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Student Activities invites many artists and performers to come to the World’s Most Exciting University, but getting a “Yes!” from Ben Rector made us happier than usual. Join us on Saturday, February 18 in the Vines Center to see Ben perform with special guest Brady Toops. Here is what you need to know about tickets:

• Tickets are on sale now. Just visit our website, click the “Tickets” tab, and choose the option that is right for you.
• For you students, general admission tickets are just $15.
• If you happen to be part of the non-student general public, tickets are $20 in advance.
• If there are tickets left at the door, the price will be $25.
• There was a time when you could get floor seats, but that time is past. Floor seats are sold out.

Ben Rector is a nice man with a nice voice. He makes nice songs that are nice to listen to. His style, in his own words**, is “just kinda like pop”, which is true because like most piano/acoustic guitar/possibly an electric guitar pop, it is as easy and light as a spring breeze. The nice thing about Ben Rector is that he is casually self-aware, as evidenced by many of his videos, especially his self-deprecatingly endearing “Ben Rector Hits the Streets” album previews***. That aspect of his personality drives his musical style and allows him to move easily between topics and themes on his 2015 album, Brand New, his biggest release to date. (It debuted at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 that August, but beat all challengers on the folk album chart, reaching all the way to #1.) Yes, the album is predominately light, but there is plenty of space on the album for introspection and reflection, or in the case of a song like “30,000 Feet”, reflection on another character’s introspection. Brand New is much less love song-y than previous efforts and is more of a musician’s travel diary, recalling events and experiences but always with an eye towards goodness that can effect positive change. There is a John Mayer-like quality to Ben’s music, but more of an alternate timeline John Mayer who went through abstinence-only education and actually stuck with it. That is to say, Ben comes across as pure but without necessarily coming across as overtly “Christian”; his lyrics are honest enough to reveal a heart that truly desires change, without stooping to use that honesty in a heavy handed or manipulative way. In a word, he is really nice, and we cannot wait for him to finally headline a show here at Liberty.

Joining him will be former The Bachelorette (season 11) contestant (is that what they’re called?), Brady Toops, whose soulful and smooth voice alone should have been able to woo Britt, but that is just our opinion. Be sure to check out his worshipful album, conveniently self-titled for your iTunes or Spotify searching needs.

Questions? Check our FAQ page to find answers. If that doesn’t help, send us a nice email: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

**From “Ben Rector Hits the Streets with Brand New”, 2:36 mark – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFSxM4V–jU

***https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPmg7G0GTmmeLXthfcWO-k7KNOpvMml-i

If you’re looking for magic and/or need a dose of wonder in your life, Student Activities has the perfect Double Feature Movie Night. Join us in the LaHaye Event Space on Saturday, February 11 for two of the most wonderful, magical movies of the year:

• Moana – starting at 8 PM
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – starting approx. 9:40 PM

Moana (released November 23, 2016) kicks things off. This is a brilliant movie, one of the brightest, most vivid films in the Disney catalog, reflected in both the visual artistry and the music. “Set 2,000 years ago somewhere in the South Pacific*”, it tells the story of Moana, daughter of the chief of the fictitious island Motonui, who must venture across the ocean, largely with the demigod Maui, in order to save her home. Moana is voiced by Disney newcomer Auli’i Cravalho who was just 14 years old when she started work on the movie, making her the youngest person to ever voice a Disney princess. She is perfectly balanced by Dwayne Johnson as Maui, whose swagger is just as big in an animated character as it is when he is playing The Rock. Most of the songs are written by Mark Mancina, who has contributed to film and video game scores for 30 years, and everyone’s favorite guy right now, Lin Manuel Miranda. The songs are “fun” without being too “earwormy”, as Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson suggests**, with Jemaine Clement’s giant crab character Tamatoa stealing the show. Moana is not unlike other Disney stories in that it is ultimately about identity, a discovery of “who you really are.” But the cultural and ethnic dimension of the story bolsters that identity connection to both name and place, connecting the individual to past and present in both family/ancestry and geography. Moana is visually dazzling, fun, and substantive. It is Disney at its very best.

