Liberty Champion April 28 2015

Popular authors return to Liberty to speak at Convocation.

News

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What it means for U.S. Christians with Great Britain secularization.

Opinion

A7

Comparing the NBA of the past to the NBA of the present.

Sports

B3

Aviation student starts late-night coffee ministry on campus.

Feature

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INSIDE THE CHAMPION

Volume 32 | Issue 22 Lynchburg, VirginiaApril 28, 2015

SportsFeature

B1B6

NewsOpinion

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Flag flies in Middle East B7Baseball sweeps Gardner-Webb B1

®

Plenty of choices

Graduation preparation

Out of harm’s way

More dining options to be added in the fall

Students safe after Nepal earthquake

Director Lori Baker plans for commencement

Deck hed deck hed deck hed Deck Hed

Leah SeaverS | Liberty Champion

BEYOND — Seniors prepare to cross the stage and receive their diploma at the 42nd commencement ceremony.

l o o k i n g t o t h e f u t u r e

Tobi [email protected]

Around commencement time each year, the Liberty Uni-

versity Com-m e n c e m e n t Facebook page floods gradu-ates’ newsfeed with answers to questions, contests for club seats and

facts about the ceremony. Though the posts remain nameless someone is in charge of replying to emails and questions. That is where Lori Baker and her team come in, the unsung heroes who plan commencement every year.

“This is my eighth year co-ordinating commencement,” Baker said. “I began working at

Liberty in 2003 doing IT Proj-ect Management.”

Back in 2007, while Baker worked under Larry Shackle-ton, the former vice president of administrative information management, Baker said she of-fered to help her boss set things up for commencement.

“He jokingly said, ‘Be careful what you ask for,’” Baker said. “And I ran commencement that next year.”

However, Baker’s job is not just answering emails. Baker explained how intricate com-mencement planning is.

“Commencement touches just about every office at the university, and it absolutely would not happen without the involvement of these offic-es,” Baker said. “We have key

See PLANNER, A3

Taylor [email protected]

Soft pretzels, lemon-ade and Nathan’s hot dogs will be new options available to the students at Liberty beginning in August 2015 as Sodexo Dining Services will be introducing Auntie Anne’s to the campus.

Casey Guise, unit mar-keting coordinator for Sodexo, explained that Sodexo wants to offer more snacking options for students.

“(Sodexo) is looking at dining trends all the time on campus,” Guise said. “We want to offer innovating and exciting concepts. And of course Auntie Anne’s will take

Flames Cash.”Auntie Anne’s will

be located in the Tin-ney Café at the Jerry Falwell Library and will be replacing Southern Tsunami Sushi. Guise confirmed that sushi will still be made fresh every day and sold on campus at Simply to Go. Con-struction on the new Auntie Anne’s will begin at the end of the spring 2015 semester.

“I’ll definitely be eat-ing there,” sophomore Baylee Collins said. “It’s in a convenient location, and I enjoy their pretzels.”

According to Guise, Sodexo began look-ing into new innovative eateries that would best

suit the Liberty student body. The idea of hav-ing Auntie Anne’s on campus came about this semester.

“We are looking at op-portunities all the time,” Guise said. “Change is something the Lib-erty community is good at, in a good way.”

Sodexo will be

introducing many new dining options next se-mester in addition to Auntie Anne’s. A food truck that will travel around campus is cur-rently in the works. It will serve a variety of differ-ent foods. It will also be used for concessions at

See TASTE, A10

Courtney ruSSo | Liberty Champion

APPETITE — Sodexo workers prepare sweet treats.

Cierra [email protected]

Four Liberty students were in Nepal at the time of the earthquake that killed more than 4,000 people. The Global Studies Department at the university has confirmed they are all accounted for and safe.

“The Global Studies Department is in close communication with the students, their families and the organizations in-volved, and the situation is being moni-tored on a daily basis,” Mitzi Bible, senior managing editor for the News Office and Liberty Journal said.

The devastation continues to mount as the does the death toll. Aftershocks were reported on Sunday, April 26, adding to the severity of the weekend’s events.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit just outside of Kathmandu, the country’s capital, Saturday, April 25. According to USA Today, it was 22 times more pow-erful than the earthquake that rocked Haiti in 2010.

With the needs of the country grow-ing each day, Chesed Dent, the director of global internships, suggests that stu-dents consider the many Christian orga-nizations involved and encourages them to continue to pray for the recovery of Nepal.

“Please be in prayer for these interns and for the Nepali people as they recover from this disaster,” Bible said.

CARTER is a copy editor.

BAKER

T a m -my Park-er is the c u r r e n t c h a i r -p e r s o n of the Bedford C o u n t y

Board of Supervisors and is running for re-election in District 7.

According to Parker, her campaign is running on a platform of con-servative values, includ-ing keeping taxes low for Bedford County residents and encouraging a busi-ness-friendly environment. According to Parker, gov-ernment must stay out of the way of businesses and families and must avoid punitive property taxes on homeowners.

According to Parker, businesses are cutting back hours, benefit packages

and even workforce due to increased taxes during a time of recession. Parker has not voted for a tax increase during her time in office.

Parker is running on a platform that highlights limited government, mean-ing providing the func-tions that are required of the local government and which are funded from the mandatory tax dollars.

“Government enti-ties must stay within their boundaries,” Parker said. “Our citizens deserve con-sistency, accountability and complete disclosure of information from county administration.”

According to Parker, there is a mistrust of gov-ernment, and the way to solve that is “a focus on fis-cal responsibility and being a good steward of the tax payers’ dollars.”

John P. Messier, Republi-can, re-sides in Bedford County. He is part of

a three person ticket called “Bedford First.” Bedford First, which includes Andy Dooley and Kevin Wil-lis, is currently seeking a position on the board of supervisors. They wish to change the way business is conducted in Bedford with an increase in funding for law enforcement and an emphasis on “Service (and people) above politics.”

Messier is for aggres-sive economic develop-ment and increasing the tax base to lessen the burden of Bedford’s resi-dents. Additionally, he is pro-education, supporting

all the basic functions of local government. After owing Southern Flavor-ing Company, Messier de-veloped the desire to keep taxes low while continuing to keep the community moving forward.

During Messier’s 41 years of living in Bedford, he has given to the community through service with the county’s largest volunteer EMS agency, membership in his church and numerous civic organizations.

Messier lives with his wife, April Cheek-Messier, and is father to five chil-dren. He graduated from Liberty High School in Bedford and New England Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences in Boston Massa-chusetts with an associate degree in mortuary science.

A n d y D o o l e y, an Old D o m i n -ion Uni-v e r s i t y graduate and life-long Bed-

ford resident, is challenging District 6 incumbent Annie Pollard for the Grand Old Party’s nomination.

Dooley previously served as an interim supervisor for 10 months.

Dooley, who has a degree in recreation, served as the county’s first recreational director but has since re-tired. He believes his expe-rience in recreation and his interim term as supervisor have given him the expe-rience necessary for this elected position.

“After having served as an appointed supervisor for one year, I see the need

for aggressive economic development, which would decrease the tax burden on residents,” Dooley told the Champion. “ … I am pro-education and am for fair and equitable pay for all county residents.”

Dooley, along with can-didates Kevin Willis and John Messier, is running on a “Bedford First Alliance” ticket, proposing changes “that would move our community forward.”

Emily [email protected]

Over the next couple of months, two incumbents and four newcomers will battle to become Republican nominees for three seats on the Bedford County Board of Supervisors.

The election will take place June 9, and the six candidates are cam-paigning to represent Districts 5, 6 and 7. District 5 includes Boonsboro, Big Island, Sedalia and Peaks of Otter/Northside. District 6 includes part of the town of Bedford, part of Thax-ton, Montvale and Shady Grove. District 7 includes Goode, Lowry, part of the town of Bedford and part of Thaxton.

According to the News & Ad-vance, people in both Bedford County and the town of Bedford will be able to vote in the primary. People in the town of Bedford are represented by either District 6 or 7. The primary will mark the first time in decades that residents in the town of Bedford are able to vote for the Bedford County Board of Supervisors due to the change of Bedford from a city to a town nearly two years ago.

The general election will take place Nov. 3 of this year, though the Bedford Democratic Party

does not currently have any lo-cal candidates, according to the News & Advance.

The Bedford County official website states that the board of supervisors is a seven-member panel, with each member repre-senting approximately 10,500 res-idents. The board’s responsibili-ties include levying county taxes, appropriating funds, approving and enforcing the county’s com-prehensive plan, making and en-forcing ordinances and establish-ing policies and procedures for county residents.

According to Nate Boyer, the Bedford County Grand Old Party chairman, the primary election is “critically important.”

“Too often … conservatives fail to involve (themselves) in the nomination contest within the Republican Party and, as a result, find (themselves) facing a lesser evil choice in the general elec-tion,” Boyer said. “… We tend to overlook local politics in favor of the national scene, completely missing the fact that while we as individuals have a very small im-pact at the national level compara-tively speaking, at the local level, one informed and active voter can have a real impact since the voter pool is far smaller.”

Boyer also said the board of

supervisors primary will help shape the local community.

“Local government impacts us all very personally by taxation, re-strictions on the way we use our private property and in numer-ous other ways,” Boyer said. “We should be diligent to move gov-ernment in the right direction.”

In District 5, two newcomers, Tommy Scott and John Messier, are vying for the nomination. Scott is being endorsed by Steve Arrington, the current supervi-sor who announced more than a year ago that he would step down from his position. Scott also cur-rently holds a spot on the Bedford County Planning Commission.

In District 6, Annie Pollard, the incumbent, is being challenged by Andy Dooley. Annie Pollard has served on the board since 2007, the year she defeated Dooley. Dooley was appointed as an in-terim supervisor and served in the position for 10 months following the unexpected death of Bobby Pollard, Annie Pollard’s late hus-band, according to WSLS 10.

In District 7, Tammy Parker, the current chairman of the board of supervisors, is being challenged by Kevin Willis, who is cur-rently a Bedford County School Board member.

According to Boyer, Messier,

Dooley and Willis are running as part of a “Bedford First” ticket. The three are more focused on local issues, including increasing funding for law enforcement, ed-ucation, fire and rescue and sani-tation and water service, than on state or national issues.

The incumbents, as well as Scott, are focused on keeping the tax rates low and steady and lim-iting the reach of government, Boyer said. A year ago, when the board of supervisors passed a 4 percent increase in property tax by a vote of 4-3, Arrington, An-

nie Pollard and Parker opposed the increase.

Voters who wish to participate in the primary can cast their bal-lots at their regular polling places. Polls with be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. For a full list of voting precincts, visit bedfordcountyva.gov/res/vote/maps.htm.

BROWN is the former editor-in-chief.

newsA2 | April 28, 2015 | Liberty Champion

GooGle imaGes VOTE — Bedford County residents prepare for the upcoming election.

Primary election 2015Candidates battle for positions on Bedford Board of Supervisors

Kevin W i l -lis, cur-rently a Bedford C o u n t y S c h o o l B o a r d member,

is challenging incumbent Tammy Parker for the Dis-trict 7 Board of Supervi-sors seat. Tammy Parker is currently the chairwom-an of the board of supervisors.

Willis graduated from James Madison University in 1989 with a degree in finance/economics. He is currently the finance chair for the Republican Party of Bedford and vice chairman of deacons at Bedford Bap-tist Church.

Willis was a Bedford Area Chamber of Com-merce nominee for Citizen of the Year.

Willis believes in sup-

porting the fiscally re-sponsible exercise of local government functions, in-cluding public safety, fire and rescue, public schools and waste management. According to Willis, it is important to support ag-gressive economic devel-opment in order to lessen the residential tax burden. This includes things such as expanding broadband internet access.

His main goal is to co-operate with the board of supervisors, Bedford Town Council, and the Bedford County School Board, as well as supporting fair and proportional pay increases for all county and school employees.

T o m -my Scott, R e p u b -lican, is r unning for Dis-trict 5 Supervi-sor. He

was born, raised and edu-cated in Bedford County and he has successfully ran Scott’s Cabinet Shop for more than 40 years.

