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Coming into this semester I was filled with excitement. This semester began with a lot of change and a lot of new beginnings; it was my first semester off campus, my first semester of junior year, and my first semester working for Student Activities. I would describe myself as someone who is always down to try new things and to do things that make me uncomfortable. I love having the freedom to say, in the words of one of my best friends Kate, “LET’S DO IT.” As new and exciting as the thought of applying to work for Student Activities at the end of last semester was, it definitely did not take a lot of convincing and was probably one of the easiest decisions that I have made since coming to Liberty. Now you might ask why this decision was so easy for me to make. I mean SA is just another job I could have worked anywhere, why work for this campus organization? Allow me to take you all back to my freshman year at Liberty.

I remember driving onto campus move in day and knowing I had made the right choice in coming to Liberty. As my car was surrounded by CGL’s and everything I owned loaded into red bins, this school quickly began to feel like home. As I met my roommate upstairs in our room on Emerson Hall (shoutout) and we started to unpack we simultaneously began planning everything we wanted to do during welcome week and the first things on our list included an outdoor mic on the lawn and movie night on the commons lawn.

This night of welcome week holds one of my favorite memories of my freshman year. My roommate and I had met a few girls on our hall, and we all decided to go down and watch the movie together. We all walked down together, six girls who had just met three days before but felt like sisters in such a short amount of time. I honestly don’t remember the movie that was on that night, I think it may have been Aladdin but I wouldn’t bet my life on it, but what I do remember was laughing until we cried and smiling so much that by the end of the night my face hurt.

This was one of those nights when you look at the people around you and you just know, these people are going to always be a part of my life and so far that has been all too true. These girls continue to be some of my best friends at Liberty and just in life. One of the girls there that night got married this summer and all of us were in her wedding! (whoop whoop! give it up for the Baldwins!) Now, every Tuesday night the Baldwins host family dinner for all of their friends and when the craziness of this life slows down, sometimes you will see all of us there and we get to reminisce on those girls from freshman year.

This is just one memory that I have over the last two and a half years that are attached to an SA event that helped lay the groundwork for the beginning of some of the best friendships I have ever had. This is what drew me to work for Student Activities. Being able to be a part of creating a space where friendships can be formed, memories can be made, and community can be found. Student Activities has given me some of the sweetest memories and has always made me feel so welcomed and at home. I can only hope that I can play a small part in being for someone else what Student Activities has been for me in my life.

 

Written by: Elisabeth Hardy

Elisabeth is a Psychology Counseling major with minors in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry. She is passionate about using opportunities to show the creativity of God and His presence! She loves writing for the blog as a way to express herself and be creative about things that are fun and relevant.

The stage was set. The acts were ready. The decorations had been painted and placed. The crowd awaited a fun and festive show. Upcoming finals were forgotten as students found their seats for Christmas Coffeehouse: 25 Days of Christmas.  

One performer had been ready for years. She spent weeks learning choreography, days anticipating the performance, and hours getting ready. Her act ran through sound check then ran around the Vines Center taking pictures at the different Christmas scenes. She was trying to soak everything in before the show began.

Eventually the show started. She watched each performance in awe of the student talent. She knew she was one of those students, but still was wowed by the other acts. Her time to perform came and went, and the rest of the show flew by. To her, Coffeehouse was about performing.

In those first few moments when the lights came up and the host appeared, she forgot the noise of the crowd and the nervous excitement of her own mind. She listened to the introduction, laughed at the jokes, and thought, “Now THAT would be a fun job.”

Christmas Coffeehouse 2019 was a night to remember. Preparations for Spring 2020 were cut short as the rest of the world came to a halt. With her time as an act being over and Christmas Coffeehouse: Winter Wonderland being virtual, she thought she would never again get to feel the thrill of being with the Coffeehouse crowd. She felt lost.

Luckily the next year came with new beginnings, as is true with most things. Although at limited capacity, Coffeehouse was back in person! And she was part of it! In a different way than she ever imagined – now a behind the scenes role – but still ecstatic to be involved.

