Liberty Champion December 4, 2018

New Liberty University School of Engineering dean reflects on his life A9

The nation mourns the passing of former President George H.W. Bush A6

Liberty Flames football beats Norfolk State 52-17 on a cold Saturday B1

Presidents of Liberty and the University of Lynchburg talk about their friendship and B10 the future

VOLUME 36, ISSUE 10

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA

LIBERTYCHAMPION.COM | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2018 | LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

WAR ON OPIOIDS U.S. First Lady visits Liberty to participate in Town Hall with Eric Bolling Rachel Van Tuyl rvantuyl@liberty.edu

Kevin Manquiob| Liberty News Service

First Lady of the United States Melania Trump joined a panel discussion on the opioid crisis for Convocation at Liberty University Wednesday, Nov. 28.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar II, Liberty President Jerry Falwell and his wife, Becki, also joined the panel.

Former Fox News commentator Eric Bolling, who lost his son to an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2017, hosted Convocation.

Convocation was broadcast as the first episode of Bolling’s new show, “America.”

“Opioid addiction is an illness that has truly taken hold of our country,” Trump said in her opening remarks.

Trump explained her focus has mainly been on neonatal abstinence syndrome, which is a condition that occurs in babies who have been exposed to opioids while in their mother’s womb. However, Trump said she also wanted to encourage Liberty students as they entered a “critical stage” in their lives.

“The independence that comes with being a young adult can be exciting, but also over-

whelming,” Trump said.

“While no one here will want to admit it, I imagine some of you have or will be experiencing situations with drugs or alcohol.

I know college is a time to build your independence, experience things on your terms, and make decisions on your own behalf. I’m here to remind you that some of those decisions, though they may seem minor at the time, could negatively impact you for the rest of your lives.”

The First Lady has traveled the country to gather research on opioid addiction.

“I have learned that addiction is a disease, and like any illness, people deserve treatment,” Trump said. “We must commit to removing the stigma of shame that comes with addiction and helping change public opinions so that people find evidencebased treatment before it’s too late.”

Trump emphasized the importance of being educated enough to recognize the signs of addiction in an individual.

Kevin Manquiob| Liberty News Service

See FLOTUS, A2

Light it up SOM in NYC

Liberty student lights tree Emily Wood ewood13@liberty.edu

See LIT, B9

Natalie Aidar | Liberty Champion

STAND TALL — In years past, the Christmas tree lighting cer-

emony has been in front of DeMoss Hall, but this year it was held on the Academic Lawn due to the construction in front of DeMoss.

Liberty students sing in Carnegie Hall Emma Smith esmith83@liberty.edu

Rather than heading home for Thanksgiving break on Friday, Nov. 16, Liberty University’s a cappella group, Shine, and more than 20 other singers from the School of Music bussed to New York City to spread Christmas cheer at Carnegie Hall.

The three-day trip saw four performances at three locations: Carnegie Hall, Calvary Baptist Church and Brooklyn Tabernacle. Saturday, Nov. 17, Liberty talent performed alongside dozens of other singers from across the country as part of the American Festival Choir, which joined Christian artist Travis Cottrell, Denver & The Mile High Orchestra and musician Marcia Wilder for the eighth annual “Christmas in New York.”

“There were Christmas carols that we did, but the arrangements were totally unique,” Associate Dean of the Center for Music Education and Performance at Liberty Dr. Stephen Müller said. “So, you start singing along to a Christmas carol that you know, and

all of the sudden, it’s not what’s there and you’re singing the wrong part.

It was a ton of music to learn.” With Shine making up a little over half of the students from Liberty, the group dedicated its tri-weekly class time to learning 21 songs for “Christmas in New York.” Rehearsals for the performance began Oct. 23, which gave the group less than a month to prepare. Müller drew the two dozen other singers from junior and senior level chorus classes.

“We just looked at upperclassmen who were students who were known to have great attitudes and have been productive in the School of Music and have been participating in all the stuff we’ve been doing, and we had no problem finding another 24 singers,” Müller said.

While many of Liberty’s performance groups host special Christmas performances, Shine completes the bulk of its performances during the school year. Therefore, the group was not only able, but also available to prepare for the programs in New York.

See NYC, A3

INSIDE THE CHAMPION

Content

New ride-share program helps Liberty students get to different LibertyA10 owned places.

Opinion

Remembering former President Bush and the legacy he left in the A6 White House.

Sports

Liberty basketball wins against Georgia State 78-52.

Feature

B1

Historic Theater of Academy Arts reopens in Downtown Lynchburg.

B6

WHAT’S

NEWS

@ LIBERTY

The Lynchburg Christmas Parade celebrated its 59th year Sunday, Dec. 2. The parade started at City Stadium, and 83 floats and cars, according to the News & Advance, traveled through the city to E.C. Glass High School.

Whitten Funeral Home, which has locations in Lynchburg and Madison Heights, will be collecting a book of condolences for the Bush family. According to WSET, the guest book in remembrance of President George H.W. Bush will be collected Thursday, Dec. 6.

On Sunday, Dec. 2, motorcyclists delivered presents to 43 children for the 32nd annual Lynchburg Toy Run, which partners with nonprofit Humankind, according to WSET.

Content Opinion Sports Feature

A1 A4 B1 B6

content

A2 | December 04, 2018 | Liberty Champion

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

QUESTIONABLE — Questions from the audience were taken during Convocation.

FLOTUS continued from A1 “If even one of you leaves here and talks to a friend or family member about the potential to end this crisis, then we all succeeded,” Trump said. “I believe in our capacity to not think on this in terms of statistics, but to think of this as a human story, an opportunity to save lives.”

Trump believes more people in the younger generation are affected by the opioid crisis because it is easier to get the drugs now than it

“

again, but their body has lost its tolerance,” Azar said. “But they go back to using the levels they used before they went into treatment, and they die from overdose from that.”

Azar emphasized the importance of overdose-reducing drugs — drugs that can reverse an overdose.

Because many addictions start from legal opioid prescriptions, President Donald Trump has worked to limit the opioids available.

“Since January 2017, legal

The independence that comes with being a young adult can be exciting, but also

overwhelming. While no one here will want to admit it, I imagine some of you have or will be experiencing situations with drugs or alcohol.

— Melania Trump

used to be. Trump believes it is also because sometimes too many drugs are prescribed at once.

According to Azar, the majority of people who become addicted to opioids did so after being prescribed a legal painkiller. However, not everyone who has been prescribed painkillers will develop an addiction. It is unknown exactly what causes addiction in some individuals and not others, but it is believed to be linked to genetics.

Azar explained how many overdoses often happen. It usually begins when someone is taking a legal, prescription opioid. When that drug gets cut off, they switch to a street drug, and this is where it becomes extremely dangerous, because these street drugs are often laced with fentanyl. This is where overdoses can happen.

However, for many, the danger is not over, even after treatment.

“They’ll come out (of recovery) and relapse to using opioids

opioid prescribing is down over 23 percent,” Azar said. “Doctors are prescribing fewer of these pills.

Fewer of these pills getting prescribed means fewer of you are getting the chance to be trapped in this cycle of addiction.”

However, for some, the opioid crisis is a two-sided coin. During Convocation, Twitter exploded with tweets from users who suffer from chronic pain due to medical conditions and are now unable to receive opiate drugs because of the new regulations.

“Hope if you’re not aware of the other side of the ‘opioid crisis’ you take a peek at some of the tweets by chronic pain patients today,” Twitter user Arianne Grand wrote.

Other Twitter users criticized the fact that none of the speakers addressed chronic pain patients.

“It would’ve been nice if someone spoke on behalf of chronic pain patients, veterans, (the) elderly … and (the) sick,” Twitter user Virginia

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

CRISIS — Melania Trump believes the opioid crisis affects more people in the younger generation than the older generation, because it is now easier to acquire them.

Mello tweeted. “Addicts choose to do drugs. We don’t choose to be sick.”

However, Azar agreed with Trump that it is important to remove the stigma associated with addiction.

“This issue is not a moral failing,” Azar said. “It is a medical issue, and there are medical ways we can help bring you out of it.”

Some of these ways include therapy and medication-assisted treatments.

Nielsen explained some of the methods being used to prevent opioids from getting in the hands of addicts. They are working to prevent illicit opioids from ever getting into the country by having agreements with international allies, working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and working with the Coast Guard at sea.

However, Nielsen said much fentanyl still comes from China through the mail. She explained they have canine units at mail centers to detect these opioids.

China agreed Dec. 1 to classify fentanyl as a controlled substance and will begin to restructure regulations.

Near the end of Convocation, Falwell explained that Liberty had Naxolone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, available for those who had overdosed.

Students in need of this drug can contact either their RAs or LUPD at (434) 592-3911.

Singer Demi Lovato’s mother, Diana Hart, was also supposed to join the event, but was unable to attend due to a last-minute conflict.

Those struggling with addiction can call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

VAN TUYL is the assistant content editor.

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

PANEL — Eric Bolling, Melania Trump, Alex Azar II and Kirstjen Nielsen were all part of the panel.

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

PRAYER — At the end of Convocation, students prayed for those who were struggling with addiction.

content

Liberty Champion | December 04, 2018 | A3

Airbnb gets legislated

Cheap rentals could see a price increase in 2019 Lillian Abbatacola leabbatacola@liberty.edu

The 2019 year could see a registration fee or tax for Airbnb and other short-term rental units in Lynchburg, which would inflate the cost of the cheap lodging option.

For the sake of equality in the lodging business, Lynchburg city staff recommended a lodging tax for short-term rentals — which mimics the taxes hotel patrons must pay — earlier in 2018.

City Council member Randy Nelson told the News & Advance that the shortterm rental unit industry has treated the rest of the lodging industry unfairly.

“As the Airbnb industry has developed, we have ended up with an unequal treatment of our lodging tax as to those traditional institutions — hotels and motels — who have to pay them and then those who want to run under the radar and not pay it, but are actually generating profit,” Nelson said.

Some council members believe the short-term rentals skirt Lynchburg’s zoning ordinance. City council requested info on short-term rentals in January 2018.

“They are trying to kind of understand what an owner’s obligation is to pay that (lodging tax),” Director of Community Development Kent White said.

White has recommended a $150 registration fee for short-term rental property owners instead of a lodging tax. If enacted, the registration fee would generate about $36,000 annually for Lynchburg from Lynchburg

citizens and not by travelers visiting the city.

Currently, the provision is that short-term rentals are allowed in anything zoned for business.

“The question that is kind of on everyone’s mind, and this is being debated in local governments across the country, is what happens when you have residentially zoned land?” White said.

According to White, monitoring short-term rentals in Lynchburg today is “very difficult to enforce.” White also said because there is not specific language in Lynchburg’s law about short-term rentals, anything related to rental usage defaults to the occupancy requirement.

The occupancy requirement in Lynchburg has mandated that no more than three unrelated people live in a unit, or if there is a married couple, there can be only one unrelated person living in the unit.

Fleshed-out, according to the occupancy requirement, four unrelated college students cannot rent out a short-term rental. And a married couple cannot rent out to two or more unrelated individuals.

The occupancy requirement also says the owner of the rental must be present when renting out the unit.

The verdict for Airbnb and other short-term rentals has not been decided yet. Council has asked for two pieces of legislation: one that defines short-term rentals from a land use standpoint and one that defines what provisions the owner of a short-term rental will pay, like a registration fee or a fee plus sub-

Local news

Downtown 2040 master plan passes Brittany Slaughter bdslaughter@liberty.edu

Dillon Brown| Liberty Champion

TAX — In 2017, the city raised the lodging tax, which impacted hotels.

The Downtown Lynchburg 2040 Master Plan, which gives a 20-year vision for future of the city of Lynchburg, was voted on with a tally of 6 to 1 at the Nov. 13 city council meeting.

Rachel Frischeisen, planner II for the city of Lynchburg’s Department of Community Development, said the project was adopted. She explained what will be happening going forward.

“This means that (the) council has approved the concepts and visions for downtown as described in the plan,” Frischeisen said. “Going forward, we will begin implementing the projects and goals of the

“

Going forward, we will begin implementing the projects and goals of the plan, starting with two-way traffic on Church Street in 2019.

— Rachel Frischeisen

Dillon Brown| Liberty Champion

LODGING — Those who visit Liberty for graduation, move-in or CFAW often utilize hotels or Airbnbs.

mitting tax.

Lynchburg City staff wants to have definitive language spelled out in city zoning ordinances that clearly lays out short-term rental regulations. White said staff’s original request was not to initiate a lodging tax, but that it is city council’s job to decide what the requirements are. This language added to Lynchburg city zoning ordinances would define how the short-term rentals operate and make sure all those involved understand the rules.

White wants to then have a registration program so the

city knows where short-term rentals are, allowing council to develop and maintain a registry.

White expects the legislation to go back to city council in early 2019, which would include public hearings in which the community, like Airbnb owners, hotel managers or frequent Airbnb users like college students can approach council with their concerns, questions or ideas.

ABBATACOLA is the content editor.

plan, starting with two-way traffic on Church Street in 2019. Main Street will be converted to two-way in a few years after Main Street Renewal, which is a joint infrastructure project with Appalachian Power.”

The plan, which includes on-street paid parking and the implementation of two-way traffic on Church and Main Streets, was previously met with concerns from local shop owners. The discussion was tabled multiple times for further conversation and to provide the council time to provide answers and solutions to the questions and problems addressed.

According to City Council member Beau Wright, the city council implemented suggested updates. Regarding the concerns about two-way traffic, the city council provided the following reassurances at the Nov. 13 meeting, saying two-way streets “promote walkability and safety, improve circulation, promote economic development and promote a dense urban core.”

Other improvements to the downtown area include art, parks, trails and an outdoor amphitheater, according to Frischeisen.

“The other projects will be implemented as funding becomes available,” Frischeisen said.

SLAUGHTER is a content reporter.

Photo Provided

CHOIR — Liberty sent School of Music singers to New York to perform in Carnegie Hall for the eighth annual “Christmas in New York.”

NYC continued from A1 “I was the director that was willing to commit my rehearsal time to this project,” Müller said. “It was a matter of timing. Who could do this? We were the group that could do it.”

Shine’s vocal percussionist, senior Roger Payne, expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall.

“I honestly can’t thank Dr. Whaley, (the dean of the School of Music), enough for what he did to help us get this because he could have sent anybody,” Payne said.

“The School of Music is filled to the brim with phenomenal singers. … The fact that we got chosen to go is just beyond me. It was incredible.”

Müller said the School of Music received an invitation to perform at the event from Phil Barfoot, the president of Celebration Concert Tours. Barfoot explained to the School of Music that he was looking for more singers for

“

do and could do this, we began to reach out to some other churches that we knew in the area,” Müller said.

After performing at Carnegie Hall Saturday evening, Shine performed at three church services on

(I) just could not believe that I was (in Carnegie Hall). It was an experience that I will never forget, and I get to brag about that.

— Roger Payne the “Christmas in New York” event, which he had booked at Carnegie Hall.

“Once the School of Music and Dr. Whaley agreed that we should

CHURCH — Shine sang twice at Calvary Baptist Church Nov. 18.

Sunday, Nov. 18: two at Calvary Baptist Church and one at Brooklyn Tabernacle. The additional performances were traditional a cappella performances from Shine.

Photo Provided

Müller explained that the School of Music had connections with the minister of music from Calvary Baptist Church. However, Pastor Jonathan Falwell of Thomas Road Baptist Church helped organize the performance at Brooklyn Tabernacle. One of Falwell’s children is a part of Shine.

“At Brooklyn Tabernacle, we did a medley of ‘Doxology’ right into ‘Open the Eyes of My Heart,’ and the songs are arranged by Jay Rouse, but we made them a medley ourselves, which is kind of fun,” Müller said.

Shine also had the opportunity to sing alongside Calvary Baptist Church’s worship team after performing three songs for the congregation.

