Flames defeat the Hornets
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Students compete in challenge
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Volume 33 | Issue 2 Tuesday, September 8, 2015
let freedom ring
Reaching the world Liberty launches new department Taylor Frost tfrost2@liberty.edu
Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion
DYNAMITE — School dignitaries triggered explosion to begin construction on the Freedom Tower.
Blasting ground Ceremony marks the start of Freedom Tower construction Quinn Foley qfoley@liberty.edu
Three. Two. One. Blastoff. President Jerry Falwell and other dignitaries pushed the lever that blasted ground for the much-anticipated Freedom Tower that will hold Liberty’s School of Divinity on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The ceremony began as faculty and students from the School of Divinity, as well as other spectators, crowded the parking lot of the Reber Thomas Dining Hall at 10:30 a.m. Other distinguished guests at the groundbreaking ceremony included Becki Falwell, Dr. Elmer Towns, Dr. Ronald Hawkins, Dr. Ed Hindson and Dr. Ben Gutierrez. Gutierrez opened the ceremony with prayer. Gutierrez introduced Hawkins to the podium where he shared the vision for the School of Divinity. “We talked a while back about the possibility of having a building that would speak to
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
PLANS — Layout designs for the anticpated spring 2017 Freedom Tower are displayed. what was at the core and at the center of the educational experience here at Liberty,” Hawkins said. “A building that would speak to the place of the Word of God, the Spirit of God and training a people for ministry and teaching the academic curriculum of the Word of God.”
Hawkins then introduced Jerry Falwell to the podium to speak. Falwell started by telling spectators that, over the past several years, God had blessed Liberty with many groundbreaking ceremonies and dedications but that this was the first ground-blasting
ceremony that the university has ever done. Falwell continued to talk about how faculty and students have been managing to use temporary buildings but
See TOWER, A2
A new Liberty University office provides students with the opportunity to be academically enriched and culturally engaged. LU Send may be new, but it continues to carry out the university’s overarching goal to display the gospel of Christ throughout the world. The new office is meant to serve as a travel agency for Liberty students and faculty, according to Anna Strickland, director of LU Send. LU Send will allow students to travel locally, domestically and globally through Liberty. Both, the Office of the Provost and the Campus Pastors Office will be working together to support the new department. “LU Send is a centralized hub for student support and group travel,” Strickland said. Students and faculty wanting to travel will now be to able create, sign up and book trips all through the same office. Strickland explained that the Center for Global Engagement will resource all university trips with service opportunities. David Nasser, senior vice president of Spiritual Development, described how every trip orchestrated by LU Send will now contain both educational and Christian service components. Both aspects are important so that students can learn about engaging other cultures while also providing tangible support. “LU Send is not anything new,” Nasser said. “It is a … strategy to amplify both of those two distinctives coming together.” Students will now be able to travel through LU Send and go to London, Rome, Paris, Tokyo, Israel and New York this year. These trips are being referred to as Flagship Trips. “LU Send is initiating … Flagship Trips,” Strickland said. “These are our test model for our way of doing it. We are loading those with an academic component that the provost’s office is helping to select. ... We are building in the best cultural experiences that you can have in those cities, and then we are adding in that service engagement component in a way that is authentic and relates to your degree that you will get credit for.” The Flagship Trips are open to both online and residential students. Strickland stated that there are no requirements or limits as to how many students may go on each trip. Registration for these trips will be announced to the student body soon. Another branch of LU Send is LU Send NOW. LU Send NOW allows students to act as first responders to help in the world when disaster strikes. According to Nasser, first response teams date back to the university’s founding in 1971. There will be an informational meeting for students interested in LU Send NOW Sept. 9 at 9 p.m. in the Thomas Road Baptist Church auditorium immediately following Campus Community. In order to get involved, students will have to put down a one-time deposit fee, fill out an application and then go through various trainings to be certified in areas such as CPR and first response training. Students must maintain a certain grade-point average in order to be considered eligible. When disaster strikes, an email will be sent to all eligible students. Those who respond to the email first will have the opportunity to go. This branch of LU Send is already available for students. Visit liberty.edu/lusend to learn more about LU Send and how to get involved.
FROST is a news reporter.
Sports
Feature
News Opinion
The Lady Flames volleyball team looks to build on previous season. B4
A linguistics professor is given the opportunity to teach in Vietnam. B5
Sports Feature
INSIDE THE CHAMPION
News
Students gather for Spiritual Emphasis Week to start off the new year. A2
Opinion
A student gives thoughts on what a true hero is in this day and age. A5
A1 A4 B1 B5
news
A2 | September 8, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Embracing struggles
Clayton King returns to Liberty’s campus for his 11th Spiritual Emphasis Week Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu
Liberty University students gathered together in Thomas Road Baptist Church and the Vines Center for four services of worship and learning during Spiritual Emphasis Week 2015, an annual tradition at Liberty. Back for his 11th consecutive Spiritual Emphasis Week, pastor Clayton King preached on the topic of God’s strength being made perfect in our weakness. “My goal this week is to help the students understand not to waste their weakness,” King said. “ … (T)hey can be stronger by embracing struggle for the glory of God. Ultimately I really hope that they see Jesus more clearly and that they have a deeper love for him and the gospel as a result of Spiritual Emphasis (Week).” King preached from 2 Corinthians 11-12 in which Paul boasted in the afflictions and weakness he dealt with because God was strengthening him through the struggles. He illustrated how God helps struggling people through such difficult situations by sharing the personal story of how many of his relatives, including his mother and father, all died in a short period of time. King also discussed the benefits of having to suffer through undesirable circumstances. “God is going to have to use pain where you couldn’t learn without it,” King said during Monday evening. “God can take a bad thing and get a good result from it.” After more than a decade of preaching at Spiritual Emphasis Week, King has seen the continual benefits of gathering together as a student body for consecutive nights of worship and learning. “I think (Spiritual Emphasis Week) sets the tone for the semester and for the year,” King said. “ … (B)eginning the semester while peoples’ schedules are still free enough that they can attend some extra worship services and … focus on the gospel and on Jesus … really helps set the tone and the direction for the semester.” King said he appreciates how Liberty stands firm on the importance of studying Scripture together as a student body. “I’ve seen some Christian schools move away from any chapel or convocation,” King said. “I’ve seen some other schools do away with Spiritual Emphasis Week. I think that they lose the value of bringing everyone together at one time so that everyone can share a common purpose, a common vision and so that everybody can TOWER continued from A1 that the new buildings are answers to prayer. “It is so nice to finally see this campus take shape and develop some architectural character,” Falwell said, “(The campus is becoming) what it was originally intended to be.”
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
PRAISE — Students worshiped together at Thomas Road Baptist Church during Campus Community on Wednesday, Sept. 2. be on the same page and hear a message from Scripture that encourages them. I think there is so much value in everybody in the room gathering to focus heads and hearts on Jesus.” Dan Bolton, the director of Spiritual Programs, also sees the impact such a week can have on the university. “It’s (also) a time for students who are
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God is going to have to use pain where you couldn’t learn without it.— CLAYTON KING
just new to campus,” Bolton said. “Some of them are away from home for the first time (and) others know the system. … (It is a) time to come to get refreshed, energized (and) get refocused on the semester.” To ensure that students continue to grow throughout the rest of the school year, King emphasized staying rooted in Scripture and having genuine friendships.
Falwell said that after planning out the new buildings on campus with Towns, they met with architects and decided that what the university needed was a focal point. After more prayer and meetings, Falwell said that the new Freedom Tower is more than just a focal point. “This tower is a symbol of Liberty’s name,”
Falwell said. Falwell told the story about the Liberty Bell replica being cast when the name was changed to Liberty University. “It will move to the top of this tower when it is finished and it will be accompanied by a tree of 25 other bells,” Falwell said. According to Falwell, the bells will be electronically
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
ENCOURAGE — Clayton King motivated students to use their weaknesses for God. “If you want to stay close to the Lord, you have to work at it,” King said. “You have to prioritize your relationship with him everyday. You have to have an ongoing conversation with God throughout your day. ... Let the Bible challenge you and encourage you, convict you, lift you up when controlled and donors can have their names engraved on the bells. The heaviest bell will be 550 pounds, and they will all be tuned to a different pitch. Dr. Ed Hindson closed the ceremony with prayer, asking the faculty of the School of Divinity to raise their hands. “We pray that this building would not just be about
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you need it. Make sure (you) are living in genuine friendships with other believers.”
RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.
the bricks … that hold it together, but about the message that is communicated within these hallways,” Hindson said. “We pray for the faculty that will teach in here, that you might so fill our minds, inflame our hearts and motivate our hands to serve you faithfully and effectively, that the cause of Jesus Christ may go forth from
this place. …” Falwell then blew the air horn to signal the blast and triggered the dynamite push box, which then blasted out a portion of the rock and concluded the ceremony.
FOLEY is the asst. news editor.
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Liberty Champion | September 8, 2015 | A3
Autumn adventures
Students explore outside and learn to follow safety signs Ashley Bunner abunner@liberty.edu
Fall leaves. Fresh air. Fun times. Autumn is quickly approaching, and for many Liberty University students, this is prime time for outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. But before students plan weekend excursions hiking through the woods, they should make sure they prepare for whatever comes their way. When planning to participate in outdoor activities, students should consider the “4Es” of decision-making. According to Student Activities (SA) Director of Outdoor Recreation Joshua Yeoman, the four Es are Environment, Element, Experience and Equipment. Students should consider and plan for the environmental conditions they will face. Yeoman encourages students to ask questions such as “What is the topography? What is the temperature? Will there be any rain, snow or ice? What are my water resources? What types of animals or reptiles might I encounter?” Next, students should consider the element or activity they will be participating in, such as running, hiking, mountain biking, paddling or camping. According to Yeoman, it is important to consider how the environment and the student’s experience level might affect their safety. Based on these considerations, Yeoman said it is important to pack outdoor essentials such as water, food, a rain jacket or poncho, a first-aid kit and a map.