The painting, planning, and pre-show setup were just as exciting as anything else. Coffeehouse: The Late Show was everything she wanted it to be and more. Her new neon shirt and position on the team gave new meaning to the event, and it was just as special. She saw all the students experience the same magic that she had at her very first show. She witnessed her coworkers get groovy while guarding the gates. This time, Coffeehouse was about the people.

Now she experienced the show in yet another way at Christmas Coffeehouse: Merry & Bright. This time was even more exciting than the last, and just as satisfying. She looked in the mirror, took a deep breath, and grabbed her cards before walking to the wings.

With a microphone in hand, she took the stage once again. This time, with her biggest task yet: host. Waiting for the lights to come up, she took one steadying inhale and thought back to her first time on this stage. With the exhale, she released any worries and placed the show in the hands of the crowd. The night ended in success and joy for everyone. Now, she knew Coffeehouse was about purpose.

Moments like these are a “blink and you miss it” type of memory. Full-circle stories are always beautiful journeys, and this one is mine. There are many roles to play in life. We don’t always get cast in the one we want or expect, but it is up to us to make it count. There will always be times when there does not seem to be a point to all the lows, but if you persevere long enough, you will reach the highs. Things always have a way of working out exactly how they’re supposed to in the end.

 

Written by: Anna Pender

Anna is a Senior Strategic Communications major. She is thankful to have the opportunity to write for the blog because it gives her a chance to explore and write about topics and events that she is passionate about and that are relevant to the world. She loves getting to be creative and share her personality through writing.

What have I learned at Student Activities? When I think about this question, my mind is filled with so many thoughts and feelings. Student Activities is an answered prayer. The job itself was not the prayer, although I do love my job. While I thought I had gotten a job that would help fill my time, give me a little extra money, and some experience, what I really got was an everyday reminder that God is good and kind to His children. I got coworkers who feel a lot more like family.

When I first came to Liberty, I struggled to find true community. I came from across the country and constantly felt out of place, everything was unfamiliar. There were so many people to meet, I didn’t even know where to start to have genuine community. I was looking for people who looked, sounded, and thought just like I did, because I had never known any different. We gravitate so quickly towards people who have similar interests, taste in music or style, or come from the same place as us. When we do this, we so quickly overlook the opportunity to find community and unity through our differences. We tend to think that community is defined by having something in common. But really, being in a community with others is the conscious choice to walk with others through good and bad, despite your similarities and differences.

I wanted to work at Student Activities so that I could be a part of events where people could come and find community in a fun and comfortable place. What I didn’t expect was that I would find my own community and sense of belonging within my job. What surprised me most when I started working at SA was how different all my coworkers were, yet how much we had in common. Attending events and coffee promos, the staff seemed to all be very similar – bright, outgoing, and friendly. This is certainly true; I work with some of the kindest people I’ve met. While the SA staff have many similar characteristics, each person is unique in many ways as well. We have very different majors and dreams for our future, have different music tastes, and come from all over the country. While I was surrounded by coworkers who were all unique, we had one thing in common, the goal of making people feel welcomed and cared for when they were at our events. I was quickly amazed by every one of the people that I was surrounded by and in awe of the way that God had given each of us unique passions, gifts, experiences, and dreams. Each time we are together, I am continually encouraged and strengthened by the gifts and wisdom of my coworkers. The community that we have as coworkers is stronger because each of bring something different to the table. We are all different, yet somehow, by God’s grace, where I didn’t expect to find it – I found lifelong friends and great joy.

As I said at the beginning, I love my job at Student Activities, a lot. Working at Student Activities is a lot of fun, we get to be at a lot of fun events and talk with students, but not every part of the job is glamorous though. We also stack a lot of chairs, fold tables, build sets for Coffeehouse, and clean. While these things are not inherently fun, I cannot help but find so much in doing these mundane tasks. Why? It is because of the people that I am doing it with. I know it sounds cheesy. But in the last few years at Liberty, I have learned that we all must do things in life that we would rather not. Instead of wasting those moments of my life and looking back on them with dread, I would rather appreciate the gift that God has given me to know these people at all. Every moment is an opportunity for growth. Psalm 118:24 says, “Today is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Our rejoicing does not come from the fact that our circumstances are good, but from the fact that God Himself is good. I encourage you to rejoice in where God has you today because He has put you there. Life is a gift, and the Giver is good.

