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Volume 35 | Issue 2 Tuesday, February 2, 2016

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Michela Diddle| Liberty Champion

POUND — Lady Flames sophomore guard Candice Leatherwood leads Liberty to victory over High Point Saturday, Jan. 30. Read the full story on B1.

Winter workouts You’ve got mail How to stay fit when the temperatures drop Avoid phishing scam messages

Ellie Fraser efraser2@liberty.edu

Jordan Jarrett jjarrett4@liberty.edu

Sticking to New Year’s resolutions during the winter can be difficult when cold temperatures and bad road conditions prevent traveling to the gym and lessen motivation. Heather Gaunt, LaHaye Student Union fitness coordinator, gave advice about how someone can keep up with fitness goals despite the difficulties winter brings. Gaunt first suggested investing in home gym equipment and an exercise DVD library. “A pair of dumbbells, kettlebells, jump ropes, yoga mats, TRX suspension bands, a medicine ball, a pull-up bar and resistance bands are just a few great pieces of equipment to achieve a well-rounded at-home workout,” Gaunt said. If someone lives in a spacious place, stationary bikes or treadmills are good assets to have but are not necessary, according to Gaunt, who said the most important part to achieving a good at-home workout is the mind. “It starts with the right mindset,” Gaunt said. “If you can get

A string of email scams invaded the inboxes of several Liberty University students in mid-January, promising “information validation” and mystery shopper positions. The emails, urgent in tone and content, claimed to be from various departments of Liberty such as the Information Technology (IT) helpdesk and the Liberty University Police Department (LUPD). The emails were sent Jan. 15, Jan. 18 and Jan. 19. Liberty’s IT department since issued a scam alert Jan. 20 to inform students of basic precautions to take when dealing with possible scam messages. According Joshua Burch, a network security engineer at Liberty, email scams like the ones sent in January are created with the intent to defraud people into giving away money, possessions or personal information. A specific type of scam called phishing involves the scammer creating an email, down to its address and signature, to look like it is from an official institution or business.

Courtney Wheeler | Liberty Champion

SWEAT— Students work out indoors to stay warm in the winter. rid of distractions, crank up music, and really focus on what you are doing, there’s no reason why your home workout can’t be just as good, if not better, than your gym workout.” Gaunt said her favorite way to get moving without a lot space is yoga because no equipment is needed except for a comfortable surface to practice on, such as a mat, towel, carpet or grass. “Moving through (yoga) pos-

es for 20 to 60 minutes will help increase blood circulation, muscle strength, balance, flexibility and coordination,” Gaunt said. Another at-home workout Gaunt suggested is high intensity interval training (HIIT). According to Gaunt, this style of workout requires minimal equipment and can help someone achieve a

See INDOORS, A2

INSIDE THE CHAMPION

News

Liberty’s Web page has a new look thanks to a recent redesign. A8

Opinion

The Supreme Court will hear case with possibility to end Obama’s A5 immigration order

Sports Check out the staff members’ picks for Super Bowl 50.

Feature B3

Liberty students go out into the world for global internships. B8

A phishing message will use jargon, official-sounding language and urgency to dupe its recipients into releasing sensitive information. Other characteristics include poor grammar and a strange Web address (URL) linked in the message. According to Burch, the three main aspects of a suspicious email to look at are the links, the sender and the content. “Look at the whole email,” Burch said. Students should look carefully at any links associated with an email. The recipient of a suspected phishing scam must not click any links in the email, especially if they involve their personal account or money. “(The messages) will usually have a link that says ‘click here’ rather than saying what it goes to,” Burch said. He also included that one way a user can detect a suspicious address is to mouse over the link and see what the address actually says. A phishing hacker will typically create a website from a free Web hosting service, Burch further explained. When an unsuspecting user enters information into the

See EMAIL, A8

News Opinion

A1 A4

Sports Feature

B1 B5

news

A2 | February 2, 2016 | Liberty Champion

New program partnership Liberty launches new online courses in collaboration with Dr. James Dobson Taylor Frost tfrost2@liberty.edu

The Liberty University James C. Dobson Center for Child Development, Marriage and Family Studies will be launched in spring 2016. The center is a partnership between Dr. James Dobson and Liberty under the department of counselor education & family studies. “It has often been said, as the family goes, so goes society,” Dobson said. “The family is a foundation, the ground floor on which everything of value rests. Our institutions, our government, our children, all depend on strong and stable families, and that is why I am excited to partner with Liberty University to equip students of all ages with the skills needed to impact families.” Students will now be able to enroll in online courses that are an accumulation of Dobson’s life work. “The center provides a wonderful opportunity to invest into the lives of students and train them in a Christ-centered marriage and family relationship-coach concentration and provides certification programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels,” Tim Clinton, executive director for the department of counselor education and family studies, said. “So we went to work together … and are very excited to launch our programs of study at Liberty.” Three undergraduate minors are currently offered through the center: family advocacy, public policy and the future, parenting and child/adolescent development, and marriage and family studies. According to Michele Hewitt, director of recruitment at Liberty, students are able to sign up for these classes through ASIST. “We created a project involving developing curricula at the certificate level,” Clinton said. “It means developing academic curriculum at the bachelor level, at the master level and beyond, where students,

David Duncan | Liberty University News Service

PARTNERS — Dr. James Dobson is pictured with President Jerry Falwell (left) and former provost Dr. Ronald Hawkins (right). regardless of major, can go through relationship education, developed primarily by and from Dr. Dobson. We put around Dr. Dobson select professionals to help develop a robust curriculum selected to change students’ lives personally and assist them professionally.” Kevin D. Corsini, vice provost for Academic Operations and professor of clinical mental health counseling, said 25 students have enrolled for B-term and 31 students have enrolled for D-term. However, Corsini explained the number

of students enrolling for these courses is growing every day. Hewitt said graduate level courses will be offered through the center beginning summer 2016.

“

nia School of Medicine for 14 years and an attending staff member of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for 17 years. He also advised three U.S. presidents on family matters.

Our institutions, our government, our children all depend on strong and stable families, and that is why I am excited to partner with Liberty University. — DR. JAMES DOBSON

Photo Provided

SHOW — Dr. James Dobson has a radio show called “Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk.”

Dobson said the plans for the center have been in the works since July 2013. Clinton said the center is a legacy project. The purpose is to have all of Dobson’s works in one place so others may benefit from it. “I thought it would be a modern day tragedy if we lost that voice, the heart that God placed inside of him, that wisdom, that knowledge about children, about marriage, about the family,” Clinton said. “There’s no one who’s done more for the family in our generation than Dr. Dobson.” Dobson is the founder and president of Family Talk, founded in 2010. It is a nonprofit organization that airs Dobson’s radio show “Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk.” Dobson has also written more than 30 books about preservation of the family. His most recent book is “Your Legacy: The Greatest Gift.” Dobson was a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern Califor-

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In 2008, Dobson was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. He holds 18 honorary doctorate degrees, including one from Liberty he received in May 2006. Dobson’s relationship with Liberty began in 1993 when Dr. Jerry Falwell invited him to speak at the university commencement service. “I was on campus for just one day, but I recognized immediately what Liberty University stood for, and that hasn’t changed throughout the years,” Dobson said. “We have a dream, and that dream is to change the world, one student, one coach, one pastor and one parent at a time,” Clinton said. “The ultimate goal is to strengthen and preserve the institution of the family.” Students can visit the James C. Dobson Center page by visitingliberty.edu and searching for the James C. Dobson Center. FROST is a news reporter.

INDOORS continued from A1 good workout in a short amount of time. “The benefits of HIIT include increases in aerobic and anaerobic fitness, decreases in fasting insulin and increases in insulin sensitivity, (and it) reduces abdominal (fat) and (fat just under the skin),” Gaunt said. Because of the intensity of HIIT workouts, Gaunt said to check with a doctor before starting this type of exercise. If going outside is more appealing, Gaunt gave many options that work when there is snow outside. Before heading outdoors, Gaunt recommends wearing the correct clothing for outside including a good pair of gloves, a hat, a jacket, pants and snow boots. “You can get outside and shovel snow, have a snowball fight, build a snowman, hike through the snow, (and) take turns with friends pulling them on a sled,” Gaunt said. “If you have cross-country skis, go on an adventure. The most important thing is to stay active and find joy in what you are doing.”

Gaunt said the primary reason people stick with their exercise routine is because they enjoy it. She recommends people try a few different ways to workout and stick with the one they enjoy most. “Find friends to enjoy (exercising) with you,” Gaunt said. “It makes it even more fun when you can share the experience with close friends or family, and you are more likely to do it when you have that accountability with someone else.” If more accountability is needed, Gaunt suggests using a personal trainer. The LaHaye Student Union offers multiple different packages and price ranges of personal training, which can be found at liberty.edu/campusrec/ studentunion.