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
CLIMB — Students enjoyed hiking in the outdoors after returning to campus this fall. Yeoman also recommends students bring a cell phone or other means of communication. “Many people go to wilderness places to get away from technology, but taking a cell phone with you could really be helpful in an emergency,” Yeoman said. “Obviously if you get hurt you need to call 911 or have someone run to the nearest phone and call 911.” According to Yeoman, students should inform someone of their plans, including destination, route and planned completion time. Students may also face the potential threat of wildlife when participating in outdoor activities. Yeoman said a good rule of thumb is to leave animals alone as bears, coyotes and snakes live in the woods in Virginia. Many recommendations on how to handle a snake bite have circulated over the years, but
Yeoman said that the best thing to do when dealing with a snake bite is to keep the individual calm and seek medical attention as soon as possible. “You do not want to elevate the victim’s heart rate rapidly,” Yeoman said. Other “do nots,” according to Yeoman, include: do not try to suck the venom out, do not tie a tourniquet and do not apply compression to the bite. “These actions could localize the venom, creating a very negative effect including, but not limited to, losing a limb,” Yeoman said. In collaboration with Camp Hydaway, SA Outdoor Recreation staff holds trail running and mountain biking seminars in order to give students the opportunity to get the training they need in outdoor safety. With Emergency Medical Technician, Wilderness First Responders and Swiftwater Rescue
Technician certifications, the SA Outdoor Recreation staff are well equipped in training students to be safe and get the most out of their time in the outdoors, Yeoman said. For more information on SA Outdoor Recreation, visit www. liberty.edu/campusrec. BUNNER is a news reporter.
FYI
Students should always be sure to notify someone of where they are going, their planned activities, and what time they plan on returning.
Accidents remind hikers to take caution The recent deaths that have occurred at Crabtree Falls and the James River trestle serve as a reminder to adventuring students and hikers to read and obey warning signs. Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015 marks the second death at Crabtree Falls in Nelson County, Virginia in the past three months, according to the Lynchburg News and Advance. Daniel Wayne Kistner, 31, of Chesapeake, crossed the safety barrier to capture a photo and slipped and fell to his death. In June 2015, a young man hiking at the falls fell more than 75 feet after losing his footing while attempting to take a picture. According to the Liberty Champion, Liberty freshman Faith Helbig, 18, died April 8, 2013 when hiking with friends at Crabtree Falls. A man was killed Sept. 4, 2015 when a train on the James River trestle between Lynchburg and Amherst struck him and he fell to the riverbank and died, according to the News and Advance. Robert Aaron Harbridge, 35, of Lynchburg, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Back in November 2014, the Liberty University community lost one of its students, Jonathan Gregoire, 21, when he was struck by a train on the trestle and fell more than 200 feet. “Crabtree Falls and the train trestles off of Rivermont Avenue both have signs stating the imminent danger,” Joshua Yeoman, Student Activities (SA) director of Outdoor Recreation, said. “Stay on the trail, and remember that a picture is not worth risking your life.”
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OPINION
A4
September 8, 2015
Court rules for Obamacare Antonin Scalia’s dissent provides a model for interpreting the Constitution Lee Sutherland lsutherland6@liberty.edu
One of the most important sets of documents in American history are the Federalist Papers. Written in newspapers between 1787-1788, these papers were meant to convince the 13 states that they should ratify the new constitution coming out of the Philadelphia Convention. Alexander Hamilton wrote the majority of these 85 letters under a variety of pseudonyms. Maybe the most interesting and important quote from Hamilton came in Federalist 78, in which he wrote about the new branch of the federal government, the Supreme Court. “Whoever attentively considers the different departments of power must perceive that, in a government in which they are separated from each other, the judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution,” Hamilton wrote. This idea of the judiciary being the “least dangerous branch” has completely fallen apart in the last few decades. This can no more clearly be seen than in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act case King v. Burwell that came to the Supreme Court last spring. Led by Chief Justice John Roberts, the 6-3 decision in favor of the Obama Administration is just another instance in a long line of poor decisions based on bad constitutional interpretation that expands the Supreme Court’s power into areas it should not be in. Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissenting opinion in this case exposes the holes with the majority’s interpretation of this statute. Scalia, along with Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and (sometimes) John Roberts, hold to a distinct view of interpreting the Constitution, known as “originalism.” This view seeks to determine what the founders who wrote the Constitution intended by a specific phrase. This philosophy also seeks to minimize the interference the Court has in both the executive and legislative branches’ decisions. Scalia, known for his witty and attacking dissents, does not hold back his disdain for the decision made by the Court. “Under all the usual rules of interpretation, in short, the government should lose this case,” Scalia wrote. “But normal rules of interpretation seem always to yield the overriding principle of the present Court: The Affordable Care Act must be saved.” Specifically, he is angered by the majority’s interpretation of the phrase “established by the State.” “Words no longer have meaning if an
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JUSTICE — Antonin Scalia is the longest serving current justice on the Supreme Court. Exchange that is not established by a State is ‘established by the State,’” Scalia stated. “It is hard to come up with a clearer way to limit tax credits to state Exchanges than to use the words ‘established by the State,’” He continues by explaining how the
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by the more liberal justices on the Court, has all but taken over the American court system and maybe most importantly, the law schools. This view, which states that the meanings of concepts and words in the constitution are up for the justices to
But normal rules of interpretation seem always to yield the overriding principle of the present Court: The Affordable Care Act must be saved. — JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA
Court has overstepped its role, taking power away from both Congress and the American people. “We must always remember, therefore, that ‘our task is to apply the text, not to improve upon it.’” Judicial activism, the philosophy held
A TES NO My second grade teacher took me aside. She just finished speaking with the school principal. She kneeled down and uttered these very words: “Nathaniel, I’m so HAYWOOD sorry but we can’t get ahold of your mom. … The Pentagon has been hit. But don’t worry, it’s going to be alright.” Around this time of year, those words
echo frequently through my mind. I do not remember much from my second grade year, as it was 14 years ago. But there is one day that I — and I am sure many others as well — can never seem to forget. And that day is Sept. 11, 2001, one of the darkest days in our nation’s history. On that horrible day, a group of Islamic extremists flew planes into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Virginia. These terrorists ripped away the lives of more than 3,000 people and completely leveled the World Trade Center. While the Pentagon still remains, the attack was not any less devastating. Husbands and wives lost spouses. Brothers and sisters lost siblings. Children lost parents. I did not just have one parent em-
decide, has swept through the majority of elite law schools in the country and has given justices at all levels of government the backing to stretch the judiciary’s supremacy. The Supreme Court has modeled all of this, especially in this case, and Scalia recognizes it in his dissent.
ployed there, I had two. In fact, that is where my parents first met each other. For some, this is the day God called some family members home. But to me, this is the day He saved mine. My father was on a business trip to Nevada that week. I knew he was fine. But Mom… Mom was supposed to be at work that day. She only took Fridays off. The planes hit on a Tuesday. I had no idea where she was. For all I knew, Mom was still in the building. And that very thought nearly ate me alive. My teacher stood before me, trying to console me as my shirt was all but soaked with tears. Other faculty members faithfully tried to contact either of my parents. But getting a phone call through on that day was practically impossible. After that, my memory gets a little fuzzy. But what happened next, I
“The somersaults of statutory interpretation they have performed will be cited by litigants endlessly, to the confusion of honest jurisprudence,” Scalia wrote. “And the cases will publish forever the discouraging truth that the Supreme Court of the United States favors some laws over others, and is prepared to do whatever it takes to uphold and assist its favorites.” The “least dangerous branch” vision Hamilton and the other Founding Fathers had for the Supreme Court has disappeared. It is now our job to elect men and women to public office who will rein in the judiciary and appoint justices at all levels who get out of the way of democracy.
SUTHERLAND is the opinion editor.
could never forget. I saw her. My mother. She walked through those glass doors at Grace Brethren Christian School in Clinton, Maryland and opened her arms with the biggest, most welcoming smile on her face. I ran to her and hugged her as tightly as my six-year-old body let me. She did not go to work that day. She normally took classes on Fridays, but for whatever reason, she had a class Sept. 11, 2001. I still get choked up thinking about it all. Simply put, God saved my mother and my father. With Sept. 11 around the corner, pray for those who lost loved ones, as I suspect the thought of that day is still a difficult one. And let your family know that you love them. Thousands lost that luxury 14 years ago.
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opinion
Liberty Champion | September 8, 2015 | A5
How to define a hero
A hero is not determined by strength or popularity but the character shown Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu
Imagine Superman without his cape or without his costume. Is he still a hero? Yes. But you might say, “He is just Clark Kent.” Yes, he is Clark Kent, but his heroism is displayed in his personal character — by his courage, bravery and selflessness. In Marvel movies such as Captain America: The First Avenger, the “hero” of the storyline is an attractive man, pumped up like a balloon with superhuman amounts of steroids. Note: I highly enjoy this movie, but the amount of realism in its plot resembles my Flames cash account at the end of the semester — hardly anything is present. This storyline leads to an expectation of receiving supernatural ability or luck in order to be classified as a “hero,” when the characteristics of a hero are actually found inside Captain America through his dedication to military service, strong will and brave heart. But for many people, heroes today are merely defined by status, appearance, money or ridiculous acts. The ESPYs recent Arthur Ashe Award for Courage winner, Caitlyn Jenner, has most of the world either enticed or enraged by her “heroic” deeds. Google Images The Arthur Ashe Award for Cour- HERO — Our society is so inundated with depictions of heroes that we often overlook the ones all around us . age was given to Jenner because of her display of “courage and self-accep- peared in the public eye for weeks. for great or brave acts, fine qualities, and ESPY because they do not directly corretance” according Maura Mandt, ESPYs Undramatic? No. having courage or ability. late to sports, they are still the true heroes. Did Jenner’s change serve other transco-executive producer. The three American soldiers, the French- And to find the true hero, we must not look The only problem is the contrast genders? Maybe, but others may now see man and the Briton who stopped a gun- on the television screen or at the movie the media as a platform to grab attention man onboard a train Aug. 21, according theatres, but we must search for those with between Arthur Ashe and Caitlyn Jenner. Arthur Ashe, a champion tennis player through Twitter favorites and Facebook to the Richmond Times–Dispatch, should selfless hearts, bravery, and the ability to and humanitarian was quoted on RE- shares. be considered true heroes because of their protect and defend when no one is looking. In this media-driven age, the heroes selflessness in putting their lives on the line SPONSE ABILITY’s website, an organiOften, true heroes hide behind the norzation focused on promoting courageous of today are being pushed behind peo- to protect others. They showed courage malcy of everyday life, and to find them, all ple who do not fit the description of a and bravery in the face of a big gun and a we have to do is look. leadership, about his take on heroism. “True heroism is remarkably sober, very Ashe’s “hero.” small chance of survival. They persevered In light of this recent event, the word anyway, and they asked nothing for the undramatic,” the website quoted Ashe. “It is not the urge to surpass all others at what- hero must be defined. deed. They simply wanted to protect others Through a compilation of definitions at whatever cost. ever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” between Merriam-Webster and DictionSounds more like the Ashe quote, right? Jenner’s gender change ap- ary.com, a hero is a person who is admired Even if these soldiers cannot win an TILLER is the feature editor.