Whether your circumstances are what you always dreamed they would be, or you find yourself wishing for more, there is purpose in where you are. I have learned so much about the Lord, myself, and the world because of the strengths and gifts of the people that God has allowed me to work alongside. If you find yourself struggling right now to be content and build community, look to the people around you. Look for people who have a different perspective, strengths, and passions, who you can encourage while they encourage you. I found myself in that very place not too long ago, and God did immeasurably more than I could have asked or imagined. I know that He can do it for you to.

 

Written by: Sarah Day

Sarah is a junior majoring in Youth Ministry. Sarah enjoys writing for the blog because she loves exploring the ways that the simplest things in our lives impact us in the most meaningful ways. She is passionate about connecting with people, talking about what truly matters and baking.

Growing up, I was always the curious child that did not want to do what everyone else was doing. When kids were playing football on the playground, I would dig in the dirt and search for rocks. When my classmates started developing a sense of fashion in elementary school, I took it upon myself to wear long multicolored socks to school every day. When people began to listen to pop music, I dove headfirst into EDM. Conformity was not in my dictionary. For the longest time, I remember often feeling left out or looked down upon because of my lack of interests in what everyone else seemed to be enjoying. However, I carried on and did what I liked without thinking too deeply about how this was beginning to shape my personality.

After elementary school my family moved to another town, and I entered junior high with no friends, no familiarity, and no understanding of pop culture. Even worse, I lacked an identity. I viewed seventh grade as an opportunity to start over, to have a clean slate. No one knew me, so I could become whoever I wanted to be. The issue was that I set my sights on the wrong goals, and that I started to strive for the affirmation of the people around me. The transition to high school was even unhealthier, as I lost my sense of self in a sea of identity confusion. I lost myself to those around me, and I came out of high school without knowing who I was or what I wanted to do with my life.

Transitioning to college was a repeat of what I had been living for those seven years: an unchanging cycle of unhappiness, comparison, and a lack of self-worth and confidence in who I was called to be. I arrived on campus at Liberty University with no friends, no familiarity, and I was in a new city five hours from home. I lost most of my freshman year to poor time management, superficial friendships, and the lie that I did not belong here. I begged God to help me fit in, to bring good friends into my life, and to show me true joy. Nevertheless, I continued to seek affirmation from the people and things around me.

My sophomore year at Liberty began much like my freshman year. A new hall, few friends, and a stage of life that I was still quite unfamiliar with. This year was different, as my faith and trust in the Lord began to grow, and my appreciation for this community began to expand. God began to slowly answer my prayers by giving me deeper, healthier friendships. One of these friends in particular, my RA, recommended that I check out Student Activities as a place to work. He was on event staff, and he enjoyed it, so he felt that I would appreciate the job too. The following spring semester, I began working for Student Activities as an event staff. The position forced me to quickly build my confidence while at the coffee promos across campus, and it challenged me to think outside the box, something I had not valued in years. My identity was so caught up in what others wanted to hear, that I had forgotten to value my own creativity. Student Activities gave me that push to regain my confidence in who I am, what I stand for, and what makes me unapologetically me.

Fast forward to today, and most people who know me would say that I am a different person now. Student Activities continually plays a large role in helping me realize the value of my own unique perspective, and it has given me the freedom to share that unique angle with a team of diverse coworkers and life-long friends. I am grateful to God for softening my heart over the past two years to the truth that my identity was not in the things or people of this world, but in Him alone. Paul writes about our identity in Christ saying, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we are called to stand out from the crowd in a world full of conformity.

I can proudly say I have been working on turning back to the way I lived before conformity, back to that child-like curiosity I always had deep inside.

 

Written by: Zachary Grabill

Zachary is a Junior studying Business Administration: Project Management and Supply Chain Management. He is passionate about music, traveling, and adventure, and enjoys sharing his experiences with others. He appreciates the opportunity to write for the blog as a platform to both entertain and discuss culture from a creative and personal perspective.

