University Exceeds Food Drive Expectations by Lexi Hamlet

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youtube videoUniversity Exceeds Food Drive Expectations

This Thanksgiving should be one that goes down in the book as one of the best ones yet, thanks to this years annual canned food drive for the local community held by Liberty University and the kind-hearted students and staff that inhabit it, as it was able to nearly double the amount of food raised last year.

For the last 4 years Liberty University has strived to help the less fortunate and those who seem to be down on their luck in the community during a very special time, allowing the Center for Christian/Community Services to host a canned food drive. Local soup kitchens and shelters have been beyond blessed to have the support of the university family helping each year, but this year the University blew it out of the water! LU collected canned foods from several different locations around campus between November 2-18 to give back during the Thanksgiving season. During these few weeks the campus was able to collect about 6,800 pounds of food needed to serve their community. Every year the Liberty dining services provider, Sodexo, matches the food raised by the pound. This year the University was able to nearly double the amount of food given last year and succeeded their goal by about ten times, from all of the outpoured kindness and ended the drive by donating 13,500 pounds.

Dr. David Wheeler, an Evangelical professor at the school, led his three classes to play a huge role in making this all possible. Some of his students spoke about how this was a real passion for Wheeler and was very encouraging when it came to asking students to open up their hearts and donate.

“Every class period he would talk about the food drive and it was a constant reminder in what we needed to do through Christ name. He had such a heart for this, you could tell. He wanted us to not just talk about Christ love for each of us, but to show it.” Jonathan Barksdale, a Liberty Junior says.

Sodexo, the food providers, have been very vocal in letting the Liberty community know how they help the community all year around when it comes to donating food. They advocate students to be apart of fighting the number of hungry members in the public by hosting events in the dining halls to raise funds to fight the hunger. Last year they were able to be a voice when they hosted a New York City Showcase Benefit in the spring. Sodexo also gives regularly to The Daily Bread, a local soup kitchen in Lynchburg.

“It makes me really happy that I am apart of a school that really cares so much about the community and and will go above and beyond to help the people that need it the most. I know that we set the bar really high this year, but I hope we can top it next year” Raven Garrett, a Sophomore says.

The students and faculty who have helped make any of this possible should give themselves a pat on the back, because of their kindness many people are able to have something that they may not have had during the holiday season.

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Web Copy:

University Exceeds Food Drive Expectations

This Thanksgiving members from the Lynchburg community who may not have known just what to do will now be more than prepared for the meals with the help of the Liberty University annual food drive.

The fourth annual food drive took place at LU last month from November 2-18. Many of the students and faculty found themselves donating to the cause and with their help the college was able to go above and beyond what was expected.

The LU family brought in almost half of what they donated last year and with the help of Sodexo, the schools food servicer, they were able to double their amount of food this year. The schools total weight in food donated came in to be about 13,500 pounds.

A Liberty sophomore, Raven Garrett, was more than delighted when she heard the news of how much had been raised. “It makes me really happy that I am apart of a school that really cares so much about the community and and will go above and beyond to help the people that need it the most. I know that we set the bar really high this year, but I hope we can top it next year”

Dr. David Wheeler, an Evangelical Professor at Liberty led his student to being a big part of the participation that took place during the food drive. He encouraged them to not only show the love of Christ through words, but also actions.

“Every class period he would talk about the food drive and it was a constant reminder in what we needed to do through Christ name. He had such a heart for this, you could tell. He wanted us to not just talk about Christ love for each of us, but to show it.” One of Wheelers students, Jonathan Barksdale says.

The school has set the bar even higher for the food drive for future years to come, but they have shown that they are up for the challenge and can do anything!

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LU Send: designed with students mind

LU Send makes positive first impression

BY KYRA THOMPSON

Liberty University’s department of mission has received mixed feedback from students, faculty and the surrounding community concerning the structure of the new office since its launch in June.

LU Send was designed to centralize all of the mission or academic trips being sent out by different Liberty academic departments. LU Send Now coordinator, Vincent Valeriano, explained the goal of this new office.

“The goal is to help students really see their calling to be a champion for Christ and [see that] to make disciples as Christians is not separate from what they are being trained to do here academically,” Valeriano said.

Another goal of the office is to expand the amount of departments that offer academic credit trips by making it easier for faculty to organize them, explained Valeriano.

Thanks to the new unified office of LU send, faculty has a much easier way to organize unique opportunities for students to earn credit while learning first-hand. Liberty’s hopes are that faculty will begin to use this department to schedule more immersion style trips for students.