You will probably see a lot more movies like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (released November 18, 2016), and not just because J.K. Rowling confirmed*** that there will definitely be five of them. These are the days of story mining our blockbusters and franchises: not a sequel, closer to a prequel, drilling down into the myth or details of the story to enhance and expand what we already know, like Rogue One is to the Star Wars franchise. For the Harry Potter Wizarding World, this is not a bad thing. Big fans do not need to be told that Fantastic Beasts is a book referenced in The Sorcerer’s Stone which Ms. Rowling turned into its own book in 2001. The film version stars Eddie Redmayne, who shows time and again why he is one of the best young actors today, as Newt Scamander, the fictitious author of Fantastic Beasts. It also features rising star Katherine Waterston, and established names like Colin Farrell, Ron Perlman, and Johnny Depp. Johnny is introduced as Gellert Grindelwald, who we will be seeing much more of in the coming movies. Overall, we think there is plenty here to love whether you are a wizard/witch, or the most basic Muggle.

Just to “cover our bases”, Moana is rated PG for peril, some scary images, and “brief thematic elements”. Fantastic Beasts is rated PG-13 for “some fantasy action violence”.

This event is free to attend and as usual we will have FREE popcorn and cheap snacks and drinks available. Questions? Check our FAQ page to find answers. If that doesn’t help, send us a nice email: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

* http://nerdist.com/first-look-at-moana-disneys-south-pacific-set-animated-feature/

** http://www.vox.com/culture/2016/11/22/13713820/moana-review-disney-dwayne-johnson-lin-manuel-miranda

***https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/786672299374157824?lang=en-gb

As you may know by now, this semester has a lot to do with celebrating the 2000s for we Student Activities folk. Mainly, this celebration began with deciding the Coffeehouse theme, and as the semester moves on we are mirroring this theme throughout our events.

We all have our own image of what 2000s pop culture means, but there is a lot about the decade you might not remember. To start, here are some comparative facts between 2000 and 2009:

2000*:

Average cost of new house – $134,150.00

Average income per year – $40,343.00

Gallon of gas – $1.26

Movie ticket – $5.39

U.S. postage stamp – $0.33

Loaf of bread – $1.72

Dozen eggs – $0.89

2009**:

Average cost of new house – $232,880.00

Average income per year – $39,423.00

Gallon of gas – $2.73

Movie ticket – $7.50

U.S. postage stamp – $0.42 cents

Loaf of bread – $1.77

Dozen eggs – $1.34

What we wouldn’t do for gas to be $1.26 again – that is the question. Obviously, costs were increasing throughout the decade, yet somehow the average income per year decreased a bit. Sounds like a pickle to be in, America!

Here are a few other notable events from the 2000s:

• If there is a single day that is defined as important in the 2000s, it is September 11, 2001, which was the date of the worst terrorist attack in world history. The day shaped not only the decade of the 2000s, but also history for the rest of time.
• The first iPod was released by Apple on October 23, 2001, revolutionizing the way we listen to music forever.
• Facebook.com was launched on February 4, 2004, changing the way people communicate.
• Barack Obama was elected as the nation’s first black president of the United States on November 4, 2008.

As you can remember, 2000-2009 are years that had a profound impact on life as we live it today. When it comes to pop culture from the decade, there is a lot to cover. But we want to leave that to you. Start thinking now about what you want to be remembered about the 2000s, and bring those ideas (in audition or video submission form) to Coffeehouse Tryouts from February 20-24. If you need musical inspiration, you can follow us on Spotify (libertysa) to see our 2000s playlist. We’ll see you soon, Coffeehouse!

*http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/2000.html

** http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/2009.html

Partially in preparation for our upcoming spring Coffeehouse, primarily because they’re terrific, Student Activities is so excited for our next Movie Marathon, we’re already calling it “our precious”. That’s because we’re showing you one of the most beloved series of movies released this century: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy! For three consecutive nights in the LaHaye Event Space, you can relive all of the Middle Earth-ian adventures of Frodo & Sam, Legolas & Gimli, Aragorn, Gandalf, Treebeard, and of course, that wacky all-seeing eye Sauron. Showings will be as follows:

• The Fellowship of the Ring – January 26
• The Two Towers – January 27
• The Return of the King – January 28
• All movies will start at 8 PM and will be the original, theatrical versions (not the extended/special edition versions, in case you super-nerds were wondering)

There are really only three things you need to know about The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. First, the three LOTR movies would currently rank 18^th on the list of the highest grossing franchises in movie history*. You might say, “Who cares, 18^th sucks”, but if you did, you’d be stupid. They were released in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and the franchises they rank behind, such as Marvel movies, Harry Potter, Star Wars, all of the James Bond movies, or clown movies like the 62 Transformers**, are both more numerous and recent. That’s a lot of money to earn in just 3 movies, a feat no other trilogy (as yet) has matched.