“It was a great opportunity for

all of our students and for me. To get to conduct a song at Carnegie Hall is kind of one of those bucket list things,” Müller said with a laugh. “And really, even more important to me was for my group to get to sing at Brooklyn Tabernacle.”

While the trip was quick, as the group left Lynchburg at 5 a.m.

Nov. 16 and returned at 1 a.m.

Nov. 19, Payne said that the experience was more than worth the early mornings.

“It was just such an elated feeling of walking on cloud nine,” Payne said. “(I) just could not believe that I was (in Carnegie Hall). It was an experience that I will never forget, and I get to brag about that.”

SMITH is a copy editor.

PERFORMANCE — The group also visited Brooklyn Tabernacle Nov. 18.

Photo Provided

OPINION

A4

December 04, 2018

America first

Every government should put its own citizens first Mary Obringer mgobringer@liberty.edu

Lillian Abbatacola leabbatacola@liberty.edu

In 2017, Lilli, our content editor, lost her father.

Today, she reflects back on her first Christmas without her dad, and offers some words of encouragement to those suffering from loss this holiday season.

-Chad, opinion editor Picture the opening scene from “Saving Private Ryan:” soldiers scrambling around the beach, trying to protect themselves and their countrymen while fighting a ruthless, consuming enemy. That is what my experience with grief feels like.

The 2017 holiday season was one that I army-crawled through as bombs of grief, depression, fear and heartache ripped through my home. It was our first holiday season without my dad — a strong lionlike leader with a vibrant personality. His death shocked our community and rattled my family. The holidays are supposed to be magical. They are supposed to bring family together. But I felt like the chasm between my dad and I was getting bigger.

Traditions as simple as my dad perfecting the Thanksgiving gravy while singing 80s love songs to my mom were suddenly no more. His smile wasn’t waiting by the tree on Christmas morning. He couldn’t give my mom presents or help my little brother assemble his Legos or proudly hand me a perfectly handcrafted cup of coffee.

And just like it’s the little quirks that make each family’s holiday season unique and magical, it’s the loss of these little quirks that hurt the most. Hurt makes us susceptible to living under reproach, which is why those who battle through grief must guard their hearts with vigilance.

So, dear solider, love well. Grief is ruthless and mean, but you don’t have to be.

This time last year, I was losing my mind because I lost my dad. I was grieving my entire existence because I felt like everything changed. I lost sight of the people around me — the people I still had.

This year, I am determined to take the magic my dad contributed to my life and give it to my family. I am determined to find the beautiful and charming in this year.

And fellow solider, be meek. Grief is a powerful tool, and it can be easily wielded to hurt others, to subject them to a version of your own pain. Do not use it.

Family and friends will unintentionally say hurtful season’s greetings. Last year, a well-knowing family member announced it was “the best Christmas ever.” I quietly slipped out of the family room and cried somewhere else in my house. I could have made a scene and said biting words.

I could have let the elephant in the room run rampant, but that would have been uncontrollably using the power of my grief. It wouldn’t have been meek.

And most of all, be grateful. Remember the beautiful moments of the past and hold them in your heart with love. There is no room to grow with a bitter and angry heart.

And there is no room for anger or bitterness in a grateful heart. Cherish every memory of a loved one who has arrived at eternity. It’s okay to reminisce; it’s okay to cry — you’re allowed to have feelings, but every hard moment should end in gratefulness and not anger.

Have a Merry Christmas. While it will be hard, be comforted knowing you have survived one of your darkest days.

Though French President Emmanuel Macron condemned President Donald Trump for embracing nationalism at a World War I ceremony in Paris, nationalism can bring several benefits to society. Nationalists try to build strong countries that put their people and priorities first.

Nationalism is not racism. While the term is often incorrectly associated with white supremacists, the term does not actually refer to racist groups, according to an article by CNN. Nationalism is about patriotism and a sense of pride for one’s country, not looking down on people with certain ethnic backgrounds.

An article by Fox News said people who immigrate to the U.S. become accepted as Americans within a generation of living here, something that cannot be said about European countries.

According to an article by CNN, nationalism unites people who share a common country, belief, or interest.

Nationalism gives citizens the freedom to celebrate what makes their society unique from others. Different countries have different cultures and forms of art and expression that are valued more highly than in other countries.

While Macron called nationalism the opposite of patriotism, an article by Fox News argued that leaders have a moral obligation to care for the needs of their people. If a leader is preoccupied with fulfilling the demands of a global elite government, how are they supposed to focus on the needs of their own citizens?

Historically, many nationalists have accomplished good for society. An article in CNN said Gandhi, Winston Churchill and other leaders of positive change throughout history have been nationalists. These people saw problems in their countries and fo-

Google Images

SUBTLE MESSAGES — French President Emmanuel Macron was critical of Donald Trump’s nationalistic agenda during a speech Nov. 11 at a World War I commemoration.

cused on bringing positive change to their countries.

Trump’s “America first” agenda has helped both the U.S. and her allies in a few ways. Since the U.S. imposed sanctions, North Korea has not tested any more nuclear missiles, according to an article by USA Today. Trump has renegotiated trade deals with other countries that are more equitable to the U.S. While many consider nationalists completely unconcerned with other countries, nationalists are not isolationists. Instead, nationalists try to solve their own issues before trying to solve others’ problems.

“I want to take care of the globe, but first I have to take care of our country,” Trump said in an interview with Laura Ingraham.

Another benefit of nationalism is local leadership. In a nationalist society, leaders live close to their citizens. However, in a globalist society, leaders could be halfway around the world.

As an article by CNN points out, people connect more to leaders who are citizens of the same nation. People want leaders who share common experiences and understand their culture, needs and desires. A leader who is removed from

their people will not be able to connect with those they are attempting to lead.

Nationalist governments also can serve their people better because they know who they are serving and who they are answerable too. As an article by Fox News points out, global elite governments do not have a clear authority above them to report to. However, in the U.S., the government is responsible for serving the citizens of this country and is answerable to those citizens.

Government officials in America understand they can lose their authority if the citizens decide they are no longer fit. Elected officials, in order to keep their power, must make decisions that appeal to their citizen electorate, not the citizens of other nations.

America was founded on the principle of nationalism. That principle sets us apart from most other world leaders, such as Macron’s France and the rest of his European allies. But American nationalism is not contrary to patriotism, it is the ideology that has allowed America to thrive and prosper in an increasingly global political climate.

OBRINGER is an opinion writer.

Minimal danger Studies show climate change is not as bad as portrayed Abby Bowman abowman7@liberty.edu

There is no denying that the Earth is warming. There is also no denying that Christians have an obligation to care for the environment.

However, despite what most media say, it is hardly a forgone conclusion that humans are the primary cause of climate change, nor that global warming is as bad as it is often portrayed.

According to the Washington Post, an environmental impact statement released by the Trump administration stated that the Earth’s average temperature could rise by as much as 7 degrees Fahrenheit — which is approximately 4 degrees Celsius — from preindustrial temperatures by 2100.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in an October press release that countries and companies globally will have to work much harder to keep the warming level to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the catastrophic effects of a warming Earth. The U.S. has done its part toward that effort, spending over $300 billion on mitigating climate change in 2017, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Another international scientific panel, however, found that things are not as dire as they might seem.

According to their website, Dr. S. Fred Singer founded the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) in 2003. It is the “project

of three independent nonprofit organizations: Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP), Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change (CO2 Science) and The Heartland Institute.”

In 2014, the group released a report entitled “Climate Change Reconsidered II: Biological Impacts.” The report, written by four main authors and 29 contributing authors and reviewers from a dozen different countries, plus several anonymous authors, said that “No unambiguous evidence exists of dangerous interference in the global climate caused by human-related CO2 emissions.”

In addition, according to the report, human-caused “climate signal” is very small

ABBATACOLA is the content editor.

Google Images

BUDGET CUTS — President Donald Trump proposed cutting funding for climate change agencies by 16.8 percent, according to Government Executive’s website.

compared to naturally occurring climate change.

The report said that the temperature rise since the late twentieth century is normal compared to historical data and that the Earth’s average temperature has and will fluctuate naturally and regularly.

Moreover, the report indicated that extra CO2 in the atmosphere has actually benefitted the Earth, causing plants to flourish and spread. There is “little or no risk” of global warming causing more food insecurity and aquatic animals do not face a “significant threat.”

In fact, many of Earth’s ecosystems have benefitted from higher temperatures.

This is the exact opposite of what IPCC predicted.

While no one group of scientists can be definitive — it is impossible for science to prove anything definitively, after all — the existence of the NIPCC and its arguments at least shows that climate change is not a completely clear-cut issue.

While Christians should protect and care for the planet God has given us, we also have the biblical obligation to steward reasonably.

That compels Christians to carefully examine the data on both sides of the issue. It would be bad stewardship to spend a great deal of money, time and convenience trying to fix a problem that may not exist.

BOWMAN is an opinion writer.

opinion

Liberty Champion | December 04, 2018 | A5

Happy Hallmark

Feel no shame enjoying a Hallmark movie this Christmas

perfans know Candace Cameron-Bure is the Hallmark Christmas queen.

Sarah Rodriguez | Liberty Champion DE-STRESSER — Hallmark movies can be the perfect relaxation during finals week.

Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

Love them or hate them, there’s no denying the Christmas season means an abundance of new Hallmark Christmas movies. Thirty-seven this year, to be exact. The holiday scrooges say once you’ve seen one Hallmark Christmas movie, you’ve seen them all. But, unashamed Christmas lovers like myself enjoy every single moment spent on the couch with hot cocoa in hand, soaking up all the cheesy Hallmark holiday moments.

Each year, the haters crawl out from wherever they’ve been hiding for the past 11 months and use the same arguments over and over again to justify their hatred for Hallmark Christmas movies. Too cheesy. Too predictable.

Poor acting. Plot loopholes. My dad likes to make his point clear each time he sees my mom and I enjoying another Hallmark Christmas movie.

However, it is for those exact reasons why Hallmark Christmas movies are one of the best parts about the Christmas season.

The cheesiness The Christmas spirit is over the top

with each Hallmark Christmas movie.

Christmas cookie baking, tree decorating, gift exchanges — you name it, Hallmark includes it. Sprinkle in some excessive snow and caroling or a horsedrawn carriage and the plot is complete.

I can’t help but get wrapped up in the nostalgia of childhood Christmas traditions when watching Hallmark. The more Christmas activities, the better.

The predictability The big city girl falls in love with the small-town guy without fail. Then someone or something comes into the picture and causes a problem. Yet, their love prevails, and the movie closes with the couple embracing as snow falls around them. The guy always gets the girl, and that’s what every Hallmark movie fan wants. Christmas is a season of joy, so movies that always have happy endings never cease to put a smile on my face. Let’s save those realistic movies for the 11 other months out of the year.

The acting Hallmark may not hire the most wellknown actors and actresses, but that’s okay. I can easily overlook a poor acting performance when the Christmas spirit makes up for it. And all the Hallmark su-

The plot Believe it or not, plot loopholes are some of my favorite things to watch for. I’ve recently listened to the “Deck the Hallmark” podcast in which three grown men have decided to watch all 37 new Hallmark Christmas movies this year and give their opinions. They have a segment on their podcast in which they point out plot holes. It has now, become a game for me to watch the next Hallmark Christmas movie and find the plot loopholes.

Christmas is a season filled with family, traditions and ultimately, celebrating the birth of our Savior. Hallmark movies leave every viewer in a good mood, reminded what truly matters about the holiday season.

“It’s really about celebrating the holiday, not just making it a backdrop,” Michelle Vicary, Hallmark’s head of programming, said in an October 2018 Forbes article. “This is the time of year when people really want to feel good, feel like part of a community and part of the holiday season. When you spend two hours with us and watch an original movie, when you’re done, you feel better about yourself and the world.”

According to CNN, more than 72 million viewers watched Hallmark Christmas movies last year. And I’m proud to say I was one of those. And you can add me to the list again for this year.

Yes, the plot is predictable, and yes, Hallmark might go overboard with the fake snow, but you’ll know where to find me each weekend leading up to Christmas. Don’t be a scrooge — soak up the holiday spirit with a Hallmark Christmas movie.

RODRIGUEZ is the Champion GSA.

Confronter-in-chief Jim Acosta was disrespectful toward President Donald Trump, but he should keep his White House press pass

Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu

CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta returned to the White House Nov. 16 after U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, ruled that Acosta’s Fifth Amendment right to due process had been violated.

On Wednesday, Nov. 7, one day after the 2018 midterm elections, Acosta’s White House credentials were suspended after a confrontational encounter between Acosta and President Donald Trump. Although Acosta demonstrated overtly rude behavior during the post-election press conference, his suspension was not justified.

During the conference, Acosta argued with Trump after the president told him to sit down and give up the microphone. This conflict was prompted by Trump saying Acosta was a “rude, terrible person,” and that he should not be working for CNN, in response to Acosta’s initial question.

Acosta initiated the conflict by challenging Trump’s opinion on the migrant caravan — a movement Trump called “an invasion.”

“The caravan was not an invasion,” Acosta said, blurting his opinion before asking the president why he demonized immigrants. He continued to argue for roughly two minutes and even refused to release the microphone when an intern tried to intervene.

Acosta’s behavior prompted the White House to revoke his press pass, but according to USA Today, the White House suspended his

press badge without explanation or a chance for CNN to appeal the decision.

Since the White House lacked clear documentation detailing reporters’ behavioral guidelines, the court ruled that the White House had no lawful basis to suspend the CNN reporter.

However, in the wake of the confrontation, the Trump administration drafted reporter regulations, according to USA Today.

Acosta won the legal battle, and rightfully so.

The White House condemned Acosta before implementing due process, a procedure championed

by Republicans during the Kavanaugh confrontation.

Acosta’s job is to report on the White House, not argue with the president. Whenever journalists enter White House press conferences, opinions and political motives should remain at the door. To the same tune, the Trump administration needs to safeguard due process before jumping to conclusions.

Both sides made mistakes. Acosta generated unnecessary conflict, and the White House retaliated inappropriately.

Despite the division between the White House and the press, harmony between journalists and politicians is still possible. Hopefully the newly implemented rules and regulations will bridge the polarization and help both sides execute their jobs properly. The written regulations, according to Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, will be to ensure orderly press conferences and maintain decorum in the White House.

Trump’s frustration, how-

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RESTORED ACCESS — Jim Acosta has been a political corre-

spondent for CNN since 2012 and was promoted to chief White House correspondent in 2018.

ever, is justified.

Since becoming president, Trump has endured incredible media bias. Too often during press conferences, reporters act like gladiators fighting in a coliseum instead of executing their honorable profession.

During a press conference in June, Acosta asked Sanders “where does it say in the Bible that it’s moral to take children away from their mothers?”

This was not an unprompted question. Prior to the press conference in June, then Attorney General Jeff Sessions made a comment about how enforcing the law was a biblical principle.

Intending to corner Sanders into a wall of moral shame, Acosta twisted the issue and framed his question to which there was no easy answer.

Another reporter, Brian Karem of CNN, followed up with heated tonality.

“Come on, Sarah, you’re a parent. Don’t you have any empathy for what these people are going through?

They have less than you do!

These people have nothing … They come to the border with nothing, and you throw them in cages.” He partnered these statements with a jabbing finger. His tone clearly exposed his intentions: to disagree and argue.

This activity sadly occurs too often, but the Trump administration must embrace the meager, bias coverage. It must also follow due process when necessary — an action it failed to implement early in November.

SMITH is the manager of content.

LIFE WITH

LOGAN Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu

At 6 years old, I took the ultimate leap of faith.

Somewhere deep inside my mind, I knew everything would be okay, but that slight assurance didn’t stop my heart from pounding a million mph as I advanced toward the dark, sinister building.