Another branch of the department is LU Send Now. This branch of the department is focused on disaster relief and rapid response only and does not offer academic credit, according to Valeriano. Students have to be accepted to this team and will be on-call for any disaster that may require assistance.

Although this branch does not offer credit for the trips, Valeriano encouraged students that the experience alone is worth any time and energy put into it.

There has also been a positive response from people in the community. According to Valeriano, many people from the community are grateful to the work that this department is doing to give back especially the LU Send Now program.

After the very first two LU Send Now teams were sent to North Carolina to assist those affected by the flood, people in the community began to take notice of the department. Valeriano said that many people would personally thank him for the work that LU Send Now was doing.

While many students and people in the surrounding community are grateful for LU Send’s work, there are still some challenges that come with such a new department. Some students have experienced issues with the websites and other aspects of the program.

Kelsey Anderson, a senior global studies major, expressed her concern for her upcoming trip to Ecuador as she struggled to work through minor glitches on the website.  She also disapproved of the required extra class. Anderson agreed that the department is offering an amazing opportunity, but felt that it can use some more time to refine.

“I think they may have done things to quickly,” Anderson said.

In spite of some minor difficulties, the new department seems to be starting out strong. There are several trips planned for the spring semester including the four major flagship trips to London/Paris, Tokyo, Rome, and Israel.

Valeriano said that the department was in the process of organizing a trip to Europe to assist the refugee crisis workers, but that it is still very uncertain what they will be able to do.

Valeriano encouraged students who may not have been able to go on a trip this semester that there are still plenty of ways to get involved. He said they would be grateful for assistance in packing and donating supplies, and all the prayers that students and people in the community can give.

(572 words)

Liberty offers unique opportunities through LU Send

BY KYRA THOMPSON

Liberty University’s new department of missions, LU Send, is offering multiple academic opportunities as well as mission experience to students on upcoming flagship trips.

The LU Send department was designed to provide students with more hands-on experience opportunity in the occupation of their study. The department seeks to do this by assisting faculty with the logistics and coordinating more trips according to LU Send Now coordinator Vincent Valeriano.

“The goal is to help students really see their calling to be a champion for Christ and [see] to make disciples as Christians is not separate from what they are being trained to do here academically,” Valeriano said.

According to the coordinator of LU Send Now, this goal has already begun to flourish.

“We are right now-this is our first year doing it- and we are doing it right now,” Valeriano said about achieving the goal of the department.

A number of flagship trips are already planned for the spring semester. These include:

• Paris/London for the departments of Bible Studies, Christian and Community Service, Global Studies, Nursing and Theology
• Rome for the department of Global Studies and Christian and Community Service
• Israel for the department of Global Studies and Christian and Community Service
• Tokyo for the department of Global Studies and Christian and Community Service

Each trip allows students to earn academic credit for the departments that are associated with the trip. The LU Send offices are working to offer more academic opportunities as the program develops.

However, the speed at which the office was created, has also created some issues. Kelsey Anderson, a Senior majoring in global studies, is going on a trip with Liberty to Ecuador in March. Anderson was concerned that the department may have rushed the process and skipped over some very basic clarification methods.

“I think they may have done things to quickly,” Anderson said.

She also did not appreciate the extra course required for students taking trips through the department. She was worried that it only complicated things. In spite of her qualms against the new unprofessional organization of LU Send, Anderson still thinks that the trips are a great opportunity for the students.

The department hope to eventually open the trips up to more than just the student body so that many people can get involved with helping their community and the world.

(388 words)

 Broadcast script for Final Assignment

BY KYRA THOMPSON

Liberty University launched its new department of missions this June with the vision of offering a wider variety of academic benefits///

LU Send was designed to give faculty assistance on planning academic trips/ according to LU Send Now’s coordinator Vincent Valeriano//

Liberty’s hope was that more faculty will take advantage of this aid and offer trips to students in their departments///

 LU Send has already seen an increase in participation//A number of trips have been planned for the spring semester and LU Send is confident in what they have already accomplished///

Sound bite: “We are right now-this is our first year doing it- and we are doing it right now.” Valeriano said.

(108 words)

Mission 24-3

Image of Liberty University student who participated in prayer and worship for a continuous 24 hours. Photo taken by: Madison Summers

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Twenty-four hours, One goal

By: Madison Summers

Liberty University students put aside their Friday night plans to come together for a straight 24-hour prayer and worship in the Whorley Prayer Chapel on December 4, 2015.

Over 200 people attended the third occurrence of Mission 24. Within the first four hours of Mission 24-3, a non-liberty student drove over to Liberty. Within an hour, he gave his life to Christ.