Joe Biden may enter race in 2016 As Hillary Clinton stumbles, the vice president eyes a run for the presidency Kimberly Stefanick kmstefanick2@liberty.edu
With bad publicity circling the Hillary Clinton campaign like an eagle circling its prey, the Democratic field for 2016 continues to look bleak. Clinton continues to find herself on the defensive of a long list of accusations stemming from her email scandal earlier this year. As her campaign support continues to drop in national polls, Democrats should begin looking towards other candidate possibilities. One face people seem to be looking to in this time of uncertainty is Vice President Joe Biden. Biden, who has more than 40 years of experience in national politics, sought presidential nominations in both 1988 and 2008, but 2016 may be his year to shine. With the Clinton campaign struggling to connect to the public and move past the chronic accusations of untrustworthiness, Biden may have found a market in which the Democratic Party will rally around him. Clinton, who voters do not trust, has been slipping in the polls. Last month’s CNN/ORC poll showed that 47 percent of registered Democratic voters supported Clinton, according to ABC News. While still more than any other candidate, this poll displayed her lowest numbers in this election cycle. According to a poll released by Quinnipiac University last month in which about 1,500 people were asked what word came to mind when thinking about presidential candidates, the number one answer about Clinton was “liar.” This poll also found that Biden
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PRESIDENT— Joe Biden ran for president previously in 1988 and in 2008 before joining President Obama as vice president. has 18 percent of Democrats polled supporting him, which could increase if he were to declare his run for the presidency. Even though Biden’s age, 72, may be a deterrent for him to consider a presidential run, the death of his son, Beau, may prove to be a reason for Biden to jump into the race. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, before losing his battle with brain cancer, Beau Biden encouraged his father to try for the presidency one more time. Americans may see Biden run one last time as a way to honor his son and his memory.
Other politicians in the race already see Biden as a contender, even if he does not see it himself. In an interview with Breitbart News, Donald Trump responded, “I think so,” when asked if he could see himself going head-tohead with the vice president in a general election. In today’s age of social media and technology, a 72-year-old president may not be what the American people envisioned for themselves. Additionally, facing off against Clinton can be a daunting task. However, Biden should still take a crack at the
presidency one last time. With close to three times as many candidates on the Republican side of the election, the Democrats could use a few more candidates to mix up the field and make things interesting. Though he has yet to make an official decision regarding a run, I believe we will see much more from Biden in the coming months. While his views do not always line up with my own, he is a man of experience in both Congress and the White House and is higher on my list than another Clinton or a Trump in office.
Holding more political experience than any other contender on either side of the bench, Biden is an established politician of 36 years. He has proven to the world he knows how governments run and would make a competent and capable president. One question remains now: Is he what Americans are looking for?
STEFANICK is an opinion writer.
news
A6 | September 8, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Community impacted Liberty’s substantial enrollment growth causes need for energy adjustments Elizabeth Lapp elapp@liberty.edu
Appalachian Power began work on a $28 million transmission improvement project this summer in order to accommodate the growing needs of Liberty University and the Lynchburg area. Liberty’s enrollment has increased by more than 800 percent over the past 20 years and is expected to continue growing as the university predicts residential enrollment to exceed 15,000 students by 2020, according to a November 2014 Magnum Economics report on the Lynchburg area. In order to accommodate this growth, Liberty is in the middle of a $500 million construction project, which includes renovations to existing academic and athletic facilities and the construction of new residence halls. The construction of new buildings and the increased number of students on campus has also led to an unavoidable increase in energy usage. John Shepelwich, a representative for Appalachian Power, said that the company started to see the need for improvements to its system back in 2011. Liberty’s growth and its impact on commerce in the Lynchburg area played a large role in deciding to start the project. “Liberty is a large customer which uses a lot of energy and needs reliable power,” Shepelwich said. “In addition to that, it creates other businesses that also require power and increase the demand on our business.” The project will include the construction of a new substation and approximately nine miles of transmission line to connect it with existing substations, according to a November 2013 Appalachian Power news release. The new Lynbrook substation will provide added service for northern Campbell County while reducing the strain on
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
GROWING — Campus expansion has caused the need for improvements in city energy systems. existing substations. “We look for weaknesses in that (power) grid because weaknesses in one spot and lack of reliability in that one spot could be caused by increased demand, which creates problems elsewhere in that grid system,” Shepelwich said Appalachian Power hopes that the transmission improvements will address the current weaknesses in their system in order to provide a stronger, safer and more reliable service for their customers. The project is also meant as a way to prepare the electrical grid to handle the region’s continued growth. According to Shepelwich, the growing energy needs of the Lynchburg area are
also a good sign for the region’s economy. “(The) Lynchburg area is one of the few areas within the Appalachian Power system in Virginia and West Virginia that is actually growing right now,” Shepelwich said. “Growth of energy demand is a really good way to measure economic or business growth within an area.” When planning the project, Appalachian Power also worked to make sure that the new power lines would disrupt the surrounding areas as little as possible. According to Appalachian Power’s website, approximately 70 percent of the new lines will be built along existing road, railroad and utility right of way. “You look at a map and you see the ex-
isting right of way is the best thing for us and for customers and property owners because it doesn’t disturb any additional property,” Shepelwich said. “When we do build, and it has to go across some relatively undeveloped property, we do our best to bring it back to within the original shape of (what it looked like) prior to the time a tower was put into place.” Construction for the Lynbrook substation began this past June, and Appalachian Power anticipates that the project will be completed by June 2017.
LAPP is a news reporter.
Staff members rewarded Liberty faculty to receive free pastry from Starbucks during the month of September Taylor Coleman tcoleman64@liberty.edu
Liberty University faculty members have the job of serving students on a daily basis. So throughout September, in honor of Faculty Appreciation Month, these hard-working members of Liberty will be celebrated for their contributions to the university. According Dining Services, the staff of Liberty will be treated to a free pastry with a purchase of any grande beverage at Starbucks in the Jerry Falwell Library. They may choose any pastry, and there will be no limit to the number of visits throughout September. Casey Guise, unit marketing coordinator of Sodexo, said that over the summer he, along with others from Sodexo, wanted to celebrate the employees on campus by showing appreciation of their patronage with a little treat to brighten their day. Guise said that he did not want
Photo Provided
EDUCATE — Faculty like these in the School of Business devote their time and energy to teach students. to put limitations on the number became a great place because it is and the baristas over a quick cup of times the staff could indulge a great location with faculty com- of coffee is important. in their month-long luxury. He ing into the library. Hopefully, it is “Our staff here (at Starbucks) said he knew Starbucks was a be- convenient for them.” gets to know the faculty that come loved brand that most of the staff With the majority of Starbucks’ in, and that is really, very special would enjoy. customers being students, Guise … in building that connection,” “Coming into the semester, I hopes to bring in a new group Guise said. thought, ‘We have to dedicate a of consumers through the staff. Although most of the dining month to faculty somewhere on Guise noted that creating a rela- services’ patrons are students, faccampus,’” Guise said. “Starbucks tionship between the professors ulty members are just as impor-
tant when it comes to dining options. Starting this semester, staff members are offered the same meal plans that the commuter students can purchase. “I really want faculty, who are here … just as much as commuter students … to be able to dine and save money,” Guise said. Students are encouraged to do their part in showing gratitude towards their professors. According to Guise, who taught at Liberty during graduate school, small gestures of kindness toward the professors mean the most. “Simple things go a long way, (like) taking the time at the end of class to say, ‘Thank you,’” Guise said. “If the professor is taking prayer requests from the entire class, it is very considerate for a student to raise their hand and ask, ‘What is something we can pray about for you?’” COLEMAN is a news reporter.
Who will come and pray with me to deliver ISRAEL from misery? It’s not too late! Go to www.prayfaststopirandeal.com
news Getting creative Liberty partners with Adobe Ashley Bunner abunner@liberty.edu
Liberty University recently signed an agreement with Adobe that allows students, faculty and staff the opportunity to download Adobe Creative Cloud to their personal computers for free. Since late last spring semester, Liberty’s Information Technology (IT) department has been working to make sure everything is in place for the new changes in technology usage. “Liberty has been working closely with Adobe for over a year, trying to develop a unique alliance,” Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies Connie Allison said. “Adobe executives have expressed great interest in the way Liberty approaches the implementation of cutting-edge technologies into the academic setting.” So far, Liberty and Clemson University are the only two schools that have been chosen to collaborate with Adobe in this way. “The fact that all residential students have access to Adobe’s Creative Cloud software for free is pretty incredible itself,” President of the Technology & Engineering Club (TEC) Jomer Bunque said. “Liberty will soon be a fully functioning Adobe campus.” According to Bunque, faculty and staff are already integrating Adobe’s features into lesson plans and discovering ways for students to take advantage of the software available to them for homework assignments. Students do not have to be majoring in design to take advantage of this opportunity, Bunque said. In fact, with its many software application programs, Adobe can benefit students within any major. The download includes Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and more. “This is the most recent in a long list of initiatives that elevates the student experience within Liberty University above that of other schools,” Director of IT Communications Joshua Frejosky said. “In truly carrying out our mission to train champions for Christ, we are ensuring that our students receive access to the latest in communication technology.” According to Frejosky, Liberty’s IT department is constantly looking for ways to improve the experience and productivity of students by remaining up-to-date with the latest and best in technology performance. “Through the support of the administration, we are always seeking out new technologies and partnerships with industry leaders to explore innovation and opportunities that can be brought to our campus,” Frejosky said. As Liberty continues to thrive with technological advancements, there are future plans to establish a focused area in the Jerry Falwell Library that will serve as a place to demonstrate the softwares and educate students and faculty on new technologies that are available, according to Frejosky. Students can download Adobe Creative Cloud apps for free by logging onto www.liberty.edu/adobe. BUNNER is a news reporter.