With each advancing step, I contemplated everything that could go wrong. I enjoyed roller coasters, but the tall “adult” roller coasters with suspenseful lifts, unimaginable heights and reckless twists scared me to oblivion.

Inside the creepy building before me was an indoor roller coaster, an attraction balancing eerie scenery with wild twists and turns — something daunting for a smaller-thanaverage kindergartener.

While the giant roller coasters outside were the scariest, the indoor attraction still heightened my emotions, almost to the point of turning around. Despite being indoors, this roller coaster still integrated steep segments.

I waited in line for a long time, probably an hour. Finally, with my dad by my side, I slid into an open seat while an operator secured the bindings.

The moment of truth was upon me. No turning back.

At first, everything was innocent. The trolley slowly rolled into a dark room where we greeted two electronic mannequins dressed as old people. They rocked back and forth and muttered something spooky, evidentially providing suspense for the participant.

Odd ornaments, possibly slaughtered pigs, hung low from the ceiling. The trolley picked up pace, and I gripped the handlebars with every ounce of 6-year-old strength. The trolley dipped, causing even more speed.

“I want to get off,” I whimpered, immediately regretting my decision to embrace the beyond.

Similar to sharp knives, guns and ocean waves, steep heights perfectly combine danger and beauty. Looking downward toward acres of valley may appease the eye, but edging too close could be deadly.

Despite my acrophobia (fear of heights), I have learned to cope. In fact, I love roller coasters now, because they provide a means to safely taunt the elevation, as if it were an external force constantly craving to steal my life.

During the summer of 2016, I received a camp counseling job at Camp Hydaway, a task requiring zip-line training. My instructor made it clear that mistakes atop the launch pad — 40-feet high — could result in devastating ramifications. Not something I wanted to hear.

The launch-point platform almost rivaled the surrounding treetops — only several yards beneath the topmost limbs. The scariest aspect of heights, in my opinion, is being eyelevel with tall structures. It’s creepy to view a tree from its peak instead of the ground. The abnormality of the vantage point gives me goosebumps.

During my freshman year at Liberty, I forced myself to rock climb at least once a week. I figured if I faced my fears head-on, I could gradually mitigate my acrophobia.

Sometimes directly confronting your fears is the best way to navigate a problem. While fear is a necessary component to humanity’s survival (causing us to avoid dangerous conditions), it is also an indispensable part of everyday life.

You cannot succeed in life without facing your fears. For example, that homework assignment you need to accomplish. It’s not laziness preventing you from finishing, it’s your fear of starting.

Whenever you feel afraid to tackle life’s demanding challenges, take hope. And jump on board.

SMITH is the manager of content.

opinion

Liberty Champion | December 04, 2018 | A6

Remembering 41

George H.W. Bush brought dignity to the highest office in the nation

Google Images

PRESIDENT BUSH — George H.W. Bush was sworn into office Jan. 20, 1989 on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Chad Wylie cewylie@liberty.edu

George H.W. Bush considered Lou Gehrig his most influential heroes, which makes sense for a man as American as baseball itself.

Growing up in the 1920s and 30s, Bush, like many at that time, gravitated toward the dominance of the New York Yankees and their equally productive but oppositely dispositioned costars, Gehrig and Babe Ruth.

The brash, loud-mouthed slugger Ruth distinctly contrasted with the mild-mannered, quiet, future-Hall-ofFamer Gehrig.

Much like his legendary hero, Bush possessed an immensely competitive spirit, but coupled that intensity with a quiet, soft-spoken style. He was the clear-thinking, well-reasoned, stable leader that America needed during a time of change and turmoil.

Through his life, Bush exemplified the dedication required of a public servant, the courage to make difficult, unpopular decisions and the dignity that his responsibility as president demanded.

Bush first felt the call to serve after high school as World War II raged. During his distinguished military career in the U.S. Navy, Bush became one of the youngest naval aviators in history, earning his wings before his 19th birthday. Bush flew 58

missions during World War II, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Gold Stars.

During one mission, his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire, and Bush was forced to ditch the aircraft into the ocean. Bush floated at sea for four hours until an American submarine noticed him. Showing his dedication to service, Bush received treatment and rehabilitated quickly, returning to combat as soon as he was physically able.

After retiring from the Navy as a lieutenant, Bush married his pre-war sweetheart, Barbara Pierce and

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director of the CIA, vice president to President Ronald Reagan and eventually as president in 1989, where he faced unprecedented levels of international change.

“Bush faced a dramatically changing world, as the Cold War ended after 40 bitter years, the Communist empire broke up, and the Berlin Wall fell,” the White House’s website states. “The Soviet Union ceased to exist; and reformist President Mikhail Gorbachev, whom Bush had supported, resigned.”

Bush’s administration saw the end of the Soviet Union and the Cold War, as new conflict emerged in the Middle East. When Iraq, under President Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait, Bush responded with almost half a million troops on the ground, defeating Iraq’s army in a 100-hour invasion, according to the White House.

Bush was less successful, and less popular, on the domestic front. Following the eight years of economic prosperity under Reagan, unemployment levels rose during Bush’s presidency.

Infamously, Bush campaigned for the office under the promise to not raise the taxes of voters, declaring “read my lips, no

Individually we can change a life.

Collectively we can change the world.

— George H.W. Bush

enrolled at Yale University, where he studied economics.

Bush joined the Yale baseball team as a left-handed first baseman and captained the team in 1948. Yale played in the first two College World Series with Bush starting at first base.

Upon graduation, Bush built an oil empire in West Texas, but his primary interest was politics. He was elected office in 1966, taking a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bush would go on to serve as an international ambassador,

President Bush dead at 94 Chad Wylie cewylie@liberty.edu

Former President George H.W. Bush died Friday, Nov. 30., at age 94. He was the longest living president in United States history at the time of his passing.

Bush was born June 12, 1924. He was married to his wife of 73 years, Barbara, who died this past April.

Bush is survived by five children, sons George W., former U.S. president, Jeb, former Florida governor, Neil and Marvin and daughter Dorothy Bush LeBlond. His sixth child, Robin, died of leukemia at age four.

Bush will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol from Dec. 2-4 before being transported to Houston, Texas. His funeral will be held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. and he will be laid to rest next to his wife at his Presidential Library in College Station.

WYLIE is the opinion editor.

new taxes.”

Facing economic difficulty, Bush did raise taxes, and his approval ratings never recovered from this broken promise.

Bush lost his 1992 reelection bid to an upstart governor from Arkansas — Bill Clinton. In this defeat, the dignity Bush displayed in his life showed through this disappointment as well. He left a letter for the new President Clinton on the Oval Office desk.

“I wish you happiness here,” Bush wrote. “You will be our president when you read this note. ...Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you.”

Bush worked with Clinton on various endeavors, from backing Clinton on the North American Free Trade Agreement while Clinton was in office to raising money for Hurricane Katrina relief where both men found themselves in the unique club of former presidents of the United States.

“Few Americans have been — or will ever be — able to match President Bush’s record of service to the United States and the joy he took every day from it,” Clinton wrote about Bush.

“I am profoundly grateful for every minute I spent with President Bush and

will always hold our friendship as one of my life’s greatest gifts.”

Bush’s legacy invokes the spirit of bipartisanship, sacrifice and the belief that America can only thrive when it is committed to a “high moral principle,” dedicated to “make kinder the face of the nation and gentler the face of the world,”

as Bush explained in his inaugural address.

In 1990, Bush delivered the commencement address at Liberty University, challenging the next generation to engage with the same commitment to service to which he dedicated his life.

“Remember, individually we can change a life,” Bush said. “Collectively we

can change the world. Each of you can reject membership in a ‘Me’ generation, proving that yours is the ‘We’ generation, and show how a definition of a successful life must include serving others.”

WYLIE is the opinion editor.

Lessons from an American statesman Tim Murcek twmurcek@liberty.edu

To lie in state in the United States Capitol Building is not an honor granted to many. Less than 35 statesmen have been bestowed the esteemed burial, which allows all who wish the opportunity to pay their respects to exemplary public servants. On Wednesday, Dec. 5, George H.W. Bush will lie in the Capitol rotunda.

Bush was far from an ordinary man. Representative, ambassador, CIA director, vice president, and president of the United States are titles that few, if any, resumes boast. But Bush’s long and accomplished career in politics is often not remembered for these roles, but rather for the overshadowing stigma of his single-term presidency in the 1990s.

One-term presidencies are not a common phenomenon, especially in recent American politics.

The patience of voters and gradually changing political climates do not lend themselves to extreme shakeups at the highest levels of government, but 1992 was a different year. Governor Bill Clinton’s charismatic, likeable style and moderate, practical policy stances outed President Bush, despite a presidency of significant accomplishment.

Dealt a Democratic controlled Congress, Bush found himself economically stuck between a Republican base, which he had promised stable tax policy, and a liberal legislature, whose philosophy of deficit reduction relied solely on tax hikes.

Bush attempted to work in a bipartisan manner to attack the deficit, only to be stopped by conservatives.

Judicial nominations were met with obstruction when Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation process became a partisan bloodbath, reflecting poorly on the White House.

The Gulf War saw the U.S. launch successful offensives in the Middle East to quell tension in the region. The North American Free Trade Agreement brought about more peaceable relations with U.S. neighbors and has seen the U.S. through 54 percent economic growth and 25 million newly created jobs since its adoption in 1993 under Clinton. But it was Bush who spearheaded its efforts.

Through all this success, the question of why the 41st President was trusted by voters for merely one term is perplexing, but this foreboding warning is imperative for politicians and voters to understand. Bush was mild-mannered, at times awkward, often unexciting, and rarely visibly brash. His presidency is often described as boring, paving the way for the galvanizing Arkansas governor to capture the nation’s heart.

If modern politics has taught us anything, it is that good-natured meekness and quiet, dignified expertise rarely win the day over a bombastic, attention-grabbing show. Substance is scoffed at when empty fluff is in proximity. Sound, practical policy solutions seem to matter less and less in the presence of needless noise and fury.

Bush was the standardbearer in a new era of Republican politicians. The party’s rising stars would take note of and imitate his gentle style, learning to cultivate a dignified approach to public service that does not berate political opponents, but rather comes to the table with firm convictions combined with a willingness to find common ground wherever possible.

In one presidential term, George H.W. Bush taught us more than some presidents do in a lifetime. He showed that men of character impact others and sometimes an entire nation in incredible ways, and that it is far more important to make a difference as best a person can than to worry about the whims of popularity. History, for this reason, will be kind to our 41st president, and perhaps his passing provides ample opportunity for reflection on the state of our politics and what we can learn and apply from one of America’s greatest statesmen.

MURCEK is a guest writer.

Liberty News Service

COMMENCEMENT — George H.W.

Bush spoke at Liberty University May 12, 1990.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO Logan Smith manager of content

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CONTENT

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PHOTOGRAPHY

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Letters should not exceed 400 words and must be typed and signed. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

Letters and columns that appear are the opinion of the author solely, not the Champion editorial board or Liberty University.

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All material submitted becomes property of the Champion. The Champion reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any letter received—according to the Champion stylebook, taste and the Liberty University mission statement. © Copyright 2016 Liberty University, Inc. All Rights Reserved

content

Liberty Champion | December 04, 2018 | A7

King's Players wrap up season Liberty University drama ministry leads others to Christ through performance Brittany Slaughter bdslaughter@liberty.edu

Liberty University’s traveling theatre ministry, King’s Players, does not have a stage, sell tickets or have regular performances. They have a bus, a trailer and a passion for Christ.

King’s Players, America’s longest running traveling drama ministry, was started in the 1960s by husband and wife team Mark and Helen Lloyd.

Dr. David Allison is a former professor at Liberty and is the director of the team. He explained in King’s Players blog that the team was started after a 1960 performance about the work of missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and their eventual martyrdom by Cayuse Indians in the Oregon Territory. The cast wanted to perform the show at more locations than the college it was originally performed at.

“A 30-day tour was scheduled, and King’s Players drama ministry was born,” Allison said.

The group came to Liberty in 1973, according to Liberty’s website. It travels to churches, drug and rehab centers, and military bases, among other locations, performing shows that share the gospel and provide an opportunity for those in attendance to accept Christ.

Before shows, the team loads the bus’s trailer with costumes, props and set pieces and travels to where they will be performing for the evening. Once they arrive at their destination, they quickly set up the stage for

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formed, they were able to interact with the students that were spending the night at the church and talk about lessons that can be learned from the show they watched.

Jake Sessions, the team’s tour coordinator, said one of the qualities that makes King’s Players so unique is that the team travels for free.

“We come by donation only, making us accessible to a much broader audience than if we had to charge for our performances,” Sessions, who also acts in the group, said.

The team offers shows about family and the importance of biblical marriage, a show for teens that addresses bullying, peer pressure and finding identity in Christ, and a show that causes one to consider if they are really saved.

At Easter, the team performs a production that takes audiences through the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, including the Last Supper and the resurrection of Jesus. “(Days of Glory) is a powerful drama, and beautiful music provides an inspirational and evangelistic worship experience,” King’s Players website said.

This is freshman Amelia Park’s first time on the team. She describes the shows as “handmade.” “(Shows) are handmade for our specific type of team because we have a smaller cast, and we don’t usually have forever to set them up or put them on,” Park said. “The content of the plays is designed to share the gospel in an engaging way to a targeted audience and help them to understand what choice they

(My favorite part) is being able to travel all over the east coast and witness people of all different backgrounds see the same production and come to know Jesus the same way.

— Jake Sessions the performance, change into costumes and do a quick mic check before performing.

When the show is over, the team puts away their mics and begins the process of taking down the set and lights to load back onto the trailer. The first stop on the North Carolina tour was for a “lock in.” After the team per-

have before them (to accept Christ) and to show them that we as actors really connect with them and we are genuine in what we are doing. The plays enable us to do that.”

To make the team, cast members underwent an initial audition, a callback audition and an interview with the team’s direc-

Photo Provided

TRAVEL — The King’s Players travel to churches, military bases and drug and rehab centers. tor, Dr. David Allison. At the auditions and callbacks, the potential cast members were videotaped as they read scripts from the various plays. They also had the option to sing a short piece to demonstrate their vocal range.

Park thinks the audition process helps make King’s Players unique.

“I think it was awesome, the casting process and deciding who would be on the team. (Dr. Allison) got to interview us and see where our heart was and see if we would be a good fit for the team,” Park said. “It’s a highly tailored team, and I think each person was not put there by accident. It was a highly specialized process. We weren’t just looking for good actors. It was also people who have a heart for Jesus, and that’s something that makes King’s Players completely unique.”

Recent performances include a tour to Philadelphia over fall break where the team performed back-to-back shows of “A Light in the Darkness” and “Which Way” for a

Salvation Army drug and rehab center. They also performed at a local church. This year, the team has also performed at Lynchburg churches and the Lynchburg Group Home and Detention Center, as well as churches in North Carolina.

Sessions said his favorite part of being on the team is seeing people come to know Christ. “(My favorite part is) being able to travel all over the east coast and witness people of all different backgrounds see the same production and come to know Jesus the same way,” Sessions said.

SLAUGHTER is a content reporter.

Slaughter is a member of The King’s Players ministry team.

content

A8 | December 04, 2018 | Liberty Champion

Like a good neighbor, LU is there Presidents of Lynchburg universities share their respect for one another Emma Smith esmith83@liberty.edu

Tucked away in the historic Hall Campus Center of the University of Lynchburg, President Kenneth Garren reminisced of his friendship with the late Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr., founder and former chancellor of Liberty University.

“My first meeting at Liberty University was when I was soliciting money for United Way, and I went to see the person who was directly under Jerry Falwell Sr. to ask for support,” Garren said.

“While I was there, he got on the communications system to tell Jerry that I was there, and I heard Jerry make some nice comments about how much he had learned from Lynchburg College and the two years he had been here.”

Falwell Sr. took Garren to the Jerry Falwell Museum and shared with him about his life.