To many, Christmas time brings images of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, piles of desserts and treats, and stockings stuffed to the brim with carefully wrapped presents of all shapes and sizes. For many families, however, their Christmas celebrations cannot not live up to the commercial expectations of the season. The Great Depression, through the collapse of the stock market and banking systems in the 1930s led to a universally felt recession. Families at every income level across America found themselves struggling to put food on the table, let alone make ends meet.

In those times, Christmas took on a new meaning. Families did not gather around the Christmas tree, if they even had one, to open presents and assess gifts. Parents, grandparents, children, siblings got together in gratitude for what they had and for the ability to celebrate together. The ‘normal’ gift a child would receive on Christmas during this time was a stocking that included an orange, a handful of nuts, and a little bit of candy if you were lucky. Their Christmas dinner did not consist of a wide array of decadent dishes; instead, they ate the simple meals that were offered at soup kitchens or were easy to make with the limited ingredients they could afford.

When imagining Christmas decorations, images of bright lights, glittery ornaments, and stunning displays of green and red come to mind. During the Great Depression, however, Charlie Brown’s tree is more representative of the times. The only elaborate decorations were found at the large retail stores, seemingly unaware of the middle classes’ impoverished state.

It is difficult to imagine, in our modern times of televised Christmas parades, with delicately decorated Christmas trees lining the streets, and perfectly wrapped presents, that the Christmas magic could persevere through the lack of material wealth. While no one wishes for another widespread recession, the recent isolation of COVID-19 served as a reminder that Christmas joy can thrive despite unprecedented circumstance. It is not the methodology or price tags of traditions that create lasting memories. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the commerciality and stresses of the season to get the perfect gift, have the most beautiful tree, and get the best Instagram worthy snapshot of the holiday.

Christmas is ultimately a time to reflect on the birth of our Savior. The One who loved first. The One who reached and respected those who were always forgotten. The One who would later suffer a sinner’s death for us while never having sinned Himself. The One who continues to love us and walk with us generations later.

While the Christmas season generates beautiful landscapes and decorations, let us not get wrapped up in the superficial allure and forget to praise our God for gifting us our Savior. The magic of the season does not come through glitter or ribbon, but through one birth in a random manger in Bethlehem.

At Coffeehouse this year, we hope to encapsulate the pure joy of Christmas that only comes through the celebration of Jesus Christ. Through our theme, we hope to highlight the small nostalgic details of Christmastime that do not get a primetime commercial spotlight. Christmas is merry, not through the lights wrapped around pine leaves or ribbons tied perfectly around wrapped boxes, but in the small memories of cobblestone fireplaces and grandma’s tacky wallpaper that remind you of the unadulterated joy that comes with imperfect yet genuine family celebrations of our Savior’s arrival.

We hope you will join us on December 4th for Coffeehouse to reminisce on the true meaning of Christmas and spend the night appreciating the small things that truly make this season merry and bright.

 

Written by: Giana DePaul

Giana is a Sophomore studying Government: Politics and Policy. Giana enjoys writing for the blog to express her love of people, cultural issues, and to illustrate the influence of God in every aspect of life. She hopes to express her unique experiences and knowledge through writings filled with compassion, discernment, and personality.

When I pictured going to my first college event, I never thought it would be watching a jazz ensemble on a muddy Thursday night. Yet, there I was, walking with my five-dollar blanket from Walmart to the Academic lawn with my roommates. Jazz Night was one of the first welcome week events offered my first semester at Liberty. I had just barely met my second roommate Cassandra, I was overwhelmed by the thought of starting college classes so soon, and missed home despite only being away for four days. So, it was safe to say, the last thing I really wanted to do was go listen to a genre of music I was pretty sure I didn’t like with people I didn’t know.

Being still in the midst of COVID-19 regulations, there was a line leading up to the stage where groups would be spread out by the staff. My roommates and I joined the line behind a large group of guys. Randomly, (at least for me at the time) one of the guys started talking to us. Reminiscing on this night over a year later, I could not for the life of me tell you what this conversation was about. What I do remember, however, is Liberty feeling just a little bit more like home having had that random conversation with the group of guys.

