns, Will has articulated and defended conservative ideology. For example, recently he has come out strongly against Planned Parenthood, referring to it as the “barbarity of America.” However, Will wrote a surprising article last month entitled “Affirming a right to die with dignity.” In this article, Will veers away from his normal conservative thinking and defends the concept of physician-assisted suicide. He begins his article with the story of a 29-year-old woman who was dying of brain cancer. She only had a few months to live and experienced “excruciating headaches, seizures, paralysis, lost eyesight and the ability to speak.” This woman had to move to Oregon to have the physician-assisted suicide she wanted because it is one of the four states that permits the procedure. Will stated that “almost 30 percent of Medicare expenditures are for patients in the last six months of life and about 16 percent of patients die in, or soon after leaving, intensive care units.” He does admit that there are problems with physician-assisted suicide. In light of the recent Planned Parenthood videos, Americans should be wary of a “slippery slope.” However, this is not enough to convince Will that America should stay away from legalizing this procedure. “There is nobility in suffering bravely borne, but also in affirming at the end the distinctive human dignity of autonomous

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CONSERVATIVE — George Will, who has written for the Washington Post for over 40 years, is an important conservative voice. choice,” Will concludes. Although I have tremendous respect for Will, this argument should set off a number of alarms, including the “slippery slope” inherent in these ideas. Will acknowledges this but states that this concern comes with almost everything, from taxes to public education. While this may be true, there is solid evidence for this serious moral failing. Several European countries have championed physician-assisted suicide, and in each one, there have been chilling developments. For example, “Doctors in Belgium and the Netherlands kill the mentally ill, the healthy elderly ‘tired of life,’ and … even engage in joint killings of married couples that fear widowhood and/or dependency,” Wesley Smith stated in the National Review.

What may be the most important takeaway from Will’s article is the value of a biblical worldview. Will is a professed atheist, and it shows in his acceptance of physician-assisted suicide. The closing statement of his article, cited above, reveals the worldview with which Will operates; namely, he believes that autonomous choice and human dignity are inseparable. A biblical worldview would lead us to reject this idea. While autonomy is a part of being a human, dignity is ultimately found in being made in the image of God. “There is a God who made human beings in his image out of his love and grounds human dignity in the sacredness of the fact that he is indeed the creator,” Albert

Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, stated. “You take the creator out of the equation and there is no sacredness to anything including human life at the beginning or at the end.” Without a proper view of God as creator of our lives and the world around us, we cannot fully grasp who we are as humans and where our dignity comes from. “Conservative isn’t enough,” Mohler concludes. Christians must always see themselves, the people around them, and the issues placed before them through the lens of God’s Word. SUTHERLAND is the opinion editor.

Rules change for CNN debate Carly Fiorina fights to be a part of Sept. 16 Republican debate in California Leah Depiero ldepiero@liberty.edu

Could the possibility of getting left out of the second Republican presidential primary debate stop Carly Fiorina’s campaign? Only if she lets it. The initial rules for the Sept. 16 debate on CNN permitted only the top 10 Republican candidates in an average of polls from July 16 – Sept. 10 to participate in the debate, cutting Fiorina out. However, Fiorina “waged a public campaign skewering CNN and the Republican National Committee for selection rules she argued might keep her off the next presidential debate’s main stage, even as she was rising in the polls,” according to a Washington Times article. After 10 days of private negotiations, Republican National Commitee Chairman Reince Priebus announced that they would revise the qualifications to include candi-

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DEBATE — Carly Fiorina became a strong contender after the first debates. dates who had reached the top 10 in polling during a shorter timespan, from Aug. 6 – Sept. 10, which would include Fiorina, according to the Washington Times. A strong performance in the Aug. 6 debate helped

Fiorina rise in the polls, but it was not enough to qualify her for the Sept. 16 debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The original rule would have also excluded other candidates besides Fiorina, but it would have slowed

her down just as she was gaining steam. Any of the candidates who also failed to meet the requirements could have complained to the RNC had they desired to, but Fiorina expressed her outrage because she was so close to being in the top

10. As a candidate gained popularity among Republicans, it was a smart move for CNN to rethink their previous rules in order to give the audience members the candidates they desired to hear in the debate. The former CEO of Hewlett-Packard could have let the rules stand and miss her chance for another debate with perhaps the most eclectic group of Republican candidates in American history, among them another CEO and a neurosurgeon. Instead she fought back against rules she thought of as unfair. Showing America that she is willing to fight back can help her in the polls because Americans do not want a president who will merely sit back and watch as the economy, social issues and foreign politics slowly destroy America only to do nothing to fight back and stop it. If Fiorina is determined to make her voice heard in a debate,

then voters can expect her to fight for America if she becomes president. Had Fiornia not fought back, she would have been sending another message to voters. If she is unable to fight for an opportunity to voice her beliefs, can Republicans be sure that she would even fight for those beliefs if elected president? America’s eyes focus on the president to see what he or she will do during adversity, expecting him or her to act. Had Fiorina not fought back for her spot in the debate, voters could easily have concluded that if Fiorina were president during a time of adversity, she would do nothing. Fiorina is a rising star in the Republican Party and deserves to have the chance to challenge the other candidates in the debate.

DEPIERO is an opinion writer.

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

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CONTENT

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Leah Seavers

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opinion

Liberty Champion | September 15, 2015 | A5

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IMMIGRATION — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said about 40 percent of illegal immigrants are those who get their visas and stay after they have expired.

Christie offers immigration plan Republican candidate addresses the growing problem of illegal immigrants Kimberly Stefanick kmstefanick2@liberty.edu

With immigration a key topic in the race to 2016, many candidates have come out with strong statements on this issue. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has done just this, finding himself in the middle of heated partisan debate. Christie recently proposed that immigrants coming into the U.S. should be tracked while they are in the country if they come in using visas. He described his proposition as a system similar to the one FedEx uses, according to NJ.com. This proposed system, however bizarre it may sound, does make a valid point about our country’s concern about immigration, even though implementation may be difficult considering people are not packages. While in New Hampshire on a campaign stop, Christie spoke about this proposal to a crowd. “We let people come to this country with visas, and the minute they come in, we lose track of them,” Christie said. According to Reuters, Christie went on

to say that about 40 percent of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country are people who came to the U.S. on a visa and simply stayed here once it expired. Christie then explained FedEx’s system and why it would be a valuable way to track immigrants in the U.S. “At any moment, FedEx can tell you where that package is,” Christie said according to The New York Times. “It’s on the truck. It’s at the station. It’s on the airplane. We need to have a system that tracks you from the moment you come in.” While this system may seem practical when discussed, Christie will find that people are much more difficult to keep track of than packages. According to FedEx, the company uses one of the world’s largest computer and telecommunications networks to track their packages. Every step of the delivery process is monitored by the Customer Operations Service Master On-line System. Staff use handheld computers to check the packages as they meet checkpoints. A package is also scanned approximately five times from its time of pick-up to its time of delivery,

according to FedEx. This system is complicated enough using inanimate objects, and packages still get lost along the way. While in theory this system seems to make perfect sense, Christie will find that actually implementing the plan will be much more difficult than it appears. People can move freely about and do not have barcodes printed on their skin to be scanned at every state line. People can also hide from police and the government. Some Americans do this every day, and the government knows much more information about them than they would an immigrant. This controversial proposal has led to much backlash for Christie, forcing him to clarify many of his statements on the subject. “What I was talking about was using that as an example,” said Christie at a New Hampshire town hall. “If Federal Express can tell you where your package is from the minute it leaves your house to the minute it gets to its destination, the technology exists for us to be able to keep track of people who are coming here on visas.”