The event was put together by the Watch, which consists of nine people. The Watch is a worship group that has been handed down from generation to generation of students for 11 years. When they came together to establish Mission 24, their dream was to create an extended worship at Liberty with an atmosphere based on Revelations 4:8.

“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come,” (Revelations 4:8, NIV).

“We really want to model heaven for 24 hours singing holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty,” Watch team member and Mission 24 administrator Corey Messer said.

Mission 24 is the only all night worship on campus. According to Messer, small gatherings allow for raw and intimate worship while enabling people to get close to God by seeking and finding Him. Along with the entire crew of The Watch, one Liberty student named Andrew stayed all 24 hours worshipping.

“There came a point where my vocal cords felt completely fried, but I told the Lord in my heart that I was going to give everything on this stage,” Papua New Guinea international student and guitar player, Mary Kwimberi said, “even if it meant singing until I could sing no more.”

Not only do the students worship, but also unexpected modern-day miracles have occurred during Mission 24. During the first 2015 event, in April, a man on crutches, due to a bad knee, was prayed over by the Congregation and suddenly felt a “pop” in his knee. Messer said that by the end, the man walked up on stage, put the crutches down, and found no pain in his knee.

“My personal favorite part is to step back and watch everything unfold,” Messer said, “I can click the play button and watch all the planning go.”

In the past, people from other schools like Christopher Newport University and William and Mary came to help with worship; but currently, all of the 12 bands involved in worship at Mission 24 are Liberty students. This event provides worship students with a great opportunity to find their feet in worship.

“Leading worship during Mission 24 was the first time I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone here in America,” Kwimberi said, “and led worship singing and playing my guitar.”

This event is drawing people out of the woodworks. The team would like to see Mission 24 turn into an experience where all of the residential halls have specific times to worship together. Messer said that he enjoys seeing Liberty come together as one, to worship God.

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YouTube Video

Web news story:

Twenty-four hours of prayer

By: Madison Summers

As students put their Friday night plans aside for 24 hour worship in the Whorley Prayer Chapel, the Watch team prepared for Mission 24-3 December 4- December 5, 2015.

The Watch consists of nine Liberty University students who helped create Mission 24. Everyone in the Watch takes part of Mission 24 whether their job is to approach people, lead worship, or to do admin work.

The team has been together for 11 years now, being passed on from generation to generation of students. Before Mission 24 was created, every Tuesday the Watch has and continues to have prayer and worship for two hours in the prayer chapel, involving about 30-50 people.

When the team was planning their first event on April 24-25, 2015, they spent hours sending over 40 emails to get planning going. This past event, planning got a lot smaller for the team as they only sent out four emails.

Key components that go into preparation for this event:

• Securing location: prayer chapel
• Late-night approval by dean of students
• Preparing set list: 12-14 bands, 2 hour time slot each set

The teams’ motivation to plan and  create an all night of prayer and worship was a success when over 200 hundred students attended Mission 24-3. Some Liberty students stepped out of their comfort zone to spend two hours leading worship. Liberty University international student from Papua New Guinea stated that she was giving her everything on the stage for the Lord.

“This is a way God has given me a way to work in ministry,” Watch team member and Mission 24 administrator Corey Messer said.

Mission 24 is an event that continues to grow each time. It not only gives students the opportunity to come to the chapel to pray and worship whenever they want, but it allows more people in the worship department like upcoming worship leaders to get involved.

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Broadcast script for final assignment:

By: Madison Summers

ON FRIDAY DECEMBER FOURTH / OVER TWO-HUNDRED STUDENTS GATHERED FOR AN ALL NIGHT PRAYER AND WORSHIP AT WHORLEY PRAYER CHAPEL ///

THE WATCH IS A GROUP OF NINE LIBERTY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO CREATED MISSION TWENTY-FOUR // THE EVENT WAS CREATED WITH A ATMOSPHERE WHERE STUDENTS CAN REALLY MODEL HEAVEN IN A RAW AND INTIMATE GATHERING // ONE LIBERTY STUDENT / ALONGSIDE THE WATCH TEAM / ATTENDED ALL TWENTY-FOUR HOURS ///

MISSION TWENTY-FOUR IS THE ONLY ALL NIGHT WORSHIP ON CAMPUS // THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF MISSION TWENTY-FOUR THIS SEMESTER / BUT THE TEAM IS ALREADY PREPARING FOR MANY MORE IN THE FUTURE ///

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Come See the Show Meet Me in St. Louis!

By: Jessica Hales

Print News Story

 

Come see the production of “Meet Me in St. Louis” in the tower theatre at Liberty University the first weekend in December.