Cassandra was meeting up with her friend Chad from high school, but he was running late to catch up with us in line. The joke of the evening then became “where’s Chad?” The guys we had just met had no idea who this Chad was, but suddenly about ten extra people were concerned with his whereabouts. Within ten minutes of meeting these new people, I already felt like I had made so many college friends. This immediately erased my overarching fear that I would never find my people at college.

Once the music began, my roommates and the group of guys found our spots in the grass in front of the Montview steps where the stage was set up. In true Lynchburg fashion, it had poured rain the night before. That meant that the grass was extremely muddy as a result. The second I put my blanket down for all of us to sit on, it got drenched. We spent a majority of the concert, doing what must have looked like musical chairs, trying to not sink into the mud piles that emerged. On the bright side, this forced quick bonding between my roommates and our newly found friends.

We spent the rest of the concert getting to know each other, sharing stories from back home, and enjoying the smooth melody of the brass instruments in the background. That night foreshadowed a lot of my college life to come. Remember that ‘where’s Chad’ conversation? Well, we found him. While my roommates and our new friends discussed the possible, yet ridiculous, places he may be, Chad had run into and befriended a stranger himself to bring to Jazz Night. That stranger would soon turn out to be one of my best friends at Liberty, Michaela. The funny thing is, I don’t remember meeting her that night at all. All I know is that I went into Jazz Night expecting to feel out of place, awkward, and constantly hope that it was time to leave. When I left, however, I felt content knowing that I do know how to make friends and that the scary college strangers aren’t so scary after all.

Even though we all exchanged numbers that night, I don’t think I have talked to any of the guys from that group since Jazz Night. I still talk to Michaela and Chad. My roommates and them, plus a few others, actually make up my core group of friends here at Liberty. I am forever grateful for Jazz Night, not just because it brought me Michaela or because it grew my relationship with my roommates; I’m grateful that so early on that event showed me the kindness of Liberty’s student body. Since then, I’m unafraid to strike up conversation with the person next to me in class or who’s in front of me in line at the Grid. My favorite part about Student Activities is how well you get to understand the welcoming culture of our university at their events. So, whether it be Jazz Night, Bingo, Coffeehouse, or anything in between, come check out our events…you never know who you’ll meet.

 

Written by: Giana Depaul

Giana is a Sophomore studying Government: Politics and Policy. Giana enjoys writing for the blog to express her love of people, cultural issues, and to illustrate the influence of God in every aspect of life. She hopes to express her unique experiences and knowledge through writings filled with compassion, discernment, and personality.

Music impacts people. It changes trajectories of lives, and it translates into every language. Jazz is just one of many translations of this universal language of music but the depth, soul, heritage, and deep-rooted history that runs through it draws people in and captivates them.

When deciding how to approach this introduction to jazz as a genre for our students here at Liberty, I thought what better way to gain perspective on this incredible genre of music than through a former student! Scott Richardson graduated from Liberty University in May 2021 with a degree in business (I know this is kind of ironic so just track with me) and now works in youth and worship ministry at a church near Washington D.C. Although Scott was a business major, during his time at Liberty he developed a love for jazz. Scott is a guitarist who had always been in love with music, but while at Liberty he was introduced to artists who proved to him what he thought couldn’t be true, that guitar had a place in jazz music. His introduction to jazz came of out of nowhere, but with influences such as guitarists George Benson and Joe Pass, Scott was able to see the major role that guitar plays in this complex genre and how he could be a part of it.

Starting off my time talking Scott, I asked him if there was one song in the jazz genre that I should listen to, what would it be and why? After much internal conflict, he told me that the one song he would recommend would be “These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)” by Thelonious Monk. This song is a solo piano piece that Scott heard soon after he had begun exploring the world of jazz. When explaining to me why he would recommend it he told me that for him it was the first song he had ever heard that displayed emotions without having lyrics. For him this impacted him as he was uncovering the many layers of the genre and allowed him to hear and experience harmony and music in a new way.