The two bonded immediately, and Falwell Sr. gifted Garren with an autographed copy of his autobiography, which Garren keeps in his office, along with other memorabilia from his friendship with Liberty.

“To my friend, Dr. Ken Garren,” Falwell Sr. wrote in the front cover of the book.

Garren said the encounter was the “beginning of the relationship” between the University of Lynchburg and Liberty Univer-

August of 2019.

“We were trying to figure out what to do with parking, and when Jerry (donated the property), I said, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a huge thing! That’s really nice of you,’” Garren said.

The parking lot — a former TRBC overflow parking lot — is adjacent to the University of Lynchburg’s campus and will help alleviate parking congestion on the main campus. The $250,000 donation will go toward a new residence hall, which

ganizations do for each other sometimes,” Falwell Jr. said. “If there’s something that we needed from them, we never hesitated to ask, and it’s just being a good neighbor, that’s all.”

While much of the relationship between the two universities lies with the executive powers, Garren explained that students also engage with each other on occasion.

“Our basketball teams played each other one year over at Liberty, and we were soundly

Lorena Rivera | Liberty Champion

CAMPUS — In 2018, Lynchburg College was renamed to the University of Lynchburg.

Emma Smith| Liberty Champion

MEMORY — Garren received an autographed copy of Falwell Sr.’s autobiography in 2003.

sity under his presidency.

Therefore, it should have come as no surprise when Liberty donated to the University of Lynchburg in August 2018 a land and cash gift valued at $1 million in honor of the late Jerry Falwell Sr. “My father went to Lynchburg College for two years in the early 50s before becoming a Christian and deciding to go into the ministry,” current Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. said. “So, we thought it would be nice to make a donation in his memory since … he got all of his basic subjects (and) … his basic journalism education at Lynchburg College.”

The donation consisted of a parking lot valued at $750,000 and a $250,000 check to aid the construction of the University of Lynchburg’s new residence hall, which is slated for completion in

tor and a friend to me because he’d been a college president for many years when I first became one (at Liberty), and that’s when we became friends,” Falwell Jr. said. “I’ve been over to his house for Christmas parties, and he and his wife will come over for football games.”

Garren agreed with Falwell Jr.’s sentiments of friendship and reminisced of the early stages in their relationship. When Falwell Sr. passed away in 2007, Garren and Falwell Jr. shared many

will house about 270 students, according to a press release from the University of Lynchburg. A portion of the residence hall will be named in honor of Jerry Falwell Sr. “It’ll be a million-dollar location, which I think it looks to me like it’s a rooftop with a terraced area that overlooks (Shellenberger Field) on both sides,” Garren said. “That will be the pinnacle of it, the top of it. You can think of it as looking back over towards Thomas Road Baptist Church.”

While Garren and Falwell Sr. fostered both a friendship and a healthy relationship between the two universities, Garren has also made an impact on Jerry Falwell Jr., Falwell Sr.’s eldest son who became Liberty’s president after his father’s passing. “(Garren has) been a men-

conversations about their work as college presidents. Garren explained that their friendship “developed naturally,” and he thinks fondly of both of Liberty’s presidents.

Though both universities are private, Christian colleges, as the University of Lynchburg is affiliated with the Christian Church, both Falwell Jr. and Garren said there is little rivalry between the two schools. Liberty offers some programs that the University of Lynchburg does not and vice versa.

When the University of Lynchburg first introduced its Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Garren approached Falwell and asked if he would consider developing other health science programs rather than a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, as a limited number of physical therapy internships were available in the area.

“We agreed just to be a good neighbor, and I think that’s what Christian colleges and or-

trounced,” Garren said with a laugh.

Garren also explained that the University of Lynchburg’s track team conducted meets at Liberty while the Hornets’ track was under construction. Additionally, some of Lynchburg’s professors have taught at both universities, and some students have taken courses at both schools. Music ensembles have even borrowed musicians from Liberty’s school of music from time to time.

“It’s not cross contamination because it’s not contamination, but it’s crossing the lines, and the interaction between the two schools … that has worked really well in the past,” Garren said.

“I’d like to see it continue. I just think that there are so many opportunities when people are working together rather than when they are working apart.”

SMITH is a copy editor.

Collaboration is key: SGA talks future plans Though the University of Lynchburg and Liberty University differ in size and opportunity, president of the University of Lynchburg Dr. Ken Garren said that the two schools share similar visions, and both produce students with a heart for volunteerism.

“I think our missions are to create people who will be successful in a global environment,” Garren said. “(Graduates) will be able to communicate well, (and) they will be able to think logically. Those are people who will be able to give to others (and) be community service minded.”

Liberty University Student Body President Jacob Page and Vice President Derek Rockey both believe students can fulfill the mission of their universities right now by working together on community service projects in the city of Lynchburg. Page cited a 2018 Magnum Economics report, which showed that Liberty generates $1 billion per year in economic activity.

“That just shows you the positive impact that one school can have,” Page said regarding the report. “So, imagine working together with multiple schools in the area to really give back to downtown … whether it’s going to mom-and-pop shops or grabbing coffee in the morning as well.”

Aside from economic impact, Page and Rockey hope to build a relationship with other Student Government Association chapters in the area, including the University of Lynchburg.

“We’ve been at conferences with other student body presidents, and it’s just so helpful to see their perspective, trade ideas, (etc.),” Rockey said.

The duo attends Lynchburg City Council meetings and hopes to invite the University of Lynchburg’s SGA members to attend with them. That way, both student bodies will understand what the city needs and be able to work together on social issues like homelessness.

“Having a common experience, a common cause — of getting the homeless population to zero, feeding them, clothing them, whatever we can do that will accurately fit their needs together — will bond us like no other (universities),” Rockey said.

Page also suggested partnering with University of Lynchburg students for existing initiatives such as weekly Campus Serve events and LU Serve’s Serve Lynchburg.

“I think partnering in ways like that is a really great way to work together,” Page said.

Lorena Rivera | Liberty Champion

NEIGHBORHOOD LOVE — The university presidents have been long-time friends and peers.

Campus Clash heats up the conversation LU hosts conservative event — students get face time with Turning Point USA Emily Wood ewood13@liberty.edu

Conservatives and liberals alike came out to the LaHaye Event Space Nov. 12 for Turning Point USA’s final stop on their Campus Clash tour — a night of open dialogue with some leading voices in the conservative movement including Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens.

Turning Point USA’s Director of High School Outreach, Kyle

Kashuv, also moderated the event and brought a unique angle to the conversation. Kashuv survived the Parkland High School shooting in February and now serves as a leader for young conservatives.

Kirk, Owens and Kashuv did not back down from heated discussion and audience questions. Kirk spoke candidly towards where Christians cast their votes, highlighting the moral divide between the parties.

“I don’t understand how a Bible-

believing Christian could ever vote for a Democrat in today’s America,” Kirk said. “I don’t understand how anyone can support the public funding of Planned Parenthood and be a Christian … The teachings of the Bible are directly at odds with the modern Democratic Party.”

Vice-president of Liberty University’s chapter of Turning Point USA Caroline Julian said events like Campus Clash create dialogue for conservative college stu-

dents to defend their stance in the real world.

“You’re not alone in the movement,” Julian said. “While you’re in college, stand firm on what you believe and let that charge your battery for when you go out in the real world and are faced with real opposition.”

President of Liberty’s Turning Point USA chapter, Bernanke Barnes, said it is important to host events like this for open-mindedness in political thought.

“A lot of students are apathetic and ignorant as to what is going on in the political world,” Barnes said. “It is important to host events like this, to be open-minded and see another aspect of political thought.”

For more information on Turning Point USA and how to contribute to the discussion, visit its website or Instagram account — @ turningpointusa.

WOOD is a feature reporter.

content

December 04, 2018 | Liberty Champion | A9

Bombs, cars and helmets New dean of School of Engineering gets candid about life and creativity Lillian Abbatacola leabbatacola@liberty.edu

Former nuclear warhead engineer and football helmet designer Dr. Mark Horstemeyer will start his new job at Liberty University as the dean of the School of Engineering Jan. 1, 2019.

“My (motto) is to love God in front of people and to love people in front of God,” Horstemeyer said.

Horstemeyer grew up in a religious family and attended a Lutheran church. He said that although his family went to church every Sunday, he was not a Christian. As a teenager, Horstemeyer experimented with drugs and alcohol.

“I didn’t realize, but I was trying to find the truth,” Horstemeyer said.

He also tried to find satisfaction through athletics and grades.

“You are just trying to fill the void, the vacuum, with things and ideas instead of God,” Horstemeyer said.

His life changed radically when his brother came to know the Lord and stopped dealing drugs. Through his brother’s life change, Horstemeyer personally came to know the Lord.

“At that point, I knew I was accepted, and I felt peace with God,” Horstemeyer said.

“That security has been so crucial over the years.”

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majority,” Horstemeyer said.

True to Horstemeyer’s vision, revival did strike the campus. A young woman who received salvation during a revival later married Horstemeyer. The football team, including the coach, were also saved. Horstemeyer remembers Christian banners hanging on campus and a “walk for Jesus.”

“When I look back, I see his hand,” Horstemeyer said.

During his time at WVU, chemistry professor Denis MacDowell inspired Horstemeyer in his faith. While the majority of professors were atheistic evolutionists, Mac-

The way a person has an impact in life is to mentor and advise others. The greatest influence one can have is to have others go out and follow the way you think God has led you.

University Life Horstemeyer went to West Virginia University for his undergraduate degree

Liberty News Service

NEW HIRE — Dr. Mark Horstemeyer has developed nuclear warheads and helmets.

in mechanical engineering. During his studies, a magazine ranked the top American party schools. The editors considered WVU to be such a party school, they didn’t even include it on their list, stating, “we didn’t rank professionals with amateurs,” Horstemeyer said.

The debauchery and darkness at WVU were obvious. Horstemeyer recalls a massive bar district and “sex in the streets.” Nonetheless, Horstemeyer’s faith grew stronger.

“I had a vision that God and I would change the university, that we would be the

— Dr. Mark Horstemeyer Dowell was a Christian.

“I really appreciated that engineering perspective on the Bible and his influence on me,” Horstemeyer said.

Horstemeyer then went onto earn a Master of Science from Ohio State University.

Later in his career, he earned a Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Nuclear Career In 1987, Horstemeyer’s engineering career started at Sandia Nation Labs in California, where he worked for 15 years, despite a rather bumpy start.

“When I first started in the work place at Sandia Labs, I was in a design project in thermonuclear weapons. I had completed a test that I thought was successful, and then I got my performance review,” Horstemeyer said. “I was the last person on the bottom in the evaluation for performance. The very bottom.”

Horstemeyer did not know this interaction was going to change his life.

“I about cried, I have to tell you,” Horstemeyer said. “(My supervisor) looked at me, and she pointed to me, and — I still get chills — she said, ‘I believe in you.’”

In three years, Horstemeyer was at the top of the performance review. He credited his growth to his supervisor’s confidence in his abilities.

“I’ve published about 500 documents now — it’s all come out of that, those early corrections that she poured into me,” Horstemeyer said.

Horstemeyer went on to design and develop nuclear weapons, specifically phase three of the W89 warhead.

Horstemeyer worked at Sandia June 1987-August 2002. The last time Horstemeyer blew the fuse on an underground nuclear warhead was in 1990. In 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty ended Horstemeyer’s underground thermonuclear testing.

“If you want a bomb to go bang but can’t test it, how are you going to ensure the reliability this thing is going to do what you want it to do? Particularly something like a nuclear bomb,” Horstemeyer said.

The world needed an alternative to underground bomb testing. Horstemeyer and the Sandia National Lab started working on multiscale modeling and simulations. Horstemeyer calls them very high fidelity and robust simulations. These simulations are how

PREPARATION — Liberty’s engineering lab offers students a chance to practice their skills.

LAB — Sandia National Laboratories is a government funded lab in California. bombs are designed and tested now.

“Then I started realizing if we can do this for bombs, can’t we do it for cars,” Horstemeyer said.

Back to school Horstemeyer’s research moved from bombs to cars, where he tried to build technology around saving lives. In 2002, Horstemeyer moved from Sandia to Mississippi State University to serve as chair for computational solid mechanics in MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems. In CAVS, Horstemeyer revolutionized safety testing for vehicles.

“Meanwhile, I realized that God was calling me to (help) raise up the next generation of Christian intellectuals,” Horstemeyer said.

Over last 15 years at MSU, Horstemeyer mentored over 150 students.

“The way a person has an impact in life is to mentor and advise others. The greatest influence one can have is to have others go out and follow the way you think God has led you,” Horstemeyer said.

Horstemeyer’s extensive research and contributions to computational manufacturing, nuclear weaponry, microstructureproperty constitutive modeling, metal processing methods and electro migration stress voiding have made him a leader in the engineering industry. His recent work has tried to stop football and hockey brain injuries by developing new technologically in advanced helmets.

After being inspired by Job 12, which says

Flickr

to let the birds teach you, Horstemeyer and a student from MSU studied the woodpecker and tried to find why the bird does not get a concussion when it repetitively and fiercely bangs on a tree. Horstemeyer found a pattern in the biology of woodpeckers was also in ram horns and turtle and armadillo shells.

This has led Horstemeyer to patent a “shock wave mitigating” football helmet to protect people from brain injuries.

“From ‘let the birds teach you,’ — God’s

“

I know I don’t have to do everything I want to do in a day, I just have to do everything (God) wants me to do in a day.

Liberty News Service

INTERIM — Dr. Mark Horstemeyer will be replacing current interim Dean David Donahoo.

Lydia Poindexter |Liberty Champion

— Dr. Mark Horstemeyer word to us — we are going to learn from them and how God made things to protect us to keep us safe, then we can do that with these man-made things in engineering to keep people safe,” Horstemeyer said.

Through chuckles, he said the hockey research is even better, but the sport does not get the attention like football does.

The 2019 move to Lynchburg Although Horstemeyer sees the next 15 years of his life at Liberty, moving to Lynchburg will be a big transition. His goal is to put the School of Engineering in the top 80 engineering schools in eight years.

“God’s in it, and I’m excited about it,” Horstemeyer said. “I know I don’t have to do everything I want to do in a day, I just have to do everything he wants me to do in a day.”

He says most engineering schools teach that engineering is just design. There’s no school that ties together design with analysis, synthesis, procurement, logistics, assembly, in-life service performance sustainability and death/recycling.

“We are going to try to implement this in terms of how we tie each class to each of these things,” Horstemeyer said.

Horstemeyer emphasizes that engineering is about making a process efficient and minimizing the variable of human error.

“In a project, when a human makes an error, it’s usually like the human is not trying to make an error, but we are not infallible, so we make mistakes,” Horstemeyer said.

“But a lot of times the process isn’t there.”

Horstemeyer said there are other Christian engineering schools, but none really have a graduate program. He wants to develop a solid, research-heavy graduate program for the School of Engineering with a Christian emphasis. Horstemeyer is trying to merge research and processes of people getting doctorates in engineering and science and sending them out as leaders.

“That’s the plan to come at Liberty — to help undergrad and graduate students learn research,” Horstemeyer said.

Horstemeyer said his research starts with looking at how God has engineered the world. Romans 1:20 has served as inspiration for his engineering career.

“We can understand his character, his nature and his attributes by the things he has made,” Horstemeyer said. “So, if he has engineered all these things, he has revealed part of himself. If he has engineered all these things, he has revealed part of himself. Then the question is, if I study this leaf or this tree or this ram or this shark, how does this reveal part of him as our creator?

And it’s that emphasis I have been publishing a lot in the last 15 years, and I’m going to bring to Liberty.”

ABBATACOLA is the content editor.

content

December 04, 2018 | Liberty Champion | A10

VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS

Madison Hirneisen mghirneisen@liberty.edu

The cast of Thomas Road’s Virginia Christmas Spectacular filled the sanctuary at Thomas Road Baptist Church with Christmas cheer, complete with festive costumes, dances and classic holiday songs.