 

Starting as a movie with Judy Garland, “Meet Me in St. Louis” has been a most favorable performance to watch during the holiday season. With its good family values and warm romance scenes, it is the perfect musical to see during the holiday.

 

With songs from The Trolley Song, Wasn’t it Fun and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, “Meet Me in St. Louis” will be great to see with your family, friends or that special someone. The musical will even feature the trolley on stage and will have movement as if it were a real trolley.

 

Set designer Connie Hecker helped to build the trolley on the stage and was just delighted to see the finished product during the dress performance.

 

“The turn table that we used for the trolley was my favorite part of the set,” Hecker stated. “ I had never used one quite like it before, and it was really interesting to see it move on the set.”

 

Hecker continued by saying that in the beginning stages of building the trolley she was not so sure that it was going to work. The trolley was one of the last pieces to get finished and Hecker was afraid that it was not going to be finished in time for the show.

 

The trolley ended up being the most favorable piece of the show with its movement on stage, it brought the musical to life as if you were with the Smith family in St. Louis. Maryssa Artura says that the trolley was her favorite scene because she found it “fascinating” how it moved according to The Trolley Song that was being sung on it.

 

The musical features a lavish Christmas Eve ball that the whole Smith family goes to. The Smith’s believe that it will be the last time they will go before their father has to transfer to a job in New York City so they make the moment last by dancing with all the boys and making new friends.

 

The lead character Esther, ends up attempting to play a joke on one of her sisters when the joke ends up backfiring on her. Through the joke misfiring she and a boy named John begin to have real feelings for each other in which they intend to marry in a few years when they are ready.

 

Esther Smith is played by Judy Garland in the original movie but in the musical hosted at Liberty University Makenzie Pusey plays the role.

 

“I really aimed to capture the character’s energy and passion for life,” Pusey said. “She loves deeply, and I really wanted to capture that in my portrayal of the role.”

 

Pusey has a passion for the theatre and the character Esther, who is a major character throughout the play. Maryssa Artura stated that all the actors did their best and that each actor did a phenomenal job.

 

At the end of each performance there will be an offering taken as you leave and the proceeds will go towards the Operation Christmas Child Organization. This is an Organization that targets children from broken homes in other parts of the world and blesses them with a Christmas box filled with presents.

 

Word Count: 555

 

Web News Story

By: Jessica Hales

The Liberty University department of theatre will be producing the musical “Meet Me in St. Louis” starting Dec. 4.

Come join the smith family as they go to the World’s Fair in their hometown of St. Louis, around the year of 1904 when inventions such as the trolley were becoming very popular. The trolley seemed to be a favorite for many people including Maryssa Artura and set designer Connie Hecker. They both were thrilled to see the trolley move across the stage and come alive with the audience.

Connie Hecker was one of the designers who helped to build the trolley. She said that as difficult as it was to figure out the turn table, it turned out to be a masterpiece for the show.

Another crowd favorite of the show were the songs throughout the show. Maryssa states that The Trolley Song was her favorite because she enjoyed the trolley and the dances that were going around during that song.

The musical features many other familiar songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane such as:

– You’ll Hear a Bell

– Wasn’t it Fun

– Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

When you go to the show you will see Makenzie Pusey play the role of Esther Smith who is the second oldest daughter but is the main character. Senior Makenzie Pusey was thrilled to get the role of Esther and stated that she really felt a connection with the character.

The play comes to a point where the father is offered another job in which the family would have to move to New York. The family battles throughout the rest of the musical about whether or not they should move. At the end after the annual Christmas Eve Ball, the father announces that the family will not be moving and in the end they are overjoyed.

Director Chris Nelson wants everyone to feel the love on Christmas day and so at the end of the play there will be an offering for the Operation Christmas Child Organization.

Word count:339

 

 

Broadcast Script for Video

By: Jessica Hales

 

Come and join the Liberty University theatre department as they produce the musical “ Meet Me in Saint Louis”///

 

Starting December 4^th at the Tower Theatre Liberty’s production will feature songs such as The Trolley Song/ Wasn’t it Fun and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas// You will see the Smith family go through trials and end up making the best Christmas memories together as a family///

 

Director Chris Nelson made a statement that at the end of the show they will be taking an offering for the Operation Christmas Child Organization///

word count: 92

 

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-lFJ6tJ4Fo

 

 

 

 

The Annexodus

Annex Students Uneasy on Move to Residential Commons II

By Jakob Sauppe

 

Tensions continue to build as students at the Liberty University Annex prepare to move en masse to the nearly-complete Residential Commons II on main campus with very little information provided.

