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Volume 33 | Issue 10 Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Tell the world

take me out to the ball game

Preparations for Guatemala Elizabeth Lapp elapp@liberty.edu

The Liberty University Spanish Institute will be sending 15 students to Guatemala May 11 to July 6 in order to learn Spanish while also ministering to the Guatemalan people.

Dr. David Towles has organized this trip for each of the past 18 years, combining six credits’ worth of Spanish instruction with global missions.

Students are able to pick what area of missions they want to work in, with options ranging from working with orphans and in schools to helping in hospitals and working with the physically challenged.

“This represents what Dr. Falwell used to call action-oriented curriculum,” Towles said. “You’re not just sitting in classes learning about verbs, you’re sitting in class learning about verbs and then going outside and using those verbs to share the gospel into homes where nobody speaks English. ... This is not just studying Spanish so I can be smarter than somebody else.

This is studying Spanish, so I can be somebody else’s servant and make a difference in their lives.”

The trip is broken into two parts, moving students from partial to total immersion in the Spanish language and Guatemalan culture. The first month’s focus is on learning the Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion

See TRAVEL, A8

STRIKEOUT — Junior pitcher Thomas Simpson hurls a pitch toward a Duke batter Tuesday, April 19. See full story on B1.

Celebrating service CSER volunteer receives award and scholarship for commitment to serving the elderly Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion

CARE — Junior Anna Cooper was honored at Convocation for her service.

When Anna Cooper began volunteering at Spring Arbor of Albemarle Assisted Living in Albemarle, North Carolina during her sophomore year of high school, she never could have imagined the impact she would have on the elderly or the lessons she would learn.

“The experience of learning from them is far richer than my ability to serve them,” Cooper, a junior nursing student at Liberty University, said.

Cooper was honored at Convocation Friday, April 22 for winning this school year’s

Christian/community service (CSER) volunteer of the year award. Dr. Lew Weider, director of the CSER department, presented the recipient with the award, while Tyler Falwell, the director of Alumni Relations, presented Cooper with a $5,000 scholarship from the green cord campaign.

At the award presentation, Cooper was joined by Christy Crisco, activities director at Spring Arbor, and the CSER supervisor who nominated Cooper for the award.

“It did not matter what was asked of her,” Crisco said of Cooper in her nomination. “She was there, and she did it cheerfully, lovingly and always with a smile. She brought a joy and a young spirit with her each day that she came.

The residents would look forward to when Ms. Anna was coming.”

Cooper began volunteering at Spring Arbor for her senior project in high school, but it has developed into a passion she has maintained in college and also the place where she completes her required 20 hours per semester of CSER credit.

She said she would spend time with the Spring Arbor residents doing whatever was needed.

“Women all love manicures, so I would do that,” Cooper said. “Then (I’d be) getting them into the dining hall and doing various activities, games, going on outings,

See CSER, A2

Flood victims receive relief

LU Send Now provides team to help Orange County, Texas flood victims

Matthew Pierce mpierce17@liberty.edu

Earlier this month, students and faculty of Liberty University offered their time and energy to provide disaster relief to the people of Orange County, Texas where many had lost their homes and all of their belongings.

Though 12 people went on the trip, some of them previously did

not even know that there was any sort of disaster happening in that area of the country.

Near the border of Louisiana and about 100 miles east of Houston, roads and homes continue to flood as emergency personnel try to assess the ongoing situation. Samaritan’s Purse, whom LU Send Now partnered with on the trip, continues to work in the area by offering assistance and disaster

relief to whoever is in need.

“Honestly, it was heartbreaking,” Austin Jones, a team member, said. “You could tell the homeowners would try to be strong and act like it wasn’t bothering them, but you really were throwing away everything that they had. It was stuff like pictures that they couldn’t keep just because it had too much water damage.”

With hundreds displaced from

the floods, the LU Send Now team had the opportunity to serve at three different houses and do demolition work by tearing up flooring and parts of the walls of the homes, as well as throwing away the personal items of the people who had lost their homes.

Kelsey Baker, a team leader on the trip, described her experience on this trip as one she is thankful she did not miss. After serving

INSIDE THE CHAMPION

News

The Farmer’s Market returns to campus at the Doc’s Diner parking lot.

A2

Opinion

A student’s opinion on how Christians should react to pre-natal A5 sex selection.

Sports Senior men’s lacrosse player juggles student leadership role and athletic competition. B2

Feature

Preview of the 8th annual Vintage Lynchburg spring market.

B6

on another LU Send Now trip to Mississippi earlier this semester, she explained this trip was different because of the effect it had on her in the midst of a season in her life that she describes as “restoration.”

“I feel like Texas was another piece in that healing process for

See TEXAS, A2

News Opinion

A1 A4

Sports Feature

B1 B5

news

A2 | April 26, 2016 | Liberty Champion

New seasonal goodness

Liberty University’s Farmer’s Market kicks off with new selection of local goods Taylor Frost tfrost2@liberty.edu

Fresh vegetables, donuts and seasonal fruit are just a few of the items sold at Liberty University’s Farmer’s Market, which opened its 2016 selling season April 14.

According to Duke Davis, general manager at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall, the Farmer’s Market has been a “huge success” since it began two years ago. Its purpose is to unite the community and students on campus by offering a weekly Farmer’s Market each Thursday from 3:30 - 6 p.m. in Doc’s Market Square.

“We bring in local farmers, vendors and artisans and invite them to come in and share what they have,” Davis said. “It really helps to educate students, faculty and staff and draw the community into this location here.”

One of the partnerships the Farmer’s Market has is with the Morris Campus Farm. Kyle Herrington, education and event coordinator at the campus farm, shared that they are trying to give students and the community options to buy local and fresh produce.

“This gives folks the opportunity to eat fresh vegetables that were grown locally,” Herrington said. “This is important because a typical meal can travel 1,500 miles to get to your plate. So, whether it is from us or someone else, we encourage folks to eat as local as possible because they will be getting greater nutrient density in those foods.”

Herrington explained how the campus farm’s goal is to educate students by partnering with the Farmer’s Market. During the first four weeks of the market, they will

TEXAS continued from A1 me personally,” Baker said. “(I was) reminded of the world beyond Liberty … to see hurting people, to see the lost and to see the Lord’s provision and to see how much he chases after people.

Then for me as a believer, (I was able to be) intentional with never wasting an opportunity to share Christ with others.”

Jones explained there were moments when members of the team would take a break from demolition work to sit and hear the stories of the people whose homes they were working on as well as share their personal faith in Jesus Christ with them.

“We live in a society now where we are all trying to make ourselves look good, but I didn’t go there to represent Austin Jones or Liberty University or Samaritan’s Purse,” Jones said. “We all actually went there to represent the body of Christ.”

When Jones received the phone call asking him if he would be

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

ARTISAN — Vendors sell homemade merchandise each Thursday at the Farmer’s Market located in the Doc’s Diner parking lot. be featuring a “veggie of the week” and providing nutritional info as well as a cooking demonstration of that vegetable.

Kristina DiSanto, registered dietician at Liberty University, said that she has joined efforts with the campus farm to help with the cooking demonstration for the “veggie of the week.” For the first week of the Farmer’s Market, she made a wilted kale salad with kale from the campus farm.

“I find out what foods the farm is currently growing and find a simple recipe or two that will utilize them in a tasty way,” DiSanto said. “The farm brings them to the market, and then I cook the food, give out samples, and provide the recipe. The peo-

willing to go, he initially thought that it was a prank. They called him on April Fool’s Day, and the team served in Texas April 5-11. When Jones realized it was not a joke, he jumped at the opportunity to go and serve.

Though initially weary of taking another week off of work to go, Baker explained that she is so thankful that she decided to go because of how she saw God work through her teammates, the people they served, as well as in her own life. However, Baker knows that just because the team is back from their trip, Samaritan’s Purse and the people of Texas still need people to come help.

“They need more volunteers,” Baker said. “If you know anyone in Texas or you and a group of friends could take a few days and drive down, once you’re there, Samaritan’s Purse will have housing for you in a church … and they provide all your meals. Anyone can help. You just go to samaritanspurse.org and fill out the volunteer form.”

ple who like it can then go buy those exact ingredients over at the farm’s table. This is a way we’re able to promote healthy eating, local foods and the campus farm all at the same time.”

Davis said 200-250 people attend the Farmer’s Market each week. However, he hopes to see that number continue to grow from week to week.

There are currently 48 vendors signed up to participate in this year’s Farmer’s Market, which lasts from April 14 to November 11. Davis said that they have increased the number of vendors they have from previous years.

Eight of the vendors are current Liberty

In Houston, Texas and the surrounding communities, an ongoing flood has killed seven individuals, flooded more than 6,700 homes, and caused $5 billion in damage. As of April 25, 340 billion gallons of rain has fallen within the past weeks, and it continues to fall.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

PIERCE is a news reporter.

SHARE WITH US

CONCERTS

CLUB EVENTS

Brian Johnson| Liberty Champion

WORK — Liberty students cleared out damaged homes.

Jonathan Gray| Liberty Champion

CLOSE TO HOME — Liberty students like junior Courtney Sullivan come from neighborhoods that were flooded.

- Jazz Ensemble Concert 8 p.m. | Towns-Alumni Lecture Hall - Library Lake Kayak 3 p.m. | JFL Lake - Bonfire 6:30 p.m. | Camp Hydaway - Farmer’s Market 3 p.m. | Doc’s Diner Parking Lot - Wind Symphony Concert 7 p.m. | Towns-Alumni Lecture Hall - Beauty and the Beast 7:30 p.m. | Tower Theater - Isaac Improv Show 8 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space - Freedom 4/24 Run 4 Their Lives 9 a.m. | Liberty University Campus - Laser Tag Tournament 8 p.m. | Liberty Paintball Fields

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FROST is a news reporter.

FYI

CAMPUS CALENDAR 4/26

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students, and five other vendors work for Liberty.

Davis said they are still accepting vendor applications. Each vendor is required to pay a $25 fee. All of that money is then donated to Miriam’s House, a women’s shelter in Lynchburg. Miriam’s House uses this money to help offset their costs and expenses.

“This is our way to give back to the community,” Davis said. “We have been doing this since the first year. … It really has had a great impact with the town. It shows that Liberty cares for the community.”

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CSER continued from A1 doing Bible readings.”

Crisco said Cooper was a special volunteer that residents would always enjoy having visit.

“Their eyes would just sparkle when she would come in,” Crisco said.

Cooper said her goal in volunteering at Spring Arbor was not to get the hours and be done. She wanted to get to know the residents personally.

“I wanted them to feel like I didn’t want to just pop in,” Cooper said. “I wanted to create relationships with them if possible. There’s a lot of Alzheimer patients as well, and just to learn how to help with them and to be there alongside them and their struggles and just to be patient with them is a lot of times just what they need.”

Crisco spoke highly of Cooper, saying she would put in more hours than necessary because she was deeply invested in the lives of the residents of Spring Arbor.

“She would come even when I didn’t know she was coming,” Crisco said. “It

wasn’t like it was scheduled when she was coming. She would just pop in when she had free time. She would come in before she went to her job.

She would come in when she got off of her job. She would come in on holidays. … She was just wonderful. She went above and beyond what a volunteer did.”

Despite a busy schedule of nursing classes and a double minor in Spanish and psychology, Cooper still makes time to visit the residents of Spring Arbor whenever she can. Crisco said her commitment and kindness were why Cooper deserved the award.

“I think it’s just her compassion, her willingness to want to be there,” Crisco said. “It wasn’t like she was there because she had to have hours. She was there because she wanted to be. Volunteers don’t get paid.

She was a willing volunteer.

She wasn’t there because she had to, and that’s why I nominated her. I wouldn’t nominate somebody that was just doing it because they had to.”

RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

news

Liberty Champion | April 26, 2016 | A3

Awarding the diversity

Center4ME to honor outstanding students and faculty members at banquet Shannon Ritter sritter2@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s Center for Multicultural Enrichment (Center4ME), with the help of several other schools and departments, will honor outstanding students and staff at the 21st annual Achievement Awards Saturday, April 30.

The event is a formal banquet consisting of a four-course dinner, entertainment and award presentations by the Center4ME, school of education, Office of Student Conduct, Office of Student Leadership and the Liberty University Multicultural Advisory Board, according to the Center4ME’s website.