Christie has also elaborated on his plan since its initial introduction. “This is not treating people like packages,” said Christie according to the Huffington Post. “I’m not saying put barcodes on people — that is ridiculous. But we need to use technology in order to be able to secure the border.” While I do not yet see how this plan will be a functional way of keeping track of immigrants in the country, I can appreciate Christie’s fervor to find a new way to secure our borders and inform the American people of other areas in our security that need improvement other than just our southern border. He gets points for creativity, though the plan itself is flawed. As a proud New Jerseyan I feel a need to support my governor in his quest for the presidency and to improve our way of handling immigrants, but I simply cannot get behind this idea. People are nothing like packages and FedEx is not the answer.

STEFANICK is an opinion writer.

REACTION TO LIBERTY WAY CHANGES To the Editor: As a fellow student, I was surprised but extremely relieved to hear about changes made to the Liberty Way — especially concerning dress code and entertainment. Beforehand, the Liberty Way laid out exactly what should and should not be worn, and stated that R-rated movies — except for those on an approved list — could not be watched; however, these “hard and fast” rules hindered the ability of students to use their own judgements concerning what was or was not acceptable.

During my time on student leadership, I was frustrated because the general response to students being written up was, “Well, the Liberty Way clearly says. …” This did not exactly open the door for edifying discussion. I interpreted my role as enforcing the rules because the rules were there, but I do not believe that this was the original intention of the Liberty Way. The rules were probably fashioned in the hopes of providing a biblical structure for students to live their lives by in order to help shape a tight knit commu-

A TES NO Bernie Sanders. Terry McAuliffe. Other than the fact that these men are influential government officials, what do they have in common? Well, each has been invited to Liberty — HAYWOOD a proud, conservative institution — despite being liberals. A good portion of the Liberty students

nity of believers. The fact that these rules could not be easily disputed however, did not create an atmosphere of truly “training champions for Christ.” Training — as defined by Merriam-Webster — is “a process by which someone is taught the skills that are needed. …” But having people memorize a list of should and should not and tacitly labeling the should nots as wrong is not training, but dictating. For a long time, I believed that since the Liberty Way was established by a Christian university then whatever they labeled as

will not vote for these men. Usually, their beliefs, both politically and sometimes religiously, differ from that of the majority of the student body. Take for example Democratic presidential candidate Sanders. A socialist, irreligious and pro-choice — some students here consider those words profanity. Yet Liberty invited him. I can almost guarantee that many were shocked beyond belief when they found Sanders’ name on the fall 2015 Convocation docket. And for all the aforementioned reasons, I cannot say I was not shocked myself. I recall thinking to myself, “Sanders? Like, the socialist guy?” Initially, I was on the fence about his arrival in Lynchburg. But after giving it some necessary thought and listening to

wrong must be so. Albeit, this thinking was flawed, but I still believed it, and over time I grew to resent the rules. Automatically dismissing a movie just because of its rating is not always correct, and all skirts and dresses that do not touch the knee are not necessarily immodest. As part of a student body that, for the most part, consists of Christians that generally hold the same desires to live a life of purity that honors Christ, I too want to exemplify a life that honors God; however, I am not going to be religious

Senior Vice President for Spiritual Development David Nasser justifying the decision to bring him in the first place, I came to a conclusion. Not only did I respect the decision, I almost looked forward to seeing more people like Sanders come in the future. Not because I support the Democratic Party but because of the message that Liberty is sending. How many high-profile institutions can bring in major political candidates — from both parties — and not deal with student bodies that heckle and sometimes protest the arrival? Liberty wants to present both sides to the students. It wants to encourage the student body to think for itself. I’ve asked multiple students why they do not

by unquestioningly following a set of rules just because they were established by a Christian entity. Instead I’m going to take those rules and evaluate them based on what I interpret the Bible says is just and then walk in obedience towards those authority figures within reason. This is what the Liberty Way now allows.

Joylanda Jamison

approve of Sanders. The answers were similar, yet expected. Initially, some responded with, “He’s a socialist.” I replied, “Why is that a bad thing?” Then the silence came. Some actually strongly disapprove of socialism while having little inkling as to why. And that reason in and of itself is why Liberty brings in men such as Sanders and invites men such as McAuliffe. Liberty will not tell its students who to like and who not to like. It wants us to be able to learn and think for ourselves. So next time, when that surprise candidate makes his or her way to the Vines Center’s stage, sit back and listen. You might just learn something.

news

A6 | September 15, 2015 | Liberty Champion

The persecuted church

Johnnie Moore speaks to TRBC about oppressed Middle Eastern Christians Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

“Christianity is bleeding in the Middle East, and I believe we should care more about it.” Liberty’s former Vice President for Executive Projects and Media Relations and Campus Pastor Johnnie Moore spoke these words as he returned to preach on behalf of the persecuted church at Thomas Road Baptist Church Sunday, Sept. 6. Moore pleaded for the congregation to join him in the fight to stand up for the Christians in the Middle East who Islamic extremists have been attempting to eradicate. Moore, who now works as chief of staff for television producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey in Hollywood, California after leaving Liberty over a year ago, has been to the Middle East several times and has seen the suffering of Christians in countries such as Iraq and Jordan. Moore recently published a book called “Defying ISIS: Preserving Christianity in the Place of Its Birth and in Your Own Backyard,” in which he describes the current plight Middle Eastern Christians are facing for their faith in God. He spoke about how their churches have been destroyed, their homes have been turned to rubble and people have been tortured solely for their faith in Jesus Christ. However, Moore shared in his sermon how committed Middle Eastern Christians are to preaching the gospel in the heart of the Islamic world. Moore shared a story of an Iraqi nun who was run out of the city of Mosul and then run out of another city by the Islamic extremists. All the while, she was still taking care of and showing Christ’s love to thousands of different people with no discrimination. He said that this nun told him that she loves America but that she also said, “You take care of your pets so well. When will you care for your bothers and sisters in Christ?”

He also shared story after story of how Christians in North America cannot be silent anymore about a hurting part of the body of Christ. “We have to have the same commitment to Jesus Christ as our persecuted brothers and sisters have,” Moore said. “That’s the only way to serve them the way they need to be served. …(W)e will love them the way that God calls us to love them. This is our responsibility.” Moore emphasized how boldly the persecuted Christians are living out their faith even to the point of death. They are not ashamed to die for their belief in Jesus Christ, while many Americans who are not persecuted struggle to stand up for their faith. “They live for and die for (the faith that) we so struggle to live for,” Moore said. “And I believe that we ought to help them more. Moore, who also recently began a consulting and public relations agency called the KAIROS Company, stressed the fact that the Jesus the Middle Eastern Christians are serving is the same God Americans are serving. Moore said specifically to Liberty students that he wants them to rise up and act on this Christian genocide. “I would just like every single Liberty University student to take personally the needs of the persecuted church,” Moore said. “I want them to pray for the persecuted church and provide for the persecuted church and put unrelenting pressure on people of power and influence in the political arena and outside of it to do more on behalf of these people.” Moore said he has worked to stand up for persecuted believers for a long time, but more recently, after an important meeting in Jordan, he decided to take more action. “I can see how, over a decade, God prepared me for this,” Moore said. “I attended a meeting in Jordan one year before anybody was talking about ISIS. … (Everyone was) talking about what we have

Ruth Bibby | Liberty Champion

CARE — Johnnie Moore spoke on recent Christian oppression in the Middle East. now seen. They were predicting it, but the world didn’t respond. Because I knew that, I felt like I had a particular obligation to be more involved.” When Moore is not in Hollywood working for Burnett and Downey or running his public relations agency or helping with the

Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C., he is doing all he can to rally support and awareness for Christians in the Middle East who are being brutally persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

Additional housing options Annex dorms to change to accommodate graduate and married students Patricia Barnes pbarnes5@liberty.edu Nate Haywood nahaywood@liberty.edu