The university has released scarce details concerning proper instructions on the move, even as the fall semester comes to a close and students will be returning home soon. With hundreds of students currently living at the Annex, which will be closing next semester, the pressure for students leaving their belongings behind during the winter break is understandable.

“They haven’t told us much about the move, and it’s concerning,” John Wilcox, a resident at the Annex, said.

Shortly after Annex students returned from the Thanksgiving break, RAs across the halls began to gather information as to which students were capable of moving their belongings themselves at the beginning of the spring semester. Purportedly, the university may not have enough moving trucks to aid the students requiring moving assistance, in which case all students will have to live at the Annex an additional two weeks at the beginning of the spring semester before moving to Commons II.

The choice to shut down the Annex and move students was made in part by the dangerous conditions of living across from the highway on Odd Fellows Road. In response to past crises involving two students being injured while crossing the street from traffic on Odd Fellows Road, the move facilitates the university’s decision to put student safety first.

“The university will be able to provide security, meals, transportation, academic support, athletic and recreational opportunities and other services much more efficiently at the main campus, and there are intangible benefits, as well,” said President Jerry Falwell on Liberty’s official news and events page.

The migration is also motivated in part by the completion of Liberty’s building projects, as the Commons II is scheduled to be completed just in time for the spring semester. The first wing, which opened Fall 2015, is already home to hundreds of students, and the second wing will provide an adequate opportunity to accommodate the plethora of students arriving from the Annex. Additionally, the move will cut on university costs for commute between the Annex and the campus.

However, seeing as the construction of Commons II has been rushed to finish in 12 months as opposed to Commons I, which took 20 months, students are uneasy about the possibility of the second wing not even being complete for the coming semester.

“Considering my financial check-in is already finished, I would be very upset if that happened,” Doug Jourden, a student living at the Annex, said.

To show understanding for the inconvenience, the university has offered Annex students a discounted price for living at the Residential Commons in the spring, currently one of the most expensive residential options. Nevertheless, many students are still sad to see the Annex go.

“It’s like a small, tight-knit community away from the university,” Jourden said. “It’s like having a way to get away from the campus without actually leaving the campus.”

The move is scheduled to take place in January, at the beginning of the spring semester.

 

Word count: 521

 

Web News Story:

 

Annex Students Prepare for the “Annexodus”

By Jakob Sauppe

 

 

Annex students prepare for the anticipated move to the Commons II building on the Liberty main campus at the beginning of the spring semester.

Unofficially dubbed the “Annexodus,” students living at the Annex have been uneasy about the future move due to the general lack of official word from the university, who has only responded to the situation through two emails the entire semester. RAs are looking forward to hearing proper instructions to pass to their respective halls.

“They haven’t told us much about the move, and it’s concerning,” John Wilcox, a resident at the Annex, said.

RAs of the Annex have begun preparing by asking each resident student whether or not they need help moving their belongings. The university may not have enough moving trucks to properly move everyone, which would result in an additional two-week delay for students to move to the main campus.

The move in question is motivated by three benefits to the university in particular:

• A greater emphasis on student safety.
• The apt timing of the Commons II completion.
• An overall decrease in commute costs.

In the past, the university has seen two students being injured from traffic while crossing the street between the two Annex buildings. In the 2015 fall semester, the second Annex building was closed to remove the need to cross the street, and the move to main campus further facilitates the importance of ensured safety.

The completion of Commons II is scheduled for the 2016 spring semester, which offers an ideal place to house the residents of the Annex. With the construction schedule being shortened from 20 months to 12, however, some students remain skeptical the building will be finished in time.

“Considering my financial check-in is already finished, I would be very upset if that happened,” Doug Jourden, a student living at the Annex, said.

Many students of the Annex consider its closing to be bittersweet, and would still prefer the Annex to the upcoming Commons II.

“It’s like a small, tight-knit community away from the university,” Jourden said. “It’s like having a way to get away from the campus without actually leaving the campus.”

The move is scheduled to take place in January, at the beginning of the spring semester.

 

Word count: 371

 

Broadcast News Story:

 

STUDENTS LIVING AT THE LIBERTY ANNEX ARE PREPARING FOR WHAT THEY HAVE TERMED “THE ANNEXODUS/” MOVING TO THE NEAR-COMPLETE COMMONS II BUILDING NEXT SPRING SEMESTER///

HOWEVER/ WITH LITTLE OFFICIAL INFORMATION TO GO ON/ MANY RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SMOOTHNESS OF THE TRANSITION// RA’S HAVE ALREADY BEGUN COLLECTING INFORMATION FROM STUDENTS IN ANTICIPATION OF OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS///

THE UNIVERSITY’S MOTIVATIONS BEHIND THE MOVE INCLUDE STUDENT SAFETY/ THE COMPLETION OF COMMONS II/ AND COMMUTE COSTS/ AS WELL AS A STRIVING TO KEEP THE STUDENT BODY TOGETHER///

THE MOVE IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY/ IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER.

