‘Spirit of Broadway’ takes the stage in the Tower Theater
Flames football defeats Troy in 22-16 win.
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VOLUME 36, ISSUE 5
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
LIBERTYCHAMPION.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 | LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Loss of a leader
bringing hope to a battlefield
Ryan Klinker rmklinker@liberty.edu
Dr. Harold L. Willmington, Liberty’s longest-serving faculty member and a notable leader in the field of biblical studies, died at age 87 Monday, Oct. 15, following his battle with cancer. Willmington will leave a lasting legacy because of the decades he spent WILLMINGTON creating accessible and in-depth study tools for those seeking to delve deeper into scripture. With over 20 editions of his Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, years spent teaching in what is now The Willmington School of the Bible, and Project SWORD — Scripture Wisdom Organized and Rightly Divided — Willmington worked tirelessly to bring the intricacies of God’s Word to those who have a hunger to consume it. He is survived by his wife Sue, his son Matthew and other family. Online at liberty.edu/champion you can read a profile of Dr. Willmington’s life in the Nov. 7, 2017 issue.
Counting the cost for Christ
Allison Heise | Liberty Champion
WHAT’S
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Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who had been detained in Turkey since 2016, was released from custody Oct. 12 after the Trump administration imposed economic sanctions on Turkey. Ramp Church International will be meeting in the octagonal sanctuary at 701 Thomas Road, which has not held a weekly church service since Thomas Road Baptist Church moved to a larger location in 2006. Liberty University students started Ramp Church in 2005, and the church moved six times prior to landing its current home on Thomas Road.
HOSPITAL VISIT — Liberty was the first college campus that the Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospital was set up at.
Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion
Graham comes to GFW Convo Field hospital helps thousands Rachel Van Tuyl rvantuyl@liberty.edu
Franklin Graham challenged Liberty students at Convocation Wednesday, Oct. 10, to make their lives count by following Christ, no matter the cost. Graham, president and CEO of both Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said many people follow Jesus “at a distance” — when things are going well, they follow him, but when things are not going well, they disappear. Graham emphasized the importance of “picking up one’s cross” and following Christ without looking back and without making
excuses. “There’s a cost for (following Christ),” Graham said. “He’s got to be first in your life.” The cost, Graham said, is that Christians must be willing to give up everything for Christ. “We live in a world where it is less and less popular to be a Christian,” Graham said. “The world is going to hate you if you stand for Christ, and we can’t compromise. If the world pats you on the back, there’s something wrong with the way you’re living.” Graham used the emergency field hospitals set up by Samaritan’s Purse as an example of the cost that is sometimes required of Christians. See GRAHAM, A3
Lillian Abbatacola leabbatacola@liberty.edu
When evangelist Franklin Graham inspired the Convocation crowd Oct. 10 to use their education for Christ and to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, he spoke from experience. Graham, the president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse International, went to what seemed like the end of the earth last year when he and his team went to Mosul, Iraq, and set up an Emergency Field Hospital outside the war-torn city. In the Plains of Nineveh, a suburb of Mosul, Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospital staff
served faithfully for nine months, from Christmas Day 2016 to September 2017, during the greatest war Mosul had seen in generations. “The stress of war is incredible,” Graham said. The Iraqi government, aided by international forces, pushed 30,000 soldiers into Mosul to retake the city from the 6,000 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters. While the attack was against ISIS, the civilian population of Mosul took the brunt of the war. The Associated Press reported that between 9,000 and 11,000 civilian lives were lost in the Battle of Mosul (Oct. 2016July 2017). See HOSPITAL, A7
Heartfelt experience brings relief President Falwell shares story of heart surgery with new technology Heartstitch Bethany Kocik bckocik@liberty.edu
Becki Falwell cried alone in a northern Virginia hospital waiting room as her husband underwent heart surgery. Her husband, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, had been suffering from migraines since his teen years and in 2016 suffered two minor strokes, which left no lasting damage. “At that time, (the doctors) found the hole (in my heart) in Lynchburg, but they said it was too small to have caused a stroke,” President Falwell said. “They did every test imaginable,
and so it was kind of scary for two years living without knowing what caused the strokes because otherwise, I was completely healthy.” In May of 2018, Dr. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon and the U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, addressed Liberty University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine’s first graduating class. While having a conversation with President Falwell after the event, Carson expressed to Falwell he had no doubt the strokes were caused by the hole his heart. “It was such a relief to find out what the cause was when I was talking with Ben
Carson after graduation in May, when he told me that was absolutely the cause,” President Falwell said. “He had just the right person to fix it. It was such a relief to learn that information.” Carson put President Falwell in touch with the inventor of a product called Heartstitch that allows surgeons to fix holes in patients’ hearts that would otherwise be considered too small to fix with traditional and more invasive practices.
Joel Coleman | Liberty News Service
See HEART, A2
HEART — Candy and Ben Carson with Jerry and Becki Falwell at graduation in May 2018.
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A2 | October 16, 2018 | Liberty Champion
Billion dollar baby Report reveals extent of Liberty’s impact Will Evans wjevans@liberty.edu
One billion dollars. That’s about how much money Liberty University creates for the Lynchburg economy every year, according to an impact report by Magnum Economics.
to over $280 million. “Every community needs a major employer to uplift the economy,” Vice President of Liberty’s Office of Outreach and Business Engagement Jonathan Whitt said. “We’re directly creating jobs, but because of our growth … we are indirectly creating even more
and tourism program for the region,” Whitt said. “We’re really driving the growth in the sports, entertainment and outdoor living tourism.” In the statistic for total direct impact, the spending of associated enterprises and healthcare spending were also considered. Together,
Photo Provided
BIG SPENDER — Magnum Economics reported LU salary and wages accounted for 39 percent of 20162017 spending .
The report, which analyzed statistics from the 20162017 school year, found that Liberty generated over $1 billion in economic activity for the region through spending. “Liberty University’s growth and their significant economic impact in Lynchburg … make them a primary anchor and partner for the City of Lynchburg,” Marketing Coordinator for the Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and Tourism Krista Boothby said in a News & Advance article. In terms of regional spending, the amount of money the school physically puts into the economy, Liberty was directly responsible for contributing $618.3 million, according to the report. Of that number, $54.8 million (9 percent) was spent by the university on goods and services from local businesses. This includes food, cleaning supplies and even furniture. A larger portion — 39 percent — totaling $240.6 million was paid out in wages and salaries to over 6,000 Liberty employees in the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area. In addition, the ripple effect of that spending supports an equivalent of over 1,000 full-time jobs (35 hours or more a week), bringing the total economic impact
jobs in the community.” Liberty’s mass construction has also taken up a good chunk of Liberty’s spending, with an estimated $176.1 million (28 percent) spent on construction costs for the 2016-2017 school year. That is not including newer projects like the School of Business building. “It’s been good for the local contractors,” Whitt said, “We really spread the work around and don’t sole source everything ... which has been a blessing to the construction and trade industry here.” Liberty uses multiple different contract companies to “spread out” the work and give many business opportunities to the construction companies in the area. Liberty also generates tourism activity through its students and visitors. During the time of study, students spent an estimated $82.6 million (13 percent) in Lynchburg. Visitors of the campus, such as parents and prospective students, spent an estimated $31.2 million (5 percent). For example, Boothby said her office worked closely with Liberty to market the Virginia Commonwealth Games, an event which generated an economic impact of $2.6 million last year. “I would say that Liberty is a top reason there is a travel
they made up about 6 percent of total spending at around $33 million. Altogether, this spending creates a ripple effect, or what the report calls a “second round indirect effect.” An example of this would be when a Liberty employee spends their income on something for themselves, putting that money back into the economy. “Think about a dollar that stays in your community … That dollar circulates around and creates a multiplier effect,” Whitt said. By measuring these multiplier effects, Magnum Economic estimated the total economic impact of Liberty University on Lynchburg to be over $1.3 billion. “Liberty’s spending on infrastructure, salaries and the spending by its students fuels the need for construction workers, restaurant and retail staff, other service workers, etc.,” Boothby said. “This is precisely the definition of indirect economic impact.” For more detailed information, check out the economic report at https://www.liberty.edu/media/1102/Liberty-2018-Economic-ImpactReport.pdf
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Joel Coleman | Liberty News Service
CARDIO — Dr. Ben Carson, former POTUS Jimmy Carter and President Falwell stood to pray during the 2018 Commencement.
CO N VO CAT I O N Lynchburg S C H E D U L E Daily Bread For King & Country Boys & Girls Club
10.17.18
Brandon Boykin & Coffey Anderson
10/20 - Homecoming Tailgate 10:00 a.m. | Montview Lawn 10/20 - Homecoming Parade 11:15 a.m. | University Blvd.
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CORRECTION The numbers were incorrect in the Student Mental Health story in the Oct. 2 issue. Counseling Services saw 1,564 individual students last year, and a total of 8,380 appointments were completed with those students. From the first day of classes this se-
10/29 - Sodexo Produce Stand 10:00 a.m. | Montview Student Union Tabling - Argo Tea CONCERTS
10.19.18
EVANS is a content reporter.
10/16 - Student Concert: Hope Cross 8:00 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 10/16 - Engineering & IT Career Fair 1:00 p.m. | Montview Student Union - Career Center - 2500 10/17 - Seize the Sweaty: Guy’s Night 9:30 p.m. | LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center Basketball Court 10/19 - Homecoming Bonfire 7:00 p.m. | Zone 4 Parking Lot
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
tic relief, and Jerry … was just fine,” Becki Falwell said. President Falwell recovered quickly from his procedure and is hopeful for how the procedure will transform the field of medicine. He also
Anthony Nobles, founder and CEO of Heartstitch invented the device, along with other medical devices. “We’d been talking about it all summer, but (in early September) my hands were sort of It’s nice to not have to worry about tingling for a week or so,” President Falwell getting migraine headaches anymore. ... said. “I told the inventor about it and he said, I’m really blessed. ‘No, no, no. We’ve got to get this done — Jerry Falwell right now.’” Within three days of speaking with Nobles, he knows he’s going to hopes that the attention the Falwells flew to Fair- be around a lot longer,” he is getting from expefax, Virginia, where they Becki Falwell said. “For riencing this new promet with the surgeon me, I was worried, upset cedure will help spread the word and benefit who would perform the and praying a lot.” President Falwell fo- even more people than it procedure — Dr. Jim Thompson, a pediatric cused on the positive already had. sides of the procedure, “It’s nice to not have cardiologist. Thompson made the which kept him from be- to worry about getting decision to perform the ing worried about the migraine headaches anymore,” President Falwell surgery during the Fal- possible complications. “(Jerry) was more fo- said. “I don’t get as windwells’ inaugural trip to see him. Thompson cused on the positive part ed at the gym as I used to briefed the Falwells on all of not having migraines because all the blood’s goaspects of the procedure, and the strokes,” Becki ing to my lungs now like it’s supposed to. It’s not which informed them, but Falwell said. Becki Falwell contin- leaking through the hole. also created worry. “So, at one point, he ued to worry while she … I’m really blessed.” just spouted out all the waited for an update from complications (including) the doctor on her husdeath. ‘You could bleed band’s wellbeing. “When the docout,’ (he said.) ‘We could have to rip your heart tor came back out and open and all that,’” Becki told me everything was KOCIK is a copy Falwell said. “I was the fine, it was just a gigan- editor.
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only one in the family that heard all that.” President Falwell worked to ensure his three children would not worry while he was undergoing this new procedure. “He doesn’t worry as much as I do because
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mester through the end of September, 804 appointments were made by 370 students. Correction made with the advice of Michael Trexler, Director of Student Counseling Services.