Liberty University applied for a conditional use permit to convert the old Annex II dormitories on Odd Fellows Road into an apartment-style complex for graduate students and married couples, according to Maggie Cossman, corporate engineer in Liberty University’s Planning and Construction Department. Per the News & Advance, many leaders at the university have said that students have denied Liberty’s acceptance due to the shortage of

housing available for graduate and married students. “The project will be reviewed by the City of Lynchburg City Council on Sept. 29,” Cossman said. “If (the) council approves the conditional use permit request, (Liberty) will move forward with renovations.” Should the permit be approved, Cossman estimates that students can move in as soon as Jan. 1, 2016. These new apartment-style dormitories will actually be cheaper than a typical dorm on campus. Lynchburg Renting LLC will be leasing out the new fully furnished apartments for $500

per month for a studio. According to the News & Advancec, rates range from $600 per month for a one-bedroom apartment to $750 per month for a two-bedroom apartment. Both will include a private kitchen and the monthly payments will cover utilities, according to Cossman. Although no pets or children will be allowed at these new apartments, it will feature a café with wireless internet, an outdoor pool and a new exercise facility for the graduate and married students. While the plans have been created, they have not been finalized. After the newest addition to oncampus housing, Commons II, is

fully constructed, students currently living in the Annex I dorms will move into dorms on Liberty’s main campus, allowing possible open dorms for incoming married or graduate students. According to the News & Advance, the city manager, Kimball Payne, has said that the permit has not been accepted yet, and it could take up to a couple of months for things to start being put into effect. However, a planning commission has approved the recommendation to Lynchburg City Council. Although the proposed Liberty NorthPoint apartments have not been finalized yet, Johnathan

Sanders, a staff member at Student Housing, suggested emailing housing@liberty.edu within the next few weeks for more information. In addition, students interested in the new apartments can visit the Lynchburg Renting LLC website at www.lynchburgrenting.com/NorthPoint.aspx for more information.

BARNES is a news reporter. HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.

Banking on the future

Plans to begin construction on new banked indoor track and field facility Nguyen Phuong ntphuong@liberty.edu

Liberty University is preparing to construct a new 130,000-square-foot indoor track and field facility that is expected to open in the fall of 2016, according to Liberty University Athletics. The new facility is dedicated specifically to the NCAA Division I program. Liberty’s Head Track and Field Coach Brant Tolsma said the groundbreaking should take place sometime within the next month. The indoor track and field facility will be located below the LU monogram on the Liberty Mountain, off of Candlers Mountain Road. It will replace the team’s current facility, the Tolsma Indoor Track Cen-

Kallie Britton| Liberty Champion

RACING — The indoor track will be moving from Green Hall to a new facility. ter in Green Hall. “When (the track team) got (the Green Hall facility) originally, (the team) didn’t

know what it was going to do with all that amount of space,” Tolsma said. “Since that time … (it has not

been) the best place for an indoor track. … It would have been really great to get a little further (away

from main campus) where we (would not) have all the traffic problems, but it’s primarily the expanding of the school of communication and the growth of it that’s causing (the construction of the new center) to take place at this time,” Tolsma said. The new center will feature a hydraulically banked 200-meter track with curves that can be raised or lowered for different events. Tolsma said this is the most crucial component that really sets the facility apart from any other indoor tracks in the mid-Atlantic region. “People like to run fast,” Tolsma said. “Indoors, it’s hard to run fast because the tracks are small, so you (have to) make more turns. A banked track is superior

to a flat track.” Not only that, the facility includes accommodations for field events, locker rooms, weight and training rooms, coaches’ offices, concessions and seating for 1,500 spectators. “It will be one of the best indoor tracks in the country, and we believe it will prove to be a huge benefit to our already highly successful track program,” Director of Athletics Jeff Barber said. “It will be a facility that will draw the best track athletes in the country. ... It will also be a tremendous place for our fans to come and watch us compete.”

PHUONG is a news reporter.

news

Liberty Champion | September 15, 2015 | A7

Drone program achievement Aviation school ranks sixth in the nation for unmanned aerial system major Kara Sherrill kesherrill@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics’ drone program continues to soar in both growth and reputation, as it has been ranked No. 6 in the nation by successfulstudent.org. According to Jonathan Washburn, professor for the school of aeronautics, the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) program started several years ago and is continually growing. “We are an extension of the actual school of aeronautics,” Washburn said. “At the airport we have an academic building and a flight center.” Students first go to the flight center where they learn how to fly manned aircrafts. Next, they go to the academic building that has an unmanned simulation room where they then apply what they have learned from flying manned systems. Washburn said the other schools that were ranked in the top five were well known UAS or flight schools, but Liberty’s program offers unique career opportunities.

GLOBAL continued from A1 for them to also grow in their academic knowledge of different global subjects, and to have them grow in their ministry service.” One of the main events during the week was Global Talks, held Monday night in the Jerry Falwell Library, featuring four presentations from different organizations and professionals. The topics ranged from the use of aquaponics and storytelling to reach people from other cultures to the importance of understanding geography and conflict when traveling and working abroad. “It’s four pretty different subjects, so what I am hoping is (students) will not get a full download of geography … or a full history of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, and they won’t learn how to do everything with the aquaponics or the storytelling,” Williams said. “What I’m hoping is that they get one idea from each one, and perhaps that idea can start

“What sets us apart from the other schools on the list is the partnerships with local companies that work for the Department of Defense and various contractors,” Washburn said. “They actually fly (unmanned aerial vehicles) (UAVs) out of Ft. Pickett.” UAS students have the opportunity to learn in a classroom and advance to the range and actually fly unmanned aerial vehicles. According to former aviation student Houston Yager, the program is one that is not as broad, but it is very handson. Besides the rather steep learning curve, students get applicable knowledge right from the start. “Our goal is to move up that rank,” Washburn said. “It would be fantastic to be No. 1. To do that … we are going to … maintain the partnerships we have and keep offering hands-on experience.” The drone program still focuses on the military and contractor applications of UAS, but Washburn said he and many other professors are developing the UAS program so they can provide more

a conversation.” Williams also hoped that the array of speakers and presenters during the course of the week would show students that there is more than one way to get involved globally. “The main purpose is to help (students) understand that they can use their degrees and their skills to serve others overseas,” Williams said. “They don’t have to be the traditional type of field worker. They can use their passions and their skills to still cause an impact on the world.” The week came to a close Thursday night with the World Music Festival. The event was held inside due to rain, so the students packed the school of engineering, taking advantage of the free baklava pastries from Jordan while listening to musical performances by fellow Liberty students. Some of the performances from the night included an African drum ensemble, Libertad worship band, white yak mandolins and the Ntimbonara brothers.

Photo Provided

SUCCESS — The school of aeronautics makes the list of the 15 best drone training colleges. opportunities for students in the coming years. The school of aviation is working to expand the program by teaching students how to fly smaller UAVs so they know all the

ways UAVs are used. “You learn so many things,” Yager said. “You don’t just learn flying, you learn about planning, weather conditions and physics. You see just how much

pilots have to consider.”

SHERRILL is a news reporter.

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

DRUMMING — Performances during Convocation showcased music from many different cultures around the world. Williams hoped that students would come away from the week’s events with a new understanding of the world around them. “More than anything, I would just like them to come off with a deeper un-

derstanding of God’s heart for the world,” Williams said. “That doesn’t mean that all of them have to go on trips, (and) that doesn’t mean that they all have to commit to working fulltime overseas and spend the

rest of their lives there. But at least … they will be able to learn to love their neighbor better. … If they can come away with that, then maybe 10 years from now it will lead to something else.”

Editor’s Note: The name was changed for security puporses.

LAPP is a news reporter.