Liberty Champion | September 8, 2015 | A7
Dining upgrades More changes are made to broaden choices on campus Kara Sherrill kesherrill@liberty.edu
Liberty dining continues to raise the bar in its dining options that now include, a drive-thru at Doc’s Diner, Auntie Anne’s and more. According to Casey Guise, unit marketing coordinator for Sodexo, the motive for the recent addition of a drive-thru at Doc’s Diner was convenience. “A drive-thru is an asset to that location that hopefully faculty, staff (and students) find very helpful. … They can order their meal online, drive over to Doc’s and pick up their meal without having to leave their vehicle,” Guise said. Guise emphasized that it is a unique feature and not many colleges can boast a drive-thru. “We are definitely at the cutting edge, which is where we would like to be across the board with our dining program,” Guise said. Guise said Liberty was rated the No. 1 campus-dining hall in the nation, and it has a clear vision and voice when it comes to making necessary changes. “The rating came about because of the innovations … that we implement here in the dining hall … from what the actual menu is to how it is prepared and then how it is presented,” Guise said. A recent innovation that was just introduced this semester is the Smash’d burger station in the Reber-Thomas Dining Halll. Guests are able to see their burgers being cooked right in front of them. They are also able to choose from a wide array of toppings to put on the burgers. Liberty dining is proactive when responding to students’ suggestions. Guise said breakfast is now served all day in the dining hall because of the feedback from students. He said that in addition to all-day breakfast, students will notice that the chef ’s table by Lunchbox features chef creations every day. Liberty dining prioritizes culinary variety, and their commitment helps the university receive recognition. “We start a new semester, and we raise the bar,” Guise said. Liberty dining added Auntie Anne’s as an-
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
SNACKS — Students have begun to enjoy the new additions to the Tinney Café. other venue for students wanting a snack. To celebrate it’s grand opening, Auntie Anne’s distributed free pretzels on Thursday, Sept.3. Wing Street also announced its grand opening the same day. Another addition to Liberty dining is Farmer’s Field, which has replaced Simply to Go in the Tilley Center. It is a tossed-toorder salad location. “It prioritizes local in-season food,” Guise said. “We are not straining the farms to produce out-of-season produce, and we are also sourcing greens from (the) …
campus farm.” The final addition to Liberty dining is the Cravings food truck. Cravings began serving food Aug. 24. It will be located all around campus Monday-Friday for lunch and dinner as well as home football games. Students will be able to find its location by using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. “We at Sodexo want Liberty’s campus to be exceptional,” Guise said. “We have that goal all the time.” SHERRILL is a news reporter.
Legacy lived out Chaplain pens spiritual manuals to guide players and coaches Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu
Student-athletes are just that, students and athletes. At Liberty University, coaches and staff members work to develop their student-athletes to grow spirit ual ly while becoming the best students and athletes they can be. Dr. Ed Gomes, the GOMES director of spiritual development for the Flames football team, works to help his players grow academically, athletically, socially and spiritually. In June 2015, Gomes published a coaches and student-athlete discipleship manual to help him accomplish
that task. Gomes, who has been with the university since 1985, said the idea to create a discipleship manual began four years ago when he thought about how he wanted people to remember him. “It started with a dream,” Gomes said. “ … I got thinking about leaving a legacy, and then I said ‘What do I want to leave? What is it that I want to pass on to my guys, to our studentathletes?’ Then I just started writing down some things that I wanted to start passing on to our student-athletes.” Gomes has developed two coinciding guides, with one being for students and the other being for leaders. According to Gomes, a Liberty alumnus, the leader’s guide, called “Leaving a Legacy,” is a tool for coaches to mold and shape their student-
athletes. The student guide, called “Building a Legacy,” is about life transformation. “It’s another tool in the spiritual toolbox for a coach or a leader to use to develop (and) disciple student-athletes,” Gomes said. Each manual is filled with 105 discipleship lessons covering everyday issues. According to Gomes, the manuals are created so they can be used in one-onone situations, in a small group or in a team setting as leaders guide their student-athletes toward the whole body development displayed by Christ in Luke 2:52. Gomes said that when he meets with players, he and the student-athlete alternate between choosing a lesson to study and pray over. The student guide has fill-in-the-blanks for every lesson, while the leader’s guide
has the responses filled in. In his 14th year as a member of the football team staff, Gomes said that his role as the team chaplain allows him to act as the liaison between the student-athletes and the Office of Student Conduct. As Gomes continues to invest in the student-athletes now, he hopes his discipleship manual will be part of the legacy he leaves behind when his time at Liberty is over. Those wishing to purchase Gomes’ discipleship manuals can find them available online and at the Barnes and Noble bookstore on Liberty’s campus. The campus bookstore will host a book signing on Friday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.
CLASS OFFICER ELECTIONS Campaigning on social media has already begun, but actual face-to-face campaiging that includes talking to people in class and handing out fliers will run from Monday, Sept. 7 through Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Anyone with a valid Liberty ID (students, faculty, online students, graduate students and employees) can vote on the splash page. Voters are encouraged to use the candidates’ social media pages as well as their specific tables in order to learn about what the candidates stand for and how they are planning to improve the lives of students at Liberty University.
2015-2016 CANDIDATES FRESHMAN CLASS:
SOPHOMORE CLASS:
MCKINLEY CARDWELL
BLAKE MCINTIRE
SAM STONE
JOHN MAHER
NICOLE GENGE
JONAH ASPEGREN LANCE BARNETT
(V.P. Daniel Heise)
(V.P. Noah Soistmann)
KYLER THOMAS
(V.P. Trey Underwood)
LUCAS ROBERSON Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
DESIGN — Students can now access Creative Cloud for free.
(V.P. Jacob Page)
JONATHAN EMBRY
(V.P. Katherine Thacker)
(V.P. Calli Barta)
(V.P. Samantha Mayo)
HANNAH GRIFFITH
JUNIOR CLASS: (V.P. Ellie McKay)
SENIOR CLASS:
BRENDON ARCURI (V.P. Emily McGowan)
STEVEN THOMAS (V.P. Lauren Serafini)
ELECTION DAY IS WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9 FROM 8 A.M.-5 P.M.
news
A8 | September 8, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Lending helping hands Medical students and faculty serve on the school’s first medical service trip Shannon Ritter sritter2@liberty.edu
More than 80 students, faculty and staff of the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) took a break from their summer vacations and teamed up for LUCOM’s first trip to Zacapa, Guatemala, from July 18-25. There they focused on providing quality medical help, building long-term relationships and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ. Through a recent partnership with the organization Hope of Life International, the group traveled to this impoverished area for one week. During that time, they provided countless check-ups and distributed many needed vitamins and nutritional information, all while taking every opportunity to pray for their patients. “Hope of Life International actually has several programs and partnerships with Liberty University already,” James Cook, LUCOM’s director of Medical Outreach and International Medicine, said. “And they built a hospital, so it makes sense to increase (the) partnership with Liberty University to add the medical component.” Many student doctors who took part in this particular trip recently finished their first year of medical school and used the experience in Guatemala to further their learning. The real, hands-on experience revitalized their desire to pursue their degrees in medicine and left them wanting to return. “An unintended benefit that we received from this was that ability for (the students) to enhance their confidence,” Cook said. “They learned a lot from attending physicians, and they learned a lot about giving care to those that are in need. But they also learned a lot about how to work together.”
Christopher Breedlove
PARTNERSHIP — LUCOM students provided physical and spiritual care to Guatemalan families during their summer break. Kaleigh Kenny, a second-year student doctor who participated in the trip, recalled the importance of giving hands-on care to the patients, as this is the type of care LUCOM focuses on teaching. “Our medical school is an osteopathic school, so we know how to treat our patients hands-on (as the first approach). ... ,” Kenny said. “We think that healing first comes from mind, body and spirit. So that was really useful down in Guatemala, having limited resources and not a lot of access to what we have here (at Liberty).” As several students described their experiences in Guatemala, they demonstrated that their desire to help others goes far beyond medicine and other physical provisions. “Any medical care that you give is temporary,” Josh Reynolds, a
second-year LUCOM student doctor and participant of the trip, said. “But if you can give spiritual care and they can come into a relationship with Jesus, now they’re taken care of for eternity, so that’s really the goal.” Another participant and second-year student doctor, Craig Mitcham, hoped that this group, and Liberty University, would be remembered as friends to the people of Zacapa. He hoped that the medical system there would mirror that of the United States, where citizens recognize their physicians and build intentional friendships with them. “One thing that I thought was cool was that we were involved in a partnership,” Mitcham said. “These people are not only going to see us as people that come in and give them care, they’re going
to see (us) as friends, so hopefully they’ll recognize faces. … It’s not just a professional relationship, it’s a friendship. … We’re actually trying to invest in certain people and stay with that people group long-term.” Though students recognized that there would always be more care to provide, they left even more focus on how they could continue to help those in need. “The hardest thing that I struggled with was feeling like we weren’t doing enough,” Stephanie Wesley, second-year LUCOM student, said. “It was kind of frustrating to see that we were so limited, … but at the same time, it was motivating for the future to see what we could do better next time. … A short-term impact is nice — (such as) giving someone vitamins for 30 days — but
to make a longer-lasting impact is really what we want to do for our patients as physicians in the future. So we’re trying to start that now and trying to see how we can do that with every patient along the way.” LUCOM is currently planning two trips back to Guatemala throughout this academic year. Through LUCOM’s new partnerships with Liberty University’s School of Nursing and School of Education, Cook hopes to bring between 150-200 participants on next summer’s trip. For more information about LUCOM or future trips to Guatemala, visit www.liberty.edu/ lucom/ or email inquiries to LUCOM@liberty.edu. RITTER is a news reporter.
SPORTS
September 8, 2015
W. Soccer
Field Hockey
W. Volleyball
W. Volleyball
Liberty
JMU
Liberty
Lafayette
Liberty
Houston
1
2
2
1
3
1
B1
Liberty
0
Football
N. Arizona
Liberty
Del. St.
3
32
13
Jump serve
charged up
Lady Flames look to build Luke Dillard mdillard1@liberty.edu
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
BIG ENTRANCE — Flames defensive end Tolen Avery storms out of the tunnel before Liberty’s home opener against Delaware State.
Flames start hot Rushing attack sparks season-opening victory for Liberty Paul Vandenbosch prvandenbosch@liberty.edu
Redshirt senior running back Desmond Rice ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns in his return to the lineup and the No. 15 Liberty Flames football team beat the Delaware State Hornets, 32-13, in the season opener at Williams Stadium Sept. 5. Rice missed the entire 2014 season with a knee injury but returned in great form Saturday to help the Flames win their first season opener since 2010. Rice and the Flames rushing attack, which included senior running back D.J. Abnar, gained 229 yards on the ground in front of a lively crowd of 18,803 fans, according to Liberty Flames athletics. “It’s an unreal feeling right now,” Rice said. “I expected to do well, but (tonight) exceeded my expectations.” Flames senior quarterback Josh Woodrum completed 19 of 32 pass attempts for 188 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Both touchdown passes were to All-American senior receiver Darrin Peterson, who finished with eight receptions for 83 yards in addition to the two touchdowns. “Overall, it was a good football game for us,” Flames Head Coach Turner Gill said. “We got a lot of reps on the offensive side, and the defense played really well. Our defensive line was outstanding. We got a lot of work to do, but we got a win and it’s good to play in front of our great home crowd.” For the Hornets, quarterback Esayah Obado was 16-for-27 for 227 yards and threw two interceptions. Running back Jamaal Jackson managed just 37 yards on 15 carries for a Hornets ground game that accrued only 42 total yards on the night. The Flames got the ball first and tried to establish the running game early, but their first five carries of the game netted only negative yards. They had little success on
WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME
their first two drives against a Hornets defense bent on preventing Rice and Abnar from bouncing outside. “They were doing things a little differently schematically than what we were expecting,” Rice said. “We were trying to run outside and they were playing some wide techniques, so it kind of caught us in a couple of bad plays, but once we shook that off, we got rolling.” After a 14-yard burst by Abnar gave the Flames a needed boost in the run game, Woodrum found Peterson on a post route for a 26-yard touchdown pass to give Liberty a 7-0 lead with 7:17 remaining in the first quarter. Woodrum targeted Peterson early and often, hitting him five times for 60 yards and a touchdown on the first two drives. “Petey is one of the best receivers in the nation, so getting him the ball as many times as possible is sort of our game plan every week,” Woodrum said.