As music impacts all of us, this is no different for Scott as the jazz genre has played a significant role in his life. Scott described jazz as a sort of soundtrack for his life. We all have those moments in our lives where can almost hear a certain song playing, like the moments when you’re dancing in the rain, and you can just feel the tension of the song “Electric Love” by Borns. For Scott, this looks like moments with the building tension of different jazz artists playing in the background. Jazz opened the doors of the joy of music and discovery for Scott as he lived in these almost movie like moments where jazz just seemed to follow him. He explained how jazz kept him involved in music as he expressed that there’s always something new to learn in jazz. Scott said, “Jazz seems to be this endless reservoir of ideas” and in this endless reservoir he has found a joy that has outlast all other genres of music.

There are misconceptions about all things and jazz is not an exception to this, as many people have misconceptions of jazz that are founded in baseless opinions. Scott explained that many people believe that the genre is a dying genre, and some people believe that it is already dead. That is just simply not the case! Scott explained how many people view jazz today as just a recreation of the past, but there are plenty of new cats on the scene (cats are jazz musicians! You learn something new every day!) like Cory Henry, Julian Lage, and Robert Glasper. Scott also expressed how many people believe that jazz is boring when it is far from that! Many people have made opinions of jazz without ever experiencing a live show and to Scott that is where the problem lies. There are so many things about jazz that draws people in and it is impossible to find a live jazz performance boring because of this! Scott emphatically expressed that more people should go to live jazz performances as it will bring a whole new light and meaning to the genre.

Culture is largely impacted by music and to say jazz has played a role in the influence of American culture is a vast understatement. The first thing that comes to someone’s mind usually has a lot of significance to them and for Scott, when describing the impact of jazz on culture, his first thought was jazz taught people to dance! Since most jazz throughout history was largely founded and based in clubs, the alure of dancing is strongly attached to it. Jazz makes people want to move, the rhythm, the harmonies, the basic sound, all of it together gets people onto their feet and dancing in the street because they simply can’t help it! (if the rhyme is too much I DEEPLY apologize) Outside of just the simple idea that jazz brings people to life, we see how jazz brought African American culture into mainstream American culture. The melting pot that is this country accepted jazz and the African culture attached to it as jazz is heavily, and almost entirely, influenced by African polyrhythms. Scott expounded on this greatly during out interview as he told me about the acceptance of African American culture that was brought through jazz. He explained that the culture of African Americans was one that was largely suppressed or even viewed as illegitimate in the past but through jazz music, this incredible culture became a staple in pop culture. The influence of jazz on music and culture is obvious but the most significant influence is the fact that it gave African Americans a well-deserved voice in pop culture. This influence has in no way stopped today as without its influence, there wouldn’t be R&B or hip hop. These two genres were heavily influenced by jazz and without this genre they would simply cease to exist. Even outside of these specific genres that have been influenced, without the harmonies created in the 40s and 50s, music would not look the same today. Scott explained that although jazz isn’t considered to be “pop” anymore, artists like Frank Sinatra and Nat Cole set a standard for many different pop stars today and will continue to influence artists to come.

The last question that I asked Scott in our time together was just how has jazz changed over time and what does it look like in our generation? He answered that jazz doesn’t quite look the same as it once did with the past there were acoustic instruments and large bands and quartets. Today, jazz music no longer is primarily acoustic sets and quartets are a lot more uncommon as technology has changed and artists now can create a new sound. Scott explained that there is no point in trying to recreate old sounds or trying to replicate jazz bands of the past because new cats will generally not measure up to the old cats, but that is okay! There is the reinforcement of the idea that jazz is this endless reservoir that people can draw from to create and keep on creating! This is exciting as artists can develop new ideas and new styles in this unending genre of music.

As I finished up my interview with Scott, I found myself to be left in awe. Honestly walking into this interview with very minimal knowledge of jazz, I am now walking away with a deep respect and draw to this incredible genre that seems to have the depths of an ocean. I am excited beyond words that Liberty Student Activities gets to present our student body with such an incredible opportunity to experience something so lovely and worthy of our attention at Jazz Night.

 

Written by: Elisabeth Hardy

Elisabeth is a Psychology Counseling major with minors in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry. She is passionate about using opportunities to show the creativity of God and His presence! She loves writing for the blog as a way to express herself and be creative about things that are fun and relevant..