2015-2016

CLASS PRESIDENTS FRESHMAN CLASS:

KYLER THOMAS V.P. Trey Underwood

SOPHOMORE CLASS:

BLAKE MCINTIRE V.P. Calli Barta JUNIOR CLASS: Butch Hartman’s Facebook

SAM STONE V.P. Ellie McKay

ILLUSTRATE — Butch Hartman’s work will be on display at the Liberty University Art Gallery.

CARTOONIST TO COME

Creator and producer of “The Fairly OddParents,” “Danny Phantom,” and “T.U.F.F. Puppy” Butch Hartman will be the opening exhibit for the Liberty University Art Gallery that will run from Sept. 17 - Oct. 17. The exhibit is free to students and

the public. The artist’s reception and opening ceremony will take place Thursday, Sept. 17, from 6 - 8:30 p.m. There will be child-friendly activities available in Green Hall 1945a.

Hartman also wrote and directed episodes of “Dexter’s Laboratory,” “Cow & Chicken” and “Johnny Bravo.” Hartman will speak about his life, career and spiritual experiences at a forum Sept. 16 from 5 - 6:30 p.m. in DeMoss 1113.

SENIOR CLASS:

STEVEN THOMAS V.P. Lauren Serafini

news

A8 | September 15, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Dollar theater dilemma

Cinemark Movies 10 to close in near future because of failure to renew lease Cassandra Steptoe cbsteptoe@liberty.edu

The Cinemark Movies 10 theater located on Candlers Mountain Road will not be renewing its building lease for the upcoming year, according to Liberty University Auxiliary Services Administrator Lee Beaumont. Offering movies for less than $3 a ticket, the Cinemark Movies 10 is one of Liberty students’ and the surrounding community’s favorite places to experience the big screen. The facility where the theater is located is owned by Liberty. Affectionately known as the “dollar theater,” Cinemark Movies 10 first opened its Lynchburg location 25 years ago, according to Liberty President Jerry Falwell. “Cinemark signed a 25-year lease … in 1989 with options to renew for 15 more years,” Falwell said. “The rent amount was established for the entire 40-year period by that 1989 lease, (and) Liberty had no power to increase the rent or force Cinemark to leave.” The theater has been a major part of the community, especially for those looking for a fun, wholesome activity that was budget friendly. “(Liberty) is disappointed because it is losing a good tenant, and its students are losing a good entertainment option,” Falwell said. Liberty cinematic arts student Natalie Pace found the closing a loss to Liberty students. “The Cinemark has been a great place for students to experience films in their proper setting without paying a fortune, and I am sad to see it close,” Pace said. “As a cinematic arts student without a vehicle, it is so helpful to have a place so close to campus where I can watch the more recent releases at a student-friendly price.” Many students shared her disappointment and remembered fond times at the theater. “I am saddened at the dollar theater closing,” senior Jake Beerel said. “Personally, I valued the opportunity of enjoying a cheap movie with people other than (Liberty) students. In effect, the theater gave (Liberty) students the opportunity to reach out and connect with the community

Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion

FILM — Students have enjoyed going to the dollar theater to watch recently released movies on the big screen. of Lynchburg.” In addition to providing entertainment for the community, Cinemark Movies 10 hosted many film screenings for Liberty. Since 2012, Cinemark Movies 10 theater hosted the Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center’s annual Labor Day weekend film festival, according to Pace. Because of the value Lynchburg residents put in the theater, Jason Bruckner, a Lynchburg resident, started an online petition to “save the dollar theater.” His goal was to “help keep the movies around,” according to the petition website. After learning of the finality of Cinemark’s lease cancellation, Bruckner set up a Facebook page that supports keeping the theater “alive in one aspect or another,” according to the petition website.

“We need ideas that seem profitable to Liberty and (that) are realistic goals,” Bruckner wrote in a petition update. According to the Cinemark website, only 14 Cinemark Movies 10 locations are open in the United States. Of the 341 theaters that Cinemark runs in the U.S., all the theaters marked as “closed” on Cinemark’s website were Cinemark budget or “dollar theaters.” Falwell said in a radio interview Sept. 8 on 100.9 WIQO that movie studios are now creating films in a digital format and Cinemark Movies 10 would have to update their projectors to stay in business. However, these projectors, Falwell said, would cost millions of dollars. “The dollar theater was facing … the reason I think dollar theaters (in gen-

eral) are closing down,” Falwell said. “ … They can’t afford what they are charging for those movies to convert to digital. … I think the first run movies … go to Redbox and DVD and Netflix almost the same time they go to dollar theaters, so it just makes it impossible for that business model to work anymore.” Falwell did express hope because he was informed there is another theater company who has contacted Liberty with interest in the location. He said he does not know who the company is, but he doubts it is a dollar theater.

STEPTOE is a news reporter.

SPORTS

September 15, 2015

Football

M. Soccer

Volleyball

Liberty

VMI

Liberty

WVU

Liberty

Mizzou

Late spark

Field Hockey Liberty

W. Soccer

Louisville

Liberty

VCU

no small hurdle

Lady Flames score golden goal in OT Denton Day dday26@liberty.edu

The Lady Flames soccer team (2-4-1) was back in action Sunday afternoon, defeating the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Lady Rams (1-6) 1-0 in a non-conference game at Osborne Stadium Sept. 13. The Lady Rams started this game in attack mode as the ball was on the Lady Flames side of the field often in the first half. The Lady Rams had multiple opportunities to score early but the reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Year, redshirt junior goalkeeper Holly Van Noord was there to fend off the Lady Rams’ scoring chances. The Lady Flames had their own opportunity to score early when senior midfielder Brittany Aanderud sent a cross over to the chest of sophomore midfielder Brianne Beard. The ball was on its way into the net until Lady Rams goalkeeper Emma Kruse jumped in front to make the save and keep the game scoreless headed into halftime. The Lady Flames again attacked early in the second half when sophomore forward Jennifer Knoebel crossed to ball in the box, but was broken up by Kruse. With 39 minutes left in the second half, Lady Flames senior Jaime Bouffard sent another beautiful cross that was just out of reach for her teammates. However, the Lady Rams wasted no time and found themselves with another scoring chance. The chance was denied by a diving Van Noord, just as those before it, and the game remained scoreless. The Lady Rams continued the attack when freshman Kelly Graves found herself in open space with the ball and 1-on-1 with Van Noord. Van Noord bolted out of the box and was able to push Graves’ shot attempt wide right to keep the game tied at 0-0. “We knew they were a really good team, they always are,” Van Noord said. “I knew I was going to get a lot of action. I knew they were just going to keep hammering us.” The Lady Flames tried to break the tie with 14 minutes left with the ball on the foot of Bouffard, but her shot just grazed the top of the goal post and out of play. With a little under seven minutes left to play, Lady Flames freshman forward Devon Jones caught the Lady Rams defense sleeping when she stole the ball and was 1-on-1 with Kruse. Kruse charged Jones and made a leaping save to keep the game knotted at zero. “I told (the girls) that the way we were pressing, the way that we were defending, the way that were taking chances was right,” Lady Flames Head Coach Jessica Hain said. “At halftime, we noticed that their keeper played high outside of her goal. If the ball was to go on frame most likely it would go over the goalkeeper. In overtime it’s the little details that make the difference.” The difference came in the 95th minute. After being set up by a free kick, the ball found the foot of senior midfielder Madison Kauzlarich, who directed it over the outstretched arm of Kruse and into the back of the net for the game-winning goal. “I just saw the opening,” Kauzlarich said. “There was not much else going through my mind at the time.”

DAY is a sports reporter.

WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

AIRBORN — Junior tight end Will Johnson, transfer from West Virginia in his second year at Liberty, catapults over a former teammate in Liberty’s loss to the Mountaineers.