F.Y.I.
The Flames wore a special decal on their helmets honoring Alison Parker and Adam Ward, the two WDBJ 7 reporters who were killed during a live television broadcast at Smith Mountain Lake on Aug. 26. The decal featured both reporters’ initials and the No. 7 in the middle of a teal and maroon ribbon. Teal was Parker’s favorite color, while the maroon represents Virginia Tech, Ward’s alma mater.
On the Hornets ensuing drive, Obado was picked off by Flames junior corner Wesley Scott for the Flames first takeaway of the 2015 season. Wesley Scott read the route and jumped in front of wide receiver Aris Scott for the interception, which gave the Flames offense the ball on the Hornets 32-yard line. Four plays later, Rice took a third-down handoff and rumbled 23 yards into the end zone to give the Flames a 14-0 lead with 4:53 left in the first quarter. The Flames attempted to add to their lead with 11:32 remaining in the half, but kicker John Lunsford’s 42-yard attempt was blocked by Hornets defensive end Gabriel Sherrod to keep it a 14-0 game. Following the blocked kick, the Hornets finally got on the board after their offense went 75 yards on eight plays, which included a 47-yard completion from Obado to Scott to set up first-and-goal at the eight-yard line. Obado punched it in on a quarterback sneak, but fumbled the two-point attempt to make it a 14-6 Liberty lead with 8:05 left in the half. The Flames added to their lead on a 52yard field goal by Lunsford to extend the lead to 17-6 with 2:56 remaining. On the next drive, Obado was sacked in his own end zone by Flames junior linebacker Nick Newman. Obado fumbled the ball, which his team recovered in the end zone to notch a safety for Liberty, giving the Flames a 19-6 lead. Following the safety, the Flames got the ball back with 1:50 to go in the half and great field position. However, on first-andgoal from the nine-yard line, Woodrum threw a quick pass that deflected off the hands of freshman receiver B.J. Farrow and was intercepted by Hornets safety Kevin Jocelyn. The Hornets ran the clock out following the turnover and the Flames took a 19-6 lead into halftime.
See START, B3
The Lady Flames volleyball team looks to add another chapter of success to its program history during the 2015 season after early exits in the Big South championship tournament in the past two seasons. Head coach Shane Pinder, the all-time winningest coach in Lady Flames volleyball history, heads into his 12th season at Liberty with a career record of 208-149 overall and 115-43 in Big South Conference games, according to libertyflames.com. Pinder believes his team has the talent to achieve its ultimate goal, win the Big South Championship this season. “Part of our culture is always to put ourselves into a position to win a championship,” Pinder said. “We want to be in a position at the end of the year to have a shot to win the Big South Championship and get to the NCAA tournament.” While Pinder believes his team has what it takes to be champions, he says there is so much more than that. “I think probably outside of that is that we play volleyball in a way that honors and glorifies the Lord,” Pinder said. With only six upperclassmen on the roster, some of the younger players will be expected to contribute on the court. One of those underclassmen is sophomore Hannah Weidner, a member of the 2014 Big South AllConference second team and AllFreshman team. Weidner echoed her head coach when discussing the goals for the upcoming season. “Our mission statement for Liberty volleyball is to glorify God,” Weidner said. “That’s honestly our main goal.” Although the Lady Flames are young, they return the two most experienced players at key positions, Jade Vorster at middle blocker and Caroline Douglas at outside hitter, both redshirt-seniors. “We (have) some older players in key positions,” Pinder said. “That’s going to help us in the attacking positions.” Vorster came to Liberty last season after transferring from the University of Hawaii. She earned Big South All-Conference second team honors in her first season with the Lady Flames. “She’s got great size and length,” Pinder said. “She understands the middle position. She was one of the top blockers in the league last year. In fact, she broke a (rally scoring) blocking record in the program last year (32 solo blocks).” Douglas has the most experience with the Lady Flames, but she has had some issues staying healthy throughout her career.
See SERVE, B4
M. Soccer vs. Marshall
Field Hockey vs. Richmond
M. Soccer vs. VMI
Football at. WVU
W. Soccer vs. VCU
Sept. 8 @ 6 p.m.
Sept. 8 @ 5 p.m.
Sept. 12 @ 2 p.m.
Sept. 12 @ 3 p.m.
Sept. 13 @ 2 p.m.
Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage
sports
B2 | September 8, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Two is better than one Sisters Ashleigh and Alyssa Hill have a bond that goes beyond the soccer field Bobby Keating rfkeating@liberty.edu
Best friends. Number one fans. Roommates. These all describe the relationship between sisters Ashleigh and Alyssa Hill. Now, the pair can add being regular members of the starting lineup for the Lady Flames soccer team to the list. Ashleigh Hill, a sophomore, welcomed her freshman sister to campus with open arms. As for advice for her younger sister, Ashleigh could sum it up with one line, “Don’t be a stupid, little freshman.” Although she is in her first year with the program, Alyssa Hill has quickly solidified her role with the team. Adam Godwin, an assistant coach, said that she could play at any college in the nation, including teams in the Power Five conferences. Alyssa is off to a fast start in the attack with five shots in four games. That puts her in the top four on the team for that important statistic. Alyssa is also the only freshman to start a game this season. According to Godwin, she is getting stronger every day. “Starting as a freshman, (Alyssa is already) doing a great job impacting the game,” Godwin said. As for her older sister, things are progressing just as nicely. Godwin said that Ashleigh Hill came a long way from being on
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
DOUBLE TROUBLE — Hill sisters work together to make the Lady Flames a better team. the fringes as a freshman to becoming a significant mainstay on the team’s defensive corps. How does one move from the bottom to the top of the pecking order in less than 12 months? Apparently, a familiar face can make all the difference. “I feel like I’m more positive and more encouraging,” Ashleigh said. “I definitely treat (the team) like
more of a family.” Going along with the kindred theme, the team’s word for the year happens to be “Ohana,” which in Hawaiian culture means family. Ashleigh admits that the saying means more to her as a result of having her sister wearing the same jersey. “I understand that my teammates are my family,”
Ashleigh said. And uniting as a single unit has made a big difference in boosting her play to the next level. She has been a key figure in a back line that has held the opposition to just one goal per game. As a result, she has received high praise from her coaching staff. “(She looks) like an All-
Conference central defender,” Godwin said. The sisters’ chemistry on the field began early on in life. Fueled by competition, the duo occasionally drove each other to tears while playing the beautiful game. “I remember always playing soccer together in the back yard, knocking each other down and we’re (still) the same way now,” Ashleigh said. But there is more to life than soccer. When it comes to their relationship off of the field, Ashleigh simply says, “We are best friends.” Not wanting to leave any room for question, the sisters decided to prove their friendship to each other by becoming roommates this year. Living together has proven to be beneficial to them both. “Coming in I was super nervous, and (Ashleigh) would always encourage me and tell me how great it is,” Alyssa said. It is no secret that the sisters share a bond that goes well outside of the field’s chalk. The only thing that is left uncertain is just how far they can help lead the Lady Flames this year and beyond. The Hill sisters next take the field at home for the Lady Flames Sept. 13 against VCU at 2 p.m.
KEATING is a sports reporter.
Liberty vs. West Virginia
Flames travel to Morgantown to battle the Mountaineers in FBS matchup Paul Vandenbosch prvandenbosch@liberty.edu
The Liberty Flames football team will have its first major test of the 2015 season when it faces the West Virginia Mountaineers on the road this Saturday Sept. 12. Both teams come into the contest 1-0, with Liberty picking up a 32-13 win at home against the Delaware State Hornets to start the season and West Virginia pounding the Georgia Southern Eagles, 44-0, at home to begin their 2015 campaign. Last Saturday’s victory over Delaware State showed many positive aspects of Turner Gill’s squad, but also revealed some weaknesses that must be addressed if the Flames hope to pull off the upset on the road. The Flames offense looked sharp at times, especially in the running game, where Desmond Rice and D.J. Abnar helped the Flames rack up 229 yards on the ground, but there were moments where the Flames stalled out on drives. The Flames will always try to establish the run early on, and sometimes it takes a few drives to get the running game going. But if it does get going, this offense is difficult to stop. Success on the ground opens up the playbook for play action passes and taking shots down the field. However, the Flames
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
ON A DIME — Flames running back D.J. Abnar cuts upfield against Delaware State. will most likely play it safe against a West the secondary. Chima Uzowihe and the Virginia defense that had four intercep- defensive front were impressive on Sattions against Georgia Southern, though urday, and West Virginia’s Skylar Howard Josh Woodrum is a big step up from tends to overthrow his receivers. If the Eagles Quarterback Favian Upshaw. Flames can keep him uncomfortable, it The biggest question mark for this could really alleviate the pressure from this game will be the Flames defense, namely young secondary.