FRASER is a copy editor.

news

Liberty Champion | February 2, 2016 | A3

Don't live on Ramen alone Simple tips for college students to save money on food, textbooks and more Taylor Frost tfrost2@liberty.edu

Most college students operate on a budget, and there are many places around Lynchburg that cater to these college students trying to save money. One option to save money, which is a part of the oncampus meal plan, is Flames Cash. Flames Cash is offered to every residential student and is accessible through their Flames Pass. A variety of merchants around Lynchburg accept Flames Cash. According to Jordan Johnson, Card Services assistant director, utilizing Flames Cash is a great option to supplement using cash or credit card. “Regarding the Flames Pass, students can save 10-15 percent at on-campus dining locations by adding Flames Cash,” Johnson said. “You can add funds online or at the Payment Headquarters In Location stations in Green Hall and DeMoss (Hall).” There are also different merchants around Lynchburg that will give students discounts for paying in Flames Cash or showing a college ID. According to Johnson, Zaxby’s, Cici’s Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery all offer incentives for college students. When 100 Liberty University students were surveyed about college discounts, 74 percent of those students said they go to places that take Flames Cash more than places that do not. “I enjoy having (Flames Cash), but I tend not to spend a lot of money in general,” sophomore Seth Rosamilia said. “I use (Flames Cash) to go to Starbucks. It helps a lot.” A second way for college students to be money-conscious is to keep a budget, according to Johnson. “My advice for students on a budget would be to figure out what you’re going to be spending money on by the week and plan accordingly,” Johnson said. “Factoring in food, laundry, gas and postal services is helpful when budgeting Flames Cash.” Liberty students have witnessed first-hand the effectiveness of budgeting. “I think budgeting your money for each week is super helpful,” freshman Elizabeth Eckhart said. “It is helps you to stay on track.” Johnson explained it is important that students understand budgeting. This will not only be useful in college but further down the road as well. “It might take a little effort in the beginning, but when you’re in college and starting to manage your money on your own, it’s better to be prepared so you don’t get caught off guard with bills or expenses,” Johnson said. In addition to eating on a budget, Johnson encouraged students to use public transportation to save on gas expenses. “(Card Services) also offers city bus passes to any stu-

Sierra Franklin| Liberty Champion

dent who has completed (Financial Check In),” Johnson said. “Using the bus to get around town and to-and-from campus will save money on gas.” A fourth way to save money is to utilize textbook rentals offered through Barnes & Noble. According to a Barnes & Noble representative, the textbook rental program was launched in 2010. “Currently, 78 percent of textbook titles offered in the bookstore are available for rent,” the representative said. “Textbook rentals were designed to deliver the maximum benefit (and savings) to our students and offer the features and conveniences that students want most — convenience and affordability — with students saving up to 80 percent off the price of a new, printed textbook.” According to the representative, Liberty students will choose the rental option 54 percent of the time. When Liberty students were asked if they shop around

for the best deal, 49 percent said they searched around and 46 percent said they tried to. The representative also shared that students looking to save money should buy and sell back their textbooks. This offers cash up front. “While students can sell their textbooks back at any time, the best time is at the end of the term during finals week,” the representative said. “Prices paid for textbooks vary depending on whether instructors are using the same textbook for next term. If a book is being used next term, the bookstore will pay up to 50 percent up to needed inventory.”

FROST is a news reporter.

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OPINION

February 2, 2016

ISIS gains new ground The Obama Administration continues to falter as terrorists expand into Libya Kimberly Stefanick kmstefanick2@liberty.edu

The Islamic State has continued its rapid growth in recent months by expanding into Libya in response to the U.S., and Russia continuing its battle against the group in Syria and Iraq, according to CNN. This expansion comes just months after the terrorist attacks on Paris that led to multiple airstrikes against the group last year and a “fierce assault on ISIS targets in Syria,” as reported by The Washington Post. One would think assaults like the ones enacted by France in response to the Paris terror attacks would cripple the militia group, but the assaults have had little effect on the growing group. In reality, the world, collectively, is not doing enough to stop this threat. ISIS is also proving to be more than just a bunch of men toting guns around a desert. Now with ISIS expanding into Libya, immediate action is required to attempt to disable the group, and simple airstrikes will not suffice. In November of last year, the U.S. authorized airstrikes in Libya targeting Abu Nabil. Nabil was an Iraqi national and the senior ISIS leader in Libya, according to the Department of Defense (DOD). The DOD clearly thought Nabil’s death would have a substantial impact on the ability of ISIS to function and establish a presence in the Middle East. “Nabil’s death will degrade ISIL’s ability to meet the group’s objectives in Libya, including recruiting new ISIL members, establishing bases in Libya, and planning external attacks on the United States,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said.

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TERROR — After orchestrating the terrorist attacks in Paris, ISIS has moved into Libya. This clearly is not the case, as The Washington Times reports that as of last summer, an estimated 5,000 Libyan jihadis had joined ISIS in Libya. More drastic action needs to be taken against this opponent that has been greatly underestimated. The more we learn about the group, the greater the threat it proves to be as its members are finding new ways of crossing borders and

posing threats to nations that seemed semi-unreachable before. ABC News reports that ISIS may have an entire “industry” of producing fake passports that originated after the group took over government offices in Syria and may have acquired thousands of “blank passports and at least one passport printing machine.” “The intelligence community is con-

cerned that (ISIS has) the ability, the capability to manufacture fraudulent passports, which is a concern in any setting,” FBI Director James Comey said, according to ABC News. The Washington Times reports members of the group may have used these fraudulent passports to gain entry into the U.S. as well as European countries. ISIS is also receiving help from people around the world who sympathize with the group. One of these sympathizers, a man from Kosovo named Ardit Ferizi, is accused of hacking into a U.S. company’s server and passing the personal information of American service members to the Islamic State, reports The Washington Post. The U.S. needs to step up attacks against ISIS not only to protect Americans, but to protect the world from allowing this infection to grow anymore. A few airstrikes are clearly not phasing this group as they continue to expand and acquire new ground across the Middle East and Northern Africa. “A drone strike here or there is not really doing much, when, ideally, you want to be taking back territory,” Seth Jones, head of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the Rand Corp, said, according to The Washington Times. ISIS cannot be allowed to continue to grow, and by expanding in Libya, the group has the ability to do just that. While America does not need to be the police force for the world, ISIS supporters have been found on American soil, and as long as the group continues to grow, the threat to American lives continues to grow. STEFANICK is an opinion writer.

Court hears immigration case

The Supreme Court has chance to end Obama Administration executive order Austin Eagen aeagen@liberty.edu

More than a year ago, the Obama Administration issued an executive order that would protect more than 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation. More than half the states came out in opposition to this action and struck it down in the lower courts. Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to review the case. Obama issued his executive order after a failed attempt to push similar legislation through Congress. Many view this action as a direct attempt to circumvent the legislative branch and exempt the presidency from the Constitution’s system of checks and balances. The Obama Administration has stated such an action falls within the president’s power of prosecutorial discretion. Despite the White House’s claims, this particular mandate does not exist in accordance with the precedent set by previous presidencies. Former executive action taken in such cases has always been in either supplementation to or accordance with congressional legislation. This order not only ignores congressional authority, it

defies it. Although the action has been effectually prevented up to this point, many worry that the Supreme Court will continue its trend of supporting the Obama Administration and uphold the executive order. There is certainly evidence to support these fears. However, this particular case is unique in its inception. The issue has already been brought up and struck down by Congress. Therein lies the ultimate evidence against the White House. If Obama truly believed his mandate was justified and in agreement with his Constitutional authority, he would not have attempted to navigate the labyrinth that is Congress. He would have pushed his agenda through executive action to begin with. Yet he sought Congressional approval. Additionally, this action blatantly disrespects and diminishes the power and authority of the legislative branch. By ignoring Constitutional authority, the Obama Administration has devolved congressional proceedings to routine check-ups rather than a system of legal accountability. Unlike previous Supreme Court cases involving the Obama Ad-

NOTES A

HAYWOOD

“I urge my fellow citizens to join me in tribute to Black History Month and the message of courage and perseverance it brings to all of us.” President Gerald Ford told the American people the month of February would be dedicated to honoring “the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

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IMMIGRATION — The Supreme Court agreed to review President Barack Obama’s executive order protecting illegal immigrants. ministration, the crux of this case rests not in the content of the policy but rather in the process of conception. Had Obama bypassed Congress when this legislation was first introduced, it may have endured judicial review. As it stands now, there is little hope for its survival. Many have cited this case as an example of the need to for a Republican president and conservative justices. This is drivel. For starters, absolute power corrupts absolutely. As long

Initially, in 1926, the group known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History dedicated a week to black history, according to history.com. That week was chosen as it coincided with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and black rights activist and slave abolitionist Fredrick Douglas. But 50 years later, President Ford elected seven days out of 365 was insufficient. And thus, Feb. 10, 1976, Black History Month was enacted. I appreciate Black History Month. It is not a month I gloat about as though I am better than anyone. I do

as Congress and the Supreme Court continue to concede authority to the executive branch, it does not matter if the president is a Republican or Democrat. Power will be abused and corruption will thrive. Moreover, Republican presidents have appointed the majority of current Supreme Court justices. Even if more conservative judges are appointed to the Supreme Court, there is no guarantee what the results will be. Rather than obsessing over the

not treat Feb. 1 as I would my birthday. It is a time of reverence and respect for those who fought for civil freedoms and liberties. However, there are some who are not too quick to applaud Ford’s decision. Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman has voiced his opinion on dedicating a month to black history, and quite frankly, it is not a favorable one. In a 2005 60 Minutes interview, the actor deemed the very premise of Black History Month ridiculous, stating he did not want it and black history is American history. Freeman is correct about one

political history and disposition of potential justices, we should focus on their character. We should desire judges of integrity – judges who are honest, sincere and good natured. Those are the kinds of justices we should desire for the highest court in the land. With those kinds of judges, the American people need not worry about situations like this. EAGEN is an opinion writer.

thing. Black history is American history. However, that point alone is reason enough to celebrate it. The time we began to overcome the prejudice that plagued our country is something that should be celebrated. Black History Month is the time we as a nation reflect on those who suffered and endured extreme hatred for no reason other than skin color. But it is also the time we understand that none of it was done in vain. HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.

opinion

Liberty Champion | February 2, 2016 | A5

Fight for religious freedom Christians must stand against the growing tide of attacks on religious liberties Lee Sutherland lsutherland6@liberty.edu

This past year will be remembered for many extraordinary events. From the Black Lives Matter movement to the Hillary Clinton email scandal to the earthquake in Nepal, this past year has been filled with memorable and controversial moments. For Christians, the most important development of 2015 has been the increased threats against religious freedom. For example, bills across the country that sought to provide for religious freedom, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, came under much scrutiny. However, perhaps the most startling attacks on religious freedom from this past year have been against Muslims. As the nation witnessed the rise of ISIS, the second wind of Al-Qaeda, and terrorist attacks both at home and abroad, an anti-Islamic sentiment grew. A YouGov/ Huffpost poll from December found that 58 percent of Americans had an unfavorable view of Islam. These fears have only increased as President Barack Obama and his administration continue to seem incompetent and out of touch with the rise of radical Islamic terrorism. As a result of these fears, a number of disturbing attacks on Muslims have occurred, including attacks on mosques, calls to wiretap all of their houses of worship, and proposals to place them in internment camps. These attacks should sound alarms in the minds of everyone who values religious freedom, especially Evangelical Christians. Christians hold to the biblical view that everyone is created in the image of God and therefore has “certain unalienable rights.” Among these foundational rights is the right to freely worship however a person feels led. This is what motivated our nation’s Founding Fathers to include

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WORSHIP — Muslims have been the recipients of attacks on their right to worship. the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the government will not infringe upon a person’s “free exercise” of their religious beliefs. This includes not merely Christians, but Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons and any other religion. In light of this, we as Christians must be the first to stand up against breaches of religious liberties around the world. “These are days that will require courage, conviction, and clarity of vision,” Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said. “We are in a fight for the most basic liberties God has given humanity, every single one of us, made in his image.” This is by no means a call to accept Muslims and those of other faiths as true wor-

shipers of God. The Bible is clear that it is only through faith in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross that one can truly know God. John 14:6 states, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (ESV). However, this should not stop us from fighting for the religious freedom of every person. “It is not in spite of our gospel conviction, but precisely because of it, that we should stand for religious liberty for everyone,” Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, wrote in The Washington Post. Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself ” includes the call to fight for

the religious freedom of all. We as Christians should not be so naïve as to believe these attacks could not quickly turn against us. Christians throughout history, from the early church fathers to the Reformation leaders, have lived as minorities and under oppression. “Make no mistake,” Moore warns in his article. “A government that can shut down mosques simply because they are mosques can shut down Bible studies because they are Bible studies.”