There will be one award for Faculty/ Staff of the Year, and three separate students will be awarded Freshman of the Year, Lead Fellow of the Year and the Achievement Award. The winners will be announced the night of the banquet.

Allen Ancheril, associate director of campus relations for the Center4ME, described the lengthy selection process for the Achievement Awards. He said after they check with the Registrar’s Office, they begin their selections based on GPA. “If we have too many nominees, we drive the GPA up a little higher just to condense it,” Ancheril said.

He said, first, the department will send out emails to the nominees, informing them that they have been selected, and the nominees will either accept or decline. The individuals will then be interviewed by a panel, which consists of faculty and staff from across the university.

The interview constitutes 80 percent of the final score the panel uses to select a winner. The remaining 20 percent comes from the final vote, which is open to voting online until April 11.

Other qualifications for the finalists are ethnic minority, having eight disciplinary points or less within the previous semester, excelling in Christian character, and participating in the campus community, according to the Center4ME’s website.

“I think it’s important that we highlight individuals who come from differ-

Joel Coleman| Liberty Universtiy News Service

CELEBRATE— Liberty students attended the 20th annual Achievement Awards in 2015. ent backgrounds, and (the Achievement Awards are) a venue that explains that even though we’re different, we have our similarities,” Ancheril said. “We’re unique in our different functions, but we are united for the same purpose. That’s our department motto.”

Dr. Troy Matthews, associate professor and director for the Christian/Community Service Office, is one of this year’s finalists for the Faculty/Staff of the Year award and said he is honored to be included as a nominee.

“While some in society seek to extol one culture over another, the Center for Multicultural Enrichment offers a biblicallybased view of culture and people — one that recognizes we are all created in the image of God,” Matthews said. “To be recognized for such an award suggests that at some level, my life and work has appeared to others to be in alignment with the purpose and mission of Liberty University and the Center4ME. To me, that is the humbling and rewarding aspect of such an award. To God be the glory.”

Rachel Cartegna, a business: project management student from Medford Lakes, New Jersey, is one of the final-

ists for the Freshman of the Year award and said the nomination was a “complete surprise” to her.

“If I were to win, I would feel immensely honored, especially having met the other nominees, because I truly believe that they are all deserving of this recognition more than myself,” Cartegna said. “It has been a cool journey. I got to meet people such as the head of student housing and of student conduct during the panel interview process.

I’m looking forward to the event because who doesn’t like to get all dolled up every now and then?"

Jaylin Jones, a digital media student from Fort Leanord Word, Missouri, is one of three finalists for Lead Fellow of the Year.

He said this nomination is his first at Liberty and will encourage him to continue to be the best student he can be.

“The LEAD (Leadership Excellence and Academic Achievement) program has done so much for me by just being a family that reminded me of home,” Jones said. “If I win, I plan to represent this program to the best of my ability because they have done so much for me.”

Axa Yohannan, one of the finalists for the Achievement Award, is an aeronautics

student from Staten Island, New York.

She said the nomination was a confidence boost, a privilege and an act of God’s grace.

“It would definitely mean a lot if I am the winner,” Yohannan said. “It would just make me feel appreciated for working hard and keeping a good record in school along with being able to see God’s faithfulness come through in another amazing way.”

The 21st annual Achievement Awards are open to all who would like to attend.

Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased online through the ticket portal.

“It really does highlight academic achievement, and lot of these finalists have tremendous stories,” Ancheril said. “You hear some pretty amazing testimonies as well. To see where these people come from and then to see them giving their all at school, giving their all to the campus and their community, and to see them honored overall is just an amazing thing to see.”

For more information about the banquet and the finalists visit liberty.edu/studentaffairs/multicultural enrichment/.

RITTER is a news reporter.

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OPINION

A4

April 26, 2016

Distrust clouds election Hillary Clinton’s low favorability among voters is concerning many Democrats Samantha Rozenblum serozenblum@liberty.edu

The most recent HuffPost Pollster reported that Hillary Clinton is now viewed unfavorably by 55 percent of the electorate, with just 40.2 percent of people viewing her favorably.

In an election where there are no clear crowd favorites, this might not seem so bad.

However, just to compare, then-Sen. Barack Obama was viewed favorably by 62 percent of voters and unfavorably by just 33 percent at this point in the 2008 presidential cycle. Even in February 2012, during the closest comparable point in his re-election campaign, he had a net positive favorability rating of 2 percentage points, compared to Hillary Clinton’s current net rating of minus 11, according to the Gallup polls taken during that election.

In March of 2000, George W. Bush also had a high favorability rating of 63 percent.

Hillary Clinton’s name has become synonymous with lies and cover-ups, giving the American people a reason to have such reservations about her leading the country.

Democratic strategist Brad Bannon drew the connection between the struggling poll numbers to separate findings which reflect a high amount of Hillary Clinton distrust.

“The number one reason that her favorability is so bad is that you have large numbers of Americans who say they do not trust her,” Bannon said. “I could make it sound more complicated than that, but that is really what it is. Voters see her as the ultimate politician, who will do or say anything to get elected.”

Capitalizing on his opponent’s weaknesses and uniquely crafting them into a nick-

name, Donald Trump recently nicknamed Hillary Clinton “Crooked Hillary,” adding it to his list that already includes Lyin’ Ted, Little Marco and Jeb “Low Energy” Bush.

Like most of Trump’s pet names for the other candidates, he did not have to look far to find such a fatal flaw in this opponent.

The email scandal and the Benghazi situation have haunted Hillary Clinton since her days at the U.S. State Department.

More recently, her refusal to release the transcripts of her paid speeches on Wall Street has added more widespread distrust to her resume and further supports the notion that she has something to hide.

When asked to release the transcripts of those speeches, Hillary Clinton deflected by saying every candidate should have to release transcripts of paid speeches, according to the Huffington Post. This is perhaps not the best strategy for a candidate simultaneously undergoing an FBI investigation.

According to a CNN analysis, Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, collectively earned more than $153 million in paid speeches from 2001 until Hillary Clinton launched her presidential campaign last spring. The Clintons gave 729 speeches from February 2001 until May 2015, receiving a whopping average payday of $210,795 for each address.

The president should theoretically be someone who is trustworthy and honest, or at least is viewed in such a way by the majority of their voters. With Hillary Clinton’s favorability at such a low point, not to mention the possibility of her indictment, many wonder if her unpopularity will be enough for her to lose the election to either Trump or Ted Cruz.

Bannon compares this election to out-

Google Images

DISTRUST — Hillary Clinton’s favorability with the American people has fallen. running a bear.

“Hillary Clinton doesn’t have to be great,” Bannon said. “She just has to be better than Donald Trump or Ted Cruz.”

However, the irony of entitlement could prove disastrous for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, considering she has lost many young and female voters to Bernie Sanders.

While some may attribute this to common distrust for the “establishment,” a well-informed voter should take note of the facts and the decades of distrust swirling around both Clintons.

A presidential candidate will most likely

never be under such scrutiny again after being elected, and if Hillary Clinton cannot display integrity at this point, it should speak volumes about how she will behave if she secures the presidency.

Despite being such a divided party, Republicans still stand a chance in the presidential race. Voters have more reason now than ever to cast a vote not just for their candidate, but for the principle of what it means to lead and represent our nation.

ROZENBLUM is an opinion writer.

On ethics and dinosaurs Journalists are called to serve the public by keeping them well informed Rachael Graf rgraf5@liberty.edu

I fear media ethics may soon go the way of the dinosaurs: extinct.

We are all familiar with the stories of the ethical failings of the American news media, from the Jayson Blair and Brian Williams scandals to errors in fact in local newspapers across the country. It seems that media outlets are having to issue corrections or apologies for misinforming the public on a regular basis these days.

In the age of social media and the 24/7 news cycle, media ethics have become like the skeletal remains of some ancient dinosaur, buried in the dust of the past.

Journalists today seem to have adopted a 50-yard dash mentality, where whoever gets the story first wins — regardless of the truth or validity of the facts. If it improves ratings or creates Internet traffic, that is all that matters.

In 2013, the Pew Research Center released a report stating that less than three in 10 Americans — 28 percent — thought that journalists contribute “a lot” to society. Another 27 percent of those surveyed thought that journalists

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ETHICS — Many believe journalists are not contributing to society. contributed “not very much” or “nothing at all.” When approximately 55 percent of the country does not believe that journalists are contributing to society, something is not right.

Where have we newsmen and women gone wrong?

I believe the problem is with our memory. We have forgotten whom we are serving.

A TES NO

HAYWOOD

Well, Target caved. It gave in. The multi-billion dollar retail chain made headlines recently because of its response to “gender identification.”

On April 19, Target sent out a press release bringing to light a major policy change in the name of “inclusivity” — whatever that means. The release further reads that Target is all for the federal Equality Act, which “protects” LGBT individuals. Again, whatever that means.

None of those acknowledgements come as any surprise. However, the next paragraph provides an alarming bit of news.

Journalists, by definition, are public servants. As disseminators of information, they keep citizens informed as to what is happening in their own communities and around the world. When we forget that we are serving other people and that we have been given their sacred trust, we keep our eyes on ourselves. We begin thinking how we can improve our sta-

“In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways,” the press release reads.

“Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”

Essentially, if you feel like a woman that day, go to the women’s bathroom.

If you are feeling like a man, walk right in to the men’s changing room. And by all means, do not worry. There will be no repercussions. Target is inviting you to do this. After all, the press release ends with “everyone deserves to feel like they belong.” So guys, if you feel out of place in the men’s room, slide on into the women’s.

This is what Target is proclaiming in the name of “inclusivity.”

Naturally, this thought process is es-

tuses and beat the other guy, and ethics fall by the wayside as we try to scramble to the top.

Because we have been entrusted with the minds and hearts of our viewers and readers, we owe them nothing less than the truth.

When we fabricate, plagiarize and otherwise misinform, we not only hurt ourselves, but the people we claim to serve. Humility is a trait sadly lacking in the media today.

Ethical journalism is othersconscious journalism.

Brett Lott, the author of the book “Letters & Life,” asserts that storytelling is an art.

Journalists then, as storytellers, are also artists.

Lott writes, “We do not commit art in a vacuum but are a part of a society — of humanity — at large, and there we indeed have a role in that society, a role that can and will contribute to the harmonization of human activity at large.”

Ethical journalism is necessary because, as Lott says, we do not commit art in a vacuum. Everything we do affects someone else.

How can we “contribute to the harmonization of human activity

tablished upon skewed and flawed logic.

One’s gender is no longer established by birth. It is entirely based on how you elect to identify yourself that day.

Obvious concerns instantly come to mind when I hear this thought process encouraged. Anyone can walk into any bathroom or changing room at any time. That is not a good idea.

Since when did the privacy and the safety of people take a back seat to “inclusivity?”

I am not alone in my opposition of Target. The American Family Association (AFA) is not a fan of the store’s recent policy change either. So on April 20 — one day after Target’s decision — the AFA began a petition.

“I pledge to boycott Target Stores,” the petition reads. “Target’s store policy endangers women and children by allowing men to frequent women’s fa-

at large” if we are not ethical?

I understand the panic that deadline pressure causes. I understand the frustration that comes from seeking good sources and coming up empty. I understand the exhaustion. I understand the desire for success.

It is far more convenient to take the low road — to publish the story first and the facts later. But in doing so, we cheat ourselves and each other. We cheapen the value of journalism, turning it into a three-ring entertainment circus. As the legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”

Being an ethical journalist is hard work. It requires a relentless pursuit of truth and a significant amount of humility.

So weary soul, do the research.

Find the sources. Remember who you serve.

The dinosaurs will never rise again. They are long dead. Let us work to ensure that ethical journalism is not.

GRAF is a feature writer.

cilities. Until Target makes the safety of women and children a priority, I will shop elsewhere.”

Less than one week later, the petition has procured more than half a million signatures. And the number increases by the minute.

The AFA provided multiple examples in which men and sex offenders have done harm when they were not even allowed in women’s bathrooms in the first place. Target’s ruling, and those like it, opens the proverbial door for these types of people to do their harm and potentially get away with it. Which brings me back to the main point: When did the privacy and safety of people — especially children — take a back seat to “inclusivity?”

HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.

opinion

Liberty Champion | April 26, 2016 | A5

The growth of anti-Semitism Christians must stand in opposition to attacks on Jewish college students Lee Sutherland lsutherland6@liberty.edu

From racist Halloween costumes to freedom of speech issues, universities have been home to a number of controversies.

Yet, one of the most under-reported and least acknowledged issues is the growth of anti-Semitism at many campuses in the U.S. This may seem strange to many Americans. Anti-Semitism seems like a thing of the past. Yet it is a widespread and urgent issue. We are not surprised to hear that government telecasts in Iran or textbooks in some Muslim-majority countries espouse hateful and even violent ideas. We need to be alarmed that the situation is growing so difficult in Europe that many Jews are openly talking about leaving the continent for America or Israel. However, anti-Semitism is not merely a part of the cultures in other nations but is a growing problem here in America, specifically on college campuses.

This past summer I had the privilege of interning with the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. This organization, founded by its President and General Counsel Kenneth L. Marcus in 2011, “seeks to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all.”

Its main focus has been on the “antiSemitism and anti-Israelism on university campuses” and provides “research resources, public policy education and legal advocacy” to fight against it.

I came into my internship at the Brandeis Center like many Americans, understanding the historical examples of anti-Semitism but largely ignorant of its place in society today. I left with my eyes opened.

According to a joint survey done by the Brandeis Center and Trinity College in 2013-14, over half of the Jewish college students surveyed said they had suffered or had witnessed anti-Semitism at their university. From physical violence to different social treatment, Jewish students experi-

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COLLEGE — Over 50 percent of Jewish college students experienced some form of anti-Semitism on their college campus. ence harsh treatment just for their culture, ethnicity and religious beliefs.

One example of this came last month.

At an event on Cornell University’s campus, Rev. Graylan Hagler made a number of anti-Semitic remarks to the students attending his lecture.

In his talk, Hagler said that “Zionism is racism; diminish(ed) the Holocaust by characterizing it as ‘a’ Holocaust rather than ‘the’ Holocaust; den(ied) that the term anti-Semitism applies to Jews; and falsely compar(ed) Israel to apartheid South Africa,” according to a press release from the Brandeis Center.

Statements and events like these are all too common across the U.S., and it is becoming increasingly necessary for citizens to stand up against them. As Christians, we should have an even greater interest in fighting for the religious freedom and civil rights of others. Christ’s call to believers to love their neighbor as themselves includes standing for the religious and civil liberties of all.

There have been numerous examples of Christians throughout history who have done this. From Dietrich Bonhoeffer sacrificing his life by fighting against the horrific treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany

to Baptist evangelist John Leland’s stand for the religious liberties of the Turks in the American Revolution, Christians have many models to follow.

Anti-Semitism in America and around the world is an issue that cannot be ignored. It is the role of every citizen, including those of different religious beliefs, to call on university and government leaders to address these dangerous trends.

SUTHERLAND is the opinion editor.

Gendercide rises in Canada Feminists and Christians can work together to fight sex-selective abortions

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ABORTION — Sex-selective abortions have become more prevalent among Canadian immigrant families.

Brianna Young bdyoung4@liberty.edu

Recent studies show that immigrant couples in Canada are more likely to take part in pre-natal sexselection, resulting in a higher number of males being born to immigrant families than females.

These immigrant families, spe-

cifically from India, not only have access to universal health care in Canada and equipment to reveal a baby’s gender, but they also have access to abortion. With the knowledge of whether a baby will be a boy or girl comes the choice of whether or not to abort female children.

According to The Globe and Mail writer Wency Leung, the no-

tion that immigrant families from India can use abortion to select the sex of their child is a matter of contention among politicians, and many laws and bans have been created in order to try to deter sex-selection.

“A controversial CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) editorial in 2012 recommended banning the disclosure of the sex

of a fetus until 30 weeks,” Leung wrote. “But such measures are difficult to enforce and are unjustifiably sweeping, while others note that identifying and targeting specific groups for practicing sexselection is discriminatory.”

One study by CMAJ revealed that sex-selection becomes far more prevalent after the third child in a family is born. “(Among Indian families), the proportion of males increased with the number of children born,” Leung wrote. “By the third birth, 138 boys were born to Indian mothers for every 100 girls, and by the fourth birth, 166 boys were born to every 100 girls.”

As sex-selection becomes more prevalent among immigrant groups in Canada, it is only a matter of time before it becomes a reality in the U.S. So, what would this mean for the American way of life?

High numbers of American citizens are proponents of abortion rights. However, with the feminist movement pushing for equal rights (including in the area of abortion), should Americans allow sex-selection abortions to occur, or should they fight against the discrimination it clearly is?

After all, women’s rights ought

to apply to the unborn.

Most Christians should know where they stand on the issue.

Abortion, in its entirety, is wrong.

Psalm 139:9 states, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb (NIV).”

For feminists who are proponents of abortion, perhaps this obvious discrimination among immigrant families in Canada is a wake-up call. Abortion of unborn daughters for reason of preferring a son is an issue that feminists and Christians can stand against together.

Every life has value. Both boys and girls are worth their parent’s love and time. In Canada and in America, citizens ought to rise together and point out these injustices against unborn daughters.

No matter what your view on abortion is, one thing is clear — it should be unlawful to choose to abort a child simply because they do not meet the gender their parents most desire.

YOUNG is an opinion writer.

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A6 | April 26, 2016 | Liberty Champion

LOCAL POLITICS OTE 2016

The Liberty Champion is seeking to provide information on all candidates running in the May 3 local Lynchburg elections. All candidates were given the same questions, and their answers were edited for AP style. Mckinley Marshall, Albert Billingsly and Ceasor Johnson were candidates that chose to not answer the questions. Answers for one question about funding for Planned Parenthood was deleted because, as the candidates reminded us, it does not apply to their positions. For their answers to this question, see the story on the web at liberty.edu/champion.

CHRISTIAN DEPAUL

STERLING WILDER

CANDIDATE WARD I Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?

Voting is a right, privilege and responsibility that is not enjoyed by the citizens of every country in the world. When an individual has the opportunity to vote, they ought to. Specifically for students in Lynchburg, their votes have a direct effect on their way of life in the short term while they live here and for the long term if they plan to stay.

What separates you from other candidates?

My education, life experiences and skillset separate me from the other candidate in my race. Over the years that I have spent helping others, I have learned many great lessons. I will bring information to situations which will guide in the decision-making process on what and how to do things as well as what should be avoided.

What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?

Yes, absolutely. I think the meals tax is too high. I wish it didn’t exist. Unfortunately it does exist, and the funds generated from this tax are incorporated into the funding of the general operations of Lynchburg. Thanks to our meals tax, we are the third highest taxed locality in the entire state. At this point the outright elimination of this tax would be difficult because the revenue would need to be made up from another source.

However, proper management of the existing tax revenue and critical thinking about efficiencies and inefficiencies could allow us to rein in our expenditures and reduce the tax rate. There is no doubt that the high meals tax is the reason some businesses open up just outside the city, costing the city economic development and jobs.

CANDIDATE WARD II Why should a college student vote for you?

Having been raised in poverty and on public assistance, I needed to fund my years in college. This means at that time having to find and process the available funding through grants and loans, as well at times working three jobs in order to complete my degrees. I understand intimately the stresses and difficulties associated with all aspects of college life and can relate to the struggle. I also understand the types of policies needed in local government to help reduce the financial burden on college students via easing tax rates on one hand and helping businesses flourish on the other so that our college students can have those jobs that they need to help pay their way through college and gain the job skills and experience they need to be competitive in the marketplace once they graduate.

What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?

I don’t have three. I have several, all of which need to be addressed simultaneously. I do find that the schools and our education system would be the best place to begin. Other issues I would address, and not in this specific order, are local poverty, public safety, property rights, business and economic development, fiscal responsibility and tax management.

What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?

The biggest plan is to help to reduce or eliminate the performance gap by taking an “under the hood” approach to what makes the school system tick.

What is your stance on the current state of the 2016 presidential election?

My position is a “wait and see” stance.

MARYJANE DOLAN CANDIDATE WARD I Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?

Students who live here or look to remain here in Lynchburg after graduation have a vested interest in local decisions that will ultimately affect them.

Those students who will return to their hometown area might prefer to maintain their “home” ties in order to have an impact on the quality of life where they would return to.

What separates you from the other candidates?

I have in excess of 40 years of business expertise building a business from the ground up, hiring some 75 plus employees over those years, managing deadlines, payroll, budgets, health insurance, making sound fiscal decisions, collaborative team building and have an extensive knowledge of what it takes for a business to operate, be profitable and contribute to the welfare of the families of the employees and contribute to the health of the community. My leadership skills are extraordinarily strong as reflected by my serving on numerous non-profit boards including chairing the board of The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, past chair of the United Way of Central Virginia, and chair of the grants committee for the Centra Health Foundation. I also have served as trustee for Lynchburg College for 20 years and currently chair the enrollment management committee.

Those are just the current boards that I serve on. In addition, I have served on a National Board of the industry that I represented. I have spent my entire adult life serving the community either as a mentor to young girls, working with nonprofits, opening doors on social justice issues and helping those who cannot help themselves. These experiences and my passion to serve this community help me stand apart as a candidate.

What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?

As you know, the meals tax is essen-

tially a “user” tax that is assessed on people who want to dine out or eat prepared foods at the site where it is purchased. It is not compulsory. It does not apply to students who eat in the on-campus dining facilities nor to residents who buy from grocery stores and do not eat those foods on premises. Tourists pay these taxes also, so these out-of-town visitors help local taxpayers finance services that the city provides to its residents. This is a good thing. This does fall in the “discretionary” tax area and can be measured by the willingness of those who pay it (i.e., those willing to eat out). The important thing to note here is that meals tax revenues are increasing (another good thing for our city), suggesting that it does not discourage people from eating out.

As a practical matter, the meals tax helps finance essential services that the city provides to both residents and visitors, including the costs to ensure that restaurants maintain safety standards for those who patronize them. This protects the public and reduces the tax burden on local tax payers who do not choose to eat out.

What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?

I support early childhood education by reducing the education gap through preparing children so that they are ready for school, addressing the achievement gap as children go through school, and ensuring they are job — or college — ready when they graduate in order to fuel their — and our — future. I support publicprivate partnerships to ensure the future for our children. I support the hiring and maintaining of talented teachers who can facilitate successful college and/or career development for our students.

What is your stance on the current state of the 2016 presidential election?

I think as a society we lack respect for one another.

Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?

I feel that students should have the right to vote where they live, work and play. Voting is a critical personal right that everyone should have and use for their voice.

What separates you from other candidates?

My extensive background in accounting, developing a non-profit and my nine years served on the Lynchburg City School Board separate me from other candidates.

What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?

The local meals tax is a tax that you only pay if you go out to eat. It has been used to add monies to our city’s general fund that is used to help cover local government expenses such as road repairs, buildings and other worthwhile projects.

Not only do our citizens pay the tax but also visitors. I feel that the meals tax rate is set at an acceptable rate currently.

Why should a college student vote for you?

I am the most qualified candidate for the Ward II City Council seat because of my nine years serviced on the Lynchburg

City School Board, and my 10 years of internal auditing with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. I work with college students on a daily basis, and I listen to their concerns and needs from the city.

What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?

1. Education empowerment 2. Economic empowerment 3. Safe communities What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?

As a past Lynchburg City School Board member, I have a deep appreciation for the work they do and the hours spent in improving our school system. I plan to continue to support our school board and provide input as a citizen.

What is your stance on the current state of the 2016 presidential election?

I am still undecided on the candidates for 2016, and I am seeking direction in prayer and reading more about each candidate’s agenda.

JEFF HEGLESON CANDIDATE WARD III Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?

They should vote here to give Liberty University a greater voice in city matters such as tax rates, campus expansion options and job opportunities in the area.

What separates you from other candidates?

Of the three candidates for my seat on council, I am the only one with three degrees in finance, the only one who opposed $100 million in recent city debt, and I’m the only one with a proven conservative record.

What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?

Lynchburg’s meals tax is definitely too high. It would be great to get rid of it altogether, but since I’m the only Republican on city council, my motions to reduce that dreaded tax have failed to garner a second vote, much less a majority.