Scott believes govern-ment should live within its means, just as a family or business should, and says that limited government leads to more prosperity. He says his main objectives in serving as county su-pervisor include support-ing low taxes, family val-ues, good schools, public safety, free enterprise and less government interven-tion. Scott says what sepa-rates him from his oppo-nent is his position on low

taxes and less government intervention.

For over 35 years, Scott has been a member and leader at Heritage Baptist Church. He is presently serving on the county plan-ning commission, seeking remedies to ease restric-tions for business and landowners.

KEVIN WILLIS

JOHN P. MESSIER

TOMMY SCOTTAnn i e

Pollard is an eight-y e a r D i s t r i c t 6 incum-bent. Ad-d i t i o n -ally, she

has served as the board chair and vice-chair and has served on several committees.

Pollard says she supports a “reasonably-funded” budget, according to what taxpayers can afford.

Pollard emphasizes the importance of promot-ing a friendly business at-mosphere and protecting property rights for Bed-ford’s landowners. The incumbent also supports recreational development, including improvements to Montvale Park and the pavement of Bedford’s rural rustic roads.

“I think priorities have to

be set, and they would ob-viously include education, emergency services and all other services as required by local government,” Pollard told the Cham-pion. “I do not believe in government over-reach.”

Pollard also says she supports family values and “keeping Bedford’s rural lifestyle and history alive.” She currently chairs the Bedford Museum and Ge-nealogical Library Board of Directors.

Pollard’s hobbies include genealogy, local history, writing, photography and gardening. She thinks it is important to relate to her constituents, and she be-lieves her lifestyle and past experiences have equipped her for that.

ANDY DOOLEY

ANNIE POLLARD

TAMMY PARKER

VOTE

DI STRICT 5 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 7

Liberty Champion | April 28, 2015 | A3news

Visit our homepage frequently for weekly menus, calendar of events and news you can use.

Reber-Thomas Dining Hall • 1971 University Blvd. • (434) 582-2262 • www.LibertyDining.com

Sodexo Spotlight: SELINA ELSWICKPosition/Years with Sodexo: Human Resources Manager, 6 years.Favorite Meal on Campus: Pizza at the Food Court, and the salad bar.Loves: Walking, doing yardwork, and watching birds.Can be found: Hiding behind the file cabinets!

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PLANNER continued from A1

leadership in each of the areas such as Field Ops, Marketing, Event Produc-tions, LUPD and many more, and with-out them, commencement would not happen. It is a huge team effort, and it is so neat to see everything come together. My role in this is to bring those teams to-gether and to facilitate to make sure that everything happens.”

Baker said that life after March includes answering 200 to 300 emails a night and going to a lot of planning meetings. Yet, Baker and her team get to see their hard work pay off with graduation.

“Myself and some of my team basical-ly do not leave campus that week,” Baker said. “We stay on campus and work until the wee hours of the morning. I would not miss the big day for anything. I al-ways joke that it is like planning a wed-ding for 6,000 brides.”

Sometimes there is a little chaos in-volved. Baker told of a mishap she had back in 2012.

“It was the Thursday prior to com-mencement, and we were driving around campus in the dark in a golf cart doing various set up things,” Baker said. “I al-most went over an entire set of stairs at the football field where I thought there was a ramp.”

Baker said that her favorite part is watching those 6,000 brides, or students, make their way onto the football field.

“Typically, I tear up each year when this starts,” Baker said. “We start work-ing in October on commencement, and it is the culmination of all of that work. It really is for the graduates, and the excite-ment that I feel for them at this point is amazing.”

Baker said that commencement would never be possible without the communi-cation and planning that goes into it.

“Information is power,” Baker said. “And by communicating and disseminat-ing details to the parties involved, you are setting them up to be able to make de-cisions and communicate on their own, which in turn shows a well-coordinated effort to our graduates and guests.”

However, once the ceremony is over and campus is empty for the summer, Baker takes her well-deserved break.

“I usually take a long vacation a couple weeks after commencement,” Baker said. “Then we will jump in on mapping out suggestions for the following year and life goes on in the office.”

WALSH is a feature reporter.

C L A S S O F 2 0 1 5

COMMENCEMENT CLOSE UPCOMMENCEMENT CLOSE UPD E G R E E S T O B E AWA R D E D

CERTIFICATES46

ASSOCIATE223

DOCTORAL176

HIGH SCHOOLDIPLOMAS

BACHELOR’S

59

LAW57

3,372MASTER’S

6,200MALE

F EM ALE* PRIMARY SOURCE IS LORI BAKER

2,511

TOTALTOTALG R A D U A T E SG R A D U A T E S

4,800GRADUATINGGRADUATING

HONORSHONORSWITHWITH

C O M M E N C E M E N T S C H E D U L EC O M M E N C E M E N T S C H E D U L EFRIDAY | MAY 8: SATURDAY | MAY 9:COMMENCEMENT CHECK-IN

9 A.M.-4:30 P.M.LAHAYE STUDENT UNION

GRADUATE RECEPTION2 P.M.-4 P.M.WILLIAMS STADIUM

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE6 P.M. | VINES CENTER* PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES10 A.M. | WILLIAMS STADIUM- GATES OPEN AT 7 A.M.- GRADUATES MUST ARRIVE TO THE FEILD BY 7:30 A.M.- STUDENT PROCESSION WILL BEGINS AT 8:30 A.M.

DEGREE PRESENTATIONCEREMONIES

12:30 P.M. | 1 P.M. | 3:30 P.M.

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59%59%Breann Black | liBerty champion

OPINIONA4 April 28, 2015


NEW SEASON — Liberty Champion staff seniors are grateful for their years as editors, photographers and designers, eager to step into what the future holds.

It is crazy to think that I will not be returning in the fall to this gloomy grey-walled, in des-perate need of a make over or a window area, also known as the Champion office. I transferred to Liberty from a school in the great state of Texas in the spring semester of 2013, not knowing anyone. Taking a leap of faith, I applied for a design position here at the Champion.

This job has provided me with many friendships and free piz-za that I will always be thank-ful for. I am so blessed to have been able to work with such a talented group of people, and I cannot wait to see where we all go from here. God bless, and God bless Texas, y’all.

15goodbyes

Breann Black

Dave Van DykEmily Brown

Tre Goins-Phillips

Ash Brownd Olivia Brown

Josh Janney

B R E A N N B L A C K

D AV E VA N D Y KE M I LY B R O W N

T R É G O I N S - P H I L L I P S

A S H B R O W N D O L I V I A B R O W N

J O S H J A N N E Y

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Breann Black


Tre Goins-Phillips


Josh Janney





J O S H J A N N E Y

At the end of almost every production Monday, I ask, “Why do I do this to myself ?”

And every time I come up with the same answer. I love it. I love journalism, and I love all the chaos that comes with it — the deadlines, the breaking stories, the design problems, the photo issues, the copy editing — all of it. All the stress that comes with journalism is worth it when I see the fin-ished paper. Journalism is one of my biggest passions, and the Champion has given me the opportunity to practice what I love and become a better journalist, designer and copy edi-tor in the process.

But what I love even more than the journalistic opportuni-ties that the Champion has afforded me are the relationships. By doing something we all love, we have formed a family as opposed to just a newspaper staff.

I will always be grateful for the friends I have made as I spent hours on end here in the office — practically my home for the last two years. For the times we had deep conversa-tions to the times we just watched “The Office” together, and for every time they put up with my turquoise marks and times

I simply said “NOPE” to the headlines they came up with, I will be forever grateful. I could not be more privileged to work with such an amazing, fun group of people.

And to Mrs. Huff, who came up with the compromises and solutions to all our newspaper problems, the professor who undoubtedly taught me the most in my four years as a student, I simply say, “thank you.” There is so much more I could say to you. You made me a good journalist and helped me to be a better copy editor. You encouraged me so much every day and honestly shaped me into the person I am today.

As my coworkers can attest, I could write so much more about this life-changing experience at the Champion, and I would gladly go through another few turquoise pens, but my word count has officially cut me off.

To next year’s staff: I look forward to all the great issues you all will produce. Have fun, and do not take any minute for granted. I am sure the Champion will give you an unforget-table experience, just as it gave me.

15goodbyes

Breann Black


Tre Goins-Phillips


Josh Janney





J O S H J A N N E Y

As a missionary kid, I am used to saying goodbye. Con-trary to popular belief, though, this does not mean I am good at it.

I learned a long time ago that I do not like goodbyes. So, my mind devised a way for me to experience a significantly less painful grieving period in order to keep my composure when I or someone else has to leave. This method is most commonly known as denial.

Last year, when I received the email from the editor-in-chief of the Liberty Champion saying I was going to be the new copy editor, I was overwhelmed with shock and excitement. I had been accepted into my dream job — get-ting to edit the articles of others in order to improve them for publishing.

Working for the Liberty Champion ended up being much more amazing than I could have hoped. I did not just meet new friends, I became part of a family. However, the thought that I would have to leave when I graduated was always in the back of my mind. So I completely ignored the thought.

Now the time has come where I have to say goodbye. But to be honest, I am still in denial. I have continuously avoided the thought that I am graduating in a few days and that I will have to say goodbye to the family I have joined. So, as cliché as it may be, this is not a goodbye for me.

See you later, Liberty Champion.

15goodbyes

Breann Black


Tre Goins-Phillips


Josh Janney





J O S H J A N N E Y

opinion Liberty Champion | April 28, 2015 | A5

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goodbyes

Breann Black


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Josh Janney





J O S H J A N N E Y15goodbyes

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Tre Goins-Phillips


Josh Janney





J O S H J A N N E Y15goodbyes

Breann Black


Tre Goins-Phillips


Josh Janney





J O S H J A N N E Y

15goodbyes

Breann Black


Tre Goins-Phillips


Josh Janney





J O S H J A N N E Y

When I first stepped into the newspaper office, I was a practicum writer doing a mandatory shadowing of my editor. By the end of the afternoon, I knew that this was a place I wanted to be. I applied to be on staff and was lucky enough to be selected as a copy editor.

These past two semesters working with the newspaper have been incredible. It was a bit daunting at first because there is so much work that goes into producing each edi-tion. I have learned so much about writing and reporting, and it has also been a lot of fun. I have had the plea-sure of working with an incredible team of people who never cease to make my day. The discussions and laugh-ter we shared have made my senior year of college truly

memorable and enjoyable. But now the time has come to say goodbye.

When I think of what I will miss after leaving Liberty, the newspaper is at the top of that list. This office has become my home, a place where a sarcastic but introvert-ed writer finally felt like she truly belonged. This staff is like my family, and I will miss them all greatly. But I also know that this is not a permanent goodbye. In the age of technology, we can certainly find ways to stay in touch. So for now I will simply say, “See you later.” Thanks for the memories, and I wish you all the best of luck.

In just two years, I discovered my passion — writing. A passion I find somewhat ironic, since growing up I always hated reading, and writing always seemed to be a cumber-some speed bump between any completed class and me.

Now, sitting at my laptop, at the end of my time as opin-ion editor at the Liberty Champion, I can say God was onto something when he led me to drop political science and become a journalism major.

Journalism is an industry unlike any other field. In just one year at the Champion, I wrote editorials on issues ranging from politics and culture to faith and religion. Though I just scratched the surface of many of the issues I covered, I felt honored to be the conversation starter. Is that not who we are as editorialists?

“When everyone zigs, find a way to zag,” Jonathan Merritt, an editorialist and Liberty graduate, once told me.

Being a conversation starter, you often find yourself in the hot seat — but I have been OK with that. As a writer, my goal has never been to fully convert any reader to my way of thinking. I believe if I bring even one person to the table, willing to engage, maybe for the first time, then I have done my job.

Those moments of vulnerability sometimes gave way to moments of consideration and learning. After all, I am noth-ing more than a life-long learner. The only difference be-tween journalists and the rest of the world is we bear out our learning — though sometimes cluttered and confused — for all to read.