SUTHERLAND is the opinion editor.

Sarah Palin endorses Trump Former governor’s endorsement could affect larger nomination process

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PRIMARIES — Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump leading up to the Iowa caucus. Brianna Young bdyoung4@liberty.edu

Former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin formally endorsed GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign stop in Iowa. Palin’s endorsement is one of many coming from celebrities and politicians, including Jerry Fal-

well Jr., who have told the world whom they side with in advance of the primaries. In an impassioned speech, Palin claimed Trump could be the only candidate who can combat ISIS and “make America great again.” “He is from the private sector,” Palin said. “Not a politician. Can I get a hallelujah?” Cheers from the Iowa crowd

indicated a positive reaction from those present at the gathering. However, conservatives and liberals all over the U.S. had positive and negative thoughts regarding Palin’s endorsement. “No one speaks better to the (evangelical) base than Sarah Palin,” tea party activist Scottie Hughes said. “Much of Palin’s popularity with

tea partiers and conservative activists comes from her willingness to be a strong voice for conservative principles, and sadly, today’s endorsement stands in direct contradiction to many of Palin’s own words over the years,” Independent Journal Review contributor Sarah Rumpf said. The conversation now revolves around whether or not Palin’s support of Trump will help or hinder his campaign. Palin rose to political prominence when she was selected to be Sen. John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 presidential election. However, studies reveal Palin’s entrance into McCain’s campaign hindered him more than it helped. Choosing a seemingly unknown and unqualified individual for the position of vice president did not sit well with many voters. In addition, Palin’s nononsense rhetoric and fiery attitude cast a negative light on the Republican Party. Since her entrance into the political spotlight, Palin has become the brunt of many jokes. Tina Fey’s Saturday Night Live skit poking fun at Palin is perhaps the most iconic parody of the former Alaska governor. According to McCain’s daughter, Megan McCain, Palin brought

“drama, stress, complications, panic and loads of uncertainty” to the 2008 campaign. There are other factors that may indicate whether or not Palin is a help or hindrance to Trump’s presidential bid. According to a Washington Post and Pew Research poll, a Palin endorsement of any Republican candidate in 2012 would not have made any difference for over 60 percent of the Republican voters. With all of these factors against Palin, it seems impossible that her endorsement of Trump could be a positive contribution to the polls he never stops talking about. However, going into the Iowa caucus, Trump had a stable 5 percent lead in the Des Moines Register’s final poll. The long-term impact of Palin’s endorsement has yet to be seen. Whatever happens throughout the nomination process, a high profile political supporter like Palin may help many Americans decide for themselves whether or not they too will vote Trump.

YOUNG is an opinion writer.

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news

A6 | February 2, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Strengthening your walk James MacDonald joins Vertical Church Band for “One Day Revival” on campus Samuel McQuage smcquage1@liberty.edu

When David Nasser announced Vertical Church Band would be a part of Liberty University’s spring 2016 Convocation schedule, the audience in Vines Center gave a huge round of applause. The same energy could be felt in the way students talked about the Convocation days before it took place. “I was really excited when I heard that they were coming,” junior Jacob Roberts said. “Vertical Church Band comes to Liberty often and I thoroughly enjoy them every time. Also, as a worship major, it is really cool to see that many members of Vertical Church Band are Liberty alumni.” Roberts was also excited about the message of Vertical Church Band’s music and how students can gain something from their ministry. “Vertical Church Band is very conscious of producing music that accurately portrays Scripture,” Roberts said. “This is the reason why I enjoy their worship music and I always look forward to being in Convocation when they are there.” Vertical Church Band played five songs before Pastor James MacDonald came to the stage. MacDonald and his wife, Kathy, started Harvest Bible Chapel in 1988, and it has grown to seven locations. They

started groups such as Vertical Church Band as a way to spread the message of Christ. MacDonald’s message was a lesson on the importance and focus of revival. “The problem is, as long as you are comparing yourself to the other boats in the water, you lose sight of how far you have drifted from shore,” MacDonald said. “Now shore, biblically speaking, is the nature of God and the bull’s-eye of that is God’s holiness.” MacDonald gave students advice on the importance of decisions they make at this stage in their lives. “So much of what you are going to be, you are becoming right now,” MacDonald said. “So much of what you are going to be will depend upon your responses to nameless, faceless people that you won’t even remember.” MacDonald also emphasized the importance of not taking God lightly. “If you have been living with that Western world, hypergrace, always-cool-with-whatever-I-choose God, you have been getting some bad teaching,” MacDonald said. MacDonald ended his lesson with a prayer for all students, especially those who did not think the message was for them. “I pray for every self righteous student, who is glad that someone is finally getting to hear what they need to hear and can’t see that the message is for them,” MacDonald said. Vertical Church Band concluded Convocation with one

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

PRAISE — Meredith Andrews sang in Convo Jan. 27. last song. Liberty named the occasion “One Day Revival.” After hearing MacDonald’s message, students said they were very touched and took to heart what he had to say. “James MacDonald was very passionate in his topic of revival,” junior Ben Yohn said. “I got that my walk with God can always be improved.”

MCQUAGE is a news reporter.

SNOW SURVIVAL SNOW PREP Amelia Whittaker awhittaker1@liberty.edu

The Northeast region of the U.S. went from breaking records for high temperatures in December, to breaking records for snowfall during the recent snowstorm Jonas. This drastic change in weather caused some to be completely unprepared for the storm that left many stranded at home for days. It is important to keep in mind the possibilities of storms like these occurring and the aftermath they cause. It is especially important for college students to prepare for these situations where they could be stuck in residence hall rooms for long periods of time. There are many different areas that need preparations and thoughtfulness before a storm hits. The first area of preparation is sustainable food items that will be needed for days. This can be especially important if the dining services would not be able to open. Registered dietician Kristina DiSanto shared some important food staples that would be great to have in your room for a snowstorm. These include oatmeal, cereal and milk, eggs, Greek yogurt, nuts and seeds, fruit, and microwavable veggies. None of these foods require any kind of preparation other than heating in a microwave. They will also keep fresh for long periods of time and should get you through a storm that has you stuck for days. These foods are also all healthy options from every food group. “If you are in an apartment where there is a full kitchen, it is a good idea to get some frozen meat,” DiSanto said. This will also last for long periods of time and provide you with another option. After food, there are many important items students should be sure to have in their dorm/apartment before a storm hits. Accuweather.com shares a list of important items to have when a blizzard strikes which includes a flashlight, cell phone, battery powered radio, extra water and medicine, a first aid kit, an emergency heating source, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. All of these items are good to have especially when the power goes out. While it is possible for the residence halls to lose power,

it is rare, leaving some items unnecessary. Another aspect that needs preparation for a snowstorm is your vehicle. It is important to make sure your transportation will be safe when a storm hits and when it is time to get back on the road again. Carcare. org supplies a maintenance checklist for

for your residence halls/apartment and your car will help ensure safety for future snowstorms.

SNOW TRAVEL Matthew Ozburn mozburn@liberty.edu

Cassandra Steptoe | Liberty Champion

FROSTY — Snow covered the campus. cars during the entire winter season. Before a storm hits it is smart to check the car battery, breaks, lights and wipers to make sure each of these are working properly. Antifreeze and oil levels should be checked as well, keeping in mind that antifreeze should be flushed and refilled every two years. Lastly, tire pressure should be checked weekly throughout the season as tires lose pressure when the temperature drops. “A vehicle that is properly prepared for the elements can help you avoid an unplanned road emergency when the weather takes an unexpected turn for the worse,” Rich White, executive director of Car Care Council, said. As well as keeping your vehicle in check, be aware of a few items that are good to keep inside the car during the winter months. Ben Wojdyla, writer for Popular Mechanics, composed a list of several items that should be added for snowy days. This list includes a spare phone charger, hand warmers and blanket, an LED flashlight or flares, a shovel, a windshield deicer, food and a drink. Keeping these preparations in mind

Cassandra Steptoe| Liberty Champion

WONDERLAND — Snow made Liberty’s campus look picture perfect.

The snow that hit the Lynchburg area at the end of the first week of classes for students at Liberty University impacted travel, and as a result, most schools in the area, including Liberty, cancelled all classes Friday, Jan. 22. Liberty had a delay until noon the following Monday. According to Virginia State Police, in Lynchburg, Virginia and surrounding areas, there were more than 56 traffic crashes and 36 disabled vehicles during the duration of the snowstorm. There were no injuries or fatalities reported in this part of the state. Driving in the snow can be difficult and life threatening. The American Automobile Association (AAA) and the Virginia Department of Transportation advise against driving during winter weather unless you absolutely have to. The AAA advises drivers to take many specific precautions. These include avoiding driving while tired, making sure to never warm up a car in an enclosed area and keeping the “gas tank at least half-full to avoid gas line freeze-up.” The National Weather Service issues warnings and advisories for weather such as snow and ice and expects citizens to use common sense before planning any and all travel. When driving in the heavy snow, drivers should make sure they carefully follow tips given by the AAA. The AAA says to accelerate and decelerate slowly, increase following distance to 8-10 seconds, know the quality of your brakes. and do not stop while driving up a hill. The final thing to ensure safety in the snow is simply to stay home. Staying home keeps the roads clear for snow plows and transportation workers to get the road clear and operating the way it should.

