Spring 2017 Employee Newsletter
A Word From The President
This semester has been filled with many exciting announcements across our academic and athletics departments. In January, we opened the new Liberty University Indoor Track Complex and have already hosted three track meets there. The Center for Law & Government has launched, led by former U.S. Congressman Robert Hurt. Work has begun on a shooting range for sports teams and firearms training. Shortly after Commencement, we will start construction on a new home for the School of Business, and Freedom Tower will open in the fall. You can learn more about these projects in the new Liberty Journal.
As we look forward to Liberty’s future, we are reminded of God’s many blessings. When our gospel choir, LU Praise, sang at the Washington National Cathedral in front of President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and other dignitaries at the Inaugural National Prayer Service, it was a special moment for me. The Presidential Inaugural Committee had asked them to sing “We’ve Come This Far By Faith,” but I quickly recognized the tune as a theme song for Liberty in the early 1970s, when we were a young college with many challenges. The song brought me to tears:
“We’ve come this far by faith. Leaning on the Lord, trusting in His Holy Word. He’s never failed me yet. Oh, can’t turn around. We’ve come this far by faith.”
Those are words we sang here over 40 years ago, and they are still true today. May we never forget how far God has brought us as we continue to train future generations of Champions for Christ.
Jerry Falwell
President
>>Watch LU Praise perform at the Washington National Cathedral here (1:03 and 2:16 marks).
Liberty Approved for FBS Reclassification Process
On Thursday, Feb. 16, Liberty University received notification that the NCAA approved its request to enter the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) reclassification process.
Liberty University submitted the waiver with the NCAA in January, requesting relief to enter into the two-year FBS reclassification process without an invitation to join a FBS conference.
“Today is truly historic for Liberty University,” said President Jerry Falwell. “This university aspired to compete at the highest levels of NCAA competition and began working toward that dream and vision from the day of its founding in 1971. We are deeply grateful to NCAA leadership and staff for considering this request and for acknowledging Liberty’s readiness and the appropriateness of Liberty now moving to FBS football status as an independent.”
The NCAA waiver approval was based upon Liberty providing substantial information demonstrating its readiness to begin the reclassification process, Liberty’s ability to follow current FBS institutions that have demonstrated viability without a conference affiliation, and the university’s ability to satisfy FBS requirements.
Starting with the 2017-18 academic year, Liberty’s football program will begin the two-year FBS reclassification process. Liberty will compete as a FBS independent during the 2018 season, which includes having three FBS home games. The football program will be bowl eligible starting with the 2019 season and will be required to play at least five FBS opponents at home.
Liberty Professor Uncovers Biblical History
Discovering ancient artifacts is far from ordinary, but uncovering findings from a cave that held Dead Sea Scrolls is even less common. However, that is exactly what Distinguished Research Professor Dr. Randall Price and a small team of Liberty professors and students found on an archaeological trip to Israel in January.
Led by Price, the team discovered fragments of storage jars, scroll wrappings, string, and a piece of worked leather that was part of a scroll. Although no scrolls were found, the findings indicate that Dead Sea Scrolls had been stored in the cave on the cliffs west of Qumran, near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. According to Price, the artifacts recovered in the cave (known as Cave 12) are indicative of what other nearby caves hold.
“I knew the cave had potential,” said Price, who first discovered the cave in 2006. “This is only the beginning of our search for more scrolls. Undoubtedly, they are out there, and we know of some 300 caves in the area. Our team is planning to return to excavate other caves in the near future.”
Price said the leather piece is currently being analyzed in Jerusalem to determine whether it contains writing.
Unfortunately, pillaging has made discoveries rare, and artifacts from the caves sell for a considerable price on the black market. Looting, along with political tension in the area, has made findings like Price’s difficult to come by. His team’s discovery was the first of its kind since the 1950s.
“One fragment [of a Dead Sea Scroll] the size of a thumbnail can sell for $1 million,” said Price.