In time, “Let’s talk,” became a phrase I was familiar with hearing or seeing. For a few of my more controversial articles, I found those two words scribbled across the top in Professor Huff ’s purple ink.

Those “Let’s talk” conversations always yielded refined writing and more seasoned thinking. In time, I came to enjoy those moments. And today, I can tell you I will undoubtedly miss all of our talks and day-to-day conversations.

I have learned so much as a writer, and Professor Huff played no small part in preparing me for this field. It has been a privilege and honor to sit under her teaching, guidance and wisdom.

This year has been a season of firsts for me. I have had the fortune of having my work published in FoxNa-tion, the Washington Post and the Religion News Service. And my writing has been cited on MSNBC and in the New York Times.

In addition to the many professors to whom I owe grati-tude, there are a few people outside my Liberty family who have played a part in molding and shaping me as a journalist. I will probably thank those people on Twitter.

All in all, I look back at this past year feeling blessed and proud to have had the opportunity to serve those around me and to work with such an immensely talented team of writers, editors and designers.

My passion is most assuredly writing, and I look forward to continuing conversations and starting new discussions in the years to come. The beauty of this world is that not all issues come with black and white answers.

We live somewhere in the gray scale, blessed with the op-portunity to navigate it together. And, as a writer, who hap-pens to be Christian, I have the privilege of wading into those gray areas, equipped with my faith, ready and willing to start the discussion.

When I was first asked to try for an editor position at the Liberty Champion, I was reluctant to do so. Knowing that my senior year would be filled with tons of assign-ments, I was worried that taking on editorial duties would push me into insanity. Despite these concerns, I made the decision to go for it.

It is a good thing too, because joining the Champion was probably my single greatest decision I have made dur-ing my four years at Liberty University. It has allowed me to grow so much as a writer, an editor and a leader.

It has also given me the chance to work with an amaz-ing staff, most of which have become good friends of

mine. Over the past year we have all helped each other get through some of the most frustrating (and sometimes ridiculous) obstacles that have attempted to thwart the publication of our newspaper.

The Champion staff is an odd assortment of strange characters, but my time with them has been a defining aspect of my senior year. These friends will definitely be missed.

Though I look forward to my future beyond Liberty as I begin my epic quest to find a job, my time at the Liberty Champion will always hold a special place in my heart.

An old Chinese proverb dating back to the Ming dynasty was once known as saying “Goodbyes are dumb.” Well, I believe it. So rather than saying goodbye and how much I loved my time at the Champion, I am going to give you some life lessons to take to heart or forget the next day.

Leave your door open. Leaving your door open com-municates to your dormmates that you are sociable and open to conversations. It means you are open to hanging out and are not a cave dweller. By leaving your door open, your friends and neighbors across the hall know you do not mind talking.

Get involved. Getting involved gets you connected, which opens up opportunities to make new friends. Get-ting involved means connecting with a club, joining an intramural team and chasing opportunities when they are

presented. Getting involved with campus life in your little niche will pay dividends in the end.

Focus on your grades early on. Focusing on your grades early on will form a GPA pillow for future years. By achiev-ing good grades early on, it will allow you to have fun later. Should you get yourself in a relationship or start assuming leadership opportunities, your grades may drop, but they will drop on a nice fluffy GPA pillow from your early years.

Walk without wearing earphones. Walking without ear-phones allows you to enjoy the scenery and listen to what is going on around you. It allows you to appreciate the people you come into contact with and shows respect to those who are talking to you.

I STILL BELIEVE THAT IF YOUR AIM IS TO CHANGE THE WORLD, JOURNALISM IS

A MORE IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM WEAPON. — TOM STOPPARD

opinionA6 | April 28, 2015 | Liberty Champion

Hello. I am Nathaniel Haywood, but everyone except my grandfather calls me Nate (he still calls me Nathaniel). I am a journalism student here at Liberty Univer-sity and I have been blessed with the oppor-tunity of a lifetime to serve as the editor-in-chief of the Liberty Champion, a title in which I am beyond honored to hold.

Writing is more than a hobby for me. It

is a passion. As a sports writer for a year, and an assistant sports editor for another year, I heard some of the greatest stories never told — and I had the opportunity to tell those stories.

I never expected to make it to this point. As a freshman, I attended a semi-nar for first year students. The communi-cations department wanted new students to get involved as soon as possible. Af-terward, I located and conversed with the head of the Champion, Mrs. Huff. I told her my name and that I wanted to write for the sports section. She pulled out a sheet of paper, wrote down the email address of the sports editor at the time and told me, this wide-eyed freshman, to email him.

So I emailed the guy… and I waited and waited. Long story short, I never heard from him. I would be lying if I said I did not hold a bit of a grudge against

the Champion because of it. But two years, one unread email and one held grudge later, I can say with confidence that this was all a part of God’s plan, and it was well worth the wait.

I cannot speak enough about how thankful I am for this publication. I have worked with and under many gifted jour-nalists that have become much more than co-workers. Rather, they have be-come friends. To those who are entering the real world ahead of me, I will make sure to hold it down over here at the Champion for you all.

It goes without saying that I have big shoes to fill. My predecessor, Emily Brown, is an award-winning journalist with editing skills you would not believe. Initially, I did not truly believe I could replace someone such as her, but I am undoubtedly thankful that I have the chance to try.

We are all blessed to attend a school such as Liberty where everyone around us has a unique story of their own. Lib-erty boasts a diverse student body that comes from seemingly every part of this world. It is our pleasure here at the Champion to tell these stories to fellow students, faculty and other readers. These life journeys are what make Liberty so special.

I look forward to hearing the stories of my fellow classmates. But most im-portantly, I look forward to telling them. I do not know what the future holds, but I cannot wait to find out. My goal is to make the Champion the best publication it can be and the best it has ever been.

by Nate Haywood

LETTERS TO THE EDITORPOLICIES & INFOEmily Brown

editor-in-chief

Nate Haywoodeditor-in-chief

Gabriella Fullergraduate assistant Tom Footegraduate assistant

CONTENT

Dave Van Dyknews editor

Sarah Rodrigueznews editor

Josh Janneyasst. news editor

Quinn Foleyasst. news editor

Tré Goins-Phillipsopinion editor

Lee Sutherlandopinion editor

Alex Tichenorsports editor

Paul Vandenboschsports editor

Nate Haywoodasst. sports editor

Joel Schmiegasst. sports editor

Amber Tillerfeature editor

Olivia Browncopy editor

Ash Browndcopy editor

Jacob Clarkecopy editor

Cierra Cartercopy editor

PHOTOGRAPHY

Courtney Russophotography editor

Leah Seaversasst. photography editor

Michela Diddleasst. photography editor

DESIGN

Breann Blackgraphic designer

Meighan Thompsongraphic designer

SOCIAL MEDIA

Josh Gordonsocial media manager

Jomer Bunqueweb manager

ADMINISTRATION

Deborah Hufffaculty advisor

Omar Adams advertising director

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.

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.

Send letters to:

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or drop off in DeMoss Hall 1035.

© Copyright 2014 Liberty University, Inc.All Rights Reserved

C O N V O C O N N E C T I O N B Y: E R I N K E L LY [email protected]

“Whatever you are facing right now, God is with you!”

David Nasser preached this mes-sage with deep con-viction during Mon-day’s Convocation. In the midst of your circumstances, you need to remember and rely upon the promises of God. A promise is only as good as the one making it. Nasser encouraged us to

remember that the source of a promise gives the promise its value. One of the most profound promises God has made and continues to keep is that He is with us all the time. No matter what. If we believe this, it should radically change the way we live.

After hearing Nasser share his heart regarding one of the darkest seasons of his life, I was humbled and encouraged. I think sometimes we forget that everyone we come in contact with is facing a battle of his or her own. I have been so caught up lately in my own little world that I

have taken my eyes off of the promises of God. I needed to hear what Nasser preached. I needed to hear it, not just for my own encouragement, but so I can take the comfort and promises of God with me wherever I go.

“You want to change the world? Go be you!” Bob Goff closed out our final week of convocation with a simple message. He encouraged us to be childlike and humble. What if we allowed humility to invade our lives? What if we loved everyone, always?

With the semester ending and summer break right around the corner, maybe this

would be a good time to stop and reflect upon all that God has done in your life in the past few months. Take time away from studying for finals to spend time alone with God. Reflect upon His prom-ises and think about the many ways that He has been faithful to carry you through this semester. Then take the hope that you have and boldly share it wherever God takes you.

Have an awesome summer!KELLY

Cultural religions dying in UKSuccess of minority faiths in Britain provide lessons for American Christians

Lee [email protected]

Great Britain, once known as a Christian na-tion, is rapidly becoming secularized. In a recent article in The Guardian, Andrew Brown discusses this issue of the disappear-ance of the Church in the United Kingdom. He refer-ences a recent Win/Gallop poll that states that only 30 percent of British citizens would identify themselves as religious.

“In the last 30 years alone attendance at mainstream churches has just about halved,” Brown said.

However, Brown makes a very important distinction in the religions of British society. He writes that cul-tural religions are the ones failing because they do not have deeply held beliefs. The second type, namely countercultural religions, have very strong theological beliefs and are not afraid to articulate them.

This article makes a few strong points about suc-cessful religions that are applicable to Christianity in America. First, religions that are the strongest are not accepted by the society around them. The decrease

in church attendance, along with new gay rights and abortion laws, seem to point to the fact that American culture is abandoning its evangelical roots.

However, according to Brown, this may be a good thing for American Chris-tianity. As the religion be-comes more of a minority in the society in which it ex-ists, its beliefs and identity become stronger.

“This kind can be ex-tremely strong, and it also draws strength from being in a minority,” Brown said.

This point is supported in various texts of Scripture such as Romans 12, where Paul writes, “Do not be con-formed to this world, but be transformed. (NASB)”

“Where Christianity is found in its biblical form it is always countercul-tural,” Albert Mohler, the president of the South-ern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote.

The second point the article makes that is maybe most applicable to Chris-tians in the United States is that these countercultural religions flourish because of their deep theology.

“People who are religious in a countercultur-al way know what they be-

lieve, and could argue it out with people who disagree,” Brown wrote.

In the last decade or so, a new emphasis on theol-ogy has risen in American Christianity. Conferences such as “Together for the Gospel” and organizations such as The Gospel Coali-tion have pushed Christians to think deeply about all is-sues involved in a biblical

worldview and to formulate intelligent opinions. This focus must continue and the postmodernism that has crept into the church must be put down if Chris-tians truly want to engage the culture around them.

“Acculturated Christi-anity doesn’t require any theology at all,” Mohler said. “But a countercultural Christianity — it requires a

robust set of beliefs. A ro-bust understanding of doc-trine. A robust theology. A robust understanding of the authority of Scripture. A robust understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Therefore, as the culture in America grows farther apart from the Church, Christians must be re-minded that their deep-seated beliefs are what will

continue to cause them to grow. Just as the early Church fathers found joy in their persecutions, we too must embrace the less-er role the church has in American society.

SUTHERLAND is the opinion editor.

GooGle ImaGes

DISAPPEARING — Christianity is beginning to fade across European countries as the cultures become secularized.