I was shocked when someone recently suggested raising the meals tax again. I asked, “That tax rate is already one of the highest in the nation. What are we shooting for — the highest in the galaxy?” I got a few laughs, but more importantly, the proposal was dropped.

Why should a college student vote for you?

First, Liberty students should vote for me because my work cutting red tape on city council has resulted in making it much easier and more affordable for Liberty to expand its campus.

Second, Liberty students should vote for me because I will continue to fight against wasteful spending and higher taxes in Lynchburg.

Third, Liberty students should vote for me because as a Liberty graduate and an ongoing supporter of Liberty, I often serve as a bridge between the university and the City of Lynchburg.

What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?

Public safety is always government’s top priority, and it’s mine. We must ensure the police, fire and rescue personnel have competitive pay and up-to-date equipment. Likewise, we must protect the constitutional rights of citizens to protect themselves.

Fiscal responsibility is critical to keeping businesses and homeowners thriving, which keeps them from moving to other localities. Whenever you have higher spending, taxes soon follow, which creates an incentive for our most productive citizens and businesses to go elsewhere.

This negative dynamic creates an undesirable cycle of government dependence and poverty that can be hard to break.

Lastly, I want to make it easier for institutions like Liberty and other businesses to grow by cutting regulations and taxes, thereby creating further academic and vocational opportunities to improve the lives of our citizens.

What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?

Improving education is a priority for me, although the school board primarily has that responsibility, which limits what we can do as members of city council.

For me, I'm constantly promoting public accountability by asking why our test scores are low and why our dropout rates are among the highest in all of Virginia. I press publicly for measurable results, rather than allowing school officials to tell feel-good stories while entire schools in our city continue to fail Adequate Yearly Progress standards, which are set by the state. Perhaps most importantly, I support qualified leadership by voting to appoint school board members with the most business and educational experience.

Unfortunately, most local officials believe spending more and more money will somehow magically improve education, but that’s not the case. I often cast the only vote against budgets that include wildly bloated school spending — including unnecessary construction costs that have recently put the city $100 million further in debt. Even without those construction costs, Lynchburg already spends more than twice as much annually as the liberals in the Virginia Department of Education say we should. Yet we have some of the worst education statistics in the state.

In summary, I am known for being that guy who asks the tough questions. I fill that role because I believe the students matter and because I know the future of our city will be no better than the lives of those students in the next phases of their lives.

What is your stance on the current state of the 2016 presidential election?

One thing is clear, and that is the American people are completely fed up with the political establishment in both major parties. Three of the remaining four major candidates for president are backed by people who wholeheartedly reject the status quo. Amid all the nasty rhetoric and mudslinging, that’s the one silver lining I see in this presidential campaign season. Hopefully, it will result in real change in Washington, and we’ll have a conservative Republican who follows the Constitution in the White House next year!

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Liberty Champion | April 26, 2016 | A7

CHARLETA MASON CANDIDATE WARD III Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?

The Virginia General Assembly has determined that because students live in a particular locality for the majority of the year, they should have the basic right to vote in the locality in which they attend college. I strongly believe that students should be permitted to vote because the aforementioned law is not discriminatory and gives students the opportunity to participate in the electoral process while they are in school.

Liberty University students, I encourage you to vote! In fact, I ask and encourage you to vote for me!

What separates you from other candidates?

One of the concerns I have is that citizens of Ward III do not participate on boards, commissions, the citizens academy, the police academy and other areas of volunteerism that the city provides. I believe that Ward III citizens are just as important as citizens from Ward I, II and IV. As your Ward III representative, I will do my best to ensure that Ward III citizens are included in every level of public service. I will make it my business to be available to the students of Liberty University as often as needed. My strong desire to be accessible will make me incredibly effective on council.

What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?

Every business in the City of Lynchburg is required to levy a 6.5 percent tax on all prepared edible refreshments, nourishments, and liquids, including alcoholic beverages. Realizing that the meals tax is among the highest in the state, I would certainly take a look at the current tax and support a rollback if that were possible.

I will also look at other taxes and make responsible determinations as to whether they can also be reduced without compromising the city’s effective day-to-day operations and services.

Why should college students vote for you?

I will bring a fresh approach to city council. I will encourage young people to be involved across our community with innovative ideas and cutting-edge interventions to develop our city’s youth and young adults. I will listen and work hard to include the views of our college stu-

dents at Liberty and others around the city. Liberty students, for example, bring a wealth of knowledge to our area. I would hope that many of our graduates will stay in our community, find gainful employment, raise families and retire in Lynchburg. I will work hard on council to incentivize reasons for college students to remain in this community.

What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?

1. Education 2. Public safety 3. Infrastructure that supports a thriving community with the inclusion of input from citizens of Ward III What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?

As an educator, I understand the need for improved reading skills for our children, particularly at an early age. I believe that proximity is power. This means I will continue to foster the support of college students to get involved in our schools and help all of our children to increase their reading skills. STEM education is also very important. I will fight for viable partnerships that will help our kids in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Daily, I will seek to encourage creative ways to engage parents and local mentors to get involved wherever possible to make sure that we reach every child by name and need to graduation! Our students are reachable, teachable, lovable and savable. With your help, we can make this happen and have a world-class school division in Lynchburg.

What is your stance on the current state of the 2016 presidential election?

Clearly, Americans are expressing a need to be heard and want to elect a candidate that will hear them. Most Americans want a president with values and principles that reflect honesty and integrity that are consistently inherent in the American Dream. That is why Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Bernie Sanders are appealing to a broad segment of voters. You can be sure that as your local representative on council, I hold strong Christian values and will serve you with distinction! Since all politics is local, I ask for your vote on May 3! Thank you in advance Liberty University for your support!

TURNER PERROW CANDIDATE WARD IV Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?

If you live here, you need to vote here.

It is our civic responsibility.

What separates you from other candidates?

I believe in practical solutions that benefit our community. As an engineer, I focus on solving problems, which, on city council, translates to: talk less and do more. I am tired of hearing about discussion groups and round tables to debate issues while nothing happens.

From a broader perspective, Christian DePaul (Ward I), Jeff Helgeson (Ward III), Brian Triplett (Treasurer), and I have a similar worldview that sets us apart from the other candidates. We believe in working together to build a strong financial foundation for our city’s future. This is in stark contrast to the other candidates who either have no financial qualifications or believe money is the answer to everything. We believe in finding solutions that protect taxpayers, maintain accountability, and restrict the growth of government.

What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?

The local meals tax is too high, but it is necessary. As an independent city, we provide central services for a region of 250,000 citizens while being supported by a tax base of just 67,000 actual residents. The meals tax allows us to draw revenue from nonresidents who travel from the surrounding counties to take advantage of city resources. It’s worth noting that more than 20 percent of the real estate in our city is nontaxable.

We can’t provide core resources without revenue. The meals tax is a discretionary tax. You choose, by deciding to eat out, whether you pay it or not.

Why should a college student vote for you?

I am a councilman with proven experience and a demonstrated commitment to fiscal responsibility, public safety and real solutions for bridging the educational achievement gap. If college students want a doer rather than a talker, solutions rather than problems, and practicality

over political demagoguery, they should vote for me.

I am a proud father of three, and my wife and I attend St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Lynchburg. I work hard in my profession as a civil engineer, and I am committed to public service through numerous volunteer positions. I believe in the free enterprise system, equal rights, fiscal responsibility, peace through strength and faith in God. If these points resonate with college students, as they do with many in Ward IV, then I respectfully request your vote May 3.

What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?

My top three priorities include (1) educational attainment for all young people, (2) economic development and (3) public infrastructure (utilities, roads, etc.). I deal with each of these priorities under the umbrella of fiscal responsibility. Our city must live within its means and look for solutions that prioritize the core functions of government while protecting taxpayers. By focusing on these priorities in a fiscally responsible manner, we can make our city a better place to work, live and play without raising taxes.

What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?

School funding, at $41.7 million, is our city’s largest expense. We need to get our money’s worth.

Last fall, the school board and city council were presented statistics detailing the racial achievement gap in our schools. The numbers are appalling and unacceptable. We know the challenges of an urban school system are real, but we can’t use them as a crutch to lower expectations. These problems require passion and innovation — not excuses.

Since that meeting, I have worked with city staff on a pilot program that reconnects inner-city students with the community. Better schools mean a stronger economy and a lower crime rate. We get there by owning the problem, demanding accountability in our neighborhoods and extending positive contact time between our kids and their mentors.

My program teams the Boys & Girls

Club with an existing neighborhood center to engage each child at the ground level. The club is a private organization with resources and capabilities beyond anything our city is offering, and we’re getting them in a revenue neutral plan. It’s a model for success that I hope to expand.

What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 presidential election?

I am disgusted by the state of the 2016 presidential election process. The tone

of debate lacks substance and, too often, has become nothing more than namecalling. Of the remaining candidates, I like the policies promoted by John Kasich, who apparently has no chance of receiving the nomination. Earlier, I stated that I believe in the free enterprise system, equal rights, fiscal responsibility, peace through strength and faith in God. I plan to vote for the candidate who holds most true to those values.

ROBERT BAILEY CANDIDATE TREASURER Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?

State law permits college students to vote in their college locality, allowing students the opportunity to vote for government officials who will work for them as part of our collective community. As a college student, you have chosen Lynchburg as your home for at least the next few years. You continue to impact our community through your studies, work, volunteer efforts and your voice. I value that voice and want to be an elected official that works for everyone in our great community.

What separates you from other candidates?

I am the only candidate for treasurer with over 30 years of related accounting and tax experience. I have helped the many individuals and businesses in my private practice navigate the often complex maze of tax codes and situations.

Additionally, as a small business owner I know what it means to be accountable.

Whether securing the confidentiality of my clients’ personal information or making timely payroll, I value the importance of accountability and take that responsibility seriously. My experience enables me to effectively start working on day one for all Lynchburg citizens.

What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?

The local meals tax is implemented by city council and handled through the commissioner of the Revenue’s Office; therefore, the treasurer position does not provide the opportunity to legislate policy on the meals tax issue.

Why should a college student vote for you?

As students, you study here, live here, work here, and hopefully in seeing Lynchburg for the great community that it is, you may choose to make a home here.

Your choice for Lynchburg treasurer will have an immediate impact on our community. If elected, I will use my 30 plus years of accounting and tax experience to provide strong, effective leadership to the treasurer’s office.

What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?

As it relates to the duties of treasurer, my top priorities are: 1) effective leadership, 2) ensuring confidentiality and security and 3) increasing the value of the treasurer’s office to the citizens.

Effective leadership is needed to ensure efficient government spending. My tax experience and my years as a business owner provide me with the necessary skills to manage the office in an efficient manner.

With private financial information stored and transmitted on a daily basis, the treasurer is in a position of great trust with our community, and it is crucial that the treasurer maintain absolute confidentiality regarding this information. In my private practice, the security and privacy of my clients’ private financial information has been a primary responsibility that I take extremely seriously.

In growing the responsibilities of the treasurer’s office, I want to increase its value to the citizens. Presently, the office is in a position to take on more responsibilities to operate efficiently for our city.

If elected, I will work with the necessary departments to ensure that the treasurer’s office is working at the highest level for our citizens.

What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?

As myself, my wife, and my two sons have all attended and graduated from Lynchburg City Public Schools, I know how vitally important education is to our community. However, the position of treasurer does not provide the opportunity to legislate education policy. With my years of relevant experience, I have the ability to run the treasurer’s office efficiently on the first day, which will allow the policy-makers to focus on these important community issues.

What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 presidential election?

This presidential election cycle has seen significant debate within both the Republican and Democratic Parties due to candidates tapping into a public dissatisfaction with career politicians and the status quo of government. In the election for Lynchburg treasurer, I am the only candidate who is not a career politician or part of a political party’s leadership. I’m a local business owner with over 30 years of accounting and tax experience, and I want to offer my years of related skills to be a treasurer who will work for all citizens of Lynchburg.

BRIAN TRIPLETT CANDIDATE TREASURER Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?

Students can have a tremendous impact on local elections. The concentrated vote of thousands of students in this area can have a great influence over public policy in Lynchburg.

What separates you from other candidates?