The production, which took nearly a year to prepare, opened Friday, Nov. 30, with five more performances following through Dec. 2 The audience, filled with people of all ages, took time to celebrate the holiday season.

The show opened with a medley of classic Christmas songs sung by TRBC’s choir and accompanied by a full orchestra led by conductor Adam Lancaster. Featured dancers clad in sparkly, holidaythemed attire danced in rhythm to the music. Dancers appeared on stage a number of times in various costumes, sometimes dressed as Santa’s elves, reindeers and even as St. Nick himself.

Featured dancer Rebekah Kolacz is a junior at Liberty University. After watching the VCS from the audience her freshman and sophomore years, Kolacz decided to audition for the show.

“This year, I decided to audition because I’d heard so many positive things about it, and I’ve had a really great experi-

ence,” Kolacz said. “Everyone’s been very kind and encouraging.”

Kolcaz said that performing in the show as a student proved difficult but worthwhile.

“I think you definitely make time for the things that are important,” Kolcaz said.

“It’s possible to do school and do this. I’m able to get to know a lot of people through an outlet that I enjoy, and it’s a nice thing to come to at the end of the day after classes.”

Following the opening of the show, the dynamic of the performance shifted into a musical. The theatrical portion of the show was narrated by Don Brooks and depicted a number of characters in various situations during the holiday season.

The theatrical montage of plot lines included both humorous and heartwarming stories that were well-received by the audience. Each of the stories portrayed various aspects of the holiday season, ranging from a friendly neighborhood Christmas light competition to the struggle some families have providing for their families during Christmastime.

Brooks has been involved in VCS for more than three decades. Through his experience in the show, he believes the most rewarding part of his involvement has been the relationships he has made and maintained over the years.

“It’s a bond you keep,” Brooks said.

Brooks has watched the VCS evolve over the years and has especially noticed the improvement in production quality in the realm of dance. He appreciates the choreographers aiding in the production process to make the show flow and create audience appeal. While he understands the importance of putting on a solid production, he believes that developing good on-stage chemistry is the key to any successful performance.

“We really believe that it’s about the journey,” Brooks said. “It’s about the group getting together and becoming an ensemble. And it’s not so much about the production, although it is … but it really is working together and getting to know each other.”

Following the theatrical portion of the show, the TRBC choir and orchestra rejoined cast members on the stage to perform a number of other traditional Christmas carols. Among the holiday classics sung included “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “I Wonder as I Wander.”

Before the TRBC choir re-entered for the finale of the show, TRBC Pastor Jonathan Falwell walked on stage and briefly spoke on the “why” behind Christmas.

Falwell presented the story of Christ’s birth and how the child born from humble beginnings in a manger would ultimately

become the sacrifice for the world on the cross. In closing, Falwell extended an invitation to anyone in the audience who wanted to respond to the message and pray to receive salvation.

To finish the show, the TRBC choir led the audience in “Joy to the World” and the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Featured dancer Emily Brisson has been involved with the VCS for seven years and always enjoys performing on stage. She loves forming relationships with those on stage and creating a fun experience for members of the audience.

“We want to bless the audience, but I really am blessed every time I’m in it,” Brisson said.

Through her experience in VCS, Brisson has performed in many opening night shows. She explained that while there are nerves leading up to the performance, everything changes when the lights shine down and the audience comes alive.

While many actors want to live in the spotlight, Brisson strives to use her role to honor God. “I feel like it’s a form of worship because we’re pointing people to the joy of Christmas,” Brisson said. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and I do believe music and dance is a gift.”

HIRNEISEN is a content reporter.

PROVIDED BY TYLER RICHARD| THOMAS ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH

An uber cool way to get a lyft New ride-share program starts pilot rides to help on-campus traffic and parking Will Evans wjevans@liberty.edu

In an attempt to help solve the parking issue on campus, Liberty University’s Student Government Association announced a new ride-sharing program, available on the Liberty Today app.

The “on-demand ride” feature is free of charge for Liberty students. The program is in its infancy, so the program can only take students to a few places, like Snowflex or the gun range, but Page expects the program to add more locations if the testing period goes well.

The idea for a ride-sharing program started with SGA a few years

ago but was difficult to pass because of safety concerns. However, the new initiative has been pushed out by Liberty’s Department of Transportation and utilizes hired drivers and Liberty vehicles.

Student Body President Jacob Page recently tried out the rideshare program for himself.

“We actually did it; it’s very easy,” Page said. “It takes like 3 to 4 minutes for them to come pick you up.”

To grab a ride, students simply sign in to the Liberty Today app and touch the tab on the top left corner. They can scroll down to “on-demand ride” and then select a destination.

Within a few minutes, a campus

car or van will pick the student up and take them to their destination.

“They even have a bus that takes you downtown,” Page said.

“Right now (the program) is sort (of) limited, but if this testing period goes well, I could see it going more places.”

According to Page, there are a limited number of vehicles available for on-demand rides, and students may be denied their request if there are too many vehicles in use at once. However, Page is confident that programs like this will eventually help diminish the heavy traffic and crowded parking lots on campus.

“I think it will maybe take away the need for people to drive in the

center of campus … and hopefully clear up some spots in the parking lots,” Page said.

Page said he has been looking to implement some similar programs in trying to cut down on traffic.

He mentioned a recent discussion about adding electric scooters to campus. However, nothing has been approved yet.

“SGA has brought up the parking issue every year since I’ve been here,” Page said. “And the great thing is … the school listened, and now we are actually doing something about it.”

Perhaps the most appealing feature of the program for students is the price — free.

Many students who have signed

into the app have already grabbed rides to their favorite destinations, like Camp Hydaway.

“We promote the use of the ondemand ride sharing program as a means for students to get to Hydaway,” Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Lynda Margarita said. “We’ve heard of a few people using it to get to Hydaway, and they have said it’s as easy as calling an Uber or Lyft service.”

Download the Liberty Today app on the app store and grab a ride.

EVANS is a content reporter.

SPORTS

December 04, 2018

B1

Spartan effort

Football scorches the Spartans 52-17

Emily Baker egbaker@liberty.edu

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

SNATCHED — Senior cornerback Jeremy Peters caught an interception with a cast on his right hand.

The Liberty University Flames football team celebrated senior day and its final home game of the season with a 52-17 win over the Norfolk State University Spartans Saturday, Dec. 1.

Originally scheduled to take place Saturday, Sept. 15, the game was rescheduled due to the threat of Hurricane Florence in September. The win also marked the end of Liberty’s inaugural FBS season and brought their season record to a positive 6-6.

The Flames honored 17 seniors at the beginning of the game, including wide receivers BJ Farrow and Damian King, running back Kentory Matthews

and cornerback Jeremy Peters. News Service. Williams Sta- touchdown.

“They’ve all been a part dium averaged an attendance of The offense barely had time of some special moments,” 16,282 this season, more than to catch their breath after the Head Coach Turner Gill said. 1,000 people over the FBS’s touchdown when Norfolk State “They’ve laid the foundation of minimum requirement of an receiver Gerald Hulett fumbled being able to compete, to com- average 15,000 fans. the ball on the kickoff return, pete every day at practice and The Flames opened the which was snatched up by Libcompete every day at games. game with a 76-yard drive that erty redshirt freshman spur They’ve set the standard.” ended in a field goal kicked Aaron Pierre.

Liberty also honored five in by redshirt junior punter “(The defense) improved,” new members of the 2018 Aaron Peart.

Gill said. “For the most part we Hall of Fame Class, including The Spartans responded had everything going the right Danielle McNamey Detmer with a field goal of their own way. They caused turnovers, I (track & field) and Rashad Jen- on the next drive, bringing thought that was huge. When nings (football). The induct- the score up to 3-3 halfway they’re able to do that it gives ees were given awards in the through the first quarter. a great chance to our offense.”

2018 Hall of Fame banquet Liberty continued to plow Liberty opened the second Friday evening. forward on its next drive and quarter with a 5-yard rushing The Flames played one of found the end zone on a pass touchdown from junior runtheir best games of the sea- from junior quarterback Buck- ning back Frankie Hickson. son, despite persistent fog shot Calvert to sophomore The team’s lead extended to and a temperature below 45 fullback Michael Bollinger. 17-3 on another successful degrees. The team and its fans The touchdown catch was Peart extra point. were blessed with mostly dry Bollinger’s first career recepweather as the afternoon’s fore- tion as well as his first career See SPARTAN, B5 casted rain held off until it became a slow drizzle Flames football Head Coach Turner Gill announced Monday afat the end of the night. ternoon that he is retiring from coaching football. The announceThe weathment came days after the Flames completed their inaugural FBS er also did season, Gill’s seventh season with the team. not prevent “It came as a surprise,” Liberty President Jerry Falwell said in the fans from coming out, a phone interview with the Champion. “We were going to offer as the game him a multi-year contract to stay here at Liberty because he’s boasted an done such a good job. He’ll be greatly missed. We’re grateful attendance of 13,243, for all that he did to bring our football program up to the level according to it is now.” the Liberty

FYI

Faith and football Flames team builds in faith and strength Jacob Couch jtcouch@liberty.edu

Macy Hrncir | Liberty Champion

SPIKE — The Lady Flames were ranked No. 4 in the ASUN this season.

Smashing a new season

Volleyball ends first ASUN season Peter Gooch pgooch1@liberty.edu

A 15-17 record does not normally indicate success. But for a team competing in a new conference with a first-year coach, recognizing a certain level of success seems appropriate.

The Liberty University women’s volleyball team did not end its 2018 season with a winning record, but there were several highlights that Head Coach Trevor Johnson and the Lady Flames can look back on positively as it continues to construct a first-class program.

“I don’t think our record truly reflects what kind of season we had,” Johnson said. “I was proud of our girls for showing up every day and working hard. I had a great staff that helped out so much, so it was a fun year, regardless of what the record was.”

Liberty’s season began with a match against Indiana State University Aug. 24 and ended with a loss to eventual conference champion Florida Gulf Coast University in the ASUN Volleyball Championship semifinals Nov. 16.

In between, they accumulated a 7-3 home record, including a rousing 3-0 sweep of the University of Virginia at the Vines Center Sept. 11, and saw tremendous progress while rallying from a slow start to win 12 of their last 20 matches.

“They trusted us (and) they trusted the process,” Johnson said. “It’s very

easy to just be 3-10 and throw in the towel. They just kept showing up.

They kept doing the work and it finally paid off.”

A strong finish allowed Liberty to secure a spot as the No. 4 seed in the ASUN tournament, where they swept No. 5 Stetson University before getting finished off by No. 1 FGCU in a close match, 26-24, 25-20, 25-18.

The night before their postseason win over Stetson, a handful of Lady Flames were recognized at the ASUN Volleyball awards banquet. After playing for 27 years in the Big South Conference, the honors reaffirm Liberty’s aim to make an immediate impact in their new conference.

“I feel like we were kind of like the underdogs coming into this conference,” junior right-side hitter Casey Goodwin said. “It was just awesome to see everyone excel in this conference and still get awards and play to the best of their ability.”

Goodwin, the only player in the ASUN to rank in the top 10 for kills per set, aces per set and blocks per set, made the all-conference first team. Junior middle blockers Anna Gragg and Kainah Williams were both named to the all-conference second team, while outside hitter Lily Kruse was put on the all-freshman squad. Junior setter Hannah Morris got selected to the allacademic team.

See SPIKING, B2

Kevin Manguiob | Liberty News Service

DEVOTED — Gomes is a Liberty graduate and has been a part of Flames football for 18 years.

As Flames fans pour into Williams Stadium on fall Saturday afternoons and cheer on their favorite football players, one of the Flames critical ingredients to success is often overlooked as he paces up and down the sidelines.

The Flames Director of Spiritual Development Ed Gomes is in his 18th year as a member of the Flames football staff. In his almost two decades with the team, Gomes has seen the program’s significant growth as well as the spiritual battles that come with exposure.

“The thing that wakes me up in the morning is to help our young men become intentional about their re-

lationship with Christ and to help our football team,” Gomes said.

Gomes explained that he offers three different kinds of discipleship that are categorized by how interested the players are in pursuing their relationship with Christ.

“If (Liberty’s) recruiting you and you’re not a believer but you know what the clearcut expectations are, and obviously there’s discussion among the coaches, we may say that God may use us in their lives for evangelism,” Gomes said. “We’ve had guys who have come to our football program and were led to Christ.”

See FAITH, B4

Throwing back wins Men’s basketball dominates Georgia State Paige Frost pmfrost@liberty.edu

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

FAST — Elijah Cuffee has 84 points this season.

The Flames dominating 78-52 victory over the Georgia State Panthers on Saturday night showcased the Flames talent in front of almost 3,000 fans.

Not only was the men’s team decked out in the 1971 throwback jerseys, but they also used the press defense Georgia State and the Flames held a lead on the Panthers most of the game. The energy of the fans helped set the tone of this intense game, “This is a very good team, and we knew that last year and we knew that coming in this year,” Caleb Homesley said. “But once they started struggling, we saw that, and

we kept pressing. We just wanted to play the way that we wanted to play.”

With this the Flames did not look back and continued their lead against the Panthers.

Homesley scored 19 points for the Flames, with multiple slam-dunks that thrilled the crowd.

Sophomore Elijah Cuffee used this game as a showcase of just how good he could be.

Cuffee scored 19 points, 6 field goals made, 5 threepointers and even had 5 assists, helping him tally career-high numbers.

See THROWING, B2

sports

B2 | December 04, 2018 | Liberty Champion

Humble Homesley

Downed

by Dukes Lady Flames lose 74-53 to JMU

Flames junior has remained strong throughout adversity Nathaniel Chambers nrchambers@liberty.edu

Two short seasons ago, Liberty sophomore guard Caleb Homesley’s season ended due to an ACL injury against Princeton after just 10 games. Two years later, the redshirt junior guard is in the second year of recovering from his second career ACL injury, and he is doing what he can to help the team.

“I think my game has become a lot more well-rounded after my injury,” Homesley said. “Before my injury I was doing a lot of great things, but I was really focused on scoring. Now that my injuries happened, I was able to sit back and watch a lot of basketball instead of being in the game 24/7.”

Through the 10 games he played during the 2016-2017 season, Homesley averaged 12.9 points per game, which was good for second on the team that season. In his two years since returning, he has been fifth and sixth in scoring on the team, averaging 7.8 points per game last year and 8.9 points per game this year.

“It’s been good,” Homesley said. “I think that there have been hard times and good times as well, and I think out of all of it there was more good times than hard. I think whenever you have injuries like that you really have to focus on keeping faith. As long as you keep faith, I think that it’s easier to go through the process.”

He said he watched players and learned their abilities and it helped him adapt his game to where he knew how best to help his teammates according to those abilities.

“It’s just good to see how hard he worked to get to the point that he is

now,” senior guard Lovell Cabbil Jr. said. “Like everyone knows, he was playing really good before he got hurt, and he kind of went through that process last year, but it’s good to see how hard he worked in the offseason to get to where he is now.”

Cabbil said that the team has also taken a lot away from Homesley’s injuries.

Cabbil, who has suffered a similar injury in his basketball career, said that Homesley’s injury and the work ethic he had in his recovery is a great reminder to not take anything for granted. Where he was and where he is now makes players want to work hard.

People look up to Homesley, Cabill said, and they use his comeback as motivation and a good reminder.

“It’s amazing,” senior forward Keenan Gumbs said. “Personally, I’ve been going through a little rough patch, and (Homesley’s) not shooting the ball as well either. But we’ve been getting extra work on the side and he’s been really encouraging, and he’s really experienced. He’s really good defensively and offensively; he can do everything. It’s amazing.”

Gumbs, who is also Homesley’s roommate, said Homesley is well-rounded, long, has huge hands and can shoot the ball.