Monetary value aside, the artifacts are an indispensable addition to the research community. Israel Hasson, director-general of the Israel Antiquities Authority, reinforced the importance of the discovery.
“The material, when published, will provide important new evidence for scholars of the archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea caves … The important discovery of another scroll cave attests to the fact that a lot of work remains to be done in the Judean Desert — and finds of huge importance are still waiting to be discovered,” said Hasson to The Jerusalem Post.
Price echoed Hasson’s comments.
“It is very important to find more so we can learn more about the life and ministry of Jesus,” he said, adding that discoveries like these lend further evidence to the credibility of the Bible.
In addition to his archaeological research, Price also curates the Liberty Biblical Museum. The museum houses numerous biblical artifacts and items, including a stunning Dead Sea Scroll replica. You can learn more about the Liberty Biblical Museum online or by visiting it in the Jerry Falwell Library.
Know when to #SpeakUp!
At Liberty University, we are committed to providing a safe learning, living, and working environment for the Liberty community. However, if an incident occurs, do you know how to respond?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits all forms of sex-based discrimination, which includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and other forms of gender-based discrimination and bullying. All Liberty faculty and staff are required to report all Title IX incidents directly to the Office of Equity & Inclusion.
Help safeguard our campus and our students. Report all misconduct to the Office of Equity & Inclusion located in Green Hall, Room 1880, by phone (434) 592-4999 or by email at TitleIX@liberty.edu.
“Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.” – Proverbs 31:8
Please visit Liberty.edu/TitleIX for information on how to report Title IX incidents.
The Winter-Spring 2017 Liberty Journal Is Here!
The Winter-Spring 2017 edition of the Liberty Journal is now available! Visit Liberty.edu/Journal today or pick up a free copy on campus. This issue’s featured stories include Liberty’s participation in the 58th Presidential Inauguration — including LU Praise’s performance at the Inaugural National Prayer Service — as well as updates on the Center for Law & Government, a profile of first-year Flames Baseball Head Coach Scott Jackson, and a look at the guest speakers Liberty has hosted through the years.
Campus Construction Update
Liberty’s campus transformation continues into 2017 with several exciting new facilities in progress. The Academic and Performance Center, Freedom Tower, the Indoor Football Practice Facility, and the Liberty Natatorium are all expected to be completed this year. Watch this video for a recap of Liberty’s current and future athletics facilities.
Following Commencement, Liberty will begin demolition on Elmer Towns Religion Hall to make way for a new 78,000-square-foot, three-story building for the School of Business. Features will include meeting, conference, and executive boardrooms, a 500-seat auditorium, and a number of innovative spaces — from information technology labs to networking and data centers. Plans also call for a simulated stock trading room, which would be visible from behind glass and include a real-time ticker, New York Stock Exchange display boards, and computer terminals. The new building will serve as a training ground for finance, accounting, and international business students.
Liberty Mountain Gun Club
The new Liberty Mountain Gun Club will be the first facility on a U.S. college campus to meet every NCAA and NRA specification for all Olympic shooting sports. Scheduled to open by Labor Day, the facility will be open to the public during designated hours, but will cater primarily to students. Trained instructors and range masters will be on hand to supervise shooters. The facility will also serve as the location for the range portion of Liberty’s handgun safety class, which can be used to apply for a concealed carry permit in Virginia. Since Liberty started offering this free class to students, faculty, and staff two years ago, more than 900 people have taken part. The university will debut men’s and women’s skeet shooting teams as part of the Club Sports program in the fall and is planning to add NCAA teams in the future.
Make A Difference With the Employee Giving Campaign
Have you had a chance to join the Employee Giving Campaign? There is still plenty of time for you to get involved and impact the lives of others. When you give, your money is used to make a difference in a real, visible way. From disaster relief to financial assistance for those in need, the Employee Giving Campaign gives you the opportunity to help your neighbors, coworkers, and friends. Donating to The Journey FM Spring Partner Invitational counts toward the campaign as well. To learn more about how you can join, visit the Employee Giving Campaign online, and be on the lookout for our tables around campus in April! Together, we can change lives.