I believe I am correct in saying that I am the only graduate of Liberty University running for the office of treasurer in this election. As a student at Liberty, I remember how passionate we were (20+ years ago) about being salt and light to the culture around us. Jerry Falwell Sr. encouraged political involvement, and many graduates from that time are now entering the political arena.

What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?

The office of treasurer does not have any direct influence on the meals tax.

That is set by the city council. However, being a Republican I default to lower taxes and limited government as my core political philosophy.

Why should a college student vote for you?

As a graduate of Liberty University, I share common heritage and values with other students and alumni from Liberty.

I am also well qualified for this position, having been the treasurer of my homeowners association and now chairman of the Lynchburg Republican Party. I

want to make a positive impact on our community through public service and volunteer work.

What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?

The top three things I would advocate for in Lynchburg would be economic growth, public safety and community involvement. We all need to work together to make Lynchburg the best it can be.

What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?

I am currently a teacher in Lynchburg City Schools, so I see the challenges as well as the good work that is being done. School administration has done an impressive job facing the challenges with relentless optimism and innovative solutions. I would encourage school administration to continue to be positive and solution oriented. There are plans already in the works to continue to move public schools in the right direction, and I trust the school board to make the right choices.

What is your stance on the current state of the 2016 presidential election?

As the chairman of the local Republican Party, I will support the eventual nominee. I am not taking sides or making an endorsement at this time. I prefer to let the voters decide who the Republican nominee will be. Any Republican would be better than Hillary. Big government and socialism are not the solutions to the problems we face as a country.

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A8 | April 26, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Prepared for terror

Students and officials participated in a bioterrorism simulation on campus Taylor Coleman tcoleman64@liberty.edu

A simulated bioterrorism event was held Saturday, April 9 at the LaHaye Ice Center to give students and officials a hands-on experience in dealing with a chemical terrorist attack.

Liberty University’s Department of Biology & Chemistry hosted the event. Members of the Virginia State Police, the U.S. Army National Guard, the Department of Defense, the City of Lynchburg Fire Department and a representative from the FBI were also involved.

Liberty University Police Department (LUPD) was a part of the event to both learn from the assessment and to control the surrounding area, including traffic control and parking. Close to 25 emergency vehicles were on the scene.

“It was an opportunity to offer training not only to students, but to those agencies that are first responders,” Dr. J. Thomas McClintock, a professor of biology at Liberty and the host of the event, said. “They could train each other while training students.”

McClintock explained that the main focuses of the experience were both to train students and to allow them to use what they have learned in the classroom in a hands-on environment.

“We simulated a bioterrorist attack

Leah Seavers| Liberty Champion

PREPARE — Students used the LaHaye Ice Center to practice the disaster simulation. so that the first responders could come and work together in a non-emergency environment,” McClintock said. “They learn real-world scenarios but in a non-threatening situation.”

Setup for the event began around 7:30 a.m. when the entire LaHaye ice rink was fogged. Students arrived on the scene at 9 a.m. and worked until approximately noon to clear the area of biochemicals. In a real life situation, it would take at least 24 hours to completely clear the scene.

Biological agents placed a talcum pow-

der-based substance at three targets in the area, but everything was completely controlled. Students were given monitors that would not allow them to get too close to the substance.

The simulation event was open to students in the forensic science program, criminal justice program, and to biology and chemistry students. Several students from the nursing program were also involved.

“It gives students the opportunity to see what is needed and all the different skill sets

that were required,” McClintock said. “It also gives an idea of the different positions and different careers that are involved.”

While using millions of dollars’ worth of equipment, students were able to learn what it takes to be a first responder, what skill sets and training are needed, and what types of agencies are involved in this type of terrorist attack.

This is the second year the Liberty Department of Biology & Chemistry has hosted the event on Liberty’s campus. In 2015, the simulation was held inside of the Vines Center.

The bioterrorism simulation came a week after a suspicious package was found on Liberty’s campus. The object was determined to be a piece of HVAC equipment.

McClintock explained that the event had already been in the works prior to the discovery of the package. He said the incident with the package was an example of how relevant these types of cases are in the world today.

“I think it shows the need for those agencies to have the training, and to know how to respond to real-world experience,” McClintock said. “It is happening all around us.”

COLEMAN is a news reporter.

Finally time for finals Liberty offers multiple resources to assist students in preparing for exams

Jordan Jarrett jjarrett4@liberty.edu

Finals week is coming, so it’s crunch time for Liberty University students. Papers are piling up, tests loom, grades hang in the balance, and most students feel lost in the midst of the pre-summer cram. For this very reason, the Bruckner Learning Center and the Writing Center at Liberty encourage students to utilize their services as much as necessary.

For students who need to write papers, the Writing Center at Green Hall offers half-hour to full-hour appointments for any kind of writing need. Clifford Stumme, director of the Undergraduate Writing Center, stressed that it is not an editing center to fix errors, but rather a service to point students in the right direction in regard to four specific areas of writing: content, organization, grammar and format.

“We help with a wide variety of assignments, like discussion board posts, essays, research papers and sometimes even resumes or cover letters,” Stumme said.

The coaches at the Writing Center generally focus on turning out independent, confident writers. The overall goal is to make the person a better writer, rather than to make the paper a bet-

TRAVEL continued from A1 language in the classroom and through the various ministry opportunities.

During the second month, students will be totally immersed as they will be staying with a family in Gua-

ter piece of writing. According to writing coach Kasey Lentini, clarity is the issue that students most often seek help on in the way of writing.

“Every student has specific struggles that they face, but I think that what almost every student comes in saying is that they just want to express their ideas clearly,” Lentini said. “I feel like most problems brought here can be encompassed in the phrase, ‘communicating in writing more clearly.’”

Students can make appointments online, via email and phone, or by walking into the center. The Writing Center will remain open during finals week, but as of May 5, it will be moving from Green Hall to residence hall 10, in the Circle.

For test preparation, the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success (CASAS) offers tutoring services through the Bruckner Learning Center for general education subjects.

Students can make half-hour, one-on-one or group tutoring appointments, depending on the demand of the subject.

Unlike the Writing Center, the Bruckner tutoring center will not be open during finals week. Katie Hacker, coordinator of tutoring services with CASAS, suggests

temala that does not speak any English, while their focus shifts to full-time ministry.

“When they get in that home and they fall in love with that family, and that family falls in love with them, that is a life changing experience,” Towles

that students make their appointments while they still can. She also recommends that students come prepared with questions, so the tutors can better direct students in a way that will supplement their studies.

“All of the stuff that everyone’s learning is scaffolded in a way,” Hacker said. “You just build on it, build on it, build on it. So laying a good foundation, I think, will make you more successful as a student. Right now, just come with your questions, be patient and don’t expect everything to get solved that day.”

The student tutors at the Bruckner Learning Center focus on instilling study habits through their own experiences and through the most common issues they see in students who seek help.

“A lot of people come in not knowing how to study history, saying the textbook is really dry and boring,” history tutor Joshua Helms said. “They often don’t look at the textbook or anything.

So I give them different tactics for balance.”

Besides study habits, the tutors also provide practical advice for mental preparation for time of academic rigor. According to chemistry tutor Rachel Glavin, students need to know their own learning style and threshold for stress.

said. “That’s one of the most marvelous things, how people fall in love with each other on the team and in Guatemala. You develop relationships you cannot develop any other way.”

Towles described several students who have remained in touch for several

Matt Pierce| Liberty Champion

STUDY — The tutoring center helps students in multiple subjects.

“If there’s ever a time to put yourself in the best-brain-situation, it’s the two weeks before finals and finals week,” Glavin said.

Additionally, tutors also assist by way of encouragement to any student who may be intimidated by a certain subject matter.

“Don’t stress,” English literature tutor Joylanda Jamison said.

“Just remember that God has gotten us through this much. He’s going to get us through finals.”

In the time leading up to finals, both writing and CASAS tutors

years with the classmates they went on the trip with and with the families who hosted them. He said that these strong relationships develop as a result of the challenges that students face as they try to understand a new language and a new culture.

Photo Provided

SHARE THE LOVE — Liberty student Jessica Dombroski traveled to Guatemala in the summer of 2015 with the program led by Dr. David Towles.

encourage students to recognize that they need help and then actively seek the help they need.

Hacker affirmed that the Bruckner Learning Center tutors consider their work Christian service.

“Don’t struggle,” Hacker said.

“Ask for help. We want to help you be successful. We’ve got amazing tutors who love the Lord, and this is how they serve. They serve by helping students be successful.”

JARRETT is a news reporter.

“When you confront challenges, that binds people together,” Towles said.

“You’re confronting situations, and some of those are daunting and some of them are challenging, but some of them are in your mind and it’s really not all that bad.”

Once the fear of trying to learn a new language and new culture subsides, students often fall in love with the Guatemalan people, according to Towles. On several occasions Towles has seen students develop close connections to the villages and the people they served.

“Guatemalan people are so affectionate, loving and caring that I’ve had kids cry when they leave,” Towles said.

While he wants students to have a fun and meaningful learning experience while on the trip, Towles said his real hope is for God to use the trip to move in the students’ lives as well as the lives of the people they meet.

“I want them to have an incredible encounter with God,” Towles said.

“I want to get them away from the United States of America, away from mommy, away from daddy, and down there alone with God where he messes life up in a wonderful way.”

For students who are interested in traveling to Guatemala on a future trip, Towles said they should consider if they want to make progress toward being fluent in Spanish, if they are able to share the gospel in Spanish, and if they want to use that Spanish to make a difference in the world by helping poor, destitute people.

Students who are interested can email Towles at detowles@liberty.edu to receive information about next year’s trip.

LAPP is a news reporter.

SPORTS

April 26, 2016

M. Lacrosse Ga. Tech

Liberty

Presby.

Liberty

6

6

21

13

Baseball

Softball

W. Lacrosse

(series) CSU Liberty

1

Lost the battle

2

B1

Duke

Liberty

8

7

Baseball

(series) Presby.

Liberty

1

2

take your hacks

Won the war

Denton Day dcay26@liberty.edu Will Collier wcollier@liberty.edu

Game 2: CSU 5 LU 1 The Liberty Lady Flames softball team fell to the Charleston Southern Lady Buccaneers 5-1 Saturday, April 23 at Kamphuis Field.

The game was the second of a doubleheader.

The Lady Flames took the first game 1-0 in eight innings.

In the second game, Liberty got on the board in the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Tori Zavodny reached first base on a fielder’s choice with one out. Freshman shortstop Sarah Robertson smacked a triple into deep center field that drove in Zavodny for the Lady Flames first and only run of the game. Robertson was stranded at third at the end of the inning.

“We hit the ball hard in this game,” Head Coach Dot Richardson said. “We had our opportunities.”

Charleston Southern rebounded in the third inning, scoring three runs to take the 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the third, sophomore catcher Alexia Taylor led off with a double down the left field line. She would be the only base runner the Lady Flames had in the inning and was stranded on base as well.

In the fourth inning, still trailing 3-1, sophomore right fielder Madi Clarke came up to bat for the Lady Flames. Clarke drilled the ball to the center field wall. Once again she was stranded on base.

“It’s frustrating because I know all around we can hit the ball pretty well,” Clarke said. “I feel as a team when a few people are hitting, then we all hit or vice versa. If somebody is not hitting, then sometimes none of us hit.”

Liberty had a few more opportunities in the final innings to score, but ended up coming away with no runs while the Lady Buccaneers extended their lead. The Buccaneers came away with the 5-1 victory.

“We have three starters out, so I really want to give my hats off to the players that are out there right now,” Richardson said. “They’re doing a really good job. I’m trying to make sure there is a good balance between defensive talent and offensive talent.”

The Lady Flames finished the game with five hits. Both Taylor and Clarke had two each and Robertson added one with the team’s only RBI of the game. Senior pitcher Chandler Ball went 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Junior Kenzie Friesen pitched 2 2/3 innings giving up one hit and recording two strikeouts.

See BATTLE, B2

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

CONTACT — Sophomore Tori Zavodny connects during Saturday’s doubleheader.

WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

SWING AWAY — Flames junior Will Shepherd takes a cut during the Flames 8-7 loss to Duke Tuesday, April 19.