“Anything on the offense and defensive end I really set myself to be a twoway player, try to be the best on both ends of the court,” Homesley said.

Homesley said he does what the team needs. He has taken his game to the next level, not just being a scoring threat but being a defensive presence as well.

“I think that if my strengths come out and I play to the way that I can play, I think that we’ll be very successful,” Homesley

Emily Baker egbaker@liberty.edu

The Lady Flames basketball team fell to the James Madison University Dukes 74-53 Thursday, Nov. 29.

The loss was Liberty’s fourth consecutive defeat, bringing their record to 1-6.

JMU dominated the game overall and led for the full game, at times by as many as 26 points.

The Dukes were led by Colonial Athletic Association preseason favorite Kamiah Smalls, who scored a careerhigh 30 points.

Liberty struggled to keep up for the length of the game, only shooting 13.3 percent from the 3-point line and 33.9 percent from the field. The Lady Flames never came within 12 points of the Dukes after the first few minutes of the game.

Liberty was led by senior forward KK Barbour with nine points, who was one rebound short of her career high and one point short of her seventh double-double. She was closely followed by senior guard Tatyana Crowder and redshirt sophomores Emily Lytle and Ria Gulley, who each held eight points.

Joel Coleman | Liberty News Service

BAKER is the sports editor.

RESILIENT — Homesley tore his ACL two times.

said. “I think that I help our team in a lot of different ways on the court.”

Leadership, experience and communication are what he feels he adds to the team. This is his fourth season with the team, so he has learned to step into these roles over the years. Homesley hopes to carry these roles into the rest of this season and into next season as he has another year of eligibility.

CHAMBERS is a sports reporter.

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion PASS — Bridgette Rettstatt looks for an open teammate.

THROWING continued from B1

bition matches against profession al teams.

But the special trip’s primary focus is not on the volleyball experience.

“Normally, you can go to the Dominican (Republic) or Puerto Rico or like a beautiful hotspot area, but just for the chance for them to go to China — number one, they’ll probably never go again,” Johnson said. “Again, just the chance for them to have an appreciation for what Liberty’s all about, what’s been given to them and also to be able to share Christ in a country that doesn’t know the Lord.”

While winning is still a goal for Johnson and the Lady Flames — who have adopted the phrase “Why not LU?” as they look to become a perennial volleyball powerhouse — they are more concerned with improving individually and as a team. Despite the lack of an impressive overall record, Johnson believes the team did that in 2018.

It was a successful season in Goodwin’s mind as well, as she said the adjustment to a new coaching staff alone was a significant accomplishment. There was also the ASUN awards, the exhilarating wins and a whole lot of fun.

“It was just awesome to see people enjoying themselves at practice and having fun with the game we all love,” Goodwin said.

“I feel like we lost it a little bit. We lost sight of why we really played, and I feel that came back this year.”

A trio of 3-pointers from the Highlanders late in the first half put them up 3025, but a score at the buzzer from Pacheco-Ortiz cut the Radford lead down to 34-31 at halftime.

The Flames tightened up their defense in the second half and held the Highlanders to only 20 points and seven field goals in the final 20 minutes.

Dawson said the defensive shift was less of an Xs and Os adjustment and more of change in mindset by each member of the team.

“Everybody had to make a sacrifice, a personal decision to go in there and hit somebody, and if you don’t, they’re just going to come and take the ball and take the game wherever they wanna go,” Dawson said.

The win puts the Flames on a four-game win streak and places them in a three-way tie for first place in the Big South Conference with Winthrop and UNC Asheville.

“I think (what) I’m most Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion pleased with is two things: ELITE — Junior Caleb Homesley shoots over a Highlander.

Number one, our guys care about representing the university, and they’re a part of the mission,” McKay said. “Number two, I think we have a defensive mindset, … and when you get that, you have a chance.”

The Flames next home game will be on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. against South Carolina State.

The Flames will look to continue their early season success as they rapidly approach the meat of their schedule which will peak when they travel to UCLA to play the Bruins Dec. 29.

The Flames offense has been on fire so far this season, scoring over 75 points in all eight games.

In three of the first eight games this season, the Flames have scored over 80 points.

The Flames will need to continue to generate big point games as the season progresses if they expect to be able to compete with their schedule’s toughest competition.

GOOCH is a sports reporter.

FROST is a sports reporter.

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion AGGRESSIVE — The Lady Flames have their sights set on success in 2019.

SPIKING continued from B1 “It’s a testament to them and all their hard work,” Johnson said.

All five of the award recipients have the eligibility remaining to participate in the team’s offseason program and play for the Lady Flames again next season.

“I’m excited about the girls that we have returning,” Johnson said. “Compared to the top other teams in the conference, I think they lose a lot.”

Johnson also said he was looking forward to welcoming in a talented freshmen class that includes four recently announced recruits: Rajini Fitzmaurice, Caitie Mueller, Krissy O’Malley and Abby Phillips.

The recruits will be joining a squad that in 2018 focused on maintaining a family-like atmosphere where it was emphasized that everyone is needed and appreciated.

“We’re a very encouraging team,” Goodwin said. “And as you can see from our bench, watching the games and stuff, we get riled up and it’s just support all the way around. Having that out on the court is just incredible.”

Liberty looks to increase its team chemistry with a trip this offseason.

After individual training and some team events from January to March, Johnson anticipates the Lady Flames will play in four spring tournaments around the end of March to early May. Then, it is 10 days of practice before the team goes off to China and plays some exhi-

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion SCORE — Myo Baxter-Bell completes a

layup in the win over Georgia State.

sports

Liberty Champion | December 04, 2018 | B3

Carey-ing the game Women’s basketball coach celebrates 20 years Siani Null snull@liberty.edu

The 2018-19 Liberty Women’s basketball season marks year 20 with the Flames for Head Coach Carey Green.

In his two decades with the program, Green has cultivated success through his coaching as well as his off the court encouragement in his player’s lives.

In the past 19 seasons, Green has built a record of 440-168 that contributes to a winning percentage of 72 percent, one of the highest of women’s NCAA Division I active coaches. He led Liberty to dominate the Big South Conference play to win 10 straight conference championship titles from 1999-2009, earning the No. 1 athletic accomplishment in the history of 25 years of the Big South.

A major contributor to his success, Green’s teams have ranked No. 1 nationally in rebounding six times and in the top 20 every year since 2002.

Senior captain Tatayana Crowder said

Erik Flores | Liberty News Service PASSION — Green has coached the Lady

Flames for 20 years.

Green prioritizes rebounds because they occur after players miss shots, and it is more common to miss shots than to make them.

For both Green and Crowder, though, the platform created by collegiate sports is about more than simply athletic success.

“Truly (Coach Green) is really a man after God’s heart,” Crowder said. “The difference between him and my other coaches is he can say things that Gabrielle Calhoun | Liberty News Service really make me mad, but I know DEDICATED — Green encourages his players that above anything else he sub- off the court as well as on it. mits to God. He is able to see ent set of young ladies, which keeps things that I don’t see in myself and he calls them out in such a way that coaching fresh and keeps me hungry,” frustrates and convicts me to seek the Green said. “It’s more about life direction than just sport. It is a privilege and different meaning of it.”

Green’s favorite aspect of coaching there is a responsibility that I need to at Liberty and with the women’s bas- (direct them) right.”

In addition to navigating through ketball team is that it creates a ministry and the chance to bless all athletes who another year of changing team dynamfall under his wing. He loves the small ics, this year, Green and his team face bits of gratification that comes when the transition from their former place of something clicks for one of his players, comfort in Big South conference domiwhether it is in the game of basketball nation to their new acclimation to foreign Atlantic Sun Conference play. or growing in their faith.

In the ASUN, the team will travel far“Our focus is unique here, and I have really been blessed with student ther and more frequently and compete athletes who are motivated to give their against more progressive and athletibest,” Green said. “That is the key to cally driven programs.

“We are no longer the ‘big fish,” success and God has been faithful with blessing that. He didn’t have to, but he Green said. “But, it is reality that it’s hard to maintain a dominance and life has shown mercy and grace in that.”

Crowder described her coach as is full of challenges. We are like every a shepherd. Green described a good team here at Liberty, we are transitionshepherd or coach as one who tries to ing through growth and that’s why we meet the players and the sheep where all have the keyword ‘Rise Up.’ I am rethey are to help bring them where they ally thankful, grateful and appreciative for the support that the athletic adminneed to be.

According to Green, after 20 years istration and their visionaries provide to with 20 different Flames teams, it is make things come together.”

Keep up with the Lady Flames in vital to recognize the uniqueness of each new team and player and the im- their next game at East Tennessee State portance of adapting and growing with University Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. them as a coach.

“Every year, I come in with a differ- NULL is a sports reporter.

Emily Baker egbaker@liberty.edu

Women are somewhat rare in major sports, excluding women’s leagues. The vast majority of athletics staffers are male, from physical trainers to coaches to team owners.

This is also true in the journalism industry. It’s far more common to see a male broadcaster or reporter than a female one, and women in the industry are often objectified or discounted simply because of their gender.

While all of journalism is still maledominated, some statistics from WorkInSports.com claim that nearly 90 percent of the sports reporting field is male. And while some of the disparity comes from women not being as interested in sports, some of it comes from gender alone.

Women in sports journalism are criticized and commented on more about their outfits and their bodies than their reporting and their knowledge of the sport.

Last year, Cam Newton laughed at Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue when she asked him about a player’s route running ability and said, “It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes.”

If you google “famous female sports reporters” or any similar topic, one of the top results in the “also asked” section is “Who is the hottest female sports reporter?” Several of the top results overall are rankings based off of how attractive the reporters are, with quotes like “she continually proves someone can be really attractive AND knowledgeable about sports.”

This is shown even within the field.

Bleacher Report, one of the nation’s most popular sports reporting sites, published a now-deleted article titled “50 Hottest Female Sports Broadcasters from Around the World.”

For me, it’s a normal thing to look down press row and see that I’m the only woman reporting, even at large games such as Liberty’s football game at UVA. And the

difference shows within the sports section in the Champion. We generally only have two or three women reporting in the sports section.

And though I haven’t experienced any of the harassment or comments that many have, I know that it’s inevitable as a journalist.

I know that I’m part of a rare breed.

I’ve seen it on occasion when I walk into an interview and get the slightest surprise from whoever I’m interviewing, or when I mention that I’m the sports editor and the person’s first reaction is to ask, “Why sports?”

But here’s the thing: the lack of women in sports journalism is the reason we need more women in the field. While men can find work fairly easily with the right experience and portfolio, women often have to prove themselves capable, even if they have the same amount of experience.

It’s an obstacle, yes, but not an impossible one. Strong women like Samantha Ponder and Rodrigue have more than proven that not only do women have a place in sports journalism, but that they can make a huge difference in the field.

Women in this field and any area of journalism can’t let their fears of harassment or judgment prevent them from doing what they love.

In the end, what matters is skill and knowledge. And it doesn’t matter who has it, regardless of gender or race or background.

BAKER is the sports editor.

Jordan Crossingham | Liberty News Service LEGITIMATE — The Flames rowing team is a club sport.

Old row

Rowing team prepares for 2019

Nate Montgomery nimontgomery@liberty.edu

Ryan Krupansky was in his freshman year of high school when he started rowing as a sport. He and a friend joined a local rowing team, and he was immediately hooked.

Fast forward seven years to his junior year at Liberty, and he is competing as the team captain on the rowing team.

“This is such a great opportunity not just to get into shape and compete but also to make friends,” Krupansky said.

One of the biggest advantages to club sports and rowing is that it offers both an opportunity to compete and a way to stay in shape.

Coach Debbie Prowse, like Krupanksy, started young as a way to stay in shape.

“I started in 8th grade and that was the first time that I ever sat on a rowing machine,” Prowse said. “My

older brother rowed before me so I decided to join and I loved it.”

The physical requirements for the sport are intense and the athletes have to be in near perfect shape for the season.

“Every day is a challenge when rowing and every day you work yourself both physically and mentally,” Prowse said. “If you want to be in the best physical shape of your life then rowing is for you.”

Not only is rowing a test of strength and fitness, but it is also deeply a team sport.

“What really matters for rowing is not how one rower does, but how they move the boat as a team.,” Prowse said. “Really our standout boat this semester was our ladies novice four boat. They did really well, they learned the technique really quickly, and they seemed to really gel together well.”

See OLD, B4

sports

B4 | December 04, 2018 | Liberty Champion

Kicking the seasons

Taekwondo team building a name for itself in 2018-2019 season Jared Dean jsdean1@liberty.edu

The Liberty Taekwondo team may be unfamiliar to some, but they are quickly gaining the attention of competitors nationwide The team recently took first place in a competition at Cornell, something that the program has never done before. The team is starting to make a name for itself including several finishes in the top three. Head Coach Tom Childress believes this team has bonded closely and that is a factor of its success.

“A lot of people think combat sports are solo sports because there is only one person in the ring at a time,” Childress said. “My philosophy is different. I believe that you are always a part of a team and that you did not get to be the athlete that you are by yourself.”

Childress is not the only one who believes this. Junior team captain Brittany Harris also has faith in this ideology.

“This year, everyone is welcoming, happy and ready to learn,” Harris said. “I have never seen new freshmen work as hard as they do on the team this year.”

The team ranges in experience from thirddegree blackbelts to people picking up the sport for the first time.

“Every single year we have people that have never done martial arts come in,” Childress said. “After warm ups either me, an assistant coach, senior blackbelt or a team captain will go over and help them learn the fundamentals.”

Harris has seen growth in her abilities to lead as the captain when helping the less experienced teammates get to know the sport.

“It has been a really great experience,” Harris said. “As female team captain a lot of the girls come to me for help. I think it has helped a lot having experience because I can help others because I know more and being confident in my abilities helps to build friendships and the team dynamic.”

Harris also believes that the environment of the team this year has helped them to succeed.

“Even though we are really hard working, we sometimes don’t want to go to practice because of other obligations, but we always go because we want to see our family,” Harris said.

This tight knit group has become something that Childress has not seen often and is happy to see that it is helping the team to achieve their goals of being the best team they can possibly be.

“Like everything (in life), we want to compete to the best of our ability,” Childress said. “You don’t coach a team saying that you want to be the second-best team out there, you always want to be the best.”

This winning mindset is something the team has come together to understand.

Childress also stresses the importance of remaining humble and knowing that God is in control.

Overall the mindset for the season is the same among the team members and the coaches, to compete as well as they can and hopefully getting a spot at the national tournament.

“My goal for our new teammates is for them to keep striving to learn more and for them to go farther than they thought they would have ever gone,” Harris said. “I hope to see that in nationals because we are going for a team award. … I know we can get it, especially with this team.”

DEAN is a sports reporter.

Caroline Cummings | Liberty News Service UNIQUE — The Flames taekwondo team is recognized around the nation for excellence in

competition.

CLOSE — The taekwondo team is very tight-knit and focuses on teamwork and community.

Caroline Cummings | Liberty News Service

OLD continued from B3

Jordan Crossingham | Liberty News Service

PADDLE — The Flames crew team is a part of Liberty’s extensive club sports program.

FAITH continued from B1 Gomes currently meets with 50 different players every week for half hour sessions, seeking to encourage the Flames football team to seek Christ first.

“When you take guys, who are willing to take time to grow in their relationship with Christ, it has a way of changing the culture of a team,” Gomes said. “I’m encouraged by what God is doing but I’m not satisfied because we still have guys on our team who have spiritual needs.”

The Flames football team is distinctly different from the majority of FBS schools because of their desire to care for their players spirituality.

“I would say that what makes us unique is that obviously we have a Liberty University mission,” Gomes

Krupansky said that he has never been in better shape than he is now.

“This is just such a great opportunity not just to get into shape and compete but also to make friends,” Krupansky said. “Rowing isn’t only a great way to push yourself. The team dynamic is amazing on our team, we all get along really well.”