Congratulations to our top contributing departments! Thank you for your giving.
1. Development
2. Athletics
3. Spiritual Development
4. Administration
5. Marketing and New Media Communications (tie)
The Journey FM Spring Partnership
Join The Journey’s mission of bringing hope to their listeners! The Journey FM Spring Partner Invitational will take place April 4-7, and with your help, The Journey can continue to reach thousands of listeners in the area. Your monthly or one-time gift will help impact lives and spread the Gospel. For more information, visit MyJourneyFM.com.
Flames Cash Day is March 10
Celebrate Flames Cash Day on Friday, March 10. Add $25 or more in Flames Cash and receive a lunch redeemable at The Food Court at Reber-Thomas, Fresh Market, or Founders Food Court (valid March 20-31). You’ll be entered to win prizes, too! And, as always, continue to enjoy the daily 10-15 percent Flames Cash discount at on-campus dining locations. For more information, call (434) 582-7771 or email campusservices@liberty.edu.
Liberty Will Host Women’s Big South Basketball Championship
Liberty will host the 2017 Big South Women’s Basketball Championship from Thursday, March 9, until Sunday, March 12. The championship opens on Thursday with a doubleheader at 6 p.m. and will close with the championship game Sunday at 4 p.m., broadcast on ESPN3.
General admission tickets are on sale now, and ticket books for all nine games cost only $30. Faculty and staff can purchase general admission tickets for $2 using promo code LUCHAMPS. Please note that a $1 convenience fee will be added to each ticket. Tickets can be purchased through the Liberty Athletics Ticket Office from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., online through LibertyFlames.com, or by phone at (434) 582-7328.
Liberty will host the Big South Women’s Basketball Championship through 2019.
Employees Of The Month
Congratulations to our Employees of the Month. You are a tremendous blessing to this university, and we are thankful for you. This recognition is proof that you go above and beyond expectations to consistently produce excellent work with a Christlike attitude and spirit. Thank you for all you do to make Liberty a shining light.
January Employees of the Month were: Mitzi Bible, Kristina Broadway, Matt Houser, Janice Laughlin, Kelly Lesley, Thomas Norton, Timi Plyter, Adam Smith, and Megan Stinson.
February Employees of the Month were: Kelli Brokaw, Eugene Brown, Dave Calland, Jess Clark, Joel Coleman, Shannon Farris, Michelle Goodwin, Craig Hara, Paula Denise Hendricks, Jose Hernandez, Julia Higbee, LeAnn Hinton, Kameona Hokoana, Jesse Miller, Pam Miller, Reuben Obadiah, Gregory O’Berry, Bryan Thompson, and Candice Thornton.
March Employees of the Month are: Cole Bender, Kim Day, Raymond Fuentes, Jordan Johnson, Sarah Morris, Norman Naylor, Ethan Swank, Megan White, and Chris Wygal.
You Stand Out
Senior university leadership has been looking for staff members who exemplify exceptional commitment to Liberty’s customer service standards. Last month, tickets* were handed out as our way of thanking those whose hard work and dedication (often behind the scenes) made a difference.
Congratulations to You Stand Out recipients: Kris Becraft, Kaylee Brown, Aimee Camm, Debra Campbell, Lisa Carroll, Courtney Cox, Kenny Fowler, Audrey Hammond, Travis Isaacs, Timothy Kidd, Jared Lilly, Wendy Phillips, Luke Smith, Nathan Spencer, Joshua Spradlin, Sarah Stearns, Tirian Wilson, and Angela Witt.
*Remember, these tickets are redeemable for a Barnes & Noble gift card. Be on the lookout — you never know when someone might notice that You Stand Out!