Second, this is one of the most awarded set of movies ever: 30 Academy Award nominations, SEVENTEEN wins***. It seems pretty good to win 57% of your Academy Awards. Most impressively, Return of the King is tied for the most wins by a single movie, winning all 11 of the Oscars for which it was nominated***. It seems even better to win 100% of the Academy Awards.

Third, and probably most importantly, the American public needs to know that the role of Aragorn, so ably played by Viggo Mortensen, was offered at one point to Nicolas “Nic” Cage****. Though this may seem Radagast-the-Brown-level crazy today, the American public should also keep close in mind that Nicolas Cage dominated the 1990’s and by 2001 was still a ways away from his silly career downturn. Thankfully, his “family obligations” gave us the movies as they exist today.

One trilogy to rule them all, one LaHaye Event Space to find them, etc. etc. Of course, this event is free to attend, and there will be FREE popcorn and cheap concessions available. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films#Highest-grossing_franchises_and_film_series

**Not actually 62, but sometimes it feels like it L

***http://www.filmsite.org/oscars2.html

****http://www.mtv.com/news/1576048/will-smith-snagged-i-am-legend-from-schwarzenegger-but-can-you-imagine-nicolas-cage-in-the-matrix/

As you all (hopefully) have heard by now, your favorite guy Ben Rector is making an appearance at our very own Vines Center on February 18^th. We’re pretty pumped for his visit – not only does he make “Hot 100” type of music (according to Billboard), but he also seems to be a pretty cool guy. Here are some things you may not have known about him prior to this moment:

1. He fulfilled his dream of becoming the “world’s greatest one-man Huey Lewis and the News cover band”

Dan Millice wrote on his website about how Ben Rector recorded and sang three Huey Lewis and the News classics – “Do You Believe in Love”, “I Want a New Drug” and “Power of Love”. For those of you who may not know who Huey Lewis and the News is, you could perhaps ask your parents, or you could check this out. This is an example of one man having a dream and chasing it, and we have to applaud Rector for the hope he inspires in us all.

2. He walks on the streets asking people if they care about his music

Ben Rector has no shame in not being the most well-known artist alive. He documents himself walking up to strangers on the street asking them “Are you excited about the release of Ben Rector’s new music?”, and when most of them say they have no idea who that is he simply laughs. Rector’s good-natured personality is made apparent in these videos, which you can find here.

3. He used his “Brand New” music video money to take fans to Six Flags

“My label and management felt strongly that I needed a music video for “Brand New”, so I spent the money on flying six fans to Six Flags, because…roller coasters.”
BONUS: If we have yet to convince you that the Ben Rector show isn’t something you want to miss, watch this and you’ll probably purchase your ticket pretty quickly.

We’ll see you soon, Ben!

Spring semester is almost upon us, and you know what that means – events! We’re so excited to have newer events as well as recurring ones that we all love. Between all of your studious activities this semester, we want to make sure that you know why it’s important to spend some time with us here at SA.

1. Good Music

We’ve already announced our February 18^th Ben Rector show at this point, which we’re obviously ecstatic about! Of course, we have some more important performers lined up for you, so you’ll have to be on the lookout for who exactly we have coming ‘round these parts. We also will have four Open Mic nights and a few student concerts that will showcase the best of Liberty’s best.

2. Movie Nights

We’re pumped to bring you movie nights every month consisting of new flicks, free popcorn and cheap candy. We haven’t announced all of the movies we’ll show yet, but we will do so throughout the semester. Again, keep checking our website to stay in the know.

3. Newer Events

This semester will include some of your favorite events that we’ve just begun putting on, such as Community Yard Sale and Lip-Sync Battle. These events have not been around for too long, and this makes them even more exciting for us. Their newness surrounds them like a fresh buzz of springtime, sunshine and warmth (which is exactly what we’re hoping for at our Yard Sale!).

4. Age is Beauty

Whether you agree or not, we like to think so when it comes to our events that have been around for a few years. Events such as Bingo Night, Trivia Night, and Game Night are all back and better than ever. And of course, we always have the most “lit” prizes (you can’t go wrong with a Chipotle gift card).

5. 2000’s Coffeehouse!

It’s here, finally: the Coffeehouse where you have the opportunity to cynically side-smile a lot, lose yourself in the music, and fellowship. We want to see what you’ve got when it comes to video submissions and tryouts (which are coming up quickly), so start preparing now!

6. Free Coffee

You know our Student Activities staff – they’re always willing to give out coffee and a smile. You can find us almost weekly at Montview Student Union or at the Library with fun creamers and a hot cup of locally roasted Muse coffee – for free, of course.