 

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Almost Winter Break….

BY: MASON MCQUAGE

PRINT STORY:

The weeks preceding Winter Break can be very enjoyable, but they can also be very taxing on students. With the vast majority of work completed, students are afforded time to spend doing fun activities that they couldn’t fit into their hectic schedules outside of class. However, students can’t get too comfortable and start their break early.

While the bulk of a student’s work is done and they are preparing for a month long vacation, the dreaded Final’s week is standing in the way. This can put quite the damper on the attitude of students, especially after Thanksgiving Break where most students have checked out mentally.

Luckily, Liberty University helps aid students to finish out the semester strong. The last mandatory Convocation takes place on December 9, 2015. While an hour out of a student’s day might not seem like a lot, it is an hour that can be used for sleep after a night of study groups and cramming information. “While it may not be a huge amount of time, not having to be up and rush somewhere after class is very nice,” Kirth Benson, a sophomore at Liberty said. “ I can use that time for anything I want.”

December 10, 2015 is Reading Day, and no classes will be held. This is a day that can be described as the calm before the storm. Students are able to have an entire day to get themselves right in preparation before the first day of Finals. “I think it is important because it gives students a day to enjoy and study right before finals,” Zach Bakaitas, a senior at Liberty said.

However not everything about the weeks before Winter Break are bad. Liberty University is decorated in Christmas lights and various other decorations including a huge Christmas tree in front of Demoss Hall and the monogram. There is also a yearly lighting of the Christmas tree in front of Demoss Hall, which unfortunately was canceled this year due to inclement weather.

With trees around campus lit up and decorations everywhere, the atmosphere of the campus is drastically changed. At night, it is actually enjoyable to walk with friends and see the decorations in their splendor. Some students even go up to the monogram at sunset to see the Christmas lights and sky lit up at the same time. “Seeing the lights go up always makes me happy because it lets me know that winter break is almost here and I will be able to go home very soon,” Ben Yohn, a junior at Liberty said.

So while students are cramming for finals and stressing out trying to earn as many points as possible for their final grades, there is hope on the horizon. All students that were interviewed expressed their eagerness to go home and enjoy time with family and friends. They expressed that the price of managing through Finals Week is well worth the month long break that is earned when it is completed. I think all students would agree with that sentiment. (WORD COUNT 501)

WEB STORY:

The weeks leading up to winter break can be very difficult for Liberty students. Despite having the bulk of work done for their classes, students still face the dreaded “Final’s Week”.

One of the biggest problems is getting back into the studying groove after a week off for Thanksgiving. “Getting the motivation to do work is the worst part about coming back,” Ben Yohn, junior at Liberty said.

While students face problems such as motivation, Liberty University tries to help in a few ways:

• The last mandatory Convocation takes place on December 9, 2015
• Christmas Convocation takes place on December 10, 2015
• Reading day, a day without classes, December 10, 2015, the day before the first day of exams.
• Destress meetings in the bookstore on December 10, 2015.
• Christmas programs put on by the Liberty University Theatre department.
• Christmas Coffeehouse on December 11, 2015

Focusing on the positives, Liberty University campus undergoes a fantastic transformation during this time. Lights, trees, and various other decorations spice up a student’s walk through campus.

Photo taken from Liberty.edu

As mentioned above, Christmas convocation is a great way Liberty helps students. The non-mandatory convocation allows students to gather together in the Vines Center and sing popular Christmas tunes to really put students in a much better mood.

Christmas Coffeehouse is probably the main attraction in regards to students getting away from the grind. As it is basically a talent show, it is a fantastic way for students to interact with each other, see some great performances, and even have a few laughs.

Photo taken from Liberty.edu

 

So while there is quite a bit for student’s to stress about, Liberty helps provide some seasonal festivity so that students feel more comfortable as the terrible “Finals Week” approaches.

Once Finals are completed, students get to enjoy a month long vacation until it is time to return and do it all over again for another semester.