Liberty Champion | April 28, 2015 | A7newsLiving Well LibertyLiving Well Liberty@

“A simple children’s song provides some powerful truth and practical ad-vice for spiritual growth: ‘Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.’ This little tune reminds us not of a rigid checklist to complete but an amazing opportunity to enjoy. As you leave Liberty, whether it be for the summer or as a graduate, always re-member this vital spiritual truth: Spend time daily hearing from and talking to God, and you will grow, grow, grow.” — Robert Mullen, dean of students

“As you leave Liberty, you will have learned more and know more than any other time in your life. Therefore, I expect you to be a bet-ter champion for Christ, and do more for Christ in the coming sum-mer and into the future after that.” — Elmer Towns, co-founder of Liberty

“It is better to say ‘no’ to do-ing some ‘good’ things in or-der to be ‘great’ at the really important things in life. Don’t spin your wheels doing ‘good’ things all the while compromis-ing your God-appointed pri-orities (i.e. your spouse, family, communion with God, spiritual development, etc). Remember Luke 10:38-42.”— Dr. Ben Gutierrez, vice provost for Academic Administration

“Take extra steps to live deliberately and mind-fully. That means thinking a lot about whether we are really saying, ‘thy kingdom come’ to God in all areas of our lives — our studies, our workplaces, and even our boring summer jobs. We need to ask whether we are trusting God to meet our needs and treating others with grace and forgiveness, and we need to ask whether we are reminding our-selves daily that this world, even Liberty University, is not our true home.” — Dr. Emily Heady, vice provost for undergraduate education, College of General Studies dean

“Leaving an environment where the majority of people share a Christian worldview can sometimes be a startling reality. But, remem-ber, unredeemed people do unre-deemed things. You have been re-deemed, and the power of the Holy Spirit lives in you. Daily, ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance in all you do. You never walk alone, even when your beliefs may lead to feeling alone.” — Dr. Linda Mintle, chair of behav-ioral health for Liberty University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine

“In the fall of 1974, a prayer leader challenged our prayer group to make a commitment (to God) to spend just 15 min-utes a day for 60 days in prayer and Bible reading. He did not ask for a ‘show of hands’ or a public proclamation. He sim-ply threw out the challenge. That challenge changed my life. A pattern of ‘waiting on God’ was established that carries me through life, both in the good times and in the bad. I would offer that same ‘challenge’ to all seeking consistency in their walk. Just 15 minutes a day for 60 days.” — Mark Hine, senior vice president for Student Affairs

“One of the most important gifts summer can offer — wheth-er it is a summer between se-mesters or a summer between college and career — is balance. Balance is crucial to a healthy and happy life: balance between work and play, body and spirit, seriousness and laughter, fam-ily and friends, effort and rest. Use summer to restore whatev-er you need to bring balance to your life before the next stage of life is upon you.” — Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, professor of English

“In my own journey, I have found that when I have stepped out of my comfort zone, I have come into a realm that has so (many) more possibilities. Beyond Liberty, there is a world that is waiting (and needs) for you to be a champion for Christ, and it will take God’s guidance, your passion and much faith to ful-fill your dreams. Don’t know what’s next in life? Then, I advise what is prescribed in the book, Experiencing God … look at where God is moving and go there. Congratulations and God bless your life’s endeavors.” — Melany Pearl, director of the Center for Multicultural Enrichment

“Seize the sum-mer to recharge with rest, rekindle relationships with family and friends, reload on resourc-es and most im-portantly, revive your soul to God.” — David Nasser, senior vice presi-dent of Spiritual Programs

“I would like to share the ad-vice that Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. gave me when I was a student. He encouraged me to make as many contacts as I could with people regardless of their oc-cupation. I was to ask for their business card and later turn the card over and write down how I met them. Why? So in the fu-ture, if I needed help, I could re-mind them of our meeting and ask for it.” — Lew Weider, director of the Center for Christian/ Community Service

EDITOR’SNOTE

As Liberty students leave campus for the summer, and as seniors ready for graduation, administrators hope students thrive in their lives beyond Liberty. The following pages show a collection of advice from university officials to students on how to “live well” as they journey outside Lynchburg.

“Never forget the original vision for Liberty: to train young people to go out into every profession, every walk of life, and, no matter what that profession is, to live your lives by Christian principles. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a preacher standing up in the pulpit every Sunday, or an accountant or a lawyer sitting at your desk. The idea is to live your life, love God, love others and bring others to Christ through your exam-ple. Not everybody has the gift of preaching and of pastoring. … The idea behind Liberty is that no matter what your profession is, no profession is more sacred in God’s sight. It’s just how you live that should make Liberty students different. … It should make others see something different in Liberty graduates.”

PRESIDENT JERRY FALWELL

Dr. Ron Hawkins Provost

My first word of advice as you look forward to the summer is make the most of it. Celebrate the op-portunity you have in this season of your journey to en-joy a degree of freedom that will not always be available to you. The Bible is very clear on the fact that your eternal Father wants you to keep company with joy in your youth. With that established, I want to suggest a few addi-tional challenges I hope you will embrace.

The first — setting goals for your summer — will need to be thought through before you leave the campus. I want you to find a quiet place (maybe in that beauti-ful new library). Settle in, and then build a list of the things you would like to accomplish this summer.

Maybe you are graduating and not coming back. You

are a senior, and that is it. You are done. I remember the feelings of sadness I experienced as a graduating senior when I realized I was not coming back in the fall. This place, these friends, and all the things that had given structure and meaning to my life for a long time were now part of my past. Knowing that day is coming, maybe sooner rather than later, you really need to make the list. What will help you use this coming summer to set a great course for your future? Or maybe you will be a return-ing student in the fall. Start with this idea: It is August, and you are on your way back to the campus, and you are feeling really good about the summer because you did ev-erything on your list. What is it that you accomplished that has got you in such a great mood as you are returning for another year?

Regardless of whether you will be back in here in the

fall, your list should include everything you will need to take responsibility for put-ting into place anything to help you find great purpose and personal meaning in the next phase of your journey. Remember, if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time. So make the list. Make it before you leave. Then commit to implementing it.

It is important that the things you put on your list should help you eliminate the bad things in your life and grow the good. I was reminded recently that our hearts and minds are like a garden. Gardens, you know, grow both weeds and fruit. When we put good stuff into our brains, the good stuff tends to kill weeds and promote the growth of good fruit in our minds and in our hearts. With that in mind, take a look at your list. What do you see on the list that is guaranteed to kill weeds, and what do you see that

will promote fruit-bearing in your life over the long haul?

As you revisit your list remember that the Word of God, hidden deep in the mind of the child of God, is a great killer of weeds and grower of fruit. Other weed killers include listening to good music and reading good literature. Invest your time wisely. Spend some of your time this summer focused on strengthening your relationship with fam-ily, friends, and others who have been special in your life and who have made contri-butions to your weed killing and fruit bearing. Look for opportunities to serve oth-ers. Stay engaged in mission and ministry at a significant level this summer because what you do in ministry will last beyond the summer and endear you to others. Re-member, whatever you do, do everything this summer guided by the desire to glo-rify God in word and deed.

Lauren [email protected]

As students head their separate ways and travel away from the Christian community at Liberty for the summer, they can quickly fall into bad habits if they are not actively seeking God.

According to Dr. David Wheeler, School of Religion professor, students should remember Matthew 6:33 and seek the kingdom of God before anything else.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (ESV)

Emily Woody, life skills coordinator from the Campus Pastors Office, noted that stu-dents should identify any sources of temp-tation at home and be proactive in avoiding people and places that might negatively in-fluence them. Wheeler added that students need to protect their hearts.

Wheeler noted that summers away from Liberty are very important times because people change the most in between the ages of 18 and 22.

Woody referenced 2 Timothy 2:22, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righ-teousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (ESV).

“Cultivating faith and love for the Lord will help trigger all these other things,” Woody said.

Woody emphasized that it is important to flee from temptation and pursue God.

Wheeler shared that students must have a plan for the summer. He noted that they often react, when they should first act.

According to Wheeler, Christians should read the Bible every day because they need the spiritual nourishment.

“Not reading the Bible is like not eating,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler added that students should continue their personal habits — if they have good ones now — or start cultivating healthy routines.

Wheeler challenged students to set a Bible-reading goal for the summer. He suggested reading through Paul’s writings, Proverbs and the Gospels or Acts. He chal-lenges his classes to read John in the morn-ings and Proverbs at night. He also suggest-ed keeping a journal when reading the Bible and writing down a verse to carry with you throughout the day.

Woody said that a good way to start a daily quiet time is to write down five things for which you are grateful. She noted that having an attitude of thanksgiving combats negative feelings such as anxiety, pride, anger and bitterness.

“We are aware some students are going home to a rough life,” Woody said. “But, if they will put effort into striving towards gratitude in the midst of it, they can have

such a different experience because it is go-ing to be rough whether they are grateful or not, so they can be bitter in the midst of it, … or they can rise above with gratitude and thanksgiving,” Woody said.

Woody added that the Christian life takes effort and students will have to put forth more effort during the summer be-cause they will not have anyone to “just do it for them.”

“A vibrant Christian walk does not come from coasting or being passive,” Woody said.

Without the structure of Convoca-tion, campus church, and prayer groups, the responsibility falls upon the indi-vidual student to develop his or her own spiritual walk.

“Students have got to take personal re-sponsibility for themselves,” Wheeler said. “They have got to take what they have learned and say I am going to mean this, to take full responsibility for what they are and what they are not.”

Woody said in the summer, there are no longer RAs and people checking up on the students. So, they have to take the responsibility upon themselves to act in a way that is right. She reminded students that every choice they make represents God, their family, Liberty and themselves.

“Summer is a trial period for beyond Liberty, because once they

graduate and move on, it is their responsibil-ity,” Woody said. “So this is a great trial run before then.”

Wheeler said that students need to learn to say yes to God during the summer, even when it is hard.

Woody and Wheeler shared that there are a wealth of resources available to help students grow spiritually over the summer including watching past Convocations on-line, plugging into a local church, having accountability partners and finding older Christians who can guide you.

“(Students have) to be strong and know where (they) are coming from,” Wheel-er said. “(Students have) to have people in their lives that will tell them the hard things,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler suggested students pair up and call each other periodically to check up on one another and hold each other accountable.

“Go have fun and enjoy the summer,” Wheeler said. “But be an influencer. Don’t be influenced.”

GLOSSNER is a feature reporter.



LEISURE —Students look for advice from administrators as they leave for summer break and spend time away from Liberty.

Living Well LibertyLiving Well Liberty@

Keeping faith strong

Spending summer wisely

Faculty offers students advice for spiritual development over the summer

Provost encourages students in all walks of life to stay spiritually strong

Wheeler’s advice

Summer is a key time to reach people for Christ. Several evangelism tools that students can use include:

1. Lifeonmissionbook.com — click on the “Three Circles” tab and down-load the app that will help guide you through sharing the gospel.

2. Viewthestory.com — download the evangelism app that clearly presents the gospel of Jesus.

3. MyhopewithBillyGra-ham.org/programs/ — several videos on the site serve as great conversa-tion starters that lead to the gospel.

Photo Provided

Ellie [email protected]

“Leaving the bubble for the battle.”

This is how Associate Dean of Students and Campus Pastor Timothy Griffin de-scribed what seniors from Liberty will face when they graduate this May.

Convocation, prayer and life groups, campus community and required biblical classes make the spiritual environment at Liberty (the bubble) possible. And while some students may decide to stay at Liberty for graduate school or get hired to work in a place with a Christian environment, many others will go on to secular workplaces where they work a 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. job with no consistent Christian encouragement around them.

According to Griffin, there is no doubt graduates will face battles as they move to the next stage in life.

“As you go out, you are going to be in a battle everyday,” Griffin said. “The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:11 to put on the whole armor of God. Why? So you’ll be able to stand. Stand against whom? Stand against the devil. If you don’t believe that you are in battle, (that is a) problem.”

However, Griffin and Associate Dean for the School of Religion Dr. Gabriel Etzel offered advice for graduates to stay spiritually strong throughout those battles.

Etzel said students should focus on four areas of influence — the first being the im-pact society has on shaping people.

“We become more and more like those we associate with because they shape what we value,” Etzel said. “Guard your friends, let those you will be working with influ-ence your choice of a job, and remember that you marry not just an individual, but that family will forever influence you as well.”

Griffin added that graduates should keep track of friends so they can have someone to talk to when things get tough.

“You have networks you’ve developed for your profession here at Liberty, but you should also develop a spiritual network of people who can help you in times of strug-gle,” Griffin said. “Liberty is a community. Take advantage of those people that you met, and make sure they stay a part of your life as you go through life.”