SNOW FUN Kirkland Gee kgee10@liberty.edu

While some people bunkered down inside away from the snowfall that recently hit Lynchburg, others spent their time hiking, playing video games and building snowmen. Even though they were stuck at their residence halls, Liberty University students came up with creative and exciting ways to spend their snow days. George Cesil, a cinematic arts student, took the opportunity to challenge himself with a hike. “When it snows, one adventure I always try to accomplish is to walk a far distance to feel like I’m actually accomplishing something,” Cesil said. “This snowstorm, I decided to hike from the Annex to the

monogram.” Tyler Dunning, a writer for active. com, recommends snow kayaking in his list of “10 Extreme Winter Sports for Thrill Seekers.” “Much like sledding, all this sport requires is a slope, a little momentum and the gumption to haul a kayak up a snow-covered hill,” Dunning said. “Once in motion, you might find the kayak a little more difficult to handle than in the water, but having a paddle to steer gives you more control than a standard sled.” If snow kayaking sounds too extreme, snowboarding and skiing are always available at Snowflex free for Liberty students. Not everyone was so productive, though. Many people prefer resting on snow days. In The Washington Post, Jonathan Alport, a New York psychotherapist, explains that snow days do not have to be productive but can simply be a day of rest.

Cassandra Steptoe | Liberty Champion

RELAX — Classes were cancelled Jan. 22. “Way too often people place unnecessary pressure on themselves to perform or live up to a certain ideal, even on a snow day,” Alport said. “Rather than seeing it as knocking you off your game or slowing down progress at work, see it as an opportunity to rest, recharge, and work in a different capacity.” Senior Jared Slagle appreciated having a day to play video games and relax with his friends. “Having an extra sabbath or rest day really refreshes you,” Slagle said. “It energizes you to get more work done.” Freshman Andrew Miller did what he thinks most people spent their day doing. “I think I represent most college students,” Miller said. “I stayed indoors, watched a lot of Netflix and ate a criminal amount of Ramen.”

WHITTAKER is a feature reporter. OZBURN is a feature reporter. GEE is a news reporter.

news

Liberty Champion | February 2, 2016 | A7

Courtney Wheeler, Michela Diddle, Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

INVITATION — Sen. Ted Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson and Donald Trump have all taken the stage at Convocation in the recent months for their push for the presidency.

Candidates come to visit

Presidential hopefuls speak at Liberty Convocation to boost campaigns Taylor Coleman tcoleman64@liberty.edu

Convocation at Liberty University has become a popular stop for presidential candidates on their campaign trails. Since Sen. Ted Cruz came to Liberty in spring 2015 to announce his candidacy, candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, Dr. Ben Carson and Donald J. Trump have also taken the stage. According to Daniel Bolton, director of Spiritual Programs, the presidential candidates are eager to visit the school and be given the platform only Liberty can offer. “We offer them something nowhere else does, which is the chance to speak in front of 13,000 college students,” Bolton said. “There is nowhere in the world that they can speak to so many college students.” Bolton explained that due to the proximity of major cities surrounding the Lynchburg area, candidates are able to fly in the morning of Convocation and still be able to hold a rally in cities, such as Charlotte, North Carolina or Richmond, Virginia. Presidential candidates have the chance

to influence 13,000 students on campus and approximately 8,000 students who watch it online. They are given an opportunity to speak about their Christian faith in an open and accepting platform, where they are least likely to hear shouts and jeers. Bolton said anytime a candidate visits, Liberty is shown in a positive light. Social media provides a flattering outlet for the visitors to thank the school publicly. After his visit to Convocation, Trump sent a tweet to his 5.8 millions followers: “I loved being at Liberty University today! Record setting crowd, unbelievable people! Thank you Jerry and Becki!” Sanders also sent a tweet to his 1.2 million followers: “Thank you very much, Liberty University, for inviting me to be with you today #LibertyConvo.” Bolton said the process of getting in touch with the candidates’ campaigns is simple. He explained he will either get in touch with the campaign himself or rely on President Jerry Falwell’s personal relationship with the person to play a role in the invitation. Liberty does not show favoritism when it comes to selecting guests for Convoca-

tion. Curious minds wondered why Sanders, a member of the Democratic Party, was asked to speak to the students Sept. 14. “No matter what decision you make, you are going to have people who disagree,” Bolton said. “We never shut down candidates.” The presidential candidates who visited have walked away with a feeling of gratitude toward the school and Falwell, according to Bolton. Liberty faced a new aspect of bringing in such high profile speakers — United States Secret Service. When Carson visited the school Nov. 11 and Trump Jan. 18, students were required to go through metal detectors and security screening. “We have developed a relationship with the Secret Service,” Bolton said. “They are the nicest guys around and are very professional.” When asked of the chances of Hillary Clinton visiting Liberty, Bolton said that just as they have with all of the candidates, they have reached out to her campaign. “There is always a chance,” Bolton said. “No one has given a ‘no.’” No matter the political position, Liber-

ty students are asked to be polite and respectful for each of the candidates. CNN reported Sanders, whose views differ from many Liberty students, was generally received courteously. “(Sanders) received a courteous welcome and helped all parties demonstrate their willingness to respect the other side,” MSNBC reported after his visit. Even though many students do not agree with some of the presidential hopefuls, freshman Joshua Smith has seen the benefit of being informed. “Our nation is a diverse nation with many different worldviews,” Smith said. “When we hear different perspectives, we hear worldviews that we may not have ever heard before. Although we may not always agree with them, we need to hear them so we can understand where they’re coming from and better lead them to Christ.”

COLEMAN is a news reporter.

Campus rezoning continues Liberty receives new classification in order for enrollment to continue to grow Elizabeth Lapp elapp@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s campus received a new zoning classification following the Lynchburg City Council meeting Jan. 12, consolidating the campus under the single IN-2 zoning classification. Previously, the 752-acre campus of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University fell under six different zoning classifications, each with its own set of guidelines for use. Senior Vice President for Auxiliary Services Lee Beaumont and Senior Vice President for Construction Planning Charles Spence are two members of the team who worked to create and receive the new IN-2 zoning classification. “It consolidated it all, so … there is only one set of rules that we need to think about,” Spence said. “That makes things easier than six different sets of rules. It eliminated the need for a conditional use permit (CUP) . . . as long as functions that are happening are in the interior of the campus. It allowed us a lot more freedom to develop those ideas and to build buildings without CUPs.” Beaumont said the rezoning has been in the works for the past eight years as Liberty was already self-regulating and maintaining many operations including roadways, sidewalks and parking. “CUPs were a lot of oversight that we felt was unnecessary, and (the city council) eventually came around to the same conclusion,

RJ Goodwin | Liberty Champion

NOTICE — Signs were put up around campus to notify students of the proposed rezoning project. that we can manage our own affairs internally,” Beaumont said. “It really took until the students started voting in 2008 that then they realized that we have a voice. ... Like any democracy, if you don’t vote then you don’t have a voice, and if you do vote then you do have a voice and they will listen to you.” The new IN-2 zoning permit was created by Lynchburg City Council in conjunction with Liberty in 2013 and is designed “for institutional uses such as schools, colleges, universities, senior living facilities, medical facilities and churches with multiple buildings contained in a campus set-

ting,” according to lynchburgva. gov. The new classification allows for the renovation and expansion of facilities within the institutional district. “There was extensive research done in college cities across the country and seeing how they zone big schools like Ohio State in Columbus, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and UVA in Charlottesville,” Beaumont said. “So (IN-2) is a combination of the old zoning rights as well as how those schools do it. It’s been eight or nine years of writing this from concept to conclusion. It was a great collaborative process between Liberty and the city staff.

Everyone worked together to get this done.” During the council meeting, Lynchburg Mayor Michael Gillette described granting the new zoning designation as a “slam dunk.” “This is exactly what the institutional zoning district was designed for,” Gillette said. “It wasn’t even just designed for some hypothetical application. It was designed in partnership with the large organizations in the city and tailored, really, to meet our mutual needs.” Under the old zoning designations, Liberty was limited to 15,000 residential students. Currently there are more than 14,500 stu-

dents enrolled. However, the new zoning classification eliminates the enrollment cap, allowing for the university’s continued growth. “Our current CUP was going to cap out, and we were going to have to go through a whole new process of a new CUP,” Beaumont said. “The new CUP would have had a whole list of requirements. ... It would have had roads. It would have had utilities. The last one had tunnels. (We had to) provide a study for sidewalks, parking, (and) for traffic, and we would have had to pay for all of these engineering reports, but now we don’t have to do any of that. We pretty much maintain our master plan, and we let them know what our master plan is when it affects things outside of this campus.” While the new zoning designation will allow for the school’s continued growth and make new building projects easier, it is unlikely students will notice anything different. “Our job is to make sure you don’t see anything,” Beaumont said. “You’re just going to see the finished product and everything behind the scenes is invisible. Like the busing, you don’t care what it takes to run 30,000 hours of busing. You just want the bus to be there. You want it to be on time, you want it to be clean, and you want it to be safe. That’s our job — to make it look easy.” LAPP is a news reporter.

news

A8 | February 2, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Time to make a change Liberty launches new website for ease of use and to better market the university Taylor Coleman tcoleman64@liberty.edu

Liberty University launched a brand new layout of its website Dec. 18 in an effort to create a more marketable view of the school. Plans for a new design layout began last summer, but those in the Web design department dedicated time to making it a reality around October and November. According to Program Manager Edgard Luz, a major component to redesigning the website was to make the new layout easier to access on a mobile device. A desktop view of the website is no longer available. Luz said 18 percent of those who visit the website do so using their cellphone or tablet. “We have been monitoring the numbers as they have been growing,” Luz said. “We wanted to make the website mobile-friendly.” Luz explained Google made changes as to what school websites appeared first when searching colleges. Schools whose websites were more mobile-friendly came up first, resulting in a decline of visitors to Liberty’s website. One issue with the previous layout was the insufficient amount of spotlight on enrollment to Liberty, an aspect the designers wanted to change. “The content was for everyone, but not

specific to new people enrolling,” Luz said. Luz said another major component of the new website was to create a convenient Web experience for students. Cleaning up the navigation by creating less clicks to get around the website was a priority in the design process. When students log into their Liberty account on the main page of the website, the myLU portal is no longer an option. In the new layout, a bar on the right side of the screen features access to the student’s account, including ASIST, Blackboard and email. The top priority in designing the Web page was rearranging the main page and creating a cleaner search tool. Therefore, various pages within the website have not yet received an update. “We had to rush to get what we have now to make it live,” Luz said. “We cut some features we wanted to release.” One of the upcoming features will include easier access to the schools of study available at Liberty. For example, business majors would have a page dedicated to relevant information related to the school of business, as well as to their specific degree. “We want students to have a Web experience where they can get connected with other students and better understand their program for degree completion,” Adam Wittcop, a project manager, said. According to Luz, there are plans to update Blackboard sometime in the future.