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Liberty Champion | October 16, 2018 | A3
Accessible education for all
First-of-its-kind scholarship helps lessen the divide between different income levels Rachel Van Tuyl rvantuyl@liberty.edu
$18,000 a year. The EFC is calculated through the FAFSA, which looks at savings, income, wages and other financial factors. Ritz said that, while some families may not feel like their
Ritz explained the scholarship was started because there was a gap between lowincome families and high-income families. Students from low-income families receive Pell Grants totaling $6,095 to help with
Liberty University is helping more students afford college by offering the Middle America Scholarship (MAS) to new resident undergraduate students starting Fall 2019. The MAS is unique, because Liberty is the first school to offer a scholarship of this kind. The scholarship is designed to give students from middle-income families a scholarship to equal the amount of the Federal Pell Grant, which offers qualifying students up to $6,095 a year. “It’s not federal Pell money, but it’s almost like we’re guaranteeing that students will get full Pell,” Executive Vice President of Finance Robert Ritz said. To qualify for the scholarship, students must be full-time, freshmen, undergraduate, residential students. They also need to have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $18,000 or less. According to Ritz, the program is currently only for incoming students, but will most likely be ex- DEMOGRAPHICS — While about 51 percent of applicants from low-income families and 63 percent of panded to include returning students as Fall applicants from high-income families attend Liberty, only about 40 percent of applicants from middle-income families attend Liberty. 2019 freshman progress into future years. “We’ve increased the aid a couple times in the past, but this is a big, new leap into need- EFC accurately reflects their financial situ- their education, while high-income families ation, it is a general number that offers a are more likely to afford education costs. based aid for families,” Ritz said. But middle-income families, who often Ritz said the program was designed for snapshot. According to Ritz, the scholarship is not make too much to qualify for Pell Grants, families earning approximately $35,000 to $95,000 per year. However, the range for students with a higher EFC, since Lib- often struggle to comfortably cover educawill vary, depending on each family. For erty is already getting students with a higher tion costs. According to Ritz, if students with no example, the EFC of a three-person family EFC, at about 63 percent of students who EFC applies to Liberty, about 49 to 51 perearning $50,000 a year would look very dif- have filled out an application. If a student qualifies for it their fresh- cent end up coming to Liberty, because they ferent from the EFC of a seven-person family with the same annual income. The decid- man year, they will continue to receive the will receive help with need-based funds like ing factor in a student’s eligibility for the scholarship throughout their remaining the federal Pell Grants. On the other end, about 63 percent of students with a very MAS is whether or not their EFC is below college years. GRAHAM from A1 In the evening of Oct. 8, hundreds of students attended an event in which they heard from the medical staff who served in the emergency field hospital in Iraq. Doctors and nurses spoke about challenges they faced while working in Iraq during and following the battle to reclaim Mosul from ISIS.
“We were there in the name of Jesus,” Graham said. “I wanted these Muslims to know there is a God who loves them. I want them to know that God cares for them, that he sent his son from heaven to this earth to take our sins.” He challenged students to use their education for Christ after they graduate. “Use this education to take the gospel to the ends of the earth,”
Graham said. “Use this education to tell a dying world that’s going to hell that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but should have everlasting life.” Graham emphasized the blessings that result from listening to God. “When you obey God’s voice, the blessings that he pours
high EFC end up coming to Liberty. However, Ritz said that only about 40 percent of middle-income students end up coming to Liberty, and this is because they have little, if any, federal need-based aid. The MAS program is expected to cost a total of about $17.3 million for the class of 2023, which is expected to consist of approximately 1,600 students. “We have to ease into it over the years, because this number will grow,” Ritz said. “This is only one group of students going through for four years. … We have to make sure this is successful, and that this money really helps families afford Liberty.” As the scholarship is currently only available to incoming freshmen, not every student will qualify for it. Ritz offered a few tips for returning students and students whose families’ EFCs are above the threshold. He said doing little things, such as looking for cheaper housing and meal plans, can add up. He also advised students to not overlook work study programs, which can help cover miscellaneous expenses such as books. Ritz said an added benefit of work study programs is that unlike off-campus jobs, the money earned from work study does not count toward a student’s EFC during the subsequent academic year. More information about the MAS can be found at https://www.liberty.edu/ f inanceadmin/studentf inances/index. cfm?PID=40752. VAN TUYL is the assistant content editor.
out on you (are) incredible,” Graham said. Convocation also honored Dr. Wallace Turnbull, a missionary to Haiti, who was awarded the first ever Liberty Global Awareness Award. Because of Turnbull’s lifetime dedication to the island of Haiti, 20 percent of 146,000 native students are enrolled in Christian education.
“It’s not me, it’s the Lord. I just acted, and he used it,” Turnbull said. After Convocation, Graham and Falwell toured the Emergency Field Hospital set up on the northern end of the Academic Lawn. VAN TUYL is the assistant content editor.
OPINION iPhone excess A4
October 16, 2018
The new iPhone is too big and too expensive
Google Images BIGGEST EVER — With a 6.5-inch screen, the iPhone XS Max is the largest iPhone created. Mikaela Stiner mstiner@liberty.edu
Two reasons I will not purchase the new iPhone XS Max: the massive size and the four-digit price tag attached to it. In promotion of their newest series of iPhones, Apple’s website declares, “Welcome to the big screens.” But have we not already achieved the big screens? When the iPhone 6 Plus premiered in 2014, featuring a 5.5-inch screen, people joked that by following the trend, the next iPhone would be absurdly, comically large — prompting memes featuring people holding iPads up to their ears like a phone or fake holster-type products supposedly created for carrying an iPhone too large for standard-size pockets. On Sept. 24, the iPhone
XS Max was released, featuring a stunning Super Retina HD display — a September 2018 review on The Verge called it “the brightest, sharpest, most color-accurate display Apple has ever produced” — on a 6.5-inch screen. This newest iPhone, the XS Max, has a screen less than 1.5 inches smaller than the screen on the most recent iPad mini — the iPad mini 4, which hasn’t been updated in more than three years. In a review published Oct. 10, one Macworld reviewer noted that the size of the new iPhone actually has him reaching for his iPad less. While there are some features that still distinguish the iPhone from the iPad, “the iPhone XS Max robs the iPad of some of its enchantment.” Admittedly, the last iPhone
I owned was the iPhone 5s, a hand-me-down from a coworker who took pity on me after witnessing my primitive Motorola smartphone with its shattered screen. Despite acquiring the phone a couple years past its prime, the 2013 iPhone’s humble 4-inch screen served me well. The fact is, I’m not a huge movie-watcher — at least not on my phone — or gamer, so the idea of carrying around a bigger phone seems more inconvenient. While larger screens do have benefits — reading and viewing media is more enjoyable, and writing emails and other productivity-related tasks can usually be completed more efficiently on a bigger screen — there are also practical downsides. Taking notes, editing photos or propping the phone on a wireless charger to watch YouTube videos on a screen big enough to capture the details are appealing aspects of the supersized device. But consumers lose the ability to slip their phone in pocket, comfortably hold it in one hand to text and scroll, or strap it on their arm with a sports band to go for a jog. As Turkish novelist and playwright Mehmet Murat Ildan said, “Small is big for the smaller!” To switch that saying around, perhaps big is small for those bigger than me, as it applies to handheld devices.
So ultimately, the size is a “me” thing, and others can justifiably disagree. But there’s no way that the cost of the iPhone XS Max is just a me thing. The model with the smallest storage capacity — 64 GB — costs $1,099. CNET’s review of the iPhone XS Max review was fittingly subtitled, “Gigantic-screen phone for a gigantic price.” The price of the new XS Max is even higher than Wall Street expected, according to CNBC. $1,099 is more than some of my friends paid for their first car. It’s almost as much as I paid for my MacBook Pro laptop. It’s more than twice as much as I paid for the Samsung Galaxy S9, the phone with which I am currently well-pleased. It’s too high a price for me, and for many others, I would assume. For all the perks that the newest iPhone has to offer, the physical and financial aspects are enough to make me pause. And while there are plenty of Apple die-hards who will grab at this newest gadget, I’m sure I’m not the only one who will be saving my pennies.
STINER is an opinion writer.
Secularizing religion The Catholic Church has partnered with an atheistic nation Kacey Huffty khuffty@liberty.edu
The Catholic Church is no stranger to the innerworkings of religion and politics. At the height of the Roman empire, the office of the pope held nearly as much power as the political powers. The ability to appoint kings rested at their feet and the reach of the Vatican’s power was vast; penultimate only to God. Slowly, the papacy lost some of that power, but now Pope Francis is hoping to create a new political alliance. In September, the Vatican conceded some of its power to an atheistic communist state in a historic agreement regarding the nomination of bishops in the church, according to BBC. The provisional agreement allows the Chinese government to appoint bishops in the Chinese Catholic Church and legitimizes statesanctioned Catholicism in China by creating ties with the Vatican. Moving forward, the Catholic Church is required to receive approval from the Communist Party to appoint bishops in China. The Vatican has handcuffed itself to a government that has had a long, hostile relationship with Christianity. Furthermore, this comes at a time when U.S. officials on both sides of the aisle have spoken out against China’s increasing crackdown on religious liberty. Earlier this month, Vice President Mike Pence said that “When it comes to religious freedom, a new wave of persecution is crashing down on Chinese Christians, Buddhists,
and Muslims. On the surface, the agreement is a step in the right direction. It increases Chinese exposure to Christianity, which is desperately needed in a nation with one-seventh of the world’s population, but only seven percent who would identify as religious, according to a 2015 Gallup poll. Additionally, it seems to further religious freedom for Christians in China. “It is not political but pastoral, allowing the faithGoogle Images ful to have bishops who are in communion with Rome BISHOP APPOINTMENT — The Chinese government will appoint but at the same time rec- bishops in the church, while Pope Francis will have veto power. ognized by Chinese authorities,” Vatican spokes- fies this mindset. “We have ports of imprisoned pastors, person Greg Burke said, to remember first of all we Bible burnings and destrucaccording to NBC. are a citizen of this coun- tion of crosses at churches in However, while China al- try,” he said, according to China grabbed U.S. congreslows religious freedom, it BBC. “And we are citizens sional attention, according comes with a caveat in the of the Kingdom of God. That to The Hill. Constitution of the People’s comes second.” Though there will be CaRepublic of China, which The Vatican does have veto tholicism in an official castates that they only protect power over who the Chinese pacity partnered with the “normal religious activity.” government nominates, but Vatican, unofficial home The Chinese government it is fair to ask if those ve- churches, other denominamust approve the activity and toes have any real power. As tions of Christianity and the place of worship must the Guardian puts it, “Any other minority religions are register for the religious bishop that is put forward by more at risk now than ever. freedom to be protected. Beijing will almost certainly This partnership is govThe underground churches be thoroughly vetted to en- ernmental control disguised in China that have not regis- sure that no matter who is as religious freedom. The tered with the official Catho- selected, their allegiance will officially atheistic governlic church are not protected. be first and foremost to the ment can effectively control Intertwining Christianity Chinese Communist Party.” what it could not drive out. with communism hurts the Perhaps just as con- As Forbes explains, “New gospel. Religion becomes a cerning is by allowing the Regulations on Religious means to an end, rather than partnership, the Vatican Affairs, instituted this Feba life-changing encounter is putting on blinders to ruary, represented an extenwith Christ. State-appointed China’s ongoing problem of sion of the party’s attempts leaders have no real adher- religious persecution. to Sinicize religious pracence to the gospel, just a A recent report by the tice — essentially an effort to nonsensical version that Human Rights Watch esti- secularize religion so that it furthers the objectives of mates as many as a million serves the party’s ends.” the government. Muslims are held in religious Pastor Wu Weiqing, senior ‘re-education’ camps. And pastor of Beijing’s there has been an uptick in HUFFTY is an Haidian Church, exempli- protestant persecution. Re- opinion writer.