7. Our Awesome Staff

Speaking of our staff, you should be excited to see them around campus this semester. We have a hard-working group of students that are excited about jumping back into events. If you see them around, give them a wave – they really are nice people.

What are you most excited for this semester? Tweet us with the line “This spring, I’m most excited for…” for the chance to win a prize. Ready, set, GO!

December 3^rd was a day that will go down in Christmas Coffeehouse history as one of the best. Attendees of the show cannot deny that there was a vast amount of talent displayed; from bands to dancers to skilled videographers, the audience was entertained for two straight hours that night. After a show such as this, we believe that it is important to reflect on why this event was one of our most important.

Coffeehouse is not just a place where people can perform – it’s a place where community is grown and talent is shared. Standing side-stage before and during the show was when I realized the camaraderie that exists between acts. When one act would come down from the stage, the other acts that were around would congratulate them for a job well done. When acts were about to go on stage, they would circle up and pray for each other. Of course, these small kindnesses among acts are reflections on our University as a whole. Coffeehouse is a time where encouragement and excitement for others isn’t put on the backburner, and this creates the Liberty community that we all know and love.

The event in itself wouldn’t exist without the Student Activities staff, who work so hard to put everything they can into making the show look and feel like exactly what we need to propel us into Christmas. The decorations on the concourse alone take months to design and build so that we can give you the opportunity to take fabulous photo-ops. The acts that are included are judged by our SA staff before being submitted to be judged by our full time staff. Our event staff/supervisors put in so much time behind the scenes in order to make Coffeehouse what it is every semester – nothing short of an exhilarating and memorable experience.

Christmas Coffeehouse is special because you can count on it every year to send you into finals feeling like you’ve been a part of something important. Entertainment is something that we care deeply for here at Student Activities, and we know that showcasing the talent here on campus is the best way to entertain. So now, we look forward to the 2000’s Spring Coffeehouse experience with high hopes – we want to see you there!

Student Activities wants to send you into Christmas Break with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and wonder. That’s why we’re just giving you, yes giving, a special performance by comedian John Crist! Join us on Friday, December 9 in the LaHaye Event Space starting at 8 PM for a night of comedy from one of the rising stars in joke-telling. You know what’s not a joke? That we are giving this show away. This night is FREE as long as you get a ticket at one of the Student Activities Office locations – Green Hall, room 2900 or Montview Student Union, room 2760.

Keep in mind –

• Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
• Space is limited, so get your tickets before they’re gone.
• If you have a ticket and do not arrive by 8:30 PM, you will forfeit your seat to someone who actually cares about John Crist.

Who among us cannot relate to the upbringing of John Crist? A pastor’s kid, homeschooled, and one of eight siblings? Yes, most of us cannot even begin to relate to this. But, as he joked about growing up this way, “Coming from a background like that, how do you NOT write jokes?”* However, hardly anyone just leaps from making jokes at home or for church announcements, as his bio also states*, to making those jokes on regional or national-level stages. In fact, it is safe to say that no one makes the kind of leap that John did. He says that things just “snowballed” for him after his first open mic appearance in 2009*. It might be more accurate to call it a success avalanche; the 13^th time he appeared on a stage, it was as an opening act for legendary comedian Louie Anderson and his Larger Than Life Comedy Show in Las Vegas**. From there, he went on to become a semifinalist or finalist in three comedy competitions in 2011 & 2012, and was the winner of comedy competitions at Loonees Comedy Corner and Denver Improv’s Got Laughs, both in 2012. Since then, he has appeared on TV on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, completed a USO Comedy Tour in Kuwait, and released his full-length album I Got Questions (2015). To top it all off, you are probably one of the millions of views he has on YouTube*** and one of the tens of millions of views he has on Buzzfeed****. So if you really want to mix your metaphors, you could say that his meteoric rise skyrocketed him straight to the avalanche of success.