Flames fall to Devils Teams combine for 25 hits as Duke tops Liberty at home Luke Dillard mdillard1@liberty.edu

The Liberty Flames baseball team fell 8-7 in a midweek matchup against the Duke Blue Devils Tuesday, April 19, at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

The two teams combined for 25 hits as momentum swung back and forth throughout the game in front of a crowd of 3,878, the largest crowd of the season and second-highest in program history for the Flames.

Inconsistency plagued the Flames again, as they recorded 12 hits, but walked eight Blue Devil batters and hit two of them in the batter’s box, while giving up 13 hits.

Flames Head Coach Jim Toman was not pleased with his team’s performance.

“It’s tough to swallow when you’re swinging it well today, and you’re just not getting the pitching,” Toman said. “We’re just kind of good enough to hang with teams. You can’t walk eight guys in a college baseball game and hit two and

give up 13 hits. That’s way too many baserunners. They could have scored a lot more.”

The Flames offense began in the bottom half of the first inning. Junior first baseman Andrew Yacyk hit a groundout to second, scoring freshman left fielder D.J. Ar-

“

out of the inning to avoid any further damage.

The Flames capitalized on a Blue Devil error in the bottom of the second to regain the lead. With the bases loaded, senior designated hitter Austin Bream hit a grounder to third that went right past

We’re just kind of good enough to hang with teams.— HEAD COACH JIM TOMAN

tis from third base to give the Flames an early 1-0 lead.

The Blue Devils immediately responded in the top of the second. Sophomore second baseman Max Miller knocked an RBI single into the outfield that scored sophomore right fielder Peter Zyla to tie the game 1-1.

With the bases loaded, Flames junior pitcher Parker Bean walked freshman catcher Chris Proctor to give the Blue Devils the 2-1 lead. Bean forced sophomore third baseman Jack Labosky to hit a flyout to left field for the third

Labosky’s glove into the outfield, scoring sophomore right fielder Josh Close from third and freshman center fielder Jack Morris from second, taking the lead 3-2.

The Blue Devils tied the game 3-3 in the top of the third on an RBI single from sophomore left fielder Michael Smiciklas that scored sophomore first baseman Justin Bellinger.

Junior Flames pitcher Eric Grabowski hit the first two Blue Devil batters, Proctor and freshman center fielder Jimmy Herron, to start the

top of the fourth. They both plated on a two-RBI double

by Labosky the next at-bat, extending the Blue Devil lead to 5-3.

The Flames took back the momentum in the bottom of the fourth, recording five straight two-out singles that led to runs by Artis, Bream and junior second baseman Will Shepherd to take a 6-5 lead.

“We never feel out of the game,” Flames senior shortstop Dalton Britt said.

“We had momentum there.

Momentum was going the whole time.”

The Blue Devils answered again in the top of the fifth on a two-RBI single by Labosky that scored Herron and junior designated hitter Cris Perez to again regain the lead with a score of 7-6.

The Flames tied the contest at 7-7 in the bottom half of the fifth on an RBI single from Artis that scored sophomore third baseman Josh Barrick.

See DEVILS, B2

Baseball vs. Va. Tech

Softball vs. GWU

Softball vs. GWU

Softball vs. GWU

Baseball vs. Virginia

Apr. 26 @ 7 p.m.

Apr. 29 @ 5 p.m.

Apr. 29 @ 7 p.m.

Apr. 30 @ 2 p.m.

May 3 @ 7 p.m.

Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage

sports

B2 | April 26, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Chalk one up for the nice guys The always-smiling senior Brandt Grauss never lost a game on his home field

Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

A smiling presence on the dorm, ready to lend a helping hand or teach the gospel, yet a terror on the lacrosse field, senior defenseman Brandt Grauss played his final game at Liberty University, never losing on the home turf.

Defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies April 15 by a score of 15-7, Grauss scored a goal of his own on senior night to propel the Flames into the Southeastern Lacrosse Conference tournament by helping the Flames secure the Northwest Region regular-season title.

“There was a lot of pressure,” Grauss said. “You feel it toward the end. It was one of those things you don’t usually think about it going into the game, but as soon as we beat Michigan State, we realized it was mostly just easy teams, then Virginia Tech at home. … To beat them on our senior night — last home game for the perfect record — was one of those perfect nights.”

Yet, Grauss, who has compiled a noteworthy career, said he never planned to play lacrosse at Liberty.

“In my mind, I didn’t think I wanted to play lacrosse coming into college,” Grauss, who began playing lacrosse in seventh grade, said. “I wanted to focus on my studies. But I ran into one of the players at the ice rink randomly one day and asked him when tryouts were. (I) decided to show up, and it started, and it kind of just came together.”

Grauss said his decision to come to Liberty was strictly a spiritual decision made without lacrosse in mind.

“I ended up googling ‘Christian colleges,’ and that’s how I ended up here,” Grauss said. “I felt called to be a pastor. I started a ministry my senior year (of high school). I prayed about (Liberty), took a leap of faith and everything just came together, scholarships and everything.”

After spending two years on the lacrosse team, Grauss decided to get more involved

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

PRESSURE — Brandt Grauss has been an important member of the Flames defense. with campus activities as he tried out and was selected to be a resident assistant (RA) for the 2014-2015 school year. He said once he set foot on campus, it was something he had considered doing, but after his RA during his sophomore year encouraged him to try out, he took another step of faith.

However, with the tasks required of an RA, Grauss decided to hang up his lacrosse cleats for good, or so he thought. He didn’t play the fall of his junior year as an RA, but continued to watch and support the team.

“I initially thought I wasn’t going to play anymore once I became an RA,” Grauss said. “But, (after) seeing everyone out there

SOFTBALL continued from B1 Game 2: Liberty 3, CSU 2 The Lady Flames softball team bounced back from a second-game loss to grab the series from Charleston Southern, winning 3-2, April 24 at the Kamphuis Field. “(Coach Richardson) just emphasized how important it was to take this series, and that yesterday was over,” Liberty senior third baseman Kassidy McCoy said. “We just needed to flush it and just come out strong like the first game yesterday.”

The Lady Flames went up 2-0 in the first inning.

Freshman second baseman Rylee Reynolds doubled to bring home freshman Deidra See and sophomore Tori Zavodny to take the early lead for Liberty.

Liberty freshman pitcher Julia DiMartino stepped up continuing her strong play in recent games to pitch a shutout through the first four innings. “(DiMartino) has confidence, so we have confidence,” Reynolds said. “It gives us more confidence hitting too.”

The Buccaneers looked to cut into Liberty’s lead in the third inning with the bases loaded from two singles and a walk, but DiMartino stayed cool to strikeout CSU freshman Jade Gandara. Dimartino then got CSU junior Brittany McPherson to ground out to close the inning.

Liberty’s lead was pushed to 3-0 in the fourth inning after McCoy doubled to right center to plate Reynolds.

Charleston Southern began to rally in the fifth inning when Gandara hit a single, putting runners on first and second base. Again DiMartino pitched her way out of a jam by striking out McPherson, ending the inning.

The deficit was cut to one when CSU senior Natalie Yonan made it home from a junior Stephanie

in the fall and everything, I realized it was something I wanted to sacrifice for, something I wanted to commit to, so I talked to OSL and got it taken care of and started playing.”

Though the hard work has paid off for Grauss, the journey has been far from easy.

“My junior year was really nuts because (in) your first year as an RA, you’re still trying to figure out the ropes and balance that and doing anything else is pretty tough,” Grauss said. “Lacrosse is really physically demanding (and) requires a lot of time.

You’ve got to know what you value and commit to it. If I know that I value lacrosse

Bergmann single hit deep into the outfield in the top of the sixth.

DiMartino pitched three-up, three-down in the final inning to seal the victory for Liberty.

“When you can have pitchers that strikeout batters, it makes life so much easier,” Richardson said.

“I’m really excited that we have Julia DiMartino right now just really firing the ball on all four cylinders. I know her team is proud of her as well.”

With just six games left in the season, Richardson hopes to get her team healthy for a series at Radford slated next for the Lady Flames April 26-27.

DAY is a sports reporter.

COLLIER is a sports reporter.

and I know that I value spending time with the guys on my hall, doing my responsibilities, then I’m gonna find time to do them, and that just had to be the mentality.”

Through his four years on the Flames men’s lacrosse team and two years as an RA Grauss said he has learned responsibility and time management, but most importantly who the top priority is in his life.

“The most life-changing thing has been figuring out how to balance what you value,” Grauss said. “I’m very people-oriented and getting into those very stressful, crazy schedules, it’s really easy to lose what the important thing is for me. It doesn’t lead to good places for my heart. So just learning how do I put people first? How do I serve and make time for all these relationships and put those first and put my relationship with God first? (I’ve been) learning to really make those absolute, unquestionable priorities in light of all the stress and pressure from the other stuff.”

Nathaniel Whyte, a fellow defenseman on the lacrosse field and a spiritual life coach under Grauss on his dorm, has been influenced by Grauss’s leadership on and off the field. “(Grauss’ leadership) has taught me to put God first in everything, and (God) is really the only thing that matters,” Whyte said. “(Grauss) is a very happy and pleasant guy to be around, but give him a lacrosse stick and he turns into an animal. It’s beautiful to watch.”

As Grauss’ time as a Flame dwindles down, Grauss said he is planning to move back to his home state of Georgia, where he will be doing a two-year pastoral mentoring internship, with hopes of soon thereafter pastoring a church of his own.

“I love people, and I want to lead and serve them and teach them about Jesus for the rest of my life,” Grauss said.

RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

DEVILS continued from B1 The Blue Devils would not go away and took the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning on a home run by Bellinger that was blasted over the centerfield wall to take the lead 8-7.

The Flames almost extended the game in the bottom of the ninth. With Britt on third and two outs, Barrick stepped to the plate and hit a groundout on the first pitch he saw, ending the Flames’ hopes of a comeback.

“It’s tough losing games like that where it’s back and forth the whole game,” Britt said. “We just couldn’t come through with the last big hit.”

Regardless of the tough loss, Toman refuses to quit on his team as they head into the final stretch of the season before the Big South Conference tournament.

“I like these guys,” Toman said. “They work extremely hard, and they’re good kids, and I think something good is going to happen to them cause they work hard.”

The Flames will play in-state rival Virginia Tech Tuesday, April 26 at Liberty Baseball Stadium at 7 p.m.

DILLARD is a sports reporter.

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

FAMILY — The Lady Flames huddled up before their game against Charleston Southern.

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

DELIVERY — Junior Parker Bean fires home against Duke.

sports

Liberty Champion | April 26, 2016 | B3

After what seems like an eternity, football is finally back. Well, sort of back anyway.

The 2016 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 28, and teams will be scrambling last minute to finalize details and get the picks they need. UnAUL like the rest of the anaVANDENBOSCH lysts in the NFL world, I won’t be droning on in my Mock Draft 7.0 that has three picks that are different from version 6.0. I will only give my top five.

No. 1: Los Angeles Rams — Jared Goff, California Either quarterback will be good in the NFL, but I’ve got the Rams taking Goff first overall. Besides the fact that all signs and reports indicate the Rams are leaning toward the former California quarterback, Goff makes the most sense. He is a pure passer with excellent awareness and mobility inside the pocket, and that is exactly the kind of quarterback Jeff Fisher wants in Los Angeles. Goff ’s passing abilities, along with his intangibles, make him a lock for the Rams at No. 1.

No. 2: Philadelphia Eagles — Carson Wentz, North Dakota State The second pick is a no-brainer. The Eagles will get their man in Wentz and Philadelphia will have its franchise quarterback. Though Goff is the better passer statistically, Wentz is the better athlete with better arm strength and a bright upside. The Bismarck, North Dakota native will fit nicely into Doug Pederson’s West Coast system, and despite how the Eagles will figure out their quarterback situation, Wentz will become the highest-picked FCS player in NFL history.

No. 3: San Diego Chargers — Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss The Chargers have many needs to fill, but in order to protect an aging Philip Rivers, they will go with Tunsil at No. 3.

A three-year starter at Ole Miss, Tunsil is a strong, versatile lineman who can get out into space and block downfield. In a draft that is deep in offensive linemen, Tunsil is the best overall option at the position.