Although Convocation is manda-tory now, Etzel said graduates should not underestimate the influence of corporate worship. After leaving Lib-erty, opportunities to be in that type of setting decrease.

“Look for, long for, plan for times of praise,” Etzel said. “It is a time to inten-tionally pursue God through lifting high

His name with others.”Etzel also emphasized the importance

of prayer. “What you have experienced at Lib-

erty is a result of prayer, and your accom-plishment of a college degree is a result of prayer,” Etzel said. “Don’t give up on prayer now, it is literally the life-line to your creator and sustainer, and it is a constant reminder that God is God, you are not, and you need him for wisdom and power every step of the way.

Both Etzel and Griffin encouraged stu-dents to read the Bible.

“Don’t underestimate the shaping influ-ence of Scripture,” Etzel said. “Reading and studying the Bible may no longer be required for a grade, but for any believer, it should be regular activity. If we really long to have our minds transformed by God, we will take seriously His commandments to know Him.”

Griffin related his advice about the im-portance of reading the Bible back to his childhood days.

“There was a song I learned as a kid and it said — ‘read your Bible, pray everyday, and you’ll grow, grow, grow. Neglect your Bible, forget to pray, and you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink,’ and the reality is, as a Christian, you are not in neutral,” Griffin said. “You’re ei-ther going to be growing, or you’re going to be shrinking. Your growth is going to be

based on your daily time with God … (and) your lack of growth is going to be based on not spending time with God.”

Griffin added that while many careers change over the course of time, God stays the same, and so does the Bible.

“As a Christian the difference is you continue to go back to the source, but the source doesn’t change, and I like that concept because whatever field you’re in, chances are, as time passes, there are go-ing to be changes, and there will be new things you have to learn,” Griffin said. “The Bible will never change. God’s Word never changes.”

For those graduating without a job planned or for those experiencing an un-planned change, Griffin offered encour-agement in the form of a personal trial he faced.

Griffin said he went through a difficult transition after being laid off a job he had for 10 years. He and his wife were expect-ing a baby and bought a new car 18 days before the news of unemployment.

“At that point when it happened, I didn’t lose hope and didn’t lose faith,” Griffin said. “That was a time I really needed to get with God and say, ‘Okay God what are you doing?’ I think that should be the same mindset with graduating seniors who are months out of school and don’t have that job yet. Use those times to get closer to

God. Don’t let that be a time you distance yourself from God, because ultimately he has the answer. Let that be a time you get close to God.”

Whether graduates have a job or not, the Campus Pastors Office is teaming up with Liberty Online Communities to produce an eight-week video series that will ad-dress students and be released throughout the summer.

“These videos focus on providing bib-lical and practical Christian living insights that will benefit students who will be re-turning in the fall, but also those who are graduating,” Griffin said.

Overall, Etzel and Grif-fin encouraged graduates to focus on God.

“Society, songs, supplication and scrip-ture are all important shaping agents, but ultimately they must lead to the Savior,” Etzel said. “Allow these influencing agents to help you more faithfully love the savior. That view of the good life you see will not just be a picture of worldly success, fame, or money, but it will be saturated with a desire for, a love for God and His renown above all else.”

FRASER is a copy editor.

Liberty Champion | April 28, 2015 | A9news

Breann Black | liBerty champion

VIDEO SERIES — Liberty administration and various campus pastors will be creating videos every two weeks in order to keep students grounded in the Word of God.

leah SeaverS | liBerty champion

TRANSITION — Students prepare to take the skills learned during their time as undergraduates and put them into practice.

Living outside the bubbleCampus pastors offer encouragement to students leaving after graduation

Living Well LibertyLiving Well Liberty@

L I V E W E L L S P I R I T U A L L YV I D E O S E R I E S

GOING HOME - HAVE A PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH THIS SUMMER.

DAVID NASSER MAY 11TH

JUNE 8TH

JULY 6TH

MAY 25TH

JUNE 22ND

JULY 20TH

AUGUST 3RD

AUGUST 10TH

BEN GUTIERREZ

TIM GRIFFIN

ROBERT MULLEN

DAVID WHEELER

MELODY HARPER

EMILY WOODY

DAVID NASSER

TITLE/SUBJECT SPEAKERSTREAMING AT 9 PM

ON FACEBOOK

HOW TO HAVE A QUIET TIME

STAY OUT OF THE TRASH

WHY PRAY?

SHARE YOUR FAITH AT HOME

READ GOOD BOOKS

CHRIST OUR FIRST LOVE

COMING BACK TO LIBERTY - HOW TO PREPARE YOUR LIFE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

UPON RETURNING

TASTE continued from A1

Liberty sponsored events.In the fall, there will be

a new option for salad lov-ers in the Tilley food court. This station will enable students to create custom-ized gourmet tossed salads along with fresh, home-made salad dressings. This dining option is a part of the initiative “Live Healthy Liberty.”

The Reber-Thomas Din-

ing Hall will begin creating specialty hamburgers. Ac-cording to Guise, a Taylor grill will be used to create a more authentic dining ex-perience for students. This grill will increase the quality of hamburgers by making the burger healthier while also improving the taste.

Lastly, Wingstreet will be introduced to Pizza Hut in the Tinney Café at the Jerry Falwell Library. Accord-ing to Guise, Wingstreet is an extension of Pizza Hut

that offers chicken wings ranging in flavor from mild to spicy. This will give the students more variety and another snacking option.

Guise stated that Sodexo is confident in their changes and additions for next se-mester. They believe these dining options will enrich the dining experiences of the students on campus.

The menus for places such as Doc’s Diner and Wholly Habaneros will be evaluated and improved as

well. Guise explained they desire to keep the menus new and exciting.

“We are very excited and we hope (the students) en-joy,” Guise said.

As the largest student employer at Liberty, Guise stated that Sodexo will be hiring Liberty students as well as students from sur-rounding colleges to work at different dining locations around Liberty.

“We appreciate our stu-dent workers every day …

We also understand aca-demics are extremely im-portant,” Guise said.

There will be a job fair April 29 and open inter-views will be held during the fair for those applying. There are many positions open around campus. Stu-dents may also apply online through Sodexo’s website.

FROST is a news reporter.


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Shannon [email protected]

Amber [email protected]

Two New York Times best-sell-ing authors, Jon Acuff and Bob Goff, visited campus to speak at Convocation Wednesday, April 22 and Friday, April 24, respectively. Special guest Nichole Norde-man led worship and John Luke Robertson, future Liberty student and son of TV personality Wil-lie Robertson, made an appear-ance to share what God has been revealing to him lately.

According to Senior Vice Presi-dent for Spiritual Development David Nasser, when he and his staff asked for requests concern-ing Convocation speakers, Acuff and Goff topped the list.

Acuff, who has spoken at Lib-erty University multiple times, highlighted topics from his new book, “Do Over” Tuesday, April 21 at a book signing held at the Liberty University Bookstore. He elaborated on the book’s theme Wednesday at Convocation.

“Do Over” explains the four inevitable transitions that people experience in the workforce and in life — hitting a ceiling, expe-riencing a bump, making a jump, and getting a surprise opportunity.

According to Acuff, hitting a ceiling occurs because of a

voluntary choice and ends nega-tively such as working in an un-favorable occupation. A bump is defined as an involuntary and negative occurrence, such as los-ing a job. The jump happens as a result of a voluntary choice that results in a positive change. Fi-nally, an opportunity occurs when something good happens because of an involuntarily incident, such as a random job opportunity.

In addition, Acuff stressed the importance of being a flexible leader as well as being a student.

“Leaders who can’t be ques-tioned do questionable things,” Acuff said.

Acuff wanted students to be leaders while also being led and to understand they have jurisdic-tion over how they will react to these changes through evaluat-ing relationships, focusing on skills, building character and practicing hustle in and out of the workplace.

“How will people see Jesus when you work?” Acuff asked. “God is not in the business of im-provement, he is in the business of new. … We have a God who loves a ‘do-over’ moment.”

While Acuff encouraged stu-dents to embrace change, Goff relayed the importance of em-bracing people.

“Love everybody, always,” Goff said.

As Goff stressed the impor-

tance of love in his message, he also encouraged students to wait.

“You’re going to see more,” Goff said.

Goff relayed this statement to the audience because of his recent experience of losing sight in his right eye. After visiting the doctor multiple times, Goff was encour-aged to practice patience.

During Convocation, stu-dents were influenced to wait on God and know that God is good even through the rough

and confusing patches in life.Goff ’s other pieces of advice

included loving the people that are hard to understand, holding people close especially in times of need, quitting things and clearing up time for spontaneity.

“We need to live an interrupted life,” Goff said.

Goff reasoned that people should leave their schedules open and be available to people more often as opposed to stuffing their days with activities and hoarding

their time and their possessions. Following love’s lead, never lis-

tening to the voice of comparison, and staying humble and childlike, but not childish, were some of his other points as he spoke to the Liberty community.

“You want to go change the world — go be you — the hum-blest you,” Goff said.

RITTER is a news reporter.

TILLER is the feature editor.

Love everybody, always Campus favorites Jon Acuff and Bob Goff inspire students at Convocation

Courtney russo| Liberty Champion

DISCUSSION — Jon Acuff returned to Liberty to teach on his new book “Do Over” in Convocation.

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Lefty dominanceFlames pitching shuts down Gardner-Webb to earn series sweep


DEALING — Senior pitcher Jared Lyons winds up for one of 107 pitches during his one-hit shutout against the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs.

Lady Flames split doubleheaderSoftball team takes game one against Virginia, falls short in game twoSarah [email protected]

Game 1: Liberty 3, UVA 2

In game one of a double-header Wednesday April 22, the Liberty Flames softball team defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 3-2 to earn their fifth-straight victory.

The Lady Flames were led by redshirt junior pitch-er Chandler Ball’s complete game in which she allowed two runs on six hits.

Wednesday at Liberty Softball Stadium was also “Strikeout Cancer” day. The Lady Flames were dressed in pink jerseys and

wore pink batting helmets to help raise money for breast cancer research.

Liberty took the early 2-1 lead in the first, but after the third inning, the Lady Flames and Cavaliers were deadlocked at 2-2. Not until the sixth inning was another run scored as the Lady Flames got the eventual game-winning run when junior center fielder Blair Lawrence scored on a passed ball with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.

Game 2: UVA 4, Liberty 2

Despite an RBI double from junior first base-

man Katie Han, the Lib-erty Flames softball team fell to the Virginia Cava-liers, 4-2, in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday evening.

The Lady Flames (27-25, 12-9 Big South) con-cluded their home sched-ule, finishing with a 13-10 record at Liberty Softball Stadium, which opened in mid-March.

The Lady Flames have been plagued by multiple injuries lately and have had to play many players out of position. Wednes-day was no exception. Freshman catcher Alex-ia Taylor was moved to

shortstop and freshman Jes-sica Cicerchia took the field at second base Wednesday.

Coach Dot Richardson said she is pleased with her team’s effort through the unexpected circumstances.

“I am very proud of the team … with a lot of fresh-men (and) a lot of players playing out of position,” Richardson said. “There are a lot of good things.”

Lawrence has been a first-hand witness of the te-nacity of the Lady Flames.

“I think the team is showing great leadership,” Lawrence said. “ … We have four or five starters out, and everyone is just

picking each other up.”Wednesday afternoon,

the Lady Flames found themselves down early, 1-0, after a fielding error in the second. After the Cavaliers tacked on two more runs in the fourth, the Lady Flames responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth.

However, the Cavaliers were not done. An RBI single by Virginia pitcher Aimee Chapdelaine in the top of the fifth gave the Cavaliers a 4-1 advantage.

Lady Flames start-ing pitcher Abby Tincher pitched 4.1 innings, giving up six hits and four earned

runs before redshirt sopho-more Kenzie Freisen was brought in for relief.

The Lady Flames added a run in the bottom of the sixth as Lawrence scored on a fielder’s choice by fresh-man Madison Kotchey. However, the Lady Flames were never able to over-come the early deficit.