John Crist is a busy guy, for sure. But what makes his success so great is that he is welcome in so many places. It is a characteristic of his career that is unavoidable; he has earned respect from established professionals in comedy, whether they are “clean” or “Christian” or not*****. This is one of the big reasons why Student Activities is so excited to have him here on Dec. 9. The other big reason why is that he is funny. Either way, be sure to get your FREE ticket for the show as soon as possible. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

*http://johncristcomedy.com/bio/

**https://issuu.com/naca/docs/jan_feb_2014_with_web/125

***https://www.youtube.com/user/johnbcrist

****http://premierespeakers.com/john_crist/bio

*****Check out his interview from a few years ago with the Denver, CO publication Westword – http://www.westword.com/arts/clean-comedian-john-crist-loves-katt-williams-and-is-loved-by-denvers-dirtiest-standups-5796199

Student Activities absolutely refuses to let you leave for Christmas break without one final Movie Night, which of course features a Christmas movie, making it a Christmas Movie Night.  Join us on Saturday, December 10 in the LaHaye Event Space for a very special presentation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), the live-action version of the Dr. Seuss classic. And since we have such generous and huge hearts, we have two showtimes for you!

• First showing – 8 PM
• Encore presentation – 10 PM

It is likely that more people have seen the original, animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas than the version we are showing, the live-action version from 2000. But you might be surprised to find out just how big the more recent version is. Currently, it is the second highest grossing holiday movie of all time* behind only Home Alone. Though you may find that information as cuddly as a cactus, keep in mind that this was the first adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book into a full-length feature, and the established name value alone all but guaranteed success. Plus, if you grew up mostly in this century, you might see Jim Carrey or see movies like Mr. Popper’s Penguins or Yes Man and think, “Really? HE’S a giant star?”, but it is hard to overstate how huge he was by the end of the 1990’s. Add all of that to Ron Howard’s status as a blockbuster movie director and that is how you get just over $260 million in gross earnings and the Christmas movie silver medal.

The natural question for anyone looking at How the Grinch Stole Christmas is how it ends up being 1 hour 44 minutes. The book is just 69 pages, so the 26-minute runtime of the original animated feature looks fine, but where does all that extra time come from? Why, it comes from a writer’s imagination, where everything else comes from! In addition to the “regular” Grinch story, with Max the dog and the stealing of all the Whoville gifts and The Grinch’s growing heart, you also get an extended backstory for The Grinch and a long scene involving him as Whoville’s “Cheermeister”**. While scenes like this are meant to fill up more screen time and show more Seuss-like imagination and silliness, they end up feeling more like overkill, the cinematic parallel to Jim Carrey’s overacting tendencies. But the movie does not leave you hanging, keeping the feel-good ending with the song “Welcome, Christmas” mostly intact, and adding the crushingly adorable “Where Are You, Christmas?” to give one extra tug on your heartstrings.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of the new(ish) classics of Christmastime, and Student Activities hopes you will join us as we show it on Dec. 10. This event is free to attend, and there will be FREE popcorn and cheap concessions available. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

*http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=christmas.htm

**https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAR4ZXYXAvk

Student Activities has just a few preparations left to make for Christmas Coffeehouse, taking place on Saturday, December 3 at 11:30 PM in the Vines Center. This year’s Christmas extravaganza is shaping up to be one of the best shows we have seen in a long time, and that is saying something considering every show seems a little better than the last! Tickets are on sale now and are priced as follows:

• All remaining tickets are general admission
• $5 from now until 11:59 PM on December 2
• $7 all day December 3, including at the door

You can purchase tickets on our website (www.liberty.edu/sa) on the “Tickets” tab at the top of the screen. Just choose the ticket type that is right for you.

The official title for the show is Christmas Coffeehouse: Unwrapped, and of course we all know what gets “unwrapped” at Christmastime during an election year: every family’s deepest political divisions, and presents. Thankfully, our show is only concerned with presents. The anticipation of Christmas morning is one of the most powerful forces in the universe, and where does the energy behind that anticipation come from? Presents. Whether you are two or one hundred and two, you cannot help but get excited when you find out that someone has a present for you, and that excitement is amplified significantly the closer you get to Christmas.

But we would sound like selfish jerks if we only mentioned how exciting it is to get presents. While Jesus is the official reason for the Christmas season, one of the sub-reasons for the season is reciprocity, a true fact for sure, but one you are not likely to see on as many Christmas-related paraphernalia as the first one. All of this means that when you factor in the positive energy of gift giving with the anticipation energy of gift getting, you get a combined energy so powerful it may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of cold fusion. And that is exactly the energy we have in mind as we present Christmas Coffeehouse to you.

Now in its twenty-third year, Coffeehouse is one of the longest-standing traditions here at Liberty, and Christmas Coffeehouse is still the best way to wrap up every fall semester. So get your tickets today and join all of us at Student Activities as we give one of the best gifts that we can possibly give you at Christmas Coffeehouse: Unwrapped.

Check out all the details at www.liberty.edu/sa. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.