No. 4: Dallas Cowboys — Joey Bosa, Ohio State Following one of their worst seasons in recent memory, the Cowboys must shore up some holes, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Though Tony Romo’s replacement must be drafted soon, the options will not nearly be good enough at the fourth pick. Dallas has not had a formidable pass rusher since DeMarcus Ware left for Denver, and Bosa provides this team with just that. An aggressive power-rusher with All-Pro talent, Bosa will be the first of many Buckeyes taken in the first round.

No. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars — Jalen Ramsey, Florida State The draft has not seen a cornerback taken in the top five since the Cardinals drafted Patrick Peterson fifth overall in 2011, and Ramsey is an athlete with that kind of talent. The Jaguars offense was much-improved in 2015, but there are still many questions on defense, especially in a secondary that ranked 29th in the league last season. As that need goes, Ramsey makes the most sense as the best defensive back in the draft. *Editor’s note: In last week’s edition of Sports in our P.J.s, I wrote that the New York Rangers made the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015 and that is incorrect. The Rangers made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015, but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.

VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.

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If you pay any attention to sports, you know that every year leading up to the draft, sports writers all across the nation do mock drafts galore.

If you don’t pay attention to sports, a mock draft is where sports writers, bloggers, talk show hosts and even homeless people tell everyone exactly who they think will get picked in the NFL draft, and when.

Some people even feel the need to pick through all seven rounds. But we all know that by the time they get to the fourth round, they are just drawing names out of a hat and have no real idea of what will happen at that point.

In order to avoid the mundane world of insanely long mock drafts and opinions that will be made largely irrelevant by the time the draft is halfway finished, Paul and I have decided to predict just the top five picks in the 2016 NFL draft.

No. 1: Los Angeles Rams — Carson Wentz, North Dakota State And with the first pick of the 2016 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Rams select ‌ Carson Wentz.

The Rams are in a new city, with a new stadium coming, and they now have a brand new quarterback who has won two FCS National Championships as a starting quarterback. My only question is, why didn’t he win four? If he is that good, why was he not starting his freshman year of college in the FCS? With that, the 2016 NFL season is officially here, and the Browns are officially out of contention.

Sorry Cleveland.

No. 2: Philadelphia Eagles — Jared Goff, California The first two picks of the NFL draft have more uncertainty than usual. Everyone knows two quarterbacks are going to go one and two, but who goes first is the uncertain part. The Eagles made a big

trade to move into the two spot, and they better hope it works out for them. This is a quarterback’s world, and the Eagles desperately need a franchise guy to lead them into the future.

No. 3: San Diego Chargers — DeForest OEL SCHMIEG Buckner, Oregon This guy has a name that belongs in the NFL. I can just see him on a Key and Peele skit. The Chargers are trying to become relevant again, and the best place for them to start is on the defensive side of the ball. The Chargers are going to need their rookies to step in immediately if they want to be competitive.

No. 4: Dallas Cowboys — Ezekiel Elliot, Ohio State Elliot was the best running back in college football over the last two years, but he never got the credit he deserved.

When he smashed postseason records on the way to a national championship, he got ignored the very next year in the Heisman race. As long as Jerry Jones knows how to feed Zeke, Elliot will do just fine in Dallas.

No. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars — Joey Bosa, Ohio State Florida has arguably the largest talent pool when it comes to high school football players. Unfortunately, Florida is also where NFL players go to die. Bosa will make an immediate impact wherever he ends up, but if it does happen to be in Jacksonville, it could be a long few years to start his career. Bosa was a dynamic playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for the Buckeyes, and that will translate to the NFL in a big way.

SCHMIEG is the asst. sports editor.

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sports

B4 | April 26, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Not just a freshman Kayla Foster has had a big impact in her first season with the Lady Flames Bobby Keating rfkeating@liberty.edu

Kayla Foster, a freshman women’s lacrosse player, recently earned the title of Big South Freshman of the Week for games between the dates of April 4-10.

During that time span Foster notched four goals and three assists over the course of two games. Over the entire season she has recorded 22 goals and 28 assists while playing in all 17 of the Flames contests.

“It’s a full team effort,” Foster said. “Everybody is on board, and we all want the same thing.”

Coach Kelly Nangle gives the credit for Foster’s success to the freshman’s quick development during the season.

“At the very beginning of the season she was uncomfortable kind of taking it herself (to the goal), and now she’s kind of been able to put the two and two together,” Nangle said. “She can be a feeder, but if they give her space she’ll drive, so now she’s a double threat, which is helping her and our offense because now people are knowing that they have to keep an eye on her.”

Foster’s goals and assists add up to 50 points on the season, the most on the team.

She attributes the automatic success she has witnessed to her teammates.

Although she can easily score goals, Foster takes pride in being a team player. For her, helping the team in any way possible shows more success than any statistic can. “(I want) to be a team player and do whatever I can for everybody else on the field, whether that’s scoring, assisting or just getting ground balls — it doesn’t really matter,” Foster said. “Just as long as I can contribute to the team.”

With such a selfless mindset, it did not take the rest of the team long to latch onto Foster as one of their leaders. Although

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

POISE — Kayla Foster has proven she can handle the pressure that comes with being a leader for the Lady Flames. just in her first year with the team, her spirit of leadership has helped with the progression of the team throughout the season.

“She has really stepped up a ton as a freshman,” Nangle said. “I think she naturally is a leader, and she is kind of evolving into that role, but (she) has a lot of upperclassmen to help lead her as well.”

In an attempt to show good leadership, Foster is always thinking of ways to improve her game and overall skill.

“My biggest weakness is communicating and being vocal, since I don’t really know what I should be saying,” Foster said.

Along with constantly thinking about becoming a better player, she also puts extra work in to help further her skill.

“Any extra time she has, she has a stick in her hand, which catches on to everybody else,” Nangle said. “She’s just a competitor.

She puts in the extra work.”

Foster, who has played lacrosse since

Flames Feats Women’s tennis team competed in first-ever Big South Finals.

April 18 Men’s golf team won 2016 Big South Championship.

April 19 Nate Norman hired as 7th head women’s soccer coach.

April 21 Women’s lacrosse beats the Blue Hose on Senior Day, 21-6. Kallie Britton broke the 100-career-goals mark.

April 23

her friends convinced her in sixth grade, seems to be enjoying her time at the division one level of the sport. She credits her club coaches in high school for getting her in touch with the right people in order to make her dream a reality.

“She’s on pace to be one of the best players to ever go through here,” Nangle said.

KEATING is a sports reporter.

feature

Liberty Champion | April 26, 2016 | B5

Shooting for victory Liberty University paintball team places third in national championships

Courtney Wheeler | Liberty Champion

FIRE AWAY — Liberty’s club paintball team competed at the Class A division of the National Collegiate Paintball Association Championships April 15-17 in Kissimmee, Florida.

William Rice wsrice@liberty.edu

Splat! The plastic of a paintball breaks, splattering paint on the uniform of a Liberty University Paintball Team member.

The paintball team shoots between 36,000 and 48,000 paintballs per practice, launched at a rate of 10.5 balls per second — each ball traveling at about 280 feet per second toward its target.

The paintball team’s practice was finally tested in the Class A division of the National Collegiate Paintball Association (NCPA) Championships, hosted April 15-17 in Kissimmee, Florida. The team placed third, marking the first time the team has made it to the semifinals since 2012.

“We had a good turnout,” Head Coach Brian Davidson said. “Our standings were really good, as well as our team comradery and what we stand for. We did very well in representing Christ when we were there, on and off the field.”

Although attaining the bronze was a noteworthy achievement for the team, it

was not the only victory of the season.

“We had a Class A event in November, which was like a conference match, where we went 2–1,” Davidson said. “Then in the spring we had a two-day event where we

“

the ground up,” senior Brian Natzke said, who plays the Back position for the team.

“We don’t bring in pros or division one players. (The team) is (made up of) guys that we trained and basically taught how to

Since we have such an awesome facility and program, we’re able to get these people that have never really played ... and train them up to the tournament level.”

went 4–2. So our season record was 6–3, which was the highest in our conference (consisting of Kennesaw, NC State and ECU), so that helped going into Nationals, because we had a high seed.”

The team has had great success over the years, despite the constant team changes due to graduation.

“One of the best things about Liberty is that most of our guys, we trained from

— BRIAN DAVIDSON play paintball.”

Davidson prefers guys on the team who have very little training, because he doesn’t have to “fix any bad habits” and can train his athletes the right way.

“A lot of other schools that do well, usually only do well for one year and then they’re nobody,” Davidson said. “But Liberty is always up there contending for the title. We have such a good program, and we’ve al-

ways been competitive. Since we have such an awesome facility and program, we’re able to get these people that have never really played tournament level paintball and train them up to the tournament level.”

According to Davidson, the sport of paintball is a growing sport. Having been negatively impacted by the economic downfall after 2008, it is now on the incline and gaining traction as people now have money to invest in the sport.

With this new growth, the paintball team has opened its facilities to both Liberty students and Lynchburg locals.

“We do rental groups for anyone around the community, like birthday parties,” Davidson said. “We’ve had the hockey team and baseball team up there, and some of the club sports for a team event. We help run that for them.”

Liberty students can reserve the paintball course with a group of eight or more to practice like the team or walk on to practice with the team.

RICE is a feature reporter.

DONUTS continued from B8 “We knew some people that worked at the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center at the time,” Short said. “And now my wife works there actually as a development director.

Axiom sports was founded by Tyler McClure, who was a friend of mine from undergrad. … And then Hill City Crash is a local ministry that uses sports … as an avenue to disciple and train young men.”

The organization is also a discipleship ministry which exists to challenge people to selflessly serve. According to the Fish & Bread Project website, the Fish & Bread Project model focuses on four areas of discipline — prayer, service, community and generosity.

With a few hundred participants in the 5K race and many students onboard with the mission of the Fish & Bread Project, Short hopes to continue to see college students learn to be givers and servants.

“We are looking to maintain what we are doing, maybe build some more awareness on campus (and) get people involved,” Short said. “Really the point of it is to get our students to really practice and grow in their faith by giving a little bit, and sacrificing a little bit. Letting them see that the point is not (that) we’re giving these minisPhoto Provided tries money and are helping them out, but (by) them living faithfully and sacrificially, PERCIVAL’S ISLAND — Race participants posed Saturday, April 16 at the Fish & Bread Project’s Donut Dash. as a byproduct these ministries are going to benefit from it.” ways do a big hall meeting where we put tell them that because I said, ‘I want you small as a dollar every week, what are you Short said he wants to see students step- all the students together,” Short said “And guys to grow up to be men and women going to do when something big like that up to lead lives of sacrifice and generos- I always share this story about when I was that when someone has a hard time, you’re comes up?’” ity, which he hopes they will learn to do a kid. My father lost his job, and this other willing to sacrifice and give up for somethrough the Fish & Bread Project. man came along and paid my dad’s mort- one else. And if you’re incapable of right “(In) the beginning of the year we al- gage on his house for six months. … I now sacrificing and donating something as RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

feature

B6 | April 26, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Downtown adventure

Vintage Lynchburg retail market showcases local artists, small businesses Abby Sweeney asweeney8@liberty.edu

Vintage Lynchburg, a semi-annual event that celebrates the local artistic and entrepreneurial community, is coming to downtown Lynchburg for the eighth time.

Co-owners Leah Wiebe and Kelly Pittman will host the spring market from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. April 30. The market will be held at the Urban Arts Garage, which is on the corner of 10th and Commerce Street in downtown Lynchburg.

Vintage Lynchburg began in December 2012 and has opened for a spring market and holiday sale every year since. The market has grown from just 800 visitors to 3,800 visitors at the last market in 2015.

“Obviously, this is a shopping retail vendor market, that’s what we are,” Wiebe said.

“But we also want to create a community experience where you can come and just enjoy the whole day out with your friends or family. There’s balloons for kids, a free photo booth and live music.”

This market will feature goods from nearly 100 vendors. There will be food trucks as well as vendors selling goods such as jewelry, clothing, art, furniture and more.

According to Wiebe and Pittman, vendors apply for the market several months in advance. Then they curate the vendors based on their goods and variety.

“It’s got such a good variety of things that, without sounding cheesy, I think there really is something for everyone,” Wiebe said.

The general theme for this spring market is adventure, according to Wiebe and Pittman. According to Pittman, the theme is to inspire people to adventure in their own city and look for opportunities that are right where they live.