Shannon Ritter| Liberty Champion

DESIGN — Liberty’s new homepage made the website easier to navigate. However, due to Blackboard being its own company, improvements made by Liberty are limited. One future addition to Blackboard would include a dashboard with more information on upcoming assignments in classes. Luz said notifications with “little numbers” would be visible on the applications. The overall student reaction to the recent changes has been positive, according to Luz. However, there are some students who are having a tough time accepting change. “We have been monitoring social

EMAIL continued from A1

Pierce Phillips| Liberty Champion

PROTECT — Liberty’s IT department worked hard to fight scams.

$10

$15

STUDENT PUBLIC adv. adv.

$18 DOORS

corresponding fields on the page, the website simply stores it all for the hacker’s records. In addition to looking out for suspicious links, students should also look out for strange, unrelated or unofficial email addresses which send scamming emails. The sender’s guise could be that of a seemingly helpful technician or even a friend of the recipient. Burch suggests students go to the official website of the business represented in the email and call it directly. In the case of a friend

media,” Luz said. “The way we see it is that it is never perfect, and there is always room for improvement.” Luz said the website update could not have been made without the work of Amos Adebayo, Aric Burket, Daniel Crankshaw, Mark Douglas Johnson, Stephen Lafountain, Bradley Moore, Brett Sauers, Jeff Setzer, Bethany Schultz, Zach Schultz, Grace Varghese, Jeffrey L. Welch and Adam Wittcop. COLEMAN is a news reporter.

promoting something strange via email, recipients should inform the friend that his or her account may have been compromised. As for content concerning webmail updates, Burch assures students that Liberty’s IT technicians have no need of enlisting such tactics for information. “(Liberty IT technicians) don’t need people to give us personal information over email,” Burch said. Burch clarified that webmail technicians have the ability to deactivate or update webmail locally, without any personal details directly from a user. Scammers will create a false sense of urgen-

cy over digital communication. Liberty’s helpdesk technicians will not. Rule of thumb on emails involving money? If it is too good to be true, it probably is. If a student receives an email to a Liberty email account that could be a scam, he or she should forward it to scams@liberty.edu so IT can be made aware.

JARRETT is a news reporter.

LAHAYE EVENT SPACE

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SPORTS

February 2, 2016

M. Basketball

W. Tennis

M. Tennis

W. Basketball

Presby.

Liberty

E. Ken

Liberty

Syracuse

Liberty

King

Liberty

High Point

Liberty

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

WELCOME BACK — Ashley Rininger looks to pass during the Lady Flames win over High Point. Rininger finished with eight points and six rebounds in her return from injury.

Like she never left

Ashley Rininger’s return propels Lady Flames to victory over High Point

Luke Dillard mdillard1@liberty.edu

Redshirt senior forward Ashley Rininger returned to the court after missing the last nine games to help the Liberty University Lady Flames (12-8, 9-2) defeat the High Point Panthers (7-13, 6-5) 56-43 Saturday, Jan. 30 in the Vines Center. Rininger, the Big South Conference preseason women’s basketball player of the year, suffered a knee injury in the Lady Flames 79-41 loss Dec. 17 against the No. 11 Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Before the injury, Rininger averaged 13.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. “(Returning) was great,” Rininger said.

“It’s just so much fun to be out there and play with the team again. I forgot how much I loved it.” Rininger picked up where she left off, finishing the game with eight points, six rebounds and two assists in just 14 minutes of play. “(Rininger) ran the floor, got around the

basket, got some offensive boards and stick backs,” Lady Flames Head Coach Cary Green said. “It is good to have her back. The team seemed to be on a rhythm and she seemed to join it. Adding her is going to be an additional bullet in our gun.” The first quarter of the contest was an ugly one, with both teams combining for

FYI

The Liberty men’s and women’s basketball teams have a combined .764 winning percentage (13-4) in the month of January — their highest to start the year since posting a .875 mark (14-2) in January 2011.

a total of 16 turnovers. The Lady Flames held the Panthers to four points in the first 10 minutes of play. Despite the slow start, Green was proud of his team’s early intensity on the defensive side of the ball. “I felt like we began the game in the first quarter with a lot of energy, especially on the defensive end,” Green said. “I have to be pleased with our defensive effort throughout tonight.” The Lady Flames forced 20 Panther turnovers, but had 24 turnovers of their own. “We were struggling with keeping our focus,” Green said. “A lot of unforced

See LEFT, B4

Blanked at blackout

Men’s volleyball team swept by Virginia Tech in second annual blackout game

Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

Ten missed serves and countless hitting and passing errors were the name of the game for the Liberty University men’s volleyball team (8-5) Friday night Jan. 29 in their “Midnight Mayhem” blackout game versus perennial rival the Virginia Tech Hokies. In front of a crowd of more than 4,000 hopeful fans clad in full black attire, the Flames fell in three straight sets, 25-12, 25-11, 25-19. The Hokies jumped out to an early 10-6 lead in the first set be-

WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME

hind strong serving and blocking, and they never looked back. The Flames struggled to put together a run of consecutive points, committing multiple errors and struggling to defend the Hokies’ tall front row. Freshman outside hitter Joshua Talamoa said the matchup against Virginia Tech showed the lack of the team’s ability to mesh as a team on the court. “In this midnight game, I think we were more focused on our individual skills rather than playing as a team,” Talamoa said. “We looked like we hadn’t really been playing volleyball for a long time. But, I think once we realize that

volleyball is a team sport, that volleyball really is something that you have to work together to win, I think we can do it.” After losing the first two games by 13 and 14 respectively, the Flames huddled, trying to figure out how to defend against the Hokies’ consistent offensive attack and tough defense. The Flames began the third set taking a 6-2 lead over Virginia Tech. After missed serves by the Hokies and kills from junior outside hitter Nick Williamson and Talamoa, the Flames led 12-10. Virginia Tech responded with offensive attacks of its own taking

M. Basketball M. Tennis vs. Winthrop vs. Furman

Feb. 2 @ 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 @ 2 p.m.

the 22-18 lead. The Flames then earned a kill from junior Josiah Hershberger, but the Hokies were too strong, winning the set 25-19. Hershberger recognized the difference in the Flames between the first two sets and the final set. “We … have a lot of young players, and this is their first time experiencing something like this, so I feel as though it took a lot of us a little bit to settle in,” Hershberger said. “In the beginning we were making so many mistakes. It just took a while for us to say ‘Let’s put this all behind us and try to move on from that.’ And so in the second set we kind of

picked it up there a little bit, and then in the third set I think we finally realized we can do this.” Talamoa said the mental side of the game was crucial for the Flames in the third set. “The first two sets I think were a mental game,” Talamoa said. “We were mentally not ready to play, but as the third game went on we were realizing that we can beat this team. I think that’s what pushed us to keep up with Virginia Tech in the third set.” In the fall season, the Flames went 8-4, beating Duke and VCU, but losing to Virginia Tech.

See BLANKED, B2

M. Hockey vs. Oakland U.

W. Basketball M. Hockey vs. Oakland U. vs. Radford

Feb. 5 @ 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 @ 7 p.m.

Feb. 7 @ 2 p.m.

Follow @LUChampSports for Flames athletics coverage

sports

B2 | February 2, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Season-opening split Men’s tennis team falls to E. Kentucky in first match, defeats King in second Will Collier wcollier@liberty.edu

Match 1: E. Kentucky 4, Liberty 3 Liberty University’s men’s tennis team fell to the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 4-3 on Saturday in a close fight to the finish in the opening match of the year. The Colonels captured the crucial doubles point to take an early lead in the match when junior Sam Matheson and freshman Alex Poynter were taken down by Sebastian Mueller and Diego Asis, 6-2. King’s Diogo Soares and Indra Patwardhan defeated Liberty sophomores Diego Castano and David Bush, 6-4. “We had some leadership from our captains,” Head Coach Chris Johnson said. “(Senior Egon Samaai) and (Matheson), really went out and took care of business.” Matheson won the top seeded match quickly 6-1, 6-3 to get the team rolling in the right direction. Samaai had an up and down match but found a way to pull out a victory in the third set, 7-6 that was decided with a tight tiebreaker 7-4. “That was a really big point in the match and it really swung the momentum our way,” Johnson said. Unfortunately, the team was not able to sustain the momentum and was defeated in the fourth and fifth seed spots. Poynter lost in straight sets to Guillem Sanchis, 6-1, 6-3 and Soares defeated Eddie Gutierrez in

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

RETURN — Flames junior Sam Matheson fires back during opening weekend. three sets of play, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2. Florian Graskamp clinched the winning point for the Colonels with his win over senior Jason Burgess in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0. Liberty received its third point in the third slot on the team from Castano, who bested Ramon van Flymen in a three set battle, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. “Diego did a great job today,” Johnson said. “(He) had some ups and downs in his matches and fought really hard in

his matches. Diego has really improved coming into this year, and really showed that today.” Match 2: Liberty 5, King 2 The Flames tallied their first victory of the season late Saturday afternoon in a match-up against King University with a score of 5-2. The victory pushes Liberty’s record to 1-1 for the season. Doubles team Poynter and Matheson

started the match with Matheson serving three first game aces to set the trend for a strong second match of the season, winning 6-3. Samaai and Gutierrez triumphed over Moritz Poswiat and Luis Delgado by a score of 6-3. “Alex (Poynter) and Ryker (Heller) came through with a win for us,” Head Coach Chris Johnson said. “We came out and we were a little bit nervous but we had a good day.” Burgess took care of business in straight sets, beating Jannis Walter, 7-6(8-6), 6-3 for a fourth seed singles victory. At the third singles spot, Poynter seized another point for the home team but not without some struggle after winning the first set, 6-4. Delgado rallied but fell short in the second set, 7-6 (7-1). The match-sealing point came from the sixth singles matchup with freshman Ryker Heller edging King’s Pedro Gomes in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2. With the Flames victory, Coach Johnson gained his 100th win, making him the winningest coach in Liberty men’s tennis history. Johnson passed his mentor, Carl Diemer (99 wins), an honor he described as bittersweet. Liberty hosts Furman Friday Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Sports Racket in Lynchburg. It is the first meeting between the two schools.