LIFE WITH
LOGAN Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu
Kanye West appeared thrillingly flamboyant during his meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office Thursday, Oct. 11, so there’s no denying the popular hip-hop artist and shoe entrepreneur is officially, conservatively “woke.” During the meeting, amidst dozens of reporters and photographers, West didn’t waver from his true self. His mind, evidently dashing at 100 mph (similar to his music), bounced from Trump’s successful policies, to Airforce One, and even to alternate universes, all the while donning a red “Make America Great Again” hat. Though obscure, West’s 10-minute rant evoked sparks of wisdom. I don’t blame Kanye’s excitement. Since the 1948 election, African-Americans have voted overwhelmingly for the Democratic Party. In July of that year, President Harry S. Truman, a Democrat, signed Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the Armed Forces. And, it was the Democratic Party of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson (and Congress) in the 1960s that produced the Civil Rights Acts. So it is not without reason that AfricanAmericans have viewed the Democratic Party as their natural home. However, a question remains: Does the Democratic Party still deserve unflinching support, to the tune of 9010 voting margins? I would argue, no. People should never blindly yield to politicians. According to The Independent, during Barack Obama’s speech at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in 2016 — two months prior to Trump’s victory — the former POTUS said it would be a personal insult to his legacy if the black community voted for Trump. President Obama, like many liberal politicians, used race to encourage voting. When black conservative political commentator Candace Owens visited Liberty University’s Convocation Sept. 26, she voiced her concerns, explaining how liberals frequently promote the “victim mentality.” So as expected, waves of criticism hailed from the narrow-minded, liberal entertainment industry after West voiced his support for Trump, yet the hip-hop star remained unmoved. Kanye’s fearless political stance and electrifying composure in the Oval Office demonstrates his willingness to fight against the political norm, and that’s very refreshing. During the Oval Office meeting, the words that resonated the most didn’t come from the leader of the free world. They came from the Chicago native sitting across from Trump. “People expect that if you’re black, you have to be a Democrat,” West said. “The liberals try to control a black person through the concept of racism, because they know we are a very proud and emotional people.” These words expose the true nature of progressive branding and identity politics. Democrats have simplified many national problems to racist, sexist, xenophobic or a subcategory of the three. This oversimplification negates all possibility for critical thinking. It’s clear the term “liberal” no longer echoes its true meaning. For the Democratic Party, symbolism and identity politics have taken precedence over substance and open-mindedness. The biggest take away from the Oval Office meeting mirrors my original point: Neither party should exploit gender, ethnicity, religion or skin color to obtain votes. Each person should think critically for himself. That is why I’m thrilled Kanye West is breaking the political mold and voicing support for our president. SMITH is the manager of content.
opinion
Liberty Champion | October 16, 2018 | A5
Spider-Man experience With stunning graphics and an open map, the new Spider-Man game is the best yet Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu
The character of Peter Parker fills a special place in my heart. In a lot of ways, he and I relate. Spider-Man is the most unique and beloved character in Marvel history. The new Spider-Man video game brought my superhero to life like never before, and it personalized the experience unlike anything before. For the first time, I truly felt like Spider-Man. The long wait for the new “Marvel’s Spider-Man” video game officially ended Sept. 7, 2018. The excitement resulted in 3.3 million copies sold within the first three days, and it was the most-downloaded PlayStation 4 game in September, according to playstation.com. Like previous Spider-Man video games, the new installment features a vibrant Manhattan map, packed with crime, collectibles and enormous skyscrapers. The game’s versatility and lively, open world speaks to its credentials as the best Spider-Man game ever, and arguably one of the best games of the year. IGN Entertainment, a video game and media website, rated the game 8.7 out of 10, a score edging the line of greatness. Swinging from building to building — Spider-Man’s primary means for transportation and one of the most crucial in-game mechanics — felt dauntingly realis-
tic. Though it took a few minutes to master the controls, swinging eventually became a graceful, fun experience. Unlike the old games where onthe-ground combat consisted of random button pressing resulting in obscure punches and kicks, this new game integrates a variety of web gadgets, combos and interactive elements to help Spider-Man tackle his foes. Exploring the open world and diving off tall buildings proved exhilarating on its own. You do not need to conquer the campaign or wrestle through side missions to enjoy your experience. Even without the main mission, the game would still be worth its $60 price tag. Insomniac, the creators, executed the story well. Unlike some of the previous Spider-Man games, this one begins years after Peter Parker realizes his spider-like attributes. Mary Jane Watson, fully aware of Parker’s identity, holds a secure journalism job. Parker works with Otto Octavius as a laboratory assistant, and through it all, our protagonist struggles to cope with his double life as a young working adult and the superhero of New York City. Nostalgia plays an important role throughout the game. Familiar villains like Rhino, Vulture, Black Cat, Shocker and Norman Osborne all make appearances. Even the Avengers Tower stands tall amidst the jungle of skyscrapers. The creators even brought a
fresh cast to the table, including Yuri Lowenthal as the voice of Spider-Man, Laura Bailey as Mary Jane Watson and Nadji Jeter as Miles Morales, who also voiced in the ground-breaking PlayStation phenomenon, “The Last of Us.” Insomniac did a good job separating this stand-alone SpiderMan game from the Avengers movies. Although the Avenger’s Tower occupies a section in Manhattan, it is only present for nostalgia. Sorry, folks, Captain America, Iron Man and Thor do not make appearances. This was a smart move. It gave players a modern taste of our favorite web-slinger, while mirroring the original Spider-Man movie
trilogy, a period when Spider-Man was New York’s sole superhero. The game’s pace balances the excitement. Nothing disappoints a gamer more than a constant stream of endless fighting. Thankfully, this game interacts with Peter Parker’s character in various segments, providing room for players to breath. The game also contains countless side missions across the map to satisfy gamers who prefer a faster pace. Overall, Marvel’s Spider-Man is a fantastic game. If you have been considering the purchase, do yourself a favor and buy it. If you’re light in the wallet, consider waiting a month or two after the price
drops a couple dollars. I even had a friend contemplate purchasing a PlayStation 4 solely to experience this game. Video games act as a means for escape. Life will occasionally throw curve balls, and much of your existence will consist of difficult work. Regardless, it is never too late to pull out the ole’ console and kick back for a few hours with your favorite game. I advise both casual and serious gamers to purchase this one-of-a-kind PlayStation 4 exclusive masterpiece. SMITH is the manager of content.
Google Images
FLYING HIGH — Spider-Man has captivated audiences since 1962, when the first comic book featuring the half-spider halfhuman superhero was released.
Intergender wrestling Domestic violence or gender equality? How these mixed matches should be viewed
Google Images
WRESTLEMANIA — Ronda Rousey made her WWE debut on April 6 against Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, and his wife Stephanie McMahon.
Abby Bowman abowman7@liberty.edu
Kimberly Frankele is regularly beaten by men in front of an audience. Then again, many times she beats up the men. Being beaten and beating others, or at least appearing to, is all part of Frankele’s job. Frankele, better known by her stage name Kimber Lee, fights in the WWE and has fought both men
gender equality in the sport. At first glance, intergender WWE matches seem to champion gender equality and empower women, but the very nature of WWE wrestling makes any such claims a farce. An ESPN article addressing the issue details two intergender fights. In the first, “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams beat Frankele, leaving her with a welted, red handprint on her back. In the second, Ronda Rousey beat “Triple H” Paul Michael Levesque after lifting him over her shoulders. One aspect of the controversy appears in the Frankele fight: intergender fighting could look like domestic violence. For that matter, it could also be reminiscent of sexual assault or even forms of violent sexuality. Although a disturbing connection, and one that deserves attention, that is not the main reason that intergender WWE matches fail to support gender equality or
and women during her time in the ring. Matches pitting men and women against each other in the WWE ring were rare over the past decade, according to an article in Paste Magazine, but a recent WrestleMania spotlight brought intergender fights to the forefront, sparking both outrage and acclaim. Many see intergender WWE matches as a breakthrough for
truly empower women. By this point, all wrestling fans know that WWE matches are completely staged, choreographed from beginning to end. The ESPN article quotes Frankele comparing WWE fighters to stunt actors — performers in a controlled environment. However, Frankele emphasized that the physicality is not necessarily fake. “The moves are real,” Frankele said to ESPN. “The bruises I have are real. I’m really landing on the concrete.” In the sense that the men and the women fighting each other have to show equal acting skill and the skill to execute the wrestling moves with equal precision, intergender matches could stand for gender equality. Since stunt actors do the same thing, however, that is hardly unique to the WWE, and it is hardly news that men and women can be equally skilled actors and athletes.
The skill required does not erase the fact that the winner of each fight is scripted, and is the biggest reason why WWE intergender matches do not empower women. When Rousey, the UFC superstar turned WWE personality, beat Levesque, she beat him because that was what had been choreographed. Had Levesque been scripted to win, he would have. How does it empower women if the only reason Rousey wins the fight is because she is supposed to? She may have the skill to take down Levesque in an unscripted fight, but WWE is not in that business. WWE intergender fights are the wrong vehicle to showcase gender equality or empower women. BOWMAN is an opinion writer.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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Lord God, I ask that you pour out your Holy Spirit on President Trump. That you give him supernatural wisdom to accomplish all the plans you have for this country and for him.
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PASTO R AN D R E W B R U N S O N D U R I N G HIS VISIT TO T HE W HIT E HOUSE OCTOB E R 13
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO Logan Smith manager of content
Emily Baker sports editor
Sarah Rodriguez graduate assistant
Jacob Couch asst. sports editor
CONTENT
Jenna Crenshaw feature editor
Lilli Abbatacola content editor Rachel Van Tuyl asst. content editor Chad Wylie editorial editor
PHOTOGRAPHY
SOCIAL MEDIA
Ryan Klinker photography editor
Deanna Drogan social media manager
Allison Heise asst. photography editor
Faith Banford web manager
Emily Smith copy editor
DESIGN
Bethany Kocik copy editor
Haley Nicas graphic designer Elizabeth Mallicoat graphic designer
ADMINISTRATION Deborah Huff faculty advisor Scott Lamb consultant
The Champion encourages community members to submit letters to the editor on any subject. 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.
Send letters to: Liberty Champion Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 24515 or drop off in Green Hall 1565.