The Lady Flames were unable to keep any momen-tum from the Virginia se-ries, as they were swept by Winthrop over the weekend of April 25 to finish their Big South schedule (12-12).

RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

Joel [email protected]

Paul [email protected]


Game 1: Liberty 5, GW 0After the first pi,tch of the game

was hit up the middle for a base hit, nobody knew that it would be the hit that kept Liberty southpaw Jared Lyons from a no-hitter. How-ever, 106 pitches later, Lyons got

his ninth strikeout of the day to win his seventh game of the year, keeping Liberty in the hunt for the Big South title.

“The first inning I felt like ehh, whatever,” Lyons said. “But af-ter that, I had to really focus in. Friday night-lights — you got the crowd going — you gotta win that big one.”

With the 5-0 win Friday, April 24 over Gardner Webb (19-23, 5-11 BSC) the Flames (26-16, 12-4 BSC) stayed in a tie for second place with Coastal Carolina in the Big South Conference.

Liberty scored the first of its four third-inning runs when senior Becker Sankey doubled down the left field line to bring home junior Dalton Britt. Sophomore Will Shep-herd came to the plate with senior Alex Close on third and Sankey on second, and hit a sacrifice bunt that brought in two runs after an error at first base. Sophomore An-drew Yacyk drove in the last run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.

“We swung the bats,” Liber-ty Head Coach Jim Toman said. “We hit the ball harder than we

have hit it all year.”In the top of the third inning,

senior Clay Keranen showed his athleticism when he made a diving save and then threw from his knees to first base for the out.

Lyons made quick work of the next five innings and got through the top of the eighth having only thrown 88 pitches.

“As a pitcher I want to make sure that this is my mound and that this is my field,” Lyons said.

Liberty added another run in the See DOMINANCE, B2

sports B2 | April 28, 2015 | Liberty Champion

DOMINANCE, continued from B1

bottom of the eighth with an RBI from Yacyk that made the score 5-0.

With one out in the top of the ninth, senior Ryan Hodge was hit by Lyons and advanced to first base. Hodge then advanced to second on a groundout. With red-shirt senior Sam Fulginiti at the plate, Lyons threw a wild pitch that allowed Hodge to advance to third and Fulginiti was walked. In all the madness, Toman never got anyone going in the bullpen.

“I was gonna leave (Lyons) out there till it was about 5-4,” Toman said. “We didn’t even loosen up Close or Perritt. That was his game to win or lose. He earned that.”

Lyons struck out the next batter he faced to finish off his complete game.

Game 2: Liberty 3, GW 2Paxton hit a walk-off single in

the bottom of the ninth to give the Liberty baseball team (27-16, 13-4 Big South) a 3-2 win over Gardner-Webb (19-24, 5-12 Big South) Saturday April 25 at Lib-erty Baseball Stadium.

Close got his first win of the season in relief for the Flames to move to 1-1 on the year. Junior Brad Haymes took the loss for the Runnin’ Bulldogs and dropped to 1-3 on the season.

Flames junior left-hander Vic-tor Cole continued his stellar sea-son by tossing eight innings and allowing one earned run on five hits while walking one and strik-ing out eight.

“(Victor) really spotted his fast-ball today,” Toman said. “And at one point (in the game), he was using it almost exclusively, but he has a good, sharp curveball as well and a good changeup. So all three pitches were working well … and he kept them off-balance.”

The Flames struck first af-ter sophomore third baseman Sammy Taormina drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to force in Perritt from third and give Liberty a 1-0 lead.

The Flames added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Perritt and Britt hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with one out. Close fol-lowed by grounding out to second to score Perritt and extend the

Flames lead to 2-0. Cole did not allow a run until

the eighth inning, when senior pinch-hitter Brantley Smith drove a 1-0 pitch into the Flames bull-pen to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.

Close came in to try and earn the save in the ninth, but sopho-more pinch-hitter Matt Simmons reached first with one out when Flames freshman back-up first baseman Corey Howard dropped a throw from Britt. Redshirt ju-nior pinch-hitter Will Canady followed with a hit-and-run single to left, scoring the pinch-runner from first and tying the game, 2-2.

“I was kind of kicking myself,” Close said. “I didn’t think I made a bad pitch, but (Canady) hit it where we weren’t. But the guys did a good job of staying ener-gized … and it was little exciting to have a chance to walk off.”

In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore pinch-hitter Nick Salisbury led off with a walk and was replaced with sophomore pinch-runner Tray Roberts. Rob-erts then stole second and ad-vanced to third on a groundout by junior pinch-hitter Nick Walk-er. With one out, Paxton hit a 3-1 fastball back through the middle to score Roberts and win the game for the Flames.

“I told Nick I didn’t want him to go up there and walk,” Toman said. “A lot of times he’ll get ten-tative late in the game and try to walk, but we were trying to get the game-winning hit … but he hit it well up the middle and I’m very proud of (Nick).”

The last walk-off hit for Lib-erty came on April 27, 2014 when Close hit a bases-loaded single to score Ryan Seiz and give the Flames a 4-3 win against UNC Asheville.

Game 3: Liberty 3, GW 0Liberty completed the series

sweep of the Runnin’ Bulldogs with a 3-0 win Sunday, April 26.

Liberty collected 11 hits in the game and put one run on the board in the third, fourth and eighth innings. Sophomore right fielder Will Shepherd scored all three runs for Liberty on two RBIs from Yacyk and a sacrifice bunt from Salisbury. Shepherd also recorded his first three-hit game of the season and added two stolen bases.

Junior center fielder Aaron

Stroosma and Close had two hits each for the Flames. Close has reached base in 34 straight games. Britt also added a hit in the con-test, extending his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest streak for any Liberty player this season.

Senior left-handed pitcher Shawn Clowers (9-3) registered the first shutout of his career, allowing only three hits and

striking out six while walking two. Sunday’s game also marked the first complete game of Clowers’ career.

Following the win, the Flames moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Big South with Radford and Coastal Carolina.

Liberty will play James Madi-son Tuesday, April 28 at 7p.m. at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

SCHMIEG is the asst. sports editor.

VANDENBOSCH is the sports editor.


Alex [email protected]

Sadly, this is the last edition of Tich’s Take ever.

Unfortunately, I do not get a farewell tour like Derek Jeter, but I do have this last bit of space in the paper, so let’s do this thing.

Ever since I hit “pub-lish” on my first blog

post when I was 14, writing my own column in a newspaper was one of my dreams. Somehow, I lucked into get-ting this space to write about whatever I wanted to as a 22 year old and it has truly been a blast.

Not only is this my last column in the Champion, but it is the end of my college life. The real world is imminent. No more Convocation, meal swipes or living in a small room with two other people.

So since it is all over and I have a col-umn to write things, I figured I might as well give some advice to some of the younger readers out there who may not be as old and decrepit as I am. Here it goes.

My first bit of advice: be flexible. Being tied down in college is a

formula for not enjoying college, espe-cially within the first couple years. Fresh-men and sophomores, stay as far away from the opposite sex as possible — at least in terms of “dating.” You will never have more freedom in your entire lives than your first few years of college. Do

not limit yourselves by being tied down to a guy or girl back home or even at school. This sounds harsh, but just trust me.

Secondly, have fun. The foremost reason people go to

college is to get an education. And never forget that. Classes are important. Home-work is important. Extra curricular ac-tivities are important. But college is the only time you will ever live with your best friends and have hours upon hours of free time to do whatever you want.

Sometimes you will be forced to choose between a spontaneous weekend trip with friends and working on a project. Always go on the trip. You will probably for-get what that project was about within a few weeks, but you just might remember something that happens on that trip for the rest of your life.

Once, one of my friends was de-ciding whether to stay in town to do some schoolwork or go on a trip with me and a few other friends. After eat-ing some Chinese food, he opened up his fortune cookie and it literally read

“Soon you will go on a trip with friends.” This actually happened. And I remem-

ber that trip to this day. Sometimes you have to listen to the fortune cookie.

Lastly, watch and play as many sports as possible.

Just when you thought this column was getting a little too sappy and too far away from its roots. Never forget the magic of sports even when things threaten to get in the way.

The cool thing about college is that there are probably dozens of people with the same likes and dislikes as you out there on campus somewhere. Find people who root for your teams and make friends with them. This is not hard.

That is all I have for you. Game over.

TICHENOR is the former sports editor.

TICHENOR

Tich’s Take


STAYING PATIENT — Senior catcher Becker Sankey takes a pitch against Gardner-Webb.

Liberty Champion | April 28, 2015 | B3sports

Alex [email protected]

Nostalgia is a powerful thing. Prior generations love to get all poetic

about how their era was better than today’s. Beside maybe eating oatmeal and reading the newspaper, telling “kids” how things used to be so much better is 40-somethings’ and 50-somethings’ favorite thing to do.

Specifically, basketball fans raised on the 80s NBA love rubbing it in young NBA fans’ faces how much better basketball was back in the day. And, to be fair, they do have some valid points.

There have not been two players resem-bling Magic Johnson and Larry Bird since the good ol’ days. Young Michael Jordan was one of the greatest spectacles in sports history. It was the first true Golden Era for the league, which also boasted young stars like Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Walton, Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley during the mid-to-late 80s.

But much to the curmudgeonly old-timer’s dismay, today’s NBA has evolved into a product that rivals the sacred Magic/Larry/Jordan-led Golden Era. They will repeatedly deny this is the case, but do not worry, this is normal.

The purpose of this article is to give you ammunition against your nostalgic dad, uncle, local sports talk radio host, etc. Take notes.

Curmudgeon argument No. 1: “Today’s game is soft.”

If anyone watched Game 4 of this year’s Cleveland-Boston series, they would know physicality in the NBA is not dead. Kevin Love’s arm was pulled out of socket. Jae Crowder almost got knocked out. It was a straight out brawl. And it was ugly.

Sure, the game was more physical in the 80s, but in the wrong ways. Unnecessary fouls and playing dirty were glorified dur-ing that time, which is not what basketball is about. If you want to watch bodies hit the ground, go watch football. Basketball is a sport of skill and athleticism. That should be the focal point.

The two best teams of the 80s — the

Celtics and Lakers — both thrived as grace-ful offensive machines. That is what should be celebrated from that era, not the brutish physicality of the game.

Curmudgeon argument No. 2: “There will never be another Jordan.”

That is like saying, “Oh man, since this salmon is not steak, it is not good.”

Salmon and steak can both be good, as long as the consumer is not expecting salmon to be steak and vice versa. In fact, someone appreciating a good meal would love salmon and steak on the same plate.

Same thing with basketball. A real fan will appreciate LeBron James. A real fan will appreciate Tim Duncan or Kevin Du-rant or Anthony Davis. These guys are something basketball has never seen and it is prime entertainment.

There is a particular resentment toward James by Generation Curmudgeon be-cause of his coronation as basketball’s next

megastar. All James did was win four Most Valuable Player awards and two NBA championships. His teams have been in the Finals the past four seasons — something last done by Bird’s Celtics from 1984-1987. His career averages 12 seasons into his ca-reer: 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game.

Not enjoying LeBron James is not enjoy-ing basketball.

Sure, it might not be steak. But it is some darn good salmon.

Curmudgeon argument No. 3: “The prominence of the three-pointer has ruined basketball.”

This is probably the surliest argument of all of the old-man arguments. While the three-pointer existed in the 80s, it was more of a novelty than a focal point of basketball strategy. Pre-1990, the most three-point at-tempts by a single player in a season was 466. This year, five players took at least that

many threes. Stephen Curry took a remark-able 646 threes and made an even more remarkable 44.3 percent of those. In fact, the first time a team took as many threes as ’14-’15 Stephen Curry was the ’86-’87 Dallas Mavericks with 653 attempts.

So yes, with the sudden emphasis on ef-ficiency, the three-point shot has become a much bigger part of the game. Kyle Korver was an all-star this year for good-ness’ sake. That does not mean the game is worse or less exciting. More threes lead to more scoring and better comebacks.