COLLIER is a sports reporter.

BLANKED continued from B1 Head Coach Bryan Rigg said his team — filled with a large number of freshmen and sophomores — is starting to gel but, against the Hokies, the team chemistry was lacking. “A lot of freshmen were doing really well,” Rigg said. “(In) the games they played this fall they were really doing amazing, and I think they’ve never done something like this. It was a little (bit) of a wakeup call for them. It was a lot of jitters and nervous players.” With a young team, a tough matchup with the Hokies and the potential to play them again this season, Rigg said his team needs to make a change. “I just told the guys we are at a crossroads,” Rigg said. “They need to decide whether they’re going to commit. These guys are good enough to compete with a team like (Virginia Tech), but (they need to) get serious about practice and committing themselves to getting better at all their weaknesses.” Hershberger said he believes the Flames need to work on fixing their personal mistakes in order to move forward as a better team. “Eliminating errors is just growing up,” Hershberger said. “I think you just have to go through the pains. Errors teach you something. You can’t really learn from what you do well. You learn from errors. You just have to go into practice and really go off of what you did wrong and improve upon that.” The Flames return to play Feb. 13 when they host the Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association South Playdate in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

MIDNIGHT BLUES — Flames senior Josiah Williams delivers a bump while junior Nick Williamson looks on during the Flames loss.

RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

sports

Liberty Champion | February 2, 2016 | B3

Ah, the Super Bowl. That incredible game that millions of Americans gather to watch every February — even the ones pulling for “that team with the cool jerseys” or “the orange team.” Now that the fabulous AUL waste of time known as VANDENBOSCH the Pro Bowl is over, we can focus on football that actually matters. Funny how the game that means absolutely nothing comes right before the game that means the most. The golden Super Bowl pits the forever-dabbing Cam Newton and the Panthers against the patriarchal Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Newton is playing in his first career Super Bowl while Manning is playing in his fourth. Let me just get this out of the way and say I believe the Broncos will win this game. Call me crazy, but they have a better chance than everyone thinks. I know the odds have the Panthers as six-point favorites, but I personally could care less what Vegas says because it means absolutely nothing. The last time Manning was in the Super Bowl, his team was utterly humiliated at the hands of the Seahawks, but do not expect that to happen again. For one thing, this Denver defense is far better than the defense from two years ago and has the playmakers to slow down Newton and the Panthers read-option attack. But beyond the statistics and the matchups and the stuff that analysts will be mulling over for hours and hours up until game time lies one distinguishing factor — this could be Manning’s

last season. Win or lose, Manning should probably retire after this season anyway, because nobody wants to see him pull a Brett Favre. But if this is indeed his final season, you can bet that every player in that Denver locker room wants to win this one for him. And a team playing for a guy like Manning is a dangerous team if you ask me. We are not just talking about a veteran on a team who wants to go out with a ring, we are talking about an NFL legend and an all-around class act. A player who deserves more than anyone else on that field to go out on top. Sure, Manning does not have the arm that he used to and his throws are not what they used to be, but he does have a team that is extremely motivated and willing to play for him. Need I remind you of a certain Baltimore Ravens team three years ago that had the same motivation? Do not feel sorry for Newton and his Panthers, because they will be back. So go ahead Broncos, go out there and win one for The Sheriff in his “last rodeo.”

Broncos: 24-21 VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.

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It is that time of year again, sports fans — the time when Americans pile in front of giant televisions with piles of chicken wings and cans of O’Doul. Sports writers all over the nation will be picking a winner for Super Bowl 50. Most will pick the Cam Newton led Carolina Panthers. Few will pick the Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos. Those are the only two options. Or are they? My prediction is that the Cincinnati Bengals will be the Super Bowl champions. Please stop laughing. It very well could have happened, if not for Marvin Lewis. In fact, I could go on for days about another year of heartbreak, and another year of the Bengals ownership failing to do anything about it. But of course, I will refrain because this column is about the teams that managed to keep from imploding. The easy pick is the Carolina Panthers. They only lost one game this year and they have played better than anyone most of the year. They have receivers like Ted Ginn Jr. and Philly Brown who can make a play at anytime. They have Jonathan Stewart in the backfield and Cam Newton under center. Why would anyone in their right mind pick against them? I am not in my right mind. I never have been. I am a Bengals fan for crying out loud. What sane person would subject themself to such torment over and over? So that is why I am picking the Denver Broncos. I was told that I should pick the Panthers because Paul picked the Broncos

and we could not pick the same team. But this is not First Take, and I am not Skip Bayless. I unfortunately do not get paid millions to spew ridiculous things. … I do it for much less. This year will be different than two years ago against Seattle. Pey- OEL ton Manning is playing in SCHMIEG what should be his last career NFL game. He is not supposed to win this game, and has been placed in a corner behind Denver’s defense. And that is a bad place to put Peyton Manning. If you do not think that Manning has a little magic left up his sleeve, you probably have never watched him play. Plus, Peyton’s brother Eli taught him everything he knows about miraculous finishes, and Eli knows quite a bit, just ask Bill Belichick. Finally, the Bengals are going to win the Super Bowl because … sorry I did it again. The Broncos will win Super Bowl 50 and Cam Newton will cry. And Roger Goodell will celebrate his riches by doing laps in his indoor swimming pool filled with the tears of the poor suckers he conned into watching Super Bowl 50. The end.

Broncos: 31-29 SCHMIEG is the asst. sports editor.

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B4 | February 2, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Winning the weekend Liberty’s track and field team wins 19 events during record-breaking invitational

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

GET UP — Flames junior Aklesso Agama soars over the sandpit during a jump event at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational this past weekend. Bobby Keating rfkeating@liberty.edu

Athletes from 20 different colleges along with three former Olympians took part in the record breaking Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29 and 30. The second annual event, which took place in the Tolsma Indoor Track, saw Liberty enjoy enormous success. Liberty’s men’s and women’s track and field athletes combined to win a total of 19 events. In addition to their winning ways, Liberty set nine meet records and notched a facility record in the process. Fresh faces stole the show on the first day of the competition. Liberty’s winning men’s 4 x 800 team consisted of freshman Bradley Prentice, sophomore Andrew Crowell, freshman Michael Todd, and redshirt sophomore Colin Schultz. The group set a facility record time of

7:45.73 that crushed the previous record by more than three seconds. Liberty sophomore Mariel Finger posted a meet record in women’s pole vault by accomplishing a personal-best height of 125.5. Finger is now tied for second in Liberty’s all time indoor pole vault standings. Day two of the invitational was noteable for Liberty redshirt junior Dana Mercer. She won the women’s long jump contest for the second year in a row with a personal-best distance of 18-11.25, setting a meet record. Mercer also managed to finish third in the women’s 60-meter dash Division I final with a time of 7.86 seconds. The Lady Flames took the top four spots in the women’s 400. Senior Corinn Bedell set another meet record by finishing first at 58.03 seconds. Sophomore Olivia Behyemer, freshman Nicole Leonzo, and redshirt senior Ansley Gebben took home second through fourth place, respectively. The Liberty men’s team dominated field

events throughout the weekend. Fred Fulton, a redshirt senior, not only won the men’s shot put competition at 53-2.25, but also finished second in the weight throw contest at 58-1.75 Fellow Flame David Scouten, also a redshirt senior, won the weight throw with the same mark of 58-1.75. Scouten won due to his second best throw eclipsing Fulton’s best. Furthermore, junior Stephen Racanelli set a meet record for the second consecutive year in the men’s 400. His final time clocked in at 49.23. Liberty pointed its success to honoring former teammate Darius Dixon. Tragically, Dixon died just two days after competing in his first collegiate track meet at the age of 18. A picture of Dixon running on the very same surface where athletes competed in his honor hangs at the center of the indoor track facility’s wall.

Head Coach Brant Tolsma said Dixon had a lot of potential as a young walk-on freshman. “We had high hopes for his development and we were pleased even how he looked in his first meet,” Tolsma said. “He was one of those kids that we wanted to give opportunities to.” Wrapping up a weekend of competition, the Flames enjoyed a dinner in the club level of the Williams Stadium tower to remember Dixon. In attendance were his parents Herman and Shineka. The Liberty track and field family, which still includes Dixon’s parents, plans to continue the memorial event into the future. “The fact that we’re remembering him is a good reminder that life comes with no guarantees,” Tolsma said. “Everyday you have is a blessing and an opportunity, and you never know when your last one is.” KEATING is a sports reporter.

Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational Women’s

14 Flames Victories (Sat. only)

Mychelle Cummings - Shot Put Dana Mercer - Long Jump Delaney McDowell - 1,000 meter run Corinn Bedell - 400 meter dash Erin Edmond - 200 meter dash Mary Witmer - 500 meter run LEFT continued from B1 turnovers took away from our offensive opportunity. We just (have) to get better at that. It is disappointing that we do not value the ball.” Senior forward Katelyn Adams matched her season-high in points with 11, while pulling down seven rebounds. The Lady Flames had two straight possessions in the second quarter where Adams grabbed offensive rebounds and scored a layup while drawing a foul. “I just made sure I was in position,” Adams said. “Coach Green always focuses on rebounding, (and) getting rebounds is big for me. I know that is something I can do, so I just work hard to do that.” Senior guard Jaymee Fisher-Davis nailed two threes on the Lady Flames first two possessions of

48 -10.75 18 -11.25 2:56:68 58.03 25.46 1:17.96

the fourth quarter for a 45-26 lead and helped seal the deal for her team. Rininger made her presence

FYI

The Lady Flames have five remaining home games. Feb. 7: Radford Feb. 9: Campbell Feb. 20: Coastal Feb. 27: Longwood March 5: Presby. known again when she took a charge on a fast break attempt for the Panthers in the fourth quarter. Rininger was slow to get up, and the collision served as a wel-

Erin Zappia - High Jump 5’5” 4 X 400 Relay : 4:03.42 Corinn Bedell Nicole Leonzo Maggie McDermott Bailey Reeves

Men’s

Fred Fulton - Shot Put David Scouten - Weight Throw Carson Waters - Pole Vault Stephen Racanelli - 400 Meter Dash Andrew Crowell - 1,000 Meter run Cameron Francis - Mile run

53 - 2.25 58 - 1.75 16 - 2.75 49.23 2:31.57 4:23.47

come back to the court. “I was hoping I could take a charge today,” Rininger said. “I like taking charges. It was one of those moments that could bring a lot of energy to the team.” Rininger said she was ahead of schedule in her recovery from knee surgery, and she looks forward to playing in as many games as her knee allows her. “Getting as many games in as I can is really important to prepare me for (the) Big South (Tournament) and (the) NCAA (tournament),” Rininger said. Rininger and the rest of the Lady Flames are currently tied with UNC Asheville for first place in the Big South with nine conference games remaining this season.