Rough time

Unusual mistakes cost Flames in Morgantown Joel Schmieg jaschmieg@liberty.edu

Flames senior kicker John Lunsford banged his fourth kick of the day off the left upright and watched it drop just short. Although the kick was called back for a delay of game on the offense, and Lunsford finally got himself on the board with his next kick, his fourth miss of the day was already burned in his, and everyone else’s mind. The West Virginia Mountaineers won the game handily, 41-17, and improved to 2-0 as the Flames dropped to 1-1 in Morgantown. “(The missed kicks are) the main reason why we have to have touchdowns instead of field goals,” senior quarterback Josh Woodrum said. “We can’t rely on a placekicker to save the game for

us or to keep us in the game.” The Mountaineers opened up the game with a high-tempo offense that marched down the field in less than three minutes, but were forced to kick a field goal after stalling in the red-zone. On the Flames first drive of the game, they faced a fourth-and-1 at the 50-yard line. Liberty loaded the box and pulled all the WVU defenders into the middle before running the option and pitching to redshirt senior running back Desmond Rice who had nothing but open space in front of him. Rice dropped the pitch and managed to jump on the ball but the Flames turned the ball over on downs. “We had a perfect play call setup,” Woodrum said. “We knew exactly what they were going to do, but we didn’t execute.” The Mountaineers next drive

consisted of a 34-yard scramble by junior quarterback Skyler Howard that got them into the redzone. Their offense stalled again and settled for a second field goal. On the next series Liberty drove down to the WVU 29-yard line before having to attempt a field goal on fourth-and-5. Lunsford missed his first field goal of the game, wide right from 46-yards out. “If we make the field goals, I think the game might be different,” Liberty Head Coach Turner Gill said. “He is capable of making those kicks. Unfortunately, today was not one of his better days.”

See ROUGH, B2

Football vs. Montana

M. Soccer vs. Winthrop

W. Soccer vs. CSU

Field Hockey Ultimate vs. Bost. Coll. Tournament

Sept. 19 @ 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 @ 12 p.m.

Sept. 26 @ 4 p.m.

Sept. 27 @ 1 p.m.

Sept. 19-20 @ 9 a.m.

Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage

sports

B2 | September 15, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Men’s soccer bounces back

Liberty avoids storm and earns the statement win it needed early in season Jonathan Husker jhusker@liberty.edu

Neither looming inclement weather nor the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets could stop the Liberty Flames men’s soccer team as it shut out the Keydets 3-0, Saturday Sept. 12. With thunderstorms projected to hit the region by mid Saturday afternoon, the game’s kickoff was moved to noon. It did not matter to the Flames, as they outscored, outshot and outplayed the Keydets the entire game. “It was a great effort, a team effort,” Liberty Coach Jeff Alder said. “We talked about it, our resolve and our resiliency was off the charts.” The Flames first goal came just 10 minutes into the first half. Freshman forward Kevin Mendoza scored off an assist from senior forward Sachem Wilson. Wilson dropped the ball to Mendoza, who took the ball in stride and planted a shot in the lower right corner of the goal. “I thought we were able to get behind them a couple of times and create some chances,” Alder said. “We scored a fantastic goal.” Liberty’s next goal came early in the second, 54 minutes into the game. Junior midfielder Kyle Carr kicked a long ball through VMI’s defense, and the ball was picked up by Wilson. Wilson was one-on-one with VMI’s goalkeeper, and he placed the ball in the lower right corner for the score. The goal gave the Flames a 2-0 lead. “It was a good ball by Kyle Carr,” Wilson said. “I was able to catch the defenders a little off guard there.” Later in the second half, 74 minutes into the

game, VMI committed a foul on Liberty in the box. Senior midfielder Tim Harbison took the penalty kick and scored, icing the cake for the Flames and giving Liberty the 3-0 lead. It was a strong game for Liberty offensively, as they outshot the Keydets with 21 shots on goal to VMI’s 6. “VMI’s a good team,” Wilson said. “They work really hard. For us to be able to kick the ball the way we did … I think that’s a big confidence booster.” Alder and Wilson both praised VMI for a hard fought effort. “They still fought and competed,” Alder said. “They’re VMI — they’re well coached, they’re organized, and they’re always going to work.” Saturday’s win was a morale booster for a team that desperately needed it, coming off a crushing loss in double overtime to Marshall Sept. 8. Liberty was without the services of senior forward Blessing Tahuona, who received a red card in the game against Marshall. “We talked about it from day one,” Coach Alder said. “If we lose a guy, the next guy has got to step up … everybody just had to give a little bit more.” The Flames will ride the momentum from Saturday’s victory into a difficult three game stretch on the road, away from Osborne Stadium. Liberty will face Howard, James Madison and East Tennessee State before returning home to face Winthrop Saturday Sept. 26th.

HUSKER is a sports reporter.

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

CONTROL — Junior Dre Diouf plays in only his third game as a Flame.

ROUGH continued from B1 West Virginia capitalized on the missed opportunities by the Flames and extended the lead to 13-0 just four minutes later. “Tonight they just outplayed us. The whole game could’ve flip flopped,” Woodrum said. The Flames drove 39-yards to the WVU 36-yard line on the next drive but again faltered in West Virginia territory and were forced to attempt a field goal. “We would make big plays all the way down there, and then we would miss simple plays and have mental errors down there,” Woodrum said. “We just (have) to finish.” Lunsford’s second field goal attempt, this time from 52-yards, missed wide right once again and West Virginia got the ball at its own 36-yard line. On the next West Virginia drive, a late hit penalty on Flames junior linebacker Dexter Robbins extended the drive in the red-zone and allowed West Virginia to eventually score a touchdown to make the score 20-0. Lunsford attempted his third field goal of the game on the next Liberty drive and missed wide left from 31-yards out. West Virginia would miss a 54-yard field goal as the half expired. “If you take those three field goals that we missed and turn them into touchdowns, we are right in that game,” Woodrum said. The second half saw West Virginia score another touchdown before the Flames finally got on the board to make it 27-7 with a touchdown from sophomore running back Todd Macon. The Mountaineers answered back with a touchdown less than two minutes later, and Lunsford responded with his first and only made field goal of the game from 49-yards out early in the fourth quarter. Both teams scored one more touchdown apiece as the final score was 41-17

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

LATE PUSH — Junior receiver Zac Parker looks ahead on his way to the end zone late in Liberty’s loss to West Virginia. in favor of the Mountaineers. “Obviously West Virginia was a better team,” Gill said. “We are going to learn from this game. We are going to move forward. I expect our guys to be ready to play next week.” One of the things the Flames knew they had to focus on was not turning the ball over like they did in 2014 at North Carolina, and minimizing penalties. “We definitely improved in that area as

far as not turning the ball over,” Gill said. “It was good to see our guys take care of the ball.” The Flames finished the game with no turnovers, less penalties than WVU and more time of possession. “You would’ve thought in that sort of situation we would have ended up winning,” Woodrum said. The Flames will play Saturday, Sept. 19 at home against No. 8 Montana before em-

barking on a four game road trip. “We’ll bounce back,” Woodrum said. “We’ll be better from this loss.”