BROADCAST:

IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO WINTER BREAK / THE CAMPUS OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HAS SEEN THE TREES LOSE THEIR LEAVES AND FELT THE TEMPERATURE FALL // STUDENTS ARE TIRED AND READY TO TAKE THEIR FINALS TO ENJOY A MONTH LONG WINTER BREAK ///

SOME STUDENTS STAY BUSY AND PREPARE HARD FOR FINAL EXAMS AND PAPERS THAT WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PASSING AND FAILING // OTHERS ARE ENJOYING SOME MUCH NEEDED LIESURE TIME / DOING ACTIVITIES THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO DO DURING THEIR RIGAROUS SCHEDULES OF THE SEMESTER ///

ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN/ STUDENTS ARE READY FOR THE END OF THE SEMESTER AND THE START OF A MUCH DESERVED WINTER BREAK //

 

Tradition Upholds As Gillville Continues to Grow

By: Madison Summers

Liberty University football fanatics began to prepare for Gillville as early as 1:00 p.m. on Oct. 23, the night before Flames homecoming football game against Kennesaw State University.

This football home-game tradition has been around for six years. Over 400 people attended this past Friday’s Gillville event, which is almost double the amount compared to Oct. 2014.

Gillville officially started at 8:00 p.m. outside Williams Stadium. For $1, football fans played games, enjoyed food, and received giveaways. Additionally, extra activities were added due to homecoming, such as a pep rally, a movie, and Student Activities provided popcorn and s’mores.

As the sun went down, Liberty students hung out and exchanged thoughts on the game as they set up fires, speakers, games, and many other activities in preparation for the night. Freshman Charles Wilson said that Gillville is “a good way to develop school spirit.” The once empty field was turned into a tent city.

Students were promised special tickets in the morning that would allow them access into the game early to get front row seats.

“This tradition allows people to build great friendships, get to the football game early, and show support for the team,” mayor Josh Young said.

Young has been taking part in helping run this tradition for the past two years. He is part of the four student “mayors”- Jesse Pausch, Caroline Miller, Alex Abel, and Josh Young- who collaborate with the Athletics Department to help run this event. The student body has been teaming up with the department ever since Gillville was called Roccotown for past head football coach Danny Rocco.

All students are allowed to attend, but the guidelines at Gillville include the following:

• No guys in girls tents and vice versa
• Check-in at curfew and no leaving afterwards
• Students must sign out at their dorm, then give the mayors their name, dorm, and phone number

“It’s a good chance to stay out with your buddies past curfew,” junior Christopher Crowder said, “…and go on a little camping adventure.”

As the night progressed, over 50 tents, including multiple 10-person tents and dozens of hammocks, stretched across the area allowing hardly any room to walk. People not only placed their hammocks between trees, but between car doors as well. In addition, a group of students stacked their hammocks six hammocks high between the flagpoles in Williams Stadium.

Gillville tradition has grown and continues to grow as it attracts more people. As Young says, it “provides a different spot than a common room or restaurant to get together and hang out.”

Students camping out night before homecoming game (Photo by: Madison Summers)

Liberty Hosts Regional Flight Competition and Wins for 11 consecutive years

By: Jessica Hales

Liberty University soars high once again taking first place for the 11 consecutive year in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Competition.

For the first time in the 11 years that Liberty has competed in the competition they were able to host it this year in Lynchburg VA. Liberty competed against the Naval Academy, Averett University, and Guilford Technical Community College.

The students were all tested on either flight or ground events depending on their majors.

Flight Events:

– Power off/on landing

– Short field landing

– Navigation

– Message Drop

Ground Events:

– Computer Accuracy

– S.C.A.N ( Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation)

– Aircraft Recognition

– Ground Trainer

– Preflight

Some of the students have to compete in both ground and air events because they have to know and understand both subjects for their majors.

This is a big win for the school of aeronautics. Liberty will now be able to compete in May at a national competition, which will be held in Ohio. Last year Liberty did so well that they were able to compete in the national competition as well, however they did not do so well in the national competition.

Evan Thrams a senior at Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics competed in this competition and last year’s competition as well as nationals competition this past May. This year he competed in Power off/on landing, navigation event, aircraft recognition, message drop and S.C.A.N.

Thrams who was named Cessna Aircraft’s Top Hawk this past summer, states that the competition is very stressful, but he loves spending time with his team mates. His favorite event is the message drop because it is the easiest and less stressful.

“For the first time, in this competition, you have a real objective,” said Thrams. “You are not training, you are doing; it is taking our job skills and actually applying them in the real world.”

Reinaldo Valle who is another senior that competed in this competition as well as last years competition states that the next few weeks the flight school will be practicing their respective events in preparation for the national competition in May. Valle has put in four years at the flight school without a break and has worked his way up the ranks to coaching. He was able to help coach for the preflight event this year.

The sky is the limit so hopefully this years national competition Liberty will go above and beyond for the win.