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
A6 | October 16, 2018 | Liberty Champion
Nashville comes to Liberty
Recording artists visit the School of Music, talk Christian music and humility in the studio. According to Whaley, the four guest artists who attended The sound of music filled the the event are some of the best Mathena Recording Studio at Lib- in the world. erty University Sept. 18 and 19, “There’s a reason people go as the Center for Music and the back to Nashville to get things Worship Arts hosted four distin- done from all around the world,” guished Nashville artists to work Whaley said. “It’s because number with students studying commer- one, the engineers are the best in cial music. the world there, and number two, the rhythm players are the best in the world.” There's no other school in the Whaley and Zwald were aware of the country doing it like this. professionalism and talent of each of these — Dr. Vernon Whaley artists, as well as their devotion to God. When it came to planThe four guest artists includ- ning an event for students in the ed pianist Jason Webb, guitar- School of Music, Zwald desired to ist Mike Payne, bassist Danny bring in high-quality musicians O’Lannerghty and drummer with impressive experience who Scott Williamson. All four artists could show students a real picture have recorded tracking sessions of studio recording and speak into for some of the biggest names in their lives from the point of view of Christian music, including Lauren a believer in the music industry. Daigle, Chris Tomlin, TobyMac Zwald’s vision was also to find and Mandisa. ways to incorporate the entire School of Music students had school of music into this event, front row seats to the recording even students outside the comand production process of the pro- mercial music program. In order fessional musicians. During the to do this, audio and video feed session, the artists recorded eight was projected in satellite classdifferent pieces composed by stu- rooms so that students outside the dents, engaging students in the recording studio could be a part first process of record production: of the action. the tracking session. Students witAll music students were also nessed firsthand the professional invited to attend open forums and process of production and how masterclasses with the musicians, quickly professional artists are where the discussions involved able to produce music. music arranging, production and School of Music Dean Dr. Ver- song writing, but also deeper disnon Whaley and the assistant pro- cussions on how a Christian can fessor of sound engineering and practically live out their calling music and the director of audio in the music industry and how production Nathan Zwald worked to survive the pressures of the with Webb, Payne, O’Lannerghty music industry. and Williamson in the past and Zwald worked in Nashville for built personal relationships 18 years before joining the School with them during their time of Music faculty at Liberty in Madison Hirneisen mghirneisen@liberty.edu
“
2015, and his firsthand experience in the industry illuminated the importance of being prepared for circumstances that challenge Christians. He was pleased that students had the opportunity to discuss the implications of maintaining a spiritual walk in the music industry with professionals living in the hustle of the industry every day. “If we can go into situations where we are better prepared, it’s amazing the opportunity God gives us, where all of a sudden someone sits down next to you and says, ‘You do that Christian music thing too right? What’s that all about?’ All of a sudden you have an opportunity to speak into someone’s life because they are genuinely interested,” Zwald said. Although these musicians have all helped with popular tracks, theirs are not the names that end up on the marquees. Zwald explained that it was important for many music students to understand this because it can become easy for young musicians to be “wooed” by the bright lights and fame. Although each of these mu-
sicians has stand-out talent, they understand that their end goal is not to pursue the spotlight, but to glorify the Lord through their music. “We got a real strong sense of their humility,” Zwald said. This event produced a unique environment for students to see firsthand the quality of musicianship and professionalism required to produce a tracking session so quickly. Zwald explained that in under an hour, these musicians can hear a song once, develop a rhythm chart, practice the song and record the final session. According to Zwald, this is a valuable thing for students to witness because, although it can be conveyed in a classroom, it is better understood when seen in real time. Many students in the School of Music gained valuable insight from attending this event. According to Zwald, students expressed their excitement about this event to each other and to professors over the course of the two-day event. Zwald compiled a review of the event, which included a variety of quotes
from students and faculty. “Watching the livestream of the recording process on Wednesday morning was such an eye-opening experience for me,” student Ashton Davis said in Zwald’s review. “I have been told before that studio recording professionals are efficient and don’t waste time in the studio, but to see that in person gave me a whole new perspective on what professionalism means in music.” With such positive feedback from faculty and students, Zwald and Whaley plan to continue to host similar events to continue engaging school of music students with professionals. Eventually, Zwald hopes to bring in talented vocalists and instrumentalists to engage more disciplines within the School of Music. “There’s no other school in the country doing it like this,” Whaley said.
HIRNEISEN is a content reporter.
HANDS ON — Music students had the opportunity to observe professional musicians produce music.
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content
Liberty Champion | October 16, 2018 | A7
Taryn Azimov, Kayla Horn, Kharen Martinez, Allison Heise and Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion FOCUSED — Global Focus week, Oct. 8-12, provided students with an array of events and experiences to help them explore other cultures. Some snapshots of the week included the World Market, which took place Oct. 11 from 6-10 p.m. Organizations such as Rahab’s Rope and Women and Risk International brought merchandise and food to promote their missions and help immerse students in other cultures. Flamenco dancers even entertained students from 8-10 p.m. at the World Market. Other events throughout the week included talks from organizations such as Hookers for Jesus. To end the week, best-selling author Bob Goff encouraged students to “love everybody always” at Convocation Oct. 12.
HOSPITAL continued from A1 There were 5,700 ISIS causalities. The hospital, built to U.S. military standards, treated over 4,000 civilian patients, mostly children and those who were used as ISIS’s human shields. “I wanted these Muslims to know there is a God who loves them,” Graham said. After Convocation, Graham and his long-time friend President Jerry Falwell toured the Emergency Field Hospital that Samaritan’s Purse set up on Liberty’s Academic Lawn. This was the first time Samaritan’s Purse had taken the hospital to a college campus. The hospital on the Academic Lawn was open to the public, and the staff who served the Mosul community last year guided tours. Graham praised the staff and how they handled the war in Iraq. He said they endured with no breaks through 24/7 war. “For these nurses to pick up these children, to love them, to kiss them, to smile at them — my hat goes off to the
nurses,” Graham said. The Emergency Field Hospital was a safe haven for those who had been shot trying to flee Mosul, as well as chemical warfare victims and bombing survivors. “The wailing and the screaming of the women and the children is something that will never leave your ears,” Graham said. Located 11 miles outside Mosul, the hospital took a month to build. The standard time frame for Emergency Field Hospitals to be built is 24 hours. The project was an enormous undertaking for Samaritan’s Purse. Graham said the officials feared bombers blowing up the hospital, so Samaritan’s Purse built a blast wall around the perimeter. ISIS poisoned the water sources in the area, forcing Samaritan’s Purse to dig a well. Electrical and plumbing systems also had to be installed. Graham’s motivator for getting doctors and nurses on the ground in Mosul was the gospel. “We love them that much, that we would leave the comfort of our homes
to put their bodies back together,” Graham said. As Graham stood and looked on the Emergency Field Hospital erected on Liberty’s campus, students lined up outside in the rain to get a chance to tour the hospital and meet the staff. “These students that you see lined up over here going through — that’s our future,” Graham said. Graham said he hopes to see a great population of Liberty alumni working at Samaritan’s Purse as nurses and doctors in the future. Samaritan’s Purse offers internships for a wide range of vocational interests. Applications for the spring have closed, but the summer internship program application is open. Applications close Jan. 1, 2019 and can be found at www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/internshipprogram/. ABBATACOLA is the content editor.
Allison Heise | Liberty Champion
HOSPITAL — Students waited in line to see the Emergency Field Hospital during Global Focus Week.
content
Liberty Champion | October 16, 2018 | A8
It's the final countdown
Two candidates for U.S. Senate discuss foreign policy issues at Town Hall Lillian Abbatacola leabbatacola@liberty.edu
During the second of two U.S. Senate Town Halls hosted by Liberty University and Hampton University, Sen. Tim Kaine and candidate Corey Stewart clashed on foreign policy issues in the packed Hampton Convocation Center Oct. 3. The hearings surrounding Brett Kavanaugh sparked the conversation. Moderators said the chaos shed an ugly picture of American democracy on the world stage. Just three days before Kavanaugh was confirmed, Kaine opened the town hall by voicing his concern over Kavanaugh and the message his lifetime appointment sends to victims of sexual assault. Stewart called the confirmation process a circus. When asked what he would do legislatively about sexual assault in the military, Stewart used Kaine’s son Lindwood Michael Kaine’s charge of misdemeanor crimes at a Trump rally in Minnesota in 2017 as opposition to Tim Kaine’s reelection. The assault was not sexual assault. “You know, some people say it’s a double standard. If you’re rich,
“
Stewart was also questioned for his ties to Confederate leadership in Charlottesville and his seemingly Islamophobic Twitter posts. He redirected the questions by listing off his accomplishments, multiple reelections and relationships in a very diverse Virginia, crediting them to his cooperation with marginalized groups in the commonwealth. “That would have not happened if people believed I was all of those things Sen. Kaine is accusing me of,” Stewart said. Stewart said taking down Confederate monuments is not going to solve a single problem in the U.S. and that the monuments are a symbol of heritage. “Some want to look back,” Stewart said. “I want to look forward. Some want to take down monuments and think that’s going to solve the problem. It won’t.” But the main issue was the U.S.’s relationship with the rest of the world. Virginians seem concerned with what both candidates would do in regard to taxes and tariffs if chosen to sit in the Senate. Kaine acknowledged President Donald Trump is right to challenge the Chinese economically because China rips off U.S. intellectual property and undercuts Ameri-
Some want to look back. I want to look forward.
Some want to take down monuments and think that's going to solve the problem. It won't.
— Corey Stewart
you’re famous, you’re powerful, you get off. Now Sen. Kaine’s son, for example, was indicted for an assault in Minneapolis. What happened? Nothing. He got off, there’s a double standard that’s not right,” Stewart said.
can industries. But Kaine said the president is attacking China in the wrong way. “What (Trump) is doing is making the victims of his trade war our farmers and factory workers,” Kaine said.
Lillian Abbatacola| Liberty Champion CLASH — Tim Kaine (pictured) and Corey Stewart discussed issues at the town hall meeting.
Kaine proposed that instead of going after China alone, the U.S. should link arms with Canada and Europe and collaboratively go after China. Kaine said Virginian breweries and pork farmers are hurting because of Trump’s approach to China. The U.S. role with assisting veterans was also a topic of discussion at the Hampton University Town Hall. Kaine proposed new programs for non-active military members to seek post-traumatic stress disorder therapy and to create a social network to support them at home. Kaine mentioned he co-sponsored the VA Choice Bill, which was signed June 2018 and expanded health care opportunities for veterans. Kaine said veterans seeking healthcare outside the Department of Veteran Affairs is a good idea, but is concerned over its implementation. Stewart agreed and supports the Trump administration’s efforts to reform the VA system. “Our veterans deserve the best health care that our country has to offer,” Stewart said.
The U.S. relationship with the Korean peninsula was called into question. Stewart claimed Trump was the first president to ever stand up to a North Korean dictator. “I don’t disagree with the president trying to do dialogue with North Korea,” Kaine said. But Kaine said Trump has not briefed Congress on the Singapore meeting with Kim Jong-un, which concerned him. Kaine said he spoke with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo directly about the meeting, and Pompeo did not know or chose not to disclose what the North Koreans had in their nuclear arsenal. “There is one test and one test alone which will tell you if the North Koreans are serious about denuclearization,” Kaine said. “Will they disclose what they have and allow the global community to inventory what they have? Until they do that, there is no guarantee they are serious.” National security in reference to the refugee crisis was also a matter of discussion. Stewart criticized the visa and immigration system in the U.S., saying that people can come in on visas but have to
struggle for years before they are granted permanent citizen status. Stewart said he wants to streamline that process and reward those that come into the U.S. lawfully. When it comes to national security down south, Kaine said emphatically that the U.S. needs borders but Trump’s wall is not the only option for security. Kaine reminded the audience that, in times of international crisis, the U.S. has always been a safe place for people to flee. “In my view, if somebody is fleeing persecution and we can vet them well enough to know they are going to be safe here, the United States shouldn’t be heartless to people who are seeking refuge from countries that are under civil war or disaster,” Kaine said. The Senate race ends Nov. 6. The Liberty Champion will continue to cover the midterm election in upcoming issues by featuring Q&As with the various candidates for Congress.
ABBATACOLA is the content editor.
Nothing but the truth.
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To share my frank views and never-fake news, I’ve launched a website where you can find my commentary on a wide variety of subjects. Go to JerryFalwell.com and sign up for my newsletter by the end of October. You’ll be registered to win one of five footballs autographed by Becki and me. Ad Paid for by Jerry Falwell Jr.
SPORTS
October 16, 2018
B1
sweater weather
Gill-ing the game Football head coach pioneering new path into FBS play Jacob Couch jtcouch@liberty.edu
He stood quietly, watching the New Mexico State sideline erupt in applause as the Aggies celebrated a win that had earlier on in the contest been the Flames to lose. The New Mexico State loss was an unexpected loss while the victory over Troy on Saturday, Oct. 13 was an unexpected victory. At 3-3, the Turner Gill-led Flames have had a roller coaster beginning to their inaugural year in the FBS (College Football Bowl Subdivision).
Andrew Snyder| Liberty News Service
CHALLENGERS — The Flames will host a total of nine home athletic games over the weekend of Oct. 19-21.