“We are really trying to promote getting out, doing stuff (and) having fun,” Pittman said. “Adventure where you are.”

Each Vintage Lynchburg supports a different local non-profit organization.

This spring, a portion of the ticket sales

Photo Provided

COMMUNITY CARE — Some of the market’s tickets sales will go to Court Appointed Special Advocates of Central Virginia. will go directly to Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of Central Virginia.

“That’s a really big, important part of what we do,” Wiebe said. “So this sale will have a different non-profit that we are promoting, which is CASA.” Wiebe and Pittman aim to keep consistency in their market, and they continue to look for new ways to make it better each time.

“Our shoppers can come and know what they’re going to get,” Wiebe said. “They know it’s going to be awesome. They know what they’re getting, but we want to also find small ways to do better. So it’s a lot of the same stuff, but better.”

According to Wiebe and Pittman, they want to make an impact on the community and encourage other local artists to pursue their dreams of owning their own business.

“We also want to be sort of a plat-

form for people to be inspired, to encourage people … and we can help you to kick start your business,” Wiebe said.

“We can give you a platform to really be a grand opening.”

As owner of Regeneration, a business centered around reclaiming vintage furniture, Wiebe and her previous business partner set out to market their products in a new way.

“At the time there just didn’t seem to be very many opportunities for people who maybe had an Etsy shop … but there wasn’t a place ever to physically sell their items and so it felt like a real need at the time, and I think it still does,” co-owner Wiebe said.

Wiebe and Pittman believe Vintage Lynchburg will showcase many of the talented people from Lynchburg and the surrounding areas.

“I think really what I hope that people

see at our event is the local flavor of creativity—to see what’s happening in Lynchburg on a creative level,” Wiebe said.

The market will have something for all ages to enjoy, according to Wiebe and Pittman.

“It’s just a really fun, family experience,” Pittman said.

Early bird tickets are sold out online, but regular admissions at the door will be $3.

Children get in for free. Hand stamps will be included so attendees can come and go without paying again.

SWEENEY is a feature reporter.

Student marketplace

First ever campus-wide yard sale kicks off May 4 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Amelia Whittaker awhittaker1@liberty.edu

Yard sale season has begun across the country according to home organizing consultant, Geralin Thomas, and Liberty University has joined the movement.

The first annual Community Yard Sale is taking place on Reading Day, Wednesday May 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Vines Center lawn.

Stephanie Ward, director of Student Activities, came up with the idea of the yard sale event.

“Who doesn’t love a good yard sale?” Ward said. “It is such a perfect event for the end of the year.”

This event gives students the chance to sell and buy items before packing up to return to their homes for the summer months.

It is a great opportunity to help lighten that load of unwanted items and at the same time make a little extra money, according to the student activities website.

According to Erin Diaz, event supervisor for student activities, there can be up to 40 vendors at the event. All vendors must reserve a table for $10 by going to the student activities home page and choosing Community Yard Sale. Once on that page, students need to click the register button to complete the process of registration and secure a table for the event.

Vendors must be either a current liberty student, faculty, or staff member in order to reserve a table for the day. There is a limit of one table to each vendor and only that space and the ground directly in front of the table may be used. Tables can be shared by

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

Lauren Adriance | Liberty Champion

DONUT YOU KNOW — Mama Crockett’s will sell their donuts. friends or roommates just as long as the table is reserved. The event is open to the public.

Items are expected to be consistent with typical yard sale objects including clothing, old books and furniture.

“We are pretty open with what can be sold,” Diaz said.

“Obviously there cannot be anything that goes against the Liberty Way.”

This leaves room for plenty of items that are permissible and encouraged to be sold. Prices are left up to the vendor, which leaves room for negotiation.

Also 42 percent of yard sale shoppers come expecting to negotiate the prices according to statisticbrain.com. This number should encourage vendors to bring as many items as possible and for buyers to come

A BREW FOR YOU — Golf Park Coffee Co. will attend the event. ready get some great deals.

“We have no idea how many people will be there since this is our first time, but we are hoping for as many as possible,” Diaz said.

No food or drink items may be sold by vendors, as Mama Crockett’s and Golf Park Coffee Co. will be there to provide refreshments.

All vendors will accept cash,

and some may be able to accept credit cards. If interested in becoming a vendor, visit liber ty.edu/ca mpusr ec/stu dentactivities/ to register and reserve a table.

WHITTAKER is a feature reporter.

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Liberty Champion | April 26, 2016 | B7

Multicultural experience International Festival highlights worldwide cultures in Lynchburg, April 30 Katelyn Rutt kerutt@liberty.edu

The city of Lynchburg has partnered with Action for Change (A4C) to host its first annual International Festival Saturday, April 30. The event will take place along the Bluff Walk in Downtown Lynchburg from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Locals will have the opportunity to learn about the city’s diversity by enjoying a variety of exhibits, entertainment and ethnic cuisine.

“This is the first year for this event,” festival publicity chair JoAnn Martin said. “It began with the city’s employee group A4C in 2014 and 2015 when they sponsored a multicultural fair for city employees. These events were well-attended, so they began to discuss the possibility of hosting something similar.”

Because of the overwhelming amount of community interest, A4C created the International Festival, an event that highlights Lynchburg’s cultural background.

Soon after, the group reached out to several non-profit organizations to secure local partners for the festival.

“Our community partners are the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus and the Adult and Career Education Center of Central Virginia,” Martin said.

Overall, Martin said their main goal is to encourage a large majority of Lynchburg’s residents to attend.

“The event is free and family-friendly,” Martin said. “It will be lots of fun.”

While at the festival, guests will be able to stroll the Bluff Walk and taste foods from any of the event’s 11 vendors. Cuisine from local favorites like Thai ‘99, Philippine Delight and the Blue Orchid Restaurant will be served at the festival, as well as food from the Jacked Rabbit and T & E Catering food trucks. Each vendor will display a unique selection of authentic, foreign cuisine.

The festival will also feature a variety of themed entertainment, such as Thai boxing, a Scottish bagpipe performance and a multicultural dance presentation. Martin says during the event several live musicians will play a selection of Persian and Indian music to add to the festival’s atmosphere.

“Lynchburg is a city rich in diverse cultures, experiences and backgrounds,” Martin said. “We have citizens whose ancestors come from countries from throughout the

world and residents who are from other countries too. We believe this makes our community stronger and a great place to live, work and play.”

Martin hopes that the International Festival will encourage residents to celebrate their differences, as well as appreciate their many similarities.

“The more we know, the better we can understand each other and appreciate what everyone contributes to the

community,” Martin said.

“We hope the International Festival will become an annual event and continue to grow,” Martin said. “Our ultimate goal is to create a sense of community and an appreciation for what everyone brings to the table, and of course also to have fun.”

RUTT is a feature reporter.

Shannon Ritter | Liberty Champion

AROUND THE WORLD — Liberty offers multicultural enrichment on campus at the International Student Center in DeMoss Hall.

Lynchburg will be hosting an International Festival Saturday, April 30.

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B8

FEATURE

April 26, 2016

Photos Provided

SWEET REWARDS — On the left, Sam Cooper finishes the Fish & Bread 5K. The race raised about $4,000 for a pregnancy center, a sports ministry, and a local basketball team.

Fish, bread, donuts The Donut Dash raises funds for local organizations through campus ministry Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

Donuts and running. Two things one would never logically place in the same sentence. But on Saturday, April 16, these two things were the talk of the town as the Fish & Bread Project hosted its annual 5K run, with this year’s event at Percival’s Island involving donuts at the finish.

Matt Short, the founder of the Fish & Bread Project and a resident director at Liberty University, said the 5K race, entitled, the Donut Dash, took place to raise money for the ministry, which partners with the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, the Hill City Crash AAU basketball team and Axiom Sports.

Short said the other ministries — the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, the Hill City Crash AAU basketball team and Axiom Sports — were chosen through prior relationships he had.

Morgan Stone, a resident of Lynchburg, participated in the race with her husband because she believes in the mission of the Fish & Bread project. “(It’s important to support this ministry) because of the significance of the mission of the organization itself in its holistic development of disciples and its strong support of its local ministries,” Stone said.

The annual race is a donation-only event in which participants give what they can.

“We do free registration, so we don’t charge anything to sign up for the race,” Short said. “We give out free donuts at

the race, and we just ask our students and those who get involved to raise a little bit of money through sponsorship. We try to push about $25 for each person. Some people raise a lot more than that. Some people don’t raise any, but we still want them to come out and participate. We did roughly $4,000 of fundraising this (time).”

According to Short, the Fish & Bread Project began as a simple idea on the campus of Liberty.

“We started it four years ago as a dorm project on the hill,” Short said. “The idea being just to challenge our students to grow in their faith. Out of the passage of Scripture where the young boy gives fish and bread, it was the idea that we ask each one to give a little bit. So we challenge our students to commit a little bit of time to

prayer and to give a little bit of money. We ask them specifically for a dollar every week and to commit some time to service and projects. The idea being that if they give a little bit and learn to grow in their faith that God will do something big with it and together as a community, each committing a little bit, they can accomplish something bigger together.”

Though Short began the ministry with a few of his resident assistants, it has grown significantly over the four years since its origin. The ministry partners with other ministries in hopes of seeing God do something big with what little people are able to give.

See DONUTS, B5

Hitting the high note Sodexo worker Jarell Hall appears on The Voice, pursuing his lifelong dream Will Young weyoung@liberty.edu

Jarell Hall always knew he wanted to be a singer.

He grew up in a musically talented house in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he trained himself vocally under the guidance of his mother, who had a music career of her own. From a very young age, Hall knew singing was his passion, and it has driven him to pursue a career in music ever since.

“My goal is to make it to the top – to be as big as I can be,” Hall said. “I really want it, I really do. And I feel like if I don’t work hard myself, then I’ll never get it.”

Hall, 25, works at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall, but he would rather be known for his vocals. In February of this year, Hall made his debut on NBC’s “The Voice,” a reality singing competition in which a panel of judges critique artists and create teams of artists to mentor and train.

Hall initially tried out for The Voice Feb. 20 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had been thinking about going to tryouts in the past, but had trouble raising enough money to travel to the try-out location. It was his family that eventually helped him raise the needed funds to travel to Philadelphia.

“All of my family gave me like $10 or $20 (each),” Hall said. “And

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

PERFORMER — In pursuit of his musical passion, Jarell Hall started “Viral,” a rhythm and blues band.

I had to audition in Philadelphia, and it just so happens I have family that lives in Philadelphia, so I … caught the train and was able to stay with them.”

In the initial try-out phase of the competition, Hall made it to the second round before being eliminated.

In the first round of the competition, Hall was put in a group

of 10 and told to sing in front of the other competitors in the group with a sole judge in the room. In his first audition, Hall chose to sing “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” by Etta James.

“The experience was exciting,” Hall said. “You’re in a room full of people, and you’re singing with everybody in the same room, and it was all sort of beautiful to me.

I met a lot of people, and it was great. I never experienced anything like it before.”

Hall was later separated from the rest of the group and told to sing another song in front of the judge alone. After the judge heard Hall sing for a second time, he admitted him into the second round.

After loads of paperwork and a four-day break in between rounds,

Hall was placed in a studio with a judge instead of a room full of fellow competitors. His song of choice was “One Call Away” by Charlie Puth.

Despite not being cleared to compete further on the show, Hall said the judge told him he had a lot of talent and should try out again in future seasons.

“They told me I was amazing and said I should come back next year,” Hall said. “So if I can’t get everything going good by next year, I’ll probably go back.”

To hone his craft, Hall said he tries to practice singing at least eight hours a day when at home and in practices with his rhythm and blues group, “Viral.” The group consists of Hall, three other singers and a rapper. The group is currently taking dance classes and practicing vocals while planning its first tour across Maryland, Washington D.C. and Connecticut.

Hall said he is looking for other members to join “Viral”. He will be holding a meeting Tuesday, April 26 at 2245 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg at 8 p.m. To get involved, call Hall at 434-229-3314.

“Right now, I’m just trying to get out of Lynchburg,” Hall said with a chuckle. “And it’s been hard trying to get out, but I’m not about to give up soon.”

YOUNG is a feature reporter.