Hello fellow Liberty students! I hope you have all had a great semester! We made it through those first few weeks, rested during Fall Break, and now that Halloween has just passed, we can move on to the best holiday of all – Christmas!! I know this is a controversial topic, but I believe that Christmas should be celebrated for as long as possible, so I am more than happy to bust out the Christmas sweaters, make some gingerbread man cookies, and crank up the Christmas songs on November 1^st. Don’t get me wrong – I love Thanksgiving too. But nothing beats the magic and joy of Christmastime.

Luckily for me, I have gotten to participate in many Christmas-themed activities since September because we at Student Activities have been working hard on our biggest event of the semester – Christmas Coffeehouse! We realize that many of you may not really know what Coffeehouse is as we have not been able to host a full Coffeehouse shows since 2019 due to Covid. But, have no fear, we are back to our regularly scheduled Coffeehouses featuring several student bands, lots of lights, 8,000 attendees, and of course, plenty of Christmas magic!

Coffeehouse is a long-standing Liberty Tradition. Student Activities finds the best of on campus artists and bands and puts on a huge variety show featuring fellow students. Coffeehouse happens at the end of every semester, boasting 8,000 attendees every year. This is the perfect time to take a break from studying for finals and enjoy some great entertainment with your friends!

To give you a taste of what Coffeehouse is all about, we wanted to present to you some of our favorite past Christmas performances. In 2019, Jingle Thomas & the Bell Bottoms performed “Wonderful Christmastime” at Coffeehouse. The song started low and smooth, with just the lead singer and keys playing the first chorus. But, you can’t have a wonderful Christmastime with all your friends without a little excitement – so they kicked it up a notch and suddenly the whole 5-piece band, with heads adorned with Santa hats of course, chimed in. What they delivered was a fun, high energy, unforgettable number. They had the whole room dancing and singing along. And they ended with a high note (literally) that left the audience on their feet.

This is what Coffeehouse is all about! Having a Wonderful Christmastime with those you love, laughing and dancing. We hope that you will join us on December 4^th for Christmas Coffeehouse to hear bands just like this one!

 

Written by: Sarah Day

Sarah is a junior majoring in Youth Ministry. Sarah enjoys writing for the blog because she loves exploring the ways that the simplest things in our lives impact us in the most meaningful ways. She is passionate about connecting with people, talking about what truly matters and baking.

Natalia Alianovna “Natasha” Romanova, also known as Black Widow, is the focal point of the 2021 Marvel movie bearing the same title. A longtime favorite of Marvel fans, this spy-turned-assassin portrayed by Scarlett Johansson finally gets the attention she deserves in her first solo film. “Black Widow” shines its light on a character with a long-delayed story and acts as a thrilling way to bring Marvel fans back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe after a long period of a movie theater-less world.

Black Widow made her first appearance in the comics through an Iron Man storyline debuting in 1964. The earliest version of “Nat” was that of a Russian spy, villain, and temptress. Her origin began as the formulaic damsel in distress, and much of her character based off sexist stereotypes from the 1960’s. Leading into the 1970’s, Black Widow’s character went through a transformative period, giving her the familiar black suit and red hair that anyone can recognize today. Over time, her character was reimagined, leading to her join S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and eventually becoming a staple superhero in the Marvel comics. However, she still faced the same hyper sexualization that many comic book heroes and heroines portrayed in throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The late 1990’s gave way to a ret-con in which Natasha was rewritten as an elite soldier of the Red Room in the Black Widow program, a secret training facility that transformed orphans into covert spies for the Russian government. These comics inspired the character that we all know from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Black Widow” aims to fill in the gaps throughout Natasha’s storyline, and to correct the shortcomings of her complicated past in the Marvel Universe.

Beware some major spoilers, as this film covers vast amount of ground between Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. “Black Widow” takes place between Civil War and Infinity War, filling in the plot gap for several characters in the MCU. We get a glimpse into Natasha’s early life in the 1990’s as an orphan girl with her sister Yelena, played by Florence Pugh, and her spy father and mother, portrayed by David Harbour and Melina Weisz. Transitioning to after Civil War, we see Natasha on the run from the American government after violating the Sokovia Accords. She reunites with Yelena and her family to return the remaining Widow’s to normal women with the help of chemical subjugation.