As far as game experience is concerned, Wesley Scott is the most seasoned player in this secondary. This inexperienced group gave up a couple big plays that did not matter as much against Delaware State, but could come back to haunt them against a team of West Virginia’s caliber. Redshirt freshman Chris Turner was burned by Aris Scott on a 47-yard pass play in the second quarter and safety Alpha Jalloh (in his first season as a starter) was called for holding against Malik Golson early in the first quarter because Golson had him beat. Bottom line: if the Flames want to keep up with West Virginia, they will have to prevent the big plays. The Mountaineers have their share of playmakers on the outside with Shelton Gibson and Jovon Durante, so the Flames secondary will have its work cut out for it. Most importantly, this matchup could be a major factor in Liberty’s quest for FBS recognition. If this team hopes to be considered FBS-ready, it will have to prove it can compete with FBS teams such as West Virginia. If the Flames play up to par and do not beat themselves with foolish mistakes, do not rule out the possibility of an upset in Morgantown. VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.
sports
Liberty Champion | September 8, 2015 | B3
Well, it seems that a certain Big South football team is moving to the FBS. Unfortunately, that team is not Liberty. Instead, it is Liberty’s archrival, Coastal AUL Carolina. This recent VANDENBOSCH move has Liberty fans in an uproar, arguing that if Coastal is FBS-ready, then Liberty is definitely ready. Not so fast there, Flames Nation. I know, I might get a lot of flak for this, but Liberty is simply not ready to move to the FBS just yet. Operative word: yet. There is this idea that Liberty does not put enough people in the seats, and that is one of the reasons why they are still at the FCS level, but I think it has little to do with attendance and more to do with overall program success. Last year, Liberty beat Appalachian State — an FBS team — and Coastal on the road. The Flames went to the playoffs and proceeded to beat James Madison on the road before losing a heartbreaker at Villanova. It was a great season, but it was also the first time in program history that Liberty even made the playoffs. Coastal has made the playoffs in four of the past five seasons, winning at least one playoff game in three of those seasons. Plus, their last two playoff losses have come in the quarterfinals against North Dakota State, the eventual national champion.
A backup quarterback cannot have one good game and expect to be named the starter. He must work hard and consistently turn in good performances to even be considered. In the same way, Flames football cannot rely on one exceptional season to carry them to the FBS. Liberty must continue to return to the playoffs in the coming years and win some of those games — and maybe even a national championship. Liberty has two games scheduled against FBS opponents (Sept. 12 at West Virginia and Oct. 3 at Georgia State) this season, and those games will be very telling of whether or not this team is getting closer to being ready to move up. Last year was a huge step in the right direction, but as of right now, they are just not there yet. It seems odd to say, but if Liberty takes a page from Coastal’s book, they will be in the FBS eventually. A page, not the whole book. The Flames cannot control what Coastal does, but they can control what they do. So really, the road to the FBS runs through a simple idea: keep winning. VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.
We received this invitation based “ on what we’ve done, not what we’ve said.”
According to Matt Hogue, Director of Athletics at Coastal Carolina University, that is why they were invited to the FBS-affiliated Sun Belt Conference. My counterpart, the P to my J, Paul Vandenbosch, has stated that Liberty is not ready for the FBS. Since Coastal Carolina has apparently done what it takes to get the invite that Liberty has coveted for years, it seems best that we look at what they have “done.” The first thing to look at is attendance. According to goccusports.com, “Brooks Stadium has been ranked among the top stadiums in the nation in attendance based on capacity.” Brooks stadium holds approximately 9,400 fans, including a student section that holds a whopping 1,600 students called the “chantourage.” If Liberty is to mirror this model program, it must immediately decrease its stadium seating by about 10,000 and send roughly 75 percent of the students home. The Chants have spoken. The next thing to look at is Big South performance. Liberty has had at least a share of all but one conference championship since 2007. On the other hand, Coastal has had a share of four of the last seven Big South championships. It seems
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Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion
TOUCHDOWN — Desmond Rice dives for the end zone.
The Flames defense, led by senior defensive end Chima Uzowihe, who finished with 2.5 sacks in the game, harassed Obado all night, sacking him five times. The Flames were stout in the run game as well, holding the Hornets to negative seven rushing yards in the first half. According to Wesley Scott, it did not take the Flames defense long to adjust to the Hornets offense. “By the second or third series, we pretty much had them figured out,” Wesley Scott said. “Usually by then, you can tell what a team wants to do and what their motive for the game is.”
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if Liberty wants to boast the kind of Big South record that Coastal does, it must find a way to win less often. After all, four is better than seven in the world of Coastal Carolina. OEL Third, we will look at SCHMIEG performance against FBS teams. Coastal is 0-6 against FBS teams since 2008 with a combined score of 33151, and they have no FBS games scheduled for this season. On the other hand, Liberty is 2-5 with combined score of 240-179, and they have two FBS games scheduled for this season. Clearly, Liberty needs to schedule fewer games, score less points and win less games against premier opponents. Just look at the Chanticleers, they got shutout by FBS teams three times in the aforementioned span. That is what I call “done” and not “said.” So you know what Paul, I think you are right. Liberty does need to take “a page from Coastal’s book.” After all, actions speak louder than words. And I personally would not want Liberty to receive an invitation to the FBS based on “what we’ve said,” and not “what we’ve done.” SCHMIEG is the asst. sports editor.
After the Hornets went threeand-out to start the second half, the Flames scored on their first drive, which ended with Woodrum finding Peterson on a quick slant from six yards out for the score. The Flames failed to convert the two-point attempt, making it 25-6 with 8:15 left in the third quarter. The Hornets answered on the following drive, when Jamaal Jackson scored on a two-yard touchdown carry to cut the deficit to 25-13 with 5:32 left in the quarter. Liberty would score one more time on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Rice capped off a 12play, 65-yard drive with his second score of the night make it 32-13. Flames junior tight end Kendall Couamin was taken to the locker
room after sustaining a lower body injury on a low hit following a 30-yard reception at the end of the first quarter. Couamin did not return to the game. Peterson was taken from the sideline into the locker room early in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. He returned to the field later in the quarter but did not play the rest of the game. The Flames will head to Morgantown, West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers this Saturday, Sept. 12 at 3 p.m. They will be back in action at Williams Stadium on Sept. 19 to battle the Montana Grizzlies at 7 p.m. VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.
sports
B4 | September 8, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Seniors lead the way Lady Flames look to build on unprecedented success from 2014 season Kallie Britton kbritton@liberty.edu
The Liberty field hockey team is off to a strong 3-0 start this season, with victories over James Madison University (6-3), Penn (4-3) and Lafayette (2-1). Competing as an independent, apart from a conference this season, the Field Hockey team looks to return to the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row. The major success of such a relatively young program can be attributed to its mutual respect and compassion for one another, senior leadership, and a thirst for a championship. The team of 24 became well acquainted with one another when they spent two weeks in Virginia Beach for the preseason while their field was being refurbished. They trained twice a day and the time away from campus allowed for plenty of team bonding. Senior captains Erin Dombach, Natalie Barr and Sarah Gipe believe in cultivating an atmosphere of mutual respect between everyone on the team. “We want to be intentional and have the same friendships with freshman as we do with people in our own class and vice versa,” Barr said. “I think it’s about trying to get everyone on the team to understand that we’re all equal and just kind of encouraging and loving each other through it all.” With 10 seniors returning for their final year, the team is more experienced than ever for the NCAA tournament. This parLeah Seavers | Liberty Champion ticular class knows what it means to win, STRONG — Junior midfielder Bethany Barr loads up to send a pass across the field toward the goal. personally experiencing two Northern PaHowever, this year will be slightly dif- those programs,” Barr said. “Every time we all season long. cific (NorPac) conference championships and two NCAA tournament appearances in ferent than previous years because Liber- come against a high ranked team we have a “We really believe each and every game ty is no longer competing in the NorPac. lot of respect for them but ultimately be- matters,” Murphy said. “We are looking at only four years. “Since they came in four years ago, they The field hockey team will be competing lieve as well that we can compete with them every single game as an opportunity to get have really been the driving force of this independent of a conference this year, and beat them and that’s why we have them into the NCAA tournament.” program being in the Top 20,” Murphy ultimately allowing them to build their on our schedule.” The Liberty field hockey team will take on Liberty has already displayed this confi- Richmond in their next home game Tuessaid. “So I think even though we have three own schedule, and include teams of a dence with their 3-0 record to start the sea- day, Sept. 8. said captains in that group of 10, every high caliber. “I think that every time we come against son. Since they will not be able to enter the single girl in that class is a leader and every single girl has entirely bought into our vi- (top 20) teams we see it as an opportunity NCAA tournament through conference to raise our level of game and learn from play, they need to perform at a high level BRITTON is a sports reporter. sion and mission.”
Wolfpack attacks
Flames cannot overcome early deficit against NC State Denton Day dday26@liberty.edu
The N.C. State Wolfpack pulled out a 2-0 win over the Liberty Flames men’s soccer team in a non-conference game Sept. 4 at Osborne Stadium to win for the fifth time in six meetings. The Flames started the contest with some early pressure on the Wolfpack’s side of the field. The Wolfpack quickly made its way onto the offensive attack with several early opportunities in the first half. The Wolfpack’s first scoring chance came off a corner kick that was headed away by Flames freshman defender Nico Bellarde. Minutes later, the Wolfpack received another corner kick that was well defended by the Flames. The Flames cleared the ball 25 yards away from the net where it met the foot of Wolfpack sophomore defender Caleb Duverney who directed it back into the top left corner of the net giving N.C. State the 1-0 lead. “I thought (N.C. State) had actually committed a foul and our guy tried to get their guy off us,” Flames Coach Jeff Alder said. “They called a foul on us and their guy hit a shot of a lifetime. Our guy should not have committed a foul there. Even though the guy grabbed him, just stand him up—don’t get caught up in all that.” The Wolfpack took that 1-0 lead into halftime. In the second half the Flames came out aggressive and senior midfielder Khalil Karl showed some fancy footwork, dribbling the ball between the legs of three defenders to move it down the field. The energy the Flames brought would quickly be silenced as N.C. State would strike again. Wolfpack midfielder Yanni Hachem found an opening in the Flames defense and sent a cross over the middle that was headed in by forward Tanner Roberts to extend the Wolfpack lead to 2-0. “We worked hard. We competed hard. They just scored two good goals on the day,” Alder said. “Our forwards and attacking midfielders have to do a better
START continued from B1 “Caroline has had great success here,” Pinder said. “The unfortunate part for her has been her health, … but the years she is healthy, … she can get after it. She’s one of the leading attackers in the league when she’s healthy.” Through all her years with the Lady Flames, Douglas believes there’s something different about this team that sticks out. “Every year we have great chemistry,” Douglas said. “But there is just something special about this team. It’s something you really can’t put your finger on. It’s awesome because all of these girls have such great relationships with God and that makes our relationships with each other so much easier.” Douglas believes that regardless of the outcome of the season, she wants the team to have a positive impact on the other teams they play and shine a light for Christ. The Lady Flames kicked off the season by winning the Liberty Invitational; recording wins over UNCG, Fairleigh Dickinson and Hampton. Liberty will head to Boone, North Carolina, Sept. 11-12 for the Appalachian State Invitational. DILLARD is a sports reporter.