Home for Homecoming
See GILL, B2
Liberty athletics set to showcase skills to alumni this weekend Nate Montgomery nimontgomery@liberty.edu
Homecoming is Oct. 19-21 at Liberty and the sports teams are gearing up for an exciting weekend. The weekend’s sporting events will consist of Lady Flames soccer and volleyball games as well as men’s soccer and hockey and football. The volleyball team with a record of 8-13 will host Jacksonville on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. and North Florida on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. Both games are in the Vines Center. The Lady Flames soccer team will play host to Jacksonville in what will be their second to last regular season game of the season. If the Lady Flames top the Dolphins,
then they will have won four out of their last five games heading into their regular season finale. The men’s soccer team with a 5-6-1 record will also face off against Jacksonville for their Homecoming game. The Flames men’s hockey team will play Friday and Saturday night in a two-game series against New York University. Both games are at 7 p.m. The men are 6-1 on the season. Attendance is expected to swell as alumni come to visit the school. For sophomore Jenna Culhan this is one of the rare opportunities to play volleyball in front of her family. Because she doesn’t get to play in front of her family often, Culhan is excited to get the chance to show off everything that the team
has been doing. “It’s exciting to have everyone here because they get to see how much everyone on the team has been working and how that work has paid off,” Culhan said. Junior football player Solomon Ajayi said that the homecoming crowds are always exciting. “I love playing in front of classmates, teachers, friends and people from around town,” Ajayi said. “These fans really do come out and show their support for us every Saturday.” The weekend will not be lacking for sporting events. Homecoming will climax with the Flames football team taking on the Idaho State Bengals Saturday at 2 p.m.
Leah Seavers | Liberty News Service
BOWED — Turner Gill leads post-game prayer.
MONTGOMERY is a sports reporter.
Allison Heise | Liberty Champion
SERVE — Junior Anna Gragg ranks top 10 in the ASUN for her hitting percentage and blocks per set.
Doused by the Eagles Lady Flames defeated by Florida Gulf Coast Peter Gooch pgooch1@liberty.edu
Huddled around their coach, the Liberty University Lady Flames were staying cool in the deciding set of a back-and-forth battle with a quality opponent. Junior right-side hitter Casey Goodwin, who finished with a team-high 19 kills, had just slammed a volleyball off blockers’ hands for what was initially ruled Liberty’s first point of set five. But the call of the ball landing out-of-bounds was being challenged. After a few minutes, it was overturned, putting the Flames in a 3-0 deficit. Liberty would not recover, allowing the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles (FGCU), the first women’s volleyball team from the state
of Florida to visit the Vines Center, to clinch a narrow road victory Oct. 12, 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 1725, 15-5). “How we started so bad, it just put ourselves in a hole,” Flames Head Coach Trevor Johnson said of the final set. “We’ve got to start off a little better than that.” The match began well for Liberty, with Goodwin scoring the last three points for the Flames in the first set with smashing kills to stave off a late Eagles rally. After Liberty had an 11-3 run to take a 23-17 advantage in set one, FGCU closed in to force Goodwin’s clutch offense. FGCU then rode the momentum they gained to a dominating 9-1 lead to start the second set.
Football
See DOUSED, B2
Ryan Klinker| Liberty Champion
SNATCHED — Redshirt senior BJ Farrow earned his fifth 100-yard game Saturday with eight receptions and 101 yards.
Outshining the Trojans Football upsets Troy in 22-16 victory Saturday afternoon Jacob Couch jtcouch@liberty.edu
With 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter the Williams stadium crowd held its breath, watching as Buckshot Calvert caught the snap from shotgun and threw a fade pass to the tightly covered BJ Farrow in the back of the endzone. The crowd came to its feet in applause as the official lifted both arms vertically signaling a Liberty touchdown. The beautiful blue sky above Williams Stadium was pierced by fireworks following the Flames 22-16 victory over Troy. The victory marked one of the biggest wins in Flames pro-
Field Hockey
gram history. The Troy Trojans had come into Williams stadium with five wins, including a blistering win over Nebraska. The defensive battle did not come as a surprise as Troy entered the game with its backup quarterback Sawyer Smith at the helm, following starter Kaleb Barker’s season ending injury that occurred Thursday, Oct. 4, against Georgia State. Flames junior quarterback Calvert had just one completion for 13 yards and an interception in the first quarter against the stiff defense who had previously topped Nebraska 24-19 at the Cornhuskers stadium. Despite the difficult start to the game, Calvert was able to put the quarter behind him.
M. Hockey
Volleyball
“Sometimes that is just a part of life and a part of football, it’s just a don’tgo-right moment,” Calvert said. “You have to stay the course and stay focused, believe in your guys, and they certainly believed in me every single drive.” The Flames stayed focused going into the second quarter despite being down 7-0 to the Trojans after Smith threw a touchdown pass to Deondre Douglas before the quarter concluded. Midway through the second quarter Calvert launched a gorgeous 29-yard touchdown pass to Khaleb Coleman in the endzone to tie the game at 7-7.
See OUTSHINING, B2
Football
NM State
Liberty
Georgetown
Liberty
Syracuse
Liberty
FGCU
Liberty
Troy
Liberty
49
41
1
2
5
4
3
2
16
22
sports
B2 | October 16, 2018 | Liberty Champion
icing on the cake
Allison Heise | Liberty Champion
SPIKE — Sophomore Kaitlyn Young is starting her second season with the Lady Flames.
Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion BLADES — The Flames recovered from their loss Friday to win Oct. 13.
DOUSED continued from B1 The Eagles cruised to wins in sets two and three before Liberty came back for a convincing 25-17 victory in set four. But FGCU would take control again and improve to 14-6 overall and 7-1 in conference play. Liberty fell to 7-13 and 4-3 against teams in the ASUN. “We’ve shown that we can compete with these teams,” Johnson said. “I think one or two plays, we could beat them. It’s just a mindset for us that needs to change. We need to believe that we’re the better team.” About halfway through conference play, even as frustrating results like the loss to the Eagles continue to occur, signs of progress have been evident. “Regardless of the record, I think we’ve been better,” Johnson said. “That’s just a credit to our girls. They show up every day and just work hard. For us, we’re just trying to surrender the outcome and just trust the process.” The tough loss was disappointing, but it did not keep the Lady Flames from staying positive about the close contest. “As a team, we had fun,” sophomore middle blocker Kainah Williams said. “It was a hard game, but it was fun as well.” Williams especially had some fun moments, with 14 kills on an impressive .619 hitting percentage. It was the highest hitting percentage for a Lady Flame in a home game this year, and second-best overall behind only Goodwin’s .684 line at Jacksonville Sept. 22. “When there’s good passing and good setting, there’s good hitting that goes along with it,” Williams said. “It’s a team effort, so a lot of help from my setters definitely.” The unity, energy and focus on team Williams emanates when talking about her individual effort points to the emphasis on team chemistry Johnson really pushed heading into Liberty’s match against FGCU. “They love each other, and they’re willing to do everything it takes for the team,” Johnson said. “The results will take care of themselves. They keep getting better and they want to serve each other and love each other. That, to me, is a testament to the culture that we’re trying to change.” The Flames will host Jacksonville Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
GOOCH is a sports reporter.
OUTSHINING continued from B1 Late in the quarter Flames redshirt sophomore Peytton Pickett scooted into the endzone to give the Flames a 14-10 lead heading into halftime. “It felt good just to get the mo-
Frigid split Flames return from Friday night loss to skate over Orange hockey Paige Frost pmfrost@liberty.edu
As Liberty Men’s Hockey Team took the ice Friday, Oct. 12, it was more than just the cold in the air, but rather competition fill the rink as the Flames play Syracuse University. Liberty lost to Syracuse in overtime by one point, making the end of that first game 4-5. Through this close game, the Flames kept up with Syracuse. This made for a tense game through all three periods and even in through the first few minutes of overtime. “Once you go into overtime, anything can happen,” Coach Kirk Handy said. “Tonight, we just turned the puck over to them. But I liked our third period. We kept up with them. We also had a great score at the end of the second with four seconds left.” Liberty started slower, but Basil Reynolds scored with 10:07 left in the first. Assisting Reynolds was Chaydan Lauber and Cole Gammer. The Flames ended the first tied 1-1 with Syracuse. “We scored a few big goals briefly, until they scored again and tied it back up,” Gammer said. “There are many things that we can learn from this game though, like uncontrolled penalties, but all in all we can take a lot from this game.” The game continued to build in tension, and in the
mentum back on our side and get the flow going,” Pickett said. The Flames were without their leading receiver Antonio GandyGolden who was out with mononucleosis. Head Coach Turner Gill stressed the importance of the team’s response to injuries and how the team can recover.
Allison Heise | Liberty Champion
CHARGE — Defensive tackle Tolen Avery (55) has started all six games.
second period, Syracuse scored two more goals. Victor Bloomberg scored another goal for the Flames with four seconds remaining in the second period, bringing the score to 2-3. Bloomberg’s goal was assisted by Jacob Fricks.
Split Scores Friday Syracuse
5
Liberty
4
Saturday
Syracuse
1
Liberty
7
With this goal, the Flames were ready to head into the third period. “We played a good team tonight, so the game moved a lot faster,” Gammer said. “The most frustrating part is that we could not keep up with them fully, but we did what we could. And now we know where we have to grow.” In the third, forward Devin Pierce scored a goal with 15:48 left in the period. The team is now pushing as much energy as they can into this game against Syracuse, the game was now tied again. With 7:18 remaining, Brock Thompson scored for the Flames, and soon after Syracuse tied the game
“Obviously Antonio GandyGolden wasn’t available today and we had some other guys that weren’t available — that’s why this is so special because when you are a football team you have to respond,” Gill said. “We talk about when your number gets called you (have to be) in there and ready to play.” In Gandy-Golden’s absence, Farrow filled in perfectly, giving Calvert a reliable target to consistently look to all afternoon. Farrow hauled in eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. The Flames defense made the beautiful afternoon a miserable one for the young Trojan quarterback, allowing Smith to throw for only three yards in the third quarter, something defensive coordinator Robert Wimberly was happy to see. “I was watching the game from the box for the first time, which allowed me to have a better feel for whenever they were passing the ball,” Wimberly said. “That allowed us to have our men in good position because they know when I call certain coverages they know to think pass.” In the fourth quarter the Trojans showed signs of life, driving down the field before having to settle for
again. Liberty ended the third period tied with 4-4, heading into overtime. “In the third period, we played pretty well,” Handy said. “We scored some powerplay goals, and they kept it very close in through all of the periods. We had one of our best nights of the year, as far as powerplay goals are concerned.” The game went into overtime, but Syracuse took a shot with 4:23 remaining and scored to end the game. “Success isn’t always about greatness, it’s about consistency,” Handy said. “I don’t know if we were consistent for 60 minutes as we needed to be, but it is a controllable thing for us, and we will be working on that.” Despite their tough loss Friday night, the Flames came back Saturday, Oct. 13, to dominate Syracuse 7-1. Liberty’s play was characterized by quick, scrappy play, featuring three different sets of two goals scored a minute apart. The Flames will return to the LaHaye Ice Center Friday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.
GILL continued from B1 After kicking off the season in dominant fashion with a 52-10 victory over Old Dominion, the Flames cooled off following losses to Army and North Texas. The Flames offense has begun to show signs of life in the last three weeks during their back to back road trips to New Mexico and a home matchup against Troy. In those three games Gill’s offense has compiled 115 total points. The Flames went 1-1 in their journey out West but are looking to make significant defensive improvements due to the 155 points allowed in the last four games. Granted, the transition to FBS involves the Flames having to take on stiffer competition which will include November road trips consisting of University of Virginia and Auburn. But, Gill is not concerned with the potential coaching differences that come with moving up to the FBS. “Coaching football is the same, FBS or FCS,” Gill said. “You have 11 guys on the field, you coach them up and you do the best you can.” Gill mentioned that the Flames are dealing with a significant number of injuries coming off of their two game New Mexico series. As the Flames have advanced in the level of competition that they face, Gill remains confident that what his team sees on the field remains the same. “We’ve seen all kinds of things,” Gill said. “Not just in these last few games but in the last few years we’ve seen all kinds of different coverages, different schemes. After the first couple of series you get a feel for what their thinking, especially formations.” The Flames will look to get a feel for Idaho State’s formations as quickly as possible when they play host to the Bengals on Saturday at 2 p.m. for Homecoming Weekend. If the Flames can top the Bengals Saturday, they will sit at 4-3 on the season, heading into their three-week road trip.