DILLARD is a sports reporter.

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

INTENSE — Jaymee Fisher-Davis drives against a defender during Saturday’s win.

feature

B5 | February 2, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Art reveals secrets

Brianna O’Neal creates a project to help others expose parts of their past Will Young weyoung@liberty.edu

Liberty graphic design student Brianna O’Neal stood outside the Jerry Falwell Library Thursday, Nov. 12, where mass crowds of students and bystanders gathered around her and her art project — a giant board of text with a sign in front declaring “Art Reveals the Secrets of Society.” On the board, secrets from 195 different people were promptly displayed and shared with those who took the time to read them. The subjects of secrets confessed ranged from “I kissed my dog” to “I have been a mistress for over two years.” The secrets were without name, anonymously given. O’Neal, a graduate student at Liberty who is on track to receive a Masters of Fine Arts in graphic design, created the board as a project for her typography class. With it, she strove to spread awareness to a problem that she said students may not know they have. “Especially at Liberty, I think students feel as though they have to put up a front, this cover to make them seem like the perfect Christian,” O’Neal said. “But really we all have our problems, and I wanted students to realize that others have been through similar things.” The idea for the project came after O’Neal decided to display her artwork on a larger scale. She was driven by a desire to impact society in a way she had not done before, and the idea eventually spawned from O’Neal’s personal research of interacting with the people around her. Through conversing with students around campus, O’Neil said she felt as though many did not think they could expose their past out of fear of being judged. She created the Secrets of Society board to give students an avenue to confront a vulnerable part of their past and to encourage others to do the same.

Photo Provided

was really awkward for me at first trying to ask different people.” Reactions to the public display of the project were mixed, which was expected, according to O’Neal. She said she received warm compliments from professors and fellow arts students especially, but there were also those who looked at the board with an uncomfortable expression and walked away quickly. O’Neal does not plan on reproducing her project in the spring semester, though the artist said she hopes to combine her idea for the Secrets of Society board with another Liberty art student who is experimenting with projecting whole images onto walls as temporary murals. O’Neal said she enjoys applying studio art into her digital work. Though she focuses on graphic design and labels herself as a graphic designer, at heart she said she prefers working hands-on with her artwork in the beginning stages. “I’ve always liked to start with studio art ever since I first got into design,” O’Neal said. “I tend to draw or craft by hand, and then scan it in to use for graphic design.” Currently, O’Neal is focusing on the design practicum she is enrolled in. After graduation, she hopes to work in environmental design, which would give her control of a company’s entire layout and appearance. She plans on applying to multiple top-rated graphic design firms to do so. “The firms that I don’t think I have a chance to get into, those are the ones I’m going to apply to,” O’Neal said. “I always like to push myself in that way, to see how much I can do, and to see how far I can get.”

DESIGN — Brianna O’Neal studies in the Masters of Fine Arts graduate program. In order to collect the secrets, O’Neal carried with her a lockbox and asked students, professors and co-workers to write down a secret of theirs on paper and put it in the box. For the purpose of anonymity, she promised those who participated the

key to the box was not with her, and that she would only open it once she started the project. “You could tell a lot of people felt uncomfortable when I asked them to write down a secret of theirs,” O’Neal said. “It

YOUNG is a feature reporter.

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

WORSHIP — Mark Anthony Rizzo performed original music and covers of songs.

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

DEBUT — The Jan. 26 concert was the first time Nacci Palloto performed at Liberty.

TALENTS continued from B8 spirited song “Centuries Collide” and a cover of Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars.” Liberty student Samuel Cooper, who stood front row for both shows, said he was satisfied with the performances he heard. “The quality was extremely high,” Cooper said. “I was really im-

pressed with the songwriting and lyric form for both of them. Some of it reminded me of Scripture, and I was just like ‘Wow! What great lyrics!’ I just really loved it.” As the night came to a close, the music began to fade and lights dimmed to black, the lyrics of Palloto’s songs were mirrored in his desire to portray Christ to the world in all that he does and inspire others to do the same.

“I hope that everyone can see God through me,” Palloto said. “I just hope that someone hears (my music) and that they can better understand what is going through my head or better understand what they’re going through. ... I am just so ready to be used, and that is my dream right now.” ELLIOTT is a feature reporter.

feature

B6 | February 2, 2016 | Liberty Champion

Student Activities semester events Shannon Moyer srmoyer@liberty.edu

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

SKETCHBOOK — Katie Barber took inspiration from Disney artists to create her original pieces for Beauty and the Beast.

Disney display Junior Katie Barber designs artwork for upcoming play Katelyn Rutt kerutt@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s Tower Theater will present Beauty and the Beast in the spring, but all the while, Liberty junior Katie Barber has been preparing for the show since last fall. Barber studies in the studio art program and is designing the artwork for the production’s poster. After being asked by the house and facilities manager for the Theatre Arts department, Jonathan Kafoure at the end of fall semester, she accepted the invitation to create the artwork. “I’ve done work for other people before, but not for a production or anything like this,” Barber said. Barber started working on the poster at the end of the 2015 fall semester. Barber is using designs from Disney’s

Beauty and the Beast for inspiration to create her own artwork for the show. “I’m going off of some of the costumes that they’re using for the play,” Barber said. “... but I also have been referencing screenshots from the Disney movie. I’m not copying it explicitly or anything like that, but I’m just trying to center it around that kind of feel.” Barber spent many days during Christmas break researching and planning for the poster. She plans to include the character Belle, as well as woods and a castle for the background. “I’ve been spending a lot of time studying photos of castles and landscapes,” Barber said. Barber will create a traditional pencil piece that will be digitized and colored. The original poster, along with other pieces of her work produced throughout her career, will be shown at the

Tower Theater. “They’re going to raffle off the original piece of art and then I’m going to have a table set up over there so I can sell stuff like that,” Barber said. Barber looks forward to the future and what this opportunity can bring to her art. “I think it would be a really good thing to have kind of under my belt, just to say that I have done work for a theater production before,” Barber said. Barber enjoyed art as a hobby, but over the past few years it has become much more to her. “I just started doing art seriously when I was 16 and I’m 20 now, so it’s been about four or five years,” Barber said. “I mean I’ve always liked to do art but it was more of a hobby up until like 16, when I really decided I wanted to make it my career.” Barber said she has many inspirations, but

most are Disney artists. “My main inspirations come from Disney artists,” Barber said. “Glen Keane is probably my biggest inspiration. I really like telling stories through pictures and creating images and experiences for people like that.” Barber hopes to continue her goals after completing the studio art program and work for Disney. “I really want to work at Disney and do concept art; like design characters for their animated movies,” Barber said. “That’s the goal.” Barber’s artwork will be displayed at the premiere of Beauty and the Beast Friday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Tower Theater.

RUTT is a feature reporter.

From kayaking through turbulent waters to exploring a historic city, students have the opportunity to enjoy the semester in new and exciting ways. Student Activities (SA) is offering more than 30 events this semester that will appeal to many different types of students. Big athletic events in February include those that are a part of the Outdoor Rec Fest. Students who like to stay active can test their muscle strength at the bouldering competition, or participate in the first Liberty University 5K of the year. More artistically inclined students can participate in an outdoor photography competition, or screen the documentary “Inspired to Ride.” SA is showing various movies this semester at the LaHaye Event Space. “Up” was on the roster as well as a three night “Indiana Jones” marathon in January, and a double screening of the last installment in “The Hunger Games” series in February. An escape from campus can be found in the forms of many SA-led trips. In April, sign up for a day trip to Washington D.C. on the last day of the Cherry Blossom Festival. For students who enjoy the outdoors, take a trip to the water’s edge and go flyfishing, kayaking, hiking, whitewater rafting or even skiing. “In the spring semester, our ski trips to Wintergreen are definitely our most popular,” Outdoor Recreation Director Joshua Yeoman said. For trips, pre-registration is a must to reserve a spot on the trip early. For low-commitment events, check out the game night, bingo and Open Mic opportunities held throughout the semester. “From Open Mic to movie nights or concerts, we want students to feel involved,” SA Director Stephanie Ward said. Throughout the semester, 5K races are also being sponsored by SA. “The trails on Liberty Mountain are beautiful, and our races are top notch,” Yeoman said. “I would encourage all students to participate in at least one of our 5Ks while they are at Liberty.” At the end of the semester, the Liberty University Coffeehouse, a large-scale student talent show, will also be available to students through SA. “Our biggest event of the semester will be Spring Coffeehouse,” Ward said. “It’s such a unique experience for us and the student body to come together to see the talent Liberty students have to offer.” Coffeehouse is not the only musical event. Throughout the semester, concerts of multiple genres such as: The Vespers, The Devil Wears Prada, and Rend Collective are scheduled to hold concerts at Liberty. Tickets can be purchased through the “Tickets” tab on the Student Portal. Throughout the semester, new events and activities will be announced online and onscreen before convocation. As the semester progresses students may find it difficult to step away from their studying, Ward encouraged students to take a break by attending an SA event. “While academics are important, there’s added value in shared experiences and we want to foster that through our events,” Ward said. A full list of events can be found at liberty. edu/campusrec/studentactivities. MOYER is a feature reporter.