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
CROSSED — Flames attacker Kurt Meyers sends a ball into the box. job of creating more chances and taking advantages of those chances.” The Flames would have one more opportunity late in the game. Redshirt sophomore defender Kurt Myers sent a cross that was just left of the goal and just right of the foot of senior forward Blessing Tahuona. “We can definitely build upon the effort that everyone showed and that’s really all you can ask,” Flames senior defender
Tim Harbison said. N.C. State outshot the Flames seven shots to one and had two more corner kicks. Flames redshirt junior goalkeeper Jeremy Lee made two saves on the night. The Flames next game will be a nonconference matchup against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at Osborne Stadium. DAY is a sports reporter.
Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion
BUMP — Lady Flames take first place.
feature
Liberty Champion | September 8, 2015 | B5
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
ADVENTURE — Throughout the challenge, team members stuck together to finish tasks such as covering a balloon in shaving cream and shaving it without popping the balloon.
Hydaway hosts challenge Teams of four battle through mental and physical obstacles around the lake Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu
As the fog hung over the lake at Camp Hydaway around 9 a.m Saturday Sept. 5, students hunched over kayaks, preparing to push the brightly colored boats into the water. The “3 … 2 … 1 … ,” countdown by Josh Yeoman, director of Outdoor Recreation for Student Activities (SA), was soon drowned out by the loud sound of teammates cheering on the rest of their posse to victory. The third annual SA Adventure Challenge had begun.
For the 15 four-person teams, the race offered different obstacles including a two-person kayak shuttle, three separate one-mile loops around the lake, a fitness challenge with activities such as a tire run, burpees, a military crawl, a crab walk and lunging for a set distance. After the fitness challenge, teams were instructed to apply shaving cream to a balloon and shave it without popping. At the end of the competition, teammates had to carry a log under, over and under an obstacle three different times while every team member kept a hand on the log. “If you want to test yourself physically
and mentally and you want an opportunity to work in a team setting, I think it’s a great opportunity for students,” Yeoman said. Two heats later, some teams finished strong by sprinting across the finish line together while others dragged themselves under the inflatable, marking the end of the race, but only one team dominated. Team Jalapeño Business finished in first overall with a time of 47 minutes and 15 seconds. The team was new to the competition according to team captain, John Sherret, first year Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) student. “None of us had done this before, we had no idea what to expect,” Sherret said.
“ … If you’re somebody who really likes to study, it’s worth the time taking off to come (to Camp Hydaway).” Sherret encouraged other students to use Camp Hydaway for events such as the Adventure Challenge. “If you’re not somebody who’s super competitive, and you want to have fun, you will have fun,” Sherret said. “If you’re somebody who’s competitive, it’s good for that too.” For more information about SA Outdoors and upcoming events, visit liberty. edu/campusrec/studentactivities. TILLER is the feature editor.
Breaking down barriers Liberty professor Dr. Jaeshil Kim will spend a semester teaching in Vietnam Rachael Graf rgraf5@liberty.edu
Photo Provided
SERVICE — Kim teaches linguistics. When Jaeshil Kim became a Christian 20 years ago, she had no idea where God would take her. Originally from Korea, Kim is a professor of linguistics at Liberty University and holds a doctorate in linguistics from the University of California-Irvine (UCI). After completing her doctoral program, Kim taught linguistics courses at UCI for two years before becoming a faculty member at Liberty in 2007. “Ever since I came to Liberty, I have been blessed with so many good students who are not only academically strong, but are also very godly and very sincere,”
Kim said. According to Kim, her students are the highlight of her teaching career, adding that she prayed about leaving UCI because she wanted to have more intentional relationships with her students, something she could not do in classes of more than 300 people each. In addition to her linguistic interests, Kim has a passion for mission work and sharing the gospel, a passion that led to a mission trip with a group of Liberty students to Thailand in 2011 abroad to teach English to underprivileged children. Upon returning to the United States, Kim realized that her short-term mission trip had become much more than that to her — she had a burden that she could not shake. “Ever since I came back from Thailand in 2011, I realized that there is a great need in the mission field for helping the missionary teachers who are actually teaching English and ministering in the field,” Kim said. “Whenever I went into the mission field, I encountered lots of missionary teachers who were having a hard time teaching English at the schools that they run or coming up with good curriculums.” Knowing that teaching English is a common way that missionaries build bridges to sharing the gospel, Kim felt compelled to do something about the problem she was seeing. So she did. Last year, Kim designed a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate workshop especially for missionaries who are teaching English in the field. She then traveled with Paul Muller, an English and linguistics professor at Liberty, and a group of students to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to put the workshop into action — teaching missionaries from
five different countries — for three weeks. “I encourage my students to teach (English) with humble hearts,” Kim said. “You really have to put yourself in their (language learner’s) shoes. When you’re teaching English, you have to discern your students’ needs first. They are struggling with the language; you have to come up with a way to help your students. And of course, by doing that, you are going to learn from your students.” The workshop was a success, and Kim became even more aware of her desire to be directly engaged in international mission work. For Kim, missions is something that is also deeply personal. She was first introduced to the gospel by a missionary couple living in California, during her first year of the doctoral program at UCI. The couple had been missionaries in Thailand for more than 30 years, ministering to the children of lepers, who were often discriminated against because of the disease of their parents. They were societal outcasts, and lacked educational opportunities. In response, the couple started a school for the children of lepers in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. Reflecting on the influence that missionaries have had in her own life, Kim began praying about how she should be involved in the mission field. In January of this year, she received a call from a representative of an organization called Bridge Builders Global (BBG), who told her that they had been praying about developing some educational opportunities in Vietnam and neighboring Southeast Asian countries. She was then asked to pray about her involvement in the effort. “They told me about this opportunity, (and) I think that it is not from them, but
it’s actually from God,” Kim said. “So I told them (that) I’d been praying about this kind of education opportunity that I could do.” Kim said she began praying over the invitation, and in February, she had her answer: she was ready to be a part of the team. Thinking that her time at Liberty had come to and end, she shared her calling with other faculty members from the English and Modern Languages department, and found that they were just as excited as she was. And they still wanted her to teach at Liberty. This past March, a proposal was drafted that would allow Kim to teach linguistics residentially one semester per year, while spending the rest of her time in Vietnam. The proposal was accepted by the university this April, and Kim will return to Liberty in early January 2016 to teach. As a member of the BBG team, Kim will be assessing the educational needs of the Vietnamese people, specifically working on the development of a K-12 school and the creation of an effective English education curriculum. To Kim, seeking the Lord’s will means being proactive “When God calls you, do not hesitate,” Kim said. Monday, Sept. 7, Kim will travel for a total of 23 hours to Vietnam, the country she will call home for the next few months. “I’m excited about this opportunity, but since I’ve never done this before, I feel like I’m stepping into this great unknown,” Kim said. “And yes, I am a little bit scared, but I think God is in control. It’s not me. So I just depend on him.”
GRAF is a feature reporter.
feature
B6 | September 1, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Market serves students Sodexo’s second annual event showcases local businesses and vendors Dominique Howerton dhowerton5@liberty.edu
As students and faculty settle themselves into a new semester, vendors at Liberty’s Farmer’s Market welcome returning students with anticipation. The farmer’s market serves hundreds of students and Lynchburg residents a variety of goods ranging from homemade dog treats to personalized accessories. The Barbeque Bistro of Lynchburg is one of many businesses present at the farmer’s market. Owner J.R. Revely explained the origins of his barbecue business and how his father played a large part. “My dad (who is) retired military … (was) off for the summer,” Revely said. “He kept waking me up at eight o’clock (in the morning) so I said, ‘you have too much time on your hands, let’s do a barbecue,’ and that was how we started our barbecue food truck that we had open all summer.” Another vendor, Elizabeth Keating, was inspired to begin her business Aprons for Asia after a mission trip to East Asia. “I needed to raise money for this (mission) trip (to east Asia) that was coming up in the summer,” Keating said. “I was praying about what I should do and my mom is a seamstress so she donated all these fabrics to me. I had already made the apron I’m wearing and I remembered that was pretty easy, so I figured I could sell these.” In addition to local businesses, the farmer’s market also hosts local food trucks. Rebecca Bennett can often be seen inside the Uprooted Food Truck, an expansion of the local store, The Corner Market. “It all started on a farm in Gladys, Virginia,” Bennett said. “That is actually my family’s farm. We started raising organic beef, pork and poultry and marketing it directly to cut out the middleman and then as the
business grew, we sold at different farmers markets and made a name for ourselves. Last year, we opened The Corner Market and about a month and a half ago we opened the food truck.” Another regular vendor, Jessica Borneman, owner of Tanker Tots LLC, has a unique business at the market — dog treats. According to Borneman, the business was born after discovering that their pet dog Tank had several food allergies. “We came up with the recipe on our own and it is unique to the industry,” Borneman said. “It has millet, sweet potato and egg with no additives in the food.” Though filled with vendors from the surrounding area, the farmer’s market is not without its own Liberty ties. Sodexo, the official food provider on campus, both hosts and participates in the market. “Liberty’s farmer’s market is sponsored by Sodexo in that we provide coordination for all the vendors,” Unit Marketing Coordinator for Sodexo Casey Guise said. “It is all coordinated mainly by the Sodexo district manager, Anthony Delligatti, who has a passion for farmers markets.” In addition to the farmer’s market, Sodexo will also be sponsoring a craft fair this semester. “In December, Sodexo will host the Liberty Craft Fair,” Guise said. “We did this last year and it was a hit, so there will be another opportunity for those and even more vendors to sell their products.” The Liberty Farmer’s Market is open every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. until Nov. 12 in the Doc’s Diner parking lot. Interested businesses can email anthony.delligatti@sodexo.com for more information regarding setting up a booth.
HOWERTON is a feature reporter.
RJ Goodwin | Liberty Champion
MOBILE — While others companies use booths and tables, food trucks are also a part of the experience.
RJ Goodwin | Liberty Champion
SPECIALTY — Vendors such as Golf Park Coffee Company branched out to potential customers.