COUCH is the asisstant sports editor.
Kevin Manguiob | Liberty News Service
FROST is a sports reporter.
VETERAN — Turner Gill has been head coach since December 2011.
a 26-yard chip shot field goal. Despite Calvert’s inconsistency, the offence continued to support their leader. “The guys kept encouraging us the O-line kept encouraging me to stay calm and stay focused,” Calvert said. “I think that helped me out a lot.” Liberty was forced to punt on the next drive midway through the fourth quarter but the defense held strong and forced the Trojans to punt, setting up the offense with just over six minutes left in the game. Offensive Coordinator Joe Dailey made sure that his team was ready for that moment. “The fortunate part about our game plan and our guys buying into it is that they stayed the course, they didn’t get upset when a setback occurred,” Dailey said. The Flames began on their own 11-yard line. With the majority of the crowd still present, Calvert engineered a miraculous drive as the clock continued to wind down. With 2:23 remaining on the gameclock Calvert threw the ball to Farrow in the back corner of the end zone. Farrow reached over top of the aggressive Trojan defensive back and secured the catch, putting
the Flames up 20-16. Gill elected to go for a two-point conversion. With the play clock winding down, Buckshot walked closer to the line of scrimmage, pretending to audible. The snap went directly to Frankie Hickson who sprinted to his left before pitching the ball backward to DJ Stubbs. Stubbs saw Farrow standing in the end zone uncovered and flipped the ball to the big receiver who secured the catch to make the score 22-16. The Flames held the Trojans offense before running the clock out, giving the Flames a hard fought and thrilling victory in front of over 17,000 fans. “It wasn’t pretty from an offensive point-of-view. Special teams -- it wasn’t pretty from that standpoint. But again, you have got to find a way to win these kinds of games and that’s why I’m so proud,” Gill said. The Flames will play Idaho State Saturday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. on Homecoming weekend.
COUCH is the assistant sports editor.
sports
Liberty Champion | October 16 | B3
Making a giant splash Liberty swim and dive off to a strong 3-0 start for 2018-2019 season Siani Null snull@liberty.edu
Liberty Women’s Swimming and Diving is off to a strong 3-0 start with a 159-98 win against Campbell and 50-38 and 185-117 wins against New Mexico State. This early success is not surprising after nine years of program history has laid the foundation to set up this year — the first year the team exists with elite-level facilities and a full roster. The 2018-19 season is the first that the Lady Flames have recruited divers to complete the swimming and diving program and experienced a full year of training and lifting in the newly constructed Natatorium and Liberty Athletic Center. The Flames, just returning from their fall break flight trip to compete against New Mexico State, have a significant array of meets to look forward to this fall and leading into the winter championship season. The season will
include an Oct. 20 match against Virginia neighbor James Madison University traveling to compete against Marshall University and hosting Brigham Young University for their first appearance on Liberty’s campus in any sport. The peak of the team’s season will take place in the end of February when they hold the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Conference Championships for the first time on Liberty’s campus and go headto-head against rival Florida Gulf Coast. Much of the Lady Flames season will revolve around preparing for this meet. Alicia Finnigan, senior butterflier and two-time NCAA qualifier, has three years of competing for Liberty under her belt. She believes the current team has the greatest capability of winning the CCSA Championship, which has not happened for the team since the 2013-14 season. She said the sophomores and juniors have worked hard and know what they need to do
Joel Coleman | Liberty News Service IN STYLE — The Flames have begun their second season in Liberty’s new natatorium.
Emily Baker egbaker@liberty.edu
injury itself. I had surgery to replace a torn ACL in August my senior year after a high jump accident. For those that don’t know, it takes three months to recover and three additional months to return to normal. Those months aren’t fun. For the first few weeks after surgery all you can do is spend hours in physical therapy learning to bend your softball-sized knee past 30 degrees. You eat, sleep, and sometimes bathe with one of those giant hinged braces on your leg. And it hurts. I’m not talking about the knee, either. It hurts to miss out on the sport and the friends you love because no matter how much time you spend with the team, it’s impossible not to feel left out. My injury kept me from participating with the color guard and put me in a different part of the marching band — one that didn’t involve any marching. And though I spent a lot of time with the girls in the guard, there were inside jokes I missed and several friendships that never got the chance to stick. The worst was when I was asked to return my flags to the school because I couldn’t use them anymore. Yes, they belonged to the school, and yes, I couldn’t do much with them, but I didn’t want to surrender them. I was still a part of the guard, even if I couldn’t participate. I’m pointing out that, even though you can get back into the sport and even though a body part can heal, it’s more than that. It’s dealing mentally and emotionally with the fact that, even though the rest of you is ready to go and wants to participate, there’s a broken part that just can’t, no matter how badly you want it. Next time you see an injured athlete, don’t think of how the team will win without him or her. Remember that there’s a whole lot more to a sports injury than a torn ligament or a broken bone; it’s a struggle inside and out. And nothing hurts more than being ignored or replaced because of an injury you can’t control.
It’s everyone’s worst athletic nightmare: a sports injury. Sports injuries are defined as “injuries that occur during exercise or while participating in a sport,” according to Healthline Media. This can include anything from a bruised knee to a torn ACL. And, most often, a sports injury is something minor that doesn’t require too much time off. But for some, it devastates their athletic career. The injuries you hear about are often the most destructive ones. You hear about Aaron Rodgers and the 13 screws in his collarbone. You see the videos of Gordon Hayward or Kevin Ware breaking a leg on the basketball court. For many fans and spectators, their first thought isn’t about the athlete’s well-being. The first thought after these kinds of injuries is team-oriented and game-focused. “How long until he can play again? How will my team win without this key player?” Though the most heard-about injuries are on the professional level, the same happens on the collegiate level. Buckshot took a hard hit against the University of New Mexico and I had to kick myself when my first thought was whether or not Liberty would win again without him. Troy quarterback Kaleb Barker tore his ACL and it was difficult not to be glad that Troy would be without its starting quarterback. Here’s the thing: a sports injury is a lot more than a missed season or a few games. It’s easy to see an athlete as just another body on the field, but that’s not realistic. Sports injuries involve a lot of physical and emotional pain, which can last well beyond recovery. Many athletes become depressed or anxious after an injury, according to the NCAA and the Sport Science Institute. Some of the reactions can include sadness, lack of motivation, anger and disengagement. A sports injury means absence from your favorite sport, sitting idly by while your teammates plow forward. Even after recovering it’s easy to feel like you’ve fallen out of the loop. And, from personal experience, the emotional consequences can be worse than the BAKER is the sports editor.
and the freshmen class has great potential. “I think that’s the way it should be in a growing program like ours,” Finnigan said. Last year, current sophomore Payton Keiner became the program’s second freshman to qualify and compete at the NCAA Championship meet last March. Keiner described her first Joel Coleman | Liberty News Service year as one with- TEAMWORK — The team’s season will continue until February. out many expectaAccording to Zimcosky, the goal is findtions and that allowed her to get adjusted to each new aspect of life with a new team and ing joy consistently throughout the tough parts of the season and then carrying that different training. “My mindset this year is really just to en- through to the conference-level meet where joy my team,” Keiner said. “I think if I focus joy can still be the foundation when they are on that and just try to work on my strategy in experiencing the pressure. Finnigan said she each race, the times will follow. If I focus on is already looking forward to the meet and having fun and control what I can control, that it has not yet fully hit her what it means then my times and my races will just fall into to have her last conference swim take place at place at these early meets and prepare me to her home pool. “Every now and then I kind of picture it and swim my best in February.” it hits me a little more that this is it,” Finnigan Enjoying the team and the sport proves said. “It’s going to be on home turf and I know to make or break a season and its outcome, according to both Keiner and recent ju- that we’re all hoping for a win, but no matter nior transfer from Ohio University, Emily what the outcome is it will be a great opportunity for us. It’s going to be something where Zimcosky. Zimcosky described Liberty swimming we can foster a lot of healthy pride in our team and diving’s culture to be one that cultivates and what we’ve been able to accomplish the success out of joy for each other, for the sport past nine years.” The Lady Flames will travel to James Madiand for the training. son on Saturday, Oct. 20 to compete against “God gave us this so that we could have fun with it and use it to glorify him and I am re- the Dukes at 11 a.m. alizing that just focusing on results does not bring him any glory,” Zimcosky said. “Finally, I have a group of girls that I can genuinely enjoy this sport with because they do genuNULL is a sports reporter. inely enjoy it.”
sports
B4 | October 16, 2018 | Liberty Champion
Humbling the Hoyas
Field hockey defeats Georgetown 2-1
it difficult for them to score too many goals. She said the passing was not very strong and they could not seem to be able to get much It was a sunny day with a light breeze when going offensively. Liberty did win the game the Flames kicked off their field hockey 2-1, but they did not play up to the bar they game against Georgetown on Saturday, Oct. have set most of the season. 13. With 382 fans in attendance on FamVan Aarle scored a goal 3:38 into the game ily Weekend, the comfortable 66-degree off an assist from Midfielder Jill Bolton, and it weather matched the intensity of the field was the only score for over 50 minutes when hockey players, as they did not play high en- Midfielder Abby Julius scored a goal off a deergy or enthusiasm. fender Mallory Fortenbaugh assist. George“Energy is one of the things that, if it’s town scored a goal at the 68:28 mark when high, we can beat any team,” Freshman Liberty started playing conservative and not Forward Moniek Van Aarle, who scored the pushing their defense to the end. technical game-winning goal, said. “Where“I thought it was average,” Head Coach as now, it was not as high.” Nikki Parsley-Blocker said. “We’ve put toVan Aarle said energy was lacking both of- gether some pretty good performances this fensively and defensively in the game, making year, and I don’t it’s where we need to be headed into the last part of the season, but a win’s always a good thing to get, so a step in the right direction.” Liberty came out very flat-footed on offense, as they struggled to connect on passes for a majority of the game. While they did manage to get off 18 shots, including 10 on net, the Lady Flames could only manage two goals. They got a few one-timers and offguard shots, but they could not execute on rebounds or get multiple shots to the net at once. “I think that we put Georgetown’s keeper under a tremendous amount of pressure,” Parsley-Blocker said. “She really played well Erik Flores | Liberty News Service for them today.” BACK AGAIN — Redshirt sophomore Kendra Jones returned from an injury last Liberty got a lot of season and made her debut in August. Nathaniel Chambers nrchambers@liberty.edu
Erik Flores | Liberty News Service
FALL BALL — The Lady Flames and their fans enjoyed the cooler fall weather Saturday. shots, but still did not have the ball-control they normally demonstrate. It made it difficult to keep the pressure on consistently. Another thing Parsley-Blocker said Liberty did not do well was play with the same defense and hustle they have been playing with all season. “I thought that was one of the things that was missing,” Parsley-Blocker said. “I think one of the things that makes us really special is just being relentless and a commitment to out-work and attack our opponents, and I don’t think that was really happening from top to bottom for a whole 70 minutes. I think it happened in moments, and we just need to work on putting it together for a full 70 minutes.” While the team struggled in the game against Georgetown, Parsley-Blocker is confident in this team. She said everyone is bought in, and they have been from the moment they stepped foot on campus. She said every player has been brought
C O M E V O T E F O R YO U R FAV O R I T E T E A M ! FOOD COURT AT REBER THOMAS O C T . 3 0 T H | 5 7 P. M .
in since they first joined this team, which makes this team ready to compete and fight in every game. “I think I’m super confident,” Parsley-Blocker said. “I think it’s a special team. We’ve been saying that all year. But yeah, we’re super excited just to finish out the season.” Liberty has four games remaining on the regular season schedule, including bouts with at least two straight top-15 teams, and a postponed game against 9th ranked Syracuse. The Lady Flames will next be in home action Oct. 21 against Boston College before hosting the Big East tournament at the beginning of November.