NBA basketball is as good as it has ever been. Even without Magic, Larry and Jor-dan. So, sit down in your recliner and watch the show, NBA curmudgeon.

You might just enjoy yourself.

TICHENOR is the former sports editor.

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NOT THE SAME — Some think the NBA has transformed into a better game over the years, but older generations would disagree.

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sportsB4 | April 28, 2015 | Liberty Champion

SPRING ATHLETICS — 1. Nick Lombardozzi at the Midnight Mayhem game. 2. Softball showcases their pink jerseys for “Strikeout Cancer” day. 3. Faith Wells battles for postition. 4. Kayla Corriveau prepares to mount the vault. 5. Will Shepherd lays down a bunt. 6. Women’s track and field competes in the relay. 7. Cassie Gingerich swings away. 8. Nina Dunay drives past a defender to the goal.

Courtney russo

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BIG SOUTHTOURNAMENT

While the spring 2015 semester is coming to an end, five Liberty University NCAA Division I sports teams are gearing up for their individual runs at Big South Conference (BSC) Championships and two teams have just finished their season.

PREVIEWWomen’s Lacrosse

(7-10, 5-2 BSC)

The Lady Flames Lacrosse Team is hav-ing a turn-around season. After finishing 2-16 overall and 1-6 in the BSC in 2014, the Lady Flames have rebounded, losing just two conference games all season and earning the No. 2 seed for the confer-ence tournament. Liberty currently sits at second in the division behind Winthrop, who was the Flames only conference loss to date.

Led by freshman attack Katy Pride-more (team-leading 41 goals) and redshirt senior attack Morgan Becker (team-leading 23 assists), the Lady Flames are clicking offensively. As of April 21, junior goalie Ju-liann Elmer is leading the BSC with 11.50 saves per game. The Lady Flames begin their championship run April 28 at 4 p.m. when they host No. 7 Gardner-Webb in the quarterfinals.

Softball (27-28, 12-12 BSC)

After a subpar 11-46 (4-20 BSC) season in 2014, the Liberty softball team is having a bounce-back year. Currently, the Lady Flames are fifth in the conference standings behind Longwood, Coastal Carolina, Winthrop and Presbyterian.

The team returned two healthy starting pitchers—redshirt junior Chandler Ball and redshirt sophomore Kenzie Friesen— who only appeared in a combined three games last season due to injury.

Richardson said the team this year is also learning to understand the team philosophy of focusing on the fundamen-tals and playing to the best of its ability.

“(We have) a team culture that is starting to be where we want it to be,” Richardson said.

With freshman Alexia Taylor leading the team in batting average (.343) and hits (57), the Lady Flames head to the Big South Championship May 7-10 at Buies Creek, North Carolina.

Men’s Outdoor Track and Field

Coming in as perennial Big South Cham-pions, the Liberty men’s outdoor track and field team is looks to win its ninth straight conference title. Head Coach Brant Tols-ma said the team’s biggest competition will be Coastal Carolina, who has come in behind the Flames five years in a row. The men’s team has won 19 of the 21 Big South Championships that have ever occurred.

“Everybody is aware of the history, tradition and expectations and how blessed we are,” Tolsma said, as he stressed the need for his team to focus in order to continue winning.

Sophomore Ryan Davis is looking to defend his 400-meter hurdles Big South title in 2015, while redshirt junior David Souten hopes to finish on top again after taking the 2014 discus title.

Women’s Outdoor Track and Field

The Lady Flames outdoor track and field team was voted to finish second behind Coastal Carolina in the Big South preseason poll. Tolsma said the Lady Flames will have no trouble being motivated as they look to claim their first conference Championship since 2013.

Senior Jacy Christiansen hopes to take home the 5K title for the second year in a

row. Junior Janae Jones looks for back-to-back first place finishes in the triple jump.

Tolsma said 2015 is the first season the Big South Championship will be held after final exams are finished, so he expects a heightened degree of focus from his teams as well as their competitors. The Lady Flames begin their quest for yet another title May 14-16 in High Point, North Carolina.

Baseball (28-16, 14-4 BSC)

The Liberty baseball team is in the midst of yet another winning season. Cur-rently tied for first in the conference with Coastal Carolina and Radford, the Flames are poised to make another run at the conference championship during the Big South Tournament. The Flames won the Big South Tournament in 2013 and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Charlottesville Regional in 2014.

Senior first baseman Alex Close is lead-ing the Flames once again, batting .353 with 60 hits and 34 RBIs. Sophomore Andrew Yacyk is also stepping up for the Flames, contributing a .298 batting average and 50 hits.

On the mound, senior left-hander Jared Lyons has appeared in 12 games with a 7-1 record and a 1.44 ERA. Senior left-handed pitcher Shawn Clow-ers leads the Flames with nine wins and only three losses.

Liberty’s most recent victories came April 24-26 when they swept Gardner-Webb, propelling them into a tie for first place in the Big South.

The Flames will look for all facets of their game to be clicking as they begin their run at another conference cham-pionship, May 19 in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

Women’s Tennis (19-5, 7-2 BSC)

The Liberty women’s tennis team concluded its season at the Big South Tournament April 15-21. The fourth-ranked Lady Flames beat the fifth-seeded Campbell Camels 4-0 in the quarter-final match. In the semifinal match, the Lady Flames were ousted 4-2 by first-seeded Charleston South-ern. No. 2 seed Coastal Carolina defeated No. 3 seed Winthrop in the other semifinal match. The higher seed again won out in the final match as Charleston Southern beat Coastal 4-0. Maria Khval and Brittany Yang placed No. 1 in doubles in the Women’s Tennis flight winners. Maria Khval was also named all-conference in singles and Brittany Yang was named to the Big South All-Academic team.

Men’s Tennis (14-10, 6-2 BSC)

The Liberty men’s tennis team also com-peted in the Big South tournament that ran from April 18-21. The second-ranked Flames defeated the seventh-ranked UNC Asheville Bulldogs 4-2 in their opening match. In the semifinal matches, the top two seeds in the tournament were defeated by the three and four seeds, respectively.

No. 3 seed Winthrop proved too much for the Flames, as they defeated Liberty 4-0. Winthrop went on to defeat No. 4 Campbell in the final match.

RODRIGUEZ is the news editor.

featureB6 | April 28, 2015 | Liberty Champion

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Emma Jane [email protected]

It is 10 p.m. Sunday night and people are scattered about in the computer lab. Exhausted yet focused, some people type busily away, trying to finish a paper that is due tomorrow. Near the area that has recent-ly been vacated by Jazzman’s or anywhere that has available space, students begin lining up for free refreshments, served by sophomore Justin Rodgers.

Rodgers was inspired to start his coffee ministry after he wanted a cup of coffee while studying around 1 a.m. last semester, but realized no coffee shops were open. His roommate, Ryan Malone, suggested they start a coffee counter of their own as a way to make some extra cash, but the idea fell through.

Currently an aviation major, Rodg-ers’ interest in acting led him to scout out Los Angeles and to seek opportunities in the film industry over this past Christmas break. It was not until Rodgers returned to Lynchburg after spending winter break in Los Angeles that he decided to follow through with the idea to serve coffee.

Because this trip was off a whim and Rodgers’ family lives in Zambia doing mission work, he spent 28 days in Los Ange-les with 22 of those nights sleeping around different areas of the airport. The other six days were spent visiting a childhood friend, staying with an acting professor whom he had just met, and sleeping at a house in Los Angeles after contacting the home owner via couchsurfing.org.

According to couchsurfing.org, the web-site encourages travel through staying with volunteer hosts who choose to offer their home based off of reviews by others who have allowed the “couchsurfer” to stay with them previously.

Because of Rodger’s inexperience with couchsurfing.org and lack of reviews, many people in the Los Angeles area registered on the website did not offer him a house, so it was important for him to have a con-sistent place to visit.

“It was really good for me to have this community base, which was this Starbucks

on North Beverly Drive,” Rodgers said. “I went there every morning for a cup of cof-fee and got to know everyone there.”

It was at this Starbucks where Rodgers met two baristas who motivated him to start his coffee ministry.

“To this day, I don’t think they knew my situation, that I was technically homeless,” Rodgers said. “One day, (one of the baris-tas) dropped a cake on the ground. I joked with him and said, ‘Don’t throw it away; I’ll take it.’”

After stepping away from his table to go to the bathroom, he came back to a bag full of food including the cake and the one of the more expensive bakery items on the menu, a chocolate croissant.

“For him to do that for me, it cost him money,” Rodgers said. “And for him to do that for me when I was almost at a low point, I felt the love.”

The other barista continued to pay for Rodgers’ food on occasion, further stimu-lating his desire to start the coffee ministry.

“It got to a point where I had to ar-gue with him to not pay for my food,” Rodgers said. “It was awesome that he wanted to gift me with something,

but at the same time, I didn’t want to take money out of his paycheck.”

When Rodgers returned to Liberty after break, he told Malone about his encounters in Los Angeles and how he felt convicted to start their coffee counter.

“Had I not seen (the baristas’) kind-ness and how selfless they were toward me, I don’t think I would have started this at Liberty,” Rodgers said. “I thought to myself, ‘If they can be as kind as they are to me without being Christians, what’s my excuse?”

To prepare, Rodgers and Malone go shopping on Sunday afternoons. They buy tea, coffee, hot chocolate, apple ci-der and cookies. Rodgers estimates they serve approximately 60 to 100 students every week between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Although they do this every week, Rod-gers and Malone pay for the refreshments themselves and typically refuse any mon-etary donations from students.

“Every once in a while, someone will sneak money to us, but we don’t like tak-ing it because we don’t want to be tempt-ed,” Rodgers said. “(Because) we don’t go

shopping until (the following) Sunday, if someone gave us money that night, we don’t want to stick it in our wallets and use it for something else. If someone wants to donate, we just ask them to buy a box of hot cocoa or something.”

However, there was one time Rodgers recalled where they did accept the money.

“One time, it was a pretty expensive week,” Rodgers said. “We pray God’s bless-ing over everything we buy, and (God supplied). That night, a girl came up to Ryan and handed him money and walked away. It was just enough to buy next week’s food.”

Although the purpose is mainly to pro-vide students with socialization opportuni-ties and free caffeine, Rodgers’ ministry has a prayerful focus.

As Rodgers was texting one of the baris-tas he had met in Los Angeles one night, he realized she was far from knowing Je-sus. After this revelation, Rodgers wrote both the baristas’ names down and started a daily prayer list specifically petitioning for their salvation.

Rodgers encourages visitors of the cof-fee counter to pray for these baristas as well as share their own prayer requests by writing them on index cards and dropping them off.

So far, prayer requests are the only mis-sional extent of the ministry.

“Ryan and I have topics on our minds that we could (use to) lead (a) Bible study, but that’s not the goal,” Rodgers said. “Our goal is good fellowship and if the Bible comes up, (which it sometimes does), ... we thought about adding an extra hour to it beforehand for Bible study, but we haven’t done that yet. We’re just there to meet people and talk with them and be available for them.”

Though the future for his coffee ministry is uncertain, Rodgers hopes to continue serving.

“It’s awesome to see how happy this makes people,” Rodgers said. “The reason we do it is to serve the students and to see (the ministry is) giving them joy.”

MAURER is a feature reporter.

Care and caffeinationAfter being inspired by generous baristas, a student began a coffee ministry

Leah SeaverS| Liberty Champion

GIVE — Justin Rodgers created the coffee counter concept to serve Liberty students.

Liberty Champion | April 28, 2015 | B7feature

Flag flies in Middle EastStudent represents Liberty by displaying flag at Army bases in Iraq, Kuwait

Courtney russo | Liberty Champion

FAITH — Liberty’s flag endured three separate car bombings. It was signed by the 1038th Engineer Company, and will be displayed in the Office of Military Affairs.


Upon entering any stadium on the cam-pus of Liberty University, spectators are greeted by a plethora of unique flags, from the colorful pennants representing the oth-er schools in the Big South Conference to the American flag and the flag emblazoned with the LU logo. But when fans entered Liberty Baseball Stadium, Sunday, April 12 for a military appreciation game and pregame ceremony, they saw a flag unique from any other.