Rock the block party Student Activities hosts its annual event to kickstart the new school year
Amber Tiller atiller2@liberty.edu
Travel north down University Boulevard, and a heavy amount of construction on the LaHaye Ice Rink is generally the only reason to stop and stare. Saturday, Aug. 29 though, past the fences holding dozers and dirt, the LaHaye Student Union parking lot bustled with students instead of cars as the annual Student Activities (SA) Block Party kicked off the new school year. The stage, set up in the corner of the parking lot closest to Williams Stadium, provided space for students and faculty to browse around some of the LaHaye Student Union parking lot filled with stations featuring carnival rides, inflatable obstacles, and booths with games like ring-toss, and Liberty-sanctioned clubs. The Student Government Association (SGA), organized for all of Liberty’s clubs to participate in the event, according to SGA President Quincy Thompson. “From an SGA perspective, we’ve had a lot of club participation,” Thompson said. “So (many) more clubs are at this Block Party than in years past … so that’s been really cool to see, getting students
Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion
ENTERTAINMENT — Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors and the duet JOHNNYSWIM performed for the crowd. interact(ing) with clubs.” Students were able to go directly from one club table to the next as they were lined up on the fence line side by side. Liberty Jujitsu club president Aaron Bonaguide verified that making the clubs more tangible for students helps students weigh their choices when thinking about club participation. “We would love more op-
portunities to do stuff like this,” Bonaguide said. “It’s a really great opportunity to grow the club and to really showcase one aspect of activities that is available to students. … (This event) shows that not only (does Liberty) have big events, but we also have room for your personal interest.” Clubs spanned a spectrum from the Liberty University American Sign
Language Club to the Book Club to the National Guard. Food stands also provided diversity for Block Party attendees. Food options included BBQ, Dominoes, Bahama Snow-Shack, Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts, Golf Park Coffee Company and more. As students and faculty snacked and socialized around the many
tents and tables, many returning Block Party attendees had a thought in the back of their minds — will it rain this year? “Rain or shine, (the block parties are) always fun,” junior Megan Kruse said. In previous years, guests have left concerts drenched from head to toe, but this year the only thing in the night sky was the smoke from the fireworks set
off behind Thomas Road Baptist Church. JOHNNYSWIM and Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors headlined this year’s concert. “Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors (and) JOHNNYSWIM are different (than other tours featured at Liberty because of their music style) but they’re good enough that you can rock n’ roll with them,” junior Garrett Hendrick said. The Block Party allowed students the opportunity to hear different bands, eat a hot pastry and have something fun to do on a Saturday night. In addition to these social activities, the visibility of campus clubs at the Block Party offered a practical purpose students want to see again. “(SA) did a great job with the variety and with the different (clubs) from Liberty represented,” junior Morgan Rakes said. “I think the rest of the student body would agree to say maybe we could do more than one block party a year ...” For more information on SA and upcoming events, visit liberty.edu/campusrec/studentactivities.
TILLER is the feature editor.
feature
B6 | September 8, 2015 | Liberty Champion
Bus driver Rick for Convo Edwards uses his occupation to encourage students and share the Gospel William Young weyoung@liberty.edu
For Richard Edwards, being a bus driver has never been a job; it’s a full-time ministry. The Liberty transit employee, commonly known as “Bus Driver Rick,” wants to be known as more than a bus driver. Edwards, who goes by Rick, uses his unique platform to minister to the students he encounters at Liberty. “True ministry isn’t dependent on a job,” Edwards said while stirring his iced tea with a straw. “True ministry comes from being where Christ wants you to be right where you are.” After moving to the Lynchburg area three years ago in order to better serve his family, Edwards did not have a lot of time to wonder where he thought God was leading him. He was offered a job driving buses three days after moving in. And if there was any doubt that driving buses is not what God planned for Rick’s life, it does not show in his testimony. “I can’t wait to wake up every day and meet that person that I can be an encouragement to,” Edwards said. “I do what I do because of the students. I love the students.” Simple acts of encouragement and gratitude is what Edwards lives for. His services to the students come in all different forms. From greeting everyone steps on his bus, to talking with students on a personal level, to stopping the bus in the middle of a route and praying with them. In the middle of describing his love for Liberty students, Rick stood up and called out a student’s name, waving at her while she walked by. She smiled and waved back. “I love to remember names,” Edwards said. “They don’t expect you to remember their name, but it lets them know I care.” Edwards’ care for students has been anything but unnoticed. Students have taken note of his compassion since his arrival on campus, and his impact on stu-
Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion
SHARE — Liberty transit driver aims to help students by living out the Gospel and meeting with students to motivate them. dents has evolved into a recent movement to get Bus Driver Rick to speak at Liberty’s Convocation. The Facebook page, “Bus Driver Rick for LU Convo,” has received a lot of support since its creation in August – more than 900 likes – and page creator James Limauro hopes that the page will help influence Edwards’ chances of being featured in the Spring Convocation lineup. “He [Rick] is already a popular figure on campus,” Limauro said. “It would be awesome to hear from such a down to earth and regular person that students already know.” To Edwards, the movement for him to speak at Convocation is mostly flattering, though if given the chance he said he would accept the opportunity to share his testimony and the love of Christ. “I don’t think it will happen,” Edwards said, considering his chances of being cho-
sen to speak at convocation. “But if it’s a confirmation that God is successfully using me to encourage students, then I’m happy with that.” Despite his rapid popularity at Liberty, Edwards takes no responsibility for his influence on the students. According to him, his love for the students comes from Christ’s love for him. And it is his wife, Karen, that has become the ultimate model of Christ in his life. “Every man has a greater woman in his life,” Edwards said. “If any person should get the attention, it should be my wife.” Edwards admitted that it is tricky making sure pride does not become a factor in his service to students. Though he says the popularity gives him a platform to share the love of Christ, prayer is constantly needed to make sure he does not think of himself as bigger than his cause. “If it’s about ‘Bus Driver Rick,’
then I blew it,” Edwards said. “But if it’s about Jesus, then I think I’ve been pretty successful.” Above all else, Rick said he hopes to be nothing more than an encourager to students. “Remember that the greatest value in life is learning to love everyone,” Edwards said. “Genuine love will always be worth it.” Bus Driver Rick encourages anyone that wants to talk or meet up with him to e-mail him at raedwards@liberty.edu or follow him on Twitter (@busdriverrick) and Instagram (@lubusdriverrick).
YOUNG is a feature reporter.
From stage to big screen Theater major Christie Osterhus starred in a satirical Christian film over sumEmma Maurer emaurer@liberty.edu
One of the most important lessons students can learn in college is that if they want to achieve their goals, they must be the ones who seek out opportunities for themselves. Liberty student Christie Osterhus has done just that. Over the summer, Osterhus starred in the movie “Shooting the Prodigal.” A senior theater performance major who also has an interest in film and keeps current with local casting agents, Osterhus noticed a casting post on Richmond-based casting director, Anne Chapman’s website. Soon after, Osterhus submitted audition materials online. After an in-person callback, she was cast for the film. According to the film’s website, shootingtheprodigal.com, the film is set in Homer, Alabama and centers around Brother Bob Cross, a pastor who tries to fill his father’s shoes, but with little success. As a result, the church is slowly dying. In one last effort to evangelize, Brother Bob decides to make a movie despite a lack of funding. One of the congregation’s members, Aunt Judith, agrees to fund the film if her nephew, Josh Blume, a New York Film School student who is lacking inspiration for his final thesis film, agrees to direct. However, Blume brings in a unique cast of characters who challenge Brother Bob’s deeply-held prejudices including a gay costume designer and an African-American cameraman. In the midst of all this chaos, Blume begins to fall for Cross’ daughter, Emily, portrayed by Osterhus, who is sick of all the hypocrisy in the church and “wants nothing more (than) to get out of the Podunk.” “What’s really cool is seeing the pastor’s transformation and how he goes from trying to please everyone on the outside, but then realizes when it really comes down to it, it’s about loving people,” Osterhus said. “It doesn’t really matter how the world perceives you as long as you’re loving and serving other people.” Osterhus believes this film will break down the barriers of traditional Christian
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
CALLBACK — Liberty University’s Christie Osterhus took a main role in the new movie, “Shooting the Prodigal.” filmmaking because it tells a story through comedy rather than strictly regurgitating the Gospel. “This film has a really great message about loving people and breaking down the walls of judgment and discrimination,”Osterhus said. “ … showing that we should all just love each other.” Osterhus hopes the film will have an impact on the way future Christian films are made. Through her participation in the film, Osterhus learned a few lessons. “With theater, you do what you’re told,
(but) in film you have a voice,” Osterhus said. “When it comes down to it, you have to take responsibility for your art because at the end of the day, it’s your face up there (on the screen) and not anyone else’s.” After graduation, Osterhus hopes to find an agent and continue acting, whether it’s on the screen or stage. “Part of me will always want to switch back and forth because it sharpens you as an actor to be able to do both,” Osterhus said. “It’s a different style, but it stretches and challenges you, so it’s im-
portant. Shakespeare is something I will continue to do because it conditions you as an actor. If you can do Shakespeare, you can do anything.” For more information on “Shooting the Prodigal,” visit the website at: www.shootingtheprodigal.com.
MAURER is a feature reporter.
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Liberty Champion | September 8, 2015 | B7
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FEATURE
B8
September 8, 2015
testing the limits
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
COMPETE — Fifteen teams showed for the annual Student Activities’ Adventure Challenge to participate in fitness and mental challenges, log carrying, a kayak shuttle and a 5k.
FOR FULL STORY SEE B5
Training for the trails
Tryouts begin Sept. 8 for the annual Trails to Rails event hosted by Snowflex Matt Pierce mpierce17@liberty.edu
The Trails To Rails competition on Candler’s Mountain begins Tuesday, Sept. 8. Inexperienced competitors will hit the slopes in hopes of capturing the grand prize at the finish line. Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre and Brent Washburn, the
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the challenge can tryout Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Snowflex Centre. Directly after the tryouts, at 8 p.m., Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre Sodexo will host their “late-night lockout” for all who have tried out. The festivities conclude by 11 p.m. that night. Washburn and other members of the Snowflex staff will evaluate competitors specifically
The series is unique ... (it) features beginners in a competitive ... program.
director of External Operations hosts the Trails To Rails, a twomonth long training program for beginner level skiers and snowboarders in a competition style setting. Students also have the opportunity to enter the program without any fees. “The series is unique and there is no other like it as it features beginners in a competitive training program,” Washburn said. Anyone who wishes to take on
— BRENT WASHBURN looking at attitude, willingness to learn and their overall ability to pick up the sport. Washburn looks to create teams of six to compete against each other from every corner of campus. The five different areas that students can form their teams from are East Campus, Residential Commons, The Circle/South Campus, The Hill/The Annex and Off Campus according to the Liberty Snowflex Centre website.
“The value of the series is incredible as it allows the teams to learn high-caliber snowboarding in an unmatched amount of time when compared to the rest of the snow sports industry,” Washburn said. The final competition will take place on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. One of the teams will be crowned victorious by the end of night and receive the grand prize. Each member of the winning team will receive a new Zion snowboard and the MVP will also receive boots and bindings. The winner of last year’s Trails To Rails competition will not be allowed to compete this year. The Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre offers other competitions throughout the year as well as ski and snowboard lessons from beginners to advanced. Go to www.liberty.edu/snowflex for more information.
PIERCE is a feature reporter.
Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion
AIR TIME — The competition will be held Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.