CHAMBERS is a sports reporter.
feature
Liberty Champion | October 16, 2018 | B5
David Duncan | Liberty news service
WELCOME — Homecoming weekend holds activities and events such as the parade down University Boulevard, a bonfire and a tailgate on Montview Lawn before the Homecoming game.
Warm welcome Homecoming 2018 kicks off Oct. 19 through weekend Virginia Peay vlpeay@liberty.edu
Crisp October air, the sound of the Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band playing to the beat and thousands of diehard past and present Liberty Flames will all gather together for one weekend celebration. Mark your calendar for Homecoming weekend Oct. 19 - 21 for several events hosted by Student Activities to celebrate the Homecoming of Liberty alumni and students. “It’s something that only happens once a year, and you won’t regret coming out and seeing all of these people,” Erin Diaz Cleveland, assistant director of student activities, said. “It’s just a really fun atmosphere and such an exciting weekend for everyone.” The weekend will be kicked off by a bonfire Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Zone 4 parking lot. Join the Flames football captains and enjoy food and live music for the return of a Liberty tradition. “It’s the first time we are doing a bonfire in years, and we are really excited to
bring it back and hopefully make it bigger and better,” Diaz said. “We are going to have food trucks, a performance by Humble Tip and lots of other exciting things.” Saturday Oct. 20 on the Montview Lawn at 10 a.m. there will be a tailgate with corn hole, Spikeball and snacks provided by Student Activities. “We want to provide places and events for people, who whether they are alumni or students, are able to come and have a good time together,” Diaz said. Directly following, at 11:15 a.m. will be the Homecoming Parade. Galivanting down University Boulevard, clubs, organizations and departments will be sporting their school spirit on carefully crafted floats vying for the $500 first place prize. “Usually it’s a fight between nursing and psychology,” Diaz said. “They always bring their A game.” This little-known Homecoming rivalry between the Nursing Department and Psychology Department has been a longstanding competition that brings together the students and faculty of each department with the common goal of winning best parade float.
SADA Art Drive The G5 movement held a donation drive sponsored by the Studio and Digital Arts department last week to gather art supplies to be sent to a refugee center in Spain. Along with bringing art supplies students were encouraged to visit the Spanish art that was on display in the art gallery, where the Spanish Art Exhibit was on display. Director of the Digital and Studio Arts Department Todd Smith, said it only takes a few dollars to go and buy art supplies from the store and those art supplies will provide for a child. Smith has very high hopes for this upcoming trip and believes that by providing a way for children to escape the horrors of their lives by giving them creativity. “When a person utilizes a crayon and paper their imagination is engaged and it becomes a platform for us to share the gospel with them,” Smith said. Smith said his main goal when he goes to Spain is to teach these children how to utilize their own imaginations. Smith said just like how God created the world that these children can create something too. “It is innate that we want to be creative,” Smith said. “The whole idea is to engage children in their imaginations because after-all our imaginations have been given to us by God.” HALES is a feature reporter.
“It has become a staple of LUNSA (Liberty University Nursing Student Association),” Dr. Dana Woody, associate professor and faculty advisory of LUNSA, said. “Everybody’s involved, from the students to the staff, and often times it gets a little heated in DeMoss on Homecoming week.” This healthy competition has at times escalated to sabotage and pranks of black flowers, mannequins, signs that say, ‘beat nursing’ or ‘beat psych’ and little notes. “At the end when all of it is said and done, and most of the time when we walk away with the prize, we always send them a black cake the next day,” Woody said. The 2018 Homecoming Parade will start at 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 20. More information about participating in the parade, as well as other Homecoming events, can be found on the Student Activities website.
Homecoming 20
events
18
Bonfire - Friday, 7:00 p.m.
Bring all of your school spirit to our Homecoming Bonfire! There will be a 6’ bonfire, live music, s’mores, Nomad Coffee, Dawn & Dusk Donuts, kettle corn, the drumline, the Alumni Office, Liberty football captains and more.
Tailgate - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. There will be cornhole, Spikeball, cotton candy, snow cones and several prizes.
Parade - Saturday, 11:15 am
Grab your spot on University Blvd. or Regents Pkwy. to watch the Homecoming Parade with your friends and family! The parade will feature floats designed by Liberty departments and clubs.
PEAY is a feature reporter.
Displaying Spain
Students appreciate Spanish artist through art exhibit Kharen Martinez kmartinez6@liberty.edu
One day a little girl gets a pencil and a piece of paper. The girl started drawing as her imagination fired up. Although she lives as a refugee in Spain, that piece of paper serves as a way for her to shape a different world inside her imagination. That is a story that Todd Smith, chair of the studio and digital arts department and director of the art gallery at Liberty University, said is possible because of the initiative connected to the Spanish art exhibition during Global Focus Week. “Think of the range of expression you have here,” Smith said. “They are highly professional, highly complete highly finished, masters of a technique and material creating works of art. Then you move from that to children or adults who want to express themselves in a situation where they are just trying to survive” The exhibition at the art gallery in Green Hall includes paintings by Jesus Navarro, Salvador Caballero and Alvar Suñol. All of them Spanish artists.
“I felt a connection with the paintings and with Spanish culture,” Carolina Chavarria, student at Liberty University said. “I was specially amazed that some of the paintings looked more like pictures because they were realistic and detailed.” Smith said there is mastery in each piece that is being shown. With the more realist pieces there is richness in technique. “The way lights fall across the subject of the piece and then the modeling that takes place with the medium, which is paint, gives the illusion of reality,” Smith said. “The technical skill in doing that is amazing.” Students come to learn as well as to appreciate the message that comes with learning from a different country. “It is important to learn from other cultures and expand your mindset,” Chavarria said. “It is even better when it comes to promote initiatives that would help children express themselves.” Smith also said that with the abstract pieces people perceive different meanings and interpret the painting through
what they are living. “What happens with art is that is allows our imagination to kick in whereas sometimes we analyze things so much with our rational side,” Smith said. “But art allows us to come into a piece and take from it some element that we couldn’t see before.” The art gallery joined the G5 initiative and used pieces that have been donated or purchased by Liberty University to initiate a project to promote cultural shape. LU Serve trips are open for students who want to go to Spain to serve the
community of refuges, specially the children that have been affected. “The whole idea is the use of art to help other cultures around the world, [and] by collecting art materials is so simple,” Smith said. “Those things that we see children do all the time are things that we want to use to influence cultures.”
MARTINEZ is a feature reporter.
Kharen Martinez | Liberty Champion
OBSERVE — Art gallery displays pieces from Spanish artists.
feature
B6 | October 16, 2018 | Liberty Champion
A piece of the action Student filmmakers get an inside look into process of making thesis films Rachel McClamroch rkmcclamroch@liberty.edu
It took a while, but Olivia Barnes found an Airbnb that looked like it could belong in 1947. Inside the little house, cast and crew expertly weave between backpacks, props and antique furniture. Extra lighting equipment is stuffed into the front hall and costumes hang on the curtain rod above the tub. Barnes is one of many senior cinematic arts students filming her thesis projects. Students oversee their own short film from conception to directing to post-production in a two-year process. Last year, professional screenwriter Dan Gordon chose Barnes’ script for the Zaki Gordon Award
for Excellence in Screenwriting. This year, Barnes has the challenge of making her final product live up to the excitement of her script. “After winning an award for screenwriting, you go, ‘Okay, now I have to actually make this good,’” Barnes said. “Luckily, I have a great team and they’ve been doing really, really well, so the pressure is lessened.” The many short film sets provide a chance for students in cinematic arts and other majors a chance to practice their skills. Abby Hunt is an acting major playing a character named Nina. “One thing that has been huge, from working on film sets, has been connections, and just getting to know people and making friends
REVIEW — Film students shoot scenes on-location for a senior thesis film.
with people you might be working with in the future,” Hunt said. Barnes’ film is titled “A Dress for Lydia” and is about Barnes’ greatgrandmother, who Barnes believes was the first woman in her family to graduate high school. Barnes is using some of her grandmother and great-grandmother’s belongings as costumes and set pieces. “I remember my grandmother as someone who was just very persistent and spunky, and it was so fun to write that out,” Barnes said. On set, a “floppy flag” — a large piece of black cloth — has been secured outside the window of one of the Airbnb bedrooms. With any sunlight blocked out, the team can film a night scene without having to come to the house after dark. The
macy hrncir | Liberty Champion
macy hrncir | Liberty Champion
SHOOT — Cinematic arts student operates the camera. cast, along with the large camera tripod and boom mic, squeeze into the small room. Just down the hall, Barnes has a monitor set up showing the camera’s perspective. Her producer and first assistant director, Peyton Dixon, announces “Action!” and everyone outside of the camera’s frame freezes until the take is over. Peyton Dixon is a fellow cinematic arts major. His own short film, about a social worker learning to work with trafficking victims, is being filmed this semester. “A lot of filming is problemsolving your own problems,” Dixon said. Despite the months to prepare, the team must stay light on their feet, ready to change any little thing. The team has worked hard. On Sunday Oct. 7 the crew worked
for 12 hours to film six scenes, which Barnes said is a typical filming day. For the evening of Oct. 9 they have only the one night scene to film and the atmosphere before filming is lighthearted: Barnes discovers that it is Leif Erickson Day, and the crew immediately hangs up a cheery handmade sign and dons plastic Viking helmets (or as close to Viking as they can find). Then they get down to business and the mood becomes more heartfelt. They are telling a story close to Barnes’ heart after her greatgrandmother’s passing in 2016. “That’s something that our professor told us to do,” Barnes said. “Write from the heart, find what hurts, find what makes you feel, and that makes all the difference.” MCCLAMROCH is a feature reporter.
Address stress Health and Wellness Center gives tips Emily Wood ewood13@liberty.edu
OCTOBER 20 11:00 am - 5:00 pm — F E AT U R I N G —
SONS OF LIBERTY
THE CROOKED
ROAD RAMBLERS
THE WILDMANS MORGAN WADE AND
THE STEPBROTHERS For more information or to purchase tickets, visit poplarforest.org/events or call the Museum Shop at 434.534.8120.