The flag, though similar at first glance to the other LU flag displayed at the stadium, is far from a typical piece of Liberty mem-orabilia. Signatures from 1038th Engineer Company soldiers grace the white space surrounding the red and blue “LU” logo on a flag that has traveled far beyond the Lynchburg area.

This simple piece of fabric has made a journey of more than 10,000 miles. It has made stops at Army bases in Iraq and Kuwait, according to Sgt. 1st Class Darrin Ryan, a Liberty University Online (LUO) student who contacted the Champion in 2014 to begin the flag project.

“(T)he Liberty flag has been flown in support of the U.S. and also as a symbol of the commitment to Christ and Christians everywhere,” Ryan said. “With the turmoil in the Middle East, we felt compelled to show support for a faith that others are dying for.”

According to Ryan, his company, which is made up of several soldiers who also take classes through LUO, is based out of Arkansas. The company works on horizon-tal construction in projects such as putting in culverts, digging water retention ponds, grading the roads and building levies and

other water diversion systems. The com-pany was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait to restore flooded bases.

Ryan said that while many people can often have the wrong perception of the tasks of soldiers deployed overseas, he and his unit do more than “just kill and destroy things.” Instead, Ryan believes they work to help locals.

“It is kind of neat to be a part of the things the Lord has allowed us to do for people even though they are not Chris-tians,” Ryan said.

The Liberty flag was flown for more than five months at each of the bases at which Ryan and his men stayed. Accord-ing to Ryan, the flag has also endured three separate car bombings, coming through the incidents unscathed.

“I feel there is probably a little divine intervention associated with this flag,” Ryan said.

According to Ryan, he contacted the Champion in hopes of giving back to Lib-erty, a school he says has pushed him to represent Christ well.

“I have felt like my life gets overrun by sin, corruption and just not taking time to see what God has done for me,” Ryan said. “In some small way, Liberty has given me a way to remember the gifts and why I receive them. … In my line of work, there can be times when morals and values are tested. I feel in my … classes through Liberty, I get grounded into my faith. So Liberty is a real aid to my life and spiritual healing. With that being said, Liberty has done for me so I can only feel obligated to support and represent the college.”

According to Ryan, the flag is a simple symbol of God’s promises in the midst of the upheaval in the area.

“The people of our religion that have

been killed for being Christians have made the total sacrifice,” Ryan said. “I have seen firsthand how the cruel world can take its toll on a person and how persecution … is not just something that happened (in the past). It is happening today.

“We, as Christians in America, know about trials and tribulations. But to see somebody putting faith first in the eyes of imminent danger and certain death is something that I had not prepared myself for. I have seen death as a warrior on the battlefield, but to see someone who could give in and walk the other way decide to stay and die for the right reasons inspired me to think of them and praise God even more knowing they have secured their place in heaven.”

Who is Darrin Ryan?Sgt. 1st Class Darrin Ryan has served as

a soldier in the U.S. Army for more than 15 years. According to Ryan, he chose to pur-sue a military career in February of 1988.

“The Army was pretty cool-looking, so I went for it,” Ryan said. “Actually I went to the Marines first, but the recruiter was out to lunch.”

Following basic training and ad-vanced individual training, Ryan served in Germany and was then deployed as part of Operation Desert Storm.

After a 12-year break, Ryan felt com-pelled to serve his country again after 9/11.

Prior to Ryan’s most recent deployment, he worked in Afghanistan for three con-secutive years, helping local farmers with plant-disease and pest-control issues. Ryan also helped create classes for local farmers.

Ryan recently wrapped up a tour in Iraq and Kuwait with the 1038th En-gineer Company, where he worked to restore flooded bases. The Liberty

flag was flown during this time. Ryan has served more than nine tours of

duty in the Middle East. Ryan has been married for nearly nine

years and is a father to four grown children and has four grandchildren, with the most recent being born April 16, 2015. Ryan has an associate degree from Central Texas College. He is currently pursuing a bach-elor’s degree in history from Liberty Uni-versity Online.

According to Ryan, while it has been hard to be separated from family — in nearly nine years of marriage, he has only been able to spend one month with his wife at any given time — the gratitude of those he is serving has given him strength.

“The best part of serving to me is the people at home … that thank me,” Ryan said. “However, it is I that should thank them, because their gratitude makes it easier to do.”

However, even more powerful than the encouragement from those who support him and the military is his faith.

“All of the support and guidance I have needed has come from my prayers and is a gift from God,” Ryan said. “… It is such a wonderful gift we received from a perfect being to die for our sins and save us that there is no way we can ever repay it.”

While the sacrifices Ryan has made throughout his military career are obvious, he encouraged those safe at home in the U.S. not to worry about him.

“I am no superstar or hero,” Ryan said. “… I am not looking to be something that I can’t be, only a man who loves our God and our country. … Don’t worry about this stuff out here. We’ve got this.”


DaviD Duncan

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Liberty Champion | April 28, 2015 | B9feature

COURTNEY’S GOODBYELet me tell you a secret: I

hardly knew anything about pho-tography when I was offered the position as assistant photo edi-tor my freshman year. This is not my way of being humble either, I promise.

(For those of you who know about shooting in manual, this story will make you laugh.) When I applied, I was asked to photograph students being active in the LaHaye Student Union us-ing my camera’s manual setting. Long story short, I thought that meant shooting in manual focus. Therefore I spent hours trying to

manually focus correctly on basketball players who were wildly running about the court. Somehow, I was hired.

Shortly after starting the position, I learned what manual photography really was and told myself I would not tell a soul of my little mishap until my goodbye letter in the Champion. Though I hope this makes you chuckle, my reasons for sharing go a little deeper. I truly hope you find something you love and run after it.

In high school, photography was just something I enjoyed, but

I was intimidated by those with big cameras and more experience. I remember praying my freshman year of college for an opportunity that would shape my creative tal-ents beyond what I could ever do myself. That is exactly what God did. It is amazing how the Lord can take a small desire and mold it into one of your life’s passions.

I have been so blessed through the experiences I’ve had and the friends I’ve made from being the photo editor. I will miss you all dearly. Here are just a few of my favorite photos during my time working for the newspaper.

COURTNEY RUSSO

FEATUREB10 April 28, 2015

Glad to be a graduateAfter five years at Liberty, Charles Snellings reflects on his past experiences

More than music notesTRBC’s worship pastor is also known for his skill on the racquetball courts

Danae L. [email protected]

Nate [email protected]

As graduation approaches, seniors prepare to walk into the next phase of life. Each student claiming his or her degree has a personal story with unique ex-periences. Among these seniors is hardworking fifth year senior Charles Snellings.

Similar to many students, Snel-lings said God directed him to at-tend Liberty. While God ultimate-ly dictated his choice, Snellings also credits his family, primarily his grandmother, with influencing his decision.

“My grandma was diagnosed with cancer my sophomore year of high school,” Snellings said. “She went into surgery and they said she had a one percent chance of making it. And she lived from that for almost a year. I didn’t know how to function because my mom and her were the two people who raised me. So to pre-serve her memory, I wanted to do everything I could to let her live on and make her proud. That’s a big reason why I wanted to come to Liberty.”

Snellings left his hometown, Chincoteague Island, Virginia, and began his five-hour journey to Lynchburg, Virginia. Once he arrived, Snellings noticed a distinct difference between Liberty and other schools nearby.

“My favorite part of being at Liberty is how accessible our higher ups are,” Snellings said. “I have friends that go to the University of Virginia or South-ern Methodist University, and they can’t tell you who their chancellor is or who the dean of students is. They know who the department dean is, but they don’t know any-body really above that.”

With the Virginia native less than two weeks away from gradu-ating, Snellings reflected on his bumpy ride through college as it comes to a conclusion.

“The reason I’m graduating, not to be cliché, is because of God,” Snellings said. “I went through a couple times when I didn’t know if I would come back, but here we are in (a few) days, (I’ll) be walking across the stage. My time at Lib-erty is the biggest testament to my testimony.”

Snellings is on his way to receiv-ing his awaited degree in Biblical Studies, with a minor in English.

Virginia has been his home his entire life, but his end goal is to make it to New York City and work for a magazine company.

Throughout his time at Liberty, Snellings picked up a few tips and tricks he wanted to relay to in-coming freshman.

“My advice to freshman would be: only take general courses your first year and a half,” Snellings said. “Within my spring semester and the fall of my second year I was taking 300 level Bible courses. I would have switched my major if I had taken general courses and not been so far in. Just take general ed(ucation) classes and deal with them, then know what you want to do your four years. Don’t take five.”

Snellings will walk across that stage May 9. Although, there is a little fear of the uncertainty that lies after college, Snellings be-lieves with God in his corner and a diploma on his wall, he is ready to tackle whatever the world out-side Liberty has in store.

SAMMS is a feature reporter.

HAYWOOD is the editor-in-chief.


FINAL STRETCH — Charles Snellings will graduate Saturday, May 9.

Courtney ruSSo | Liberty Champion

MULTIFACETED — Charles Billingsley is known around Liberty’s campus for leading worship at TRBC and for his undefeated record in racquetball at the LaHaye Student Union.

Amber [email protected]

Hitting musical notes comes easily for Thomas Road Baptist Church’s (TRBC) worship pastor Charles Billingsley. The professional singer has performed in more than 3,200 concerts nationwide, but Billingsley does more than just sing.

“The two things I’m probably most passionate about are probably my music and … racquetball,” Billingsley said.

Billingsley, worship pastor at TRBC since 2007, took up racquetball as a teen after seeing the game played in junior high school in Portland, Oregon.

According to Billingsley, he developed a love for the game throughout high school and continued to practice his passion at Samford University. While at Samford University, Billingsley roomed with a well-known leader around Liberty’s campus, Senior Vice President for Spiritual

Development David Nasser.Billingsley played intramural racquet-

ball at Samford, but admits he only truly learned how to play the sport after being challenged by a friend from church, who happened to be the state champion. After years spent playing for fun, Billingsley said he had to work hard to keep up with Ala-bama’s racquetball state champion, and it changed the way he played the sport.

“I try to make my points (in the) last three shots,” Billingsley said. “Serve. Return. And then I kill it … my goal is to not get much exercise playing racquetball.”

After moving from Alabama to Virginia to work with Jerry Falwell Sr. at TRBC and Liberty University, Billing-sley was later offered a position as the racquetball club team’s head coach af-ter Liberty acquired Sports Racquet in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Billingsley turned down the request. At the time, Billingsley was leading

music at TRBC and working with musicians around Liberty’s campus to form Campus Band for Campus Church. According to Billingsley, his consistently crazy sched-ule prevented him from taking another leadership position.

Even though Billingsley was unable to coach the team, he talked to Kirk Handy, the head of club sports and recruited a retired member of the Central Virginia Racquetball Association, Danny Rodriguez.

Rodriguez continues to lead the team, and occasionally, Billingsley drops by for a practice or two.

“They always put me on as an honor-ary assistant (coach) even though I’m not there much,” Billingsley said. “But when I do come over (to practices), I’ll scrim-mage with the students and give pointers and things.”

Because of Billingsley’s experi-ence with the sport over the years, he can now offer advice, applying the

game of racquetball to the game of life.“In racquetball, you have to know when

to hit it soft and when to hit it hard,” Billingsley said. “(It is the) same thing with business, (and the) same thing with ministry. You gotta know when to do cer-tain things, and you know how you learn — by failing — but eventually you realize (how to do it).”

Billingsley encouraged students with a racquetball analogy he has had to learn in his own spiritual walk.

“Don’t get in a hurry,” Billingsley said. “Spiritual growth is not an overnight thing. … I’ve had many a game when I was losing 14 to 1, and I came back and won 15 to 14 because I’ve learned over the years not to get in a hurry … but let the game come to you.”

TILLER is the feature editor.

Liberty Champion April 28 2015

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