SCHMIEG is the asst. sports editor.

sports

Liberty Champion | September 15, 2015 | B3

So Joel tells me that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase for the Cup begins next Sunday. I had no idea, but then again, I doubt many people who live north AUL of the Carolinas had any VANDENBOSCH idea either. This is supposed to be the most exciting part of the NASCAR season, as drivers battle it out until a champion is crowned Nov. 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. So it must be worth watching, right? I think not. I must first confess that I get more excitement out of going to the dentist than I do watching a NASCAR race. Sure, these guys are driving at speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour, but they are also doing so while driving in a circle. Nothing but endless left turns for hundreds of miles. The wrecks are pretty cool, though. Besides, think about what else you will be missing out on if you find some ridiculous reason to watch this year’s Chase for the Cup. Nine out of the 10 races in The Chase fall on a Sunday. You know what else happens on Sunday at this time of the year? Football. Even the one race that falls on a Saturday still has to compete with college football. Seriously, which would be more fun to watch: watching a quarterback throw for 400 yards and five touchdowns in an overtime shootout or watching cars drive in circles for four hours? I am fairly certain you can see

the latter by going to the mall on the weekend and watching people look for parking spaces. And of course we cannot forget America’s favorite pastime. MLB playoffs are just around the corner, beginning Oct. 6. With surprising teams such as the Mets, the Blue Jays and the Cubs rising to power, these playoffs should be a wild ride. And regardless of how you feel about how long the regular season is, there is simply nothing like the magic of postseason baseball. Plus, I do not think they have walk-off wins in NASCAR. Also, hockey begins just as The Chase is “heating up” in the first weeks of October, so add that to the list. Although one could argue that hockey and NASCAR might have a few similarities. I mean, they both use an oval as the “playing surface” and they both involve collisions, but I digress. So, if you would prefer to watch the Chase for the Cup this year, then be my guest. You could even do what my dad does and turn on the race while you take your Sunday nap. Me personally, I will keep my football and playoff baseball. As the saying goes, “Whatever floats your boat.” VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Otherwise known as NASCAR.

Start your engines. The field for the Chase is set and 16 drivers are ready to drive for their lives as they compete for the Sprint Cup. Most people know that college football finally installed a playoff last year, but did you know that NASCAR did the same? The field starts with 16, and every three races the bottom four drivers are eliminated until only four remain. In the final race, the highest finisher of the four drivers left in The Chase wins the Sprint Cup. Some of you may be thinking, who cares? Well, the drivers care. And when you get enough people driving 200 mph, someone is bound to slip up. Once the first slip occurs, it causes a chain reaction until half the field of cars is wiped out in a massive wreck. You may not know this, but the best part of many NASCAR wrecks is actually after the wreck itself. Whoever caused the wreck typically gets chased down, on foot, by the guy who wrecked in the first place. It is quite exhilarating to watch grown men try to pummel each other on live television. Another great thing about NASCAR is you do not have a good amount of

the athletes getting arrested for domestic violence or drug abuse. There are also no cases of the sport being tainted by steroids and PEDs, and there is no tyrannical commissioner OEL trying to take control of SCHMIEG everything. Oh, and no Bill Belichick. That is always a plus. Who wants a creepy old guy recording you all the time? If you take a look at the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS and NHL, you will not find any women playing. If you watch NASCAR on any given weekend, you will see Danica Patrick racing with the boys and making a statement. Finally, NASCAR stadiums blow football stadiums out of the water. For example, Texas Motor Speedway holds close to 200,000 people, while one of the largest football stadiums, Ohio Stadium, only holds 105,000. If you still have not found a reason to watch the NASCAR Chase for the Cup, there is no helping you. And do not worry Paul, there is always room for you on my side.

SCHMIEG is the asst. sports editor.

Liberty faces off against No. 7

The Montana Grizzlies come to town for a showdown against the Flames Paul Vandenbosch prvandenbosch@liberty.edu

The No. 14 Liberty Flames football team returns home to Williams Stadium this Saturday when it hosts the No. 7 Montana Grizzlies Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. during the Hall of Fame ceremony and Family Weekend. The Flames look to rebound following their first loss of the season, a 41-17 setback on the road against the West Virginia Mountaineers, last Saturday, Sept. 12. The

loss drops their record to 1-5 against FBS opponents under Head Coach Turner Gill. The Grizzlies (1-1) shocked the FCS world when they beat four-time defending National Champion North Dakota State, 38-35, Aug. 29. Montana had a bye this past week and will be well rested as they head into this matchup with the Flames. This meeting is the first between these two programs since 2012, when the Grizzlies defeated the Flames in Missoula, 34-14. The Flames managed only 92 rushing yards against the Mountaineers and red-

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.

shirt senior running back Desmond Rice was limited to 37 yards on 11 carries and no touchdowns following an impressive season debut. If the Flames want to return to their winning ways, they must run the football well as they did in Week 1. The Flames secondary had plenty of trouble with West Virginia’s passing attack, allowing over 300 yards and forcing only five incompletions. They will have their hands full again this week as the Grizzlies have averaged nearly 400 passing yards through the first two games of the season. Grizzlies quarterback Brady Gustafson also

leads the FCS with 787 passing yards. Big plays hurt the Flames against the Mountaineers, and the Grizzlies will certainly make this secondary pay for any mistakes made in the passing game. With the Grizzlies being an FCS heavyweight, a win over them would be a big confidence boost for the Flames and a feather in their cap as they continue to work toward FBS recognition. VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.

sports

B4 | September 15, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Ready and set to go Men’s and women’s tennis teams prepare for another successful season Gregory Castel gcastel@liberty.edu

The Liberty men’s and women’s tennis teams are getting ready as another season begins. Men’s Tennis: Liberty’s men’s team earned the No. 8 ranking in the Atlantic Region of the International Tennis Association, the highest year-end regional ranking in program history. They finished 6-2, setting their program record in conference play in the Big South Conference and a 14-10 overall record. This season, the Flames promoted Assistant Coach Rich Benson to Associate Head Coach over the summer, a position that was “well-earned” according to Head Coach Chris Johnson. The Flames have seven fall tournaments on their schedule. The team has added four freshmen who are preparing to jump into fall gameplay this weekend in Georgia for the Southern Intercollegiate Championships (SIC). “This season we are very excited to bring in one of the largest recruiting classes we have ever had,” Johnson said. “That has given us more depth in our line-up.” The men’s team began its season Sept. 11 in Athens, GA. Lady Flames Tennis: The Lady Flames Tennis team also began its schedule for the fall, Sept. 11 at the Elon Invitational and has been preparing all summer to be in top shape going into the season. “Our team has grown in talent and maturity each of the three years I’ve been here, and this year will be no different,” Head Coach Jeff Maren said. “Our returners practiced all summer and competed to stay sharp.” As the U.S. Open ends, the Lady Flames season kicks off, and the team takes what they have learned from watching professionals and applies it during the season. “We can always learn from the best,” Maren said. “When watching the pros, I ask our team to pay close attention to their movement and preparation for each shot. I also have them analyze their shot selection. Pros do such an amazing job of picking the right shot at the right time.” The roster for the Lady Flames includes four juniors, including the win-

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

BACKHAND — Senior Valerie Thong , one of only two seniors for the Lady Flames, zoned in on her opponent. ner of the Elon Invitational B-2 singles last season, junior Lauren Mabe. She has been preparing over the summer to step into a larger role of leadership with the graduation of Brittany Yang. “I played matches almost every day so this really prepared me to be ready to compete when I stepped back on campus with my teammates,” Mabe said. She and the other juniors along with the two seniors, Belen Rivera and Valerie Thong, are among the many faces of experience for this all-around roster. “If we can come together and put each other first this season we’ll see great results this year, as I believe this will be one to remember,” Mabe said. Senior Valerie Thong from California has played at Liberty for three years now and is hoping to enter into the year with a higher leadership role.

“My role as a senior on a team of 10 girls is pretty significant,” Thong said. “Just being a member of such a small team, your presence makes an impact regardless of what year you are … Because I have such a strong relationship with the coaches and each of the girls, they know to come to me whenever they want to communicate something to the team that they are hesitant to speak about.” Last year, Charleston Southern University (CSU) knocked the Lady Flames out of the BSC Championship Tournament in the semifinals. CSU was given the top seed going into the tournament. “Above all, I learned from last year that it’s not enough for me to just stay in my lane and focus on my personal performance on the court,” Thong said. “If the girls come to the same realization as I have, and we help each other in this way,

we will be unbelievable.” The girls have five tournaments scheduled in the fall. Through the spring schedule, they will face four teams that, just last season, competed in the NCAA Championships. “My expectations are very high for this season,” Maren said. “Our maturity, unity, and talent have grown tremendously over the past three years, and so I fully believe that we can win the conference championship, compete in the National tournament, and finish the year nationally ranked.” The Women’s Tennis club resumes play Oct. 2 at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American in Los Angeles, California. CASTEL is a sports reporter.