One thing college students often have in common is stress. A culmination of deadlines, debt and important life decisions make the college years a stressful period of life. On top of assignments, exams and internships, an important practice for college students to develop is to learn how to properly deal with stress. Liberty University’s Health and Wellness Center, makes it a priority to come alongside students as the struggle with school and stress. To help students combat college stress, the Health and Wellness Center hosted a “De-Stress Table,” in Montview Student Union Monday, Oct. 1. Dozens of Liberty students signed a banner labeled, “I De-Stress by … ,” with an activity they participate in to relieve stress. According to the banner, Liberty students relieve stress through activities such as running, watching Netflix, eating chocolate and shopping. Others play piano, pray, listen to music or go to the gym. Assistant Director of the Student Health and Wellness Center Bethany Williams, shared insight into how students can handle the stresses of college life. “College is a very unique time in life,” Williams said. “It is important to balance academics with social activities to help with stress.” Some practical tips Williams shared for students are to take deep breaths, not tackle too much at once and to have proper priorities Williams recommends students dealing with stress find something they enjoy outside of school and participate in that activity each week. “Find an avenue or an
outlet to relieve stress,” Williams said. Williams also emphasized the Health and Wellness Center’s partnership with Student Counseling Services. Stress relief initiatives like the “De-Stress Day” are important for college students because stress will continue into adult life. It is important to find ways to cope and deal with stress now, rather than later. The Student Health Center created flyers to provide students with stress-relief suggestions from Every Day Health. These tips included: “get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, try not to overload yourself and breathe.” Student Health Center Volunteer and Liberty student, Adele Frederick, said the table is a helpful tool for students to understand the importance of not being stressed. “Not being stressed is really important to succeed,” Frederick said. Stress is not the only issue troubling college students. According to the Student Health and Wellness Center’s website, depression is the leading cause of disability in
the United States for people between 15 and 45 years old. October is Depression Awareness month, so it is important for students to become informed on the realities of depression and mental health. The Student Health and Wellness Center is using social media to raise awareness for Depression Awareness month. They intend to break the stigma for depression and mental health. Liberty provides a plethora of resources for students dealing with stress, anxiety and depression to ensure that all students have the assets to reach their full potential. Knowing how to properly deal with stress helps students cope with life’s demands and make the most of their college years. Students can begin their journey towards a more stressfree adult life through the “Adulting 101” Workshop Tuesday, Oct. 16, co-hosted by the Health and Wellness Center and Student Counseling Services.
WOOD is a feature reporter.
Leah Seavers | Liberty News Service
DEADLINE — Prioritizing and planning helps lessen stress.
feature
Liberty Champion | October 16, 2018 | B7
It will BeSweet
Liberty alumnae share love of chocolate and business
photo provided
ALUMNUS — TobyMac graduated from LU.
Elements continued from B8
Dillon Brown | Liberty Champion
PASSION — Eliete Glaze and Denise Moitinho bring their love of Brazilian truffles to Lynchburg venders through their small business. Olivia Deloglos odeloglos@liberty.edu
Although Eliete Glaze and Denise Moitinho both grew up in Brazil, they never crossed paths until they both moved to Lynchburg, Virginia to be a part of Liberty University. Neither of them had plans to start a dessert business, but a passion for Brazilian cuisine and a drive to empower others led to the creation of BeSweet Desserts. BeSweet Desserts hand-makes and sells the traditional Brazilian truffle, Brigadeiro, bringing a unique flavor to vendors in Lynchburg. “I think I can speak for Eliete as well when I say that it is a great joy to share with our customers a sweet piece of our childhood in the form of a delicious Brazilian Brigadeiro chocolate truffle,” Moitinho said. More than just sharing their culture with Lynchburg, Glaze and Moitinho agreed that BeSweet Desserts allows them to share their faith as well. They have the opportunity to show kindness and love to customers and other vendors. On some occasions, they have been able to invite people to church and pray for them. “One of the reasons why Denise and I work so well together is because we have one common goal: to glorify God in what we are doing,” Glaze said. Moitinho and Glaze have been friends for over six years and were brought together by Liberty University. Moitinho first began taking online classes to pursue a graduate degree but ended up moving to Lynchburg in order to teach in the School of Behavioral Sciences while still a student. Glaze pursued a degree in church ministry and graduated in 1992. “During the course of my training at Liberty, I became interested in the idea
of empowering and mentoring people,” Moitinho said. “In my partnership with Eliete, we strive to empower and encourage each other.” Each member of the partnership plays a unique role: Glaze comes up with new and enticing Brigadeiro recipes, while Moitinho focuses on managing the business end. As Moitinho grew a passion for empowering others while at Liberty, Glaze said her degree taught her a strong work ethic, assuring her that she could face the challenges of being a small business owner. “(I thought), ‘If I can graduate college, I can do this,
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always the plan for Glaze and Moitinho, they agree that it is a perfect opportunity to enrich the community while sharing their faith. In this unique way, Moitinho said that she and Eliete strive to be Champions for Christ. “Whether I am running a classroom filled with students or a small chocolate-truffle business, my main goal needs to be to make Christ known and glorified,” Moitinho said.
DELOGLOS is a feature reporter.
“(I thought), ‘if I can graduate college, I can do this too.’” — Eliete Glaze
too,’” Glaze said. For these business owners, faith and enterprise go hand in hand. Moitinho explained that most businesses focus on the product, process, and people involved, but BeSweet adds a fourth ‘p’: prayer. “If Eliete and I want BeSweet to be more than a source of income, but a way to add value to our community and empower others, then we must believe that prayer will take us there,” Moitinho said. From becoming a vendor at the Lynchburg Community Market to catering weddings and events, Glaze and Moitinho accredit their successes to God. “Since we have begun our business, we have seen the Lord opening new doors for us,” Glaze said. Although a dessert partnership was not
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SWEET — Classic chocolate with sprinkles.
The album reflects this string of thought in each song. “When I called this record ‘The Elements,’ I capsulated what all these songs are about, whether it’s “Scars,” or “It’s You,” or “Starts with Me,” TobyMac said. “Starts with Me,” featuring Aaron Cole, is an anthem for unity amidst the unrest in society, challenging audiences to take that step themselves. According to TobyMac, his season of life is not drastically different from his young audience. “I’m still dealing with relationships, still dealing with trying to pursue God in the middle of this crazy world,” TobyMac said. TobyMac spent his college years at Liberty University, graduating in 1988. It was in those years that he formed the group DC Talk with Michael Tait and Kevin Max Smith. TobyMac described those years at Liberty to be pivotal and the most important years of his professional life. “I had always been a creative writer,” TobyMac said. “I’ve always written songs, but I had never considered it as something I wanted to do professionally until I was at Liberty.” But not only was Liberty foundational for TobyMac’s professional career, it was foundational for his personal life. “Other than my wife, there’s probably nothing on this earth that has had a greater influence on me,” TobyMac said. “My whole life changed when I was at Liberty.” For TobyMac, “The Elements” encourages listeners to ask themselves if they are willing to keep striving, even when the world is pushing against them. “I have to wake up every morning, and determine that I’m going to continue to fight,” TobyMac said. “The Elements” is available now. More information about TobyMac’s new tour can be found on his website, http://tobymac.com/tour/.
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SOFT — Creamy coconut dusted in sugar.
CRENSHAW is the feature editor.
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FEATURE ‘The Elements’ released October 16, 2018
B8
TobyMac’s new album encourages listeners to battle through life’s struggles Jenna Crenshaw jmcrenshaw@liberty.edu
“This world gon’ leave some battle scars.” These lyrics from TobyMac’s song “Scars” point to the themes of his new album, offering audiences a vulnerable, honest look at the highs and lows of life while pushing them to keep moving forward. “The Elements,” released Oct. 12, is TobyMac’s seventh studio album, after a three-year wait following “This is Not a Test.” The album features 11 songs, with four songs, “I Just Need U,” “Scars,” “The Elements” and “Everything” having already hit the airwaves. Kevin McKeehan, better known as TobyMac, has claimed seven Grammy awards, and has paved the way for daring Christian artists to explore new stylistic ways to tell their stories through music. The album excites movement, a staple of TobyMac’s music, with upbeat rhythms featured most strongly in “Everything” and “Overflow.” But the album’s lyrics are moving as well — TobyMac described the album as more vulnerable and reflective in light of his previous work. “It’s not maybe as big a party as I try to throw,” TobyMac said. “Because I think there’s some gut-wrenching honesty in
the record.” That gut-wrenching honesty is a major characteristic in the song “Scars,” which TobyMac wrote for his son. The song surrounds TobyMac’s experience of watching his children leave the protection of home into unforgiving realities of the world. “Everybody’s on this journey,” TobyMac said. “When it’s someone you love, and you see them getting banged up a little, or bruised up a little or cut, there’s scars that come with that.” One of the most pressing challenges for TobyMac in the season of life surrounding the birth of the album was learning to let go as his children grew up, while continuing to encourage them to, as the song “Scars” puts it, “lift your head to where your help comes from.” “You just have to let them know that
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Photo Provided
“I have to wake up every morning and determine that I’m going to continue to fight.” — TobyMac
they’re not alone,” TobyMac said. “Those scars are going to come, but they’re not alone.” The title song “The Elements” encourages audiences to go against the grain and press on in their pursuit of God. “Everything I want to be, it feels like the elements are pushing against that,” TobyMac said. “I want to be a godly man, I want to be a good man, but the elements are telling you to be selfish. … I want to be a good friend, but it seems like it’s easier to look after myself than someone else.”
DROP — The album released Oct. 12.
See ELEMENTS, B7
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AUTHENTIC — TobyMac’s new album gives an honest look at life’s ups and downs.
A ticket to Broadway S P I R I T O F B R O A D W AY
Songs from popular musicals, including Les Misérables, will be performed at the Spirit of Broadway Spirit of Broadway will be held at the Center for Music and the Worship Arts Concert Hall during Homecoming weekend. Featuring songs from “My Fair Lady” and “West Side Story” and performances by Steve Amerson and Laurie Gayle Stephenson.
October 19, 7:30 p.m.
Esther Eaton eeaton@liberty.edu
The University Choir, comprised of over 300 voices, surged through “Do you Hear the People Sing,” letting the final chord soar through the music hall into silence before carrying on with rehearsal. During Homecoming weekend, the choir will combine with traveling tenors, local alumni and the Liberty University Symphony Orchestra for a concert of Broadway classics. Dr. Vernon Whaley, dean of the School of Music, cast the vision for a concert he called spectacular fun. Last year the School of Music homecoming concert premiered the musical “Amazing Grace.” “We wanted something that was going to be every bit as good,” Whaley said. “And so, we decided to do an evening of Broadway.” The concert will feature Steve Amerson and Laurie
Nathan Spencer | Liberty News Service
GRACEFUL — School of Music performed “Amazing Grace” adaptation last year. Gayle Stephenson singing standards from musicals such as “My Fair Lady” and “West Side Story.” Amerson has sung for almost 200 movies including “La La Land,” “Star Wars: Rogue One” and “Aladdin.” He also lends his tenor to ministries and churches across the globe. LU Praise joined his Christmas at the Capitol concert in December. Stephenson often joins Amerson to sing Broadway favorites. She made her Broadway debut in “The Secret Garden” and starred for two years as Christine Daae in “Phantom of the Opera.” Stephenson will perform several solos including “Think of Me” from “Phantom of the Opera.” Jody McBrayer, a former member of the quartet Avalon and current tenor for Cana’s Voice, will sing “One Day More” from “Les Misérables” with seven other Liberty alumni. Whaley said students rarely get to work with performers of this quality.
“I think it’s going to bring our whole level of talent up and our level of participation up two or three levels, which is always exciting to see happen,” Whaley said. “…The students can really see how a professional handle themselves in these kinds of situations.” The School of Music has nine choirs, and their rehearsals often reverberate through the walls and mix in the halls at the music building. They will combine to provide stirring, soaring accompaniment along with the Liberty University Symphony Orchestra, all conducted by Dr. Kathryn Voelker. Daniel Gray, a senior worship studies major who will sing in the choir, praised Voelker’s skill and passion. “She is amazing to watch onstage,” Gray said. “Her energy is contagious, so it’s always a pleasure to work with her.” Sarah Day, a senior studying choral music education, sings with the a capella group LU Shine and the University
Chorale. She will also sing for Amerson in a small masterclass the day before the concert. Day has been polishing a song from “Shrek: The Musical” and looks forward to an impartial, professional perspective. “It’s intimidating for sure,” Day said. “But I think it’s so beneficial for a performer and for a vocalist.” As the choir rehearsed behind him, Gray encouraged community members to attend the concert and anticipated the unique energy of so many musicians collaborating. “There’s a real electricity that comes from everybody being together,” Gray said. The Spirit of Broadway concert will be held Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Music and the Worship Arts Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased by calling (434) 582-SEAT.
EATON is a feature reporter.