Moorman Family versus Liberty University

Moorman Family Versus Liberty University

By: Lexi Hamlet

(from the News and Advance’s website)

Liberty University and Lynchburg’s founding family have found them selves in a dispute over the cemetery that holds graves to the cities founding family on the university’s campus after family members feel that the memorial is being neglected.

A memorial that holds some of Lynchburg’s oldest family members has been reduced down to nothing and said to have been neglected of the family’s wishes while being apart of massive construction on Liberty University’s West Campus. The memorial to the Moorman family once started out as a 105′ x 105′ piece of land and has been reduced to a 32′ x 34′ square.

“The promises of OTGH and Jerry Falwell Sr. were not kept to reserve the site with dignity, decency, respect and reverency.  The current leadership of LU has not shown that they can be good stewards of the cemetery” Bonnie Tillotson feels this about her family’s graves.

The Moorman family has been trying to get onto the campus for months now to visit the gravesite and have said to have been denied access due to continuous construction. When a member called and said that they were coming to visit the memorial they said the university had someone escort them to the site and stood there with them as if they were being supervised.

“Liberty University threw the memorial site back up in 24 hours around September 8 and 9 of 2014 after a family member announced they would be visiting.” Chad Burchett, the Moorman family’s spokesperson, tells the WLNI 105.9 radio

Once the family was aware of the current situation of their family members’ memorial they were asked to come in by the university and discuss plans for an “improved” memorial where 4 out of 5 of the ideas where to build stairs overtop of the graves and into the new music building. The family then decided that moving the remains of their ancestors would be the best thing, and the university was said to have agreed.

Once the Moorman family had gotten an estimate for how much it would cost to have the graves dug up and moved to a new location the family’s spokesperson said that they informed Liberty about the cost and the university was still agreeing to the family’s plan. When talk was put into action Liberty University was then said to have backed out of the current plans and then filed a lawsuit against 80+ members of the Moorman family. Now the family says that they have a new spot picked out for their deceased at White’s United Methodist Church, a new headstone, but no remains.

The Moorman family has hired a lawyer as well as Liberty University and the two sides are now going to take the issue in front of a Lynchburg Circuit Court Judge in the beginning of Spring 2016.

(Photo of the new Moorman headstone sent to my by Bonnie Tillotson)

LU Send Now Program Spreads Its Wings

By Jakob Sauppe

 

Liberty University’s revamped program for global outreach and disaster relief emerges from its first mission as a staple for spiritual comfort.

Following the efforts of the first team dispatched to care for victims of the flooding in Columbia, South Carolina, the LU Send Now program has proven its servanthood to not only the students of Liberty campus, but to those observing coverage provided by the media. The impact of the students’ ministry was covered by several news outlets and broadcast with a local Fox station, WXFR (Virginia First), who traveled with the students on their mission.

Locals from the Columbia area expressed their thanks toward the program for its demonstration of young people lending a hand.

“It just amazes me to find someone that’s so willing to just come in and help someone they never met, in an area they’ve never been before,” said Columbia resident Zeb Scott to WXFR.

Volunteers from the Send Now program spent their time cleaning and repairing flooded houses in the area. One group of students spent a day tearing down soaked walls and insulation.

“In days and times that we live now, it’s hard to find genuine people like what you see here,” homeowner Thomas Williams told WXFR. “They come few and far in between, but they’re here.”

Liberty Campus pastor David Nasser unveiled the Send Now program’s first outing to Columbia in a campus-wide Convocation service held on Oct. 7.

The LU Send Now program originated as an extension of the LU Send program. While the latter dealt with planned trips to spread the love of Christ to the world through actions, the former involves students remaining on call to be sent whenever and wherever global crises arise.

“I think it’s amazing,” Send Now student Madison Holbert said. “I think that one of the biggest principles that Jesus taught while he was here was to serve and help those in need, and I feel like this program really does that and connects people to a local church they go to, so they’re aware we’re here to help.”

To enroll in the domestic team, a student must meet several criteria, including:

• Currently taking courses offered at Liberty University.
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.
• Complete required training courses for response efforts.

Additionally, students who wish to join the international team must fulfill extra requirements, including:

• Having previous travel experience abroad, or experience with disaster relief domestically.
• Complete in personal interview.
• Acquire a US Passport.

Students currently enrolled in the LU Send Now program have great faith in the goals of the curriculum, as does the general student body.

“I will say that it’s one of the better things I’ve seen at Liberty,” said Liberty student Aaron Underhill. “I’d say it’s the most effective step in the right direction for spreading Christ’s love.”