Tuned up Lady Flames are prepared for conference play Kallie Britton kbritton@liberty.edu

Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion

SHIELD — Lady Flames sophomore forward Jennifer Knoebel protects the ball in a win over the Rams.

Following the Flames win over VCU, they will head to George Washington before finishing the season in conference play. The season began with two back-to-back losses against Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside. Then they battled against Tennessee in double overtime only to end in a scoreless tie. Following that, they lost backto-back games to James Madison University and Pittsburgh. However, the team tries not to let defeat hinder their performance or damage their positive mindset, according to Head Coach Jessica Hain. “We really don’t talk much about winning and losing,” Hain said. “We talk about the two greatest commandments that the Lord gave to us, where everything we do on the field is an act of worship, and if it’s an act of worship then the motivation of play is obviously way higher than the motivation for self.” According to Senior Brittany Aanderud, the biggest component to guarantee success this season relies on team unity. “I think staying united and knowing that everyone’s role is equally important is what’s going to get us to the Big South

Final,” Aanderud said. This mentality has served the women’s soccer team well as it was picked first in preseason after making it to the Big South championship the last two years. Yet, even the pressure of past success does not deter this Liberty team. “Every year is a new year,” Hain said. “What we are looking to do this year is dig deeper — dig deeper in our relationships with the Lord and dig deeper in our relationships with one another. We will go longer, enjoy the journey, be way more committed, have way more fun, and be honoring the Lord as we move through the season together.” As the Lady Flames gear up for conference play, they remain positive and will continue to build on every game. The Lady Flames prepare to travel to Washington D.C. to take on their next opponent, George Washington, Sep. 17.

BRITTON is a sports reporter.

feature

Liberty Champion | September 15, 2015 | B5

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

BEST OF LYNCHBURG — Vendors such as Golf Park Coffee Co welcomed visitors to “Get! Downtown” as they showcased their food and products to the local community.

Downtown festivities Approximately 10,000 people attended the Lynch’s Landing annual event Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu

College students and area residents gathered between the buildings on Main Street in the heart of the city for the seventh annual “Get! Downtown” festival Friday, Sept. 11. Executive Director of Lynch’s Landing, Heather Kennedy said that shops like Pastiche at Main and the White Hart kept their doors open for extended hours to accommodate the nearly 10,000 guests expected to have attended the festival. To measure the grandiose of the event, Kennedy also stated that Life Focus Productions would capture the event from an aerial view camera on top of the Bank of the James. Various organizations and other community groups such as Freedom 4/24, Spirit FM, and the Democratic Headquarters,

stationed themselves along the sidewalks of Main Street to promote their group. “It’s a free event, so of course we welcome everybody, and now it’s just a huge, hodgepodge mix of the whole Lynchburg community,” Kennedy said. JoAnn Martin, City of Lynchburg’s director of communications and marketing, said originally, college students were the primary focus, but now the community also plays a large role in “Get! Downtown.” From families with five-year olds to freshman from local secondary schools, Martin believes the event serves the community and the colleges. “(‘Get! Downtown!’ is) a great opportunity (and is) two-fold: to welcome all the college students back … and (to give) the community the chance to come together and have a good time,” Martin said. The crowd bustled along the roadway as

people listened to live music and browsed shops. The local businesses spilled out onto the streets with small tables showcasing the stores, and according to Pastiche at Main owner, Haley Pavao, “Get Downtown!” allows her business to leave a “footprint” in the Lynchburg area and communicate better with possible customers. Pastiche at Main’s website states that the business “specializes in Handmade, Handcrafted, and Custom items.” “We really do appreciate all the support because really, that’s how we feed our families,” Pavao said. “We are a local collaborative that want to give back to the local area by showcasing our craft, but that means that they have to support us in return. So we will always owe Lynchburg for (its) support.” Local resident, Vicky Bradley said the event brings some life to downtown Lynch-

burg and encourages college students around the area to interact with businesses and local activities. “I’m impressed with it,” Bradley said. “I think it is a good way to advertise Lynchburg to the students … I love our downtown.” After the “Get! Downtown” event ended at 9 p.m., Lynchburg proceeded with “Stay! Downtown” where people could go from chocolate tasting at Cao Artisan Chocolates to listening to Audacity Brass Band at the White Hart Cafe as well as other events that lasted late into the evening. For more information on future events such as the Saturday Farmers Market, concerts and First Fridays, go to downtownlynchburg.com. TILLER is the feature editor.

COOKING continued from B8

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

IN HONOR OF — Monetti dedicates his meals to serving others after witnessing a runner’s similar actions.

“I got the idea from a friend of mine who runs coast-to-coast marathons and dedicates his training runs to great causes,” Monetti said. “I wanted to do the same thing, but since I don’t run, I dedicate my cooking.” Monetti has used the Facebook page to dedicate his cooking to events such as an anniversary of a loved one’s death to significant causes such as sexual abuse awareness. Though the page covers a variety of topics, Monetti strives to keep God’s name in the center of his outreach. The students notice this, too. Chef Steve only became #CHEFSTEVE after a student mentioned him on Twitter. Monetti said that some students seem to

know more about him than he does, and that he hopes to form this sort of close bond with every student that comes to the Training Table. “I would be excited if I could feed every student on campus every day,” Monetti said. “I never see myself as having too many customers.” Chef Steve encourages anyone who wants to get in touch with him to visit him at the Training Table during the day or look up his Facebook page “Gather at the Table.”

YOUNG is a feature reporter.

feature

B6 | September 15, 2015 | Liberty Champion

A Highlighted Schedule of

(COLLEGE FOR A WEEKEND)

College For A Weekend (CFAW) Check-In Hancock Welcome Center THURSDAY, SEPT. 17 3-10 P.M.

Welcome Rally Vines Center THURSDAY, SEPT. 17 9-9:45 P.M.

Tenth Avenue North - “All Earth is Holy Ground” Tour ft. Sidewalk Prophets and Dan Bremnes

Vines Center

Camp Hydaway Challenge Course and Zip Line

LaHaye Event Space FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 8-8:40 A.M.

Academic Open Houses

Convocation

Various Locations (see Itinerary)

Hancock Welcome Center

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 1-9:45 P.M.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 8-10:30 P.M.

“Koffee with Kirk” - Parent Q&A with Kirk Cameron

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 10:30-11:45 A.M.

FUSION: United in Worship

Flames Football vs. Montana

Elmer Towns Religion Hall

Williams Stadium

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 6-7 P.M.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 7-10:30 P.M.

Camp Hydaway SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 12-4 P.M.