One of the other appeals of rowing is the areas and places that you get to compete at. All of the competition is outdoors and on the water.

“If you love the outdoors this is a wonderful sport,” Prowse said. “We’ve rowed in all kinds of weather.

We’ve rowed when it was

sunny, windy, raining, even snow. It’s such a thrill.”

The rowing team finished their fall season and have been training and keeping in shape for the coming spring season.

The team is always looking for new students to try out every fall, no experience is necessary which can make the sport more attractive for students who have never attempted to experiment with the sport.

“When kids come out to tryout they think it looks easy, it’s just a repetitive motion, but it’s not,” Prowse said. “It is so difficult to get everyone set up and balanced and in sync.”

MONTGOMERY is a sports reporter.

said. “But we also have a football vision, we have a football mission, we have core values and we have whole person development. And these are things Coach Gill uses to guide our program.”

The Flames defeated Norfolk State 52-17 Saturday, Dec. 1, to finish the team’s first season of bowl eligibility with a 6-6 record.

Due to the Flames schedule having them play two FCS schools the Flames had to finish with a 7-5 record to become bowl eligible.

Gomes reminds fans that the Flames football team is about more than just winning football games — it’s about training Champions for Christ.

COUCH is the assistant sports editor.

Leah Stauffer | Liberty News Service

THE LONG HAUL — Ed Gomes has been a part of the Flames football program for 18 seasons.

sports

Liberty Champion | December 04, 2018 | B5

Building Blocker Flames field hockey coach is loved by all John Simmons jasimmons2@liberty.edu

“I love her.”

This is what redshirt sophomore and defensive center-mid Kendra Jones said about her field hockey coach, Nikki Parsley-Blocker. And she certainly has reason to show this level of admiration.

In just her second year as head coach of the Lady Flames, Parsley-Blocker guided her team to a 13-6 overall record and a schoolbest 6-1 record against Big East confer-

ence opponents. Despite these impressive achievements, Parsley-Blocker puts a premium on first creating a culture where players will be motivated to give their all in order to glorify God with their talents.

“I think giving this generation of student athletes the ‘why’ behind what you’re doing creates buy-in, because if they understand that intuitively, I’ve found that they will follow me a lot of places,” Parsley-Blocker said.

“I don’t really think it works to just be like, ‘this is what you’re doing’ and ‘go.’ ... These kids want to understand the ‘why.’”

Joel Isimeme| Liberty News Service

SOLID — Parsley-Blocker led the Flames to a 13-6 record in the 2018 season.

Ryan Klinker| Liberty Champion

PURSUIT — Senior Tolen Avery closes in on the Norfolk State quarterback.

SPARTAN continued from B1 Norfolk State failed to gain any yards on their next drive and were forced to punt from the 22-yard line.

Liberty refused to give up its momentum, pushing the team into high gear when Matthews broke through the Spartans line and sprinted downfield for 43 yards, putting the Flames on the Spartan 17-yard line.

Matthews forced his way into the end zone a couple of plays later, diving over the Spartan line and into the end zone. Peart’s extra point brought the score to 24-3.

Both teams stalled for the next two drives, neither gaining any serious yardage.

Liberty broke loose after its punt, however, when freshman cornerback Javon Scruggs recovered the ball after another Spartan fumble.

The tension between the teams rose a few minutes later when a scuffle broke out near the Liberty bench between players from both teams.

“It was a little chippy early on,” senior defensive tackle Juwan Wells said. “I feel like the referees could have handled it a little better,

but at the end of the day, it’s football.”

The Flames took the ball home on another Matthews rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 31-3 with three minutes left in the half.

Norfolk State failed yet again to put any points on the board when redshirt junior safety Rion Davis picked off a pass and dodged between the Spartans for Liberty’s fifth touchdown.

The Spartans finally pulled their offense together at the end of the half and chalked up their first touchdown of the game on a ten-yard pass to receiver Justin Smith.

“They played very well in the first half, didn’t give up a whole lot of explosive plays,” Gill said. “They may have given up a couple in the second half, but I thought overall when they had to make plays they made plays.”

The second half kicked off after a final halftime performance from the Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band, with Norfolk State receiving the kickoff. The Spartans very quickly gave the ball up again when quarterback Juwan Carter was sacked for a loss of ten yards on third down.

The Flames plowed forward after Peters grabbed Carter’s second intercep-

Parsley-Blocker’s mentality of giving players a deeper motivation to succeed has drawn praise from her players. Jones said that Parsley-Blocker hosts Bible studies with the players and will hold impromptu conversations in her office if players want to talk about anything from improving their tactical game to discussing whatever is concerning them in their personal lives.

Junior outside-mid Merich Frizzell also believes that this approach of being a personable friend and an intense coach have been vital to the program’s success under Parsley-Blocker’s leadership.

Jessie Rogers | Liberty News Service “Coach Nikki is a very pas- POSITIVE — Parsley-Blocker remains consistently sionate, intense coach who optimistic. loves what she does,” FrizJones said. “I think her second year as a zell said. “If we need to have time to pray, she sets that time aside. But head coach she really was able to step up and at the same time that she is sensitive and make the changes from the previous year to cares about all of us, she’s very intense make us better this year on the field and off the field too.” on the field.”

Parsley-Blocker is equally excited This culture has created an atmosphere where the players and the team are thriving. about what the Lady Flames could acFour players earned spots on the All-Big East complish next year. She believes that the Team, and this group was highlighted by Of- Lady Flames’ ability to compete and defensive Player of the Year, senior forward feat some of the top schools in the country Agueda Moroni. This past season, the Lady and their desire to excel will yield positive Flames defeated four ranked opponents, fin- results in 2019.

“I think that (this year) is a great foundaished 15th in the final NCAA RPI ranking, and went to the Big East conference champi- tion that we laid to be able to move forward and not just do what we did this year but push onship for the third consecutive year.

Although the Lady Flames narrowly lost the boundaries even more.” Parsley-Blocker the game, 5-3, to the University of Con- said. “We’ve been in the finals of the Big East necticut and missed out on qualifying for the last three years, why not win it next year?” the national tournament, Jones is carrying a positive mindset heading into the offseason.

She is optimistic that the lessons that coaches and players learned from this season, as well as how Parsley-Blocker thrived in her position, will translate to greater success in the years to come.

“This season was definitely a big growing year as a step for us and her as a coach,” SIMMONS is a sports reporter.

POUNCE — Freshman Amarii Jenkins tackles a Norfolk State receiver.

Ryan Klinker| Liberty Champion

tion. The drive ended in cord at the end of the game, yard seasons, and Hickson continue to work hard and a sixth touchdown for as well as several stellar fin- earned a total of 1,032 yards continue to do the things the Flames, carried in by ishes from Calvert, junior to earn the 15th 1,000-yard we need to do to build the receiver Antonio Gandy- rushing season in Liberty’s brand,” Gill said. “Not only Matthews. history. the brand of the football Norfolk State refused to Golden, and Hickson.

Calvert became Liberty’s Liberty’s start was one team, but the brand of this give up, however, and clawed its way into the end zone for all-time touchdown leader of the better inaugural FBS university.” a second touchdown. Kicker with 65 career touchdown seasons, becoming the Josh Nardone’s successful passes with his completed ninth team in NCAA history extra point brought the score pass to Bollinger in the to win six or more games to 45-17. The touchdown fourth quarter. Gandy-Gold- during its first season at was their last scoring play of en became the second-wide the FBS level. receiver in school history to “We’ve got a long way BAKER is the sports the game.

Matthews helped the post two consecutive 1,000- to go, but we’re going to editor.

Flames earn their last touchdown of the game on the next drive, earning his fourth touchdown of the game.

“It meant a lot,” Matthews said.

“Obviously I’ve been trying to come back for weeks now, it just wasn’t the time.

For me to be able to come back against Norfolk State, a school that’s in my hometown, it was a big deal.

It feels great.”

The Flames wrapped up Ryan Klinker| Liberty Champion their season with a 6-6 re- SPEED — Redshirt junior running back Frankie Hickson rushed for 1,032 yards and 11 touchdowns.

feature

B6 | December 04, 2018 | Liberty Champion

A multitude of melodies

College of Osteopathic Medicine performs annual Christmas event Dec. 8 Virginia Peay vlpeay@liberty.edu

Nearly two years ago, Kristen and Christopher Breedlove of Liberty’s College of Osteopathic Medicine were pacing around the parking lot discussing ways to support a student whose family had experienced a tragic accident. The Osteopathic Merry Melodies quickly became the solution to their burdened hearts.

A Christmas event like none other, Osteopathic Merry Melodies is a talent show, comedy act and night of celebration where the staff and students come together outside of the classroom to enjoy a night of laughter. “(We wanted) something where LUCOM’s faculty and staff could be a blessing to the students, all of them, and specifically this one student,” Christopher Breedlove said.

With all the proceeds benefiting that stu-

“

dent in need, the Osteopathic Merry Melodies was a huge hit, although there were no plans for the event to become an annual show. After lots of encouragement, and little bit of begging from the students, the Breedloves decided that the show must go on.

Kristen Breedlove directs the show filled with performances by LUCOM’s faculty and staff. This year’s theme is a variety act with a

(The faculty and staff) put their hearts and souls into this place, and they have a lot of talent and it’s neat to bring out those talents.

— Kristen Breedlove Vaudeville twist.

“Before TV, people used to pay 10 cents and go into a theater and watch variety acts from the circus performers to the artisans, the musicians to the magicians, singers and acrobats, and I said, ‘Let’s do something

Caroline Cummings | Liberty news service

GIVE — The event was born when the Breedloves wanted to support a student and his family.

Caroline Cummings | Liberty news service

MERRY — The event features light-hearted, festive performances from faculty and staff. like that’,” Kristen Breedlove said. “We are incorporating a lot of Charlie Chaplin and 3 Stooges in to it with a very ambitious opening act.”

Osteopathic Merry Melodies has a bit of everything from a lighting crew and sound engineer and special effects to make this event the highlight of everyone’s year.

“We are bringing out all the stops this year,” Kristen Breedlove said. “It’s the real deal.”

The goal for all of the performers behind the show is to bring laughter and something to look forward for LUCOM as the semester grinds to a halt.

“Not only for the students is it really difficult to be at medical school, but it’s also very demanding for the faculty and staff,” Kristen Breedlove said. “They put their hearts and souls into LUCOM, and they have a lot of talent and it’s neat to bring out those talents and then laugh when it’s really needed or when stressed.”

The philosophy of osteopathic medicine is mind, body, mind and spirit, which the Breedloves explained was a huge factor for

continuing the show in the spirit of unity and community.

“We need to do this for the students,” Kristen Breedlove said. “We need to do it for their mind, body, spirit and wellness of the medical school. It’s not only wellness for the students, but the faculty and staff as well.”

Tickets will be sold at the door on Dec. 8 at the LaHaye Event Space or at LUCOM all this week for $5/ticket. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be outside the event space the night of the performance for pictures and the show will start at 6:30 p.m. During intermission show attendees can enjoy free cookies and hot chocolate.

“There are going to be students that don’t remember a certain exam or a standardized patient encounter, but they will remember Osteopathic Merry Melodies always,” Kristen Breedlove said.

PEAY is a feature reporter.

Rachel Mcclamroch | Liberty Champion

GLOW — This display on Churchill Street is one of many light displays in Lynchburg.

Lighting up LYH

The first laser program of its kind in Lynchburg

Lynchburg gears up for Christmas Rachel McClamroch rkmcclamroch@liberty.edu

It is the season for many things magical, including glittering Christmas lights displays.

The lights on Liberty campus have already been lit, but there are also many other places nearby to get your dose of awe or nostalgia.

Some are single family homes, such as 171 Churchill Road in Forest, or are businesses like Forest Automotive. Other large displays in neighboring towns may be worth the trip.

In Bedford that creativity is especially notable with the two well-known displays in town: Liberty Lake Park and the Elks Home Campus retirement home. Along with lights, both also use many painted wood cutouts that look like they were homemade and wellloved over the years.

Hand-painted signs bid visitors to drive slowly and remember the reason for the season, and cutout characters from classic Christmas cartoons smile at their audience.

At the century-old retirement home, the elk statue that poses outside the main entrance is recruited as a reindeer for the month, a lit sleigh slung up behind him.

For a more modern display of blazing technical prowess, there is a house about a 15- to 20-minute drive from Liberty’s campus, behind Rustburg Elementary School.

Turn down Webbs Way Drive to the back of the school parking lot and the place cannot be missed.

The house’s yard is lined with trees, hoops, snowflakes and giant piano keys of lights. A star is on the roof and a nativity scene and

cross stand close to the side. The owners, the Frazier family, have set up a radio frequency with Christmas music and synchronized their lights to flash, fade and change color in a dazzling light show.

In Lynchburg, the large drive-through display will be “A Celebration in Lights” in Riverside Park starting Dec. 7.

Rachel Smith is a programmer with Lynchburg Parks & Rec, which organizes the event. Many of the 30 individual displays are put together by Smith and her team, but others come from local businesses and organizations who want to contribute.

“We saw that Lynchburg didn’t really have a light display that was open throughout the month,” Smith said of how the festival began a few years ago. “So, we decided to take that on ourselves to create that for our community.”

The winding lane of lights is usually best viewed from a car, but there will be a pedestrian night Dec. 14 and a night of carriage rides and hot cocoa Dec. 20.

After seeing the local light extravaganzas from Bedford to Rustburg, Johnson said that her love for Christmas lighting came from nostalgia.

“My stress level significantly decreases when I see Christmas lights because I feel that you can’t help but feel joyful and happy,” Johnson said. “ … They kind of make me feel like a kid.”

MCCLAMROCH is a feature reporter.

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feature

Liberty Champion | December 04, 2018 | B7

Parade around the Hill City Annual Christmas parade gives community chance to get into the Christmas spirit Kharen Martinez kmartinez6@liberty.edu

It was a cloudy day in Lynchburg, yet Mary Shumate decided to take her family to Memorial Avenue where they gathered in the sideway with blankets and two chairs to watch the Lynchburg Christmas parade. As a firefighter, Shumate rarely participates in the event, but she was able to this year.

“I want the kids to get to see Santa,” Shumate said. “It is fun the get out here. You get to see every-

body, and it is so exciting to get in the Christmas spirit.”

The first Lynchburg Christmas parade was hosted in 1959 by the Lynchburg Jaycees, back when the route went through downtown Lynchburg, but as the city grew so did the parade. Now 60 years later, the community enjoys 90 floats parading down Memorial Avenue hosted by the Central Virginia Business Coalition.

“Hopefully it takes people back to their childhood,” Heather Alto, co-executive director for the central Virginia business coalition and

Macy Hrncir | Liberty Champion

MARCH —E.C. Glass High School students played for the audience.

the Lynchburg parade said. “Having a parade where you can see the different floats, the lights, and the people dressed up brings up a sense of enjoyment.”

There is space for everybody in the parade, from business to clowns, from Kuumba (traditional African dance) dancers to veterans and the traditional marching bands.

Businesses like Steph’s Bubbles & Bows, a local boutique for dogs, made a striking appearance at the parade. Their float included four bubble machines, and a group of dogs wearing Christmas outfits while they walked to the rhythm of the song “Who Let the Dogs Out.” “It is fun going out and socializing with the community,” Stephanie Witt, owner of Steph’s Bubbles & Bows said. “I wanted people to feel happy and to feel the holiday spirit while they enjoy the bubbles and the music, and I want to see a smile on their faces.”

For Alto, the parade is about having the community enjoying an event in which parents can bring their kids for free and people of any age can experience the holiday fun.

“This year the theme is home for the holidays,” Alto said. “We are hoping a lot of people will bring that home feeling into their floats

Macy Hrncir | Liberty Champion

SERVE — Lynchburg Sheriff Don Sloan made an appearance at the Lynchburg Parade.