The movie is light with its villains, with the inclusion of both General Dreykov, leader of the Red Room, and Taskmaster, a masked villain with the power to mimic the fighting skills. The film does not sell out though, as it focuses its attention more on the storyline between a family torn apart by war and lies. “Black Widow” tells a simpler story without the incessant action of superhero movies.

Natasha is redefined in this movie as a real human being, and not just a manufactured super-spy. Her storyline is fleshed out and complete after the finality of her fate in Avengers: Endgame.

“Black Widow” chooses to shift its focus from fighting and violence to a deep dive into one of the MCU’s most underrated characters. It also serves as a way to pass the baton to Yelena as her new successor. In passing, Natasha says, “At some point, we all have to choose between what the world wants you to be and who you are.” This message encompasses the importance of the film to Marvel and to fans of the comics and movies. Natasha Romanova has been redefined and given life as not just a secondary character, but a leading figure. For a story about family, introspection, and facing life’s obstacles, come see “Black Widow” on Saturday, October 23^rd at the East Satellite Lot to be entertained.

References:

https://www.theringer.com/marvel-cinematic-universe/2021/7/6/22564989/black-widow-mcu-history-scarlett-johansson-natasha-romanoff-avengers

 

Written by: Zachary Grabill

Zachary is a Sophomore studying Business Administration: Project Management. He is passionate about music, traveling, and adventure, and enjoys sharing his experiences with others. He appreciates the opportunity to write for the blog as a platform to both entertain and discuss culture from a creative and personal perspective.

Forged in the “Home of the Blues & Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Memphis, Tennessee, the Christian-rock band, Skillet, has been roaring onto stages and turning up in Billboard charts since 1996. The heavy rock four-piece consists of front-man John Cooper, his wife Korey Cooper (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Jen Ledger (drums, vocals, as well as solo performer), and Seth Morrison (lead guitar). Skillet has definitely become a household name in the Christian-rock community and shows no signs of plateauing anytime soon.

During their 25 years of shredding in the name of Jesus (editor, am I allowed to say that? serious question) (editor note: yes), the band has released ten albums, two of which received Grammy nominations (Collide and Comatose, respectively), and their eighth album, Awake, debuted at the number two spot on the Billboard Top 200 in 2009. It was this album that truly brought Skillet into the music world’s spotlight. Songs from the aforementioned record would appear in NFL promotional ads, feature as the theme song for WWE events, and included as songs to be played in the mega popular video game, Rock Band 2. But what has led to their resounding success?

Skillet has found favor in the ears of their current 6 million plus monthly listeners on Spotify for their raw and unapologetic sound. The band does not shy away from personal and difficult topics within their lyrics. It’s their honesty and transparency that adds to the group’s intrigue and breaks down barriers. Take for example their two biggest singles, “Monster” and “Hero”. In the former, lead singer John Cooper belts out lyrics of a deep, dark feeling within himself that he wants to hide away from everyone. As the chorus rings out, he feels “like a monster”. In the second mentioned track, “Hero”, Cooper again sings of his personal struggles, this time regarding his feeling of helplessness to save himself and aligning with the track’s title, is in need of a hero. These are universal themes that practically everyone as human beings can relate to. This is part of what makes the group especially unique. They are able to draw in secular fans by making truly great music while remaining true to their Christian values through the undertones of their lyrics. The strong and defiant style Skillet plays with makes them feel even more genuine and personable and makes it no wonder that they have become a staple not only in the Christian-rock community, but amongst hard rock fans all around the world.

Passion is unquestionably at Skillet’s core, and their concerts certainly don’t lack any of it either. So, grab your tickets to experience Skillet in the Vine’s Center on October 29th, and find out for yourself why they are dubbed as one of this generation’s most successful rock acts!

References:

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/skillet-mn0000749571

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/arts/music/exalting-the-sacred-wooing-the-secular.html

https://skillet.fandom.com/wiki/Skillet_(Band)

 

Written by Jordan Hassler

Jordan is a Sophomore studying Event Planning with a Biblical Studies minor. He enjoys expressing his creativity through words, and sharing his experiences and personality by way of writing. He’s passionate about music, nature, and forming genuine connections with others.