Student receives book deal Whitney Taylor was granted a publishing contract for her young adult novel Kayla Humphreys knhumphreys2@liberty.edu

Most college students spend four years at a university in hopes of landing a dream job after graduation. Liberty University junior Whitney Taylor has made her dream a reality at the young age of 20 by scoring a publishing deal for her debut young adult novel, Definitions of Indefinable Things. “The novel follows the lives of three teens in a small town whose lives intersect in ways they never expected,” Taylor said. “Teaching them there is no onesize fits-all definitions of depression, friendship and love.” The novel is written from the perspective of 17 year-old Reggie who suffers from clinical depression. Her life is turned upside down when she crosses paths with Snake, the apathetic yet intriguing “bad boy” who also suffers from clinical depression. “Writing this book was very personal, because I struggled with depression through high school, so I felt I was able to accurately write about it,” Taylor said. “Also, when I came across the dismal yet comedic Twitter account @Time4Depression, I knew I did not want to write a book about depression that was dark. I wanted to write a book that used that same humor I found on Twitter to bring light to depression in a fresh and quirky way.” Taylor has been writing for fun since she was in high school and she wrote Defini-

tions of Indefinable Things in only one month during the summer of 2015 after breaking her leg. “I was up in my room bored to death so I decided to write this book all day, every day,” Taylor said. Taylor’s defining moment in this process came when she discovered a contest on Twitter called “Pitch Wars” where authors tweet a synopsis of their book in hopes of mentors selecting them to help revise their novels. Taylor was one out of thousands who entered, and was chosen by Erica Chapman, one out of 75 mentors, who helped Taylor revise her book. She then submitted it through another contest on Twitter called #PitMad, where Taylor received a request from literary agent Maria Vicente who read Definitions and knew she wanted to represent Taylor after only a couple of days. After receiving rejections from various publishers, editor Margaret Raymo at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) read Definitions of Indefinable Things in one day and the next morning, offered to publish Definitions. “I laughed out loud throughout, and I cried,” the email from Raymo to Taylor said. “(It’s) All the Bright Places meets The Fault in Our Stars meets Juno. Such a fantastic voice.” Taylor said the past few months have been a whirlwind. “I feel like the Lord has really blessed my

Photo Provided

PITCH WARS — Whitney Taylor joined a Twitter competition for potential authors. journey,” Taylor said. “I put a lot of hard work into this because it was something I loved, I never knew it was actually going to go somewhere.” HMH publishing has purchased World Rights Definitions of Indefinable Things, in hopes of selling the novel in various countries worldwide. Taylor has more young adult novels she is currently working on and hopes to have more books published in the future. In addition to becoming an author, Tay-

lor is majoring in psychology with a focus in counseling and human development with plans to receive her master’s degree. She hopes to be a counselor for teens struggling with metal illness. For more information on Taylor, her website is www.whitneytaylorbooks.com.

HUMPHREYS is a feature reporter.

Who will come and pray with me to deliver ISRAEL from misery? It’s not too late! Go to www.prayfaststopirandeal.com

feature

Liberty Champion | September 15, 2015 | B7

Walking through worship Students establish a weekly music gathering inside the East Campus tunnel Matt Pierce mpierce17@liberty.edu

A group of students in their first year at Liberty University, strolling through campus on a Friday night, decided to stop and play music in the East Campus tunnel. It was September of 2014. Two weeks later, they decided this would become a regular event. Each Friday night at 9 p.m. Tunnel Worship happens. Tunnel Worship began as a small group of people who simply enjoyed what they were doing. Little did they know, it would grow into what it has become today according to Malik Nichols, one of the original worship leaders. “The acoustics in this tunnel are great,” Nichols said. “That’s the only thing we were thinking.” In almost a year’s time, Tunnel Worship has grown into something Nichols along with Braxton Mann and Jonathan Shirey, the other two originals, never expected. On the first official night of Tunnel Worship there were somewhere around 10 people. One year later, there are about 200 people who crowd in from across campus to pack into the tunnel and worship, according to Nichols. On an average day of the week, the tunnel is an avenue for students to get from one side of campus to the other without having to cross US 460. But for one hour on Friday night, it hosts as a worship gathering of students as well as a walkway. But for the men who started Tunnel Worship, it is more than just a walkway for students and more than just an area with great acoustics. The tunnel represents so much more. “Tunnel Worship is about Jesus meeting us in that in-between season of life,” Nichols said. “It’s supposed to be a symbol that Jesus meets us every single place we are.” The group that leads Tunnel Worship consists of 13 students and a multitude of

RJ Goodwin | Liberty Champion

UNDERGROUND — What began as an impromptu activity for fun has become a weekly gathering for hundreds of students. instruments. Guitars, a violin, a banjo, vocals, a xylophone, a cajón and a cymbal ring throughout the tunnel as passersby travel through. Some students stop for a few moments to see what is going on while others keep walking with no hesitation. However,

some stay the whole time. “When we hear peoples testimonies about how Tunnel Worship blesses them or how they came from a super rough week, Monday through Friday, and they were unintentionally just walking through the tun-

Locally owned and operated for 22 years.

PERSONAL TOUCH SALON

nel and how they feel that Jesus met them there,that’s all that we want,” Nichols said. For more information, visit “Tunnel Worship” on Facebook. PIERCE is a feature reporter.

Clinical Trial | Asthma Study

Do You Have Asthma? Asthma Study Participants from Liberty University Needed 

Volunteers are needed for a study about asthma and the common cold. 

You must have asthma, not smoke and be 18-40 years old.

Give your body the break it deserves. Personal Touch Salon offers the full spa experience to help you relax. Our professional, licensed staff can help you look and feel your best today. Schedule your appointment today by booking online or giving us a call. We’re located right behind Zoe’s Kitchen in the Old Forest Commercial Center.

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Screening at UVA is in progress now and involves 2 visits ($40 for the 1st visit; $60 for the 2nd). $30 reimbursement for gas mileage for Liberty University participants will also be provided. Those who qualify can participate with payment of up to $1,870 for completing the study. For more information, please contact the UVA Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center via email at ddm9q@virginia.edu or 434.982.3510. (HSR#12656 and 14427)

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UVA Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center ddm9q@virginia.edu | 434.982.3510

FEATURE

September 15, 2015

get downtown, stay downtown

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

COMMUNITY — Local restaurants, vendors, artists and performers spanned six blocks of Main Street in Lynchburg for the annual street festival “Get! Downtown.”

FOR FULL STORY SEE B5

Cooking with passion

Steven Monetti views his job at the Dining Hall as an opportunity to serve Will Young weyoung@liberty.edu

A chef with thin-rimmed glasses and a loose smile prepares food behind a menu that offers a choice between Cuban rice salad and honey barbecue sandwiches. He grins, and hands a plate of food to a student on the other side of the counter. His nametag reads #CHEFSTEVE. Steven Monetti grew up learning how to cook. Monetti, who goes by Chef Steve, describes his love for food as an “all-consuming passion.” He was homeschooled, which allowed him to spend a lot of time practicing his trade, and grew up with a grandmother who thought the best way to babysit was to teach him how to cook. Since then, Monetti has built his resume in the food service industry. From manager at a Cici’s Pizza, to U.S. Army chef, Monetti now works at the Training Table at Liberty’s own Reber-Thomas Dining Hall. “Quite honestly, it’s the best job I’ve ever had,” Monetti said talking about his job at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall. “And it’s all because of the students.” After being hired in the beginning of the 2015 spring semester at Liberty, Monetti said he was awestruck with the gratitude of Liberty students. Acts of kindness, in forms of prayer and thank you cards, have brought Monetti to tears. He said he has since come know about 300 students on a first-name basis.

“Once (the students) know that I put a little more effort into the food, they want to talk to me,” Monetti said. “I love that they love my food. It makes me want to put more effort into it.” Monetti’s care for Liberty students comes from the care of his own children. Monetti, who has three children, said that a part of his philosophy as a chef is feeding his students like he feeds his kids, and strives to be a support system for any student who is struggling away from home. Monetti commits his time from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day to ensure that the students who visit the Training Table in the morning are fully satisfied; his usual work schedule does not cover mornings. He remembers the dietary needs of his regulars, and invests into the lives of the students he has not seen before. “(Monetti) comes in early, and is willing to stay late to get it done,” Michael Lowe, executive chef of Sodexo at Liberty said. “He loves Liberty, he loves the students, and he’s very passionate about his job.” Monetti’s job has formed into his ministry. His zeal for cooking and his love for God inspired him to go beyond the kitchen at the Training Table. Monetti’s Facebook page, “Gather at the Table” seeks to dedicate his meals made at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall to different prayer requests from those he finds and those that are sent to him.

See COOKING, B5

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

#CHEFSTEVE — Monetti works in the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall for Sodexo.