Shannon Ritter| Liberty Champion

WORLDWIDE — Twenty-seven global interns traveled to their destinations after a week of preparation before spring semester.

OVERSEAS continued from B8 Previous interns and student workers acted as people from other cultures. These actors helped prepare interns to handle crisis situations and interact with people from other cultures.

“Having returned interns there, who dealt with emergency situations while they were on the field was really helpful,” Dent said. “Because then it’s not just the professor saying stuff, but it’s the student saying, ‘No this is actually a big deal, you guys need to be listening.’” On the last day of

orientation week, all interns gathered together again and listened to Melody Harper, the chair of the department of Global Studies, who had helped the interns throughout the week, as she taught from the Bible. Dent referred to the time as a commissioning, where there was worship, a discussion about re-entering back

into the U.S. after the end of their internship and instructions about transitioning from the book of Joshua. According to Dent, a mass of information was crunched into the week time span, but there was one thing she hoped that each intern knew before they stepped onto the plane that would take them

across the world. “If they learned anything in training, it is that Jesus is Lord,” Dent said. Editors Note: For security purposes, some names were changed.

PIERCE is a feature reporter.

Leah Seavers | Liberty Champion

EVENT — Past Student Activities concert.

feature

Liberty Champion | February 2, 2016 | B7

Broadway background Ron Sumner painted sets for well-known shows before teaching at Liberty Abby Sweeney asweeney8@liberty.edu

From painting sets for Broadway in New York City to designing the backdrops for network television shows and major motion films, Ron Sumner has enjoyed nothing less than a successful career. However, his dream of building a prominent Christian art program led him to Liberty University, where he currently serves as a professor, sharing both his passion and real-world experience with students in the studio & digital arts department. As a child, Sumner greatly enjoyed pencil drawing, but it was not until high school that he discovered his love for painting. After high school, he attended Indiana University’s Herron School of Art, assuming the program would serve as a placeholder until he decided his major. “At that time, art was something you did on Sunday afternoon if you didn’t have anything else to do,” Sumner said. “And the implication was that surely you could find something better to do.” Sumner immediately found his niche and began to flourish in his painting classes. He developed a love for landscape and portraiture and quickly began to use his artistic talent for the school’s theatrical productions. “I did some acting, and when you are in a school production you have to help build and paint the sets,” Sumner said. “With my art background, painting sets came naturally, but when I sat in the audience and saw my backdrop with the lights on it, I was hooked.” After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, Sumner managed to stay involved in community theater. He taught during the school term and spent his summers acting, singing and painting sets for musicals. One particular opera group hired Sumner on multiple occasions to paint backdrops for their shows. “At one performance, the house designer saw my set and remarked, ‘You should be in the union.’ He put me in contact with the United Scenic Artists who required a practical entrance exam,” Sumner said. “I did pretty well on the test, so they called me to work on drops for a shop in Michigan right away.”

Photo Provided Joel Coleman | Liberty University News Service

CRAFTSMANSHIP — Ron Sumner painted the set of “Singing in the Rain.” Sumner went on to obtain a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a Master of Arts in Art History from the University of Chicago. During Sumner’s professional career, he designed sets for many prominent films and theater performances. One of his most challenging backdrops was for the Broadway revival of “A Funny Thing Happened

“

because it allowed him to utilize his creative ability. In fact, one of his most memorable career experiences was creating his own backdrops for the European tour of “The Phantom of the Opera.” “The designer gave me quick sketches to work from, and then I was allowed to bring them to full theatrical level on my own, and in a way I got to put my own stamp on the production,” Sumner said.

With my art background, painting sets came naturally, but when I sat in the audience and saw my backdrop with the lights on it, I was hooked.” — RON SUMNER

on the Way to the Forum.” This particular performance starred many talents, including Nathan Lane and Sarah Jessica Parker. “It was a huge set, some 20-feet-high, with a lot of carved Styrofoam that was painted after the carving was primed,” Sumner said. “It involved climbing up and down scaffolding and using a cherry picker forklift to paint it.” Sumner said he enjoyed his vocation

Additionally, his job gave him some unique chances to meet well-known actors, actresses and other public figures. “I was backstage touching up a set of Sugar Babies in St. Louis and walked in on Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller practicing their curtain call bows just before opening night,” Sumner said describing his work at the Muny Opera in the summer of 1984. Sumner loved his work as a set painter,

ARTIST — Sumner teaches at Liberty. but after he started a family he decided to return to a more stable teaching job. “I saw Liberty as an opportunity to be a part of what I had dreamed of since going to a secular art school: helping to build the kind of art program in a Christian school that rivaled what the secular schools had,” Sumner said. For almost nine years, Sumner has worked at Liberty. He teaches a variety of subjects, including art history, drawing, graphic design and 3D animation. “As a teacher, Ron is very student-centered and continually strives to put his students first,” Associate professor of studio & digital arts Edward Edman said. Don Davis, associate professor of studio & digital arts, agreed Sumner brings a wealth of professional and academic experience to the department. “I remember one year when he carried his usual teaching load plus overload,” Davis said. “During that same year, he developed a number of courses for Liberty University Online. On a personal level, Ron is an encouragement to those around him and contributes to a collegial atmosphere.”

SWEENEY is a feature reporter.

FEATURE

February 2, 2016

Showcasing talents Mark Anthony Rizzo and Nacci Palloto performed pop and worship songs

Michela Diddle | Liberty Champion

MELODIC TUNES — Mark Anthony Rizzo (left) and Nacci Palloto (right) performed for a crowd Jan. 26 in the LaHaye Event Space hosted by the Student Activities team.

Hannah Elliott helliott@liberty.edu

Dozens of students gathered in the LaHaye Event Space Tuesday, Jan. 26 for the debut performances of musicians Mark Anthony Rizzo and Anthony Benacci (Nacci) Palloto. Hosted by Liberty University’s Student Activities, the concert was a night of entertainment and an intimate time of worship. Rizzo and guitarist Tanner Ingold took center stage as the first performers of the night with an electric-acoustic combo. With his Ibanez “Mother of Pearl” guitar in hand, Rizzo, a Liberty sophomore majoring in music and worship, welcomed the crowd with three original songs, all of which depicted his passion to surrender to and serve God in all he does. “I wrote this song, (‘My Desire, My Song to Sing’) because despite everything I want and everything I shoved in my face, I need

to remember that my desire is Christ, and he is what drives me,” Rizzo said. Influenced by musicians such as Hillsong United and Brandon Heath, Rizzo explained much of his creative process comes from past experiences and current struggles that remind him to remain genuine while pursuing his goals. “I’m different in that when I write songs, it’s usually worship music,” Rizzo said. “When I write it comes from a really honest and authentic place. It just has to be real. It can’t be fake. ... I just have to experience something first.” Rizzo announced his upcoming EP, “I’m Nothing,” will begin recording and production in February. The EP is titled after an original song that expresses Rizzo’s desire to spread the promises of God’s faithfulness. “There was a point in my life where I felt nothing but desperation,” Rizzo said. “I broke it down to the basics of Jesus’ promises and Scripture, which showed me

that I am nothing without God. ... He is my everything.” As Rizzo ended his set with covers of Adele’s “Someone Like You” and Coldplay’s “Yellow,” inviting the crowd to clap and sing along under the green and blue beams of light, Palloto and his seven-man band were gearing up to showcase their energetic and indie-rock sound. Before the lights hit the stage, the soft melodies from pianists Cassidy Johnson and Nathaniel Totten filled the room while chords shifting from guitarists Jonathan Simon and Joey Watson began to strike. And then all at once, a rainbow of lights transcended as razor-sharp tones from violinist Braxton Mann and the roars of Callum Gale’s drums erupted from the speakers. With a similar sound to Tenth Avenue North, Palloto, worship leader for both Elevation-Roanoke and the Thomas Road Baptist Church campus in Danville, opened up strong before deciding

to get up close and personal with a special acoustic solo of his song “Mountains,” which he said holds a special place in his heart. “It is a very personal song for me,” Palloto said. “It was with that song that God really changed my whole point of view in life.” Palloto explained the inspiration for his songs comes from various passages such as Psalm 139, past experiences and struggles or even little encounters he has throughout his day-to-day routine. However, it is his calling to serve God that gives his music meaning. “Where he’s sending me is what these songs are all about,” Palloto said. Whistles and cheers were heard from the crowd as the inspiring, worship-themed solo came to a close and the band returned to the stage for the

See TALENTS, B5

Overseas orientation Global studies department sends 27 interns out after a week of training Matt Pierce mpierce17@liberty.edu

While some students went home over winter break, others, such as the global studies interns, underwent orientation week Jan. 4-9, days before leaving the country for the spring semester. According to Khesed Dent, the director of global studies internships, preparation and training begins long before the orientation week in the interns’ global studies classes. “We look at pretty much our entire degree program as training,” Dent said. For the past three years, Dent, along with student workers, served the global studies students by preparing them for their internships as well as helping them process their trips once they return to the U.S. Six months before the students were set to depart for their internships, Dent and some of the student workers in the global studies department held training workshops for the interns. “It was a training time, but it really turned even more into just

Shannon Ritter| Liberty Champion

PREP — The director of global studies internships assisted the interns for six months prior to send offs. an opportunity to be reminded that the God of the heavens and the earth, the creator of the universe, is the one who’s going to provide for them,” Dent said. “So a lot of it is just reminding them-

selves that this task and this future seems big, but our God is bigger.” Before leaving for various countries around the world, the 27 interns spent long days with faculty and last year’s interns go-

ing through many different areas of preparation. Twelve interns from last spring returned to offer knowledge from their experiences as well as set up and tear down the daily training sessions.

“Going into the week, (we reminded) them that … God is going to use them and it’s going to be really awesome, but it’s not about what they can do for God, and it’s not about how they can change the world,” Dent said. “It’s about God.” Student training involved going over expectations, academic training, language learning, and conflict styles, as well as going through the grand narrative of Scripture earlier in the previous fall semester. Students also went through simulation training for situations they would experience on the field. According to Dent, some days of orientation lasted longer than others, but all of them were full of information students needed to hear before leaving for their respective countries. “During orientation week last year we didn’t have as many returned interns come,” Jenna, a global studies intern last year, said.

See OVERSEAS, B6