Winterfest 2018 brings big artists

Macy Hrncir | Liberty Champion

WHOOF — Bubbles surround Steph’s Bubbles and Bow’s float. because a sense of community is the biggest purpose behind it.”

Alto said the community has changed a lot since the days of the first parade, but the parade is one of the things that keeps the essence of its purpose during the holidays, to bring a sense of togetherness.

“I like people to feel togetherness again,” Alto said. “Even if it is for that hour and a half, if you are there with your whole family, holding hands, or if you got your child on your shoulders, watching the parade, I want them to feel

togetherness.”

According to Alto, the parade is a perfect opportunity to take a break from the stress of life, especially during the holiday season “The parade is like a song,” Alto said. “You kind of forget your troubles for that moment and get involved in something that is fun for an hour and a half.”

MARTINEZ is a feature reporter.

Macy Hrncir | Liberty Champion

SING — Heritage Baptist Church’s float carried children as they sang through the parade.

Reindeer Run

TobyMac, Social Club Misfits, Liberty Worship Collective to perform Victoria McCoy vjmccoy1@liberty.edu

Join Liberty University Dec. 30 and 31 for a festive event to bring in the New Year.

Winterfest is Liberty’s annual festival filled with exciting artists, powerful speakers, performances and activities for all edges at Liberty’s Snowflex center. Performing artists include Liberty alumnus TobyMac, Christian rap duo Social Club Misfits, the Liberty Worship Collective and many more.

In addition to music, attendees can will hear sermons from speakers that will challenge them to step out in their faith and help prepare their hearts for the new year. The three main speakers include Evangelism professor for Liberty University and the Execu-

tive Director for the LU Shepherd’s Department Dr. David Wheeler, co-founder and executive director of Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters, Brody Holloway and Rick Gage, founder of evangelistic ministry GO TELL Ministries Liberty is also bringing in talented performers to entertain the audience. The two headlining performers for Winterfest are the Outcast BMX Crew who will dazzle the audience with their stunt tricks and illusionist, Lady Houdini.

For more information on ticket prices, session times or any other questions pertaining to Winterfest activities, visit www.liberty.edu/winterfest.

MCCOY is a feature reporter.

On the morning of Dec. 1, students and Lynchburg locals gathered to participate in a 2-mile run. To add a dash of Christmas spirit, Outdoor Recreation staff encouraged runners to come dressed in festive costumes.

Leah Stauffer | Liberty News service

JAM — Popular Christian artists will be performing in the Vines Center Dec. 30-31. .

Deanna Drogan | Liberty Champion

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B8 | December 04, 2018 | Liberty Champion

photo provided

photo provided

BEFORE —LU president Jerry Falwell Jr. was instrumental in the preservation and restoration of the theater. AFTER — The historic theater will open 60 years after closing in 1958.

Historic theater re-opens Academy of Music Theater reopens after being closed for more than 60 years

Esther Eaton eeaton@liberty.edu

The same year that Elvis Presley joined the Army and Eisenhower created NASA, the Historic Academy of Music Theatre closed its doors. But after 60 years of silence, the theater will re-open Thursday, Dec. 6, celebrating with a full schedule of events.

The evening of Dec. 6 will bring the historic theater to life with “In Unison: A Concert Evening” featuring Mavis Staples, gospel singer and civil rights activist, and Devon Gilfillian, known for his soulful music.

Just over a week before opening, the theater bustled with the final stages of construction. Workers painted trim, rigged the fly system and marked dings in marble walls with bits of green tape. Sawdust coated some patches of the purple carpet and rows of spotlights hung low over the stage.

“It’s been about 30 years since people started talking about the fact that we needed to do something with this building,” Academy marketing director Brittany Griffith said. “ … Three years of intense work, nonstop work — weekends, holidays, nights — has been able to restore this place.”

The plaster faces of lions and the muses, molded from casts of the original theater’s décor, presided over the rattle and clatter of construction. Rows of plush red seats lined the orchestra, boxes and balconies, ready for audiences to enjoy events including music, movies, dance, opera, and more.

The theater has completed a transformation from dilapidated memory to the glory of its 1912 heyday.

Griffith stood reviewing glossy season brochures near stacks of cardboard boxes and coiled cords in the new lobby. As she toured the theater, Griffith pointed out details such as the pit elevator in the stage, which can rise to extend the stage or sink to allow two more rows of seats.

To preserve the building’s history, the lobby was built in clean lines of cool grey and white from the wide concessions counter to the accessible elevators. Dark wood salvaged from the old theatre accents the grand staircase. Visitors who look up at the brick wall connecting to the theater may notice a set of green doors opening onto thin air in the lobby. Griffith said they were left to maintain the historic façade.

The theatre first opened in 1905, hosting performance legends like actress Mary

Christmas at Hydaway

Pickford and dancer Isadora Duncan. Community leaders rebuilt the theatre after a 1911 fire, making it a center of Lynchburg’s culture. It became a movie house in 1950, outlasting several area theatres, but closed amidst an economic downturn and was barely saved from demolition, according to the Academy of Fine Arts website. As the Academy Center of the Arts grew, so did efforts to restore the theater.

“The project had been sitting here for about thirty years,” Griffith said. “ … (The Academy raised) a million dollars here, a million dollars there. And then finally they ran a pretty big capital campaign that raised about $16 million, and then that was matched by tax credits.”

Liberty’s president Jerry Falwell Jr., a lover of local history, had a hand in the preservation of the historic theater.

While still in law school, Falwell convinced his father, Jerry Falwell Sr., and Liberty to buy the theater and renovate it, with the vision to make it a theater for the university. But Liberty was struggling financially, and the university passed the theater back to the previous owners, with the project still incomplete.

According to Falwell, Liberty donated

Taryn Azimov grew up in Bursa, Turkey where she lived 12 years. Since Turkey experiences all four seasons, she experienced many snowy winters and occasionally some snowy Christmas days. Though most Turkish people do not celebrate Christmas, that was where Azimov’s Christmas traditions were formed.

Twinkle lights, warm drinks doused with cinnamon and smiles filled with cheer around a warm room are only a few indications of the best season of all: Christmas.

While some may say it is not Christmas without snow — like my brother — others, like myself, say it’s not Christmas without snow on the mountain.

Uludağ (Oo-loo-daw), the mountain that surrounds Bursa (Boor-suh), is my favorite Christmas decoration. And the night before Christmas, tradition told us to never forget to sing “The Letters of Christmas”.

Each member in the Carvey’s, Yule’s and my own family would receive one letter written on a piece of paper, preserved for years. I was six years old when the letters were first made and I remember how it felt to learn the song for the first time.

As the letters got passed around I received “R”. We all sat close together in anticipation to begin singing, C! Christ Jesus has come from

Taryn Azimov| Liberty Champion

EASTON is a feature reporter.

Turkish Christmas Taryn Azimov telammi@liberty.edu

UP ON THE MOUNTAIN — Christmas was celebrated at Camp Hydaway with ornament making, lights, and Christmas desserts.

a “sizable amount” to the Academy Music Theatre years later to aid in the completion of the renovation.

“We’re just thrilled to see that it’s finally coming to life, and we think it’s going to be a real asset to (the) Liberty University community, and to the whole Lynchburg community as well,” Falwell said.

Opening week events include a holiday movie marathon Dec. 8, performances by the Academy’s five resident companies Dec. 11, “The Nutcracker” ballet Dec. 15, and Michael W. Smith Dec. 22. In February, Alluvion Stage Company will perform “The Will Rogers Follies” with student performers from Liberty University.

Ticket prices vary depending on event and seating, but with some events at $5, the Academy wants to welcome the entire community to experience the restored theater.

Griffith said the box office phone has been ringing constantly.

For more information and tickets, visit academycenter.org.

Heaven, H! The Holy I AM, I was next in line, and with a sense of pride I lifted my letter high in the air and along with everyone else sang, “R! Rejoice with the mighty angels … .” Joy emanated from each face in the room and bursts of energy were let out with each letter.

At 19, my family and the Carvey’s had Christmas in a log cabin on top of my favorite Christmas decoration, Uludağ.

The ground was covered in snow. We sat around the room with cheery smiles on our faces and warm drinks in our hands. The candles were lit in place of twinkle lights, and the warmth of the room filled everyone with the Christmas spirit. There was something missing though. It was music.

“Let’s sing the Letters of Christmas!”

Ayla and I suggested.

The guitar was not forgotten and neither were the letters – which were now even more worn. Once again we passed the papers around the room giving each person a letter. The memories of past Christmases filled my mind. In that moment, I realized this was the definition of Christmas. On the mountain, with my favorite people, singing our favorite song while teaching it to the next generation.

AZIMOV is the guest reporter.

Kerry P Lammi| Photo Provided

GATHER — The group sang Christmas songs while enjoying tea and desserts.

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Liberty Champion | December 04, 2018 | B9

Holly jolly LU Christmas

Liberty campus lights up for the Christmas season at annual tree lighting event Emily Wood ewood13@liberty.edu

Hundreds of shivering Liberty students gathered around the giant Christmas tree to officially usher in the 2018 Christmas season, with the annual Christmas tree lighting.

This year’s tree lighting was the first year holding the event on the Academic Lawn instead of in front of DeMoss Hall.

Christmas in Lights, presented

by Student Activities, gave the student body a dose of Christmas spirit to start the holiday festivities. The Christmas caroling, hot chocolate, pictures with Santa and Freedom Tower lit in Christmas colors made students feel like they were in a Hallmark movie. and put everyone in a holly jolly mood.

Liberty student Bethany Fowler requested to light the tree this 2018 Christmas season. After she counted down from five for the long-awaited tree lighting, hundreds of phones captured the special moment and the crowd erupted

in cheers when the tree finally glowed with thousands of sparkling lights.

President Jerry Falwell and Becki Falwell attended and Liberty Worship Collective’s Judd Harris performed a Christmas concert after the lighting. Harris shared a debut of his original song entitled, “Christmas Forever.” Local businesses such as Rookie’s Cookies,

“

a “home away from home” feeling since many students are experiencing their first holiday season away from home.

Harris recalls fond memories of the Christmas tree lighting during his time at Liberty because it was one of the first Liberty traditions he was a part of. He said that the Christmas tree lighting makes Liberty feel like so much more like

It’s a memory I’ll always remember. ... It’s fun gathering around as a big Liberty family and singing Christmas carols.

Nomad Coffee and Dawn & Dusk Donuts provided refreshments.

Becki Falwell began the lighting of the Christmas tree tradition nine years ago to provide students with

Deanna Drogan | Liberty Champion

ST. NICK — Students posed together with Santa Claus.

— Madeline Johnson home and not just a university.

Liberty University choirs from the School of Music stood on the Montview steps and led in fun and festive carols like “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph” and “Joy to the World” to help make spirits bright.

School of Music student and choir member, Madeline Johnson, said that it was special just to be a part of the Christmas tree lighting.

“It’s a memory I’ll always remember,” Johnson said. “It’s fun gathering around as a big Liberty family and signing Christmas carols.”

Johnson encouraged students to continue in the Christmas festivities by coming out to the School of Music’s Christmas on the Boulevard concerts, beginning Dec. 3.

Johnson also said she absolutely believes that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

What also makes the tree lighting so special is that it provides a brief respite during the busyness of the week leading up to final exams,

Natalie Aidar| Liberty Champion

FIRST — For the first year, the Christmas in Lights ceremony took place on the Academic Lawn.

On the Boulevard

Hosted by the Liberty University School of Music, Christmas on the Boulevard is an annual event featuring the music of the Christmas season. The concert showcases the talent of the Liberty student ensembles while sharing the birth story of Christ through music.

Lydia Poindexter | Liberty Champion

BUNDLED UP — Students braved the cold to see the Christmas tree lit for the first night of the Christmas season at Liberty. as the semester ends.

During the “most wonderful time of the year,” it is possible to become overwhelmed by less-thanwonderful situations. One thing that Harris hopes Liberty students bring into the holiday season is that there is so much to be thankful for, even in hardship. In its purest form, Christmas is a celebration of Christ and the Gospel, Harris said.

“Remember this season as a time for reflection on what Christ has

done for us,” Harris said. “Let that carry over to our hearts in a thankful spirit, that we can serve others in that way as well.”

Christmas in Lights is only the beginning of Liberty’s holiday season. Find out how you can get into the Christmas Spirit, by checking out the upcoming events hosted by Student Activities.

WOOD is a feature reporter.

Lydia Poindexter | Liberty Champion

CAPTURE — Students were ready with their phones to capture the moment the tree was lit.

Showtimes Christmas on the Boulevard: Christmas Ornaments December 4, 7:30 p.m.

Christmas on the Boulevard: Amahl and the Night Visitors December 6, 7:30 p.m.

Christmas on the Boulevard: President’s Encore Performance (Sold Out) December 7, 7:30 p.m.

Center for Music and the Worship Arts, Concert Hall Tickets available through tickets.liberty.edu

photos from the 2016 performances

Nathan Spencer| Liberty news service

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December 04, 2018

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion

JOLLY — Students performed Christmas hits and classics beginning a half-hour from midnight and continued to delight the audience well into the next morning.

Coffeehouse The North pole

Santa Claus comes to Vines Annual Christmas Coffeehouse packs out Vines Center with performances

Olivia Deloglos odeloglos@liberty.edu

Lights dimmed in the packed-out Vines Center at 11:30 p.m. Nov. 30 as students waited in anticipation for the annual Christmas Coffeehouse. The audience was filled with tacky sweaters and festive pajama sets. Landon Swain, a sophomore at Liberty, was the host for the second year in a row and greeted the awaiting students.

“Welcome to Christmas Coffeehouse! Merry Christmas you filthy animals!” Swain said, quoting “Home Alone 2.”

The show kicked off with a full brass band and throughout the night many classic Christmas songs were performed, broken up by humorous short films submitted by students.

As Swain explained, during finals week, students find very little time to relax and enjoy the holiday spirit – Christmas Coffeehouse gives them an opportunity to do this each winter.

“Student Activities is proud to put on Coffeehouse,” Swain said. “We’ve felt like the elves in Santa’s workshop working on the backdrops for Coffeehouse.”

While Student Activities takes care of the decorations and

performances, the Event Productions department makes sure the lights, videos and music run smoothly. Shane Mullet works in the department and explained that Coffeehouse is a major collaboration between Student Activities and Event Production that is months in the making.

“The part I personally love about Coffeehouse is the amount of artistic freedom we as designers are given,” Mullet said.

Students got to see the culmination of these creative efforts at Coffeehouse, where they took festive pictures with their friends and stayed out way past curfew. Getting the opportunity to perform on stage in front of the entire school or have your film shown to all your peers is quite an accomplishment. Hailey Gustafson, a representative for Student Activities, explained that between 25 and 70 acts audition for each Coffeehouse, and only the best are chosen.

“Performers are critiqued on their performance in different categories, ranging from vocals to stage presence to song choice to theme relevance,” Gustafson said.

This means that the students who attend are treated to some of their most talented and exuberant peers. Singers, dancers and musicians shared their talents on stage, and the Student Activities team also revealed that artists like Bethel

and Drew and Ellie Holcomb would be coming to Liberty next semester. Gustafson explained that it takes many people collaborating to pull this elaborate event off.

“Our entire Student Activities team is involved in the planning process. This includes five full-time employees, three event supervisors, 15 event staff and four marketers,” Gustafson said.

With months of planning and preparation coming to fruition in one night, it is clear that Christmas Coffeehouse is a labor of love. Swain explained that the entire Student Activities team is passionate about bringing fresh and exciting events to students at Liberty. In his opinion, among the stresses of academic life, it is important to find time to laugh and relax, too.

“Our main responsibility is bringing students together and making community,” Swain said with a laugh. “And I’m so excited that it’s now legal to listen to Christmas music again.”

DELOGLOS is a feature reporter.